Jack and Isla

THIRTEEN

Jack left the wood yard later that evening ready to go back to Isla's, double checking that he had everything. The honeysuckle plant that Shaun had helped him sort, was secured in the seat next to him along with a bottle of wine for her. It is not the gift he would have got her, but he also didn't want to turn up empty handed on her birthday...again.

Before he left he had a quick check at the yard, to see if Bradley needed a lift home, but he was nowhere to be seen so assumed he must already have gone home. Jack headed straight off as he didn't want to be late, but as he was pulling down the drive to Isla's the excitement he had started to change. He had a strange dread coming over him, which he knew was not nerves. He seemed to have this gut feeling that something was not right.

He noticed that the gate had also been left open, but he dismissed that as one of the boys maybe, in a rush. Carrying the plant he cautiously made it to the porch. He saw Freddie sitting on the pontoon at the water's edge.

"Are you ready for dinner Freddie?" Jack got no response, but assumed he could not hear him, probably had his headphones in that Jack had got him for his birthday.

He pushed the door to go in but he was stopped by the door being on the lock. He was forced to knock and wait and he could not help but shift the looming sense of something being wrong. He heard a shuffle behind the door and then Isla opened it. He went to automatically walk in but she stopped him and closed the door so it was only open enough for her to stick her head out and talk to him.

"Isla?" Jack looked at her carefully. That's when he noticed. Something was wrong. She did not have the glow about her that she has had the last few weeks. The light that was in her eyes this morning when she left had gone. She was pale, but looked like she had been crying.

"Isla, what's wrong?" Jack's heart stopped and a feeling of sickness overcame him.

"Nothing Jack." Her voice hitched and Jack tried to step towards her one more time with his hand out. She kept her eyes low and avoided looking directly at him.

"Isla?" Jack pleaded, desperation creeping up.

"Jack, I can't go out for dinner with you tonight, or any night for that matter." She kept her head low and her hands holding the doors fast and steady.

"Is everything ok? Are you not well?"

"Jack, I'm fine."

"Well you don't look it. Listen if last night was too soon and its too quick...-"

"Last night was a mistake." She quickly blurted out, "and won't happen again."

Jack was lost for words. He stepped back in shock and looked about in panic. His heart was hurting at her words. This couldn't be true. Last night, what they shared was not a mistake. They were only just making plans for a future together this morning. What had changed?

"I don't believe you, Isla. What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on," she snapped again, not looking at him and talking to her feet. "As I said, last night, it was a mistake and it should have never happened. Please leave."

"I don't believe you. Let's go in and we can talk about it." He went to reach for her, but she flinched and stepped away from him. This tore at his heart, to be the one she is now flinching at almost broke him.

"Isla, no, I don't...I don't believe you," his voice started to raise a little through broken panic, shaking his head in disbelief, "last night, what happened, you're telling me you didn't feel it too? You said you were ready, for us, for there to be an us." He started to pace in alarm. He was confused. He loved her and he thought she loved him too. She stayed silent, still not looking at him.