𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

TWO: head to the movies.

     

     AFTER EDDIE went home the next day, it was mostly just James and Jane lounging around in the trailer home. Jim had gotten home late the night before and was currently sleeping it off on the couch. Clearly. "Can we go to Benny's?" Jane asked around five or so, and James sighs. "In a bit, Janie. I'm kind of... working on something." He said and Jane frowns, glancing at Jim.

"Can I go alone then?" She asked and he finally looks up from his notebook. "You know what? Fine, let's go to Benny's..." He shut his writing notebook and shoved it into a bag where he also puts a couple of bills in and then they were off. The walk to Benny's is quiet and James kind of wished he'd called to ask Eddie to join them. But the silence wasn't uncomfortable. At Benny's, in fact, James comes to the conclusion that Jane is the most quiet kid that he's ever met.

Nothing like his old friend's little brother and group of friends. She sits quietly, staring out the window and eating the occasional fry from her basket she ordered when they arrived. At some point, James got curious but he didn't wanna be so... nosy, so he just wrote in his book like he wanted and sipped his cup of coffee he ordered. "Do you mind if I go for a smoke?" He asked the girl suddenly, fishing out his pack all while glancing up at her.

"Okay. I'll wait here." She merely says and outside, James lights his smoke quickly, sighing as he rubs his forehead. Why did Benny's hold such significance to Jane? He wanted to ask but also didn't wanna pry into her private life. But at the same time, it's not like he didn't know personal stuff about her already. At the same time it felt like something she didn't feel like sharing, since she's always so quiet. He sat back down in front of her and went back to writing, glancing up at her a few times. There's a forlorn look in her eyes.

He set down his pen now, closing his book and needed to ask. "Why... do you come here?" He asked and she glanced over. "Like, my dad said he and the boys found you here... by yourself, are you perhaps waiting for someone?" He asked and she just sat up straight. "Remember Aunt Becky?" She asked and he nods softly. "Well, she said my dad comes here every day at 5:30 p.m. to grab a cup of coffee." She said and he furrowed his brows, his dad she didn't even have one.

"Your dad? I--I thought you didn't have a dad?" He sounds a bit confused and she nods. "I thought so too. But Aunt Becky said he's tall, has white hair, and always wears a suit. He works with the government." She said and he raised his brows. Active imagination? Or the truth? He wonders this as the girl's eyes light up, looking behind him so he quickly turns his head to see a man with the exact description walk in. White hair, in a suit and was followed behind by a blonde woman and a man in a black suit who's wearing sunglasses.

"He doesn't know I'm his daughter." She explained and James quickly turned back around, staring blankly at her. "That's the only family you have left? Wh--why didn't you tell them? My dad and the boys?" He asked and she looks at him sadly. "Because he didn't want me. He won't want me even now. He didn't love me. Or my mom." She glanced out the window now as the man passes by.

He's talking about work or whatever with the woman and man with him. Jane remains quiet, doesn't even look away from James as she took a forkful of her food into her mouth and James took a sip from his coffee. "How sure are you he's your dad then?" He asked once the man is out of ear shot and he's sitting with the two in the far back of the diner. "Because Becky showed me photos of him with mama. It was complicated. He was already... with another woman. Married." She glanced down and James just stared at her for a moment then looked down at his cup of coffee.

"Oh..." He said quietly and she glanced up at James. "I don't want to live with him or know him at all. I just like to come here... and see him sometimes." She shrugs and he looks at her again. What good comes out of it? He wonders but says nothing. Jane has her share of daddy issues and James has his share of mommy issues. He can't exactly judge.