Let Me Occupy Your Mind [Natsby Fanfiction]

8.

     They waltzed into the restaurant, hand in hand. Oblivious. And frankly, that was a good thing. Jay continued to speak; blissfully unaware.

"We ought to go."

     I muttered, with a tinge of insistence in my voice. My eyes motioned to the couple.

"Hm? Who is it?"

     He whispered, curiosity laced his lips.

"The Buchanans, who do you think it was?"

"Oh!"

     Interjecting our plight, the waiter arrived.

"Monsieur, would you like to pay now?"

"Why, er—" Jay struggled to speak.

     Assuming the panic started to settle in, I answered for him.

"Yes, yes we would—"

"Nicky?"

     My eyes darted to Daisy. For once, I smoothed my hair out of anxious intent.

"Oh, my darling rose... I'm deeply sorry for what happened last time we met!"

     Her words fell out of her mouth like a liquid gold, they glittered in sincerity but ringed in luxury.

"Goodness, I-I didn't see you there."

"I'm so happy to see you again, you should come over sometime. Tom and I are planning to have another baby!"

     What?

"...Uh, yes!"

     They both kept a watchful eye on me, confused by my sudden response—yes—but there was something else looming between the two. Daisy held onto her innocent stare, smiling at me with a "Oh dear..." curtaining her expression. On the other hand, Tom looked surprised at first, but the minute he took into account who I had been with... the patience in his face was lost in disgust.

     Jay was nearly out of my view, but I could see the embarrassment drawn across his face. It was my job to shutdown the conversation before he would run off, like many times before.

"I-I should be going now!"

"Why are you leaving in such a hurry, Nick?"

     Tom persisted, his broad hand pushed me onto the seat. He moved ever so closely to my ear.

"...Did he threatened you to do this?"

"What? No!"

     Fully understanding what had been said, Jay nervously slammed his check onto the table and slipped away into the crowd.

     For a moment, my stare searched for Jay, aching for his support. Tom made him scatter away like a poor rat. My eyes flickered to the larger man, staring him down.

"You don't know nothing about me! Nothing about us!"

     I pushed myself into the sea of people. In the distance, I could still hear Daisy breathlessly cry out my name, her voice yearned. I knew I couldn't stand to stay in that restaurant much longer. My love, he was hurt, and I wanted to meld him back into safety once again.

"Gatsby! Gatsby!"

     I continued to shout, but my echoes gave in to no response.

"Jay! Ja—"

     Laying beside a telephone, he called one of his men to pick him up.

"Jay?"

"Just... Leave me be. I want to be alone right now."

     His glossy, blue eyes avoided me with all their might. It broke my heart.

"I know, but none of us could've expected that to happen! It was all just mere coincidence."

     Jay spoke with hesitation.

"Expected or not, old sport; I feel... a pit in my stomach."

"I see."

     I wanted to know what he meant by that, really, but the solemn emanating from Jay's tone clouded my judgement.

"My chauffeur will pick us up."

     After that, not a word was muttered. But I could tell that unkindly visit broke Jay in some way. Some way that would change our relationship forever.

     Days past, summer fell underway for autumn. As the golden yellow and warm brown leaves dwindled beneath me. I drank my warm tea, letting my mind skip freely with emotion and nostalgia. My sight wandered to him, emerging from the bushes.

"I really hadn't made use of that pool, and fall has come..."

     The West Egg millionaire sucked in his teeth, somehow making wearing a cardigan over a evening suit look elegant. His hand tightened onto my porch fence.

"It's all gone away now."

"What happened all those days ago—at the restaurant?"

     He sheepishly stared away from me.

"If we continue this relationship, I need to be honest with you about everything—everything that has happened to me."

     I leaned into with desperation, enticing the very sound of his voice.

"Tell me everything Jay."