The Redemption of Stingy Jack

Chapter Fourteen

Maud wasn't used to having night strolls, but she felt she had to make an exception for Jack. Besides, he was centuries old, and hadn't had anything real to see, touch, or eat since then.

The breeze out there was cold as usual, and a perfectly disguised Jack the Smith walked carefully beside her. He made sure not to walk faster than her, while he licked into the ice-cream cup in his hand. Maud had taken him to a nearby pizzeria, and he had a full family size peperoni pizza. Maud didn't even touch him while he ate. And then they stepped out of the pizzeria, and were instantly met with the doughnut across the street. The big colorful fake doughnut atop the shop mesmerized Jack to the extent that he almost took off his shades. Maud stopped him of course, and as requested, took him to the doughnut shop. They bought two boxes of chocolate frosted doughnuts, and Jack only allowed Maud to have one, while he sparingly ate the rest. The way he ate, and appreciated it, was quite funny to watch. Moments of quick sentiments peeked into Maud's mind, as they both toured the streets of New Orleans, on a midnight food raid.

And then finally, Jack asked them to go on their last stop for the night. That same bar. And with a cup of ice-cream that Jack had begged Maud to buy for him, she decided to walk with him to the bar.

"Oh, this... cream on ice... is... so delicious." Jack muttered, nose digging through the cup, as he'd already ditched the small spoon. They were casually strolling along the neat curb, with a few passersby coming to view every minute.

Maud suppressed a laugh, watching him lick the cup and his hand too. He even had stains on the scarf, that he momentarily licked off.

"I know right." Maud agreed. "And it's... ice-cream." She added, soft humor in her tone.

Jack instantly gave off a satisfying sigh, and he tossed the cups to the streets. Maud gave him a stare, and he was wondering why. She eyed, the empty cup in the middle of the road, and Jack looked too. Now Jack understood. He wasn't supposed to litter again. He did that with the doughnut boxes, and now the ice-cream cup.

"I apologize. It won't happen again." He said, voice sounding gruff and guttural. He smiled, and Maud thought to let it slide. Jack instantly recognized the bar, and told Maud to stop. They both heaved a sigh, and with a few minutes to spare, walked into the bar.

Jack had already had four mugs of beer, and he was currently on his fifth one, personally served to him by the bartender from last night. Maud just sat there beside him, facing the counter, as sober as can be. She didn't even ask for water, no matter how Jack insisted. Jack was taking gulps after gulps, and Maud sat there watching her until another person came into view. The bartender was attending to someone else, and so he wasn't before them. Right by Maud's right, was a man with a full beard, and a white tank top. Instantly, Jack downed the last of the beer and looked to observe. The man wasn't standing alright, leaning on the countertop for support as he tried to get Maud's attention. He seemed to call her three time, until he reached for her chin and pulled it to his face.

"Hey, stop it. And piss off!" Maud finally yelled back. The man was as drunk as a boiled owl, and didn't seem like he knew what he was doing.

"Oy, darling, come on. Let's have a good... time. I can take good care of you, you know?" The man slurred, and he looked to reach for Maud's hair, but she jerked back. Obviously he was no friend of Maud, and he was starting to look like a problem.

"Oi!" Jack stood up tall, like a giant. "Back off!" He threatened.

Maud was still seated, silently praying things wouldn't escalate too fast. The man reeled back for a moment, and it seemed he wanted to burp. Well, he actually did, and he pointed a finger at Jack.

"Mind your business... cowboy." He slurred, and a few eyes were starting to settle on them.

The drunkard looked to pick up where he left off, by reaching for Maud's back.

"I said, back off!" The glasses had started to slip off of his face, and a new trouble was dawning on his thickening mental horizon.

Maud was now getting uneasy.

"Or what?" The man asked, walking towards Jack.

With instant reflexes, Jack took off his scarf, took off his hat, and finally his shades. The whole crowed howled at the sight of Jack, as he roared loud and long enough for his mouth to widen and his eyes to glow brightly. The sight of this monster made the drunk tremble to his feet, and scurry away in fear. Others kept staring, wondering what kind of monster that was. It instantly got the attention of the bartender and the owner himself and with a shriek and yell from them, they were forced to leave the bar without even paying for their drinks.

Maud couldn't stop laughing, as the look on those people's faces were downright hilarious. It was like they all saw a ghost. Well, actually they did. And he'd just scared the shit out of them. They both landed on the curb once again and looked to call it a night.

"Oh, wait." Jack paused, and Maud looked. "My lamp?" He looked back at the bar.

"It's at my house. You didn't come with it." Maud reminded him, a smirk hanging on her lips.

"Oh." Jack realized, trying to wrap the scarf around his neck and fix his shades and hat at the same time. He finally got it, even though it wasn't that good. "Let's go home then, shall we?"

"We shall, Jack," Maud laughed, and together they made their way to Maud's apartment.

****

Lynn and Cole were now up close, breathing the same air, with their lips locking and unlocking. They had the apartment to themselves, with the silent night outside. Cole's arms were slowly wrapping around Lynn's body as he kept kissing her, on his soft couch. His lips trembled, hers shuddered in turn, as they both exchanged body heat. Then his lips kept traveling down her chin. He kissed her, and then her shoulder blades, and his hand were beginning to crawl up her top. A quiver of resistance ran through her, and Lynn stopped him. Cole didn't quickly realize this, thinking it was just a reflex action, and then he leaned in again, lips on hers. He was really soaking into her cherry flavored lips, and he tried again. Hands creeping up underneath her top, and Lynn stopped him again.

"No, Cole. I'm not ready." Lynn pulled away, fully knowing where that was going.

"What? It's just sex. Why are you being so weird about it?" Cole asked, disappointed, with his chest bare. Gaze cruised her figure as he tried to decipher her.

"I know."

"So what's the problem? You a virgin or something?" Cole asked, his shrewd gaze now fixed upon her.

Lyn only glanced at him, seeing his irises glint under the warm, colored light in the living room.

"Well, then allow me to pop—"

"Stop. Get off me." Lynn pushed him off, and instantly stood up. "God, you're unbelievable." She scoffed.

She adjusted her top, grabbed her bag on the floor, and slid into her Converse. She spared him one last glance, and then stormed out of his room, leaving him speechless and confused.

It didn't take minutes for Lynn to get a cab that took her from Cole's apartment to hers. The car dropped her at her door step, and she stood right there, taking in deep breaths. She definitely wasn't ready for whatever Cole wanted, and she hoped he'd respect that. She pulled out her keys, opened the door, and stepped in.

The room was softly lit by the table lamp, and Maud and Jack were seated close to it. Maud's laptop was open right before them, and Lynn stood there long enough for Maud to take her eyes off it and realize that she'd returned.

"Oh Lynn, you're back." Maud said, and she quickly glanced at her laptop. "Jack, here, is helping me with my Irish history assignment, and it almost feels like I was there, documenting all these." She said, with excitement in her tone, which gradually died down due to Lynn's plain reaction.

Lyn sighed, "cool." She looked to walk to her room.

"Hey." Maud called. "Are you okay?"

Lyn spared her a glance, "I'm okay." And then she walked into her room, and shut the door hard.

Maud took her gaze off Lynn's door, and it met with Jack's. He was also confused as she was, but whatever it was, she hoped it'd get better the following day. Maud signaled that they resume, and Jack continued narrating ancient events, that took place in his hometown, and the nation at large.