Starting Over

Not So Good Morning

Alison picked her head up off her pillow and began to push herself up from being on her stomach.  And then she remembered, she didn't go to bed alone.  She turned her head slightly to the left and realized Adam was not there.  "Figures," she said out loud to no one, "I knew it was too good to be true.  When the fuck will I learn?  They're all just fucking liars."

Angry, Alison walked out of her room, calling out to Jack, but he wasn't answering.  "Jack?  Jackie boy?  Where are you hiding?  C'mon Jack, don't do this to me!"  She started crying. It's an apartment.  Where could he have gone?  How could he have gotten out?  "Calm down Al.  He has to be here somewhere.  It's not like he can open the door."  Just as she said that, the door to her apartment opened, and Jack came through it, followed by Adam.  "JACK!"  She crashed to the floor to pet her beloved lab and get as many licks from him that she could get.

"Well, good morning darlin'," Adam spoke with a charming glee.  His chipper disposition changed though when he saw the glare that she afforded him.  "Whoa, whoa.  What is wrong?"

"Where were you?  I couldn't find Jack and was scared to death," as she rose up off the floor, Jack slowly jumping up on the couch to take a nap.  

"Jack came into your room and started whimpering and poking me.  I figured he had to go out for his walk so I let you sleep," he seemed very confused.  Why would she be mad?

Upset with herself, she just looked down at the floor, and let out a rather abysmal, "Oh."  She thought to herself, "guess this makes me the jackass."

"Where did you think he was?"

"I don't know.  And you weren't here.  You promised you would be when I opened my eyes."  She was angry and sad.

Adam didn't take her words to heart.  In fact, he chuckled a bit.  "Alison, I am here.  I haven't gone anywhere," he smiled at her, and then pulled her close and placed a small kiss on her lips.  "I didn't know you were going to hold me to my literal word.  Next time, I'll wake you up."  He still held a smile.

"Why are you smiling?  I was just being a complete bitch."

"Because I know you didn't mean it."

"Didn't I?  Promises are promises.  You don't break them, no matter how small."  What the hell was she doing?  This was stupid.

"Alison, come on.  You're being ridiculous."  Rethinking his decision to not be upset by her actions.

"I'm being ridiculous?"

"Yeah, you are.  Look, I took Jack for a walk.  I thought you would be appreciative of that and that I let you rest.  Did I made a mistake in thinking that was a good thing?  If I had known. . ."

"I told you, I'm broken.  That I don't need anyone.  I'm used to being alone!"  Seriously.  What was she doing?

Adam was so confused.  Yes, she had admitted those things to him, but she was so not about that last night before they went to bed.  Was she not attracted to him, and this was her easy way to get him out of her house?  "You know what you're problem is?" he asked, a tad on the rude side.

"What?"

"You're so set on lumping us all together, that you make yourself miserable.  I think I know why none of them stuck around."  He had a look of disgust on his face.  Inside, he was hurt.  He really did like her.  He was also hurt on the outside when she decided a good retort to his comment was to slap him across the face.

"Get out."

"Gladly."  Adam walked out her door and pulled his phone out to call for a ride.  "Jerry, yeah it's me.  Can you come pick me up?"  Alison could hear him through the door.   "I'm at that girl's apartment that I told you about."  Silence.  "Look, I don't want to talk about it right now.  I'll text you the address.  Just come get me."  Silence.  "I don't know.  Probably not.  Shit part is, I like her.  Look man, just come get me, please?"

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT?!" her brain yelling at her in overdrive.  "He didn't do anything wrong.  What he did was sweet.  Why the FUCK did you treat him like that.  So he wasn't in bed with you.  But he didn't lie to you.  He was there.  Taking care of your fur baby.  And, in a way, taking care of you.  And you throw him out?!  God you are fucked up.  Maybe he's right.  You ARE the reason you're miserable."  She opened her door, but he was gone.  She reached back inside the door and grabbed her keys while stating, "Jack, mama will be right back," and she headed down to the lobby, hoping to catch him.  She got downstairs just in enough time to see him hop in a red pick up and take off.  "Damn it!"  Alison sauntered sadly up the stairs back to her apartment.  Once inside, she threw herself on the couch and cried.  "When is this going to be over?" she asked to no one, "when am I going to be over the hurt and let go and be happy?"  She reached over and began to scratch Jack behind his ears, "I'm sorry Jackie.  I messed up.  Now I really don't think we'll see him again.  And I fucking like him."