Destiny Rules

Part 24

Stevie's hand stilled, she listened. While she was pretending to write in her journal, Jimmy was walking around her house as if he owned the place. I want to doublecheck I haven't left anything behind, he told her, when he called. Fine, she didn't want any reminders of him in her home either, but he was taking his sweet time, which was getting on her nerves and she'd already been on edge the past couple of days.

The conversation Stevie had with Sharon still echoed in her head and that was why Stevie hadn't seen or spoken to Lindsey in four days. The band had scheduled time for rehearsals yesterday, but Stevie cancelled, saying that she didn't feel well, which was not true. She wasn't sure why the things that Sharon said affected her so much. Maybe she wasn't seeing something that was so blatantly obvious to others? She doubted it. Maybe Sharon was pretending to save Lindsey from getting hurt while really it was Stevie she was protecting. But from what? Just because they slept together once didn't mean that they were a couple now. Yes, they exchanged sweet nothings, but did it really mean anything? And Stevie was not dead set on dragging Lindsey into her bed. Did she think that he was as handsome as ever, was she still attracted to him? Of course, but that would never change. Did she try a little harder this time to show him that? Possibly, but it didn't mean that all she wanted was to prove to him and herself that she could still get him.

"I think, I've got everything." Jimmy spoke up, standing in the doorway of Stevie's bedroom. 

"Good." Stevie replied, her eyes now glued to her journal in her lap. She heard him sigh heavily and she unwillingly looked up. "What?"

"Are you mad at me for breaking up with you? Do you hate me now or something?" Jimmy asked, stepping into the room. "We still have to work together, surely we can at least be civil."

"I'm not mad at you, I'm annoyed." Stevie corrected, writing something down. "I thought that we'd agreed you'd get your stuff out, when I'm not here."

"And I did!" Jimmy defended himself. "I just wanted to have one last look around." Stevie scoffed, but said nothing else. "I don't want us to be like this." He shook his head, showing with his hand between them. "Believe it or not, I still care a lot about you. I- I still love you. It's not me, who's fucking around with my ex. If anything, I should be mad at you."

Stevie took a deep breath, she put her journal away. "We're not together anymore, so why do you care?" 

"Didn't I just-" Jimmy paused himself. "You know what, I don't. I do not care. Do whatever the hell you want, enjoy it while it last. You're bound to fuck it up sooner or later." He shrugged. "Live in your little fantasy until it all blows up again." So, nobody had faith in her and Lindsey. "Do you honestly think that he's sincere? That he's fucking you because he's so in love with you?" Jimmy laughed harshly. "You're stupid if you do. You're his meal ticket."

Stevie wanted to respond, she wanted to bite back, but all she could do was sit silently and fight back tears. Lindsey was sincere. She knew him. All the things he said to her, the way he made her feel. It couldn't have been a lie, no... Could it?

"Give me back my key." Stevie didn't want to allow Jimmy a chance to take another dig at her.

"I've already left it downstairs, don't worry." Jimmy replied.

"Then there's nothing else left for you to do here." Stevie said, she added. "I'd like you to leave."

The doorbell interrupted whatever Jimmy was going to say back. Stevie's eyes grew wide, she didn't expect anyone. There was really the only person, who visited her announced. 

"Would you also like me to get the door?" Jimmy asked, smirking, but Stevie jumped to her feet and rushed out of the room and down the stairs. 

Jimmy could have done the nice thing and stayed back, waited to see if it was really Lindsey. But... Knowing that his presence could and likely would cause problems, he walked out of the bedroom as well.

"What are you doing here?" Stevie stood, blocking Lindsey's way into the house. "I wasn't expecting you, I-"

"Not feeling well, huh." Lindsey shook his head, disappointed. He was looking somewhere past her, making Stevie turn around. Jimmy was standing at the top of the staircase. "I fucking knew it."

"No, Lindsey! No, this is not-"

"Save it." He silenced her, holding up his hand.