Caring

III

Prompt: Missing New Years
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She was tired and her head was pounding. It was a hangover from New Years' Eve...and New Years' Day.

Nadine knew that, but she wasn't going to tell him. She knew he wouldn't be happy if he found out what happened on Thursday night.

•

James was meant to be back in Manila before the year ended, before the fireworks, before the party she had planned. He wasn't.

"The flight has been rearranged by the airline. I won't be making it back in time, I'm sorry." He had called her straight away.

"It's fine James, there's nothing you can do. Don't worry about it. Have fun celebrating with your family!" She wasn't putting up an act. Things happen for a reason she told herself. What is meant to be will and what isn't meant to be...won't be.

"But," he had begun, worried that she was hiding her hurt. He knew he promised to be there for the party and he also knew how much his promises meant to her.

"James," Nadine had cut across. "Be. With. Your. Family." She stressed each word wanting him to get the message. "You've gone back to Australia in years so use the extra day and enjoy yourself! I'll be fine here, Bret's here anyway."

A pang shot through his body hearing those words. He knew she didn't mean for it to sound that way. She was just reassuring him that she'll still enjoy the new year celebrations with the rest of the gang. Bret was his best friend but that didn't stop the jealous streak passing through him, albeit for a small second.

"James?"

He must've dazed off into his thoughts. He took a deep breath before replying, "Yeah, I know but I'm still sorry. Do me a favour? Don't drink too much, yeah? I'm not gonna be there to protect you from all those boys!"

She had laughed and ended the call with a sarcastic reply. "Sure thing James. See you soon!"

•

"Are you okay?"

James' voice drew her into the present. They were sat across from each other in a Jollibee store, filming another commercial. The director had currently given them a break while he set up for the next shooting. They had been sat in a comfortable silence for the past 5 minutes before James' question.

She smiled, "Yeah, yeah...fine. Just a little tired."
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly and his forehead creased. Nadine knew he didn't buy it. Of course he wouldn't. They had spent so much time with each other, especially over the last few months, that they just knew when something was wrong with the other. They just knew each other. There was no other way to word the understanding the two of them shared.

"Are you sure? You seem more than just tired. Is your head hurting?"

She propped up her elbow on the table and rested her head in her hand, closing her eyes for a while.
"I'm fine James," she replied, eyes still closed and too curtly for him to actually believe it.

"You know," he begun. Nadine could tell he had a grin plastered on his face with that playful voice even if her eyes were shut. "I heard quite a bit about your partying on New Years'."

Her eyes shot open much too quickly in response. James snickered.

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to disguise the worry creeping up in her voice.