CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: “SKYWAY AVENUE”
Shit, shit, shit, shit. Damn you Cornish. I run out of the hotel, after quickly thanking the woman and am currently running somewhere in the UK. Damn it, Jessica, where the hell are you at!? Then it hit me. The only place she could possibly be. The place she told me she always wanted to go. Fucking Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.
But no, she wouldn’t fly all the way to Brazil, right? Well, she did have the money, but you must be totally crazy to fly all the way to Brazil because your ex is chasing you. I think that’s why I thought she would be there.
I make my way to the nearest airport, and run to the first desk I see. –‘I need a ticket to Rio De Janeiro,’ I say as politely as possible when it’s my turn. –‘You can’t buy tickets on a desk, young lady, you have to order them online,’ the man behind the desk says and rolls his eyes. –‘Please, I need to… I need to go there. Can’t I hire a private jet or something?’ -‘Any idea how much that costs?’ –‘A lot.’ –‘Yeah, and that’s why we don’t do it, next!’
I sit down at an empty table with a croissant and a damping cup of tea. I run a hand through my hair and sigh loudly. I take my phone out of my pocket, and see a new text from Holly. And my manager. And about fifty from Phil. Deciding to ignore them all, I put my phone away and sigh again; it doesn’t solve anything but it’s just a way to express my annoyance, my defeat, and most of all, my sadness. I let her slip away. I take a sip of my tea, burning my mouth and tongue, and take a small bite of my croissant.
-‘What are you doing here?’ –‘Oh, you know, the usual, waiting for someone to- JESSICA?’ I turn around and am, in fact, confronted by Jessica, with a stupid smirk on her face which I love. –‘Hi!’ She says and does a little wave. I jump up and give pull her into me, wrapping my arms around her and embrace her in a long, tight hug. –‘Em, please… can’t breathe…’ Embarrassed, I let go of her and take a step back, smiling shyly at her. –‘Sorry… I got a little bit over-excited there.’ –‘It’s okay, silly. But, really, what are you doing here?’ –‘Looking for a plane to Rio De Janeiro.’ –‘Why would you go there?’ –‘Because I thought you would be there, I know you’ve always wanted to go there.’ Jessica shakes her head laughing, and let her gaze drop to the floor. –‘Idiot,’ she says still laughing. –‘Hey, but I am your idiot.’ She looks up at me, slightly… shocked is the right word. –‘Too soon? Too soon, I’m sorry, it just slipped out, and ugh, I’m so stupid, and I’m rambling again…’ Jessica giggles and grabs my hand. –‘My idiot,’ she says smiling as she starts leading me to the exit.
-‘What about Lisa?’ –‘Lisa can suck my… my… err…’ –‘Yeah, don’t worry I get it. But aren’t you scared she’s going to find you again?’ –‘Pfft, scared? Fucking terrified! Fuck, sorry, I tend to curse a lot when I’m stressed.’ –‘It’s okay sweetie, I got you,’ I smile at her and kiss her hand, which I’m holding tightly in mine. She lets out a content sigh and leans her head on my shoulder. –‘I didn’t mean to leave you this morning. I was scared she might hurt you if she would find out you’re with me.’ –‘Don’t worry about me. You’re won’t get rid of me easily. You’re stuck with me.’ She yawns and closes her eyes. –‘Would you mind if I take a nap?’ –‘No, go ahead sweetie, you must be tired.’
I carry her out of the cab, into my house and place her on bed. I tuck her in, give her a kiss on her forehead, and head downstairs. –‘Did I just see you carrying in Miss Jessie J?’ asks Phil. He’s leaning against the living room’s doorway, crossed-legs, a smirk on his lips. –‘Yup. Where’s Jim?’ –‘He’s upstairs, chilling with that friend if his… what’s his name again? Jonah?’ –‘Think so.’ Phil rolls his eyes and sits down next to me on the sofa. –‘What are you doing?’ He asks, as he picks up some of the loose sheets on the table. –‘And where the hell have you been?’ he exclaims suddenly, making me jump. –‘I-I was with Jessica… and err…’ –‘Ah, needed some alone-time?’ He asks, winking. –‘No, no it was err-’ –‘Hey, it’s okay, I get it. But really, what is this?’ –‘Some lyrics I wrote whilst being away. I’m trying to connect it and form it into sentences.’ –‘I could help you,’ he suggests, his eyes sparkling at the idea of writing a new song. –‘Please.’
