Ink

The Run and Go

     "OH NO YOU DON'T!"

     Crash.

     "What the hell?!" I exclaimed, jumping out of bed and running to see what all the commotion was.

     An odd sight met my eyes in the living room. Natalie had Jack pinned to the ground, sitting on his back and holding his hands together.

     "What's going on?" Jennifer asked sleepily, approaching me from behind.

     "This idiot was trying to sneak out," Natalie said nonchalantly.

     "Get off," Jack said, his voice muffled by the carpeted floor.

     "Can't do that unless I know you're not gonna make a run for it, sweet cheeks," Natalie said coolly.

     "I won't," was his mumbled reply.

     I swiftly walked to my front door and sat in front of it. I didn't want to take any chances. Natalie smirked and got off of Jack. He stood up and looked at Jennifer warily.

     "I'm waiting," she said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at him.

     "I thought I was fine," Jack stated nervously.

     Jennifer's mouth curved into a malicious smirk. "Obviously not."

     "Look, I was drunk and I thought we would be okay. I didn't know any of that would happen!" Jack said, his voice raising in frustration.

     "Just...how could you do something so fucking stupid?!" she yelled back, pacing back and forth. The smirk disappeared from her face and was replaced by a look of incredulity.

     "Like I said, I thought I would be fine!" he exclaimed angrily.

     "I just find it hard to believe I'm with someone willing to put not only his own life in danger, but someone else's! Josh is in the hospital, Jack, and it's entirely your fault!" she snapped, raising her hands in frustration.

     "Well then maybe you shouldn't be with me!" he challenged her.

     I gasped. Jennifer's eyebrows flew up in surprise. She blinked and paused for a moment.

     "Maybe I shouldn't be," she said coldly, her face passive.

     "Fine!" he shouted, going to the front door. "Fine! I'm leaving!"

     I quickly scrambled out of the way. He yanked the door open with a huff and slammed it shut behind him.

     A tense silence filled the air.

     "Jen, are you okay?" Natalie asked quietly.

     "I'm fine," she said shortly.

     It was evident she didn't want to talk about it. I stood there, not knowing what to do. Part of me wanted to run to Jack and slap some sense into him, and the other part wanted to comfort Jennifer. The needs of my best friend won out, so I shuffled to the kitchen to make breakfast.

     "What do you guys feel like eating?" I asked them.

     "How about a breakfast sandwich?" Natalie suggested.

     Jennifer abruptly burst into tears. Natalie smacked herself on the head.

     "Shit. I'm sorry," she said hurriedly, rushing to give her a hug. "No sandwiches."

               *~~*~~*~~*

"I just don't know how he could do something so stupid," Jennifer sniffled, dabbing her eyes with a tissue as we watched a movie.

"I know," I said soothingly. "He's an idiot and he needs to take ownership of what he did. Hopefully this will be a lesson to him and he doesn't do it again."

She stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes focused on the screen.

"Do you think he took what as I said as me breaking up with him?" she asked me softly.

I sighed. "Probably. I think you two need some time apart to sort out how you feel before you talk to each other again. You don't want to say more stuff you don't mean in the heat of the moment."

Her eyes watered again. Natalie leapt to her feet and began to fumble around with my stereo, connecting her phone to it and scrolling through something. A song blasted through the speakers.

Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me
I said you're holding back
She said shut up and dance with me
This woman is my destiny
She said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me

Natalie grabbed Jennifer from the couch and started to dance, her short green curls flying as she spun around. I laughed and joined in. She was reluctant at first, then a smile crept onto her face. The three of us danced crazily and made complete fools of ourselves in general, but it seemed to do the trick.

     "Thank you," she said when the song was over.

     "That's what we're here for," Natalie said with a wide smile.

     "Can we play Risk?" Jennifer asked.

     "Sure," I said with a playful groan. I hate that game and under normal circumstances I would have put up a fight. But right now I wanted her happy, so I complied in silence.

     After a while of playing (in which she kicked my ass without showing any mercy) I suggested we go and visit Josh in the hospital. I texted Tyler as well, who agreed to meet us there. I was anxious to see Josh and was hoping he would be awake when we got there.