La Façade des Plumes

Chapter XXIV - Meltdown

2:05 pm

James came to a smooth stop before shifting the gear into park. He looked over to Isley in the passenger seat, puzzled by her nonchalant face. She was quiet, studying her nails. Almost like nothing happened. "Aren't you upset?" he asked. She dropped her hand into her lap. She rolled her lips, staring off into nothing. "No, I'm not," she whispered. "Why not? You did nothing wrong! You can't let them screw you over like that?"

Isley chuckled, meeting his eyes, "Have you ever had so many things happen to you, it's almost...comical?" James leaned back in his seat, "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember watching those kids shows when you were younger? And the episode kept escalating because the main character's plan kept getting derailed. Every single thing going wrong. Even if all they wanted was just to take a nap after a long day. Something would always come up. And it would be so funny that you sat there laughing at them because how silly of a situation that would be? Laughing at a person who can't seem to catch a break?"

James softened his gaze, "Yeah, I do." Isley shook her head, "The best part about it is we are all laughing at this poor person who's angry, sad, and tired. Not wondering why they don't find it funny. I've spent my whole life around those who stayed angry. I was always angry. It was all I ever knew. To lose everything around you while the world laughs in your face. So I figured, why not laugh with them?"

"And how has that turned out for you?"

"Weirdly, it helps me accept that things are just the way they are. No matter how tragic the situation. We can't stop what's thrown our way. So might as well just skip through all the stages and just accept the fact that somehow in some way, you ended up deserving it in the end."

"But you didn't deserve that."

"I'm not as squeaky clean as I appear to be. Hell, I probably had something to do with that guy's murder. Maybe if I had stayed longer or called the police to arrest him, he'd be alive. But I didn't and now he's dead."

James took her hand into his, "He was a piece of shit. He assaulted you, followed you, and had the intentions of only God knows what. His death is what he deserved for being the person he was. You, on the other hand, save lives and defend your friends when they're in need. You didn't deserve the short end of the stick. You can't let the world throw their garbage on you and act like you don't care." Isley smiled at his words, interlacing her fingers with his, "I guess if I had to see a bright side to this, I get a month vacation," she laughed. James listened to her contagious laugh like it was music to his ears. A sound he could listen to all day.

Isley wiped her tears, looking at his face, "Oh Jeez, are you okay?" she asked. "What?"

"You have all these scrapes on your face!" she pointed out, lightly tracing her finger across his face. Her eyes fell to the collar of his shirt, "What the hell?" she asked, pulling down the collar, revealing fresh, dark bruises. He grabbed her hands, holding them away from him, "Just part of the job," he replied. "What? No. Someone-...Who did this to you-..." He shushed her, "Hey...It's just another soap opera day."

"But-"

"I'm okay, Isley."

Her hands relaxed in his grasp. She bit her lip, afraid to look away from his eyes. She'd seen his eyes before, but for the first time, they were staining themselves in her mind. She could draw them blindly, from memory. They were like sapphires...twinkling like diamonds in the night sky. A sight no one could look away from. He kissed her cheek, caressing the other side of her face with his fingers, "Come on, let's go eat."

Isley watched him emerge from the car, and her thoughts came flooding back. So many questions left unanswered. The puzzle demanded to be solved, yet she couldn't bring herself to sort the pieces. Why don't I care enough to pry? James opened the passenger door, extending his hand to her. She rose from her seat, meeting his eyes again. Maybe...just maybe...you're someone like me. Just trying to keep going in an effort to forget the past.