XXVI.. Jess
Alison: You didn’t come.
Jess: Alison, how did you get here?
Alison: Not important.
Jess: You said you didn’t want me there. I need to work. Go, please.
Alison: It’s him.
Jess: No, I told you I love you. You rejected me. I still want you back, the old you.
Alison: I told you I didn’t approve of you involving in his games.
Jess: I don’t need your approval. It’s my call. Could we still be friends? Please. I still care. Don’t do this
Alison: If you love, kiss me. Now.
She was forcing me to. Her arms were locked around my face. I couldn’t move. I can’t scream. The whole set would go frantic. I might even lose this job.
I cried. She pulled me harder.
Then my phone rang. She withdrew, I answered.
Jess’: Hello.
She pressed speaker on.
Jess: Hey.
My voice was breaking.
Jess’: Are you okay?
Jess: Yes. Cough.
Jess’: Oh. You available? Tonight?
Jess: Why?
Iess’: I got tickets. Last two. Your favorite. Maroon 5. I got VIPs.
How did he know? I never told him…
Jess: You hated that band.
Jess’: You loved it. I’ll manage. As a thank you for your excellent acting skills.
Jess: I can’t. Work. Just busy. I’m sorry. Take someone else. I have to go now. Bye—
Jess’: Oh.
The lines were dead.
Alison slapped me. Twice. Thrice. I lost count…
Alison: We’re through.
She left. I was broken. I got my foundation and concealer, tried my best to hide the scars… Though I knew they would never heal. Especially the ones in my heart.
XXI. The other Jess
That was weird. She never hangs up. Maybe she’s PMSing…
I went to her house at 4. She’s home. She didn’t open the doors. Guess she’s asleep. Her parents were gone and they just told me to leave. Why?
Weird.
I left and went to Madison Square. Alone. There, I saw one kid waiting. He doesn’t have a ticket. He just went there to see the band pass by. I gave him the extra.
Angel: That was sweet.
Jess’: Angel?
Angel: I thought you hated this band.
Jess’: I did. Who are you with?
Angel: No one. Crayton didn’t want to come. You?
Jess’: Alone, too. Mind if we go together?
Angel: Sure.
She held my hand and we spend the night together. She was sweet, caressing. Sometimes I gorget she doesn’t have a boyfriend.
Jess’: So Crayton ditched you?
I teased.
Angel: Yeah. Forever.
Her words had a sense of seriousness.
Jess’: What?
Angel: We broke up.
Jess’: When?
Angel: August 13.
Jess’: Sky’s party?
Angel: Yeah.
Silence… Dead silence.
Maroon 5 still plays.
Jess’: Why?
Angel: Third party.
Jess’: Oh. Who?
Angel: You.
