black & white

closer

jack was away on tour, and I missed him more than anything. work was hell.

"hey whore. file these papers." she dropped a massive pile of documents on my desk.

rumors had started to spread about mine and jack's relationship, and they were pretty awful. I'd started crying in the bathroom during my break regularly.

I looked at my coworker blankly, and wordlessly started on the massive stack of papers.
"that's it, bitch? you're not going to say anything?"
"I don't have the time or the energy. so just think what you want," I shrugged.
she looked offended. "you're pathetic."
"so are you," I said, not making eye contact.

she went from zero to sixty. "oh, you've really had it now, you little slut."
"I'm not going to fight you. I'm busy. don't you see all these papers I have to file?"
just then, ben walked by and saw her in my face. "what's going on in there?"

"I'm working. I'm not sure what she's doing," I said, picking up the phone just as it started to ring.
"alright, come on. out." he escorted her out of the office, and then he came back in, closed the door, and waited for me to finish my call.

"hey jane, I just-"
"please don't ask me any questions, ben. I'm really not in the mood," I said, cutting him off.
"it's just you know that things have gotten pretty rough around here recently. and you and jack are kind of at the center of it."

"ben, I know you know what's going on. jack is your uncle after all. but all this drama isn't our fault. and in reality, there's nothing problematic about my relationship with him. it just looks bad because of my age and work status. but I'm an adult, I love him, and all of this pettiness and drama has sprung up purely from jealousy and immaturity. that's not on me. or jack. and frankly, what he and I do in private is nobody's business."

"and you say you're only eighteen?" ben asked me, a little dumbfounded.
I was confused at first. "yes, why?"
"that was the most eloquent and mature thing I've ever heard any eighteen-year-old say," he laughed, but then he was serious again. "I know you've gone through hell these last couple of months, jane. I'm going to remedy that, I promise you. I've spoken to jack about it, too."

"thank you, ben. really. thank you."
he smiled at me, looked at his watch, and then at me again. "when is jack coming home?"
"tonight."
"tell you what. why don't you cut out early and take the rest of the week off to be with him? with pay. you deserve it."
"are you serious?" I asked, excitedly.
"dead serious. get out of here," he said, smiling. "I'll take care of those papers, too."
I jumped out of my seat. "you're wonderful, ben. thank you so much."

I gathered up my things and cordially kissed him on the cheek, and he blushed. I booked it out of there and the girls caught sight of me, and of course there were looks of contempt on their faces. I stuck my tongue out at them as I backed out of the door. I heard a riot break out and I laughed to myself as I got into my car.

♤

I anxiously waited for him at the airport.

I'd bought him a coffee since I knew he'd be jetlagged. when I finally saw him walking up from the terminal I could hardly contain myself; I'd missed him so much.

"hey baby," he said, dropping his bags and wrapping his arms around me.
"oh, god I missed you," I cried, burying my face in his chest. he smelled amazing; I'd missed that smell.

"I missed you more. I hate being away from you." he stood with his hands on my waistline, his forehead pressed against mine. "I just want to hold you and never let go."
"here. I bought you this. I knew you'd be tired," I said, putting the coffee in his hand. "let's sit down for a minute. there's no rush."

we sat in some chairs in a waiting area, and we just enjoyed each other after being separated for a little over a month.

"where are we staying tonight?" he asked.
"your house. your bed," I said, clasping my fingers to his.
"sounds good to me."

♤

he made love to me for hours that night.

"it's been too long," he whimpered. I watched him grab onto the headboard above me, his other hand running up and down my thigh. "jane."
"yeah?"
"tell me what I need to do to get you off."

"I need it deeper," I said, running my hands through his hair. he pushed my legs apart as far as they would go, and gradually picked up the pace.

he did this for a little while longer until I felt the tension building up inside of me, and finally the levee broke and I completely lost myself for a few moments.
"jack..."

he kissed me deeply, his nose brushing against mine.
"did I do okay?" he asked innocently, and I laughed a little.
"it was the best I've ever had," I said.
I kissed his forehead and held him against my chest. "thank you for loving me."
"it's the least I could do," he said. "I love loving you."

that night, he held me a little tighter, I kissed him a little longer, and we stayed a little closer.