Lyrical

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Everything packed?” Jock asks me. My head turns around to see a “ready to go” Jock. We are only leaving in a few hours. I laugh and smirk, “Almost done.”

Since we arrived at Jock’s grandma, the only thing I took out was a clean pair of underwear and my pajamas. Jessie took me shopping yesterday for a ‘new wardrobe’. After all, I want a new start so a new wardrobe is fine. Right now, I’m wearing floral shorts, a t-shirt that has a pipe on it and states ‘Ceci n’est pas une pipe’ (This is not a pipe – ironic) and my worn out converse.

“I just want to talk to you, privately.” Jock’s face looks serious. He silently closes the door and sits on my bed. “Jock there is really nothing to talk about.” I reply. Jock’s eyes look worried, “But Laine…” I interrupt, “At least not now, please. Not today.” A reassuring look is on his face, “But it’s important Laine.” I don’t want to talk about it. It would ruin my mood and today we are going to the festival and I just want to forget.

Luckily, Jessie opens the door with a swing. Her eyes are wide and filled with tears, “Sorry am I interrupting something?” She tries to hide the tears but she turns around and walks off. Jock gives me that ‘I need to go after her’ look. I nod.

**

I grab my bag and start marching towards the door. Jessie comes running up the stairs, pushes me into the room and closes the door. Her actions take me by surprise. She sits on the bed and starts sobbing. I sit next to her to reassure her that everything is okay. I don’t know what’s going on but she will tell me sooner or later. Jessie tries to say something in between her tears, but her breath is uneven so nothing comes out.

“Jess calm down, it’s okay. Take deep breaths.” While she breaths in seven times and eleven out, I get up and bring her a glass of water. She slowly drinks it. I hold her until she has recovered. “What’s wrong Jess?” Jessie looks up at me with large, red eyes. “I’m scared Laine, I’m scared” “Of what?” I don’t want to sound too pushy but she didn’t storm into my room for no reason.

“Of my feelings for him.” Now I understand. “You are scared because of your feelings for Jock?” “Yes…” “Which feeling are you scared of?” “I don’t know… I don’t know if I love him or that this relationship will be over soon. I’m just scared…”

She doesn’t finish her sentence. “Shit, Laine I’m so sorry.” I look up to her eyes with run out mascara. “Why are you sorry?” “I’m such an idiot.” She stands up, “I’m sorry Laine.”

Now she’s walking to the door and I am confused. “Jess… What do you mean? I don’t get it?” She slowly turns around. “What has happened to you is horrible and I am the one complaining about my feelings for Jock.”

Now I’m standing in front of Jessie, putting my hands on her shoulders. “Jess I would rather talk about your relationship than mine. Mine? I don’t even have a relationship. I only have a relationship with you guys. You are my best friend, you can tell me anything. Some idiot bastard is not going to stop you from whatever you need to say. I’m here for you Jess, as you are for me.”

I grab her hand and pull her to the bed. She sits on the bed and I grab a chair and sit across from her. She tells me how she feels. She loves Jock but there’s a part of her that says that this won’t last forever. When Jock ran after her she just told him that it was her father’s death day. It was a lie. She never met her father because her parents were divorced and he lived in some exotic country. But Jock didn’t know that.

**

We had talked for a long time. And I told her that she should talk to him. Tell him how she feels maybe he feels the same way. Her eyes are finally dry. “Jacques, Jacques, le taxi, c’est arrivé.” (Jaques, Jaques, the taxi, it has arrived) Jock’s grandmother calls out. “Grand-mère, nous viennent. Un minuit.” (Grandmother, we are coming. One minute.)

Loud footsteps come towards us. Jock opens the door. “The taxi is here to take us to the train station. You guys coming?” As soon as he says that, I get up, grab my fallen bag and run out of the room. I can hear Jock say, “Forget about your father, you have to have fun now.” I turn around and in the blink of an eye, I see him give her a little peck on her lips. Jessie starts blushing. They really are cute. Jock is a sweet guy, I feel so bad for Jessie that she feels this way.

As soon as I come down the stairs, Artie comes towards me and grabs my bag. He gives it to the taxi driver. I give Jock’s grandmother a hug and kiss on her cheek. “Merci beaucoup, Madame. Je vous verrais.” (Thank you a lot, Madam. We will see each other again) Jock’s grandmother gives me a satisfying smile. At that moment, Jock and Jessie come down. They also say their goodbyes.

Artie gives me his hand and says, “You ready for the time of your life?” I look up at his green eyes, I grab his hand and nod with a smile.