The sequel as told in Jonathan's perspective. Andrew Rannells has paid his time of three years and is back out in the public, and Jonathan remains single. Will he manage to avoid his past lover? Or are their paths too intertwined to escape from?
Every single noise was magnified in my ears, it was stupid, I shouldn't care so much. No matter what phrases I scolded myself with, there was no way I could stop my hyper alertness. "Come on, pull yourself together, it's only a walk to the shops." A little kid sprinted past me wearing his football kit, I silently prayed for no more random jump scares. Instead of focusing on my surroundings I quietly sang a bunch of lines that had been stuck in my head recently, whenever I saw someone I'd quieten down but maintain the tune in my head. "Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds Fear or love? Baby, don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words." I repeated the lines until I looked up and met the giant supermarket sign, smiling in relief I walked through the automatic doors and felt the cold air hit me when I made my entrance. There was no time to sing now, there were too many people, someone would hear me eventually. Therefore I had nothing else to focus on, apart from how blind and vulnerable I was in the public eye. Well, a singular person's eye to be exact. Preoccupied, I began to search for the items Lin listed which, with no clear memory of the supermarket isles, took a reasonably long amount of time. Also emitting numerous strange looks from people browsing the groceries when I walked down that isle for the umpteenth time in a space of two minutes. It wasn't looking bright. After a decent 45 minutes of asking around to find certain aisles, I completed the list, and bought two kinder eggs for the kids. It'll shut them up for a bit. Yes harsh but definitely needed after recent events. As I headed out I heard my name being shouted behind me "Jon?" "Jon!" I froze and, after taking a deep breath, turned around to see Thayne Jasperson's excitable face to my mass of relief. "Fancy seeing you here!" "Yeah just got stuff for Lin's family and that, he's got enough on his shoulders you know." "Yeah yeah, I'm just heading in, hope to see you soon though. Maybe Hamilton reunion?" I chuckled "Yeah maybe." He smiled back then walked into the shop with a spring in his step. Unable to deal with anymore surprises though I scarpered home and dropped the bag of food on my kitchen table. "Wait. Jon?" "Yeah what?" I turned to see Lin cautiously eyeing me from the doorway to the kitchen. Unwilling to move closer. "Are you hurt?" "No." "Did he -?" "No." "So you're -?" "I'm fine. It's all good." Lin smiled and laughed softly to himself helping me unpack the bags. "Jesus Christ you followed the shopping list I gave you entirely!" "Not exactlyyyy." I received a side eye and smiled guiltily holding up the two kinder eggs. "Thought we could quieten the house for a couple seconds." Lin did a double take and, once noting I was serious, shrugged to himself taking the eggs off of me and giving them to the kids. I heard their squeals of delight from the kitchen as I finished unloading the shopping and began to dish up their lunches. "Lunchtime!" I sang as I walked into the living room holding the kids plates "Where's mine?" "Oh, sorry, I should've remembered to serve the child first." "Poo off." Now it was my turn to do a double take, I don't think anyone said that to me even in third grade. Let alone when I'm in my thirties. All three kids remained serious as I stood speechless at the fact some childish deflection was so common with this family. Eventually Lin looked up at me and ushered for me to get his lunch, still not mentioning the lack of a suitable comeback. Accepting what I was given I returned with our lunches and sat with the kids. Thankfully they knew how to feed themselves it was just using a fork and knife; they could eat stuff with their hands albeit the low hygiene rate but it was not anywhere near the top of our list of worries. Andrew was roaming the streets having got away with it yet again, whilst me and Lin were confined to the house as if we were prey. My phone dinged and lit up with a new message: Andrew: «file attachment» Hello Jonathan, already feeling lonely again? I looked over at Lin mindlessly eating his food and excused myself, once alone in the kitchen I opened the file:
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I rolled my eyes quickly getting the image out of my sight. If this is going to be regular from now so be it. I'd rather receive memoirs of our sickly relationship than visits from the man who ruined it all. I heard Lin stand up and begin to walk out "You good?" "Uh Yeah." I quickly hid my phone in my back pocket putting on a smile as an attempt of fakery. Instead it resulted in an 'Are you serious?' look from Lin and, as if I were a student, he held his hand out for me to give him my phone. "It's really nothing at all, I'm fine, there's no need really to -" "- Give me the phone Jon, no use dragging it out." Sighing I unlocked my phone and handed it over awaiting his reaction. "When was this?" "Uh a couple minutes ago?" "I meant when it was taken." "I can't remember. It was before I..." "Right." He intercepted the awkward silence, the unspoken words we were sick of saying. "Well, why don't we just block the number? Easy solution." "No!" He looked at me weirdly "I-I mean he might give me clues. He doesn't know I'm showing you this. We might be able to beat him again." "Okayyyyyy..." He dragged out still eyeing me with caution "Are you sure? I mean, that's fine but, we know what's happened before when he contacts you by phone." My mind briefly flashed back to when I had a panic attack from his voice alone when he called me. Shaking, the feeling of being trapped, struggling to breathe and - "Jonathan?" "Jonathan!" "Jon don't go back to then, listen to me!" "JONATHAN SNAP OUT OF IT!" I blinked seeing Lin opposite me with his hands on my shoulders looking straight into my eyes, searching. I supplied a weak smile and he exhaled in relief. "Okay, uh, if you wanna keep the number fine. But if I ever see you reacting like that again - it will be the end of that. Just, don't hide it if he messages you anymore - no matter what scale the texts are okay?" "Okay. I think I'm gonna have a nap, I'm exhausted." He left to go check on the kids and I went up to my old room. I felt sick knowing he had been in this space, so private and personal. I felt invaded, just how he wanted me to feel. Andrew: «file attachment» When was the last time you genuinely smiled? I remember it as if it were yesterday. Have a good nap Jonathan.
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