| ~Test of Your Sanity 10~ |
| His blue eyes looked out into the darkness of the night. Tear by tear was splashing onto his shirt, staining the expensive fabric. He didn�t notice the purple lightning streaking the black night sky, he didn�t notice the rock that hit his window near his face, he didn�t even notice the wild turkey running after the speeding limo. His mind was elsewhere, his heart was elsewhere. It was with the woman in the second limo, driving the opposite direction. �I lost her again,� he whispered to himself. �That�s one time too many.� *** �Jessie?� Heather called to her friend. She still stared at the wall, mute. �Jessie,� Heather repeated, sitting on the bunk. �Just go away please.� Heather put a hand on her friend�s shoulder, but she shifted position. �Why didn�t you go?� �I told you. They were too busy.� Jessie sniffled. �But�wouldn�t JC have made time for you?� �He can�t do anything about it ok? It�s the damn company�s decision.� �I�m sorry. I know you love him.� A round of sobs came and Heather decided to leave her alone. She went into the living room where the other guys were unwinding from the party. �How�s she doin�?� Nick asked when she sat down next to him. �Not very good.� �Why didn�t she just go with him?� Brian asked. �I would�ve. I mean, if I loved some-one.� �I don�t know. She said that the guys were too busy.� �Why doesn�t he just MAKE time?� AJ asked. �I mean, he loves her right? Then why doesn�t he DO something about his schedule?� �You ask her O Smart One,� Heather shot back. �She doesn�t tell me EVERYTHING.� In the distance they could hear a ring and a rustling of pillows. �Hello?� Jessie answered. �JJ?� �Hey Joshy,� she whispered, happy to hear his voice. �Hey sweetie. How are you?� �Miserable.� �Same here. I still wish you could�ve come with us.� �I do too.� �Why didn�t you?� JC asked. By that time, Heather and the others stood close to her bunk, catching every word. True this was invasion of privacy, but this was an emergency. Heather desperately wanted to know what was wrong with her friend and why she didn�t go with JC. �It wouldn�t have been fair to Heather,� she said softly. Heather�s jaw dropped and Nick held her down and covered her mouth. �You heard the guys,� Jessie continued. �She didn�t look like she was happy with me going.� �You love me don�t you?� �Of course I do! More than anything.� �Please Jessie. I�d do anything to have you here.� �I�d love that, but I�m here. I know we�ll meet again.� �That�s just a little too long.� �I know. I miss you so much.� Heather struggled against Nick, but he held her down fast and she couldn�t move. �Sorry sweetie,� JC apologized. �But I gotta go. I�ll talk to you in the morning ok?� �Ok.� She hung up slowly and hugged her pillow. �Remme ro!� Heather cried, muffled by Nick�s hand, making her words sound goofy. �Let her be,� Nick said. �She needs to be alone.� Her struggling stopped and Nick let her go. �I can�t believe this!� she cried. �She should be on that bus right now!� �But she�s not. Just let it be,� Nick repeated. She scowled and went to her bunk, which was under Jessie�s. �I can�t believe it. She chose me over him. What is wrong with her? She�s just too damn loyal. She doesn�t know when to be selfish� She closed her eyes and fell asleep, Nick�s face invading her dreams. *** �Jessie, eat this,� Heather commanded, shoving the donut in Jessie�s pale face. She looked away to the window. �I�m not hungry.� �You haven�t been hungry for the past week!� Heather exclaimed angrily. �You�ve got to eat some fuckin� food!� �I said I wasn�t hungry.� �I give up!� Heather shouted, tossing the donut aside. �You are impossible!� AJ looked at Heather questionably, then walked past her into the living room. Jessie still sat where she had been for days, the couch, looking out the window. Her butt must�ve been numb a long time ago. She had gotten reasonably skinnier and paler. AJ was worried about her, especially because when his dogs had tried to cheer her up, she ignored them completely, even if they were licking her. �Jessie?� he called, sitting down next to her. �Hey.� �Ok we�re makin� some progress� he thought to himself. �Jessie�how are you feeling?� �I�m fine.� �You don�t look that way,� AJ pressed. �You�re turning white.� �I haven�t noticed.� �Jessie, you need to eat something.� �Why?� �Look at you girl! You�re as skinny as a stick. You need something in your body.� �I will when I�m hungry.� �You�re hungry now,� he said, grabbing the McDonald�s Quarter Pounder from the bag. He ripped off a chunk of it and held it in front of her face. �You are gonna eat this.� She eyed it for a second, then looked away. �Jessie, you have to eat SOMETHING!� Her brown eyes stayed on the trees flying by. AJ thought for a minute. �C�mon. You want to be a healthy girl for JC, don�t you?� Her face twitched, and he knew he struck a nerve. �He wouldn�t want to see you like this.� Her face changed into one of thought. She looked at the piece. �Just that?� AJ smiled. �That�s my girl.� Her mouth almost turned up, but it opened and ate the chunk. AJ ripped off another chunk, and a half hour later, she had eaten the whole sandwich. �That�s great Jessie. Keep it up,� AJ smiled, kissing her forehead. �AJ?� �Hmm?� he asked, looking back at her. She smiled the first smile in days and said, �Thanks.� �No problem.� AJ left the room and said a quick prayer for her to keep eating. He passed Heather sitting on the couch. �Hey.� �Hey.� �I got her to eat something.� Heather�s head snapped up. �You what?� �She ate something.� �What, an apple?� �No.� �What then?� she questioned. �A quarter pounder with cheese,� AJ smiled. �You had the chance to get her to eat something, and you give her a slice of fat?� AJ laughed. �She ate some fries too.� �Ugh. Whatever Alex. I don�t know how you do it, but keep it up.� �Aye aye Captain.� Heather rolled her blue eyes and went to her bunk, getting a rest from all this trauma. *** So for the next few days, AJ got her to eat more and more, and Jessie regained the color to her face. Heather tried, but it didn�t work. �What did HE say that was so special?� she muttered, watching her eat an orange. �That�s for me to know, and you to find out.� She groaned and buried her hands into her red hair, trying to stop the migraine from coming. *** �Jace,� Justin called. �Jace. JACE WAKE UP!� JC shot up in his bunk, sweating bullets. �JC, you were having a dream,� Justin told him. �It was a nightmare,� JC groaned, putting his face in his hands. �What happened?� JC closed his eyes, remembering the horror� ~BEGIN FLASHBACK~ She walked down the alleyway, confused look on her face. The trash and garbage cans cast shadows everywhere, making it seem like she was in a black box. �JC?� she called out. �JESSIE!� he called back, but it was no use. She couldn�t hear him. She walked closer and closer� �NO!� he screamed. Her footsteps echoed as they grew closer to the light. There was a shadow�a shadow of him� JC. But it wasn�t. �JESSIE! NO!� �JC!� she cried, running now. He tried to jump, but he couldn�t. He wasn�t even solid. He was the air with eyes. �JC!� She grew so close� The shadow moved and the real JC tried to call out to her again. �JESSIE! RUN!� Click BANG!! Jessie dropped like a rag doll, collapsing so quickly JC couldn�t even make out which part of her hit the floor first. Crimson blood poured from the hole in her chest, flooding her body in a pool of her own blood and DNA. He knew it was too late. He could never have her back again. The shadow lifted its head, and he could see the glinting of the silver piercing below his lower lip. ~END FLASHBACK~ �Oh my god,� Justin breathed. Then his eyes became sharp. �Isn�t that AJ?� JC�s eyes widened in horror as he realized the truth in Justin�s words. �Oh my god�� �He wouldn�t actually kill her would he?� Justin asked. JC whipped out his cell phone and pressed the speed dial. One ring went by� �Hello?� �JJ,� I sighed with relief. �You�re still here.� �Of course I am. Where�d you think I�d be?� she asked. �I just had a nightmare, that�s all.� �What nightmare?� she asked. �Nothing.� �Oh. Joshy I love you.� �I love you too. Um, sweetie?� �What?� �Do you think you could come with us?� JC asked. �Just ASK Heather if you can go.� �Are you sure?� �Yes. Just please. Ask,� he pleaded. �Ok. Hang on a sec.� JC breathed a sigh of relief. �Heather!� Heather rushed into the room. �What?� �JC was wondering�� �Did he ask if you wanted to go on tour with him?� Jessie nodded. �GO!� �Uh�� she trailed off, surprised by her sudden shout. �Go!� she repeated. �Thank you!� Jessie cried happily, hugging her best friend tightly. �JC?� �Yes?� �I�M GOING!� she shrieked. �OH MY GOD YES!� �When can I meet you?� �Tomorrow in Arkansas,� JC said quickly. I�ll set up the flight. Where are you gonna be tomorrow?� �We�re gonna be in New York.� �Ok. Get ready baby you�re comin� home!� Jessie smiled and rushed into her bunk drawers and started packing everything. |
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