| Afternoon She looked tired, old and tired and probably aging by the second. She leant in closer to the mirror and studied the lines on her face, around her mouth, beneath her eyes. Telltale signs of the kind of month she was having. God knows what else was going to be thrown at her, everything at work had finally settled into her place and she was loving it. She was finally dating the man she�d wanted since she was 22 years old and enjoying the most amazing sex life with him � she smiled to herself then closed her eyes again. For heaven�s sake, her ex was still living with her, it was getting ridiculous now. She had tried to be civil with the man but there were moments when he just downright drove her crazy, accidentally bumping into her in the bathroom. She couldn�t have a conversation with Jack on the phone because she was worried he was listening. And Jack � dear Jack was so jealous all the time, watching her every move too, monitoring her, always seeking her true feelings � did she love him, did she want him? Over and over � and somehow along the way it had gotten too much. So today she�d cracked and shouted at poor Serena, ok the girl was wrong in her assumption and had made the mistake of talking to the press before talking to Nora but she�d gone insane at her and there was no need. So she was here, hiding in the ladies bathroom at work like some child attempting to skip a class. She splashed some cold water on her face before returning to her office. Jack had dealt with Serena�s tears for over an hour now, her pretty face red and sore, and his shirt soaked. He�d received half the story through sobbing and finally convinced her to go home and get some rest and they�d discuss it tomorrow. He tried to dry his shirt before he visited Nora. Knocked and entered and closed the door behind him and leant on the back of a chair as he watched her. She looked tired, beautiful but tired nevertheless. And undeniably pissed off � at what though? At Serena, at the press, at him � probably at him! He grinned to himself and rubbed his forehead. �Are you ignoring me?� �No, I�m waiting for you to speak up. I�m sure you�ve got plenty to say.� She didn�t even look up � a bad sign. He sat down and crossed his arms leaning back in the chair. �You upset her.� �I know, I�ll speak to her later.� �I sent her home.� Now she looked up. �Jack�� �She was upset.� �I wanted to talk to her.� �Then call her, or better still wait until the morning�� �What�s that supposed to mean?� �You don�t exactly seem � well in the best of moods.� �That�s because I�m a sour faced old cow.� She threw her glasses on the desk. �That�s not true.� He leant forward. �What�s causing this?� �Everything � but not here Jack, it�s personal we�ll talk later.� �Are you gonna dump me?� �No! For gods sake Jack this is the problem, this constant need for reassurance. I can�t be always feeling like I�m on a knife�s edge with you.� �But sometimes that�s how I feel � it works both ways.� �Alright, alright.� She held up her hands and reflected his relaxed poise. �No more arguing about it, I just have to get through this bad day I�m having.� �I did wonder why that grey cloud was hovering over you.� �Funny aren�t you.� She ran her hand through her hair. �Ohhh, ok I will call Serena and take her out for dinner tonight and apologise. And I will try and lighten up. Will that do for you?� �That depends.� A wry smile. �On what?� �On whether you come to stay with me after your meal.� �Jack� I may come and visit you but I can�t stay.� �God damn rules.� �Get used to them.� She replaced her glasses and picked up the phone and waved him away. Evening Nora decided to walk home from the restaurant, the night was clear and the moon was bright and full. She watched it follow her home, calming and tranquil. And her mood lightened. She�d apologised to Serena, they�d had a good evening, and as Nora had suspected Serena had guessed about her and Jack. It was actually quite a fulfilling moment, to have somebody to talk to. Another woman to share her feelings with, her worries and most of all her happiness. And as she knocked at Jack�s door she felt very composed and a little giddy to be perfectly honest, if he asked her to stay over then she wouldn�t say no tonight. This time when Jack opened the door it was he who looked tired, and old and upset. �Jack dearest,� she smiled wrapping her arms round his neck. �I�ve been drinking wine and watching the moon and I�m feeling very much in love.� She pushed him back inside and kissed his mouth. She was unbuttoning his shirt when he pushed her back and whispered just one word before retreating to the kitchen. �Don�t.� She took her coat off and followed him into the kitchen, sitting on the edge of the table and watching as he made coffee. �What�s wrong sweetie?� She smiled. �Why are you making that � get me more wine and get me completely drunk then you can what the hell you like with me.� She flung her arms open and lay back on the table. Jack took hold of her arms and pulled her up into a sitting position. �Nora, sober up we need to talk.� What about?� She smiled running her fingers down the side of his cheek. �I saw Richard this afternoon.� The smile disappeared, her flirtation stopped. �You did?� �That sobered you up didn�t it.� He dropped her arms and moved away, needing the distance as he gazed out of the window. �Are you still sleeping with him?� �What!� �Well are you � the truth. Are you playing us both for fools Nora, is that why I can�t visit your home, is that why I can�t even fucking call you there?!� Suddenly sober she got down from the table. �You have no right to talk to me like that.� She said calmly. �You really think I�m capable of doing that?� He spun round. �No, but what he said�� �Oh right, so you believe what he says and instead of coming out here and talking to me like an adult, a decent human being you attack me, like I�m some lying whore.� �I never said�� �You implied it Jack, and worst you thought it. I�m doing every thing I can to make this easier on us, to make it work, to make it last. It�s driving me crazy � I can�t sleep for worrying about the both of you. Trying not to hurt Richard more than I already have, trying to keep you happy, to give you all I can without jeopardising my career � or yours. And I�m getting so tired of it Jack because neither of you deserve it, if Richard is talking about me like that what sympathy does he deserve? And if you don�t even trust me then what love do you deserve?� She marched into the hallway and put her coat back on and he followed. �Where are you going?� �Home.� She stopped and rubbed her forehead. �I can�t even go home to be alone because he�s still there.� �Stay with me.� �I don�t want�� �I�m sorry, I�m sorry I always get it so wrong � I�m sorry I get so jealous. Earlier you told me that you felt you were on a knife�s edge well to be honest Nora that�s how I am every day. Worried that you might discover that part of me that every other woman has and walk away. Terrified somebody may find out at work and you will end it because of that and worst of all that you will realise just how better for you Richard is, how much more trustworthy � more worthy of you.� �Don�t beat yourself up so Jack, you�ve made some god damn awful mistakes and you�re no angel but neither am I and how are we ever going to get anywhere if we don�t believe in each other.� He moved closer to her. �I do believe in you.� �It doesn�t seem like it.� He closed his eyes. �God I had you on my kitchen table telling me to do what I wanted with you and instead I choose to argue.� �Do you have any wine?� She smiled. �Some � then spoil me and I�ll forget all about this.� �And Richard?� �I�m gonna kick his ass from here to�� He kissed her. �Nora, you make me feel these feelings I never even knew I had.� Review Home |
| Disclaimer: Cos Nora's cute and Jack is sexy and they just HAVE to get it together - ok writers!! |
| S e c t i o n s : 9 |