| "Unmasking the Past" | ||
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Kendra Books 1825 hours Jordan watched the unblinking eyes staring back at her. She looked away, apprehensive of Vanessa's gaze and unsaid thoughts. "Well," Vanessa began, "That's quite an adventure." Her accent was stronger now. "But I do suppose that makes sense, you know�doing what you did. You had to, otherwise�well, we'd all be dead." She paused and looked at her with sorrowful eyes. "Poor you�not being able to contact anyone, what did you do?" Jordan sighed in relief. She bought it. Furthermore, Vanessa seemed more at ease. She was no longer sitting rigidly upright, instead her feet where tucked underneath her as she leaned back into the overstuffed armchair. This she was glad of, but her head was pounding from all the questions. She absent-mindedly massaged her left temple where the pain originated. They had been talking for over an hour now. She just wanted to leave, but putting that thought on hold for the moment, she answered Vanessa's question. "Not much to start with, I was in shock, couldn't quite believe that I was still alive, but I couldn't share that thought with anyone. Instead, I was totally alone." "Oh I know�well, I guess I don't really, but I can sympathize with you because I felt similar when I first came here, not knowing a soul and the closest person I knew was thousands of miles away. It sure must've been tough." "It was, but I eventually got my foot hold. What about you though? What have you been up to? How long have you been here?" she questioned, redirecting the conversation. Vanessa swung her long hair back over her shoulder and grabbed her cup of tea. "Like you, it is also a long story, but I won't bore you with every detail." She nodded in reply, but remained silent. "Well, once you guys were caught, I was done to be quite honest. Didn't want to take the chance anymore, life became more precious to me. So I finished school in peace, switched my concentration to business, as I never really did like environmental studies much. I came here right after I graduated, worked out in Seattle. I only transferred here about two weeks ago." "Ya?" she replied, "where?" She was curious where she worked. She didn't think it was that easy to get a job right after graduation, let alone in an entirely different country. Perhaps she was mistaken. "I work in the marketing and finance divisions for Levi. Nothing spectacular yet, I got the job through a friend of my fathers." Jordan smiled and nodded in understanding; that made much more sense. "That's great, hell that's more then great, it's spectacular! You must be working up in New York then right?" "Yup, and I am renting a great place a couple blocks away." "That's awesome, I live close by too. It's nice living by the ocean." she replied, wondering how close by Vanessa was and if she was close to her own home. Vanessa nodded, "And you work here." "More then that, I own this place." It was Vanessa's turn to be impressed, "Wow, you own it? You must've not had it too bad then. I can't believe it. I can't picture you as managing anything. It's quite the on taking. You're whole ordeal sure must've changed you. And from what I can see for the better." She blushed at the compliment, if only Vanessa knew what she had really gone through. If she did, Jordan suspected, she wouldn't be as willing to give compliments. "I don't know about that Vanessa," she replied. She suddenly had the strong urge to leave. She really needed to get out of here. "Oh don't be so modest." She stared at Vanessa for a moment. "Ya, whatever," she said quickly, not wanting to delve into why and how she had changed. "Sorry�but I gotta go. I'm afraid I have date in an hour, so you'll have to excuse me booting you out." Vanessa laughed, "Oh a date? Who's the guy? No no, just kidding. Perhaps we could meet up for dinner sometime soon though." Jordan stared at her, thinking that she would like that. "Yes, I would very much like that." Vanessa's face erupted into a smile. "Great! Let me just write down my phone number for ya." "Sure, do you need a pen?" Vanessa opened up her dark brown handbag and search around in it. "Ya, I think I do. I'm always leaving my pens somewhere and unless you want my number on the back of one of my old receipts, a piece of paper would be great too." Jordan rose and grabbed the pen up by the cash register, along with a scrap piece of paper. She wondered what she was doing. She was supposed to be pushing Vanessa away, not making up for lost time by talking for hours and hours. Let alone what the hell she was going to tell Rebecca and Gray. Paige, Saf, and Baz, she couldn't even begin to think about tell them. Rebecca and Gray seemed daunting enough. The quick and hopefully easy solution would be simply to remain silent about all this to the whole lot of them. She handed the pen to Vanessa who scribbled down her phone number. "Here ya are. I'm usually not home before 6pm on weekdays, so just give me a call after then or leave a message." "Sure, I will, thanks." "Well, I'd better go then, I don't want to make you late. I know how you hate to be late." Jordan nodded, "No kidding." Vanessa headed towards the door, "I'll see you soon Amber." Her hands stopped in mid-air as she was folding up the paper with Vanessa's number on it. Right�her old name. "Umm�Vanessa, there's one more thing." Vanessa turned with raised eyebrows, "What?" "When I got here, I changed my name. My old name reminded me too much of the past I had to forget and leave behind. I go by Jordan now." Vanessa nodded in understanding and patted her arm. "I understand, but I hope you haven't forgotten the good times though." She smiled at her remark. "Of course not, it's the only thing that has kept me going," she replied, not really sure about that remark. She had done quite well so far with burying all existence of her former life. Teary eyed, Vanessa turned, "I should go, you don't want to be late." "I'll give you a call in next couple of days." "Sounds good." "Bye." Jordan called out the door, watching it close, hitting the bell before shutting completely. She shook her head in disbelief, what was she doing? She had half the mind to jump in her car and follow Vanessa, to see what she was up to, but she didn't. Something was stopping her, but she didn't know quite what it was. While talking to Vanessa she had felt a glimmer something, something that made her feel good and not so much like a killer and a fraud. Return |
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