Chapter
3
Janie
stared at the water below her as she leant against the side of her favourite bridge. The current was strong. She pictured
Jessie fighting hard against it, the current was headed in the direction of
death but Jessie wanted life. She wasn’t making any progress in either
direction as Jessie’s will power was as strong as the current, but then she
moved slightly in the direction of death and Janie shook the image out of her mind.
She glanced at her watch, she had been out for an
hour. She should get beck to James, he needed her, maybe she could find out how
Jessie was doing.
“Hello
gorgeous, what’s a beautiful gal like you doing all alone?” Came
an unfamiliar voice from beside her.
“What’s
it to you?” she said without thinking.
“Aw,
don’t be like that, gorgeous, I only care.”
“Well
go and ‘care’ about someone else” she shot at him, still not looking up from
the water below her.
“But
I don’t want to, gorgeous.”
“I
HAVE A NAME YOU KNOW!” She flinched, maybe she
shouldn’t have said that.
“And
what is it, gorgeous?”
Janie
ground her teeth desperately trying to think of a name, but all she could think
about was Jessie, “Hattie” she said, trying to sound convincing.
“That’s
a gorgeous, gorgeous”
“Ja – HATTIE”
“Something
tells me your name isn’t Hattie, gorgeous.” Janie felt like slapping him so
hard that he’s be knocked into the middle of next week!
“Just
get lost will you”
“how about ‘no’, gorgeous.” She slapped him.
“CAN’T
YOU TAKE A HINT?! FUCK OFF, BUGGER OFF, GO AWAY, GET LOST, RELIEVE ME OF YOU
COMPANY, GET AWAY FROM MY AURA!!!!!!!”
He grabbed her and held her in front of him, “a
strong mind, I like that” he said smoothly. Janie pushed him way in panic and
once she was free, ran as fast as her legs could carry her to the hospital.
Leave him dumbstruck and staring after her.
James
woke slowly, his body was still aching all over but
not more than his heart. He looked around for Janie, but she wasn’t there, it
had been two hours since she left – he hoped she was okay. The last thing he
wanted was for both his friends to get hurt. It was then that Janie stormed in.
“What
happened?” he asked, noticing how tense she seemed.
“Some
guy wouldn’t leave me alone” she growled.
“So much for clearing your head!”
“I’m
better off just staying” she moaned, “any news on Jessie?”
“Like
they would tell me anything” he sighed. Janie smiled at him warmly.
“You
OK?”
“Are
you?” James smiled back at her,
“How
about ‘no’”
“Me
too, I can’t stop thinking about her, Janie” he squeaked, as a single tear slid
down his cheek.
“Oh,
J don’t cry or you’ll get me started!”
“ I’m OK” he lied, biting his lip. Janie sat down by his
pillow and put her arm round him.
“You’re not,” she told him, “but it doesn’t matter
because I’m staying here even if you are.” For the entire hour that followed,
Janie tried desperately to lighten the atmosphere, but all she wanted to do was
burst into tears.
James
woke up, he hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but he couldn’t for the life of him
stay awake. Janie was sleeping at the end of his bed,
he could hear her breathing lightly. He thought of how good to him she had been
all through this, she had been like a sister to him for a long time before. He
loved her for that. A day before she had saved their lives and stayed with him
for hours on end, he loved her for that too. It was then that his thoughts
moved to Jessie, but they were interrupted by the doctor walking in.
“Hello”
he said happily. What was there to be happy about? James’ best friend could be
long since dead for all they were telling him! He shuddered at the thought.
“How
is she?” Stammered, “Jessie, is she OK?”
“Well
I’m not totalled sure..”
“Well
BE should, please tell me, I have to know.” His shouting woke Janie with a
start.
“Have
to know what?” she yawned.
“How
Jessie is.”
“Yeah,
how is she?” Janie said, a little loader than she had
meant to.
“As
I said, I am not amazingly sure…”
“Could
you find out please, or shall I?” She shouted standing up and revealing to
James’ surprise that Janie was quite a bit taller than the doctor, the doc
opened his mouth to speak but Janie had already left.
“What’s
wrong with you’re girl friend?” he asked.
“Well
she’s…GIRLFRIEND!!?!”
“Oh,”
the docter replied, embarrassed, “did I get that
wrong?”
“Yeah,”
he said quietly as not to offend Janie, what if she was listening in?
She
wasn’t though, Janie was on her way to the nurse who had been with Jessie,
wanting to find out exactly what was going on in that department. For James’ sake if no one else’s. She ran through the
waiting room, Meowth was there.
“How
are they Janie…Janie?” he called.
“Can’t talk, on a mission.” She replied.
On
a mission?! She thought. She was about to laugh when she bumped into someone
and fell backwards. Looking ahead and opening her mouth to apologise
she gulped hard when she saw who it was…
“Jessie?”
Janie said slowly.
“…belle.”
Answered a southern accent. Janie jumped. That wasn’t
Jessie.
For
a start, Janie thought, if Jessie had that accent, she would at least be
working on changing it by now. This girl’s hair was it ringlets, and as Jessie
would say, “ that doesn’t do anything for my face.”
And another thing, Janie thought, Jessie wouldn’t be seen dead in that dress,
let alone alive.
“Who?” Janie stammered.
“Jessibelle” she said “I heard that my fiancee
was here, his name is James have you seen him?”
“What’s he look like?”
“Green
eyes, blue hair.” Janie froze, no it couldn’t be.
“Sorry,”
she said, trying to sound as casual as possible, “can’t help you.”
“Well,
keep a look out for may will ya?”
“Uh, sure.” Janie walked off, she can’t have been looking for
J, he didn’t have a fiancee, and if he did, it would
be the woman he loved, Jessie. Definitely not some southern twit – sheesh!