Here comes John!
Everything rushed at her all at once. The long dark hair, pulled back in a loose ponytail, the way too baggy black jeans that she had tried to convince him never to wear, the one gold earring in his left ear, the chain around his neck with one of her charms that she had given him that day in the gym. Then, she just couldn't help it. She moved towards him and wrapped her good arm around him. "God, you don't know how much I've missed you!"
He released the hug and smiled at her. "I can take a guess." He looked back up at Michelle, who was just standing there, looking totally clueless. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Michelle, this is John. John, Michelle." They smiled their hello's and all sat down. "I never thought you'd be here, I thought you said you were moving to some tiny hick town."
John laughed. "Jazmine, this is Tulsa. This is a hick town."
"But it's nowhere near being tiny. Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?"
"I didn't exactly think you'd be heading out this way anytime soon. What happened, your mom finally got sick of the keg parties invading her lawn?" They both laughed.
"I think it was a combination of everything that was going on." There was an awkward silence, where John and Jazmine just looked at each other.
Finally, Michelle spoke up. "Look, I'm kinda hungry, I'm gonna go get myself something, you want anything?"
Jazmine looked up at her, but didn't answer. Instead, John spoke up. "Actually, I thought we'd walk around a little while, catch up." He looked back at Jazmine. "That ok with you?"
"Sure, I'd love it, if you don't mind, Michelle."
She stood up and pulled Jazmine's arm. "Can I talk to you first?" They walked over to where they were just out of earshot. "Jazmine, I just want to remind you not to catch up too much. You know how much Isaac cares for you..."
"Michelle! Come on, I'd never do anything to hurt Isaac. He's helped me so much. Sure, John and I were, well, we were. But now things have changed. I promise." Michelle sighed and let her go. "I'll try to be back in an hour, ok?" She nodded and headed to one of the lines.
John got up and went over to Jazmine. "She doesn't trust me, does she?"
"It's not that she doesn't trust you, I just don't think she trusts me." She clutched her crutches and started heading out of the food court, John walking slowly beside her.
They walked for about a half hour, when their conversation was stopped by people calling to John from the wall. He went over, Jazmine slowly following. "Hey, didn't think you guys would be here today." The two guys stood side by side, one seeming to tower over the other. The taller one had neck length, slightly curly hair and a backwards Duke hat, and the shorter one had a buzz cut looking hair style.
"Why wouldn't we be? It's not like there's any other place to hang out in this damn town," the taller one said. Afterwards, both guys started looking rather obviously at Jazmine. "You gonna tell us who she is, or is she just gonna stand there?"
"Sorry. Jazmine, meet Ron," he nodded in the direction of the taller guy, "And David. Ron, David, this is Jazmine."
Ron and David continued their look, which seemed to startle Jazmine. "Sorry, but I can't really stand up much longer, I'll just sit down over there." She hobbled over and sat down.
"Damn, John, how'd you get so lucky?" David said.
"God, she looks too damn fine to be true. Does the bitch know you're with her?"
"Why do you call her that?" John said, rather annoyed.
"Cause she is one." Ron snapped. "She's a goddamn bitch. I can't be near her for more than five seconds without having to restrain myself from kicking her ass out the door. Now this chick, Jazmine," he paused and glanced over at her. "Her I could enjoy being around." David smirked and agreed. "Well, you haven't answered my question. Does the bitch know you're out with such a fine girl?"
John sighed, knowing he wouldn't get anywhere if he argued. "She doesn't need to know. Jazmine's an old friend, nothing more."
David laughed. "Sure, John. You're just good 'ole buddies. I remember you talking about her." He lightly tugged on the chain around John's neck. "She's the one that gave you this. She's the one whose boyfriend beat the shit out of you after you tried to make out with her in the gym. You're more than just friends."
"Look, David. All that was a long time ago. Things have changed."
Ron snorted a laugh. "Yeah, you met Tha Bitch! Too damn bad! But since you don't seem interested, I'll take your friend off your hands!"
John glared at his friend. "Like I'd let you anywhere near her in the first place."
"Oh, getting protective, are we?" Ron mocked.
"Around you, hell yeah. You're probably the most distraught, corrupted person in the whole damn world."
Ron snickered. "I wouldn't mind corrupting her."
John violently stepped up to Ron. "Look, punk. Shut the fuck up." He backed away after the smile on Ron's face vanished. "You seriously need to lay off the damn weed, you'll end up fuckin' yourself up."
"Speaking of which," Ron pulled out an Altoid's tin and handed it to John. "In case conversation dies down."
"You know I don't do that shit anymore."
David laughed. "Like hell you don't. I was with you when you did it the other day."
John rolled his eyes and jammed the tin in his back pocket. "I'll see you punks later." He turned and walked over to Jazmine. "Sorry about them."
Jazmine picked up her crutches and stood up. "It's ok, really. It's not like I've never known people like them. They remind me of Alex and Eric, only more wacked out."
"But Alex and Eric weren't so damn hormonal. God, Ron'd fuck anything female."
Jazmine's eyes blanked. "So you're saying he wanted to..." She trailed off. He nodded. She sighed and stopped.
"What's wrong Jaz?" He stood in front of her as she leaned on a large fake potted plant.
"It's a long story. You wouldn't want to hear it." For some reason the thought of intimacy made her long for Isaac, long for a moment with him.
"You can tell me. You know you can. If I don't like what I'm hearing I'll just tell you to shut the hell up." They both smiled a little.
"Well, I can't say it here, we'd have to go where no one can hear us."
"We can go out to my car, if you'd like." Jazmine nodded. "Ok, but first I have to leave a message for someone with Ron and David, you mind?"
"Nah, I've gotta go tell Michelle. I'll meet you outside the main doors." She headed off in the direction of the food court.
When John got to Ron and David he found them in Blockbuster Music. "Yo, Ron, David," they turned their heads and walked over to him. "I'm gonna be at my car. If you come across..."
"Yeah, we'll tell the bitch where you went." David interrupted. John glared at his friends, then left, heading for the main doors. Jazmine was waiting there patiently when he got there.
"So, you told Michelle?"
"Yeah, I told her I'd be back in about 40 minutes." They both headed out to John's car.
* * *
John looked up stunned at Jazmine. "Ok, lemme get this straight. Your mom finally lost it, beat the shit out of you, and the Hanson guy came and took you away." Jazmine nodded. "And you've been living in the same house, in the same room, in the same bed?" His voice picked up a hint of disgust.
Jazmine looked down. "Well, not at the moment. He had to move out, due to a pathetic little bitch who's obsessed with ruining our lives." She went on to explain the details of all that had happened in that little section of the past few days. After she was done, she sighed. "The moment I get stability in my life she goes and ruins it."
John looked down at her face, and felt truly sorry for her. He couldn't help it; he cared for her so much. The look in her eyes, all that pain, he wanted to take it all away. Then he put his hand against her cheek. "I'm sorry, Jaz." She was startled at first by his touch, but then grew accustomed to it. He lifted her face up to his, and slowly kissed her. When they pulled away they saw a girl looking in at them. "Shit," John exclaimed. He got out of the car and went after the girl, who had started running. When it was apparent that he wasn't going to catch up with her, he came back to the car.
Jazmine had her head leaned back against the head rest. "God, she always does this. I don't know how she did it this time, but she did."
John looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Jazmine sat up. "That girl who was been watching us, that was the girl who's been spying on me and Isaac."
John's face went blank. "You're kidding me, right?"
Jazmine looked at him. "No, why would I. That damn bitch is going to use this against me," She started moving as if she was getting out. "I have to go, before she gets to him."
She left as quickly as possible, while John, who was still confused sat in the car, then realized that he should go after her, and drove off.
* * *
Jazmine hobbled as fast as her broken ankle could carry her back to the food court. When she spotted Michelle she went over and tugged on her arm. "We have to go." She tried pulling her up but her one arm wasn't strong enough.
"What's wrong? Why are you out of breath? Where do we have to go?"
"We have to go to Isaac."
"You know that's not possible.
"Well, it is now. Just drive over there. I'll explain everything in the car.
* * *
Jen ran in the house and stormed upstairs, nearly plowing Christine over. "Jen, what's wrong? You look like you ran all the way from the mall," she called up at her sister, who just then emerged from her room, keys in hand. "Where are you going?" By this point Christine was getting mad, so she grabbed her sisters arm.
"Hanson. He has to know." Jen's eyes were red and looked on the verge of tears. Christine would have asked more, but Jen had slammed the door shut and driven off.
* * *
John drove in the driveway, jumped out of the car, and started pounding on the door. Christine opened it and John rushed in. "Christine, where's your sister?"
"She left about a minute ago."
"Shit. Did she say where she was going?"
"Yeah, she said she was going over to the Hanson's."
He stood there silent for a minute. "Do you know how to get there?
"Yeah, basically."
"Then come on, we're going."
* * *
"But why did you kiss him?"
Jazmine hung her head down. "I don't know. It just happened."
"Yeah, well I don't know how well Isaac's gonna take the 'It just sort of happened' excuse."
"He's going to have to, it's all I've got. I didn't mean for it to happen, and it's not going to happen again."
"Well, for both your sakes I hope he believes you. I know how much he cares for you, and that you care for him, but let's just hope he can forgive you."
* * *
Jen slammed her door shut and ran to the front door. She started pounding, and she did for at least a full minute. Finally Isaac came downstairs and opened the door. Jen nearly fell in. Isaac looked at her; her eyes were red and she was totally out of breath. "What happened?"
Jen looked up at him, and her eyes looked wild. Her teeth were gritted and she was breathing heavily. "You wanna know what happened? I'll tell you what happened!" She pushed him into the wall. "Your damn girlfriend happened!"
Taylor, who had been upstairs sleeping, heard the thud and came running, or more like stumbling, down the stairs. "What the..." He looked at his brother, who was flattened against the wall, and then saw a wild eyed girl who was nearly crying. "Isaac? What happened?"
Jen jerked her head up to look at Taylor, then she quickly looked away and went over to sit on the sofa. Isaac, who was still very confused, shook himself off and went over to her. "Ok now, explain why you're here?"
Jen looked up at him and sighed. "I told you already. I'm hear because of your precious little girlfriend."
Taylor walked over. "What did she do that was so horrible? Couldn't be nearly as bad as what you've been doing to her."
Jen jerked around and started screaming. "Shut up punk! You don't know anything!"
"Stop yelling and start explaining, Jen." Isaac moved in front of her.
She took a deep breath. "I was at the mall, when some friends told me my boyfriend was out at his car, if I wanted to see him."
"You have a boyfriend?" Taylor asked, slightly confused.
Jen ignored him. "Well, when I got to his car I looked in and saw him talking with someone. I didn't want to let him know I was there until the other person got out. They talked for a little while, then I saw them kissing. When he turned around I could tell that the other person was Jazmine."
Isaac stumbled backwards and fell on a chair. "How do you know it was her," he stuttered.
"Trust me, I know."
Taylor, at first, didn't believe her. This was Jen talking, she tells the truth oh, once every thousand years. But then he looked at her eyes, he could tell she was telling the truth. Either that, or she knows how to tell a very convincing lie. When he looked over at Isaac, he had a totally blank expression.
Isaac looked up. "Well, are you sure that he wasn't just, um, just, um..." He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair.
Taylor was still curious, and his brother wasn't being very helpful as to asking questions. "What kind of kiss was it. You've been pretty vague on that. I mean, there's more than just one type of kiss, like, you wouldn't kiss your mother the same ways you'd kiss..."
"You know what kind I'm talking about."
* * * John parked on the street after checking that it was Jen's car in the driveway. He ran out of the car, Christine following him. When he got to the door he started pounding. Inside, Taylor was the only one who seemed physically willing to answer it. When he opened the door he just stood there, staring at someone who looked so much like his brother. "Isaac..."
Isaac slowly got up and walked over to his brother. "What is it..." He looked up, and was totally speechless. It was like looking in a mirror. It took his brain a moment, but then something registered. "John...?"
John looked at Isaac, a bit confused as to how this complete stranger knew his name, then looked in and saw Jen sitting down. He pushed through the two Hanson's and went over to her. "Jen, please, let me explain!"
She glared at him. "What is there to explain? I know what I saw."
"But there's more to it. You don't know anything except for what you saw."
"Isn't that enough? You were kissing this total bitch in plain sight, after telling David and Ron for me to meet you there! You meant to do that."
Isaac went back over to the living room. He and John said, almost simultaneously "Don't call her a bitch!" They looked at each other, then Isaac sat down and John started talking. "Why do you always do this? It's like you want to break up. You never listen to what I have to say!"
"Why should I? Half the time you're talking to me you're totally stoned! I don't know when you're telling the truth!"
* * *
Michelle parked the car on the street and helped Jazmine get out. She rummaged through her skirt pocket and found a key, and opened the door. Jen, John, Christine, Isaac, and Taylor all turned around and looked at her. Jen stood up and went over to her. "You pathetic little tramp!" She was about to throw her fist when John came over and pulled her away. He nearly pushed her down on the sofa.
Isaac looked up at Jazmine. "I'm waiting."
Jen glared up at John. "Yeah, so am I. Gimme your damn explanation."
John glanced over at Jazmine, and she nodded at him to talk. "I'm assuming you already know the background, right Isaac?" He nodded.
"I sure as hell don't. Why didn't you tell me? Why does he know and I don't?"
"Jen, shut the fuck up and let me talk." He waited a few seconds to make sure she wasn't going to say anything. "Before I moved here, Jazmine and I went to the same school. I was best friends with her boyfriend at the time. He treated her like shit, so Jazmine and I kind of snuck around behind his back." He pulled the chain out from under his shirt. "She gave me this one day. The same day he found out. He was totally pissed. Beat the shit out of both of us. My mom wouldn't let me stay there, so we moved here. I didn't tell you because I thought I'd never see her again."
Jen sneered at Jazmine. "That still doesn't explain anything." John started to speak again, but Jen interrupted him. "No, don't you say it. I wanna hear it from her."
Jazmine sighed and turned to face Isaac. "I, I don't have a good explanation. It just happened. I didn't mean for it to happen. It was just so fast, I didn't even see it coming."
John spoke up. "It was me. I knew what I was doing. I don't know why. It's just, the look in her eyes, there was so much pain," he looked down at Jen, and started speaking angrily. "It was you. You were the one who'd been hurting her. I just thought 'God, that girl must be some complete bitch, to do all that just to ruin her life,' " he looked over at Isaac. " 'His life.' I never even thought you could do that. Then again, Ron and David both told me, but I wouldn't listen."
Jen jerked up in his face. "So now you're blaming this on me? You kissed her, and you're saying it's my fault? I'm not the one making out with someone else!" Taylor walked over to look at her, then she shut up and sat down, knowing that she was lucky that he wasn't going to say anything.
However, Jazmine wasn't under that same contract. "Like hell you didn't! Need I remind you of that afternoon at the hospital? I somehow seem to remember someone who looked a LOT like you making out with someone who was definitely NOT John." Taylor was relieved she didn't say he was the one. He looked at John's face, which was totally filled with rage. He knew if that guy was mad at him he could get killed.
"You do that, and you're getting mad at me for one kiss? What the hell are you thinking?"
Isaac stood up and pulled on Jazmine's arm. They went back to the kitchen, John and Jen barely noticing their absence due to their yelling. "Jazmine, tell me, honestly, do you still have feelings for him?"
Jazmine looked down, thinking, then looked back up at Isaac. "I do, but," Isaac started to walk back into the living room when Jazmine put her good arm on his shoulder. "There's no one on earth that I care for more than you. The thought of hurting you, it makes me want to die. You've done so much for me, please, understand. Whatever feelings I have for John, they're nothing compared to what I feel for you." Isaac turned around. His eyes still had the same effect on her that they had ever since the day they met.
"God, I love you so much." Isaac wrapped his arms around Jazmine. "I know people say that when this happens, you shouldn't trust who did it. But you, I can't help but trust you." They turned and went back into the living room. The screaming had died down. John was standing, looking in the direction of the kitchen. Jen was sitting down, with her head in her hands.
John walked over to Jazmine. "I'm sorry." He turned and walked out the door.
Not long after Jen got up. Her face was red, her eyes moist. She squinted her eyes and glared at Jazmine. "I hope you're happy." Then she turned and pulled Christine out the door.
Jazmine looked ready to go and started heading to the door, after telling everyone good-bye. Isaac then went up the stairs. Michelle and Taylor just stood there, looking at each other. They simultaneously shook their heads and mouthed 'not now.' Michelle solemnly turned and left, following Jazmine.
Taylor fell down on the sofa and put his head in his hand. "God, pray for them. They're gonna need all the help they can get."
* * *
John pulled the Altoid's tin from his back pocket and examined it. He opened it up and pulled out a joint. "Why the hell do I always do this," he thought to himself. It just seemed so tempting. Every time he and Jen had a fight, he always turned to this tin. After trying to reason with himself, he flipped on his lighter and held it to the end of the joint. He took a slow drag, then breathed out, releasing a large amount of smoke. He closed his eyes, then looked down at the cellular. "I'm going to have to call her, I shouldn't have said all that. But God, why didn't I see she was such a bitch?" He took another drag and blew out the smoke. "Jaz, why did you have to show up," he said to himself. "If you had just stayed away from me, I wouldn't want you so bad. And of course, you had to get involved with little mister pop freak." He slowly finished the joint and snuffed it out in the bottom of the tin. "If I can't have you, Jaz, I need someone." John picked up the phone and started dialing.
* * *
Christine jumped at the phone when it rang. "Conninwell residence, can I ask who's calling?" She always hated saying that, but after years of parental training, it came as a form of habit.
A deep voice boomed on the other end. "Hey, it's me. She there?"
"Sure, hold on. I'll go up and get her," she placed the phone on the table and ran upstairs to her sister's room. When she opened the door her sister was lying on her bed, eyes closed, listening to her walkman. Christine went over and kicked her sisters bed. Jen's eyes jerked open and she stopped the tape.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Sorry! It's not like you could have heard me anyway. The phone's for you."
Jen sighed and sat up. "Is it..." she trailed off, knowing her sister knew who she meant. Christine nodded. "Why the hell did you tell him I was here? After this afternoon I really don't want to talk to him"
"I'm so sorry. I guess I just wasn't thinking. You ever thought he might actually want to apologize? He's not some insensitive jerk."
"Yeah, but most of the time when he's really sensitive he's also living up to his name." Christine looked confused at her sister. "Stone. His last name is Stone you idiot." She sighed and went downstairs to get the phone. "What is it?"
"Thanks for sounding so happy to hear me. I just wanted to apologize for this afternoon. I know I said some stuff I shouldn't have."
"Oh, on the contrary, I'm glad you said what you did. I'm just sorry you're precious little love wasn't in the room to hear it. Or her little man. I bet they would have been just thrilled to."
"Look, Jen, are you going to let me apologize or not?"
"Fine, go ahead. It's not like I haven't been wishing for it. You know I still love you, even after you opened your damn mouth."
"You do? God, I thought you'd never want to talk to me after that, much less still be able to say you love me." He laughed to himself. He'd known all along that she wouldn't be able to dump him. She was too desperate. "Look, I was thinking if you wanted to get together later on, do something..."
Jen smiled. "Something sounds nice. When would be a good time for you? I'm free for the rest of the day, if that's ok..."
"Today's great, babe. How about I drive over there and pick you up now?" He was hoping she would say yes. He needed her. Well, he didn't need her, exactly. He needed someone. Since he couldn't have Jazmine, he might as well have Jen.
"Sure, sounds great. I'll be waiting out front. See ya then." She put down the phone and raced upstairs, ready to change.
Christine had started listening to her sister's tape, but stopped it when she came charging into the room. "Well, you look a lot better than you did a few minutes ago."
Jen started pulling out various items of clothing and held them up to herself. "What do you think he'd like best?"
"Knowing him, probably nothing, but I know what you mean. I'd take the little skirt and the tight sweater." Jen nodded and put everything else back. After quickly changing she ran downstairs and out the door, where John had just pulled up.
He smiled at her as she opened the door. "Damn, girl. You always amaze me. You know, you'd probably freeze in that little thing."
"Yeah, I probably would." She smiled at him as he started driving. "But I don't think that's going to be a big problem, is it?"
"Nope, not at all." He smiled and reached, opened the glove compartment, and pulled out a small silver packet. He pulled the car up at his house, noticing that the driveway was empty. They both got out and went inside. "Now, let's do something, shall we?"
They both smiled as Jen pulled towards John and kissed him deeply. Then she took his arm and led him upstairs, to the familiar room that she'd spent so much time in. As he closed the bedroom door behind him, there was one thought in his mind. "Jazmine, forgive me."
* * *
Michelle sat curled up on the arm of the sofa. All she could think about was what happened. She didn't even notice as Mike walked in front of her. Concerned, he sat down and put his arm around her. She jumped at his touch. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry, it's just I wasn't exactly sure if you were there or not. What's on your mind, babe?"
She sighed. "Everything that happened that day. I don't know if it's all really sunken in yet. It's just so hard to imagine it all."
"What happened? I mean, I know Jazmine met up with that John guy, kissed him, and then they all went to Ike's and had a huge fight. But that can't be what's bothering you, 'cause from Jazmine's story everything seemed like it turned out fine."
Michelle smiled and sighed. "Yeah, from what she heard, everything turned out fine. But nothing's near being fine."
"What? What happened?"
"Well, while Jazmine and Isaac were having their little discussion in the kitchen, a lot of emotions were released. Mainly by John."
Part 5 Continued