Secret Little Things You Do
Chapter 22:
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Ebony decided to stop feeling sorry for herself
and to get on with her life. All this thinking about what had just happened was
giving her a headache, and she didn’t want to deal with it anymore. Either she
and Jack would get back together, or they wouldn’t, but crying over it
wasn’t going to change anything, and besides, it wasn’t her style.
Getting up from her spot on the bed, she had decided that what she needed at the
moment was a nice hot bath, one that would allow her to relax and calm down. One
that would allow her to stop thinking about Jack. But it didn’t. In fact it
was quite the opposite. Just sinking in the warm fragrant, sudsy water was
enough to put all her Jack thoughts into overdrive. Her attention was more on
the bathroom door than it was on the relaxing bath. Every little sound outside
was enough to keep her looking up, hoping that somehow that he would come
walking through that door, as naughty as ever, ready to forgive her.
But he didn’t. And she couldn’t help feeling disappointed even though she
promised herself she wouldn’t. Finally, getting out of the bathtub and
gathering up her things, she loosely wrapped a towel around herself, all the
while still thinking of him. As if she was on autopilot, she walked out of the
bathroom, heading back to her room. As if feeling as if someone’s eyes were on
her, she couldn’t help but look back over her shoulder, looking to see if Jack
was there. But it wasn’t, it was only Lex standing there in the hall watching
her, with one eyebrow raised, waving a fresh new bottle of baby oil with one
hand, and giving her the thumbs up sign with the other.
She was disgusted by his sleaziness, and the look on her face showed it. She
quickened her pace back to her room, still looking back over her shoulder,
hoping that Lex wouldn’t be following her. As she wasn’t in the mood to
wrestle with him in the hallway in just a towel. But her towel was all but
forgotten as she rounded the corner to her room, colliding with someone blocking
her doorway. All the emotions that she was keeping down from the last few months
about Jack leaving her, about Jay cheating on her, about the Mallrats all hating
her, rose up in full force as she looked up at the person who had just bumped
into her.
****
Lex walked into the café humming a little tune as he thought about going back
and having a little fun with Ebony. He couldn’t help but notice a depressed
looking Jack sitting alone in the corner.
“Jack, mate, what’s the matter, you just realized that all those bruises on
your face actually make you look better”, he asked laughing, slapping Jack on
the back.
“I’m not in the mood to deal with you Lex”, Jack said angrily, turning
away from him.
“No, seriously”, Lex said, taking a seat, curious despite himself,
“What’s wrong? Girl trouble?”
“It’s none of your business”, Jack snapped, starting to get up from the
table.
“Aww, it is girl trouble”, Lex said knowingly, “Now that I can deal with.
What happened? Is Ellie still mad at you?”
Jack just looked at Lex, not knowing what to say. It was on the edge of his
tongue to say something about Ebony, as it was becoming increasingly difficult
for him not to talk about her. She was all he ever thought about anymore, and
yet he couldn’t even speak her name aloud in public without someone getting
suspicious. She was slowly taking over his life, and he felt that if he didn’t
deal with this problem with her soon that he would explode. He wanted to talk to
her. He needed to talk to her. He needed to explain to her how he felt. The only
reason that he was even still in the café was that he just didn’t know how to
do it, put his emotions into words that is. He didn’t know what to say, or how
to say it. He guessed that a part of him was afraid that she would laugh at him,
or tell him that he was a loser and throw him out. No, he knew that he had one
chance and one chance only to this, and he needed to do it right. But he
couldn’t say all this to Lex could he?
“Fine”, Jack said sighing resignedly, realizing that Lex wasn’t going to
go away, “Well, see, I have this friend...."
Chapter 23:
Jack then proceeded to tell Lex his story, though in terms of "his
friend" and "some girl", slightly hesitant to fully explain the
situation to the tribe’s local pervert.
"Ah, you came to the right person, mate", Lex said, taking on the
persona of doctor assessing the situation, "What your problem is, is that
you are not showing her who’s boss in this relationship."
"Uh, don’t you mean my friend", Jack replied, still trying to keep
up the pretense.
"Now this is what you do", Lex said, completely ignoring him,
"You have to be in control. You have to sit her down, tell her what you
want, and make her do it. You let her know that you’re the man, and a man has
needs, which is her duty to fulfill. If she gives you lip, don’t take any
****. Just put your foot down, and teach her a lesson she won’t soon
forget."
"And you really think that this will work", Jack asked, highly
skeptical about the advice he was being given.
"Yes, it will", Lex replied, as if he couldn’t believe that someone
dared question his authority on the subject of women and sex, "After all,
look who your talking to. I know that you haven’t had much experience with
this thing, but no woman ever turns me down....only over."
"Well, now that you’ve put it that way", Jack said sarcastically,
trying not to laugh, "I can’t lose."
"Nope", Lex said, ignoring Jack’s tone, "And I have just the
tools in my magic pocket to help you out."
And with that said, Lex reached into his pockets and began pulling things out,
dropping them on the table. Jack just looked on shocked that one person could
carry so much in his pockets at one time. He couldn’t help but think that
maybe they were magic, sort of like a perverted version of Mary Poppins’
carpet bag. Humming happily, he quickly inspected his merchandise before picking
out two bottles of baby oil and handing them to Jack.
"Here, take two of these and call me in the morning, or the morning after
that", he said smiling, "Oh and don’t forget these handcuffs and
wine just in case you have a hard time getting her under control."
"Uh, thanks Lex", Jack said hesitantly, getting up to leave, slightly
scared by the gifts that he was given, "I’ll take that into count. You
were a lot of help."
"Da.mn he’s right", Lex said to himself as he watched Jack walk
away, "I am good. Maybe I should start a business, helping out the poor
unfortunates out there. Lex’s Love Service, now that’s an idea.
"
****
"Jay, what the h.ell are you doing here", she shouted angrily, holding
the towel tighter with a fist that was aching to hit something instead.
"I had to see you", he said, reaching out to touch her, though she
quickly backed away, "I had a realization today."
"Well, tell it to a psychiatrist", she said sarcastically, "I for
one do not want to hear it."
"Ebony, just listen for a second, will you", he asked, getting
frustrated.
"Fine, one minute, but that’s all you get", she said, figuring that
it would get rid of him faster to just let him talk rather than try to argue
with him.
"Fine", he said, looking down into her eyes, "When I saw you with
Jack today and thought that something was going on between you two, it really
hit me. I miss you Ebony, and I would really like for us to get passed what
happened in the past, and for us to get back together. I think that is why I was
so mad at Jack earlier, it felt like I had lost you for good, and I couldn’t
bear it."
At first Ebony couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and then realized that
she should have known as Jay always had been the jealous sort, always wanting
what he couldn’t have. And though he seemed sincere, she didn’t want to hear
any of it. She no longer loved him like she used to, and she was ready to move
on, she needed to let him know that there was no hope for them left.
Ebony was about to interrupt him to say exactly this, when Jay suddenly rushed
towards her, causing her towel to fall to the floor leaving her naked in his
arms, as he hugged her tight to him. Shocked speechless by the sudden feel of
cool air on her bare skin, she desperately tried to move out of his arms at the
same time she tried to pick up her towel to cover herself. Jay mistook this as
her returning his affections, and hugged her tighter, while he continued to tell
her how he felt.
"Ebony, I still love you, and I know you love me too", he said, just
as he leaned down, and softly kissed her.
Shocked by the kiss, Ebony’s eyes flew right open. Stunned temporarily by it
all, she was slow to react, and it took her a few seconds for her to realize
what was happening, who with, and try to push him away. Which is exactly what
she did, not before she heard a slight growl, and looked over Jay’s shoulder
to notice Jack standing there looking dangerous.........
Chapter 24:
The sight of Jack standing there in the shadow’s outside her door, looking
furious, was enough to knock Ebony right out of her frozen position, as she
realized just what exactly what he was seeing. Almost in a panic, she began to
push Jay away from her, and slapped him hard when he tried to pull her back.
“I said no, Jay”, she yelled, and quickly picked up her towel, wrapping it
around herself, “I’m not going to fall for that again. I can’t. You’ve
hurt me too much in the past for me to ever trust your words again.”
“But Ebony, I’ve changed”, Jay protested, pleading with her to listen,
“I still love you. Can’t we just work it out?”
“No, we just can’t work it out”, she yelled sarcastically, and slammed the
door in his face.
Ebony turned away from the door, and quickly began getting dressed. She had to
go find Jack. She couldn’t let things end this way, couldn’t let him be hurt
like this because of her.
***
The Mallrats all looked up in shock as Jack came stomping angrily into the café,
causing a chair to come crashing down to the floor as he angrily yanked it from
the table. This just made him angrier, and he almost broke it as he snatched it
back up from the ground and sat in it, banging a fist on the table. The others
had never seen him so angry, and mistaking its source, Bray cautiously
approached him, trying to calm him down.
“Look Jack”, Bray said, slowly, “I know that things have been going a bit
bad for you lately, and I know that you’re still mad at Jay for accusing you,
...and anyway, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind going on a short mission
from the tribe. You know to go analyze the Techno computers at the hotel?”
At the mention of Jay’s name, Jack got even angrier, causing his face to get
redder, and he staunchly sat there remaining silent, grinding his teeth. Seeing
this, Bray just decided that it would be better for him to fully explain his
idea, hoping jack would see reason.
“Just think about it, Jack”, Bray talked quickly, before Jack could get any
madder, while the others watched on in silence, “It will only require you to
be gone for a few days, and it would give you a chance to get away from things.
You know, a chance for things between you and Jay to calm down, allow you to
take a break form the mall.”
Jack was about to say no, and curse Bray out along with it, but realized what
Bray said made sense. He really needed a chance to clear his head. The whole
situation with Ebony was making him crazy. It was obvious what she wanted, and
he had to just accept it, and move on. But he knew that there was no way he
could do that if he was there in the mall with her day after day. This way, if
he did what Bray asked, it would give him chance to get away, spend a couple of
days or so in the hotel alone, just focusing on the job at hand, and not on
Ebony.
“Fine”, he told Bray, nodding his head slowly, “When do I go?”
“Whenever you want”, Bray said, smiling slightly, relieved that he had
accepted.
“Fine”, Jack replied, standing up, “I’ll leave now.”
******
Jack left the café feeling his anger go down some as he contemplated what he
just agreed to. But it didn’t last long when he felt someone bump into him.
Looking up, his anger came back full force as Jay stared back at him, not
bothering to apologize. But it wouldn’t make a difference even if he did,
because when Jack looked at him, all he could see was Ebony naked in Jay’s
arms, and Jay kissing her.
“You better watch it, Jay”, Jack said angrily, “We wouldn’t want your
girlfriend to see your other eye swollen shut too now would we? She might just
kick you out of her bed for that. After all, you’re ugly enough, don’t make
it worse.”
“Well, at least I have someone sleeping in my bed”, Jay said, getting just
as angry, “Besides, she wouldn’t kick me out, and give up all the good
loving I’ve been giving her. But of course you wouldn’t know that would you?
As I doubt you would know what to do with a girl even if you had one. Of course,
I could always give you lessons.”
“I already have a girl”, Jack said coldly.
“Who, Ellie”, Jay asked sarcastically, “She doesn’t count. That girl has
more ba.lls than I do, and I bet her a.ss is hairier too.”
“I said I had a girl, Jay, but I didn’t say her name was Ellie”, Jack
said, smiling, wanting to knock the smirk right off of Jay’s face, “though
you’re pretty close though, her name does begin with an ‘E’, and I know
exactly what’ on her a.ss, and it’s definitely not hair.”
The smirk on Jay’s face dropped at the not so subtle hint, and Jack laughed
tauntingly. Raising his fist, Jay was about to show him just how much he
didn’t appreciate the comment, and Jack wasn’t about to accommodate him,
when Trudy suddenly appeared in the hall, calling out to them.
“Jack, Jay, what are you doing out here”, she asked, looking back and forth
between them, worried at the sight of Jay’s fist in the air.
“Nothing”, Jack said, still laughing, “Jay was just leaving.”
“Oh, good”, Trudy said, though really not believing them, “I made
breakfast for you Jay. Why don’t you come eat it while it is still hot?”
Jay walked off reluctantly, not wanting to hurt Trudy’s feelings, though not
before giving Jack a warning that it wasn’t over between them. Jack just
continued to laugh, thinking that no matter how hard he tried, things between
him and Ebony would never be over. And that’s when it hit him.
~~~Flashback~~~~~
“Now this is what you do”, Lex said, completely ignoring him, “You have
to be in control. You have to sit her down, tell her what you want, and make her
do it. You let her know that you’re the man, and a man has needs, which is her
duty to fulfill. If she gives you lip, don’t take any ****. Just put your foot
down, and teach her a lesson she won’t soon forget.”
“And you really think that this will work”, Jack asked, highly skeptical
about the advice he was being given.
“Yes, it will”, Lex replied, as if he couldn’t believe that someone dared
question his authority on the subject of women and sex, “After all, look who
your talking to. I know that you haven’t had much experience with this thing,
but no woman ever turns me down....only over.”
“Well, now that you’ve put it that way”, Jack said sarcastically, trying
not to laugh, “I can’t lose.”
“Nope”, Lex said, ignoring Jack’s tone, “And I have just the tools in my
magic pocket to help you out.”
~~~~Flashback ends~~~~
Lex’s advice suddenly made a whole lot of sense to him......
****
Ebony finished getting dressed, and rushed out the room, causing her to bump
into the one person she wanted to see.
“Jack”, she said, shocked, “You’re here.”
“Yeah”, he said, the dangerous gleam coming back into his eyes, “And
I’ve been thinking. Lex is right.”
“Lex”, she asked, even more confused then before.
“Yeah, I have to take control of my life”, he said, slapping a pair of
handcuffs on her wrist, “and that starts with taking control of you...."