Chapter 7: Another Day
Kelly’s
Late at night
“You didn’t have to come with me,” Elizabeth said with a smile on her face as she turned around to Jack.
“It’s okay,” Jack said reassuringly, “Besides it’s not like anything better to do.”
“Uh, gee thanks,” Elizabeth said scathingly.
“That’s not what I meant.” Jack laughed. “I hope you find your friend.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Yeah me too.” She walked towards the door. “You want some coffee?”
Jack looked around at the atmosphere. “Now?”
“It’s not like you have anything better to do,” Elizabeth asserted taking his hand and pulling him towards the inside of Kelly’s.
Her smile faded with an instant as they walked in to find Lucky, with his mind drunk and his head practically dead on a table.
“Lucky.” Elizabeth quickly moved past Jack and laid her hand on Lucky’s shoulder.
Lucky looked up slowly, his eyes dim and distraught. He stumbled on to Elizabeth as he tried to get up. “Emily,” Lucky cupped Liz’s hands. “Emily your back,” Lucky giggled drunkenly, “That’s great, now we can—we can get married.”
Jack moved closer to Elizabeth making sure that no harm would be done from her drunk ex-boyfriend.
“Lucky,” Elizabeth said with a hint of disappointment and dismay, “Lucky. I’m not Emily. It’s me, Elizabeth.”
“Elizabeth.” Lucky pulled himself away from her and stumbled back on the table.
“No, where’s Emily. I can’t marry you, where’s—where’s Emily?”
“I—I don’t know.” Elizabeth replied, a slight tear falling from her eye.
Jack looked back between the two and gently pulled Elizabeth aside. “He’s drunk. Do you know his family or where he lives? Maybe we should take him there.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ll take him. You should get home.”
“But--,” Jack began to protest but Elizabeth pulled aside. “It’s okay, Jack. I’ll handle it.”
Taggert continued to button up his shirt while sitting on the side of the bed. He looked back at her, sleeping tranquilly on the bed with only the blanket covering her and instantly found himself in the midst of regret. He didn’t know why he had done what he had just did with her, but knew for a fact that it had happened for sure. He laid his head in his palms in frustration before taking another glimpse of her—sleeping strikingly. Taggert sighed as he got up and walked towards the dresser, picking up his keys. He walked back near her and brushed her scarlet hair across her face.
“I’m sorry Skye,” he whispered before leaving her apartment, silently shutting the door behind him. “I really am sorry.”
The Park
The Next Morning
“Doesn’t bother to call. Leaves no messages,” Gia muttered as she continued to tie the laces of her tennis shoes, bunny-rabbit style. “That is the last time I get involved with a damn leather wearing, Borg-ass, Donnie Brasco lackey, son of a bitch.” Gia cursed.
“When was the first?” Asked the voice from behind. Gia looked and identified the man jogging near her bench.
“You again. Hey.” Gia forced a smile.
“Sorry if I’m interrupting your conversation with yourself again,” Jack smiled as he caught his breath and sat next to her on the bench. “Problems?”
Gia waved a hand. “Nothing I can’t handle. Did you ever find your date?” Jack nodded in silence. “I take it, it didn’t go so well.”
“Not that bad. It wasn’t actually a date.” Jack clarified.
“Uh-huh.”
“Yep. I would never take a girl to a wedding on the first date.”
“Typical guy.” Gia abridged. “Not that that’s a bad thing.”
“Well,” Jack said standing up, “If you’re done talking to yourself, how about a race?” Jack held up a hand. Gia smiled and accepted it, making herself stand up as they began to jog.
Carly’s office
Jax walked into her office, a stack of papers held in his arm, juggling a coffee cup on his hand.
“Carly,” she turned around at the sound of his voice and smiled, “Here I’ve got something for you.”
“Oh thanks.” Carly said reaching for the coffee and taking a mouthful before giving the empty cup back to Jax.
“Uh, actually I have the publicity campaigns for the club, the coffee is for me. Or at least it was.” Jax affirmed looking down on his empty cup.
“Looks like your have to be more swift next time.” Carly shrugged.
“I was until I met you.” Jax frowned as he disposed the cup in a nearby trash can. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”
Carly looked confused. “You didn’t expect me to be in my own office?”
“You said you weren’t going to be in today,” Jax said positioning the papers on her desk and clasping his hands together.
“Yeah me and Michael were supposed to have breakfast with—well it got canceled.”
“You mean you were supposed to have breakfast with Sonny.” Jax said, filling the blanks.
“Jax, I really don’t need another one of your infamous lectures about my association with--.”
Jax held up a hand and stopped her. “And I’m not going to give you one.”
“Your not?” Carly asked surprisingly.
Jax shook his head. “Out of all the possibilities, I take it that you will probably not listen to me anyway.”
“That’s not true. You know, I do value your opinion,” Carly avowed.
Jax looked back at her, astonishingly. “Okay, that coffee must have not entered your system yet.”
Jax walked past her towards the door and turned around. “You know what. Since you value my opinion so much, I’d like to see if I can do the same for you.”
“Oh?” Carly said with slight intrigue.
“I have a business party tonight, why don’t you join me?”
“You mean rub elbows with men that will hand me business cards all day.”
“Not exactly. But what do you say, up the for the challenge?”
“Well if it means a room full of Australian hunks…I’m game,” she said appraisingly.
“You wish. But seriously, what do you say?” Jax said tapping the edge of the door.
Carly looked at him hesitatingly before saying, “Pick me up at seven.” Jax nodded and smiled as he left. “And you better not be late or else I’ll smack the hell out of you.” Carly yelled out. “And I’m not kidding.”
The Park
Jack motioned for Gia to stop running as he collapsed on the nearest bench. Gia looked back and jogged toward the bench, her feet still in full circulation. “What’s the matter old man? Can’t keep up with moi?”
“Err,” Jack groaned as he shifted on the bench. “Next time I challenge a girl to a race, it’ll be on a motorcycle.” Jack opened his eyes and noticed that her feet were still moving. “Do you ever desist?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?” Gia put back.
“I need water,” Jack whined.
“Ugh,” Gia groaned, “Fine.” She said, taking the water bottle from his hand and dumping it over him.
“Hey.” Jack mumbled through the water on his face.
“What? You said you needed water?”
Jack glared back at her, grabbing and holding up the half-filled bottle. “You know, you look a little tense, I think you need something to cool yourself down.”
“Don’t you dare,” Gia warned but it was too late, Jack had completely dumped the remainder of the water on her, and laughed as she glowered coldly at him.
Taggert was taken back as the woman standing next to him poured the cappuccino on his lap. He stood up immediately and turned around. “Skye.”
“Serves you right. You—jerk.” She said yanking her purse at him. Taggert looked around and noticed a few patrons looking their direction. He instantly pulled Skye outside with him. Once outside, Skye jerked his hand off of her hand. “Don’t touch me.”
“Skye, let me explain.” Taggert commenced.
“No, I got it perfectly Lt. I’m supposed to be this stupid one-night stand that you don’t bother even leaving a note for. Right?” Skye snipped.
“It wasn’t like that.” Taggert announced. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay. What happened last night---it was a mistake,” he shorted.
“Yeah,” Skye snorted, “I got that when I woke up this morning and you weren’t---.”
Taggert looked at her, his eyes widening apologetically.
“Never mind.” Skye shook her head as she began to leave. Taggert tried to pull her back into his direction, but Skye simply walked off. Too many men had did this to her before, and she was just as clueless as to fall in that trap again.
Zander cringed as he woke up and stretched on the sofa of the motel room. He looked across the room, his eyes passing by the empty soda cans, decks of cards, and pizza box until he noticed Courtney sleeping on the twin bed. He got up and pulled the blanket over her. She groaned as a smile as she allowed her pajamas to feel the warmth of the comforter. He gave out a loud yawn as his cell phone rang.
“Yeah?” He mumbled.
“Zander?” Came from the other line. “Zander, it’s me, Emily.”
