Ch 16
"What?" V mumbled into the phone. Half asleep, it had taken her forever to find the phone.
"You are still sleeping?" asked the shocked voice on the other end of the line.
"Gee, you could tell?" She asked sarcastically. "What time is it, anyway?"
"No clocks? It is two hours until you meet Mr. Charmingly-Oblivious and his friend Mr. Overzealous for drinks before the ball, Cinderella." Jerry said in biting reference to V's date with Simon.
V looked at her bedside clock. "How did it get so late?" She asked as she noted he was not lying.
"You want an explanation of time, Luv? That could take a while." Jerry laughed.
"Not funny. How long have you been up?"
"Eight thirty." Jerry said after a long pause.
"You dropped me off after eight thirty." V said confused.
"Yesterday, Luv. I haven't slept yet."
"You promised you would be at the ball." V worried he wasn't coming.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Being there doesn't count if you fall asleep in your soup." V said beginning to wake up. "What did you do all day?" V wondered what could have possibly been more enticing than sleep. Staying up all night had zapped her. Jerry seemed perfectly awake.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Jerry asked with a laugh.
"Yes, I would." V replied. Jerry intrigued her. What would he do to fill a day? She asked herself as she waited for his reply.
"Too bad. If you are still curious, ask me tonight. Bye Luv." With that he hung up.
--
Jerry smiled, as he got off the phone with V. Teasing her was too much fun. "She is too good for you, baby brother." He said to the air.
Jerry busied himself getting ready for the Nurses Ball. As he dressed in his tux, he contemplated what he would tell V of his day. He realized he looked forward to speaking to her. That couldn't be a good sign. "I am thinking about her way too much." He reprimanded himself.
Putting on his tuxedo jacket he left his room.
--
Her dress still open and her hair slightly damp, Bobbie answered the door. "Jerry you are early."
"Never too early to see a beautiful woman." He smiled as he saw her unzipped dress. "Need a hand?"
"Please. It sticks halfway up." She turned to him to give him better access.
Jerry had little trouble zipping the dress. He followed Bobbie into her room.
"Think you still have a right be in here?" She asked as she applied her makeup.
"You don't seem to be throwing me out." Jerry pointed out.
"You grow on people." Bobbie admitted with an annoyed grin.
"I wish." Jerry sighed.
Bobbie looked up at him surprised by the sad tone of his simple statement. "What do you mean by that?"
"Obviously I didn't grow on you. Not well enough, anyway. We broke up, remember?" Jerry tried.
Bobbie laughed. "Always a con. Nice try, now I want the truth."
--
Jax stood in the middle of his living room practicing his routine for the Nurses Ball. Bobbie assured him, the night before, that room would open up in the program. There were always last minute cancellations. However, Jax worried. An early morning call to Lucy and a sizable donation had guaranteed him a slot in the show.
"She is going to love it." He said as the CD repeated. He had spent a good two hours trying to pick the perfect one. Finally satisfied he had, he spent the rest of the day perfecting the act.
He was about to sing the song again when there was a knock at the door.