I climb out of the cab and stare up at the building in front of me. I feel like I’m dreaming. Jake had walked into my little room, or should I say cell? It would be more apt, at around 10am and said I was free to go. He said Brian had paid the money. I had stumbled outside and run like hell, so scared that he was going to grab me and say it was just a joke and he was going to kill me instead. After thirty minutes of running, the longest I’ve ever run in my life, I finally figured he wasn’t going to come after me. I flagged down a cab and gave the address of the hotel. Now I’m standing right outside and praying that Brian hasn’t moved. I have no idea of how long I’ve been away from him but it feels like months. I know it must only be a couple of days but that’s not how it feels. I just want to find him and have him hold me, and then I’ll know it’s not a dream anymore. And then I want a long hot shower. I take a deep breath and walk inside. I’m nervous and I have no idea why.
Five minutes later I’m standing outside the room I shared with Brian before I got… Well, before all this happened. I figure I should knock so I do. The door opens pretty quickly and it’s Marcus. Before I can even think what he’s doing there, he’s pulled me into a rib-cracking hug. I’m shocked. I like Marcus but I never thought we were THIS close. He finally lets go of me and he has tears in his eyes.
“Uh, hello,” I say.
“Thank God,” he replies and pulls me into the room. I have a feeling I’m going to be hearing those two words a lot over the next few minutes. “BRIAN!” he yells and almost bursts my eardrum. I already have a fuck of a headache from Flurry hitting me with his gun.
“What?” Brian walks out of the bathroom and stops dead when he sees me.
“Brian,” I say happily and run to him.
“Jade? It’s you? I mean, REALLY?”
“It’s me,” I smile and he pulls me into his arms for a long hug. I don’t think he’s ever going to let go and I hope he doesn’t.
“Thank God,” he murmurs against my hair and I snuggle into him, breathing in his smell.
“I love you,” I whisper as he relaxes his hold on me to kiss me.
“I love you right back.”
“I’ll, uh, spread the good news,” Marcus says from behind us and I hear the door shut behind him.
“God Jady,” he says, resting his head against mine. “I was so scared.”
“Me too,” I confess.
“He didn’t…?”
“No, he was pretty good…as criminals go,” I add lightly.
“Thank God. I am never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Never?” I ask.
“Never EVER,” he says firmly and kisses me softly, slowly deepening the kiss until…
“JADE!”
“Oh thank GOD!”
I turn around and see Nick, Howie, Kevin and AJ bearing down on me. Brian lets go of me. To be honest he doesn’t have a choice as I’ve just been picked up in a group hug.
“I missed y’all too,” I say when they finally all let go of me.
“Why did he let you go? Just like that?” Kevin asks.
“I paid the money,” Brian says before I can answer and everyone looks at him. “He called me at about 4am this morning and gave me another chance.”
“I’d better tell Truro,” Marcus hurries out of the room.
“What happened? How did he get you?” Howie asks and Brian winds his arms about me.
“That can wait,” he tells them. “Could y’all give us a little time alone please?”
“Oh sure!”
“Of course!”
“Sorry!”
“I’m really so happy to see you Jady,” AJ tells me softly and gives me a long hug before following the others out of the room and the door shuts behind them. We are finally alone.
“Come and sit down,” Brian takes my hand and leads me over to the bed.
“I missed you so much,” I tell him. “How long has it been?”
“Three days,” he says. “It felt like years.”
“I know,” I say quietly and suddenly start to cry. The tears shock me but once I start I can’t stop. “I was so scared I’d never see you again,” I sob and he wraps his arms around me. “He put me in this tiny room with no lighting and I just spent the whole time wishing you were there with me.”
“I’m so sorry I let you go alone,” he whispers.
“How could you know?” I look up at him and see that he’s crying too. I reach up to wipe his tears away and hold onto him tighter. “It’s nobody’s fault baby.”
“I thought you might be dead. They found a body and I had to give them a photo…”
“Oh my God Brian,” I murmur and kiss him. “I’m so sorry you went through that.”
“It’s not your fault baby. I’m just so glad you’re ok and you’re here with me.”
“Me too. I love you so much,” we lie back on the bed and hold each other tight, both of us exhausted.
“I love you baby,” he kisses my nose and we lie holding onto each other until we both fall asleep.
“Jade,” I whisper as she opens her door to my knock. I had heard from AJ that she is back. It has been so hard to wait until the next day to see her. She looks good. “God, I am so glad you’re back,” I pull her into me for a long hug.
“Thanks Ali,” she smiles slightly when I let go of her.
“I am so sorry about what happened with Jake. He didn’t do anything?”
“No, he was pretty good really,” she shrugs. “Apart from knocking me out…”
“He knocked ya out?!”
“With the butt of his gun,” she tells me.
“Are ya ok? Do you need to see anyone?”
“A doctor or a shrink?” she asks wryly. “I’m ok.”
“That’s more than I am,” I tell her with a sigh. “Nick hates me for not telling him about the drugs thing, and for getting you involved. Brian hates me for the same reason. Kevin is not talking to me anymore. I mean, he never liked me but now… Ugh. Howie is all polite but nothin’ more and AJ is mad at me too.”
“God…” she stares at me. “Ali…”
“I know,” I sigh. “But I’ll get by right?”
“No, Ali, you must be mistaking me for somebody who gives a fuck,” she says calmly and I stare at her.
“Wha?” I stutter.
“I have just been kidnapped because of YOUR past and YOUR secrets. I’m lucky to be alive according to Truro. I am scared of going out on my own. And YOU have the gall to stand there and expect me to act as sympathiser in your pity party?!” her voice gradually rises with each word and by the end she is practically breathing fire. I step back from her.
“I thought you were ok.”
“Well you thought WRONG!” she yells. “Ya coulda at least apologised for gettin’ me into all this shit Ali! I can’t believe how selfish you are! I thought you were my best friend.”
“I am!”
“Oh sure! Some best friend,” she glares at me and Brian appears behind her, rubbing his eyes. It’s obvious we just woke him.
“Uh, what’s goin’ on?” he asks.
“Just Ali bein’ her usual selfish self,” Jade says still glaring at me.
“That is not fair!” I yell.
“Yes it is,” she replies. “I’ve spent so much time defending you to other people. Smoothing things over with Kevin and AJ, and even Nick. And you can’t even PRETEND to be interested in how I’m feeling! Well not any more. I have had enough Ali.”
“What’s THAT supposed to mean?”
“Read my lips,” she says slowly. “Fuck. Off.”
“JADE!” I yell in shock and she turns her back on me to walk back into the hotel room. I look at Brian who’s looking as shocked as I feel. “Brian?” I appeal to him and he shrugs.
“You heard her,” he shuts the door in my face.
I storm back into my room angrily. I can’t believe that Ali would be so insensitive as to expect me to sympathise with her guilt. I am the one who got kidnapped. I am the one who thought I might never see anyone I love ever again. I march over to the window and throw it open, breathing in the air.
“Jade,” Brian walks over and rests his hand on the small of my back. He knows it comforts me somehow.
“I know, I’m being unreasonable,” I say wearily thinking he’s about to try and smooth things over.
“No, you’re right,” he tells me and I turn round to face him. He reaches up and smoothes back my hair. “I can’t believe Ali laid her guilt trip on you. And I agree with everything you said. Because of what she did, of what she kept hidden from us, I spent three days thinking I’d lost you. And I’m not going to get over that easily either. And I’m kinda glad you feel the same way so I don’t have to hide how I feel.”
“You should never hide how you feel.”
“I know but Ali is your best friend. There’ve been times I haven’t liked her, the things she does,” he admits. “But I kept quiet because I didn’t want to hurt you or Nick.”
“I guess now it’s open season huh?” I joke lightly.
“No, it’s not,” he says. “But I think Ali needs to realise a few things before we can all get back to normal.”
“Is Nick pissed at her too?”
“Oh yeah,” Brian nods. “He’s pissed she didn’t tell him about the drugs thing and pissed she got you involved. I don’t think he dumped her but he came pretty close.”
“Wow, I didn’t think he cared that much.”
“About you? Of course he does. He thinks a lot of you, ya know. Plus he knows how much you mean to me. ALL the guys do,” he wraps his arms around me. “I just hope YOU know.”
“I do,” I kiss him gently. “Do YOU know how much I love you?”
“Well…” he pretends to hesitate and I tickle him lightly. He laughs. “I could do with a little show and tell,” he walks me backwards to the bed and I giggle.