Chapter 11 - Child's Play
“Dude”
Devin said walking through the door
Jet screamed – startled and dropped the phone onto the floor
“Sorry didn't mean to startle you. Are you okay? You kinda
look like you've seen a ghost”
Jet shock herself from her self-induced coma.
“I'm fine” she replied weakly
“Sure?”
“Yeah I'm fine, you just scared me that's all”
“Okay, if you say so, I just came into say we got a gig
tomorrow night opening for Creed, pretty big huh?”
“Oh um yeah, sounds great”
“Enthusiasm is lost on you sis” Devin smiled walking
out the door.
She knew she should have told him, but then she knew what would
have happen, once again, like so many times before, they would
pack up everything they own, cut all ties and leave – to who
knows where this time. But Jet knew that would Kill Devin, to
make the sacrifice of leaving what he'd slowly built up –
simply behind, and deep down Jet knew it would be too hard for
her too, as she'd allowed herself to get close to someone,
someone whom she longed to hold tight, someone whom she longed to
hear say, “It'll be okay” but like everything she got
close to, she destroyed.
She starred down at the phone, all she wanted to do was ring him,
he would understand, or even if he didn't he would be there for
her. She picked up the phone and looked at it blankly. She sighed
then hung it back up – she couldn't – just couldn't.
~ AT THE SAME TIME ~
The comfort of the hotel bed held no benefit for Nick. He could
hear the tapping of the night rain knocking longingly on his
window, and the swift blowing of the winds casting their way
across the land. He sighed into the dark – the lonesome,
unfriendly darkness. He was is Asia, but his mind was so many
miles away – back in Florida.
So many times he'd been asked if he'd ever been in love, and he
generally always answered “No” – which seemed to
be true, until now. There were no words to describe what you
feel, no way to write the definition of love down – you just
know. And no matter how much it hurt, he knew he'd fallen for
Jet. Hesitantly he pulled himself up off the bed and switched on
the bedside lamp. Brian groaned loudly as the room lit up, as he
most of the shared a room with Nick.
“Something wrong?” Brian huffed ducking his head
quickly under the covers
“I cant stop thinking about her man” Nick announced
flopping his head down hard onto the pillow
“Who? Jet?”
Nick groaned a 'yes'
“So call her, there's a phone out there” Brian muttered
poking his hand out of the covers to point out into the lounge
“But I cant call her, I mean we broke up”
“So call her anyway, just lemme get some sleep”
“I mean she's the one that said we should cool things down,
take some space, so I should give her that right?”
“You should gimme some sleep”
“But god I cant stop thinking about her, why is this so
hard?”
“Welcome to manhood Nick. In all honestly man, do what your
heart tells you to”
Nick pulled himself up off the bed and walked out of the room,
closing the door behind him.
“Hey Light!” Brian called with a slight moan in his
voice
Nick flopped down onto the couch and picked up the phone, the
operator asked him where he would like to put the call, and he
quickly said “Orlando Florida” then repeated her phone
number.
The sound of ringing filled his ear, and suddenly he realized he
hadn't the faintest idea what to say.
“Hello?” Jet said softly – her voice even quaking
a little
“Hi” Nick said softly
“Nick?!”
“Yeah, look I know you said that we should have time away
and then I went off at you like that, but I cant stop thinking
about you, but if you want me to go I will, I just needed to tell
you that” Nick rattled off quickly
“No please, don't go” Jet cried, her emotions getting
the better of her
“What's wrong?” Nick inquired compassionately
“He – he, called me” Jet stuttered
“Who?”
“Daddy” Jet said softly, in a childlike tone
She proceeded to just let out everything he had said and
everything she was feeling, she wasn't sure if Nick wanted to
hear any of it, but she just needed to pour her heart out, and he
was the best option. Nick listened intently, taking in every word
she was saying and only speaking to reassure her and comfort her
when needed.
“I'm so scared Nick, he scares me and he knows that”
Jet sighed wiping the tears escaping from her eyes
“Have you told Devin? Or rung the police?”
“I cant, I know what Devin will do, he'll pack everything up
and move on, he wants to protect me, but I cant let him do that”
“When does your father get out?”
“I'm not sure, soon I think. He didn't get life because of
some police technicality, and junk”
“As soon as I get back we'll do something about it, I
promise”
“Nick?”
“Yeah”
“I'm sorry, for everything. I really am, but they said it
was for the best”
“Who? What?”
“Us breaking up, they said it was for the best, the record
company, that's why I did it, not because I wanted to, so I'm
sorry for hurting you” she whimpered
“You mean you didn't want to?”
“No, I just didn't want anything bad to happen, I'm sorry”
“Don't be sorry, you didn't do anything wrong. I love you
Jet, and I'm here for you okay?”
“Uhuh”
~ 1 WEEK LATER ~
Jet rushed quickly into Nick's arms at the airport as he hopped
off the plane.
“I missed you so much” he sighed into her ear as he
held her tightly
“I missed you too” she smiled, unable to let go of him
“Have you told anyone about your father?” Nick inquired
as they walked towards the waiting car
“No” Jet replied shaking her head “I just don't
want him to find me Nick, I don't want to see him ever”
“Then you need to tell Devin”
“No I cant, I wont let him pack up everything we've worked
so hard to build, and I don't want to leave you” she sniffed
looking up at him
For once he saw past the strong wall of power and confidence
she'd spent her life building up, he saw her truthfully as what
she was, venerable and scared.
“I'll make it okay” he whispered as they – along
with the others – got in the car.
~ AT THE SAME TIME ~
“Now you are aware that you will undergo various evaluations
before you may be granted parole Mr. McKennith?”
“Yes I'm aware of that, and I will accept that completely”
Ryan replied, shifting a little in his seat and four sets of
eager eyes watched him
“And ground for parole will be strict and binding, is that
understood?”
“Clearly”
“Okay then Mr. McKennith, you will be seen to by a
physiatrist this afternoon, following that you will be seen by a
duty warden, and various others and this facility. That is all”
Ryan was lead out by two offices, he was unrestrained and
determined not to ruin his chances.
“Physiatrist can kiss my ass” he laughed to himself as
he was lead back to his cell.
~ LATER THAT AFTERNOON ~
“Now Mr. McKennith you do realize that I want you to be
honest with me, and none of this leaves this room” the
shrink announced
“Ass, how dumb do you think I am? Of course this goes out
of this room, you're a bloody shrink doing an evaluation” Ryan
said in his head
“Yes I know” he answered out loud
“Good, now shall we begin. How do you feel about what
happened?”
This was going to be child's play
“I feel terrible, I killed my best friend, it was like
something came over me, something so evil”
“Do you know what that was?”
Power mate – bloody thirsty power
“I don't know, but I do know it's gone”
“How do you know that?”
For god sakes man, you're making this easy
“Because I feel regret, remorse, I wish that were me dead,
not her. I ruined too many lives, for that I feel sorry”
“Do you believe you will receive forgiveness?”
I don't give a shit
“I hope so, someday I will be able to forgive myself”
“What will you do if granted parole?”
Eat some fucking good food
“Try and find inner peace, repent, try and piece together a
life”
“You do understand you will not be allowed to see either of
your children?”
Who's gonna stop me?
He quickly sniffed a few fake tears.
“I'm aware of that, and I understand why they don't want to
see me, I don't blame them – not at all”
“So you wouldn't try and find them?”
Already 'ave mate
“No, it's not fair to them, if they wish to see me, then so
be it, but I wont seek them out, it's not fair”
“How does this make you feel?”
For fucks sake man, this is kiddy stuff
“Upset, but I understand”
“I believe you do”
Hook – line – sinker!
“Thank you Mr McKennith, do you mind if we carry on with
this discussion tomorrow?”
Like I'm fucking going anywhere
“No not at all”
Child's play – fucking child's play.