He sat in his pick-up truck, trying to calm his ragged nerves. Strangely, he was nervous. He knew he couldn’t afford to be though. This was crucial to the plan. He couldn’t afford to screw this up. Everything depended on what happened today.
With a deep breath, he opened the door and quickly got out. As the door slammed shut loudly, he paused momentarily, taking in the stately mansion which stood before him. A sigh escaped his lips and without further hesitation, he strode purposefully towards the circular drive-way.
He moved up the driveway slowly, his face already plastered with a pretentious smile. Approaching the door, he reached up and ran a quick hand through his hair as he glanced down to check his clothes. Everything was perfect. Just the way he had planned. Leaning forwards he rang the doorbell, listening intently as the melodic chime rang throughout the spacious house. His body trembling with anticipation, he waited for someone to open the door. As he heard the faint sound of footsteps, he clenched his fists, desperately hoping that it was her.
Finally, the door swung open. “May I help you?”
He felt his fingers relax. It was her.
“ I sure hope so Mrs. Turner,” he answered watching in fascination as she eyed him quizzically. “I’m a friend of Jessica’s,” he spoke softly. Immediately, he noted the pain that flashed briefly across her face at the mere mention of her daughter’s name.
“I see,” she replied distantly.
“ It’s so tragic what happened to – "
“What do you want?” she interrupted suddenly, her voice cold.
“Forgive me,” he said apologetically. “I didn’t mean to dredge up old memories.” He watched as she glanced down at the floor, her discomfort obvious. “ I’ve been out of town for the past few months. I’m afraid I didn’t get to say by to Jess before she left. I was wondering if you could give me her address so I can get in touch with her. I just want to touch base and make sure that she’s doing alright,” he said flashing her a broad smile.
“Forgive me, ” she said. “ I didn’t get your name.”
“Brad. Brad Prescott,” he lied calmly as he extended his hand towards her. She shook it wearily.
“I’m sorry Brad, but I’m afraid I’m not supposed to give out Jessica’s new address. She doesn’t want to be contacted, for obvious reasons,” she said eyeing him suspiciously.
“I’m aware of that Mrs. Turner, but I’d really like to get a hold of her. I just want to make sure she’s alright after everything that’s happened. I’m sure that she could use a friend right now.”
“I don’t know. I’m really not supposed to – "
“Please,” he interjected pleadingly. “I promise I won’t bother her. As soon as I find out that she’s alright I’ll leave her alone.” He waited anxiously as she contemplated his offer, her brow furrowed.
“Well, I suppose one letter couldn’t hurt,” she said with an uncertain smile. “I’ll be right back.” Watching her retreating figure he resisted the urge to laugh out loud. It had been so simple. The moment he had Jessica’s address in his hot little hands he was set. Everything would fall into place after that.
“Here you go,” she spoke snapping him from his reverie a few minutes later.
Carefully, he took the paper on which she had scrawled the address from her outstretched hand, his hands trembling with excitement. “Thank you so much Mrs. Turner. You don’t know what a big help you’ve been.”
As the door closed behind him he bounded down the driveway and back to his pick up truck, clutching the paper protectively. An evil smile played upon his lips as he moved quickly. “Let the games begin,” he whispered to himself.
Nick watched in fascination as she rhythmically danced in circles around him, her body occasionally brushing against his. He watched her closely, a smile playing upon his lips as his eyes memorized her every curve. Tonight should be interesting, he mused to himself with a smile.
As the song which flooded the crowded club faded and a slower one came on, he expertly pulled her towards him, placing his hands firmly upon her hips. They said not a word, but their body language said more than enough to one another.
Nick felt her head resting comfortably upon his shoulder and it was only then that he realized that he hadn’t even bothered to ask for her name. They’d simply made eye contact over by the bar and the next thing he knew she was beckoning to him seductively from the dance floor. It didn’t matter though. In all honesty, her name was unimportant.
As they danced closely Nick silently contemplated the situation, secretly wondering just when he should ask her back to his apartment. Finally, he decided he’d waited long enough. Poised to ask her, he suddenly stopped as his eyes fell upon a familiar figure by the bar. He watched her carefully, immediately recoginizing her unmistakable poise and mane of silky blonde hair.
“Jessica,” he whispered almost inaudibly. Her name escaped his lips, catching him by surprise. Usually, he never remembered their names. To him, they were never anything more than a pretty face.
He watched her closely, noticing the same weary uneasiness about her that he had before. He also noticed that just as last time, she sat in a rather secluded section of the bar. Her head remained down and from his vantage point she seemed almost oblivious to the going-ons of the club.
His gaze remained fixated upon her, strangely hoping to somehow make eye contact with her. Suddenly however, he felt his body tense slightly. He watched, as a young guy swaggered confidently over to her.
As he watched the exchange between the two, he felt his heart uncharacteristically speed up. Quickly, he shook his head, brushing his feelings off. There was no reason for him to be jealous. The guy was probably an amateur compared to him. I could have any girl in this club if I wanted to, he thought with a smug smile. Despite this, he somehow couldn’t seem to ignore the tiny voice in the back of his head. Except her, the voice whispered softly.
“Jessica” she answered softly. What the hell have I gotten myself into? she wondered to herself as she forced a small smile. She had come to the club yet again, with a promise that tonight she wouldn’t seclude herself from everyone else. If someone came up to talk to her she wouldn’t rudely brush them off as she usually did. Tonight she was going to forget about the past for once.
She sat uncomfortably across from him, barely even listening as he droned on about himself. As her eyes traveled the length of the floor she could vaguely hear him talking about his job. When he had first approached her, she had been hesitant but quickly remembered the promise she’d made to herself. The moment he sat down however, she knew she had made big a mistake. She wasn’t ready for this just yet. As he continued on, her eyes remained upon floor, an obvious sign of her discomfort. He however, didn’t seem to notice.
Without any warning, he suddenly placed his hand lightly upon her thigh. Instinctively, Jessica’s body tensed and quickly she moved her thigh. She glared up at him, a mixture of both fear and anger in her eyes.
“Why don’t we go back to my place?” he whispered as he slowly ran a hand up and down her shoulder. “You know you want to,” he murmured leaning closer to her. You know you want to. Those words. They were so familiar.
“Don’t touch me, “ she whispered back, her voice surprisingly low as she eyed him contemptuously. Without hesitation, she stood up her eyes blazing with anger. “People like you make me sick,” she spat at him harshly as she turned on her heel and stalked away from him.
Quickly, she wove her way through the mass of dancing bodies, tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. Biting her lip, she held back her tears refusing to cry in front of all those people. Hurriedly, she exited the club without even a look back.
Outside, she fervently gulped air, desperately trying to quell the rising lump in her throat. It didn’t work however. Within moments she felt the hot, salty tears slowly slipping down her face. Sobs escaping her throat she fled recklessly, her hair whipping furiously behind her. She moved, oblivious to the world around her. Angry at herself, both for being so emotional and for being foolish enough to think that she was able to put the past behind her.
Suddenly a voice rang out through the night air. “Wait!” the voice yelled.
Jessica heard the call, but continued on, nervously swatting the tears which cascaded down her face. As the voice called out to her again, she picked up her speed striding purposefully towards her car, a part of her wanting badly to turn around and give him a piece of her mind. As she approached her car however, she knew that she couldn’t because it would just bring on more emotional turmoil.