The Kids Don't Stand A Chance

Chapter XIX

Any sense of anger I felt towards Jade for dragging me back out to Boston was wiped away when I saw just how ecstatic she was to see Jack. The embrace they shared when they first saw each other was enough to make even the bitterest of people crack a smile. And at that moment, I was pretty damn bitter.

I grinned softly at Jack when they finally let go of each other, but Jack’s smile was too large to ignore. The next thing I knew, he was hugging me tightly. “I missed you,” he admitted bashfully.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I muttered, giving him a playful shove towards Jade. “Just go spend some time with her, will you?”

“Here,” said Jack, reaching into his back pocket. “I’m going to take Jade out, so if you want to go hang out in my hotel room, you’re more than welcome to.” He handed me the thin piece of plastic, and I pocketed it expressionlessly. “I don’t think anyone else is supposed to be upstairs, incase you’re wondering.”

Shaking off his last comment, I forced a smile and said, “I think I’m going to sit down in your room for a bit, and then go and find something to eat.”

“So we’ll see you around, then?” Asked Jade, grabbing Jack’s hand. I nodded and smiled. “Maybe… 4:00?”

“Perfect,” I confirmed. With a soft smile I watched the two of them leave, biting my lip in hopes that they would actually make it back by 4:00. I wasn’t holding my breath.

Nevertheless, I immediately began making my way up to Jack’s room. I fingered the key card during the elevator ride up, wondering if they had a view of anything worthwhile on the nineteenth floor.

Well, that hope didn’t last long. The hotel room itself was perfectly nice, but the ‘view’ was nothing more than a close up of the building next to the hotel. With a sigh I flopped down on one of the two beds, finding that they were more comfortable than they looked. It was as if the hours of driving this morning were seeping out of my body and into the bed. And the next thing I knew, I had fallen asleep.

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“What should we do?”

“I don’t know… I don’t even know how she got in.”

“Obviously she had a key…”

“Yeah, no shit, asshole.”

“If you’re going to be a pissy douche, Zack, then I’m out.”

“Wait – Alex, shit, don’t go.” I heard the door slam shut.

“Should we leave, too?”

“No, it’s our room, too. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I mumbled, sitting up and brushing the blonde hair from out of my eyes. “I’ll leave.”

“Wait, you – you don’t have to go,” pleaded the girl who I instantly recognized as Zack’s girlfriend. I could hear the guilt in her voice. “You’re friends with the girl Jack’s really into, right?”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my eyes, wiping the last bit of sleep from my senses. “He and Jade are out on a date. He gave me a key card so I could relax. I fell asleep by accident, though.”

“On our bed,” grumbled Zack, and his girlfriend shot him a look.

“You can go back to sleep, if you want.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m awake now.” I paused, and then asked, “What time is it?”

“4:30,” she replied kindly. I groaned.

“Jade and Jack were supposed to be back half an hour ago.”

She chuckled. “Jack had a pretty elaborate date planned. He’s been talking about it for days.”

I cracked a smile. “Well, I hope they have fun, but I really need to get back to school soon.”

“Do you have a lot of work?” She asked sympathetically. Damn – could this girl be any nicer? I glanced at Zack, who was seated on the opposite bed next to his girlfriend. He looked less than pleased to be in my presence.

“Yeah, and I have work tomorrow, and a couple of… meetings to go to.”

“Where do you work?”

“Nicole,” Zack suddenly interrupted. “I think we should probably head out soon if we still want to see that movie.”

“What’s with you today, seriously, Zack?” She questioned with a light tone. “We have plenty of time.” Nicole suddenly turned back to me, still expecting an answer.

“I, uh, work for a catering company. And part time at a bakery.”

“I’d love to learn how to cook,” mused Nicole sweetly. She placed a hand on Zack’s knee, and my entire body went rigid. How dare she touch him!? Oh, wait, they’re dating… “Zack makes the best key lime pie, though.”

Zack and I both seemed to stiffen at that information. For what felt like the first time in years, we made eye contact.

That was my recipe.

I gulped, before forcing myself to say, “There’s nothing like a great key lime pie recipe.”

Nicole smiled, until her phone rang suddenly. “Oh, I’m sorry. I have to take this, though.” She immediately excused herself outside, leaving Zack and I to sit in our own tense atmosphere.

The room was silent, until Zack said, “So how come you’re working for a catering company and a bakery?”

“Just trying to raise money for my own business,” I said simply.

“So you don’t own a bakery yet?” Snapped Zack, and I was taken aback by his tone.

“Not yet,” I replied through gritted teeth. “I’m still trying to find a bank that will give me a loan. We can’t all achieve our dreams like that.” I snapped my fingers for emphasis.

“The band didn’t get big over night,” Zack retorted. “I had to work hard, too.”

“Yeah, but you had your best friends behind you. I’m all alone.”

“Oh, don’t give me that,” he responded harshly. “We made a deal. You promised that you’d open a bakery, and I promised the band would get big.” He motioned to himself, and to the large hotel room around him as proof. “I held up my end of the deal, how about you?”

“Shut up, you douche bag,” I mumbled, rubbing my temples. “I work two jobs to pay off the student loans and save money for my own career. I’ve gone to tons of banks asking for loans, but none of them will give me anything. My parents refuse to loan me money, and at this point, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s even worth it anymore.” I stared hard at Zack, before feeling myself beginning to break down. Not wanting to have him see me cry, I quickly stood up and made my way into the bathroom. I slammed the door behind me and slumped to the floor, willing myself to not cry.

I didn’t.

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By the time Jade and I had returned to our dorm room, I had heard every detail of Jade’s date with Jack.

She was head over heels for him, and they had only been on one date.

I, on the other hand, wanted to check my phone and go to bed. With a sigh, I began to rummage through my purse. I couldn’t find it, so in my own frustration I turned my bag upside-down. All the contents came spilling out, including my phone, and a small piece of paper I didn’t recognize.

I gasped when I saw its contents.

Two thousand dollars from Zack.

I still believe in you, the memo said.

That was when I finally broke down and cried.
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-- Jay