Some People Stay

Jonathan went back to Bridget’s house, having just gotten screamed at by Amelia. He could understand where she was coming from and why she would think that he didn’t really care about her. But, he wanted her to realize that he really did care about her. Sure, they might not have always been super close friends, but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t worried about her right now.

“That was quick,” Bridget said when Jonathan walked back inside. “That’s either really good or really bad,” she added. Jonathan just looked at her, not wanting to disappoint her by telling her that it didn’t work out like she had wanted it to. “It was really bad, wasn’t it?” she asked, seeing the look on his face.

Jonathan slowly nodded his head. “I’m sorry, Bridge,” he apologized.

“What happened?”

“Well, she kicked me out,” Jonathan said deciding to tell the story backwards, beginning with the ending.

Bridget’s eyes widened. “She what?” she asked. “That’s not like Amelia. Especially right now. She’s been so passive lately, not saying much except that she doesn’t need me there. Basically she just sits on the couch in almost silence,” Bridget told him.

“Not today,” Jonathan told her before recounting the entire encounter.

“Oh my God, Jon,” Bridget began, and he thought she was about to apologize, but he quickly found out he was wrong. “She actually showed emotion. I think that’s a step in the right direction. I mean, she’s been emotionless since it’s happened. Yeah, she’s cried, but when you talk to her, nothing. It’s like she’s dead inside. But, she’s finally shown some emotion.”

“So, you’re happy she yelled at me?” Jonathan asked, a little confused on why Bridget was happy about all of this.

“I’m sorry she yelled at you,” she said, giving Jonathan the apology he thought he was going to receive earlier, not that he was waiting on one. He didn’t need one. “But, maybe this is all a step in the right direction,” Bridget tried explaining, and Jonathan could begin to see why she was happy about it. If Amelia had been acting dead inside, for her to show a little bit of life was a huge step, even if it was in the form of her getting angry at him.

“I really think that she needs to go see a psychiatrist or some kind of professional, Bridge,” Jonathan told her. “She needs help. She just lost the love of her life, and she’s not going to be able to just get over it, and she said that she feels like that’s how everyone wants her to be. I think she needs to go to counseling and let someone who handles things like that on a daily basis help her out.”

“I know,” Bridget sighed. “And, I’ve been trying to convince her, but she just won’t listen to me. It’s like she’s convinced to deal with all of this on her own. Like I told you, she’s been pushing me away. But, at least she showed some kind of emotion with you! And, maybe if I could get her into counseling it would help her even more. Maybe talking to someone that she doesn’t know would be a huge help, but trying to get her to go is a huge challenge.”

“I know,” Jonathan nodded his head. “She’s resistant to it. But, we’ve got to try.”

“‘We’?” Bridget asked, looking up at him.

“Yeah, we,” Jonathan smiled. “Why?”

“I just thought that you wouldn’t want to stick around after Amelia just screamed at you and basically accused you of only caring about me and not her,” Bridget told him.

“I’m not leaving,” Jonathan told her, and he could see the look of surprise on Bridget’s face. He was surprised himself that she actually thought he was going to up and leave now. He’d never been one to run away when things got hard. He was going to prove to them that some people stay when things got tough. He knew Amelia needed all the support she could get right now, and while he may not have always been there for her in the past, he was going to be there for her now. The same went for Bridget. She may not realize it yet, but she needed support right now, too. She was always used to having her sister have her back, but not she was pushing her away, and Bridget really didn’t have anyone.

“I really appreciate it, Jon,” she told him. “I know I’ve said that a million times already, but I just want you to know that you’re appreciated here,” she smiled at him.

“I know,” Jonathan smiled at her. “So, what’s the plan now? We’ve got to get her into therapy, but how? She obviously isn’t listening when you suggest it. Have you explained to her that you’re worried about her and that’s why you want her to seek some help?” he asked.

Bridget played with her hair as she answered, shaking her head. “No, I just told her that it might be helpful if she went and talked to someone. I don’t think she really knows how scared I am right now for her,” she admitted. He looked over at her, and he could see that she was really upset right now.

“Maybe that’s the first step,” Jonathan suggested. “Tell her that what she said at the cemetery has you really worried about her right now and you’d like it if she’d go see someone about it.”

“I thought you said that you didn’t think she actually meant it when she said she didn’t want to live anymore,” Bridget said, looking over at him.

“I don’t think she did,” Jonathan told her. “But, obviously you do. And, Bridge, you obviously know her better than I do. And, if you’re legitimately worried about it, she needs to know that. Maybe if she realizes how worried you are she’ll go. She loves you.”

Bridget sighed. “I’ll try,” she told him. “But, first, let me make you some breakfast. Or lunch. Or whatever you want to eat,” she said with a small laugh. “What would you like?” she asked, standing up and walking towards the kitchen.

Jonathan followed her. “You really don’t need to fix me anything. I can just go out and buy something,” he told her.

Bridget swung around, staring at him. “You’re kidding, right?” she asked, but she didn’t wait for Jonathan to answer before she continued. “You came to Nashville because I asked you to. You are not going out and buying some food with little nutrition, get out of shape before preseason, and blame me when you don’t have a good season,” she said jokingly. Jonathan couldn’t help but chuckle at her over-the-top prediction of what could happen. “Seriously, I’m making you food. What do you want?”

“Bridge, you look exhausted,” he said, just as she stifled back a yawn. “You are exhausted,” he corrected. “How much sleep have you gotten since David died?”

“I don’t know,” Bridget said honestly. “I’ve gotten some here and there. It hasn’t been very consisted. I’m just more worried about Amelia more than anything.”

“Why don’t you get some sleep right now then?” Jonathan suggested. “You’re not going to do Amelia any help if you’re completely exhausted. You need to take care of yourself.”

“I know,” Bridget sighed. “And, I will get some sleep. Later.”

“Now,” Jonathan told her. “I can make my own food. In fact, I’ll make you some, too. You just go take a nap, okay?” he said.

“I am not letting my guest make me lunch while I go take a nap!” Bridget exclaimed. “I’ll nap later,” she said, grabbing a pan out of one of her cabinets, but Jonathan quickly snatched it out of her hands, holding it up over his head, out her Bridget’s reach. “Hey!” she said.

“Go. Now,” he ordered.

“Yes, Mr. Caveman,” she joked.

“I’ve been called many things, but caveman is not one of them,” Jonathan chuckled as Bridget walked away. He followed her up the stairs, making sure she got into bed before he walked back down, going to the kitchen, trying to decide what to make. He went through her cabinets and refrigerator, surprised to see it was fairly full. He decided on a simple breakfast dish of an omelet, hoping that that would be good enough for Bridget. He started to make it before stopping himself, deciding he’d let her sleep a little bit before he woke her up with some food.

A couple of hours later, he walked upstairs with an omelet on a plate and a glass of orange juice in his hands. The door was cracked and he opened it, seeing Bridget still fast asleep. He didn’t want to wake her, but he knew she needed to eat. If she wasn’t sleeping like she should be, he was sure that she wasn’t eating properly either. He set the glass and plate down on the stand next to her before gently shaking her away.

Bridget slowly opened her eyes. “What time is it?” she asked him.

“Noon,” he told her. “But, I still made you breakfast so sorry if you don’t like that,” he said with a small laugh.

“Noon?” Bridget asked. “You let me sleep til noon?”

“I would have let you sleep longer if I didn’t think you needed some food,” Jonathan told her. “Here, eat,” he said, handing her the plate.

“Thank you for making this for me,” Bridget told him. “I would have made something for you, though. You are my guest after all.”

“It’s fine, just eat,” he told her. “Afterwards, we’ll try to come up with a plan on what to say to Amelia to try to get her to go to counseling.”

“Thanks, Jon,” she told him with a smile. “I’m really glad you came down here.”

“Me, too,” Jonathan replied, sitting down next to her on the bed as she continued to eat the food he had made her.