Chapter 70

"You like her, don't you?"

"Like who, Nicole?"

"Do not act dumb, Jack. I saw how you looked at Jessica."

"Guys, it's one in the morning. What is going on?"

Jack looked at his sister and shook his head. Nicole had been crying; Angela sat beside Nicole, squeezed her hand, then let out a gentle smile, "want to tell me what happened?"

Nicole looked up at Angela, "it's Jack. He likes Jessica."

Angela was waiting for Nicole to say something.

"You know we love and care about you and will always be here for you, but you and my brother split up before the accident."

Jessica stood outside the door, hearing the conversation. She couldn't help but feel relieved that Angela had talked with Nicole. She looked across the passage and saw Jack's room light was on. Jessica tip-toed over to his room and looked inside. He sat with something in his hand; she couldn't make it out what it was.

"He still loves me, Angela. I know he does. He cares for me and is afraid to get too attached."

"Maybe he doesn't want to hurt you, Nicole."

Nicole shook her head in denial, "it can't be Angela. You don't know what love is. Get out of my room," Nicole pointed to the door.

Before entering, Jessica knocked on Jack's door, "hey stranger, your quiet. Are you okay? After that incident earlier, I never saw you?"

Jack shook his head, then looked up. Jessica noticed the silver ring he was holding, "that's a pretty ring."

Jack looked at it and then turned it, "in times like this, my mom would tell me what to do."

Jessica moved in closer and placed her arm around his shoulder, letting him lean on her shoulder, "your mom was a great woman, and she is watching over you. That ring will fit perfectly on the proper lady's finger someday."

Angela was about to walk past the room when she saw Jessica and her brother. She leaned in by the door looking at them, and smiled. She had always known someday they would end up together. Angela had always wanted Jessica as a sister. They had a lot in common, and she had the same experiences in life. When they were younger, Jessica and Jack used to be inseparable and cry when separated, playing for hours together. Angela looked up and smiled, "mom, you knew this."

Jessica ran her soft fingers through the curls of his hair. He was like a baby being pampered. Rogan was on his way to the bathroom and noticed Angela standing by Jack's bedroom door. He tiptoed over to her and leaned his chin on her shoulder, "lovely pajamas you have. I remember these PJs. You were sixteen when you got them, and Mickey mouse has always been your favorite," he whispered.

His curly hair brushed against her face, and he looked closer at what she was looking at, "is that your brother and my sister?"

Angela smiled and nodded, "yes, and it's exactly how it should be."

He continued whispering in her ear, "do you want to know a secret?"

Angela smiled, "let me guess, you can't sleep, and you want me to join you?" She turned, giving a devious smile.

Her lips were inches from his both their hearts raced, "yes, that, and I always knew they would be together. After we separated, Jessica tried dating guys, but it was a failed relationship, nothing stable because of our lives."

"Are you telling me she was waiting all her life for him?"

He moved his lips closer to hers, and his eyes locked with hers, "yes, she wrote a ton of letters with his name on them and burned it up every time. Our destiny, our paths are marked for a reason."

Angela couldn't help but smile at hearing this. She looked down at his lips, then up at his eyes. He ran his index finger over her cheek, "you look beautiful. You have matured so much since the last time we saw each other."

Angela smiled at hearing this. "Do you think they will get married?"

"I say they will. Look at them. I have never seen my sister happy since our parents passed away."

"Shhh- they might hear us."

Angela took Rogan's hand and went to the room, shutting the door. Nicole sat in her room with her legs crossed. She couldn't stop crying; she stood up from her bed and wanted to talk to Jack. Seeing the light shine into the passage, she felt a slight relief. She had not seen her brother all day and felt alone and left out; she needed someone to talk to.

"Jack, you will be okay. I am not going anywhere," Jessica snuggled closer and leaned her forehead against his as she closed her eyes, "I've missed you, Jack."

He thought of Nicole, who was hurting. He sat up straight. Jessica was surprised that Jack had moved away. Nicole walked halfway up the passage, turned around, and returned to her room.

"Jack, is everything okay?"

He stood up from the bed, "Yes, I am okay. I'm abit tired."

"Okay, that's my cue to leave, I guess."

Jack never replied, "Jack, that ring, I hope it goes on the right girl's finger someday when you decide to figure it out."

"Good night Jessica."

Jessica's room was next to Jack's; she leaned against her door as she closed it behind her, leaning her back against it, and tears flowed down her cheeks. "Why did he push me away? Does he still love Nicole? Was Nicole right about him loving her?"

Nicole stood up from her bed and walked over to Jack's room, pushing open the door. He was lying there in the dark with the curtain open, and the only light source was the moon shining through his room window. "Jack, I am sorry. I know you are tired. Can we talk, please?"

Jack sat up upon seeing her, "sure we can."

Nicole smiled, "I am sorry. Would you mind if we just lay down and not talk?"

"That would be perfect," Jack smiled.

Jack laid on his back, and Nicole turned on her left side, laying in his arms. This is where she felt safe; the silver ring was on the table beside them. "Thank you."

"Thank you for?"

"This, I needed this," she whispered.

Jessica paced back and forth in the room. She had to tell Jack how she felt. She has been waiting for this moment. She opened her room door and walked to his room door, then turned around, standing in the middle of the passage. Jessica heard Angela talking. She walked to Angela's room and placed her ear against the door. "Who is she talking to?"

Jessica couldn't hear, then assumed it was Nicole and walked over to Nicole's room, whose door was open. She peaked inside, and Nicole was not in bed. Jessica smiled, thinking Nicole was by Angela, until she heard a male voice coming from Angela's room, and she peeked through the keyhole and couldn't see who was in her room. She then heard her brother's voice, "Rogan?"

Her brother and Angela are finally together. She had a feeling of excitement and uncertainty. What does this mean for her and Jack? Does he love her? She should ask him. Forgetting a moment about Nicole, she walked to Jack's room and up and down past his door until Marcus returned. She then remembers Nicole is not in the room. Marcus went straight to the sofa and kicked off his boots. He never saw Jessica. Jessica walked over to Jack's room. It was too quiet for Nicole to be there. She walked back to Nicole's room to ensure she was not in the room. There was no sound coming from Jack's room. Jessica gripped her hand on the door handle, slowly turned it, and pushed it open. There was Nicole asleep in Jack's arms. He was fully dressed so was she. They were tight asleep. Jessica stood in the doorway, looking at them lying in each other's arms, then looked up and saw the moon shining through the window. In anger, she clenched her fist and started to believe Nicole was acting so that Jack would grab pity on her as he did now. That should have been her. She stood there in tears. She felt anger she was going to get rid of Nicole, no matter what it took. If her brother and Angela can be happy together, so can she. After all, Rogan had plans for them all. Jessica walked into the room and sat down on the chair, watching them asleep she felt like she could strangle Nicole. She was more convinced Nicole was acting, and she would prove it to them. Jessica stood up, closed the room door, and saw Marcus lying, "let him feel what I feel," she thought to herself as she walked over to Marcus, removing her top.

She saw he was asleep, "dammit, it's late."

She turned around, and Jack exited the room. He saw her putting her top on and saw Marcus lying there. He gave her a look that she would carry forever. It was a looking of disappointment and anger. He turned around and shook his head, walking back, "Jack, wait."

He ignored her and locked his room door. She leaned against the door and slid down. "Jack, please," she murmured and buried her head in her knees. Nothing happened.