“Jessica”

Jessica heard her name being called but she did not even think of answering. She just went her way. Andy came out of the car, leaving it at the middle of the road. He had been searching for some time, moving the car slowly in order not to miss her and had become apprehensive and terribly worried when the rain had started.

“Jessica, Oh my God” he murmured as he ran after her in the rain. Within seconds, he was also wet due to the velocity of the heavy rain. He got to her in no time but she would not stop walking. It was as if she could neither see nor hear him.

“Jessica please, for the Love of God, stop this. Don’t hurt yourself like this” Jessica was shivering as she walked but she did not even seem to notice that she was shivering.

“I am so sorry Jess but please, let me take you home” he held her hand. “Please”

She turned her head sharply as his hand touched her. “Get your filthy hands off me this minute” Andy did not let her go. “Home?” she asked. “Which home? I have no home” she shivered. “Especially not in your house”.

“Please Jess, even if you are going to hate me, I would not leave you out here like this.”

“Well, it is not in your place to make decisions for me, you don’t have the right and you never will” she fought to keep her clattering teeth in place. “Why can’t you leave me alone? What did I ever do to offend the world” she cried furiously. The cars were busy blasting horns and raining curses as they bypassed Andy’s car but Andy did not hear any of it.

“Sweetheart I…” he paused. “Jess, please, I know it is hard for you to trust me now but please let me get you out of this rain, please…”

“No… I said no”

Andy breathed deep and scooped her in his hands. She started fussing and yelling and the cars passing started looking suspicious. He took her straight to the car, holding her effortlessly but firmly though she struggled. When they got to the car, he put her down and stared straight at her.

“I would take you anywhere you want to go Jess but I can’t leave you here. It is either you go with me or we both stay here in the rain. Please”

Jessica swallowed and entered the car slowly. The chill was getting to her bones and she was not sure she could stand anymore. She had expended all her energy. When Andy got behind the wheels, she looked outside the window. “Take me to Lizzy’s place.”

Andy breathed deeply and started the engine. His heart ached terribly as he saw her shivering uncontrollably. There was no cloth at all in the car that he could use to cover her. He was cold too but he knew that he could handle himself. He turned up the heater to the highest and turned the fans in Jess’ direction. He quenched every desire to talk and explain things. He did not want to upset her more. He was greatly relieved when her shivering reduced a bit.
Silence reigned in the car as Andy drove to Lizzy’s house. On getting there, Jessica did not even give room for any discussion. She said ‘thanks’, alighted and hurried into the house in the rain which was no longer as heavy as it was before. She pounded Lizzy’s door, waiting for the door to open. She heard Lizzy murmuring something inside and her anger grew. The door opened and Lizzy’s expression changed to extreme surprise.

“What? Jessie, what are you-”

Jessica’s fist swung and connected with Lizzy’s face. “How could you? I trusted in you because you were smart enough to detect that something was not right between Andy and I.

I opened up and told you everything, how could you then tell Sonia about this? I thought you promised never to tell anyone.” Jessie’s eyes shot fire.

“Whoa Jessie” the slap still stunned her but she pulled Jessica inside and slammed the door. “You are speaking Chinese. I did not tell anyone anything”

“Oh great. Now the world is full of liars”

“Now Jessie, I am serious. I cross my heart. If I weren’t a good Christian, I would have sworn. I did not tell anyone anything”

“But Sonia knows” Jessica knew Lizzy was not lying but she had no idea how Sonia would have known of the contract.

Lizzy was someone who was very transparent and anyone would see through her if she was lying.

“She must have found out somehow or from someone but definitely not from me” Lizzy was alarmed. “What is going on Jessie? You are really scaring me. You look like a terrified dripping cat”

“I just want to sleep Lizzy. I want to sleep so that my head can stop spinning” Jessica swallowed, not willing to cry.

Lizzy looked at her critically and decided to wait till the next day before she found out what really happened.

“OK. Come and get rid of this cloth. Did I mention that you are looking very sexy in this dress?” Lizzy said, trying to make Jessica smile a bit but when Jessica fought back tears instead of smiling, she knew that something was terribly wrong with her and all her instincts pointed at Andy………….