The weekend had come and gone, yet Jessica felt like the villain in the story. She picked her phone to send a text or call Jack, but she didn't have the courage to. She convinced herself that it was for the best, that her words would only make him angrier. That day she put on her best happy girl impression and moved on.
Ben had to go home during the weekend, and he still wasn't back, so she was pretty much alone. She stopped by the café to have some cupcakes then fill her system with a caffeine boost, so she didn't sleep in one of her lectures that day. Ear pods on, novel in hand, cake and coffee check; Jessica was lost to the world until "Hey aren't you Jessica the nerd?", someone called to her. She didn't notice someone called, she was lost to the world. He snatched the book right out of her hands and Jessica was livid.
"Heyyy you.... Who are you to begin with? You just see people and feel it's okay to interrupt them".
"First off, take it off", he mouthed to her pointing at her ear pods.
" Now look around", people were certainly drawn to her drama. "So calm down dragoness, I'm not just anyone. I'm Justin a friend of Jack's and secondly, I need to talk to you".
Jessica sunk in her seat and let out a hushed sorry.
"It is totally fine, I get it, no one messes with my toys too". She looked at him weirdly. What can't a guy have his toys? Jessica looked away shrugging.
"Now we are at a balance..."
Jessica jumped in, "I'm like really sorry, is he fine? I know I kissed him back and did everything willingly. I just felt bad he didn't reach out later. It hurt and I thought these things in my head and it just spewed out and I couldn't hold it in. But I'm really sorry for hurting him", then she let out a breath and looked at him. Justin looked everywhere else but her. Jessica knew she had gone off like a high-speed train.
"I...", she opened her mouth to speak
Justin begged, "oh please, not again. I just came to casually talk about things like how is school and the cake you had. But, you gave me a whole movie script. Nice". Wiggling his brows, "so you two kissed?", he asked. Jessica blushed hard and remained silent.
"Really? Tongue-tied after that monologue you dished me. I'll let it go, but if your words affected Jack then it means you're important to him. Don't be worked up about it, he'll come around. He's a softie".
"Are you sure about that", Jessica asked chewing her lip.
" Pfft, I'm not sure I've lived it, all of it. "I'm sorry about earlier", she sighed.
"It's fine. I took your book speaking of which Pride and Prejudice, hmm, you took your book love centuries back".
"Don't hate on the books?", she asked. "You know what, I'm buying you a book. Come with me".
"I'm not going anywhere with a stranger", she argued.
He chuckled, "so I'm a stranger, then consider this book gone. If you want it back, you got to read Frank E. Peretti's "Trapped at the bottom of the sea"".
"If it's no good, you're buying me a library of the book", Jessica said picking up her bag and walking out the door.
Justin just eyed her and followed. He led her to his car and they drove off. Shortly after, Jack drove into the café. He talked chattily with the waiter Zack and left with cupcakes and coffee to go.