They remained in the same position for quite a long time till her legs ached.
He had stopped sobbing but he wouldn't let go of her waist... So she kept petting him.
He raised his head and asked;
"Is it normal if I don't feel pained that she broke up with me?"
"Yes, it's normal. Come on darling, you deserve so much better than that. Just let yourself feel everything you need to feel. You'll heal faster" she smiled.
"I love you," he said and then held her tighter.
"I love you too" she replied.
'If only you knew...' Jason thought to himself.
"I need to get some sleep, I slept badly last night," he said out loud.
"Nightmares huh?" She asked. He had released her waist and was rubbing his face.
"Sort of"
"I'll walk you to your bedroom" she smiled and offered her hand, which he took.
"Please stay with me. I don't want to wallow in self-pity"
"Of course. I'm here for you whenever you need me. The hurt is not forever" she winked at him and he winked back.
He threw himself on the bed immediately after they were in the bedroom. Crystal followed suit. They lay side by side, staring at the ceiling.
"What do you wanna do tonight?"
"Stay in bed and eat ice cream" he replied.
"Since when did you become a heartbroken lady" Crystal laughed.
"Who says only heartbroken girls eat ice cream in bed" he rolled his eyes.
"That's the rule dude"
"Okay, your highness. So tell me, what do guys do?"
"They go out to parties and hook up with other beautiful and heavily endowed ladies"
He burst into laughter even before she finished.
"Why are you laughing?" She feigned ignorance.
"Okay. Okay. I agree with you. Take me out then?" He asked.
"Yes. That's what I wanted to hear"
"I'm not done yet" he raised his hand, then continued, "I'll follow you on one condition though"
"Must you always bet?" Crystal knew where this was going.
"You haven't even heard the condition" he had an annoying smirk plastered on his face.
"Okay. Let's hear it" she folded her arms across her chest.
"I'll hook up with you"
Crystal burst into laughter. That wasn't what she was expecting.
"Oh, yea? Believe me, you don't want to know what I am capable of" she laughed harder. He was pushing it... What nerve! This friend of hers needed a spanking.
"Try me" he giggled girlishly.
She was happy that he wasn't so hard on himself and she would do anything to make him happier.
"Okay. I'll hook up with you. It's a date then?"
"Nope. You don't go out on a date with a hooker, dumbo"
"Who says I'm a hooker?!" She protested
"Who called you a hooker?!" He asked innocently.
"You just did. But you do know a hooker is a prostitute huh?" She left the bed to begin the morning chores.
"Well... That's what broken-hearted guys do. Isn't it, babe?" He stuck his tongue out at her and she just laughed and left the room.
"Wait!" He called her back.
"What's up?" He poked her head back in.
"Come sit. We need to talk about meeting up later. We have to pretend to be strangers" he moved his shoulders like he wanted to dance.
"You're serious about hooking up with me?" She laughed.
"Hell yea, gorgeous. You have it all... Pretty face, well endowed..."
"Just shut up and get to the point" she walked back into the room and shut the door.
With her arms folded across her chest, she leaned on the door and crossed her legs, just casually.
"Okay. I'll leave early. I'll wait for you at the Happy People's club" he grinned
"Touche huh" she laughed awkwardly.
"Oh, that didn't come out well. Let's pick another"
"Please do" she rolled her eyes and sighed in relief.
"How about we try The Blend?"
"That's better" she smiled and left.
She spent hours cleaning the house, as always. She was a little bit of a freak when it came to cleanliness.
She scrubbed the toilet as if her life depended on it. Since Jason had taken the day off and she didn't have a job yet, she just sat on the couch in the sitting room, watching movies or browsing the web.
Her interview was the next day, just a few hours away. She had to prepare.
Oceanic Entertainment and the Fashion industry weren't a joke. It was a big industry, she'd always fantasized about working there for years. Now, her dream was about to come true and she wasn't going to put it on the line.
She took in a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let it out slowly to calm her nerves.
Then she turned off her phone to go check on Jason. They were going to have the food from the previous day for lunch. She'd put it in the freezer and knew for sure that it had turned into a block of ice.
On second thought, she walked to the kitchen and turned on the stove.
She decided to make some pancakes to go with the maple syrup. It was Jason's favorite. Maybe she'd just pamper him for one day?
Getting the ingredients ready, she went to work. She was so absorbed in it, she didn't hear his bedroom door open or his footsteps.
=================================
Jason woke up and could hear the clanging sound of pots and pans in the kitchen. Then an aroma wafted across the room, encircling him and enchanting him. He smiled and got off the bed. Eyes closed, he traced the aroma to the kitchen.
He saw her work so seriously. A wisp of hair fell on her eyes and she smoothed it away. Some straying strands of hair which she had missed while holding her hair up in a bun were plastered on the nape of her neck.
She looked desirable. He just stood by the door, staring. He was lost till his stomach grumbled and he felt like fainting. Then he remembered that he'd only had a few cups of coffee that morning.
Sensing a presence, Crystal looked up and her eyes met his. He smiled and hopped like a kid on a Christmas morning when he saw the pancakes.
"Pancakes for lunch, yay!"
"Quit being a baby and come help me here"
"Yes, mom" he giggled and walked over to the counter.
"How are you feeling?" She asked, looking concerned.
"Never been better" he looked at the pancakes hungrily.
"Can I have just one?" He Pleaded
"No. Set the table" she slapped his hand.
Jason set off to work immediately. He got the syrup from the fridge as well as some strawberries and orange juice to go with the pancakes. Then he set two places on the table while Crystal dished the food.
They ate in the kitchen and yes, it was a hearty meal, filled with love. If they were in public, a passerby would have thought they were a couple, out to have lunch together, then going back home for some lovin' and cuddlin'.
"Are you well prepared for your interview?" He asked after they'd cleared the plates.
"I don't know. I'm nervous and scared"
"Why? That doesn't sound like my Crystal" he mused.
"I know... I know. I can't help it. I'll be heartbroken if this doesn't work out"
"It will. I promise" he placed his hand on hers, which was on the table.
"Yea... But let's not jinx it" she smiled.
"As you wish m'lady" he winked
"About tonight Jason, can we stay away from alcohol? It'd be bad if I was to wake up, having a hangover... And then going for an interview looking pale and haggard"
"I have a better idea" he replied.
"What is it?"
"How about we postpone our little drama till your interview is over?"
"No. Let's do it. We won't stay out late, I promise"
"Okay," he looked at his watch.
"Is going to a club necessary? I've never been to one before and I don't think..." He pursed his lips and stared at her
"I know, right? Neither have I. We don't even know how it works. Can we just go to a normal restaurant?" She asked so innocently that he burst into a burst of uncontrollable laughter, and she had to join in.
"What is so funny?" She finally asked.
"Nothing. The restaurant it is then. I'll see you at Rasta Pasta by seven. Agreed?"
"Yes. We have a deal, sir. Wear something nice" they shook hands and walked off, each to their room.
Crystal carefully opened her wardrobe. She had arranged her outfit for the interview and she didn't want them rumpled. She picked the neatly folded outfit, opened a drawer, and carefully placed them there.
Then she walked back to the wardrobe and began to ransack. She needed a seductive dress for tonight. She was going to make Jason regret daring her. She smiled mischievously as she thought of the things she would do to him.