"What's the matter, Sparky?"
He sat upright on the bed, suddenly feeling rejuvenated. He heard sobbing on the other end. "Are you crying?"
"Stop calling me Sparky, it's dumb!"
"I'm not making any promises. What happened to you?"
"It's Jack."
"Where are you?"
"I think I'm somewhere in Downs Street."
"Hang on, I'll be there soon."
He hurriedly wore his shirt, grabbed his keys, and flung his jacket over his shoulder before bolting out of the room. Jackie, Marilyn, Kaitlyn, and Tiana were at the table gossiping while they sipped tea and munched on cookies. It was Kaitlyn who noticed him walk past them in haste.
"Where are you going?"
"Shouldn't you guys be in bed?"
"We deserve to know," Jackie snapped.
"Now's not the time Jackie, I've gotta go."
"It's three fifteen, Laurent! Mom's gonna kill you if she finds out!"
"Luckily for me, she's not gonna find out, or is she?"
"I'm not making any promises. But seriously, it's really late."
"Go to bed, Tiana. All of you."
They watched him dash out the front door. Jackie sighed as pushed her glasses up her nose, shoving a cookie into her mouth.
"All in favor of staying up to find out what he's up to?"
Their hands went up.
"Then it's settled, no more secrets."
Julianne told herself she wouldn't cry but when he heard his voice, she couldn't contain her tears. She quickly wiped them off as she walked out of the phone booth. The streets were empty, there was no one in sight. She sat on a bench close to the phone booth and waited. She felt her heart beat faster with every passing second. She held her rosary tight in her hands as though it would provide comfort. Suddenly, she saw a figure walk towards her. Her heart raced. Without thinking, she ran off, but it chased after her. "Why does the universe hate me?" She cried. Her knees buckled and she lost her footing. She expected to fall but didn't. The figure caught her. With tears in her eyes, she threw weak punches at him but it pulled her into a hug.
"Leave me alone!" She cried, pulling herself out of its grasp.
"Calm down, Sparky!"
She stopped punching. She cried in his arms, wetting his shirt. "Please don't leave me," she cried, "I don't have any family here! My supposed friends have abandoned me. I feel so alone! You won't leave, will you?"
"I won't leave, stop crying."
She nodded as she pulled away. She wiped her tears with the back of her palm. "I've made a fool of myself, haven't I?"
"Like I said earlier, I derive great pleasure from watching you humiliate yourself."
She chuckled lightly, shivering against him. He gave her his jacket, which she quickly wore. She felt giddy when she smelt his cologne on it. She took a step forward but her legs felt wobbly. At that point, she was certain she had broken her ankle so didn't bother taking another step.
"What's wrong, Sparky?"
"Enough with that silly name! I can't walk, I've sprained my ankle."
"That's it?"
"What are you-"
She screamed when he lifted her off the ground, carrying her bridal style. "What is wrong with you, put me down!" She said, hitting him with her fists.
"You said you couldn't walk."
"I'm not some damsel in distress. Now put me down!"
"You sounded like one over the phone."
"Don't mock me!"
"Too late for that."
She muttered under her breath as he cradled her in his arms. She felt uneasy, his touch sent chilling sensations down her spine. He stared at her quizzically, watching her cheeks redden in embarrassment.
"You have a car?" She squealed in awe, staring at the sleek Rolls-Royce in front of her. He arched his brows at her in amusement. "Maybe I do. Where do you want to go?"
"Far away from this place."
"Fine, let's go to my house."
"That's a terrible idea!"
"Would you rather go to yours?"
She twiddled with her fingers, her bright hazel eyes becoming dull and sullen. "I didn't mean that, Sparky."
"It's fine."
She heard him start the car. "Laurent?"
"Yes?"
"One more thing," she murmured, "Don't call me Sparky!"
"No can do miss, the name stays."
Back at Hathaway Estate, Jackie, Marilyn, and Tiana paced about, wondering where he went. Kaitlyn dozed off on the sofa, knocked out by the tea, cookies, and gossip. They tried calling, but he left his phone in his room. Their eyes went to the antique grandfather clock standing in the hallway.
"It's three forty-five, where could he be?" Tiana cried. Marilyn shrugged and Jackie pushed her glasses up her nose.
"Maybe he's at Trinity House, we should go there!"
"Nice try Marley, we all know you just want to see Jacques," Jackie snickered.
"You act as though you don't want to see him too!"
"Stop acting like a baby!"
"Stop being so-"
"Ladies!" Tiana bellowed, "Arguing isn't gonna get us anywhere. He may be at Trinity House, so why don't we just call Jacques?"
"Are you sure? I think going there would be more efficient."
Jackie and Tiana arched their brows at Marley. "Seriously?" They said sarcastically.
"We could-"
The sound of the doorbell ended their conversation.
"Is that Laurent?" Marley whispered.
"It couldn't be. He has his keys and knows that there's a spare in the porch."
"He also, probably thinks we are asleep and so wouldn't bother ringing the bell," Jackie added.
They cautiously walked towards the door and opened it.
"Jacques? What are you doing here? Do you know what the time is?" Tiana asked.
"Where is he?"
"He isn't here!"
"Hi Jacques!" Marley said coyly, twirling her brown hair over her fingers. Jackie shook her nose but stopped when she noticed her glasses were slipping off her nose.
"Marilyn, Jacqueline," he said, acknowledging their presence, "Where's Kaitlyn?"
"Asleep."
"Lucky her. Where'd he go?"
"We don't know!" The girls cried.
"Bet it has something to do with Sparky."
"Sparky? Isn't that the person who helped Laurent pull the prank on you?"
"What's going on in that head of yours, Jackie?" He asked.
"Were you eavesdropping?"
"No! Well, maybe…okay, fine! Sheesh!"
"Maybe he's with this Sparky fella," Tiana said.
"Maybe…"
"Look, his car just pulled up in the driveway!" Marley cried, pointing at it. They scampered towards it. Their suspicions were right, he had gone to meet someone. And she was there with him.