radiantbaby | do, part three

sorry for the delay on this one guys...things have been so busy in my life right now. i hope that it is/was worth the wait for those following along...

TITLE: Do [working title]
GENRE: Romance, Angst
KEY MEMBER(S): Jack, for now
SYNOPSIS: After being put out of commission from breaking his finger, it is the eve of the White Stripes first show after the accident. Jack is finding himself lonely in a crowd, questioning his success, and terrified about his first show after his injury. Little does he know there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel coming around the bend. Her name is Kate.
RATING: PG-13 at the moment
ARCHIVING: Soon it will be on the archive site if all goes well, anywhere else, just ask.
FEEDBACK: Please, please, please...I am still in the throes of writers block, so tell me if it sucks too hard.
MISC: The narrative of the story is Jack. Remember this is fiction, I do not profess to be Jack White or any of his multiple personalities. Also, facts might get a bit toyed with, but that is what makes things fun. Enjoy.

*

We spoke for hours as John and Kate, becoming intoxicated by both the beer that we were drinking, but also the exciting mystery and allure of one another.

We spoke about all sorts of things, being suitably vague enough when needed, but also being rather candid in the safety of our anonymity.

As the bar dwindled down to only a few stragglers, things seemed to pull us closer and closer together. We found ourselves moving closer together practically with each sentence until our sides touched and our faces were so close, I could kiss her. The thing was, by that point, that was getting to be all I wanted to do -- kiss her.

To be honest, I had been lonely, my recent breakup bright in the eyes of Hollywood only pushing my contempt for such things to a near breaking point. I don't know what I had thought or who I was trying to prove myself to when I thought it might actually be a good idea to have a Hollywood starlet on my arm. I certainly didn't fathom everything such a maneuver would entail -- from the flashing bulbs of paparazzi to the plastic feelings that accompanied. In the end, I was a stepping stone for her and when that came to light, I only wished I could have stayed blind to it for a little longer, instead of my life turning upside-down. I suppose I felt that being with someone, however wrong for me, was better than being alone. Or so I rationalized. Now I am left to fill that void before it fills me.

No, I could not kiss her. Not yet. I needed to savor this evening without rushing it for my own needs. Besides it would be rather presumptuous of me to assume that she would even want to kiss me as well. My heart couldn't take any rejection that night.

"Karen?" a somewhat slovenly man said as he approached our table, interrupting us.

Kate covered part of her face with her hand, curving it over her eyes in shame.

I looked at the two of them, but moreso at the man who had approached us. He was a somewhat swarthy, tall man. He was also balding considerably and looked to be in his mid to late forties.

"Karen, what are you doing down here?" he asked, leaning on his palms on our table.

"Edward, I just needed some air," she said in a low voice, removing her hand to look up at him.

He looked me over, trying to focus on me, obviously rather drunk. "Who are you?"

I braced myself a bit, now feeling highly uncomfortable. "John."

"John...John...John," he repeated my name, nodding his head, his eyes searching, seeming to try and place me in his memory.

"Who...are...you?" I asked slowly, nervously.

"I am her fiance," he slurred indignantly, nearly losing his balance as he pounded the table with the emphasis.

I bit my lip, now very worried. What had I gotten myself into?

"Edward, you should probably go upstairs," Kate said matter-of-factly, breaking the awkward silence.

Edward moved to plop himself down on the edge of the seat next to us. "I have wanted to, but I can't seem to remember where it is. I was asleep in the car and they woke me up and asked me to come inside and go back to the room."

His tone now almost sounded childlike and it was odd how, in contrast, Kate (or Karen?) took on a maternal disposition in his presence.

"Well then, let's get you up there, shall we?" she replied, looking at me a bit ashamed.

"Let me get him upstairs, I am so sorry, I had a lovely time," she said quietly to me.

My mind was racing with everything that was happening before me, my heart sinking a bit at her unavailability. "I can help," I heard myself blurt out.

The two of them looked at me surprised. "You sure?" she asked, her eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"He's a big guy," I added to her quietly, "I can't see you getting him upstairs all by yourself without some assistance."

She shrugged, squeezing my knee and smiling. "Thank you, John."