New
Year’s Eve
Jack had distanced herself from Darren for nearly a week now, and she planned on keeping her promise about giving herself some time before going back to any relationship. She and Nadia had grown inseparable now that they shared a common ground about men. Dan and Anna kept seeing more of each other, yet Nadia always found a way to piss them off when they were around. Her relationship with Dan grew worse by the day until she finally cracked under the pressure.
“I’ve had it!” Nadia screamed when she stomped outside into the backyard
with Jack following. “I’m telling him right now! And I’m not gonna chicken out!”
She ran back into the house to look for Dan as Jack sat outside shaking her
head. She wheeled herself to the patio table beside the house and pulled a notebook
out of the backpack hanging from the back of her wheelchair. She had an idea
for a song, something she could remember Nadia telling her that totally related
to the current situation.
“It
seemed to be like the perfect thing for you and me
It's so ironic you're what I had pictured you to be
But there are facts in our lives we can never change
Just tell me that you understand and feel the same”
Jack smiled as she read over her first few lines and continued.
“This
perfect romance that I've created in my mind
I'd live a thousand lives each one with you right by my side
But yet we find ourselves in a less than perfect circumstance
And so it seems like we'll never have the chance “
“I’m on a roll!” Jack said aloud as she kept writing with the rest of
the song stuck in her head.
“Ain't
it funny how some feelings you just can't deny
And you can't move on even though you try
Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel
Oh I wish this could be real
Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life
And you don't want to face what's wrong or right
Ain't it strange how fate can play a part
In the story of your heart
Sometimes
I think that a true love can never be
I just believe that somehow it wasn't meant to me
Life can be cruel in a way that I can't explain
And I don't think that I could face it all again
I barely know you but somehow I know what you're about
A deeper love I've found in you, and I no longer doubt
You've touched my heart and it altered every plan I've made
And now I feel that I don't have to be afraid
Ain't
it funny how some feelings you just can't deny
And you can't move on even though you try
Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel
Oh I wish this could be real
Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life
And you don't want to face what's wrong or right
Ain't it strange how fate can play a part
In the story of your heart
I locked
away my heart
But you just set it free
Emotions I felt held me back from what my life should be
I pushed you far away
And yet you stayed with me
I guess this means
That you and me were meant to be
Ain't
it funny how some feelings you just can't deny
And you can't move on even though you try
Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel
Oh I wish this could be real
Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life
And you don't want to face what's wrong or right
Ain't it strange how fate can play a part
In the story of your heart
(Repeat to end)
Jack finished the last line of her song and wheeled herself back into the house. She wanted to show Dan her best piece to date, but when she head Nadia’s high-pitched shouts, she stopped to listen.
“Dan, I’m so sick of this game we’re playing,” Nadia yelled in the living room. “I’m sick of you treating me as if I’m not there one moment then as if I’m the only person around. Could you make up your mind already and either push me out of your life or let me completely consume it?”
“I’m trying, Nadia,” Dan shouted back.
“Try harder!” she retorted. “My emotions are already a mess. It’s not like whatever you tell me is gonna really hurt.”
“I don’t know what to tell you! You’re making everything hard. Why do you have to be so jealous? Can’t you act like nothing is going on?” he asked.
“I can’t! I have feelings for you!” Nadia finally blurted. “I don’t like seeing you with Anna.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Dan replied.
“Because I was stupid. Pregnant people do stupid things.” Nadia calmed herself and added, “I wish I had told you all this before. You made me feel so special those few days before the party, and when you told me about your feelings for Anna, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you my feelings for you. It seems like I always realize my mistake when it’s too late to fix them. And I make myself the fool.”
“You’re not a fool,” he told her. “I, too, was in turmoil when my feelings for you and Anna collided.”
“How did you feel about me?”
“I was beginning to like you and not because of the baby. I was finally seeing other sides of you that I felt very comfortable around and enjoyed. For the first time in my life I felt good about making a bad decision.”
Nadia walked over to Dan and wrapped her arms around him for a tight hug. They stood in the living room embracing each other until Nadia pulled away. A line of tears had streaked her face as she stood before him waiting for him to say anything. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to speak, her hand reached over to his face and gently brushed up against his cheek. Dan pulled her in again for a kiss.
Jack stayed by the door, her eyes wide with astonishment and joy. It all faded when she remembered her current situation. She and Darren hadn’t spoken to each other in nearly a week and she was beginning to wonder where he was at the moment. Her own yearning to resolve things between them was rearing its ugly head.
Jack looked up to see Dan and Nadia moving away from each other with smiles on their faces. “I’m sorry,” Dan whispered into Nadia’s ear.
“For what?” she asked.
“Hurting you all the time by having Anna around,” he answered.
“Don’t do it again, please,” Nadia replied.
“I won’t.”
“Are you going to keep seeing her?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Okay.” They were about to kiss again when the doorbell rang. Nadia rolled her eyes and walked over to the door. Opening it, she saw Darren standing outside soaking wet with a newspaper over his head. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, walking away and leaving the door open. She still hadn’t gotten over her anger towards him after he pulled that stunt on Jack.
Darren stepped into the house, his body aching from the cold rain and the little amount of sleep he had during the week. He hated his life ever since Jack had rejected him and gave him the silent treatment. He trudged up the stairs and went to his room where he flopped down on his bed and closed his eyes. Unable to fall asleep, he grabbed the vile of Valium beside his bed. Looking inside, there were just enough pills to get him through the night. He popped the last two into his mouth and lay back down on the bed.
Jack was still in the hallway between the living room and the patio. Somewhere in between the time she had rolled in from the back yard and the time Darren rang the doorbell, it had begun to rain. By now it was pouring down in sheets with the occasional flash of lightening.
Dan walked up to her and said, “Let’s go upstairs.” Jack nodded as he began to pick her up.
“Could I walk?” she asked.
“Of course,” Dan replied as his arm slid around her waist to hold her up just in case her legs gave way.
“I wrote a song,” Jack said as she took a careful step forward.
“Really?” he asked in surprise. “That’s amazing. What’s it called?”
“It’s called ‘Ain’t It Funny,’” she answered. “I kinda got the idea from your life and something Nadia told me a while ago.”
“I want to see it when we get upstairs if that’s alright with you,” Dan replied as they took a few more steps.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Maybe we can record it some time in the future.”
“That would be so cool. I know you’ll love it. It’s all about love and fate and…”
“Pretty much everything Darren believes in.”
Jack stopped abruptly and glared at him. Dan stared back at her with sorry written all over his face. They finished the stairs and headed for Jack’s room.