29 Future

"It's me, don't tell anyone I called you."

A sleepy sweet voice came through quietly on the other end.

"Jack? How are you?"

"Alive, let's leave it at that. I wanted to give you an update."

Jessica yawned on the other end. I was calling her at four in the morning. Half because I did want to get her in the loop, and half because I couldn't sleep. Nightmares were on full blast.

"You've got me worried sick you know?"

"Can't really be helped right now."

"Could have been if you never started this shit..."

"Ouch Jess, kick a guy when he's down why don't you?"

She laughed quietly and yawned again. Her voice perked up just a bit.

"Sense of humor is back. That's a good sign. Go ahead and fill me in then."

"We all came up with a plan. It's not fool proof by any means, it's dangerous as all hell, and I'll probably die doing it."

"Great so no different from how your life has been these past few months."

"Exactly."

We both laughed quietly. Johnny was sleeping in the garage now, and my voice carried well against the metal doors and roof.

"Joke with me all you want, but you're staying in the dog house. A year at least."

"I..."

I stumbled on my words. My heart kicked up it's speed for a few beats.

"You plan to know me for another year?"

She scoffed.

"I plan to marry you in a year dummy."

"Jessica don't say that."

"Hush Jack."

The jokes were gone. She was stern now.

"No more of that. I know what you've done, I know what you're about to do, but I know who you're trying to be. We can put this behind us once you've dealt with this thing."

I closed my eyes still holding the phone to my ear. Even after everything she still saw good in me. That unkillable light in her could very well be the death of her.

"Jessica, I can't thank you enough."

"Thank me by coming back to me alive. Keep the others alive too. Adalwolf is the most stylish man I've ever seen. If he died the world would be out a fabulous man. Nate is a big softie too once you talk to him a bit. Honestly that road trip to North Dakota with them was the most fun I've had in a while."

I chuckled to myself and so did she. We both kept as quiet as we could.

"What about Johnny?"

"Johnny is... Well he is Johnny. Loyal and dependable. I think out of all these mistakes at least one good came, and that was you two getting close. Friends like that are gold if you treat them right. Same goes for the other two as well."

"I got you too."

"Yeah, but I think you could have got me without the drug running. You could have had me years ago if you wanted."

"And I regret every day that I stayed with Sara and didn't see your feelings."

"I tried to hide them when you were with her. I didn't want to be a homewrecker even if I hated her. Speaking of her did you know she is getting married?"

I choked on a laugh and had to hold my breath to keep from bursting out.

"Are you kidding me? With that jock?"

"Yep, his name is Beck by the way. Apparently, he makes good money working at the paper mill outside of town."

I shook my head smiling ear to ear. For some reason the thought of Sara getting trapped in this dead-end town gave me great joy. Call me an asshole, but after all she put me through it felt good for her to get some too.

"She went for the stable life, and you went for the drug runner. Aren't you the lucky one?"

Jessica laughed this time a little less restrained.

"I can promise she won't have as much excitement as me... Jack, promise you'll make it back to me."

"I promise. You, my parents, and anyone else that might care. I'll make it back, and I can even promise Johnny's parents I'll bring him back too. We will be spending Christmas together before I leave town."

"Leave...?"

"Yeah, leave. I'm leaving town as soon as I can after we pull this job."

"... Where are you going?"

She hesitated to ask. Almost like she was scared I was going to go back into hiding or something.

"Well a certain girl I know asked me to go to college with her. She's cute, and got a great ass so I figured I would take her up on that."

"That's another year in the dog house."

We both laughed hysterically. Like it was the funniest thing we had heard. It wasn't that funny, but it felt good to laugh. It felt good to feel happy again.

"Seriously Jess, thank you for being you. I don't know how this would have gone if you never offered a hand to me."

"You'll have plenty of time to make it up to me. Just to sweeten the deal if you make it back and spend Christmas with me I'll have something special for you."

"I'm picking up an innuendo there Jessica."

"Maybe..."

"I'll warn you right now I will probably disappoint. Don't want you to put your standards too high."

She snorted and held back a chuckle. Her voice took on a jokingly sultry tone.

"I'm sure you'll show me the best time a girl can have."

"Not likely. Despite what all this confidence might have you believe I've got no skills or experience for the job."

She paused for a moment then stammered.

"Wait... Really?"

My social awkward trait kicked in and I felt myself getting hot with embracement. I wanted to hang up right there, but she continued before I could.

"I just... I thought you would have... Wow really? That's crazy. All that time with Sara and nothing? I thought with the way you drove girls would be all over you."

"Not hardly Jessica... Besides my cars always came first."

"Pfft, Ok Jack... Maybe I'll be the one showing you the best time..."

I groaned awkwardly with a hint of fear in my tone.

"Ok that's where I'll stop this. I've got preparations to get to for the job. I'll call you when it's done."

"Ok Jack. Be safe. For real come back to us. Your mom, your dad, and I are all worried."

"I won't say don't worry because I know that means nothing, but I can promise you I will come back."

"I'll hold you too it."

"I lo..."

I froze up saying the phrase. It was easy to guess what I was going to say, and I could hear Jessica's smirk through the phone.

"Love you too Jack. You don't have to be afraid to say it. Goodnight."

She clicked off. I flopped back on my sleeping bag bouncing slightly on the couch springs. With her voice out of my ear I could hear Johnny softly snoring in the darkness. I decided to try and use that warm fuzzy feeling from the phone call to go back to sleep. It worked, and I didn't have a nightmare that time.