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6:07 p.m.
2002-05-30
Jade and Bont
So here's Alex's secret story, no longer a secret. The character of Jade is based on her, and Bont is based on someone very dear to her. I hope you all enjoy another attempt at my writing, this time an original short fiction.
�Every time,� thought Jade irritably. �Every single fucking time. Why do I even bother?�
She sat alone at a table for two in a charming Italian restaurant, her legs crossed and her foot jiggling impatiently. She had gotten a new little black dress for the occasion, thrown on her special silver jewelry and strappy heels, and twisted her hair up into what Eitre called �those little clippy things�, and had at the time thought she looked damn cute. After waiting for nearly an hour, however, she felt less cute and more weary.
�And annoyed,� her brain reminded her. �Don�t forget annoyed.�
She sighed, and it just so happened her waiter was walking by and heard. He turned around and came back to her table, looking concerned. �I�m sorry that Mr. Bont is not yet here, Miss Zildjian. Would you like to order hors d�euvres while you wait for him?�
�Sure, why not?� Jade said, giving up. �Seeing as he probably won�t show up at all, I might as well eat something.�
�He�ll be here,� the waiter said confidently, pulling out his notepad to take Jade�s order. She sighed inwardly, then ordered garlic bread and soup to tide her over until the actual dinner. The waiter nodded politely, and left quickly to place her order.
Jade shook her head sadly, and began jiggling her foot again as she thought. �He always does this. Lunches, dinners, even scheduled meetings at the Drinking Establishment. He never takes anything seriously. I don�t know how much longer I can deal with this.�
�Sorry to keep you waiting, darling Jade,� came a voice from behind her. She felt lips on her cheek, and she shoved the owner of those lips away, knowing perfectly well who they belonged to.
�Bastard,� she muttered. �Don�t kiss me. I�m mad at you.�
�Is this unusual?� replied Bont, grinning at her.
�No,� sighed Jade. She glanced up at him, saw what he was wearing, and said, �You look nice.�
Bont turned around to model his new three-piece suit. �Don�t I? I knew we were going someplace nice, and I knew you liked three-piece suits. Luckily, so do I.� He then sat down, and pointedly looked her over. �You don�t look as good as I do, but you�ll do for now,� he said, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of water.
�That�s it,� said Jade quietly, throwing her napkin on her plate and standing up. �I don�t need this.�
�Where are you going?� demanded Bont, sounding almost terrified. The tone of his voice caused Jade to stop instead of just leaving him in the dust like she wanted to, and she turned slowly to face him.
�I�m going home,� she explained, an icy tone to her voice. �I bought a new dress, spent time doing my hair, put on special jewelry, and showed up early for what I had hoped would be a nice dinner. But it looks like it�s just going to be the same thing as always, and I can�t deal with it tonight, nor should I have to.�
��It�?� Bont asked curiously.
�You can never be serious!� exclaimed Jade. �Everything�s always a clever joke or remark with you, even me. I�m sick of it. I�m not a joke, not something to be played with.�
�I know you�re not,� Bont said quietly. �In all seriousness, you�re the farthest thing from a joke to me. That�s probably why I pick on you more than anyone.�
Jade stared at him. �That�s probably the most serious thing you�ve ever said to me.�
�I know. Amazing, isn�t it?� Bont said, laying his napkin down on his lap and avoiding her eyes. �I�m not promising anything, but I�ll try to be a little less clever for you tonight.� Jade gave him a wary look, and Bont raised an eyebrow. �Besides, you know you don�t really want to leave.�
�Not really, no,� admitted Jade, blushing slightly as she sat down again.
�I have that effect on women,� joked Bont.
Jade gave him a look. �No, it�s just that I don�t get to eat like this for free very often,� she countered. She smiled at the waiter, who was approaching with her soup and bread. Bont grinned slyly at her for that one, then turned to face the waiter.
�Mr. Bont! So good of you to join us. Miss Zildjian was quite worried,� said the waiter, returning Bont�s winning smile.
�Was she, now?� Bont said, glancing at Jade, who blushed even deeper. �Well, I�m lucky to have someone like her worrying about me. It�s a very rough world to be alone in.�
�That it is,� agreed the waiter. �Your usual drink, sir?�
�Shaken, not stirred,� Bont reminded him, grinning. �Oh, and a bowl of whatever the good lady has.�
�Of course,� the waiter replied, and hurried off to get Bont�s martini and soup. Once he left, Jade gave Bont a somewhat surprised look at his words.
�What?� said Bont innocently. �I said I�d try to be more serious. Am I wrong to feel lucky to have someone like you worrying about me?�
�Well, no, not exactly...� replied Jade slowly.
�There you are, then,� said Bont with finality. �Now, tell me about your day.�
�Whad?� said Jade, eyes widening.
�Tell me about your day. I want to hear,� repeated Bont.
�Really?�
�Yes, really.�
Jade smiled, and went on to fill Bont in on how here classes had gone that day, and for the first time, he seemed truly interested. He asked questions, showing real interest in her projects, as well as her feelings about them. Jade spoke more freely than she ever had with him, and was actually kind of irked when the waiter came back to take their order, thereby breaking the flow of conversation.
After he left, however, things picked up again. They talked about people they knew, both at school, work, and the bar. Bont made her laugh with tales of customers in other cities, and Jade filled him in on things happening at their hangout, seeing as he hadn�t been there in some time. The whole conversation was animated and enjoyable, without a single lull, and both were disappointed when their food came and somewhat interrupted them.
Still, they talked between bites, mostly about said food, but it was something. It didn�t take long for them to finish, but when they did, things switched gears, and got much quieter. When they did speak, Bont reverted to his old ways, joking around more about things and making clever remarks. Jade knew there was something on his mind�there had to be. She just didn�t know what.
�You know, I didn�t tell you about my day,� Bont said out of nowhere, shaking Jade free of her thoughts. She gave him a look to continue, and he polished off the last of his second martini before doing so. �I found out where my next �delivery� is going to be.�
�Where?� inquired Jade.
�Ah, young Jade, that I cannot tell you,� replied Bont, shaking a finger at her. �Smugglers can hardly let people in that close to them. I can say, however, that I will be gone for quite some time. In truth, I don�t know when I�ll be back, if at all.�
�If at all?� said Jade, the realization of that phrase slowly sinking in.
�It�s a dangerous business, this one that I�m in,� shrugged Bont. �And this delivery is in one of the more dangerous places. They chose the best man for the job, but even the best men take their falls.�
�Please don�t talk like that,� Jade said, shivering. �You�re not giving me much hope, or yourself, probably.�
�I may be quasi-invincible, but I can�t go into a job thinking like that. Then, I won�t be careful,� Bont said.
�You�re never careful!� cried Jade. �You always throw yourself into these things�everything�as if you�re invincible!�
�Maybe it�s because I�ve never had any reason to be careful until now,� Bont said, looking straight at her.
Jade, who had been sipping her water at the time, tried desperately not to make a fool out of herself by spitting the water across the table in shock. Somehow, she managed to swallow and set the glass down with a shaky hand. �Excuse me?� she asked quietly, almost disbelievingly.
�Come on, Jade, you�re smarter than that,� Bont said, shaking his head. �I don�t want to have to spell it out for you.�
�Maybe I want you to,� Jade challenged, still in shock from this. �Spell it out, Bont.�
�Would you want me to be careful?� Bont asked.
�Yes,� Jade replied seriously.
�You�d want me to be alive?�
�Yes.�
�And you�d be waiting for me when I got back?�
�Yes.�
�Then I promise to be careful, and come back to you alive. I have a reason now,� Bont said simply, smiling at her.
�And you�re being serious?� clarified Jade.
�Something like that, yes,� replied Bont, still smiling. �And on that note, it�s time to go.�
�Damn you, Bont! You�re a bastard!� cried Jade as she stood up. �You throw these bombshells at me and then you blow it all away like it�s nothing! Gah!�
�I love you, too, Jade. Now move it. You�re making a scene,� Bont said, leading her towards the exit. He paid the bill, got his car from the valet, and they drove off in absolute silence.
When they got to Jade�s apartment, they just sat in his car for a moment, Jade still slightly irked at their sudden departure. She didn�t say anything, but sighed lightly. Then, she turned to him. �Thank you for dinner. I guess I better go.� She then opened the door, put one foot out, froze, and screamed.
�What? What happened?!� exclaimed Bont.
�What did you say before we left the restaurant?� Jade demanded shrilly.
�You�re making a scene?� Bont said.
�No! Before that!� Jade cried.
�I love you, too?� guessed Bont.
�Oh, my God, I was right. You said you loved me,� gasped Jade, throwing her arms around his neck. Bont laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly.
�Of course I love you, you knucklehead. Now go home and sleep, little Jade. I�ll see you when I get back,� said Bont, prying her from his neck. He leaned in and kissed her lightly, and smiled as he pulled away.
Jade simply stared at him for a minute. Finally, she gave him her most evil glare. �I love you. But you�re still a bastard.�
�I know.�
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