The Other Side - Chapter 20

"The Other Side - Chapter 19" 

Jacob stared out the tinted window of the limousine he was riding in. Karlee was beside him, holding her cell phone to her ear and scribbling a few reminders in the scheduling binder. Toward the front of the limousine, Jacob could hear Chris's booming laughter as he faced Dave, Jacob's other bodyguard. They were probably telling timeless jokes.

Across from him his contest-winning companions, Jenni and Cassidy were jabbering over the "totally awesome" outfits Jacob had just "complimented" them on and how they were going to brag about spending the day with Jacob Jones to their friends.

They had just gotten back from three hours at the nearest shopping mall in town. Jenni and Cassidy tried on an endless line of outfits and they had insisted Jacob tell them what he thought. Jacob normally didn't enjoy malls and he wasn't too fond of his two fans, so he randomly gave them a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, not really paying any attention at all to the outfits they sported.

Karlee, who was with Jacob simply because he wouldn't do this without her, had nudged him at one point and whispered, "Don't look like a zombie, Jake. You want to stay clear from the tabloids and rumors, put a little enthusiasm in it, buddy. Your fan base is counting on you to have that sweetheart disposition."

As he was giving a thumbs-up to Jenni, Jacob had whispered back, "Screw the fan base. This is my disposition today and this is as 'sweetheart' as it gets. Never book me for another one of these. I'd rather count my socks."

Despite his feelings, Jacob had tried to be a little more enjoyable, but he could only do so much. Chris and Dave, of course, had to put their two cents in on the subject when everyone was ordering a late lunch at the food court. Their opinions only made things worse though, especially Dave's. Chris, at least, had a little hunch on what was making Jacob so...distasteful, in a word.

At the food court, Jacob had been mobbed by an enormous group of girls. Chris, Dave, and Karlee had managed to shoo them away after autographs were signed and an occasional Jacob Jones smile was flashed.

Jacob was grateful that Jenni and Cassidy finally weren't talking to him. They had already drained him of all his energy. He leaned his head against the window and stared down at his hands.

Karlee stuffed her cell phone back in her purse and slammed her binder shut, giving a loud moan. The girls stopped their conversation and stared up at her. Karlee just blushed. "I'm sorry, girls. Go on with what you were talking about. Mental frustration on the job. Please ignore me."

They tossed her a brief grin, and went back to chatting. Karlee took a deep breath and glanced at her brother. He saw her look soften and didn't resist as she reached over and squeezed his hand.

"Hey, are you okay?" she whispered.

Jacob glanced at Karlee and swallowed hard. His throat was dry, but he had no desire for a drink. "I'm okay. I'm just tired."

He reached across Karlee's lap and took the binder. Jacob flipped to the very back and pulled a piece of notebook paper out. Karlee took the binder back and let out a frustrated noise when her cell phone rang again.

Jacob's eyes lingered over the familiar penmanship. The paper was crinkled and soft from being handled so much. Luckily, none of the words had faded and it was readable as ever... not that he needed to read Becky's letter. It was an understatement to say that Jacob knew the letter word for word. He lived that letter.

It had become a daily ritual to reminisce back to the day he received the letter. Jacob remembered how he had stared at it for the longest time, his eyes lingering over his last name, Kilmer. The name he hadn't heard of in ages. Jacob also remembered how he had sniffed the envelope. He chuckled. It was unlike Becky to do anything like that. From the outside, she was plain and simple. But if you got the chance to pick at her heart... you lucky dog. Jacob grinned.

         Dear Jacob,
         I found your bottle. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but in any case, I found it. I read the letter and here's my reply.
         I can't believe I'm actually writing to you. I know who you are, but I'm not excited about this. It just feels weird. This is so unlikely. My friends tried to talk me out of it, but I wouldn't let them. Maybe this would be my chance to seriously help someone.
         As a disclaimer - I'm no expert on human feelings. I only hope to be one day to be an expert on my own.
         I can't imagine how busy your life is. I'm going to be a sophomore in college this fall and I'm busy enough. Sometimes, I feel like my head will explode. Other times, I feel numb to the world, like I couldn't respond if I tried. But the rest of times, I've been at total peace with myself and it sounds like that's what you need.
         I don't do yoga, I don't use incense, and I don't believe in meditation. I have faith in myself and I have a passion for everything that I do. I think that is what's important.
         Ah, who do I think I am? I sound so silly. It's hard not to be philosophical right now though - this is a night for writing from the heart. I imagine you wrote your note on a night like this. It's nearly midnight and I'm in Sulima, Sierra Leone. The ground is still warm from the sun. The wind is blowing around dust and the smell of the sweet river grass and I feel like, if I let myself, I could figure out all the questions of the universe just by dipping my toes into the Moa River.
         Sometimes I wish I was someone else - just like you do. I think we all wonder about the other side. But then I remember that I'm content with my life and I couldn't ask for more. I think it's the thrill of change, of challenge, that attracts me. What would happen if I applied my own principals to the other person's life? How different could life be? Maybe I could change the world, maybe I'd become insignificant.
         My most favorite thing in the world is the word. Well, spoken word at least. It's amazing how a simple words can change the world for better or worse. It may sound stupid, but I've always wondered where what we say goes? When we say things, do they float on forever and store themselves into a little place in Heaven? One day, could we look up every word we ever spoke? Is that where memory and regrets come from? Do they bounce back and torture or please us?
         Simple questions with most likely complex answers. Or complex questions with most likely simple answers?
         Simplicity is truth.
         Sincerely,
         Becky Edwards
         P.S.- I have no clue how any of this could have helped you. My advice is to keep your chin up. Put some effort in finding your own truth. I trust you'll make it through your hardships. It'll take effort, and risk, but you'll survive.

Jacob grinned. Simplicity is truth, all right.

---

Becky hopped back into the limo and slid herself way over to the other side in an attempt to make room for Lynn and all her bags. The girl laughed as she forced her way through the door and unloaded her arms.

"That was so fun!" Lynn cried and Becky grinned, setting her two small bags on the floor. Lynn had already chided her for the small amount, but Becky was never much of a shopping spree sort of person, even if she didn't have to pay for it. Melissa crossed her legs and smiled at them.

"Ready to go eat?" With a nod, they were off.

Becky blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the dim lighting in the cafe they entered. Melissa walked right up to the front counter, talking to her and Lynn the whole time.

"Isn't this just the cutest little cafe?" Melissa asked them and for once Becky had to agree with her. It was a calm and relaxed environment. It reminded her of a place she would find on her own, not have Melissa Ettison show her.

They ordered from the vegetarian menu and then sat down at a small, round table near the back. "We don't have to be as close to the bodyguards if we sit here." Melissa said simply and Becky glanced at the two men standing by the door. "I make them stand over there so they don't bug me." She continued and Becky couldn't help rolling her eyes.

Could this girl be any more self-absorbed? Honestly, she talks about those men the same way she would talk about a dog. Becky leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She is the movie star that gives all the other ones bad names. After all, Jake was nothing like that...

Becky sat up straight and tried to pretend that she was listening to what Lynn and Melissa were discussing. No more thinking about Jacob! She told herself and gave a half-hearted smile to whatever Lynn was laughing about.

"What is it like being a movie star?" Lynn asked, leaning her elbows on the table and resting her head in her hands. "It must be wonderful."

Becky almost laughed aloud as Melissa started talking about her perfect life. The photo shoots, the late night filmings, the glitz, the glam - she talked with reverence about everything Jacob hated. It was hard to keep her mouth shut. Thankfully, the food was delivered and the conversation changed as the girls began to eat.

While Lynn chatted between bites, Becky stayed fairly silent throughout the whole meal. She tried to participate in the conversation, but found that her thoughts were, ultimately, far away. And, if she were willing to admit it to herself, on the African coast...

"I'll be right back, bathroom break!" Lynn said with a smile and walked away. Becky immediately felt her heart race. She lifted her eyes from her lunch and gave Melissa a feeble smile. Let the small talk begin.

---

Melissa grinned at Becky, feeling a flash of excitement. She had been waiting for that annoying chatterbox to go away or shut up ever since it became clear as to who Becky really was. Her eyes gave Becky a quick once over. Well, she's not bad, but Jacob can do much better. Melissa thought, giving her hair a flip. It was time to lay it out.

"Well! I feel like I haven't talked to you at all yet!" Melissa said with a laugh, breaking the ice. Becky smiled.

"That's Lynn for you." Her smile ended early and Melissa noticed how stiff she was sitting. No more putting it off, time to go in for the kill.

"To be honest, I've been waiting for her to leave." She paused, giving Becky a chance to anticipate the change in conversation."Becky, I know who you are." Melissa said bluntly, but she put as gentle of a note on her voice that she could manage. Acting classes weren't just for her career.

"Oh?" Becky's eyes dropped to her plate. Melissa was pleased to hear that this didn't surprise her. She surpressed a laugh. How was it possible, that in all of this world, she would randomly end up meeting Jacob's lover?

"Jacob told me all about you dear." Melissa opened her eyes wide with sympathy. Becky's eyes flew up to meet Melissa's, filled with shock and curiousity.

"He did?" She asked, then hesitated. "I guess he must have, for you to know it was me."

Melissa nodded. She chewed thoughtfully on her humus-covered pita bread. "Oh yes, he was just dying to spill the beans the instant he got back." Melissa watched Becky's reaction carefully. "I swear, it was days before he would shut up."

Melissa watched as Becky's demeanor changed. Her voice filled with a note of hope. "Yeah, that sounds like Jake all right."

Melissa flipped her hair and took a drink of her water. Her voice was warm. "It's just a one in a million chance that I would run into you!"

Becky's face warmed with a genuine smile; it put Melissa on edge. Becky looked pretty normally, but when she smiled she could pass for beautiful.

"I feel like such a school girl for asking but... what did he say?" Becky asked, biting one lip slightly.

Melissa looked at Becky thoughtfully. How much did Becky trust her? "Well... I don't know, I don't want to compromise his confidence..."

"Oh no, I would never ask you -"

"I can be generic, I suppose. He told me about your safari - he just love those giraffes, doesn't he?"

Becky's face was a beacon of happiness. "It's so funny, isn't it?"

"Hysterical," Melissa purred, "and he outlined all of your activities." Melissa looked at Becky meaningfully. "All of them."

Becky's eyes widened with surprised before she quickly looked down, her face flushed. "I... I guess you guys must be close, for him to, uh, say that -"

Melissa felt her heartbeat rise. She surely only had a minutes or so more before Lynn returned from the restroom. It was time to act. "And, Becky, I want you to know that he talked about how you two got along so well in Africa and how he said some things he didn't mean out of desperation." Melissa tried to keep her urge to laugh at bay. "He has a lot of regrets, Becky."

"Honestly?" She asked and her body seemed to relax slightly. "So he regrets lying to me and the whole fiasco about kissing that girl." The corners of Becky's lips softened into a smile, her embarassment disappearing.

Melissa realized her mistake. "Oh, no! That's not it at all! He regrets telling you that he ever loved you." She blurted, forgetting about her sympathy act. Becky looked shocked and she blinked rapidly. Melissa hoped she hadn't been too blunt. Quickly, she put together the pieces.

"I'm sorry Becky, I didn't mean to tell you anything that hurt you. I thought you knew? He said he sorted everything out before he left, closed all the doors, you know..." She pretended to trail off, watching Becky carefully. It looked like someone had taken a pin to her, Becky's entire frame seemed deflated.

Melissa put a hand over Becky's on the table. "He told me he really did have a lot of fun with you - he just wished he hadn't let it go that far." The girl was trembling slightly. "Oh, Becky. I wish I weren't the one to tell you this. I could punch him for hurting someone as nice as you." Melissa voice was careful, controlled. "But you didn't really think that Jacob cared for you, did you? I mean, he's a movie star and could pick any girl that he wanted...do you really believe that he would pick you?"

She paused and withdrew, taking another drink of water as she saw Lynn emerge from the back of the restaurant. "No, Jacob has chosen who he wants." The way Becky's eyes closed confirmed to Melissa that she had succeeded. "Oh please, are you mad at me, Becky?"

Becky opened her mouth to say something, hesitated, and then started. "Don't worry Melissa, you're just telling me something I already knew. After all, that would be too good to be true wouldn't it?" As she spoke, her voice hardened.

Melissa smiled, glad to see Becky accepting it. "Exactly! If you knew Jake for longer, you would have figured it out. He was just looking for a bit of fun."

Melissa thought up one final little lie to tell to make Becky, and all of Melissa's worries, go away forever. With perfected acting skills, she shook her head and sighed. "I believe he has a good heart, how couldn't I? But one of these days he needs to realize that he can't keep doing this."

Becky looked like she had swallowed a lemon. "I guess I shouldn't ask this - but it's happened before?"

It took all of Melissa's acting ability to hold back the smile bubbling at her lips. Her expression was a picture of remorse. "Oh sweetie, every girl thinks she's the first."

Lynn rushed back to the table. "Gosh, you wouldn't believe the line! What kind of place has one stall now a days? It's just silly." Suddenly, Lynn paused. "Becky, are you all right?"

Becky nodded, "Oh, just full, is all." She coughed. "All ready to go, then?"

Melissa rose from the table and led the girls out the front door. She knew, as she watched Becky walk numbly to the limo that she should feel guilty, but she couldn't make herself do it.

This kind of random meeting happens for a reason. If there was any possibility that Becky would try and mend things with Jacob - well, that's now impossible. Melissa mentally patted herself on the back and chatted gayly with Lynn all the way back to the radio station.

----

It took all of Becky's energy to make it up to Lynn's apartment. She felt drained - not to mention that in addition to her own shopping bags, she carried five more of Lynn's. Becky flopped down on Lynn's futon unceremoniously, dumping the bags beside her. She sighed and closed her eyes. This day just needs to go away.

Lynn dropped her purse and shopping bags on the ground and sat down next to Becky's feet.

"Ok, spill it!"

Becky opened one eye halfway. "Spill what?"

Lynn laughed and rolled her eyes. "You know what, Becky! The entire day you had about as much personality as a lemon."

"What, sour and bitter?"

"Exactly."

Becky couldn't help but smile and sat up, running her fingers through her hair. "It's nothing really..."

"Becky, if it were nothing then you would treat it like nothing. I know you and it's something."

Becky sighed and knew that she couldn't fool her friend. Besides, she had so many emotions inside of her right now, she just had to let it out. "It's about something Melissa told me when you were in the bathroom." Becky started, carefully. She eyed her friend. She was going to have to start from the beginning. "Actually, it's about something that started in Africa..."

Lynn listened avidly and for once didn't talk at all. Becky spille everything - from almost being run over, to dancing at the club, to realizing how impossible it would be. Becky's voice started to waver as she told about how Jacob left and she realized she couldn't stay in Africa without him.

"But that was all - okay. I mean, it hurt but now I guess... well I guess I was wrong all along. All those wonderful things in Africa weren't wonderful at all. Melissa told me everything. She said Jacob regrets making me fall in love with him, that he feels guilty. Her voice faltered and Becky felt as thought she had said enough. She looked expectantly at her friend.

Lynn looked as though she was about to burst. "Are you finished talking now?" She asked softly and after a moment of thought, Becky nodded.

"OH MY GOD!!!!!!" Becky jumped back and Lynn jumped up and down screaming. "I can't believe that you know Jacob Jones, personally! I mean, come on! We know Melissa but that can't even really be considering knowing her because we just won a contest, no biggie! We only went shopping and had a little salad, and sure it was good salad and we talked the whole time and we were in her limo and she talked to you about Jacob...but that's not even close to personally!"

Becky couldn't help but smile as her friend danced around the room but suddenly Lynn's expression turned serious. "I can't believe what Jacob did to you! That, that, that... oh! I mean, he kissed another girl, and he told you that he loved you! Then, to take it all back, to lie to you like that. You should have seen it coming Becky, you should have seen it coming! You can't trust movie stars, none of them! Well, you can trust Melissa because she relayed you the information, but she's the only one! This is just so horrible! I'm going to go teach Jacob Jones a lesson! I'm going to tell him how much he hurt you and that if he ever tries it again I'll..."

Lynn paused and took a deep breath. She raked her fingers through her hair and sat back down. "Becky, I'm sorry. I just... I can let my emotions get the better of me."

Becky rolled her eyes. "Don't I know it." She pursed her lips and stared at her best friend as she tried to calm herself down. "Lynn, could you do me a little favor?"

She nodded. "You know I will."

Becky gave a slight grin and said, "Could you promise me that you won't ever treat me different just because I had this little... episode with Jacob Jones?"

Lynn broke into a bright smile and leaned in to hug her. "Oh, you silly goose! Of course I won't!"

"The Other Side - Chapter 21" 

Kiryan, Madame