The Other Side - Chapter 31

"The Other Side - Chapter 30" 

"Thank you, thank you so much Karlee."

Jim gently replaced the phone on its cradle and stared at it for seconds of a lifetime. He had a job on the largest set of a movie that would undoubtedly be a blockbuster. What's more, Karlee had even arranged for it to be a full, blown internship. He could get some credit for it, and therefore still be enrolled in college. His parents were going to be happy about that. Yes, he would mainly be a "go fer", running around and getting things for people all day long, but he would also have someone really teaching him the ins and outs. She even hinted that good crews often stayed with the director.

Jim ran his fingers through his short, brown hair and slid down on the couch. He placed his hands and was still unable to hide the enormous smile that his lips had formed. His dream had come true, it had really come true.

"Who is Karlee."

Jim froze, the smile instantly gone, leaving his head tingling from the rush of emotion. Delany's cold voice meant that she had heard Jim's conversation. Her voice was filled with so much fury it didn’t even go up at the end of the statement to indicate she had actually asked a question. Jim’s heart pounded as he realized she had drastically mistaken the conversation.

"I asked, who is Karlee."

Jim had only heard her voice like this once before in his entire life, and that was in Africa when she truly believed that Becky's well being wasn't first on his list. Jim slowly turned his head around to look at Delany, realizing as his heart slowly fell down to his feet pin-ball style that he was going to have to break her heart now. Right this very second, Delany's world was going to fall apart.

"Del, I -"

"No, Jim! I didn't ask for explanation! I asked who Karlee was!" Delany gripped the top of the old, plush couch with such anger that her entire hand was white. "I can't believe! I mean -" Delany sucked in the air harshly through her teeth. "The way you spoke to her! So sweet, so soft! Like you thought I wouldn't HEAR YOU!"

Delany tore away from the couch, whirled her back to Jim and letting her shoulder-length, dirty-blonde hair slice through the air like knives behind her. Jim leapt up from the couch and reached out for her, but stopped centimeters away. His only hope was words.

"Karlee is Jacob Jones' sister, Del."

He didn't think it was possible, but he saw her shoulders tense up even more. She turned to face him, a whole new kind of anger in her eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't want to tell you this way, Del! I wanted to kind of hint so it wouldn't be so hard, I wanted..." Jim cut Delany off before she had a chance to do the same to him. "My point is that...Karlee got me a job. She got me a job to work on the set for Jacob Jones' new movie."

Jim watched as Delany's anger was being pushed away by confusion. He quickly took a hold of her crossed arms and pulled her around to the couch, forcing her to sit. "Del, I...this college isn't the place for me. I want to work for movies, I want to shoot movies - you know that. You know...you know in the back of your mind the only reason why I'm still in Pennsylvania is because of you, Del."

Delany's blinked as she looked down at her hands, at the way Jim was clasping them like he never wanted to let go.

“So what I heard, that wasn’t any kind of –“

“God, no Del! How could you even think that? You are the love of my – “

"Where is the job?"

Jim felt his heart crush as her words fell like lead on his ears. He leaned forward, placing his head on her shoulder. "New York. I...I leave next week."

Delany shuddered under him. "Why - how, how could you not tell me, Jim?! Where did this come from? How long have you known?!" Delany wrenched her shoulder away from him, demanding some sort of justice. But Jim had nothing to offer.

"I've known ever since we registered for classes that this wasn't the place for me, but I didn't know what else I could do. I started investigating about an internship but was too late. Then last night Karlee called here, looking for Becky and I picked up...somehow she mentioned they were swamped and needed more workers. I jumped on it, Del. It was like it was an omen. It all just fell into place."

Jim shook his head. "You don't know how badly I wanted to talk to you about this. But I knew I couldn't. I knew that the instant I mentioned leaving to you and I saw the look on your face, I knew I wouldn't be able to leave. But now it's set, I'm already on my way. I knew that would be the only way I could bear the idea of leaving you."

Jim looked for Delany's eyes but couldn't find them. She had them hidden under her lids, lashes, and tears. Jim watched as the salty flow carved canyons into the face of the woman he loved. Shakily, he raised a hand to wipe a river away but at his touch her head jerked back. Jim pulled in his hand, stunned.

"I...Jim, I can't..." Delany crumpled against him. "I'm far too selfish Jim. I can't let you go. I don't care how important it is to you, I can't live with you so far away, and you know that. You know I'm like a leech on you, that I love you too hard to stand, you know..."

Jim held her as close to him as humanly possible, silently praying they would somehow meld into one and then they would never have to be apart.

"I do know, and I know that the idea of me not living in the same apartment as you throws me through a loop that I can't even begin to imagine. But I also know, Del, that I can't keep staying here anymore. Believe me, leaving for New York was my very last option."

Delany gave out a strangled sob and smashed her face into his chest, silently praying they would somehow meld into one...

-------

Becky struggled as she opened the door to the apartment.

"Is it just me, or do you have a serious problem getting into your own place?" Gary grinned at her from under his cool dark eyes. She spun to stare him down with an unspoken comeback, but accomplished only grinning in his face.

After the break in, and the stolen kisses (which were far too amazing for Becky to think about right then), Gary had washed up while Becky and Lynn had watched an infomercial on the game show network. Lynn had to run off to an art class, and Becky and Gary decided to hang out until their afternoon lectures came around.

Gary lightly tickled her sides as she walked into the room, causing her to giggle in a way that sounded just a little too school-girl for Becky's liking. The instant that she surveyed the room though, Becky's laughter stopped short. Delany was lying crumpled with defeat, desperately clinging to Jim, who hardly seemed to have the energy to lift his head.

Gary ran right into her back as Becky struggled to take a calm breath. Talk about going from the highest of the high to suicidal mode. She instantly felt guilty for her laughter. How could she ever have a good time when Jim and Delany's world was falling apart?

"Hey - who died?!" Gary asked, laughing aloud and not realizing that Becky had stopped for a significant reason. Becky turned around and stepped back out the door, pushing Gary in front of her. Gently she closed it behind her.

"I think I'm going to have to take a rain check. My cousin's heart is torn to shreds; I have to at least help her remember it's there."

Gary's eyes hardened and he scuffed the floor with his toe. "Oh...well...ok. You don't think she could fend on her own? I mean, is she really your problem?"

Becky shook her head, begging Gary to understand. "No, but she's my friend and she just needs my help. I'm sorry, I would never cancel otherwise, but I don't feel like I have a choice."

Gary seemed slightly miffed that she would still stick by her decision and then shrugged it off. He plastered on a slightly fake smile and then nodded. "Ok then, I'll talk to you later."

Becky smiled as best she could, but her mind wasn't really on Gary right then. "Thank you, I appreciate you understanding." She popped on her tip-toes and gave him a peck on the lips before quickly running back into the apartment.

She found Jim and Delany in the same exact position and vaguely wondered just how long they had been sitting there, just like that. Maybe Jim wasn't planning on ever leaving at all, just staying with Delany in his arms for all of eternity.

Becky slowly eased her way over to the couch, unsure of what to do. Jim lifted his eyes to meet hers and it was all Becky could do to keep her breath in her lungs.

"Where?"

Jim tightened his grip even more on Delany. "New York."

Becky nodded, sitting down next to her cousin who had yet to acknowledge her presence. "When?"

"Next week."

Delany let out a choked sob and ripped herself out of Jim's arms. She flew down the back hallway and seconds later the bedroom door slammed. Jim leaned back on the couch and let out a long, slow breath.

"I just found out, Becks. Delany had heard me talking with -" He stopped short, stumbling over his words. "She thought I was cheating on her and so I had to tell her the truth. I didn't want to do it this way though. I..." Jim sighed. "Do you think she will ever forgive me?"

Becky grabbed a hold of his hands and gave them a squeeze. "Of course, honey! Delany loves you and nothing is going to stop that. Especially not New York - I mean, heck that's only a 4 or 5 hour drive."

Jim squeezed her back and then ruffled her hair with his hand. Becky grinned at the brotherly action and leaned back against the couch next to him, gently laying her head on his shoulder.

"I don't know, though...I don't think I can ever forgive you for running away and seizing your dreams." Becky looked up into his sad, blue eyes. "You just better promise me that you'll come back to our Delany."

Jim let a smirk flutter across his lips. "Aw, come on. I'll be back before you guys can even miss me." His voice sobered slightly. "I promise."

------

The week went by faster than anyone had ever thought possible. He had planned to spend very last second with Delany at his side; however Delany had other plans in mind.

"Jim, why don't you just leave already?! Get out of here! And stop pretending like this is tearing your heart out! If it were really such a hardship, you wouldn't have decided to go in the FIRST PLACE!" The slamming of the bedroom door was becoming a familiar sound in the apartment.

Becky cringed, looking sheepishly over at Gary who barely seemed to notice as he munched on popcorn and laughed at whatever show he had turned on. Becky hadn't been thinking ahead when she suggested the study session between her and Gary for the one class they shared.

"I guess we should have gone over to your place after all?" She mumbled, casting a sympathetic glance over to Jim who was licking his wounds from the latest failed attempt at mending the relationship.

Gary laughed and shook his head. "Naw, I don't have any popcorn over there." He gave her a cheesy wink. "Plus, now you can't really blame me for not actually studying."

Becky shook her head, smiling softly. Gary had been her life saver this week. She had been running over to his place, and going out with him for hours every single day. At first it just felt like a way to get away from the constant strain in the apartment, but now it felt right to her. The relationship between her and Gary had truly become just that, and Becky was surprised she allowed herself to actually think of it as one.

Becky could feel the world around her changing. People were moving in and out, and suddenly she had a life that she never expected. It was an exhilarating and scary feeling all in one. She wondered what it would be like without Jim around and whether Gary would somehow step into his place.

She shook her head. Things were too early, everything was too early. Becky pushed the thoughts of her mind and watched television with Gary until Jim's heavy sighing in the kitchen prompted her to shove Gary out the door.

"You didn't have to make him leave," Jim said with his voice flat ad Becky brought the empty popcorn bowl into the kitchen.

"Well, I certainly couldn't let you exhale yourself to death in here either." Becky hoisted herself up on the counter, tilting her head as she looked at him.

Jim could only shrug and slouch more under his own weight. "I'm burned out Becky, I've tried everything. I only have one more day here and Delany just won't budge. She's been screaming at me for six solid days but I can't bring myself to leave her alone."

Becky nodded, biting her lip. She had never anticipated Delany to act like she was. She was wasting all the last precious moments that she could have with Jim. Becky had talked to her numerous times but she was hard and set. Nothing was going to crack her wall of steel. But, in some ways, Delany's actions were helping to keep Becky sane. Comforting Jim was much better to focus on than her own misery at him leaving - and her worries. Jim had not long ago confessed to her precisely where he was going, right down to the street name and studio number, his guilt overwhelming him.

He had even learned about Melissa... somehow. Becky thought back to that awkward conversation...

Why didn't you tell me about Melissa? Jim had asked.

Becky blanched at the name. "I don't know what you mean."

"Karlee mentioned that you met her, Becks. Why did you keep it a secret? What did she say to you?"

Becky fumbled with her words. "She told me the truth, Jim. Jacob never loved me - it was all a big mistake. He never meant for it to go so far. I was stupid... stupid...

Becky felt a warm shudder go through her body as she thought about the connection she was about to regain with Jacob. Jim was going to see him again - possibly daily. They would undoubtedly mention Becky at some point... Jacob would remember Africa.

Which I'm sure he completely forgot. Becky shook her head to remove the thoughts and focused herself back on Jim, and helping him with the situation at hand.

"I've begged, pleaded, promised...I've even bribed her with cookies, Becky. Nothing will work."

The bedroom door slammed again. Apparently, Delany had thought it was too quiet for poor Jim. Suddenly, an idea flashed into Becky's mind. "Have you yelled at her?"

Jim's eyes widened. "What?"

She leapt off the counter, her eyes gleaming. "Come on, you know Del. Right now, she's on the top and absolutely loving it. We need to bring her down a notch, and the only way we are going to do that is by beating her at her own game!"

Jim was silent for a moment and then gave a quick, firm nod. He was willing to try anything. He flashed Becky a smile and then opened his mouth.

"Delany!"

Seconds later the bedroom door flew open and Jim and Delany stood in the hall in a total face off. Delany's eyes were pure steel, her lids narrowed to thin slits.

"I'm going to say it once, Delany. It's time for you to accept the fact that I'm leaving, and accept the fact that I'm doing this for my own good. Sometimes the world just doesn't fair and sometimes you have to give a little. I've had enough of you treating me like shit because I decided to take my own path, if only for a little while. You know damn well that I love you with all my heart but that isn't going to stop me from doing what is right for me."

Delany looked at him with utter shock, her mouth hanging open slightly. If it was possible, Jim watched as the emotions rise in her face even more, causing her to resemble a cherry tomato. A very, very angry cherry tomato.

"Excuse me? Are you kidding me? What gives you the right to yell at me like this? You are the one who is leaving me! You are the one who is breaking this relationship apart! You are the one who is causing me to act like this! I can't believe you think that you can tell me what I am allowed to feel, what I am allowed to say to you, what sort of punishment I am allowed to give you -!"

Jim threw his hands up in the air, then grabbed at his hair. "Are you completely deaf?! I am not leaving you for good! We are still going to be together forever Delany! I just have to do what it right for me first and you acting like this is not helping anything!"

Delany stamped her foot on the ground. "No Jim! Dammit! You are not supposed to be doing this! I am supposed to be punishing you! You are not allowed to -"

Jim tossed his head back and laughed. "Of course I am allowed to win sometimes! And I am going to! Because you are going to give me one great big kiss and tell me that you love me!"

Before Delany could even respond Jim grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close to him. She squirmed violently, keeping her chin on her chest, doing her best to hide the fresh set of tears that were streaming down her face. Jim loosened his grip on her just enough to give her a soft kiss on her forehead. Delany let a torn sob escape from her throat and in an action that surprised the both of them she threw her arms around Jim's neck and gave him a kiss full of anger and tears, but most of all love.

"Oh Jim, I will love you forever." Jim collapsed with relief, taking Delany to the floor with him.

Becky instantly leapt off from her perch on the kitchen counter, her arms over her head, dancing around. She laughed aloud, spinning in circles. "What did I tell you, Jim?!" She cried, "Who knows her cousin?!" She bounced around before launching herself to the floor at the tear-soggy couple. She wrapped her arms around the both of them and listened to them laugh with her. For Becky, Jim and Delany's love was what made this world go around, and it was back on track again.

There's hope for us all.

"The Other Side - Chapter 32"