Familiar Eyes..

“Hey, Ava.” I looked up from my school work as Jackson spoke to me. “Can I ask you something?” I shyly nodded. He smiled, charmingly and leaned forward while asking, “Did you have a crush on me, freshman year?” 

Had? 

I cleared my throat a little, then shyly admitted, “Y… Yeah?” He chuckled and fisted the air celebratorily and turned to me. “I knew it! I could tell by the way you acted. I always just thought you were nervous.” I just nervously laughed as I was blushing from embarrassment. 

Jackson laid his arms back, then asked me, “So why?” “Why what?” “Why wouldn’t you say anything?” 

I was hesitant to say. Jackson crossed his arms while pressing curiously, “Come on! We’re close, Ava. I’ve literally told you on facetime when I’m taking a shit.” I laughed a little and relaxed. 

I thought back during freshman year.. 

We were close in middle school and by freshman year, why wouldn’t I like him? But… Why would I want to ruin our friendship so easily? If you love someone then… you protect them, and their feelings over your own.

I looked down, then honestly admitted with my whole heart, “You… You were so good, too good. I mean.. Jackson, we have always been close and I wouldn’t want to ruin our friendship. Who would?” I sighed a little at my decisions, then complimented him, “You are… a delight. You’re also… quite charming– but always funny, definitely. People always say that… Well, you have eyes to get lost in and well… they’re never wrong.” 

 Jackson gave me his full attention, even after I finished speaking. 

He exhaled and laid back in his chair. “Hm.. It’s a shame I’m dating Chloe, you know?” I clocked my head to the right when he said that, not knowing how to fully comprehend it. 

Jackson leaned forward and focused back on his work like nothing happened. 

I never quite got what he meant.

I’d know though, 12 years later..

12 years later..

I sat at the dining table alone. I looked around at the other tables around me. I was dining at a very expensive French restaurant… by myself. 

Jackson was supposed to be here and now… he’s not. The waitress came over towards me and smiled, then asked me, “Are you ready to order, madam?” I looked up at her and sat up straight. “Oh, um… Not quite. Sorry, I’m expecting someone.” She gave a polite nod, then walked away. 

If a few more minutes pass then… I’ll go home. 

I then felt someone lightly tap my shoulder. I turned back and my familiar smile grew. Jackson stood above me. 

I stood up and greeted him happily, “Jackson, hey.” Jackson chuckled and hugged me. He smelled so familiar.. 

Jackson scratched the back of hair while speaking, “It’s been a while, how are you?” I brushed some hair behind my ear and softly laughed, “I’m great, thank you.” Jackson sat across from me and dusted himself off. 

“Sorry I’m late, I was caught in traffic.” He formally apologized. I put my hand on my chest while lying, “I just got here myself.” He laughed and jokingly said, “Good thing I got just on time then.” I laughed at his joke.

Our waitress arrived again, then greeted us, “Hello, are you two ready?” Jackson picked up the menu and confidently spoke first, “Yes, thank you. I’ll start off with some of the red wine.” Jackson looked at me, expecting my order. 

I  stood up straight and looked at her, then ordered, “I’ll take some white wine, thanks.” She gave a polite nod, then walked off. 

Jackson exhaled, then looked around the area, “You know, I’ve never been to a French restaurant before. However, I did take the kids to France.” 

My expression changed, I asked a bit disingenuously, “Kids?” Jackson nodded, without noticing my tone and explained proudly, “Yeah, I promised both Amy-Lee and Jacklynn-Lee that if they pass their finals, Daddy would take them to France and well… Daddy did.”

I chuckled a little while flirting a bit, “Daddy?” He proudly held out his arms, then repeated confidently, “Yes, Daddy.” 

Jackson glanced at my hands, then pointed out, “No ring? Thought you had a fiancé?” I covered my right hand with my left hand and moved my hands back, then chuckled a little while briefly explaining, “He… Well… He’s off in Cuba currently, for a business trip. We’ve found the ring but… he’s waiting for the stock market to look a bit more uh… affordable.” Jackson snapped his fingers at me while relating, “Ah, I’d have to have a word with the fella. The stocks are like my little playground.” 

I can tell, you picked this restaurant.  

Jackson picked up the menu, then kindly offered me, “Choose anything on the menu. It’s on me tonight.” I laughed a little while covering my mouth with the back of my hand. “Really? That’s awfully kind of you.” “Come on, Ava. You and I are old friends, why wouldn’t I? I feel as though I wouldn’t be where I am today if you didn’t allow me to cheat on your tests.” 

We both laughed and I just began to look through the menu.

Le Menu~

French Onion soup with cheesy croutons - $30.99

Salmon en papillote - $49.99

Bouillabaisse - $35.99

Escargot - $40.99

Salade Niçoise - $45.99

Chocolate soufflé - $29.99

Crème brûlée - $29.99

I quickly closed the menu and my eyes wandered. If these are the prices of the food, how much was that wine?? 

Jackson glanced up at me, smiled and focused on the menu while asking me, “Problem?” 

I cleared my throat more respectfully, then opened the menu again while nervously saying, “Didn’t expect the prices to be so… Pricey.” Jackson leaned forward and placed his hand on top of mine.

I blushed a little, then looked into his eyes. “Ava, seriously. It’s on me, darling.” Darling? 

I chuckled and tucked some hair behind my ear, then looked at the menu without another worry. 

Our waitress came back with our wine, then placed down the cups. The wine cups were the most elegant wine glasses I’ve ever seen— or held! I felt like Anastasia when she was whimsfully dancing off into her fantasy.

Our waitress looked at us, then asked, “What would you both fancy this evening?” Jackson closed the menu and held it out to her while politely requesting, “May I have the Escargots, please?” She gave a slow nod, then looked at me. I nervously ordered but politely requested, “May I have the uh… French onion soup?” Then handed her the menu. She gave another slow nod. 

“Anything more?” She asked us, politely. 

Jackson looked at me, then smiled seductively into my eyes, then requested from her, “A Crème brûlée, two spoons please. To end off the night, if you must say.” She chuckled softly, “Why of course.” She placed her hand on her chest, then walked away to the kitchen. 

Jackson watched her walk off, then looked back at me. “Talk about yourself, Ava. We haven’t really spoken since college.” I thought for a second on what to say, then spoke, “Well… I’ve been working on putting my psychology degree to use, however, my law degree helps me pay the bills.” Jackson chuckled, “I get that. What more?” 

I thought of more to say, then spoke again, “I’ve been stepping outside my comfort zone lately, trying new activities, new foods; such as this, you know?” 

Jackson chuckled again, while thanking me, “Glad you came out then, how about your fiancé?” 

My fiancé..

I was hesitant, but spoke, “He’s… a delight. He’s quite charming– funny though, definitely. People have told me he… has eyes to get lost in.” 

Jackson gave me his full attention, as always, then smiled while kindly telling me, “Sounds like an all star guy, huh?” 

I looked at Jackson in his eyes, warm…

“Yes… He is.” 

Our waitress came back, reasonably fast with our food. She placed it down in front of us gently, then put her hands together while politely speaking, “Yes, please enlighten your pallets with your entrée, I shall be near by if you two are in need.” Both Jackson and I nodded and she walked off.

Jackson began to carefully eat and I followed suit. Jackson then casually brought up, “I’ve been well too. I’ve put my business degree to good use– oh! Remember Chloe?” I hesitantly nodded, expecting the worst. 

Jackson exhaled, then just said, “We broke up.” I relaxed, then asked enlightened, “Really?” He just slowly nodded, then continued eating. 

“You know..” He kept talking with an almost full mouth, “I’m glad I cheated on her, without that I wouldn’t have met my beautiful wife.” 

Wife, huh?..

He put his fork and knife down, then held up his hands. “Oh, you must meet my wife. She’s absolutely brilliant. We met during our last semester of college, a beautiful, bright, young lady. She had an almost angelic voice– oh! And how can I forget the two miracles she’s given me? My two beautiful children. At parties, she’s the star of it all. She actually recommended this place.” 

Jackson looked off, then admitted sadly, “We had some difficulties during the beginning, however… After going through a little couple’s therapy, I believe we’re going to be steady again. Right now, we aren’t technically married but by next month, we’ll be getting remarried in Rome. Ah, the kids are beyond excited along with the wife.” 

Jackson jokingly finished by saying, “Guess you could say, I’m a single man for a month.” He laughed and I just laughed with him.

Although I felt

I cleared my throat, then asked, “Can I… Ask a question?” Jackson nodded while focusing on his food. I thought about high school, especially that talk that led up to where we are now..

I asked Jackson, “Years ago… When I told you that… Or rather.. Confessed my feelings, remember?” Jackson stopped eating for a second, while saying, “I remember.” Then continued eating. 

I played with my hands, then asked him, “You had said… ‘It’s a shame I’m dating Chloe’ What did you mean by that?” Jackson laid back, then exhaled with delight from the food, not even looking at me. He took his wine glass, then picked it up and swirled the red wine inside. “Hm… I meant what I meant, if that’s what I said. If I had not been dating Chloe, I’d date you.” I leaned forward while pressing, “Yeah but, why? Why that response?” “It doesn’t mean anything, really. Just meant if I wasn’t dating Chloe… I’d date you. It’s as simple as that.” 

My heart dropped a little devastatingly. That’s all that meant? All these years and it wasn’t about his lingering feelings, his longing for me or even… How he loved me back, 

Just… Simply… 

“If I wasn’t dating Chloe..” 

I smiled painfully as Jackson kept eating as if nothing bothered him. I chuckled painfully, then jokingly asked, “Hey, you said you were single for a month. Would you date me now?” Jackson looked up, then laughed a little at my joke. “I guess I would.” I froze a little. 

Would? 

I continued with the “joke” and asked, “So… This would be like your first date as a single man?” Jackson interlocked his hands while adding, “With us sharing a romantic glass of wine.”

I held out my hand to the candle, lit in the middle of the table. 

“How romantic is this?” I asked, in a flirtatious tone. 

He exhaled longingly, “So romantic.” Is… Is he still pretending? 

The waitress walked back over with our table. She placed our crème brûlée down along with two spoons and the bill. 

I picked up the spoon, then held the spoon towards him. “To us?” I asked, overjoyed. He chuckled and picked up the bill first, then held the spoon in his other hand and celebrated with me, “To us.” 

After dinner..

Jackson opened the door for me. I walked out feeling overjoyed as though I was being accompanied by him. “So, what now?” I asked Jackson, in a flirtatious tone. He took out his phone, then sighed with a smile. “I’d love to get another drink but my darling is probably worried about me.” He put his phone away, then chuckled. “You understand. I’m sure your fiancé wouldn’t want you out so late either.” 

I took his arm, then held it tightly. “But.. Jackson! What about… please?” I begged. Jackson looked down at me, my desperate eyes. He smiled softly, his warm eyes..

He slowly removed his arm from my grip, then kindly told me, “Goodnight, Ava.”

Jackson turned away and began to walk away.

No… Please…

Don’t leave again.. 

I… I can’t wait another 12 years, please!..

I began to follow him… then I sped behind him… then I chased after him. 

With my heavy purse, I held it up and before he could even turn around I smacked Jackson across the back of his head, as hard as I could. 

Easily, he fell to the ground, right before he reached his car..

I was breathing heavily, I could hear my entire heartbeat!... 

I looked down at my purse as I was gripping it tightly, then saw the slightest bit of blood. Okay… it’s time. 

…

Jackson slowly opened his eyes, his arms— tied behind him, easily. When someone is out cold, it’s easy to tie their hands up. Jackson looked around, his eyes very hazy at the gray surrounding he had. I never did decorate my basement well..  Jackson then looked up at me. His warm eyes..

“...Ava?” He asked, hazy. 

I smiled, lovingly and put my hand on his head. “How’s your head, honey?” He blinked at me, confused for a second while asking, “Honey?” I nodded slowly, then lied so sweetly to him, “Yes, I’m your wife, remember?” 

I leaned forward, then gently rubbed his ring. “I gave you this, remember?” He squinted one of his eyes, as he tried to wrap his head around it. 

If I was able to lie so well this afternoon, there’s no reason he shouldn’t believe me now.

He looked down at me, then up at my face. 

Mixed memories flowed through his mind, before a familiar smile came. “Ah, Ava, Honey.” He warmly greeted me. “I missed you.” 

I smiled when I heard those words. I leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips, for the first time as I touched his ring..

I always hated how his wife had my name but… I guess it worked in my favor..

End.