What do you think Jared found? Always Writing, T. C. SARAH
LEAH’S POV“Can we have the mushroom ravioli please and a c…” I looked up at the waitress and she nodded as I continued to list off my order.I looked at Jack who was right in front of me and glared.“I swear to God, if you do not tell me why you have dragged me here today…”“Relax. I’m here because I’m in search of someone.” My face only hardened.“You brought me to a fancy restaurant just for that?”“Yeah. Saw her a few days ago and I was hoping she’d be working here this night.” I was about to smack Jack. I wasn’t even properly dressed. After we’d studied at the school library, he’d promised to take me home, only for him to turn right around and drive us up here.“And you couldn’t do that on your own?”“Nope. I just need wing man-woman.” He looked at me pointedly and continued searching.“I’ve been too frequent here and I don’t want it to look like I’m stalking.” My lips tilted up in a smirk.“But you are stalking. Is this about a woman, perhaps?” When he noticed my sudden eagernes
I grabbed my head as Aly raced to the hospital. My hair was already half-way out of my scalp because I thought Aly wasn’t driving fast enough. My heart was beating too fast. I couldn’t hear anything. Not what Aly was saying or the sounds from the road and angry drivers. My mind was spinning with too many possibilities. I heard my name being called in the distance and I ignored it until I was shaken out of my stupor. “We’re here.” I nodded, unable to speak. “Let’s go.” I ran behind her. I hated hospitals, so much. I’d almost lost Jared here and I was back again because I was about to lose him. I shook my head. ‘No, no, no. No negative thoughts.’ “Lee, it’s here.” She pulled my arm when she saw that I’d stopped in the middle of the walkway. I walked into the room and the smell of hospital disinfectant had my stomach roiling in pain. “Is he…” I walked towards him and he seemed to be asleep. “Let me get one of the doctors.” I didn’t answer her and stopped at the side of his bed.
I pulled up at his house and helped him out of the car. I had to be gentle because he kept groaning. “Fuck!” He yelled. “Sorry.” I had turned too quickly and he’d hit his bad arm against the door. “If Julia’s men had found me in the hospital, they would’ve prevented me from being at the meeting. If I’m not there, it gives her more artillery against me.” I placed him on his couch and stood in front of him. “How?” I dropped my phone on the table in front after checking the time. We had enough time before 12. Aarav’s place was a little bigger than Jared’s. “She can rule me out as incompetent and unfit for the role. She wouldn’t expect me to be here, at Rav’s.” “So, what are you going to do?” I pushed back every thought that reminded me of the fact that we were together and alone. “She never thought we’d fight and so, she never expected that I’d look into her.” My head cocked to the side in curiosity. “How do you mean?” Jared’s face hardened and I could see anger lurking in the sh
I didn’t look the part. In fact, I looked like a janitor but Jared still wanted me beside him.“Jared, I’m not dressed for a stakeholder’s meeting.” I whispered as we entered the elevator. He looked at me and ran his eyes over my body, making me step back subconsciously.“You look perfect to me.” I scowled at him but I couldn’t help the red tinge that slithered its way up to my cheeks.He looked at his watch and sighed. Jared was exceptionally good at masking his emotions but I could tell he was nervous so I did what was in my head without thinking it twice. I grabbed his hand and interlaced his fingers with mine, squeezing for assurance and comfort.He didn’t say anything but his shoulders relaxed and I exhaled silently. Thank God he didn’t make it awkward.I realised how easily my hand fit in his.‘You should be mad at him.’ I chided myself but at this point, I was too far gone. My desire to see Julia gone far outweighed my anger towards him and I would give him all the support that
Whatever Jared said… He must’ve been joking, regardless of the intensity of his stare, regardless of how his skin felt hot against mine, or how his light squeeze of his fingers, left a tremor quaking through my entire body, causing goosebumps to erupt in their wake. I pulled my hands away from him as we exited the company building. I didn’t want to make a sense, not after the ‘badassery’ Jared had just displayed, so I hurried my steps and entered the car before him. I drove in silence and continued to ignore his once-in-a-while glance at me till we got to his place. “Jared, what was that?” I dropped my phone on the table. “What?” I rolled my eyes at him, seething. “Don’t play dumb with me. What was that thing you did at the office?” “You mean confess my feelings? It’s not news Lee and you know it.” My face scrunched up in pain and everything I’d buried deep down, my feelings, things I wanted to say that I couldn’t, all came rushing up to the surface until my chest felt too heavy
“What happened though?” I pulled back from his embrace and looked over him. “I was trying to turn on the tap and I fell.” I chuckled. “Of course.” I turned on the tap for him and walked back. I stared at him and gulped. “I should probably go.” My hair was matted to my face and my shirt was probably see through at that point but my heart had been beating like crazy, ever since the lights came back on and I had to look him in the eye. “Go where?” Jared cocked his head to side, as if to remind me that it was raining cats and dogs outside. I took a big gulp and opened my mouth but no words sounded. The water I’d turned on was causing the bathroom mirrors and glass door to fog up. At least that was what I thought, as opposed to my heavy breathing and the palpable tension in the atmosphere. It had been weeks, maybe months since Jared and I had been in such a confined space and we weren’t fighting. My skin felt starved of his touch, my lips, my hair… everything begged to be ravaged by h
SIX WEEKS LATERI pulled at my hair and groaned in frustration.“How did time pass by so fast?” Jack chuckled and slurped his chocolate milkshake. He didn’t understand what I was going through because he hadn’t been missing classes or anything of that sort. I’d missed multiple classes and notes and I was barely catching up. Thank God for Jack’s note, not that I would tell him though.I flipped the one thousand plus pages hardcover book in front of me and everything seemed gibberish.“Why is the text book so heavy? I swear Dr Ramon just likes to punish us.” Jack continued to slurp, finding my situation very amusing.I grabbed my scrunchie and threw it at him.“Hey! What did I do?”“Your input is just disgusting liquid sounds and chuckles. Fucking help me!”“Leah, you and I know you don’t need help. You just don’t want to read.” I scowled at him.“Exactly why I need help.” I opened the cap of my boba tea cup and gulped the content, wiping the spilled tea at the corner of my mouth.“Besi
“What the hell is going on?” Jared’s eyes were laser-focused on the man who was now on the floor, scrambling away in fear.“I… I don’t... He...he…” Jared held my shoulders and rubbed gently.“Breathe Leah, breathe.” I nodded my head and pointed to Dr Ramon.“He came looking for you but saw me instead and attacked me.” Jared didn’t even wait for me to explain further before he walked briskly towards him and hulled him from the floor.“Call the police Lee. Here!” He threw me his phone and I caught it surprisingly.While I called them, Jared decided to take matters into his own hands first, pummeling him like he was handling a gym bag.“Jared…” I pulled him back from raising his fist again. It was almost certain that he’d kill him. Dr Ramon was groaning on the floor, blood pouring from his split lips and temple.“Are you okay?” He grabbed my face and roamed my body to make sure I was fine. I nodded and held his bloodied fist. He’d just healed from a broken arm and now he was stressing th
Jared and Leah did become friends again but their interests lay somewhere else. They realised they were made for bigger things and they would do that outside the cave they once existed as lovers and even if something were to happen between them, it would take more time than expected for it to happen. Aly, Aarav, Jared, Jack and Leah remained friends but things would change over time. Work, family, life and ambition would force that circle to expand to others too. You may imagine that Leah and Jared ended up together or not. You are the author of that story, a work of fiction is a work of fiction. Author’s Note (I hope this doesn’t come off as offensive): I’ve seen some comments about therapy seeming like a bad thing. Therapy is not weakness, it is an admittance that you need help you may not be able to provide yourself. Mental health issues are not a joke and deserve audience. Some of us have been through traumatic experiences, loss of loved ones, accidents, bullying, harassmen
THIRD PERSON'S POVLeah looked different. There was something about her, like a light that surrounded her and her eyes looked burdenless. Maybe it was the Norway air, but she seemed ... better. Both she and Jared did."Mr Deric?" The secretary had her head cocked to the side, wondering why her guest was awe-struck, standing in the doorway."Sorry." Jared shook his head and walked in. Leah had a smile on her face as she watched him walk in. She recognised that air of confidence that usually surrounded him and couldn't stop watching him.Her attention was called by the men that surrounded her, as she spoke, she seemed to put everyone in a trance. Jared didn't hear a word she said, only observing how comfortable and right at home she felt."I have called this meeting here today because of a different kind of alliance about to be brokered between Norway and the US. Miss Leah Thomas has come as a financial representative of the BridgeStone Foundation, a company spearheaded by the governmen
Jared’s POVLetting Leah go was one of the hardest things I had ever had to do but I did it for her and myself. I was wrong to assume she’d come running back to my arms because I saved her. I smiled wryly to myself.I hadn’t seen her in quite a long while and our paths never crossed again. Aly was beyond pissed that she tried to leave without telling her but she quickly forgave her when she saw her condition. They talked all the time too and that was why I knew what she was up to most of the time.“Do you regret it?” I looked at the lady before me, she was seated behind her desk, peering down at me with curiosity. “What?” I’d zoned out for a minute and didn’t hear her.“Do you regret it? Letting her go.” I inhaled sharply. I’d been coming here for months. When Aarav asked me why I thought I needed a therapist, my reply was ‘who doesn’t?’“Not really. It was her decision but I got to understand much later. It would have been selfish of me to ask her to stay when she needed to go.” I f
I waited for him to clear his bed and offer me a seat before I sat. I shook my head internally. How did it get to this? I asked myself.‘You did it.’ I exhaled loudly and watched him perch himself on his work chair. He turned to me and rose his brows as if to say ‘what did you want to talk about?’ I cleared my throat and rubbed my clammy hands against my gown. I’d resorted to wearing gowns due to the fact that it was less constricting than most and easier to pull off, I just had to undo the zip and let the dress fall to my legs.“Yeah… uhm…” He continued looking at me and I couldn’t bear it anymore, so I found interest in the bedsheet. It was a fine looking colour, regal and plush looking. It felt so soft to touch, almost like you’d sink into it and be enveloped in a word of threads and fabrics.“Leah?” I hitched a breath when I heard his voice. No matter how many years I’d known him, no matter how many times he called me, I’d always feel the fluttering in my stomach whenever my name l
“I injured my spleen, not my legs. I can walk for myself.” I smacked Jack’s hands away from me. “It’s so you don’t try to run away again.” I rolled my eyes at him even though I felt a stabbing pain in my chest.“Pretty sure I can’t move past this house without falling over.” I’d been recuperating for the past week and Jack was coming over once in a while to check on me. Let’s just say he is more overbearing than most, and I thought Jared was worse.Speaking of Jared, he’d been avoiding me. The only reason I was sure he was even around the house was the fact that food and my pills were always made available. The pills I took made me drowsy for most of the day, so I spent most of it sleeping.“Have you seen Jared today?” I asked Jack as I swallowed my pills and washed them down with water.“Nope.” Jack said and turned the T.V on. If I was being honest, I feared speaking to him. No doubt, my accident had changed the dynamics of our relationship and I wasn’t sure if it had become worse o
Most of the time, situations arise, things happen and we are inclined to judge of the situation. It is easier that way because, sometimes, it makes us feel better about ourselves.When the tides turn and we become recipients of judgment, we understand the situation better. It takes a human to realise his mistake, but it takes a humble human to admit it. How many times have we judged a situation wrongly and admitted our error?We’re all guilty of hurting someone, friend, foe, lover… not intentionally but we seek forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t just feeling sorry, it’s also a way of cleansing our souls, freeing ourselves from the guilt.Jared never told Leah that he forgave her and she couldn’t forgive herself, she couldn't free herself from the guilt.***JARED’S POV “What’s going on?” I asked the doctor who’d just come out of the operating room Leah had been moved to. 14 hours was the longest time I’d had to wait for a report from a doctor and the expression on his face wasn’t looking
I ran my fingers through my hair, walking to and fro like a sojourner who had lost his compass, I’d probably lost mine. The ambulance had arrived shortly after but the Leah was already… I shook my head. ‘No, she can’t be.’ I couldn’t focus on any other thing than the fact that there were many doctors running with Leah’s gurney, one was on top of her, doing chest compressions. The sweat beaded on the doctor’s face told me they’d been doing it since she was in the ambulance.I was slowly losing my mind and Aarav wasn’t here. He was busy trying to sort everything out while I went with Leah. I didn’t want to leave her side, if only I could have followed her into the OR.“She has lost too much blood, especially with the damage to her spleen and hypothermia already seeped in…” I didn’t want to know all the negatives, I didn’t want to know what was wrong.“Can someone tell me, is she going to be okay?” I yelled at the people who had brought Leah in, who seemed to be conversing with a doctor
JARED’S POV“What are you going to do?” I flipped the documents that Leah had sent. I hadn’t had the chance to look at it because I didn’t want to, not initially. Anything involving her work place kind of pissed me off but when I finally did, I could stop the fear that ran through my bones that Leah could be in danger because of it and I needed to act fast.I looked up at Aarav whose facial expression mirrored mine. He too was very conflicted and while he trusted Leah, it would be a big move to change banks, disastrous if it was the wrong move. We had been using Marque and Co. for so long and the previous leadership had proved capable of handling our assets.This new guy, this Ryan Fisher, from the moment I first saw him, I knew something wasn’t right with him. What Leah had sent hadn’t pointed to him as the culprit but with just enough evidence to let us know that something shady was going on and we needed to act fast or we’d lose more than just money.“We should involve the cops.” I
I felt a kick to my head and I groaned, my head feeling like it was split open. I blinked my eyes to get accustomed to the light before trying to sit up, something I found difficult and almost impossible to do.I tried to move my body and realised I was bound hand and feet. This slowly entered my consciousness and my drug-induced haze cleared up, I was face to face with a horrid looking mask and I scrambled backwards, bumping into something that felt horribly cold to my skin, metal.The person in front of me moved back, giving me room to at least breathe.“What the hell is going on?” I looked around to see not one, like I had imagined, but four people, armed with guns. My heart started to beat faster than normal at gauging my situation and my throat felt dry. It was dark outside and I realised I must’ve been asleep for hours.I was going to miss my flight, if I even made it out alive in the first place. No one replied me and I couldn’t even make out anything with the ridiculous outfit