Setting Up

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCKK!!!!!!!!!!

That’s the only word I can describe my mental state after my shift today. I am a mess, and I cannot even ask Christine for help: even though I tell her everything. So, I am pulling out all my straws. I can’t tell my co-workers because I know that they can’t keep a secret. So, there’s only one other person that I can trust.

The drive was fast. But it feels too slow for me. Every traffic light I stopped at, every streetlight I went by, and every road I crossed feels like forever. However, none of that matters to me at that moment.

Calvin was coming in a few months, and I don’t know how to properly surprise Christine. You may think that a few months is plenty of time, but I hadn't planned anything. And every idea that comes up gets worse and worse.

I am going to Johnathan for a second opinion, and hopefully, I can get him to help me organize this surprise. 

Johnathan Rabinovich is Christine's closest friend. They’ve known each other for over two decades. And over time he became a close friend of mine as well. Even though Christine and I are best friends, the bond that she shares with Johnathan is something that she and I will never have. 

Am I jealous of that? No, not really. Every friendship is different and unique; no two friendships are the same. I was a bit intimidated by their closeness in the beginning. Time has allowed Johnathan to know things about Christine that I’ll possibly never know.

And that's exactly why I need to talk to him. 

Luckily, today is Tuesday evening, so that means that he is at home today. John works as a counselor in a psychiatric ward. And even though he works long hours, he's always home on Tuesday evenings. 

I quickly park on the other side of his apartment complex and get out. Running up the flight of stairs feels like a long drag. But I am not going to stop until I've reached the top.

Man, I am so overworked.  

Once I get to the top, I knock on the door and wait. The door opens and an exhausted John stares back at me.

"Jessica?" He asks in surprise. I think I forgot to mention that I was going to visit him. I must’ve thought that I texted him in my mind when I was fogged with the tea.

Oops.

"Hey, J," I say, ignoring his unwelcoming demeanor. John squints his eyes and quickly checks his watch.

"What are you doing this late in the evening?" He asks in displeasure. I roll my eyes and scoff. He is such a drama queen. Sometimes, he needs to chill.  

"Come on, John. It's not even nine o'clock yet. Anyways, that's not the point. I came here because I NEED your help," I say in despair. John sigh and stands aside in defeat. I walk by him and enter his place. I look around his place in satisfaction. It’s a lovely place, but it’s way too expensive for a one-bedroom flat. I hear Johnathan yawn behind me as I sit on his nice white velvet couch.

"Okay, why do you need my help?" He asks in curiosity. Johnathan knows that anything I tell him, Christine has heard before.

But not this time.

"I have so much to tell you. First, I want to tell you about what happened at my workplace, and then I want to talk about Christine," Almost immediately, John's fatigue disappears. He sighs and closes the door. He walks to the other side of the couch. He digs into his couch and pulls out a bag of wrapped sweets. 

Nice.

"Did something happen between you and Christine?" He immediately asks. I quickly shook my head at John's question. 

"No. Nothing bad happened between us. But I have to tell you about my workplace first," I explain. John nods in understanding and silently eats as I tell my story.

“Okay, so do you remember when I told you about my new ballet class three weeks ago?” I ask. John, with his mouth full of caramel popcorn, nods. I take a deep breath and I tell him everything. By the time I am done, John has finished his couch candy.

“I’m sorry, WHAT??” John asks in disbelief. His eyes are bulging out of his head, and he makes me elaborate on what I said.

“I know. I am such a terrible person. That cheating asshole that I slept with a month ago is the father of my student Marie. And I don’t know what to do,” I reiterate in shame. I don’t even know why this is even happening to me. Sure, I may have ruined a family, but it wasn’t my intention.

“I mean, I don’t know what to say. Give me a minute to process this,” Johnathan says in a distance. I can tell that I have left him shocked, and I am not surprised. I cannot believe that I had to see him. Johnathan is looking at me a little longer than I hope, but I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t recognize me.  

“Does Christine know?” I shake my head in response to Johnathan’s question. This is something that Christine is passionate about. And I don’t want to hear her ramble about something she’s never experienced before.

“As your friend, I suggest that you do nothing. If either he or Marie’s mother approaches you, then explain yourself. But do not mention anything out of the blue. It’s not your fault that this happened to you. Okay? You were only involved because of his lying. You have no reason to believe that this is your fault,” Johnathan's strong words make me tear up a bit. I nod as I let the words settle in. I love my job, my friends, and my way of life. But other people are ruining things for me.

I haven’t even slept with anyone since him. Every man that approaches me makes me skeptical, and I immediately shut them down. Some of them were attractive too. The guilt that I shouldn’t have has been eating me from the inside out. And I don’t want to make the same mistake again.

Johnathan reaches into the cracks of his couch and pulls out a pack of tissues. I laugh in disbelief as I take them off his hands. He pulls me into his embrace as I allow the tears to flow. I silently cry for the lack of strength that I have. But I know that I will grow from this experience.

We stay like this for another thirty minutes. When I finally stop crying, we break apart and I hand the tissues back to Johnathan.

“Now, do you feel better?” Johnathan’s reassuring question makes me smile. I nod and he chuckles. I am now regaining my composure. Now I can finally ask for help about surprising Christine with Calvin.  

I even made sure to leave no details out about Calvin's arrival and my current dilemma. Johnathan nods and I know that he is on board.

"Okay, so what do you want me to do?" He asks. I ponder on his question and try to make sure that there isn’t too much baggage on him.

"Well, I need to meet him somewhere, John. I don't know where though. So, where should we show Calvin to meet Christine?" I ask. Johnathan purses his lips, and I can tell that he's in deep thought. 

"I don't know, Jessica. How about you take her to the club?" His suggestion rings a nice tune in my mind. 

The club? That isn't a bad idea. Christine won't suspect a thing, she would be surprised, and I will still be the best friend who helped her in her time of need. Christine, Johnathan, Calvin, and I will all be happy.  

"The club is a perfect place." John's eyes widen at my response.

"Are you sure? You know that I was joking, right?" He clarifies. I dismiss it and quickly take out my phone. 

"But it's still a good idea. Let me just quickly send a text to Calvin, and we'll be good to go," John rolls his eyes and tries talking me out of it. However, I have already made up my mind, and I ain't going to stop.

"Okay, so Calvin just replied and said that it's fine. I decided to go to 'The Blazing Lights' and we'll go inside at-"

"Wait, what do you mean by we?" 

"Well, I need you to come. Plus, it'll be fun," John groans. He doesn't like going out as much. But, he needs to do it for Christine. Geez, I swear he's such a baby. 

"But I have work," I roll my eyes at his attempt to leave.

"John, I am not an idiot. Calvin is coming on a Thursday in over a month. You can easily trade your shift with someone else," Johnathan groans again. It's as though being there for Christine is the worst thing in the world. 

But I know it's because he'd rather be at home. I honestly cannot relate. 

"Just come. You will thank me later," I insist. Looks like I finally broke him because he finally nods his head. 

"Fine, but you better be right," I roll my eyes at his doubtful words. 

"J, have I ever been wrong before?" John raises an eyebrow before both of us break into a fit of laughter. Before I sit in my car, we keep talking about work, life, and the future. Eventually, I have to go back home and continue my glorious plan. 

All I have to was invite Christine.