rated *
A Flashback–and to the Left
By Jill (franollie)
Listening hard, Jim Frayne could hear the sound of the car engine and the noise the muffler-less vehicle made as it pulled into traffic. The steady hum of cars passing the house was numbing to him. If he just concentrated on the white noise created by tires, he could stop thinking. “So, Frayne,” he thought to himself, “what now?” He looked around the apartment. It was a mess. Jake and Josh had kindly left him with the bulk of the clean up from their party. Mechanically, Jim began setting his home to rights. Dishes were washed and rinsed. Bags of trash were carried to the dumpster in the parking lot. Bottles and cans found their way to the recycling bin.
The phone rang. Jim ignored it. There were other things to do. There was a message. “Jim? Hi, it’s me. I know you’re there. Pick up please. I’m sorry I stormed out. I was just so mad. Please pick up and talk to me.” Pause. “I...uh...found my cell and uh...got your message. Listen, I’m going to try your cell.” Pause. “If you get this before midnight...if you get this after midnight, give me a call. I’ll leave the cell on.” Pause. Then the voice whispered, “Just call, ok?” Jim could hear the tears in her voice. He went to the closet and got out the vacuum. Attacking the carpet with a vengeance, Jim focused on what else needed to be done. Well, Spring Break was over as of tomorrow and he had a stupid debate due at the end of the week, he could start research on that. He was pretty sure nobody else on his team even cared. No one even responded to the email he sent two weeks ago.
The phone rang. Jim ignored it. There were other things to do. There was a message. “Jim? Hi, it’s me. I know you’re there. Pick up please. I’m sorry I didn’t wake you yesterday before I left. I was running late and needed to get to my parent’s house for some stupid family thing.” Pause. “Listen, don’t blame Jake and Josh, ok? When I want something, I get it.” The voice on the machine gave a throaty chuckle. “And I got it. Listen, Jimmy, if you get this before midnight...if you get this after midnight, give me a call. For you, I’ll leave my cell on.” Pause. Then the voice whispered, “Just call, ok?” Jim could hear the slyness in her voice. Jim focused on what else needed to be done.
Climbing the stairs, Jim formulated a plan. He opened the door and entered the bedroom. He grabbed a suitcase and began filling it with necessities: socks, shirts, slacks, shaving kit. When it was full to capacity, Jim opened a second bag and filled it as well. He carried the bags down the stairs and placed them by the front door. He sat down on the couch to wait.
He didn’t have to wait for long. The key was placed into the lock and the knob turned. Jake and Josh entered the apartment laughing. “And then she says, ‘You should see what I can do with a kiwi!’” Josh stopped short when he noticed Jim sitting, unmoving, in the living room. “Hey, homeboy!”
Jake flipped the switch and the bare bulb lit, filling the room with a harsh light. “Jimmy boy,” he said, “How went the weekend, brother?”
Jim stood, his face pale and his freckles standing out like hot coals. “I am not,” he said through clenched teeth, “your brother. I am not your homeboy. Apparently, I am not even your friend.”
The other two roommates looked at each other in disbelief. They’d never seen him like this.
“Jimmy,” Josh began, “We just wanted you to have some fun.”
The muscles in Jim’s jaw tightened. His mouth barely opened as he spat out, “You...you...you...I can’t even begin to call you what I’d like to call you.” Suddenly, the anger Jim had been trying to keep in check escaped. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?! I have–had a girlfriend. Your stupid plan to make me have fun was just that–stupid! I’ve put up with your childish behavior for months. You think you’re funny when you treat other people like...” Again, Jim stopped himself. “I won’t let you do any more to me. I could call the police. I could file charges against you and against your little friend, Alyssa, but I won’t. You will leave. There are enough clothes and other things packed for you for the week. By the end of classes Friday, you will both be gone. You will turn in your keys to me. At that time, I will have your security deposits and your first and last month’s rent waiting in envelopes for you. You will not call me, email me, or instant message me. You will tell Alyssa not to contact me. You have fifteen minutes to line up somewhere to stay for the night. Use your cell phones. You aren’t welcome to use the landline here. Fifteen minutes.” Jim deliberately turned his back on them and walked up the stairs. Jake and Josh watched him. His back was bent, his head hung to his chest and his hand gripped the railing as if it were his link to the earth.
Listening hard, Jim Frayne could hear the sound of the car engine and the sound of the vehicle as it pulled into the traffic. The white noise of the cars going by was comforting. He didn’t have to think if he concentrated on the noise. The cars driving meant that people had places to go and things to do. He had things to do. He booted up his computer to start researching on the benefits of home schooling.
The phone rang. Jim ignored it. There were other things to do. There was a message. “Jim? Hi, it’s me. I mean, it’s me, Jodi McAllister. I’m pretty sure you’re not there. I bet you had something exciting to do over Spring Break. Me, I just stayed here and studied. Anyway, I’m sorry I never returned your email. My computer crashed, and I had to wait for my tutoring check to come in so I could get somebody to look at it.” Pause. “That’s not really your problem, is it? Listen, I’ve done a bunch of research on the benefits of home schooling. I would like to do well on this debate, and I’m not sure anyone else in the group cares about it. Your email made it sound like you care.” Pause. “My phone number is listed on the class contact sheet. If you get this before midnight, could you give me a call? If you get it after midnight, please call tomorrow. I have to get up for an eight o’ clock class in the morning and need to get some sleep.” Pause. “Thanks so much. Have a good night.” Jim could hear nothing in the voice.
It was 9:12 p.m. He reached over and picked up the phone.
The End
**These characters belong to Random House, not to me–well, except for Jodi, Josh, Jake and Alyssa, they came from my own little mind–and I’m making no cashola from their appearance in this work of fanfic, nor do I want to.
This is a flashback to events that occurred in my story “With Your Ghost” posted here on Zap’s website. Thanks Zap, you’re awesome!
Many super dooper thanks to my super editors–Amber, Chelsea and Niki! You ladies rock!