Found

Chapter six

Chapter six...

"You know what, I think he likes you " Jessica smiled, she knew Isabelle would disagree but it was worth it.

"No he doesn't" Isabelle rolled her eyes, it shouldn't actually surprise her. Jessica had a twisted definition of love and likeness.

"Yes, He does "

"He doesn't"

"OK. then, why did he kiss you?" Jessica raised a brow.

"Have you been listening to what I'm saying? Because it's obvious you only got the kissing part" Isabelle asked lips pursed and brows raised.

"Yes of course" Jessica rolled her eyes.

"Then why did you only get the part where he kissed me? " Isabelle asked lips still pursed.

"Because it is the main point" Jessica sighed in an exaggerated manner happy to launch into the breaking it down mode, "The only reason I can see to why Kenny is behaving the way he is, is because, he wants something that he cannot have " since Isabelle told Jessica that Sasha calls Kenneth 'Kenny' Jessica has taken a liking to it and can't wait to use it at every opportunity she gets.

"And that is?" Isabelle asked with a slightly raised brow.

"You, of course " she sighed, this was calculus to a two year old.

Isabelle sighed, she knew that eventually all the Romance novels Jessica have been reading will sooner rather than later start affecting her reasoning, and warned her before hand.

"I warned you? Didn't I? Now look at what you call likeness and love"  Isabelle sighed, the best  way to end this matter was to concur, yes Jessica was that stubborn. "I don't think he likes me, even if he does, I do have a boyfriend, remember?"

" And so? How does having a boyfriend stop another man from having interest in you? Men still go after people's wives remember?

Isabelle must admit that was true, but Jessica was not the one working with Ken, it was her, so she knew better.

" I want to get some wine, are you in?"

"No, I will skip, thanks."

Isabelle blinked in surprise, the Jessica she knew never says no to wine. Especially one she is not paying for.  She bite her lips in thought "If you say so , OK "

She stood up to go get it.

**~**~**~**

Coming back with a glass of wine, Isabelle Sat down, the couch facing that of Jessica's, who was eagerly waiting for her to come back so as to continue her lectures.

She darted her tongue out to moisture her lips "As I was saying," she began to say.

Isabelle cut her off  "what's in that bag?" She asked only then noticing the bags, which has the logo of a famous clothing store designed on it.

"it's the clothes needed for your birthday, your dress, mine and Claire's." Jess said suddenly looking up to the ceiling and mentally preparing herself for what is to come.

"God!" Isabelle groaned.

"I thought we agreed on no parties, they were supposed to be no party?"

She wondered why she was even surprised  by the change, Trust Jessi to plan things like that even after promising she wouldn't.

"They will be no party unfortunately, I have to keep my promise, but we will be going to a bar with a couple of friends " she pouted.

"Like  how many friends are we talking about?" Isabelle asked with an air quote to the word friends.

"Just a little, maybe ten or fifteen."

Isabelle sighed, she was not at all surprised, her first birthday here had at least thirty five invitees and the last year, fifty. After the almost scandal last year Jessi promised no more parties. Jessi was the party type who strongly believed in Y.O.L.O and Isabelle knew that, arguing with her was like pouring water on a stone.

"You know that three is a crowd, right? It would have been better if it's just the three of us, 'You, me and Claire"

" Well..  what's the fun in that?" She sighed, giggling at the feigned look of terror on Isabelle's face.

"OK, I have something important to tell you, please listen and do not judge"

Isabelle dropped her wine, she couldn't remember the last time she discussed something important with Jessica, because Jessica has never had something 'important'  to talk about "OK. I'm all ears " she wondered what it was that Jessica considered important. The 'do not judge' prep talk was not helping her.

Jessica was nervous, she took a deep breath to calm her hyperactive heart , she muttered, barely above a whisper "I'm pregnant"...

"Like seriously?" Isabelle asked, blinking  repetitively.

Jessica nodded nervously smiling.

"Wow, so are you going to keep it? " Isabelle asked, she pursed her lips waiting for  answers, she knew Jessica well enough to know that she might decide against that.

"Yes, of course. It's John's, I have not told him yet, but am keeping it anyways."

***

It was almost time for lunch and Isabelle have not spoken or seen her boss, she was kinda happy and thankful for that because she didn't have the guts to face him. She heard her phone rang, it was Jessica, she smiled the girl was such a gossip, she couldn't even wait for her to get home. She knew Jessica was only calling to ask how far she has gone with her boss, if she had spoken with him and what his reply was,  deliberated whether or not to pick the call  but decided it was of no use since Jessica will continue calling until she get answers.

"Don't even waste your time nothing happened, we have not even spoken" she heard Jessica laugh, the sound even sounded strange to her ears. It was hysterical.

"He...is...cheating belle", she sobbed "he f*****g cheated with Claire" she continued hiccuping. She was drunk, Isabelle could tell.

"what?" Isabelle groaned, she never knew Claire could do such a thing, she was supposed to have a  boyfriend! "where are you? Do not move I'm coming to get you, you hear me? Don't move, you are drunk!"

She hurriedly collected her keys and her hand bag rushing out of the building with the phone still pressed to her ear by her shoulder. She heard the screeching followed by the shout then the sound of explosion.

"Jess?" she panicked "Jessica? Jessica can you hear me? s**t!"

Goddammit!

***

"How is she?" Isabelle croaked out, her voice sour and cranky with a clear ring of desperation, her eye puffy, swollen and red.

She had seen the car, it was a reck, it will be a miracle is anyone survived on it.

"We did everything but her injuries were severe and..."

"No!" Isabelle cried out, she couldn't lose Jessica, she was her only family. She felt Tony's hand tighten around her waist as if to keep her from moving.

She was practically going mad.

"And she lost a lot of blood, we couldn't save the baby but she's stable now "

She felt Tony draw her into his arms for a hug.

She clutched his clothes trying to bury her face deeper, she was still crying but this time it was of joy.

For more than five years she has never prayed but that day, she lossed counts, she prayed at the sight of the car, she prayed every goddammit minute she waited for the doctor.

She prayed more than she ever did in her twenty seven years of life.

"Can I see her" she quaked out wiping her tears with the sleeve of her shirt, she was tired of using tissues and hankys.

The doctor nodded in approval, smiling at Tony.

She turned in the direction of the room and was met face square with John.

"You?... You bastard.. you dare show your face here. You worthless piece of trash, how dare you? " she lunged at him determined to leave a mark, she clawed at him with her hands, she was determined to leave him blooded and Tony was not helping, he kept trying to hold her back.

"I don't want to see you here or anywhere near this hospital or Jessica, if I do... I swear you won't live to tell the story "

Tony motioned for the security, instructing them never to let him in again. The hospital was a private one and one of the best in the city with over hundreds of doctors. And well Tony had connections.

She starred at Jessica, all tupped up and looking lifeless, she was bandaged, her breathing was steady but slow and shallow. She never knew that she would one day, be standing in the ICU with Jessica almost lifeless.

Isabelle bursted out crying again, how could this have happened to her?

She didn't know if Jessica or her could survive this, it was so painful.

***

It was almost two weeks, and Isabelle has been faring nicely, she did go home during the day to bath and eat though the eating part was never really possible since she tended to throw up even water.

Stepping on the hospital floor, she headed for Jessica's room, she with the help of Tony made sure she had been moved to a private room at the edge of the corridor as to avoid disturbance.

With Tony's hand resting gently on her lower back she made a turn for the edge. He was her only consolation, he was there for her and had taken a leave off work and it has not been easy.

"Look what we have here, the coward couldn't stay away"

Isabelle froze, the voice sounded familiar, it was a voice she could never forget, a voice that have always taunted her, it was a voice one she did thought she did never hear again or see the owner she turned towards the voice to confirm, and it was confirmed.

"f**k! " she heard Tony whisper, his hand tightened around her waist.

"f**k" she seconded.

It was her sister's voice.

***