Dedicated to wickedivory. Thank you for your help

----------------------------------------

Jere it's bad.

Jeremiah couldn't get those words out of his head. That's how it always started. By being bad and before anyone knew it, it was worse and then there was nothing anyone could do. He hated that feeling. He hated feeling helpless. Like he was useless and worthless. It was one thing for someone to get sick and send you medicines or water or whatever they needed. Sick people were demanding but for Jeremiah he thought it was only fair. If he could do it then he would. No questions or complains or anything. You ask and you get. Simple. But it was another thing when a sick person says 'it's bad and there is nothing they can do'. That tended to piss him off. Like what do you mean there's nothing they can do? Didn't doctors study so that they could cure illnesses? Then why say there is nothing they can do? Why stand there and say its too late or impossible?

That was the one thing he didn't understand. Terry tried to explain it to him but he just never got it. People chose to study something because they thought they were good at it. You pick something you can do. Not something you can't then go and disappoint other people. When his father called him that morning he didn't expect bad news. He just thought his old man wanted to invite him over for the weekend or Terry had tried to send him on another blind date. But as his father uttered those three little words, he couldn't help wondering why this was happening to him.

It was happening all over again. That was how it had started. It was bad. Then worse. And then she was gone. Just like that. And he was left all alone even though his father was right beside him. He felt alone with absolutely no one. He'd gone off the rails. The world was dark and whatever he did didn't matter. Until Terry had come and saved him. Little by little she brought him back to the light side and now she was going to do it again but instead of light she was going to push him back to the dark side. He hung up then swiped his desk clean knocking everything to the floor. Delilah his secretary, rushed in to ask if something was wrong but he didn't see her he just left heading to the lift. He considered taking the stairs but it would take too long. He wanted out of that building. Thirty floors down he was in the lobby and everyone paved way for him. No asked where he was going or if he wanted his driver. Not that he would have heard them.

His head was ringing and blood rushed to his ears. He got out and walked not knowing where he was going. A few cars honked at him for walking in front of them but he didn't pay attention to any of them. He kept walking with no sense of direction. It was hours later when he found himself in front of a small bakery that was too bright for his normal tastes. All the pink and blue colours were blinding but for some reason he felt like he needed the brightness. His life was about to be dark again and he was clinging to any kind of color he could. He walked in and inwardly felt at peace when the bell jingled on top of him. Whatever it was, it calmed him and his dark thoughts.

As he walked to the counter, his eyes latched onto a waitress who was staring at him like he was an alien. He was used to women throwing themselves at him but this one was just staring and somehow her gaze made him nervous. The guy behind the counter snapped her out of it and he felt happy that she was annoyed for being interrupted, judging by bite in her voice. He told her something Jeremiah didn't quite get because he was busy staring back at her. She wasn't like the models he was used to dating. Her uniform showed a great deal of legs that were curved to perfection with a tiny waist and breasts he guessed were D cups. He enjoyed big breasts even if they were enhanced but hers screamed natural making him want to see what they were like in the flesh. Were they soft and pliant? Or soft and upright like the ones he had seen on those models?

The guy behind the counter asked him what he wanted and he ordered coffee. You could never go wrong with coffee. And since he was trying to keep his day colourful he ordered a red velvet cake but asked for the woman to deliver it. He could have just taken it and sat at the table at the back by himself but he wanted to see her again. Maybe if he was lucky she would distract him for a few minutes before he went back to being miserable. When she walked towards him after a few minutes, he couldn't look away even if he wanted to. She was possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

"Sit" he blurted out without thinking. She stood like someone who was ready to tell him off but she finally sat and he secretly expelled air he hadn't known he was holding. He got the distraction he was looking for alright. Only he hadn't expected it to make him forget everything else completely. She was stunning when she smiled and her hazel eyes drew him in. When one of her friends came to say it was time to close the bakery, he was shocked. Never had he sat down with someone and not count minutes until it was time for him to leave.

Jennifer made him forget all his troubles. And when he left her he couldn't wait to see her again. He called Martin his driver then really looked at his phone. His father had left him a few messages. But he was in a really good mood and he just wanted to go back to his apartment, spend the night without any worries. Just one day where he would sleep without thinking about anyone except Jennifer. Two hours later after tossing and turning in bed he decided he couldn't just ignore everything. Terry had been his savior and just ignoring whatever his father had to say about her made him drown in guilt. So he woke up, packed his bags then left. On the way he left a message for Delilah to cancel his appointments for the next two weeks. He had to go home.

-----------------------------------------

Jenna woke up with a big smile on her face. Of course she woke up smiling and laughing every other day but recalling yesterday's events made her smile widen. She sat up in bed and touched her lips. It all seemed so surreal. The day, the kiss, the man himself. How was it even possible that she had known a man for a few hours and she was already crazy about him? Is that what people called love at first sight or was all of it just some kind of a dream? She looked to her clock on the night stand and realized she had overslept and wouldn't be able to go for her morning run. She was also going to be late to work but that didn't make her move any faster.

She was walking on air, floating around. Maybe it was how he had kissed her or maybe it was how he had promised to stalk her. She wasn't sure. All she knew was that she wanted more of him. To see him everyday and night. To sleep and wake up next to him every morning. To laugh and cry with him. To walk in the sun and rain with him. Of course who was she kidding? She had fallen for him the second she saw him. It was stupid and crazy and unbelievable but true. She got up and sang her way to the bathroom. In fact she sang all day long. At the end of the day when she hadn't heard anything from him she told herself he was busy and since she didn't give him her number, he had no way of telling her.

The second day her spirits dimmed a little but she still made up excuses for him. He looked like an important man which meant he really was busy. Or he had family problems. Or maybe something had happened to him. Maybe she should go and see him. She froze. What did she know about him? Only his name. He hadn't told her anything about himself. He had asked questions, made observations, talked about the weather but hadn't said a single thing about himself. And she was too wrapped up in herself that she hadn't bothered to ask any questions. Jenna. She groaned. How could she have been so stupid?

What do you want to know about me?

Let's start with the easy stuff. Favorite food, colour, hobbies

I don't have a favorite food.

What do you mean you don't have a favorite food? Everyone has one thing they're obsessed with.

Well I don't. There was a time I didn't even have water to drink. Since then on I've learned to appreciate everything and I don't play favorites.

Okay I'll let that go for now. Color?

Pink.

Of course it's pink.

What do you mean by of course?

You're a girl. Pink is your universal colour.

So then I suppose yours is blue?

Okay maybe that came out wrong. What do you do for fun?

Read, skateboarding, and eat lots of cake.

What do you normally read?

Romance books.

I like that. Your Romance books are they the cliché Romance stories or tragic love stories? Eroticas?

You're a pervert.

I just love hearing you laugh. It's throaty but smooth. And do you know what I love most about it?

What

It goes straight to my head and messes up everything. Like I can't think straight for a full minute.

Did you get that from your erotica books?

What? I don't read that stuff.

Oh I get it. You prefer watching. Right?

Why not? I have a drawer full of dvds. I could lend you some?

What porn? Hell no.

Oh my God. Please don't tell me you've never watched porn.

Okay. I won't.

Jennifer

Jeremy

Let's change the topic before I stop being a gentleman.

When were you being a gentleman? Oh wait I remember. When you were undressing me with your sexy eyes. Right?

You think I have sexy eyes?

That's all you heard?

I think your eyes are sexy too. Your mouth, your nose, even your ears. Everything about you is sexy.

Consider me charmed.

You're welcome sexy.

Jenna shook her head. They had joked and laughed and even shared a really steamy hot kiss on the pavement but all she knew was his name? Stupid Jenna. How could you be so stupid? She hadn't even asked him his surname. Or what he did. She had been so caught up in the moment that she had forgotten to ask about him. And he hadn't volunteered any kind of information. What was wrong with her? What if he really was a stalker or maybe even a criminal? His suit looked expensive. Mafia guys wore expensive suits. Or psychos who were trying to come off as normal people.

By the end of the week she had convinced herself that maybe it was for the best he hadn't shown up. She had dodged a bullet and she was lucky. But that didn't mean she didn't remember how he had kissed her. How his lips had slanted over hers, how he had swiped his tongue in her mouth or how he had nibbled on her lips like they were the most interesting thing in the world. Some things you didn't forget. You just accepted them for what they were and moved on. So she kept the kiss in a box and locked it in the far back of her mind.

Lily persuaded her to go out clubbing during the weekend and she gave in. It would distract her and maybe with enough alcohol in her system she could forget everything for a few hours. The sweaty bodies and handsy drunks distracted her alright. Two guys approached them. They were both blonde with Abercrombie looks and if she had to guess she would say they were models. They weren't, but points to her for trying. Right? Drinks flowed and they chatted for most of the night. At some point they danced and Tony the guy she was with was respectful. He didn't try to grab her or put his hands somewhere they didn't belong.

At the end of the night she decided she should have done this more. Go out and have fun. Tony and his friend Jake dropped her off first then took Lily home. He didn't even try to kiss her goodnight. Just hugged her then left. But even after all that she still couldn't get him out of her mind. He was still there laughing at her efforts to try and forget him. She thought maybe she should have invited Tony in but discarded that idea. She was in this state because she had let another person in. This is what she got for falling for a stranger. I hope you've learned your lesson Jenna. She mumbled to herself then passed out.

Come Monday the next week she was hangover and nursing a killer headache. That alone was enough to ruin her day. Thank God that most of the times she was late Lily covered for her. That day went pretty slow and by the end of it Jenna was ready to pass out. Tuesday was better and during the day she got a surprise visit from Tony and Jake. Apparently Lily had told Jake where she worked and Tony had tagged along with the hope of seeing her. His words not hers. She realized they were funny and sober her liked them as much as drunk her did. From then on they became pretty close.

The guys visited everyday and some nights they ate dinner out and walked home laughing like college students. She enjoyed their company because they were lively and there was never a dull moment with them. During the day she spent it joking and trying out new things with them. It was pretty clear Lily liked Jake and from the way he looked at her the feeling was mutual. She was happy for them but secretly she envied her friend. Why couldn't she be like her friend. Why not fall for Tony and together they could go on double dates and have a double wedding. They could even have kids her a girl and them a boy and live happily ever after. Why weren't things that simple?

By the end of the third week since she had met Jeremiah, she had convinced herself she made him up. He was just a dream she had conjured in her efforts to be normal. In her efforts to be wanted, she had come up with an apparition and it wasn't real. It was Friday evening and the guys were waiting for them to close shop so they could go out. Lily had decided she was hungry so pizza first then clubbing or just drinks. So long as there was alcohol. Lily was tidying up the kitchen and Jenna was wiping down the counter. Boris was long gone with an excuse of having an important appointment. Like they didn't know he left early on Fridays to avoid closing the bakery.

"Do you need some help Jenna?" Tony asked from where he sat with Jake.

"No I'm fine. Almost d....... Ahhhh" she shrieked when Tony lifted up. "Put me down you idiot."

"I'm just trying to help." Swinging her around. His hands were on her waist and he swung her until she was on his back with an arm behind her knees and another one on her back so that her stomach pressed on his lower back.

"Put me down you big oaf. How are you even so strong?"

"I lift weights three times heavier than you." he bragged.

"Yeah right. I can see that." she said squeezing the muscles on his hand. They were joking around and therefore didn't hear the bell above the door jingle.

"New customer Jenna." Jake said making both of them look up.

"Sorry we're clos....." she stopped midway and froze. Her apparition had come back to life.

"Hello Jennifer."

********************************************

Let's all say it together. Hello --------
You guys read vote comment share.
I wanna hear your feedback