Jess ignored her cell phone for the better part of the next day. She threw it on the coffee table in the living room, but it vibrated off the glass top and was peeking from under the sofa when she finally decided to answer the thing. Vi’s words were a mental mugging.
“You can’t answer the phone? Did you lose your hands?” Never raising her voice, Vi managed to deliver a browbeating which reduced Jess to shame.
“I’m sorry. I just…”
“You what? I’m your friend. Answer the phone when I call. If you need to take some time and sulk, or whatever, go ahead, but pull yourself together when you’re done. I’ll come by tomorrow.” The phone call ended abruptly with a click and then silence.
Jess stared at her Blackberry blankly for a moment, before she dropped it into her lap. Vi was right, of course, and she had earned the chiding.
Jess spent the rest of the night hiding under a pile of blankets and her down comforter. She dreamed of her parents, and the way she felt when she was part of their world. That bond had been ripped away from her, and she hated God for it. It was a cruel twist of fate, and she resented His punishment.
When she thought of Justin, she punched and kicked the mattress, like a child throwing a tantrum. Why did he feel he could provide reassurance about her mother? He couldn’t even eke out a bit of empathy about her plight, but he dared to offer her empty words about her mother’s happiness? What a jerk he'd turned out to be, just as she'd thought.
The dream she slipped into was as perplexing as the world she was trying to leave when she’d shut her eyes and willed herself to sleep. It was, as though she’d been dropped into her mama’s arms. Her mother was stroked her face, alight with the look of adoration only a mom could give. When the dream shifted, she stood at the door of a church where faceless bodies whispered words of sympathy in her ear. Keeping up with the progression of events was tiresome. She hadn’t walked to the coffin, but been placed there by whatever power choreographed her dreams. Just as the blur of her dreamy vision cleared, the coffin slammed shut, and a hand seized her shoulder. Her head twisted toward the person who’d touched her, and she was greeted by Justin’s face, a puzzle of gentleness and apathy.
Night gave way to morning, and Vi appeared at her door bright and early with a red-stained smile that offered friendship and a box of donuts that offered sustenance. Of course, she looked adorable in her khaki shorts and black tank top. Jess looked down at her gray sweat pants and t-shirt, horrified. Why hadn’t she at least ran a brush through her hair when she rolled out of bed?
“Well, aren’t you a sight?” Vi said as she threw the donuts on the glass coffee table in the living room.
Jess rolled her eyes. It wasn’t necessary for Vi to remind her how awful she looked. She'd seen for herself in the bathroom mirror that morning. She felt obliged to excuse her lack of motivation. “I’m exhausted.”
“Too bad. I’d hoped to hear the good stuff.” Vi scanned the apartment, and Jess knew she was fighting the compulsion to clean something. Apparently, she hadn’t bought Jess’ lame reason for being a slacker. “What happened with you and Justin?” She pushed a cup of coffee into Jess’ hand.
“I got knocked out by a lunatic on a motorcycle. Is that the good stuff?” Jess pointed to the knot above her eye.
“Your sarcasm is precious. You know that? And, although I find your near-death experience riveting, I was asking about Justin.” Vi patted her hand, voiding the arrogance in her voice with a wink.
“Oh, he’s a jerk.”
“They all are, honey.” Vi offered as she checked the gash on Jess’ head. “You know, you probably could’ve used stitches. This might leave a scar.”
“Well, Mr. Personality thought he was better adept at taking care of me than medical personnel, so if it scars, I’m going to kill him.” She took a sip of coffee and turned her nose up at the bitterness. "Did you get sugar?"
Vi smiled, as though she held all the secrets that made the world spin. Then she reached into her pocket and withdrew a handful of sugar packets. Jess laughed. Vi was, without question, perfect.
After a few sips of well-sugared coffee, Jess finally pulled her thoughts together and relayed a play-by-play of the attack and her feud with Justin.
Vi flitted about the kitchen cooking, as comfortable as if she lived there. Jess followed the redhead mindlessly from room to room as she tidied the place. It made her feel like a bit of a stranger in her own flat. Vi was impossibly domestic, but it was hard to mind when she provided a clean apartment and a warm meal. When her head started pounding again, Jess reclined on the sofa, halfheartedly watching while Vi continued her insane cleaning spree. At some point, she felt herself drifting.
When Jess woke up, she struggled to figure out where she was. The room was spotless and ruthlessly organized. She turned toward the sound of footfalls on tile, to see Vi approaching. The bubbly girl shoved a bowl of soup at her while jiggling a bottle of Tylenol in her face.
Jess glared at her; the sound of the pills bouncing against the plastic bottle echoed in her head. She gladly took the food, the Tylenol, and the comfort Vi provided though.
“You and Justin are like an old married couple already.” Vi plopped on the couch next to her.
“Really?” Jess wasn’t truly interested in Vi’s thoughts on Justin, but she was starving, and if pretending to pay attention guaranteed she got to finish eating, she’d play along.
“Yeah, all the bickering and built up aggression. You two, remind me of my grandparents.”
“No seriously, he’s a little too moody for me.” Jess shoved the spoon into her mouth, and then winced when the soup burned her tongue.
Vi giggled. “You’re without exception the most entertaining person to be with.”
“Goofy. That’s the word you’re looking for.” The spoon clanged against the side of the bowl as she set it on the table. Without a doubt, a dirty dish in the living room would drive Vi mad, until she gave in and took it to the kitchen sink.
Vi did just that. “Imagine that his brothers have dealt with those moods for years. He sorta grows on you. You’ll see.”
“I bet, kinda like a wart.” Jess snickered, but the conversation made her hope she’d see him soon. The conflict of her feelings about him did nothing to relieve her headache.
“You know, when I first met him, I chased him like mad.” Vi brushed imaginary crumbs from her thighs.
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Yeah, he pretended to ignore me.” Vi sighed. “When he finally gave in, we made it exactly twenty minutes into a date before I wanted to kill him, and I decided I would never go there again.”
“Lucky me.” Jess grinned.
“I know you think I’m crazy. He’s full of self-loathing and can be a real bummer, but hope springs eternal." She shrugged and checked her perfect red-tipped fingernails. "Maybe you’re the one.”
A chill stole over Jess and she kneeled on the couch pulling the window shut. She was sure it was the air and not Vi’s comment that made her shiver. “The one for what? I think I’ll pass.”
Vi giggled again and closed her eyes reflecting on something Jess couldn’t see. Unexpected anger rose when Vi didn't elaborate on her earlier statements, but since her head was still thumping, Jess closed her eyes too.