We Need To Talk {Jamie}

[JOEY ROOKS]

It was the damn necklace that did it all over again. The little rhinestone kangaroo with the baby in the pouch. A joey. But also, a mother and baby. The symbolism was strong in this one, and it had been left in her mailbox. How he managed to get it in each and every time was a mystery to her, but that was their way. One of the many things they had that belonged to just them. Slipping notes under each other's door, or in the mailboxes. No names. Not much more than words, or random pictures, or bits of grass from the parks when they went without each other. Something that was theirs--but one day she had found this necklace. And in an emotional fit, had tossed it into the corner of her room and not thought about it.

But she found it today, and held it in her right hand, while her left hand rested on her belly. Round, protruding. It felt like she had grown impossibly large within the last few days--the waddle was full blown. She couldn't bend over--crouching was a dangerous feat. In all honestly, she was about a month away from her due date. She wasn't exactly counting down the days, but she was trying to figure out where to go with her life. She had been packing a hospital bag just in case when she found the necklace again. Her thumb ran across the gems, before she reached backwards and looped it around her neck.

No doubt about it--she missed him. But she couldn't ruin his life, no way. Granted it was both of their fault, for his safety and hers it had best left him out of it. After all, it wasn't much of a concern since she had been planning to give the baby up for adoption. That was, until the prospective parents all but dropped off the face of the planet. It left her confused, dazed--she had been set on them, and she couldn't just willy-nilly give this baby to anyone. With that in mind, she had begun to aknowledge what was growing under her shirt, rather than just separate herself from it. And maybe, maybe it was the fit of hormones that resulted in Joey picking up.

Maybe it was the hormones that sent that text to Jamie. His number had been long deleted from her phone--he moved on with his life and Jemissa. Meeting had been awkward--but his number was one that Joey could recite in her sleep and backwards. She had it memorized.

I'm tired of not talking anymore. The adoption isn't going to work out, and I think we need to talk.

She then glanced down at her legs, and grimaced. They weren't caveman hairy yet, but Joey had lost the ability to bend over to shave about a month ago. A lot could happen within two months or so---and none of it was good.

Plus, I need your help with something.

Two messages sent. Her fingers curled into a fist around her phone, and her heart racing caused a sharp jab in her stomach. Ever since earlier when she had a bit of an...accident, the baby had been fussing quite a bit. A few cramps, and several powerful, aching punches to her ribs. Honestly--the child growing inside of her was not pleased, and Joey had been having an external argument with the child. It was almost fascinating that when Joey spoke, the baby settled. However, she was even more restless now--and it was causing havok on Joey's emotions. She slammed the phone on the table, and walked away from it and into the kitchen.

Just to stuff two, large oreos in her cheeks before glancing backwards at the door. Would Jamie knock? Would he walk in? Would he even show up? Would Jemissa let him?

Four oreos, and one puffer-fish looking Joey later--and she'd have her answer.

OUTFIT

LYRICS: I'll Be by Edwin McCain

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

Jamie had just gotten out of that class they called physical therapy. It should be called, kick-your-ass-til-you-need therapy. He was hurting for certain. As he hailed a taxi, he thought about his warm bed or maybe another hot shower. (Those gym showers where totally rigged to cause minimal relaxation. ) His phone on the other hand, had other plans.

“YO! IT’S JOEY. PICK UP THAT PHONE, DUDE. DO IT. DO IT OR I’LL FIND YOU.”

The cab driver looked behind him with an odd face but Jamie was paralyzed. Hearing Joey’s voice was enough to make his heart feel like someone had shoved a rusty Samurai sword through it. Before all the drama, Jamie would laugh at the ringtone. Now, after hearing it a second time, he scrambled to pull his phone out of his pocket. Two texts from Joey.

I'm tired of not talking anymore. The adoption isn't going to work out, and I think we need to talk. & Plus, I need your help with something.

Jamie had to read them a few times before he could actually managed to process what she was saying. So many question popped up in his head but all he managed to text back was:

I’m on my way to your place now.

“Can you take me to Jacob’s Apartment complex?” Jamie choked out after the cab driver asked for a destination. The guy nodded and away the went. The basically five minute ride seemed like hours as he was left alone for his thoughts to eat him alive. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to talk about the baby. Their baby. Jamie had spent nearly three months trying not to think about the fact that he wouldn’t get to be the dad he always wanted to be to his kid. He also had to make himself realize... it wasn’t his. Even if half his DNA was in it and what not. Now she was throwing him a curveball and he didn’t know what to think.

The car stopped and Jamie handed the dude his money. Even with all the confusion, a smile was starting to grow on his face. He’d miss Joey waaaaay too much and he really just needed to see her. He took the elevator, watching the numbers count up until it reached Joey’s floor and the door open. And then he ran. (Thank you baby jesus, he could do that again. As fun as wheelchairing around was, running was funner) Literally, he could find apartment blind. He got to the door and knocked. “Joey?” he said trying to contain his excitement. Excitement and pregnant ladies didn’t seem to mix well.

Outfit mofo

[JOEY ROOKS]

If Joey could have ran for the door, she would have. Hell--she even would have walked, but nope. Waddle it was. Leaning back just a little bit, her hand resting on her lower back to help her support herself, and teetering from side to side. However, when she reached the door she did her best to stand as normally as she could. When it came to anyone else, she didn't care of they stared. It was a little uncomfortable at first, because she was tiny. It was quite often that people assumed she was one of those horrific teenage pregnancies.

But somehow, seeing Jamie with the huge bulge under her shirt was embarassing. She wanted to throw a sweater on and cover it up--but that just wouldn't help at all. So, instead, she rested her hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath. Pulling on the door, she opened it up and came face to face with Jamie. On his feet. And not in a wheelchair. Granted it had been a few months since she hadn't seen him. And much different than last time, she felt a smile break out onto her face.

He was her best friend, above all else. To have lost it in the whirlwind of the past several months made her realize exactly how much she had missed his face. Or counting his tattoos. Laying in the grass at the park while passing a joint back and forth, coming up with theories on how things really worked. They were two peas in a pod, and Joey had let her own emotions get in the way. Frustration, anger, and sadness. But not today, not anymore. At least for now. She needed to be Joey again, she needed to laugh and to smile and to be with her best friend. "Canvas!" She chiriped excitedly. She had unlearned how to jump, and squeal, and bounce. There was no way in a cold dark hell she was going to be moving like that--however her toes were a-wigglin' and the baby was a-kickin'.

Her hand instictively pressed over her stomach, trying to settle the kicking as her smile flickered slightly. "Come innnn. There's oreos, and even though I'm not supposed to I still totally have a stock of soda. Even though I've been mostly drinking orange juice. I had the weirdest banana, orange juice, and apple shake...thing yesterday. Apparently, when you're pregnant, you start craving things that your body needs, who'da guessed, right?" Today was suddenly easier to let things flow naturally, to not worry. To be as happy-go-lucky as she could without forcing the smile on her face. Perhaps they could work out, maybe they could be civilized. And hopefully, just ho---no. Bad. Bad Joey. Happy thoughts, good thoughts. Warm Joey. Purr purr purr.

OUTFIT

LYRICS: I'll Be by Edwin McCain