Milk Chocolate, Coconut & Marshmellow
Story: Jinxed! (?)
Piece: Wake-up Call
By Jillian Stephens
Prompts: Milk Chocolate #10 Contrition/Marshmellow#13 A Good Deed/Coconut#14 Your Call is Very Important
Word Count: 947
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jessica's concerned about Doug and gives him a call the next day
Notes: Story Summary/ Main Characters/ Index/ Prompt Lists
I didn't plan on this turning into a min-series, but...it did....
Saturday morning I decided I needed to call Doug just to see if he was OK.
I dialed his number and a groggy male voice answered.
"Doug?"
"Jess?"
"Yeah, hi! I was just calling to make sure you were OK."
"Oh, Fuck! Yeah, I'm fine, Jess."
"Good to hear. We were quite worried about you last night."
"What did I do?"
"Oh, you put on a little Karaoke concert. It was a lot of fun."
"Did I fall?"
"Yeah. You did. Are you feeling OK? You didn't seem injured."
"No, just bumps and bruises. I'm actually quite used to it. I usually have a tendency to overdue it a bit."
A bit?
"Well, I just figured I'd check in with you."
"Yeah, I'm actually very surprised to hear from you after last night."
"Look, you had a lot to drink and you made quite the spectacle of yourself but no harm done."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. So, you wanna meet up later?"
Huh?
"Uh, I was going to head over to my parents. I have dinner with them sometimes on Saturdays."
"Oh."
He actually sounded disappointed and my conscience kicked in.
"What time are you usually there until?" he asked.
"Usually half the night. My parents are night owls."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you'd probably like them."
"Did I make a bad impression? I usually do on a first date or, actually any date."
Refreshingly honest.
"I wouldn't say that, I would say, you overdid it."
"Is your boss angry?"
"No, my boss was actually just as drunk as you were."
"I actually barely remember anything."
"I'm not surprised."
"Look, Jess, I'm sorry if I like fucked your night up."
"No, you didn't."
"If I did anything offensive I apologize. Would you give me another chance -- just one more?"
I wasn't sure what to say.
"You really called just to see if I was OK didn't you," he said, sounding really surprised.
"Yeah, I did."
"That's pretty cool of you. Most women just don't call and don't take my calls when I try reaching them."
I felt horrible.
"Doug?"
"I'll let you go, OK. You've done your good deed for today."
"Wait, Doug. You wanna hang out later?"
"What about your parents?"
"If I make a date to hang out with you, I'll just leave earlier."
"Really?" he sounded genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. Really. Let's hang out!"
"Cool. What time?"
"9 ok?"
"Perfect. I'll pick you up at your place?"
"Yeah."
I wasn't sure if what I did was a good deed or a big mistake. Then again, they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, isn't that what the proverbial "they" say? This expression definitely applies to me. My sister's right when she said I'm too good for this world. I was bracing myself for interesting evening to say the least.
Story: Jinxed! (?)
Piece: Torn
By Jillian Stephens
Prompts: Milk Chocolate #6 Courtesy/Marshmellow #20 Applause/Coconut #21 Who, Me?
Word Count: 468
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jessica's thoughts on Doug
Notes: Story Summary/ Main Characters/ Index/ Prompt Lists
So, I did it. I said yes. I was going out on another date with Doug.
I knew it was crazy. He obviously had a drinking problem. I really didn't want that in my life so, you ask, why was I going out with him?
I felt guilty. He seemed lonely and, judging by the looks of him, his behavior was the only reason why he was lonely or else someone gorgeous would've snatched him up by now.
I just called him out of common courtesy but I think Doug misconstrued that as me actually being interested in another date with him. He thinks I don't really care about what happened.
Maybe he's not so bad. Maybe he isn't always drunk and totally out of control. Maybe I'm just too nice to be honest like my sister says. Doug is so direct. Why couldn't I be direct and just tell him "Thanks, but no thanks. Your behavior was far too over the top even by my standards."
As I said, I don't mind having a good time at all as long as it's within reason. If Doug hadn't been so drunk or had maybe at least waited until later in the evening to get a little tipsy like the rest of us, I definitely would've wanted another date with him. His only flaw that frightened me was the way he was drinking.
I had been around heavy drinking and drug use my entire life and I didn't find it the least bit attractive in a potential partner. Even Chris Foley put me off when he was drunk the night before.
Now, the only picture in my mind was of Doug standing on the table, swaying with his arms outstretched as if waiting for applause right before he collapsed onto the table, which thankfully didn't collapse with him.
My thoughts are if he behaves like that in front of strangers, what's he going to be like one on one? I was about to find out.
My sister always told me I felt too deeply for others -- maybe it's part of being a clairsenitient/empath. I feel too much for others. She thinks it makes me too vulnerable to people.
My sister is right aobut me. I do sugar coat shit but I just can't hurt someone who I know is already hurting.
Vulnerable? Overly-sensitive? Me? I just said yes to a date with a man who just caused a scene in front of my co-workers and did almost ruin my night because I felt sorry for him. Bet your ass I do sugar coat shit and wasn't sure if I was about to pay for it again and perhaps again and again.
I think I deserve a round of applause if I get through another date with him.
Story: Jinxed! (?)
Piece: Just pick yourself up
By Jillian Stephens
Prompts: Milk Chocolate #15 Resignation/Marshmellow #18 Good News/Coconut #26 Let's Pretend
Word Count: 261
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jessica's having doubts
Notes: Story Summary/ Main Characters/ Index/ Prompt Lists/
I stared at my cell. I could just call him back and cancel.
No, you can't do that. You. Cannot. Do. That. I told my reflection in the mirror.
Maybe this won't be the same. Maybe Doug is a completely different person than he was last night. Maybe he's what I've been waiting for.
Maybe last night wasn't so bad. Perhaps I'm exaggerating.
Perhaps, Doug can control himself and I'm just blowing the whole incident out of proportion. I have a tendency to dwell on things too much, analyze too closely sometimes.
I slumped down into my sofa and was soon joined by my Trisket. I pet him as I wondered maybe if I cancelled or had been direct and said no, maybe I was passing up an opportunity to have someone in my life.
Doug maybe drank and acted the way he did because he is lonely. Maybe if I showed him a little kindness and acceptance, he wouldn't behave like that anymore.
Maybe he's the one -- he just needs a little fixin'! In much better spirits, I continued to get ready. It was my turn to work that Saturday. Dottie would have off.
I didn't have to be at the office until 10:30 a.m.
Today, I would look forward to the date with Doug later. Perhaps he's the one I've been looking for -- and the one doesn't necessarily have to be the perfect picture of what you've been waiting for right under your nose. Nope. Life was not that predictable and relationships are not meant to be easy. He could be the answer to the spell I cast.