Switchverse: Part XV, or, Doesn't Do To Doubt
PART I -- PART XII -- PART XIII -- PART XIV
PART XV
Jack has a boyfriend. Which fits oddly in her mind, like constantly reminding herself to sit with better posture. It slips to one side and she forgets, and then she’ll glance at a boy and freeze for a second, because, oh, right.
This relationship is not because of anything. No specific part of Jeremy attracts Jack to him; he seriously offers his opinions and understands when she’s obliquely making a joke, and he comfortably touches her even as he understands that her hobby lends her physical superiority.
Eliza stares at her during lunch, while her pudding diffuses into one solid mass, disguising the pockmark from her spoon. “You’re really going out with Jeremy Stump?”
Jack turns her hand over and spreads her fingers, offering nothing but what she’s already said. “He told me to treat his affections as serious.”
“Oh.” Eliza props her chin up on her hand and studies Jack’s face. “I figured that thing at the airport was more of a parting-with-a-kiss deal. The end.”
Jack meets her friend’s eyes and says, with utter and incontrovertible certainty, “A beginning.”
Eliza nods and smiles indulgently. “I’m happy for you, though. You’re a good match.”
Jack echoes her smile and wonders at her presumptions.
--
Jack spends fifth period next to Theo Iero, pointedly ignoring him, mostly. Until this particular Monday, because everything from Andy’s wedding apparently assured Theo that Jack is now receptive of his advice. In the eight years since Jack moved to Jersey, she and Theo have never been close or even especially friendlier than kids at a birthday party must be.
Theo says, “Derek told me that Bronx would like to inform you that he will elect not to fight either of you for the others’ honor.”
Jack stares at Theo for a long moment as the teacher writes out their classwork on the board. Then, she says, “Next, you’re going to say that Derek told you that Bronx would like to inform me that he’s not speaking to me.”
Theo tilts his head, considering her, and then his lip curls up. “I assumed that Bronx had told you himself. In retrospect, I understand the inherent contradiction.”
Jack bends to her vidscreen, calling up the textbook, until a minute passes and Theo’s still looking at her.
To deter him, she says, “Apparently, Bronx and Derek are getting along.”
Theo mutters, “Touche.”
--
She takes out her phone and points to the door when Eliza settles into her exercises after school, and Eliza waves her off with her bow and a knowing smile.
Jack leans back against the closed door and dials. She doesn’t fidget. She focuses on the hallway window, the autumn-grey sky outside.
“Hello?” Jeremy says. He might sound cautious. He might sound distracted.
“Stump,” Jack greets briskly, turning to pace the length of the corridor.
He’s grinning in his voice as he hazards, “…Bryar? Hey. We’re back to last names?”
She may or may not grin back when she says, “Jeremy.”
“Jack.”
She keeps walking, steps solid and ringing back against the walls, and. Her hair tickles. It’s getting too long. She should cut it.
Slow, concerned, now. “Jack? Is everything okay?”
Jack’s eyelashes flutter to clear her vision and she swallows. “That. Yesterday. You kissed me at the airport.”
Jeremy laughs, “Yes? Yes. That happened.”
There’s another pause while neither of them say, And there were others, many others, before that. Pressing and sliding and yes.
She says, “That wasn’t an end.”
“What? No, no. What? I told you - Jack, listen, you’re a great girl, and I want. I mean, if you want to date, as in, boyfriend and girlfriend? That’s what I want, too. So. But if you don’t, I mean.”
“Jeremy Stump,” Jack says, and she might be beaming at the window. It’s still murky grey, but. Jeremy Stump.
“Awesome,” Jeremy says, appeased. “So, you know. Long distance, I get that it’ll be a challenge, but you’re not really the type to shy away.”
She says, “Jeremy Stump, let us continue our illicit over-the-phone romance.”
“Haven’t you been paying attention? I’m all over that aspect. Under control.”
Jack laughs, controlled and discreet, and says, “Can you get Bronx under control, then? He’s apparently not speaking to me.”
Jeremy hums under his breath, sad and sad and sorry. “Me neither.”
And. It’s a beginning.
Jack won’t let it be an end for anything else.
PART XV
Jack has a boyfriend. Which fits oddly in her mind, like constantly reminding herself to sit with better posture. It slips to one side and she forgets, and then she’ll glance at a boy and freeze for a second, because, oh, right.
This relationship is not because of anything. No specific part of Jeremy attracts Jack to him; he seriously offers his opinions and understands when she’s obliquely making a joke, and he comfortably touches her even as he understands that her hobby lends her physical superiority.
Eliza stares at her during lunch, while her pudding diffuses into one solid mass, disguising the pockmark from her spoon. “You’re really going out with Jeremy Stump?”
Jack turns her hand over and spreads her fingers, offering nothing but what she’s already said. “He told me to treat his affections as serious.”
“Oh.” Eliza props her chin up on her hand and studies Jack’s face. “I figured that thing at the airport was more of a parting-with-a-kiss deal. The end.”
Jack meets her friend’s eyes and says, with utter and incontrovertible certainty, “A beginning.”
Eliza nods and smiles indulgently. “I’m happy for you, though. You’re a good match.”
Jack echoes her smile and wonders at her presumptions.
--
Jack spends fifth period next to Theo Iero, pointedly ignoring him, mostly. Until this particular Monday, because everything from Andy’s wedding apparently assured Theo that Jack is now receptive of his advice. In the eight years since Jack moved to Jersey, she and Theo have never been close or even especially friendlier than kids at a birthday party must be.
Theo says, “Derek told me that Bronx would like to inform you that he will elect not to fight either of you for the others’ honor.”
Jack stares at Theo for a long moment as the teacher writes out their classwork on the board. Then, she says, “Next, you’re going to say that Derek told you that Bronx would like to inform me that he’s not speaking to me.”
Theo tilts his head, considering her, and then his lip curls up. “I assumed that Bronx had told you himself. In retrospect, I understand the inherent contradiction.”
Jack bends to her vidscreen, calling up the textbook, until a minute passes and Theo’s still looking at her.
To deter him, she says, “Apparently, Bronx and Derek are getting along.”
Theo mutters, “Touche.”
--
She takes out her phone and points to the door when Eliza settles into her exercises after school, and Eliza waves her off with her bow and a knowing smile.
Jack leans back against the closed door and dials. She doesn’t fidget. She focuses on the hallway window, the autumn-grey sky outside.
“Hello?” Jeremy says. He might sound cautious. He might sound distracted.
“Stump,” Jack greets briskly, turning to pace the length of the corridor.
He’s grinning in his voice as he hazards, “…Bryar? Hey. We’re back to last names?”
She may or may not grin back when she says, “Jeremy.”
“Jack.”
She keeps walking, steps solid and ringing back against the walls, and. Her hair tickles. It’s getting too long. She should cut it.
Slow, concerned, now. “Jack? Is everything okay?”
Jack’s eyelashes flutter to clear her vision and she swallows. “That. Yesterday. You kissed me at the airport.”
Jeremy laughs, “Yes? Yes. That happened.”
There’s another pause while neither of them say, And there were others, many others, before that. Pressing and sliding and yes.
She says, “That wasn’t an end.”
“What? No, no. What? I told you - Jack, listen, you’re a great girl, and I want. I mean, if you want to date, as in, boyfriend and girlfriend? That’s what I want, too. So. But if you don’t, I mean.”
“Jeremy Stump,” Jack says, and she might be beaming at the window. It’s still murky grey, but. Jeremy Stump.
“Awesome,” Jeremy says, appeased. “So, you know. Long distance, I get that it’ll be a challenge, but you’re not really the type to shy away.”
She says, “Jeremy Stump, let us continue our illicit over-the-phone romance.”
“Haven’t you been paying attention? I’m all over that aspect. Under control.”
Jack laughs, controlled and discreet, and says, “Can you get Bronx under control, then? He’s apparently not speaking to me.”
Jeremy hums under his breath, sad and sad and sorry. “Me neither.”
And. It’s a beginning.
Jack won’t let it be an end for anything else.