Friends with Benefits - Chapter 6 - Part 2
Wednesday - July 1st - 7:56 a.m.
Jim jerks awake and flounders for a bit before she pulls herself from under a pile of sweaters and empty ice cream cartons. She blinks and tries to adjust against the natural light filtering in from the windows. Florence is curled up beside her and that's when she remembers that instead of going home, she crashed with Florence.
Big mistake.
Jim curses and springs to her feet, looking for her keys with a mantra of, "Fuck, fuck, fuck! I am so late and Eleanora is going to kill me!" She makes a triumphant sound when she locates her keys and she quickly crawls onto the bed to give Florence a smacking kiss on her cheek before she hightails it out the door.
Jim isn't proud to say that she broke several rules of the road to make it back to the house in less than ten minutes but that's exactly what she does. She races up the steps and into the house, where Eleanora and Pauline are waiting in the living room with mugs of steaming tea.
Pauline is an old college buddy of Eleanora. They are roughly the same age, and they've been close friends for a long time. Jim had learned through Pauline that Eleanora used to be a dancer, and she was quite good at it, while Pauline had stuck close to the areas of cosmetology. When Eleanora had petitioned Pauline for her help with Jim, she had accepted it gracefully, coming down from Ohio (where she originally lives) to offer her assistance for the next month.
Which ultimately meant that Bones had to give his room up and go stay with his cousin Kevin in the meantime so that Pauline could have some space of her own.
Jim won't deny that she misses him because she does. She hasn't seen him in a while but they're both busy doing their own thing. Besides, she likes Pauline. She's the kind of woman who speaks her mind and is really eccentric in a mystical way. She's a widow, like Eleanora, and she has four kids (three boys and one girl, all off to college or settled down with their respective families). She reminds Jim of an older Florence, but with more life experience and a deeper flare for astrology and horoscopes and all the tea-reading gibberish.
"Sorry, sorry!" Jim implores. "I know I'm late. I didn't plan on spending the night with Florence."
Eleanora sets her tea down and stands. "Jamie, I-"
"Please don't kill me. I will be in and out of the shower in like two minutes," Jim promises as Eleanora approaches her. "We still have an hour before we have to be at the Treadway Manor right? Don't kill me please."
"James," Eleanora says, stopping her from rambling. "I was just gonna say that the preliminary interview has been bumped an hour later than originally planned. So, no worries. We're still on schedule. And also, here." She grabs Jim's hand and slaps a sleek communicator on her palm. "So you don't have me worryin' about where you may be when you don't come back here."
Jim eyes it and opens her mouth to say something.
Eleanora beats her too it though. "And before you start with the me pitying you or how you don't need it-you should know that I just paid for the device and for it to be activated. I know how you like to prove your independence, so I'll leave you to pay for the monthly charges."
Jim grins. "I wasn't going to argue," she assures. "I was just going to thank you for it. I do need one. So. Thank you."
Eleanora nods with a small smile. "You're welcome. Use it," she urges. "Now go take a shower. I already laid out the outfit you should wear for today. Pauline and I will be waiting down here when you're ready to get your hair and makeup done."
Jim nods before she gives a small wave to Pauline while she treks toward the steps and up to her room. She frowns as she feels her stomach churn unpleasantly and a brief wave of nausea hits her. She tries to breathe through it as she undresses and climbs in the shower. Luckily, she's able to get through it all without throwing up. She wrings out her hair and brushes her teeth before she gets dressed.
The outfit that Eleanora had chosen is a high waist, salmon colored bandage skirt with a white chiffon sleeveless blouse tucked into it. She slips into some nude leather pumps before she clicks her way down the steps and into the kitchen, where Pauline and Eleanora are waiting for her.
Pauline gets to work with Jim, giving her some very discreet and light makeup, while pulling her hair back into a sleek low chignon with her long bangs falling elegantly into her eyes.
Forty minutes later, they're climbing into Eleanora's truck and heading to the Treadway Manor. During the car ride, Eleanora quizzes and reiterates to Jim what she should expect during her preliminary interview.
Jim tries to calm her nerves as they drive down the private road, leading up to the circular driveway where, unsurprisingly, valets are waiting. She climbs out on Pauline's side and they both follow Eleanora into the extravagant manor, which is as pretentiously decorated on the inside as it appears from the outside.
Though, Jim supposes it is well designed-very expansive and it is obviously made to take in a lot of natural light.
They go into the spacious living room of the manor, where the other girls and their mothers are chatting idly over small plates of finger food and sparkling peach mimosas.
Eleanora drags Pauline over to a group of women she recognizes and Jim takes the opportunity to slide over to the buffet table without supervision. She starts at the middle of the table where the tomatoes and the olives are, stuffing them in her mouth with a bit of feta cheese and whole grain crackers.
"That's not very lady-like," a voice says to her right.
Jim looks over and sees a grinning Zonta watching her. Jim presses a hand to her mouth as she sets her plate down and grabs Zonta in a one-armed hug.
Zonta laughs before she wiggles away. "No huggin'. We're rivals, remember?" she jokes playfully.
Jim chuckles as she swallows the food in her mouth to say, "I'm just happy to see a familiar face."
"Yeah, well, you'll get all cozy with the other girls once the ball really gets rollin' on this whole thing," Zonta lightly warns. "Who are you here with?"
"Eleanora and her friend Pauline," Jim says. "You?"
"Just by myself," Zonta says with a small shrug. "I don't have anyone sponsorin' me yet, but I figure I'd give it another week."
Jim pops another olive in her mouth and chews. "Your mom didn't want to get involved?" she questions.
Zonta gets a little sad. "My mom died when Zuhi and I were sixteen," she confesses.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Jim says, feeling bad for even bringing it up.
"No, it's fine. I mean, it's not, but, I've been managin' the best way I know how without her," Zonta supposes. "Anyway, it's not all bad. Zuhi helps. I can manage my clothes just fine but when it comes to makeup…" She makes indecipherable gesture as she rolls her eyes with a rueful grin.
"Yeah, that's cool," Jim says. "So, while you're here, tell me about the competition."
Zonta snorts. "Zuhi is better at this then me, but I'll try," she promise as she takes Jim by the elbow and leads her to the other end of the buffet table. "Okay, so every year, the debutante ball is always held here at the Treadway Manor. This is something that has been going on since the beginnin' of time practically. Hudson Hill was founded by fifteen different families-the Beckers, the Chaterjees, the Suarezes, the Joneses, the Dwights, the Albrights, the Fosters, the Mulhollands, the Loftuses, the Tarltons, the Hills, the Huffmans, the Millers, the McCoys, and the Treadways."
Jim is familiar with those names since Eleanora had mentioned them.
"For most of them, the debutante ball is just a way to show off and peacock their family line. For others, like me, it's an opportunity to be able to pay for college or spread our business around. It's an exceptional project which means it'll look darlin' on your resume," Zonta goes on to say. She looks to Jim with a grin. "What about you? What are you here for? If you don't mind me askin'. You just don't really seem the type."
"Same as you, I think," Jim remarks as she grabs a shrimp. "I want to open up a bar down in Florida. I think Miami could be a nice set-up."
"A bar? How old are you again?" Zonta laughs but she's not mocking. "No, but that's cool. And smart. Good market over there."
"You know a lot about markets?" Jim asks, lifting the shrimp to her lips.
"Should," Zonta confirms. "I went to Savannah College of Art and Design for a good four years. I minored in advertising and marketing. Thought it would be very useful in the long run."
"Well that's cool. And smart," Jim echoes with a little grin before she pops the shrimp in her mouth and chews.
There's a clink of a spoon hitting glass and everyone directs their attention upward to the indoor balcony looming over the edge of the living room and about the dining room.
Jocelyn is standing tall in a belted wool knit black dress with sheer tights and shiny leather pumps, auburn hair pressed in a sleek bob and full lips painted with a plum purple. She shoulders the attention of everyone like a queen would the affections of her court. She says, "Ladies-I want to thank you all for coming out today. I, as well as my family, welcome you to the Treadway Manor." She pauses with a gracious smirk as everyone applauds.
"It's going to be interesting with her as a judge," Jim comments quietly as she claps along with everyone else. "I picked a fine year to participate."
Zonta chuckles and shushes her.
Jocelyn goes on to say, "Preliminary interviews will commence in the manor library located in the west wing of the house. No worries-I know it is a big place but there will be someone to guide you. Tomorrow, for those selected to continue with the pageant, will be invited to return here for the formal brunch, where we will pass out a roster of scheduled events and important dates, as well as rules and an outline of what is expected from our debutante elects. As is, I want to wish you all the best of luck and again, thank you. It's your contribution to these events that makes Hudson Hill such an upstanding town. Please, enjoy yourselves."
Everyone claps again as Jocelyn's green eyes scope the roam in a hawkish manner while Rosemary Suarez joins her. She whispers something to the Latin woman and pretty soon they're both pinning Jim with judgmental gazes.
Jim turns away and pretends not to notice as she curses lowly. She better go look for Eleanora because she has a feeling she'll be going first. She says a quick goodbye to Zonta before she maneuvers through the crowds of snobbish mothers and daughters. She frowns and scratches the side of her neck as her stomach churns worryingly.
God, I hope I don't puke again, Jim thinks. Jocelyn and her panel of uppity judges would just love that I bet.
Eleanora is standing with Pauline by a porcelain piano with Caroline McCoy and her daughter Serene.
Jim scratches her stomach as she approaches them with a smile. "Hi," she says.
"James, we were just talkin' about you," Eleanora says and she pauses to eye Jim. Her mouth folds unhappily but she covers it with a polite smile. "You remember Caroline? This is her daughter, Serene. She's about the same age as you. Give or take a year or two younger."
Serene looks like she could care less about any of this. Her arms are crossed, her wavy brown hair is in a messy ponytail, her baby blue blouse is half tucked in her grey dress pants and it appears she's kicked off her high heels, choosing to just be barefoot.
Caroline is fiddling with her pearl necklace nervously as she downs her mimosa. "Pleasure," she murmurs as she eyes her daughter with unconcealed disappointment. "Honey, please put your shoes back on," she quietly begs.
"No," Serene says. "They hurt my feet and I feel like I'mma break my neck."
Caroline clutches her pearls tightly. "All the other young ladies are wearin' shoes, honey. You would do well to do the same."
Serene glances around with wry snort. "I don't care what they're doin'. Those dumb Barbies can torture themselves all they like."
"Serene!"
"Caroline," Serene drawls back in the same tone. "Excuse me, ya'll. I'm hungry and there's a table full of food just over there." She takes a moment to eye Jim. "Have fun with these old ladies. They'll damn near bore you to death with their small talk."
"Serene!" Caroline snaps again but Serene is already swaggering over to the buffet table. She sighs and shakes her head. "Pardon my daughter. I swear she don't get it from me. That child has always been wily. I had to bribe her to participate in this." She pulls a decorative hand fan from her designer bag and begins to frantically fan herself. "Imagine. A mother havin' to bribe her daughter with those abominable violent excuses they call video games. I promise most days I can't tell her apart from her older brothers. She damn near acts just like them."
"Settle yourself, Caroline," Eleanora urges with an amused frown. "No need to get worked up over it. Why don't you just forgo the whole thing? She don't seem to interested in it anyway."
"Forgo it?" Caroline says in a stunned tone. "And what? Leave the Beckers or the Huffmans or, or, God forbid, the Millers to win Ms. Hudson Hill? Oh no thank you. I'd sooner swallow my most expensive bottle of perfume." She scoffs and fans herself. "Serene will learn somethin' valuable from all this if I have somethin' to say about it. And I'm sure she'll thank me when she becomes a mother and understands all the hardships I've had to go through with her."
"Serene doesn't strike me as the type to have children," Eleanora remarks lightly.
Caroline snaps her fan shut and squawks indignantly. "Why, Eleanora! What have I gone and done that you would speak such a curse over my family line like that?"
"You forget we share family, and I wasn't speakin' a curse. Just an observation," Eleanora carefully corrects.
Paulina speaks up and says, "Caroline, I think you oughta see to your daughter. She seems to be hell bent on stuffin' every bit of chocolate strudel she can find into her mouth."
Caroline chokes on an angry remark as she storms over there.
Jim laughs quietly as she watches her go but winces when Eleanora pinches her arm.
"You been eatin' things you ain't supposed to," Eleanora accuses. "You're breakin' out in hives and I should strangle you."
Jim tries to look as contrite as possible but it's hard to do because she suddenly feels woozy and her stomach lurches warningly so she presses her lips together.
Eleanora steps closer as she notices. "What's the matter?" she asks as she eyes her. "Your flushed and you look ready to pass out. Say somethin', James, I'm gettin' worried."
Paulina is looking on in concern as well.
Jim wants to assure them that she's fine but she's afraid that if she opens her mouth she'll puke everywhere so she purses her lips tighter.
Eleanora presses a hand to her arm and she looks ready to say something but a uniformed server walks over.
The female server says, "Ms. Kirk-they're ready for you."
"Just a moment," Eleanora says before she redirects her attention. "Are you okay?"
Jim swallows, exhales carefully, and when she feels like it's safe to speak, she says, "I'm fine. I can go."
Eleanora doesn't seem so convinced but she doesn't argue. She grabs Jim's hands and squeezes. "Remember what we talked about," she reminds. "Good luck." She lets go and steps back.
Jim gives her and Pauline a quick smile before she follows the female server to the foyer and up the winding stairs to the second floor. They walk down the hall and pass large family portraits that Jim can't help but to roll her eyes at. They stop in front of double doors and the female server opens the left door, motioning for Jim to walk through.
Jim does and immediately notices that there is a long table placed in the middle of the library where Jocelyn, along with Reverend Nolan, Mrs. Gloria Albright, and Rosemary Suarez are seated on the other side of it. They all have their hands crossed over their own notebooks and they are studying Jim with appraising gazes.
Jocelyn, who is sitting directly in the middle, says, "Please, Ms. Kirk. Sit. We promise not to bite."
There's an empty chair placed across from them and Jim clicks over to it before she sits down with an uncertain smile. She laces her fingers together over her lap and squeezes against the way her stomach turns restlessly.
"First thing's first," Jocelyn goes on to say. "Very important question-why do you want to participate?"
Jim can do this. She has rehearsed her answers a thousand times with Eleanora. She says, "Hudson Hill is a beautiful place full of beautiful people. Historically, the debutante balls are the most oldest and revered tradition. And, as I recall, the Christmas Cotillion in Savannah, Georgia, first held in 1817, is the oldest debutante ball in the United States. I just find that so fascinating and intriguing, as I do with all of Hudson Hill's customs. I'm an open-minded person and curious by nature. Why wouldn't I want to participate?"
Reverend Nolan nods agreeably, as does Gloria and Rosemary.
Jocelyn, however, quirks a finely arched brow. "Interesting answer," she drawls. "You certainly did your homework."
Jim says nothing.
"What kind of extracurricular activities are you involved with?" Jocelyn asks.
"Well, I recently participated in Mrs. Albright's profound rendition of Romeo and Juliet," Jim replies and sends a small smile to the portly woman. "And I also offer my assistance to the neighboring businesses. I have quite a bit of foreknowledge with technology so I do what I can in making things easier for anyone who isn't used to or familiar with certain databases."
"But you do that for money," Jocelyn blankly points out.
"Yes," Jim agrees. "But I go by a 'pay what you want' model. I don't have a rigid fee, especially since I enjoy tampering with wires and rerouting interfaces."
Jocelyn stares at Jim with a neutral expression. "Ms. Kirk, you graduated high school early. What have you been doing since then?"
Jim relaxes the line of her shoulders and lifts her chin proudly. "I've been bartending," she replies.
"But you're underage," Rosemary points out with a disapproving frown.
"True," Jim concurs.
"A moment ago, you made a clear indication that you were very capable of doing trade jobs," Jocelyn says. "Yet you've bartended illegally."
Jim knows what she's trying to do. "I have bartended illegally. I won't make any excuse for that," she merely replies. "I grew up in a small town much like this but the difference is that the people were a lot less friendly and a lot less helpful. I lived in an unstable home where most days I was taking care of myself. The environment got so bad that I took the first job I could just so I could move out. I did what I had to do and I don't regret that. Life just has a way of putting us in those types of circumstances whether we'd wish it or not."
"Amen," Reverend Nolan concurs with an approving nod.
"That's a very brave thing to do," Gloria adds.
"It's understandable," Rosemary supposes.
Jocelyn's plum lips twist unhappily but she maintains a professional façade. "You're representing the McCoy family. How much do you know about that bloodline?"
"Not enough that I could learn more but not so little that I wouldn't know a thing at all," Jim cleverly replies with a little grin. She swallows against the gathering film of saliva coating the inside of her mouth-always a warning sign that she might vomit at any second. She squeezes her fingers together and exhales, internally praying that she can hold it at bay just a little longer. She swallows again and says, "The McCoys are one of the founding families. The most notable thing about them, outside of their comely cooking, is that they've always been sort of invested in life sciences, which, in turn, has helped Hudson Hill overcome most of its trying obstacles."
"All so very true," Rosemary remarks. "In fact, I know of a tale from long ago how my great great grandfather staved the hand of death by one of the McCoy's home remedies."
"And those apples," Reverend Nolan adds in a whimsical tone. "Best apples I ever had."
Gloria fans herself with a decorative fan and says, "Lord knows how they get their cobblers to taste like pure heaven."
"Yes, yes," Jocelyn interrupts. "The McCoys have many talents." She turns her gaze to Jim again. "Ms. Kirk, say we accept your application. Say you make it to the finals. Say you even win." She says that but she sounds vaguely doubtful. "What can you offer in return? What would be your platform?"
Jim straightens her posture as she considers her answer. "I would be asking for support for my own business ventures. And as far as my platform, and what I would be discussing during my speaking engagements-I would like to talk about the importance of encouraging young women in their youth. I feel like the most vital time for a young woman is between the ages of eight and seventeen. I know from personal experience that the environment a girl grows up in can be a prelude to what the ultimate outcome of her future may be. I just want to be able to remind girls and young women and their parents that it's very important to constantly be looking at the big picture because there is always more."
Reverend Nolan nods supportively, as does Gloria and Rosemary. They all lean toward Jocelyn and begin whispering.
Jim feels her stomach slosh unhappily and turn with a growing sense of nausea. She swallows and waits for the whispers to stop.
The four judges all pull away from each other with decisive expressions.
Jocelyn stares at Jim like she's looking at a stray dog. She clicks her pen sharply several times before she says, "My panel and I have decided to let you enroll in the competition. You should return here tomorrow at exactly eleven a.m. sharp for the introductory brunch. Congratulations, and, good luck."
Jim grins happily as she stands and gives them a bobbing bow before she strides out of the library and into the hall. When she's out of sight she gives a little fist pump and high fives herself. She can't wait to tell Eleanora that they were actually going to do this thing. Though Eleanora doesn't say, Jim thinks that she really is pleased to be able to do this type of activity. Jim is just happy to offer her an opportunity to do it. And like Zonta says, this will look good on her resume in the long run.
Jim pauses before she reaches the stairs, and what she does next she's not really proud of. She turns to the large potted plant by the mahogany table and she pukes in the pot. She quickly swipes the back of her hand over her mouth and scrambles away before she can be found out. She finds Eleanora and shares with her the good news.
Pauline gives her a congratulatory hug. "I didn't doubt you for a second, Jim," she promises.
Jim smiles and shrugs. "I guess we can head home now. I'm a bit tired after all this," she admits.
Eleanora eyes her with an agreeing nod. "You look a bit under the weather. Not surprisin' since you went a gobbled up somethin' you wasn't supposed to," she points out.
Jim shrugs again.
Eleanora sighs fondly and the three of them exit the mansion and wait for one of the valets to bring the truck around. The ride back to the house is a quiet one and, much to Jim's embarrassment, she has Eleanora pull over to the side of the road so she can stumble out and vomit onto the ground. When she climbs back in the car shakily, both Pauline and Eleanora are giving her concerned and speculative looks.
When they make it back to the house, Pauline helps Jim up to her room, even going so far as to pull off her shoes for her and tucking her in.
Eleanora joins them a moment later with a steaming cup of ginger tea and a small plate of crackers.
"I feel like a baby," Jim complains (insincerely).
Eleanora just scoffs as she feels around Jim's face. "Well," she sighs. "You don't feel warm. So I don't think this is a fever."
Pauline snorts. "Ellie, my dear, you know what kind of sick this is. I read it off her three days ago. I'm surprised it took you this long," she says.
Jim frowns in confusion as she jams a couple of crackers and waits for the tea to get at least lukewarm before she tries to drink it.
"Excuse me, Pauline, but I ain't so quick as you," Eleanora retorts as she sends her friend a look. She turns back to Jim. "Jamie, I want to ask you somethin'."
Jim nods.
"You been feelin' a little off?" Eleanora delicately asks.
Jim shrugs as she chews. "Not really. Not more than usual I don't think. I think at first I thought it was food poisoning but then I remembered that I've been stressing like crazy over this whole debutante thing. It's my anxiety. I sometimes get so worked up that I make myself sick."
"But you've been sick off and on for how long?" Pauline asks and she has the same strange expression on her face that Florence did the other day.
"Maybe a week. Week and a half?" Jim guesses but she doesn't quite understand what any of it is supposed to mean.
Eleanora and Pauline give each other a significant look.
Pauline says, "I think we better leave her to figure it out."
Eleanora doesn't seem too fond of that idea. "Suppose so," she agrees. She stands. "You rest easy, Jamie. Pauline and I are goin' out with a few gentlemen tonight. You need anythin' at all, you call that fool boy of mine or you call me. Understand?"
Jim nods as she settles down in her bed and dips her finger in her tea to gauge the temperature. Still too warm.
"Remember that you'll have to bake those banana crumb muffins for the brunch. I know they didn't say to bring anythin' but trust me, they'll expect it," Eleanora recaps. "It's a way of showcasin' the family's culinary skills. All the other girls will bring their best Suzie Q. and Betty Crocker recipe to the table just to prove the kind of foothold they have in this town as the best of the best, so they'll be especially showy about it. But we McCoys do what?"
"Petite treats. Colossal flavors," Jim reiterates.
Eleanora smiles proudly. "Exactly. As long as you remember that, we'll win this competition easy."
Pauline pats Jim's leg affectionately before she stands too. "Drink that tea. It'll help a whole lot. Don't eat anythin' greasy or oily or spicy when you feel like you can stomach something'. And eat in small portions. I think you should find yourself some applesauce or even make yourself a peanut butter sandwich when you wake from your nap. And you take a lot of naps today, okay? You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
Jim grins bemusedly but nods.
"Good," Pauline pats her cheek affectionately.
"See you tomorrow," Eleanora says as she guides Pauline out the room. The door clicks quietly behind them as they begin a low tone conversation.
Jim sighs and drinks her cooled tea before she puts the empty mug on the nightstand and shoves the rest of the leftover crackers in her mouth. She turns on her side and curls up, grabbing a pillow to hug to her chest as she drifts off to sleep.
When she wakes up some hours later, she feels refreshed and recharged. She stretches out like a lazy cat with a content sigh before glances over at the digital clock on her nightstand. It reads three p.m., which means she's slept a good four hours. She climbs out of bed and out of her clothes to take another shower. When she feels nice and clean, she puts on some pajama shorts and a flowy tank top.
Jim walks barefoot out of her room, down the steps and into the kitchen, where she starts setting up to make homemade muffins from scratch. She brings up the ingredients in her mind as she hunts all the materials down, and she throws it all together in the way that she remembers Eleanora telling. When she puts them in the baking pan and then in the oven, she wanders back upstairs for her communicator and returns, intent on comming Bones.
Bones's disgruntled face appears on the small touchscreen of her communicator in thirty seconds flat. He's wearing a charcoal suit under a white lab coat, his hair is a bit unkempt, there are some bags under his eyes and it looks like he hasn't shaven in a while. When he sees it's her, his eyes get noticeably brighter, his scowl slips some, but despite all that, he just quirks an eyebrow. "Somethin' I can help you with?" he asks and its so obvious he's just as happy to see her as she is him.
Jim grins because she can't help it and also because Bones is always a grumpy bastard. "What are you doing right now? Like right now? Like right right now?"
Bones's brow furrows but he amusedly replies, "Lab work. Why?"
"Because I-" really really miss you, stupid. "-need a Cavia porcellus."
"A what now?"
"A guinea pig."
Bones laughs quietly as his hands move off-screen. He's obviously dividing his attention. "Nice to know that you think of me when you think of that," he snidely remarks but there is a prominent grin on his face.
"Oh shut up," Jim teases. "You love being my test subject."
Bones just quirks his eyebrow again. He moves his gaze away to something off-screen.
Jim frowns. "Pay attention to me," she complains.
Bones smirks but he doesn't look at her. "I'm all ears, Jim. Couldn't ignore you even if I tried," he promises and Jim shouldn't find that sweet or anything but she fucking does.
"Whatever. Just come here. I need you."
"Give me fifty minutes."
"Thirty." Jim kills the connection before he can argue and she just bides her time.
The muffins are ready to be pulled from the oven by the time Bones waltzes in the house (fifteen minutes later, ha, that's what she thought).
Bones crowds up against her back and licks a streak of flour off her neck as she attempts to knife a muffin free.
Jim smiles and elbows him in the stomach as she wiggles away. She turns and presents him with a muffin. "Eat this and tell me what you think."
"I'd rather-"
Jim blushes and quickly interrupts him. "Fucking no," she warns but it loses all venom because she's laughing and trying to fend off his groping hands and seeking mouth. "Ugh, would you stop for a second and just sit down?"
"I'd rather-"
Jim barks out a laugh and kicks him in the shin as her blush deepens. "You are just the worst. Go sit down. I mean it," she says firmly with an exasperated smile.
Bones just chuckles and sits down at the table.
Jim grabs his hand and drops the muffin on his palm. "Try it. And be honest or I will kick your front teeth in."
Bones snorts. "Real charmin', Kid. How are you not a professional baker with your own television series?" he questions sarcastically.
Jim just shakes her fist at him warningly as she hops up and sits on the edge of the table beside him. She watches him eye the muffin and she rolls her eyes at his dramatically slow and tentative bite.
Bones chews thoughtfully, swallows, and then shrugs. "Not the best I ever had but it ain't terrible," he admits.
Jim groans and punches him in the shoulder. "No, no, no! It's supposed to be extraordinary. That fucking muffin should taste like a billion orgasms rolled into a fluffy and enjoyably loud banana flavored gift from God," she complains.
Bones snorts. "I don't know about all that but, well, it's average as far as anythin' goes," he supposes and downs the rest of it like the true sport he is. He's cheeks are puffed out with it and his raises both eyebrows as if to say, 'See, it's not so terrible that I couldn't finish it'.
Jim scoffs but she grins grudgingly. "Small victories," she mutters and watches him swallow. She presses a hand to his throat and swipes her thumb over his bobbing Adam's apple as he watches her with that focused gaze of his. Her stomach begins to churn again and she frowns. "Help me," she asks. "You don't have to do anything but tell me what I should be doing."
"You want to start from scratch all over again?" Bones questions as he cups his hand over hers and strokes his thumb against her pulse point on the inside of her wrist.
Jim fidgets and says, "Yes, I do and I don't care. I want it to be so perfect that it knocks all the other recipes out of the water. So, help me?" she says, pouting as cutely as she can before she stretches it out into a disarming smile.
Bones sighs and mutters something to himself, but he stands, kissing her quick before he goes to the sink to wash the mixing bowl and utensils.
Jim watches him clean before her stomach lurches and she goes over to the fridge, fingering the top of it before she comes to the plastic bag of green peppermint candy canes. She drops the bag in a chair and pulls a candy cane free before she starts to suck on it. Jim doesn't particularly like peppermint canes, the flavor is sharp and sweet, but it does help her battle against the growing nausea she feels raising again.
Once Bones has everything clean and he sets everything up on the table, he walks Jim through the whole procedure once more, paying close attention and correcting any of her errors. It takes little to no time to distribute the batter into the baking pan (Jim makes enough for all the girls and their mothers tomorrow) and Bones puts them in the oven on a timer.
Jim is sucking away on her sixth peppermint cane when Bones asks her what she wants to eat since its close to dinner time. At first she thinks about saying bacon and peanut butter with portion of Greek olives, but she doesn't think Bones would be too up for that. So she just says, "I don't know. Anything with rice, I guess."
Bones takes her suggestion and ends up making a garden risotto, which is basically medium-grain rice soaked in chicken broth with shredded carrots, basil leaves, green onions, parmesan cheese and small peas.
Jim wolfs it down because it tastes amazing and Bones is a masterful cook. And the best part of it all is that, after two servings, she manages to keep it down.
When the muffins are ready to be pulled from the oven, Bones knifes free an extra one and together they do a taste test, splitting the muffin in half between them.
Jim's tongue literally trembles after the first glorious bite, and she all but throws herself on him in excitement.
Bones curses but he shifts her weight on his hips so that he can hold her up with one arm.
"This is so-like I don't even have words," Jim gushes as she shoves the rest of it in her mouth. She then makes a reach for his half.
Bones laughs and moves his hand out of her reach. "Don't get greedy," he lightly rebukes.
"Fine," Jim says and drops her feet to the floor. She waits until he has his guard down and she snatches it from him, shoving it in her mouth. She yelps when swats her on the ass and follows it with a biting kiss that gets kind of messy because she still has bits of muffin in her mouth. She pulls away after a while and says, "How's life with Kevin?"
Bones ruffles his already unkempt hair with a tired expression and a shrug. "He's a bit too enthusiastic about the NBA leagues goin' on-"
"Shit," Jim curses. "Fuck. Shit. Damn."
Bones quirks an eyebrow.
"I've been missing it. Goddamn, I can't believe I forgot. I never forget," Jim hisses with an upset frown. "Who's been playing so far?"
Bones snorts and he looks like he doesn't know whether he's just really amused by her or just genuinely fond. "Beats me. I don't follow it like my cousin does. You'd be better off askin' him than me," he supposes. "I didn't peg you for a basketball fan."
Jim scoffs as she grabs her communicator and pulls up the game stats with a severe frown. "I like sports in general. Basketball, football, baseball-if there's a game on, I'll be watching it. Unless it completely slips my mind." She studies this week's stats before she glances at him. "What about you?"
"Not much of a sports fan outside of baseball."
Jim snorts. "That is so you."
Bones bristles and says, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Jim promises and she kisses him just to taste a bit of his indignation before she sweeps past him to the stairs. She heads straight to Eleanora's room and turns on her flat screen and spreads out on Eleanora's floor at the foot of her bed so she can watch tonight's game. It's Bulls versus Spurs.
Bones joins her sometime later (probably cleaned the kitchen and put away those muffins) and he rests his head in her lap as they watch the game together. During halftime he asks, "Who's your favorite team?"
"L.A. Heat," Jim replies distractedly as she watches the cheerleaders gyrate to an unfamiliar song. "They used to be the Miami Heat but like five decades ago, before they let all the teams become unisex, a woman, who was as big of a sports fan as I am, bought the whole team because the coach refused to draft women onto the team. Miami Heat was the only team that still had all men while everyone else was starting to have at least two or three women on the team. They're a good team. After they converted over and everything they kept winning the championships. And, well, I'm told my dad liked the team, and I didn't think it would hurt if it was my favorite too."
Bones hums thoughtfully. "You ever buy tickets to go see them?"
Jim grins but she never takes her eyes off the screen. "No, and don't even think about buying me any tickets either or anything stupidly romantic in nature," she warns.
"Hadn't even crossed my mind."
Jim snorts but she shushes him when the game starts again. She spends the end of it ranting how the Bulls should've won and Bones just lets her until he makes the suggestion that they watch a movie. She still grumbles but she eventually quiets down as they watch a documentary film about Geishas and the feudal era of Japan.
It appeals to the nerd in Jim, so she stops complaining about bias referees and shitty defense players to watch. She absentmindedly runs her fingers through Bones's thick hair and scratches the scruff of his beard with her blunt fingernails. It takes her a while before she realizes that he's fallen asleep. She gently shakes him awake and tells him to go lay down in her bed because honestly it looks like he hasn't a good night's sleep in a while. She meant to ask about that, but she got distracted. She watches as he stands and rubs his face tiredly as he stumbles out the door and towards her room.
Jim sticks around in Eleanora's room because she really wants to finish watching the rest of the documentary. When it ends, she shuts everything down and leaves. She quietly enters her room and closes the door behind her with a soft click as she tiptoes her way to the bed.
Bones is sprawled out on his stomach like a starfish and he's snoring quietly. She slips in beside him, punching and rearranging her pillows to her liking before she settles down with a small sigh. She falls asleep and only wakes up once (briefly) when Bones pulls her close to his chest in the middle of the night and curls his arms around her. She mumbles out a slight complaint but she falls right back to sleep with Bones's forehead pressed against the knob of her spine and his breath ghosting between her shoulder blades.
In the morning, when Bones slips out of bed to go to work, he kisses her cheek and Jim, dumb, stupid, naive Jim, makes the mistake of smiling in her sleep for it. Like it means something.
Its not supposed to mean anything.
Part 3