Dumb Decisions (Resse AU)

Part 2

Hey besties, welcome to the second part. I don't know how to introduce this so I might just get political and not write an introduction on the next parts... Enjoy xxx

~Jesse's perspective~

A soft pop announced my third bottle of the day, and I had been up for an hour. I felt the sweet red liquid work its way through my throat. I should have bought something stronger than wine. I look around the apartment, the space to big for only one person. The ghost of my children's laughter still fills my ears. Yesterday, I signed the papers. I will see them every weekend and during the holidays. I feel the tears welling up as I look at their drawings. Am I a terrible father for this? 

I want to talk to Rob. He's the one who also just got out of a divorce. He gets me, even though he doesn't know the real reason of the divorce. 

About a year ago, a clip came out of him telling an interviewer that he sometimes gives me a compliment. A couple of teens saw it and ran with it. So many edits, I didn't even realize my looks weren't that discreet. At first it was funny; the same recycled video's edited together to make it look like we were staring at each other. Jolein and I laughed, and I hoped this would be the end of it. But more and more video's popped up. It was as if they watched every single debate to find any glances each other's way. As if they looked through all of our social media's to find every single picture of us two together. Jolein grew more impatient as video's kept showing up. 

"There's so much material, how is there so much material?" 

"I don't know. Every look out of context can look like a loving glance."

"This looks like more than just an out-of-context-glance.."

I fell my cheeks grow hotter, but managed to keep my voice calm.

"I bet that with the right music and jump cuts they can make it look like we hate each other."

Jolein fell quiet as her eyes narrowed. Teenage love songs kept coming out of her phone.

"Maybe you should stop watching them."

I turned around to face her phone and my heart stopped at seeing how close me and Rob had been sitting in this shot. Did we really sit that close?

"Why, afraid I'll find something?"

She paused the video at the shot, my heart racing as I saw my glance.

"You're red." 

"Yeah, it's hot in here, I told you to keep the thermostat low!"

Without looking at her, I knew she saw right through me.

"You are afraid of me finding something, what?"

"No, no! Of course not! I just think it would be better for you if you would not look at it, seeing that it makes you upset.."

"So it doesn't make you upset?"

"Well, I-uhh- you know. We're just friends. I know this staring doesn't mean anything." it hurts to say those last lines. Of course it did. My eyes have been stuck on him since the first time I saw him. I pulled the blankets over my chest, hoping it would cancel out the beating of my heart.

"So you're saying it's all in my head?"

"What no! Of course not-"

"So why are you blushing."

"It's hot in here! It's like what-- 25 degrees Celsius (=77 F)? That's way to hot for a bedroom!"

"How do you know the appropriate temperature for a bedroom?"

"Well any time I slept somewhere it was more around 18 degrees (=64).."

"Oh did that happened to be at Rob's house?"

"Well yes, but that-"

"Well why don't you sleep there than! Go on, I'm not holding you back!"

"Babe, please-"

"No, if you don't like my temperature than you can leave. Go on! Go to your boyfriend!"

I felt a rage rushing through my body. Why didn't she listen. Sure she had seen my feelings for Rob, but that didn't mean I didn't have feelings for her.

"You're acting crazy!"

Not a smart move, go back go back go back-

She exploded.

"Oh I'm acting crazy? ME? You're the one crazy in love with your COLLEAGUE!"

"No, come on I didn't mean it like-"

"YOU'RE NOT EVEN TRYING TO DENY IT?!"

I kept silent for a moment to long, because next thing I know I was pushed out of bed. As I got up a pair of pants and a shirt were thrown my way. I tried to get her to calm down, but she pushed me out of the house. I didn't even get to sleep on the couch. 

As I stood outside, I tried to talk to her from outside, but she didn't listen. I tried opening the door, but she locked it from the inside. I tried calling her, but she didn't answer. I got into my car. I still had half an hour left until the curfew started, and in my angry state, I made both the dumbest and smartest decision of my life.

I went to Rob's house.