Falling From Disgrace

Adrianna shrugged and studied her cuticles while Jack sipped his coke and watched baseball.

He didn’t really pay attention to the game though, getting more annoyed by the second at Adrianna’s sullen demeanor. When she finished picking at her nails she sat with her elbow on the edge of the sofa, her chin resting glumly on her hand, and just stared at the wall across from her.

Jack exhaled loudly, muted the television and spat, “Will you please tell me what the hell is going on, Adrianna?”

Adrianna snapped her head around to glare at him. “If you don’t like how I’m acting you’re free to leave.”

“Do you want me to leave?” he shot back.

“If you want to leave, leave!”

“No, I don’t want to leave; I want you to tell me what’s wrong.”

“For God’s sake, I’m just tired, okay?” she huffed, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

“Really? You’re going to feed me the ‘I’m just tired’ bullshit. Come on, Ade,” Jack admonished.

“What do want from me, Jack?” Adrianna shouted, her voice cracking with strain.

“I want you to talk to me,” he insisted, saying each word with careful deliberation and glaring right back at her with blue eyes that were dark and narrowed.

Adrianna turned her gaze up to the ceiling, clenched her jaw, and wished Jack would just give up on her. Maybe now she should just spill her guts to him so he would become disgusted with her and go.

They were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone, and Adrianna reached to answer it, much to Jack’s irritation. Not recognizing the number on the screen, she brought the phone to her ear and mumbled, “Hello?”

“Adrianna? It’s Jason Landon.”

Adrianna gasped and quickly disconnected the call, tossing her phone on the coffee table like she burned her hand on it.

“Who the hell was that?” Jack demanded, rising from his seat and going to her side, concerned now by her reaction.

Adrianna said nothing and just stared at the phone, her heart beating frantically. Why the hell was Jason calling her? What could he possibly have to say to her after all this time? The last time they spoke was right after the accident and things had not gone well.

“Ade, who the hell was that?” Jack repeated.

Of course, after all this time, Jason would call while Jack was there. Adrianna tried to compose herself by shaking her head and then told him, “No one. A... telemarketer.”

“Fucking hell!” Jack swore and slammed his fist into the cushion between them before rising up in fury. “A telemarketer? Adrianna, how fucking stupid do you think I am? A sales call wouldn’t have you looking like you’ve just seen a ghost! Why do you keep lying to me?”

“What do you mean, keep lying to you?” she demanded.

“You want to start a list?” he shot. “You won’t tell me how you support yourself, you keep telling me nothing is wrong with you when clearly you’re upset about something, and I know what you said about the scar on your back is complete bullshit, too!”

Adrianna gaped at him in horror.

“Surgery to repair a herniated disk wouldn’t leave a scar like that! Why the hell are you so afraid to talk to me?” he continued to shout. “Have I not done enough to prove to you that I care about you? You think I would be here if I didn’t? I want to know who the hell was on the phone!”

Closing her eyes to keep the tears from falling, Adrianna turned her head away and whispered, “I want you to leave, Jack.”

“No!” he cried, and kneeled before her, grasping her head between his hands and forcing her to look at him. When he saw she was crying it pained him.

“I can’t see you anymore, Jack.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“It’s the only one I can give you.”

“Well, it’s not good enough!” Jack shouted, sadness dwelling in his eyes. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Don’t do this, Jack,” she sobbed. “Believe me; you’re better off without me.”