2.05 – All in

Chapter tune: Led Zeppelin – Whole lotta love

“This poker thing is hard… I have no idea what to do! Do I raise? Do I call?” Skye asked, looking confused.

“Well, for starters, do not ask your opponent for help, that is always a bad idea” Jesse smiled.

“But you said you’d… you know what, forget it, I don’t need your help!”

Jesse was watching Skye closely. He tried to understand her reactions and facial expressions in order to figure out her hand – and because he loved looking at it. He was determined to win this game because, first of all, he loved to win and second, being owed three favors from a beautiful – albeit difficult to handle – girl would definitely be a well-received development.

He was doing pretty good and Skye was starting to fume again. He though he saw a glance of disappointment in her eyes when the first three cards were revealed. He had an ace and there were two more on the table. Three aces, that’s a pretty solid hand, he thought. It would be hard for her to beat that.

After the fourth card was revealed, he went all in.

The last card on the deck – a three – gave Skye the victory. She had two “threes” on hand; it was a full house.

“I won! I can’t believe it! I won!”

“Oh come on!” Jesse yelled “that’s the lamest victory I’ve ever seen!! You didn’t stand a chance until that last card showed!! Why did you even call? That’s not the way to play!!”

“I don’t know about all this, but I won” Skye said with a wide grin “It’s not my fault you got confused by my awesome poker face. Now you owe me three favors pal, don’t forget it”

“Whatever…” Jesse scoffed.

“Well, it’s been amazingly satisfying taking your money and pride, but I really have to go” Skye smirked “I think this cold is really getting to me. But this was fun.”

“It really was, pokerface” Jesse smiled. “We should do it again… when you won’t have beginner’s luck anymore”

“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that” Skye said playfully “Goodnight ex-jerk!”

–

The following evening the scenery had changed dramatically. Even though the weather was calm and cool the day before, tonight was freezing and the snow had started covering the streets. Skye was feeling sick, so she headed to her local pharmacy to get some medicine.

On her way home, she spotted a familiar figure getting kicked out of a seedy looking club.

“Jesse? Are you ok? What happened to you?”

“What? Oh… this. It’s nothing, just a misunderstanding. We were playing cards and those goons inside don’t know how to lose, that’s all. They accuse me of cheating just because they suck at playing!” he yelled, as if the “goons” inside would listen.

“If you say so…” she smiled “But… did they take your jacket too? It’s snowing and you’re in your t-shirt!”

“Awww shit, I forgot it inside. Well I can’t go back in there now. You know what, I’ve walked home like this before, on dares and stuff. I’ll do it again, it’s no big deal.”

“What is it with you and dares?” Skye exclaimed “There is no way I’m letting you walk all the way home like that. The weather’s crazy and besides, your wounds need some fixing. Come on, I live by the end of that street, you can stay at my place tonight. You won’t regret it, I have the world’s most comfortable couch.”

“…There’s really no need…”

“Come on pal, it’s freezing and I have a cold! I won’t take no for an answer, get moving!”

“Ok ok! …thanks” Jesse smiled “I’m sorry you’re sick… but I kinda picked up on that, your nose is very red” he teased her.

“So is yours” she teased back “Come on, let’s move.”

When they arrived at Skye’s place, a rough female voice with an undefined accent was heard.

“Hey! Hey you, blondie! You still owe me a month’s rent! And I’ve sweeped all the snow from outside the building, this is going into your bill too, just so you know!…”

“Hi Mrs White, nice to see you too… I pay you every other month, did you forget our deal?”

Mrs White pretended she did not just get epically corrected, and came closer to inspect Jesse.

“…Who’s that? Is he a homeless person? A junkie?! I don’t want no junkies in my building!”

“Relax Mrs White, he’s just a friend”

“A friend, huh? I knew you were one of those girls that bring strange men inside their apartments! You know, I was a good looking gal like you in my day, but I would never embarass myself and my family like this! I showed respect! Didn’t your parents teach you that? Don’t you have a father? If I knew him, I’d tell him to smack some sense into you!”

“Good luck with that, bitch” Skye whisprered, and made her way inside the building, while her landlady carried on with her nagging.

“Whoa, that woman has some serious issues” Jesse said “I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble”

“Don’t sweat it, she always finds reasons to be unhappy with everything, but it’s not my problem. If I could, I’d give her a piece of my mind. I just put up with her cause the rent here is really cheap” Skye replied, but it was apparent that the incident irritated her more than she’d like to admit.

“Cool place” Jesse said when they got inside “A little run down but I love the vibe”

“You should tell that to Mrs White, it would make her happy if she was a normal human being” Skye smiled “Almost everything came with the apartment. I rent my places furnished” …Cause you always leave, she thought to herself.

“I’m going to get some stuff to fix you up” Skye said, and she promptly proceeded to cleaning Jesse’s wounds.

“Thanks… I can tell you’ve done this before” Jesse said after she finished “were you a nurse or something before you became a singer?”

“Nah, I just had some practice I guess”

“Boxer ex-boyfriend who was really bad at his job?” he joked.

“No… my mom.”

“Oh… I’m sorry…. I hope she’s ok now.”

“Well, to be completely honest, I don’t really care. So, how are you feeling?” Skye changed the subject, not without Jesse noticing.

“I’m fine Skye, really… it’s you who should get some rest. You’re sick and yet you’re taking care of me. Sorry about that.”

“It’s ok, I’m not that sick Jesse, it’s just a cold.” she smiled.

They talked some more. Skye told Jesse that her dream was actually not to sing, but to paint – it was also how she got to know Vito. She was looking for an agent to get her a couple of shows in a gallery, while he was looking for a singer. And since she needed the money and had a nice voice, she took the job. But she didn’t love it.

“I don’t like the exposure” she said.

“Why? I’d never peg you for the shy type”

“I’m not, I’m just not very fond of big crowds. They scare me a little, you know. I can never tell who’s hiding inside. But fortunately your band doesn’t attract big crowds” she laughed.

“Yet. You’ll see” Jesse smiled “I hope you’ll stick around for it. You know, you’re a very cool person. I never thought I’d ever be friends with a girl. Especially you, for that matter”

“I know I’m cool, it’s you who didn’t see it” Skye smiled “but thanks. I like you too, that being a surprise for me too, if you must know… So, I’m gonna take a shower and then go to bed, my head is starting to feel really funny. I’ll make the couch for you, is it ok? Do you want me to leave you some towels too?”

“Sure, thanks” Jesse replied.

As Skye got up from the couch, she felt lightheaded and lost her balance. Her cold was getting worse at that late hour. She almost fell on top of Jesse, who immediately grabbed her.

As soon as their faces touched, Jesse’s heart started racing, and he felt the blood in his veins rushing through his entire body.

“You’re burning up…” he muttered.

“Your lip has started bleeding again” she whispered.

Their faces came even closer. Maybe it was because he wasn’t allowed to pursue her, but he realized that he had never wanted a girl so bad in his life. As her lips were in touching distance of his, he wanted to kiss them more than anything. But Vito came into his mind at the very last moment. He scooted aside.

“Are you ok?” he asked her.

“Yeah… I just felt a little dizzy. I’d better go take that shower, it might make me feel better…”

“Call me if you need anything. And, Skye… about before…”

“No, we’re working together… it would be a mistake. You were right to stop it” she said.

Jesse was not so sure himself. He felt his heart flutter and a numbness in his gut that he had never experienced before. Fuck… what is happening to me, he thought.

A little later, he heard Skye calling him in her bedroom.

“Hey” she said “I’ve taken out some clean sheets and towels for you, I’ve put them right there”

“Thank you. Are you feeling better now?” he asked. When she called his name, he was worried for a moment that something had happened to her. Tonight, she seemed so fragile in his eyes.

“I’m feeling a lot better now, thanks… I’ve left you plenty of hot water if you wanna take a shower too. So… goodnight” she smiled.

But Jesse wouldn’t move. All he could think about was kissing her. But he couldn’t do it. Vito would leave them, the other guys would be mad at him, he’d be forced to steal his dad’s award that would mean the end of him… he couldn’t do it, he repeated that to himself again and again. But he wanted it more than anything.

“Is it something you want?” Skye interrupted his thoughts “You’ve been staring at me for a while”

“Fuck it” he whispered and brushed his hand against her face.

“Jesse… we can’t… it would be a mistake”

“I know… but I want it… shit, I want you so bad” he groaned.

It was a game he was doomed to lose right from the start, he knew that now.

But tonight, he decided that he would go all in.

–

PS: Thank you so much Amy for the link to that awesome roller hair! The beauty that is Mrs White could never be complete without your help, lol!! 😂 Thank you so much! ❤