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Of course, the one evening you are forced to stay out late, the skies open up on you. Of course, it’s a surprise weather change no broadcaster or app had foretold to such an extent. Ergo, you are not carrying an umbrella and are forced to use your hand to shield your eyes in order to not walk home completely blinded.

It’s proven rather ineffective for the distance you had to cover, but you aren’t ready to fully give up yet.

After blinking a few times and making sure all the traffic has stopped, you hurry over the flooded street, shoes getting soaked with every step. At this point you don’t even care about being wet all over. You just want to get home and change into a comfy pajama set, prepare a mug of any kind of warm drink, and let the evening play out in peace and quiet.

You aren’t that far from your apartment building anymore–a small reprieve at least. The promise of arriving soon has you pick up your pace, motivation kicking in. Being in a familiar area makes you pay less attention, not questioning your navigation skills much longer and prioritizing shielding your eyes from the onslaught of rain.

In retrospect, you should’ve been more considerate. With your luck you are bound to not make it home accident free and in being careless like that it’s no surprise when you include other people in your troublesome fate.

So, it’s barely a surprise when you ram straight into a couple after making it to the other side of the road safely. Your head collides abruptly with someone’s arm and you stumble back, shocked, and embarrassed.

There is a moment where everyone involved has their moment to let out a startled sound, then you rush to apologize, “Oh Cheese, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going. Really, I’m so sorry! Excuse me!”

You don’t lift your gaze–not that you would be able to look at anyone anyways with the water running down your lashes and dripping into your eyes–and begin to lower your head even further in some sort of apologetic bow, hoping and praying your collision partners aren’t of the sort to make a big deal out of such a situation.

Not that you give them much time to do so anyways. You barely manage to come up with enough patience to murmur another quick apology, then you begin to walk away.

Unfortunately, your hope for less trouble is foiled almost immediately. After only a handful of steps taken away from your latest victims, you hear your name being called in question.

Faltering, you wonder if you’d imagined Jack’s voice echoing through the white noise of the rain. But when you turn to check over your shoulder and squint to look past the sheets of water separating you, he is there. No fantasy or hallucination, just Jack peeking at you beneath an umbrella.

And a woman on his arm.

You don’t clock that at first, only seeing that he has a companion by his side. But when he takes a step in your direction the woman’s arm is stretched with his movement and it’s obvious.

Your eyes remain on that little detail for only a second, before you look back into your neighbor’s face. “Jack! Hi! What are you doing here?”

It’s a stupid question, as it’s rather obvious that he is walking home, just like you. But with the presence of someone else around, you lose your newfound ability to be more or less normal around Jack, your gaze flickering to the other person, gauging her reaction. You are unsure what’s even happening right now, don’t know what to think, how to react, if it would be weird for you to flee.

It’s definitely something you wish to do right away, but manners and the knowledge that it would be weird to just dip after a hasty greeting is what’s making you stay.

If only you could be inconsiderate for once.

Rain continues to fall onto your form, soaking into every crevice you have to offer, but with your attention fixed on the pair in front of you, you can almost forget what a pitiful sight you are currently depicting.

“Who is this?” The woman speaks up before Jack can answer your superfluous questions, her voice smooth like honey, confident, without a hint of insecurity.

She doesn’t ask because she sees a threat in you. Not that that is even debatable at all. Her big, endlessly deep eyes peer at you with pure curiosity while her glossy lips are curved into a polite smile.

You can’t help but notice and admire her natural beauty, the way her dark skin is glowing as if the humidity is aiding her looks instead of ruining it like it does with you. She is tall, slender and it takes no more than a furtive glance to see the grace she is holding herself with. It’s both hypnotizing and intimidating at the same time.

You look back at Jack, waiting for him to make introductions, unsure who you are standing in front of. It takes him a moment, focus steady on you, standing there frozen and with an expression on his face as if he’s seeing a ghost.

Maybe the downpour is distorting you enough for it to look like it. Your sodden appearance surely plays into the bit.

After a longer than comfortable pause, you can’t stand the silence any longer and smile at Jack’s company. “I’m his neighbor.” “She’s my friend,” Jack speaks hastily over you only with the slightest delay.

He clears his throat, eyes boring into you as if he is trying to force some kind of silent message into your head.

You let out an uncertain hum, grinning awkwardly and quickly let your gaze jump between the pair, not sure who to look at. “Oh, lovely to meet you. I’m Kristine. I guess I am a friend of Jack’s as well.” The woman smiles wider at you and you return the gesture in kind. “Nice to meet you too.”

You mean the sentiment, even when you believe she is downplaying her relationship with Jack a bit. You aren’t stupid. With him wearing slacks and a button up underneath his jacket and Kristine’s elegant calf-length dress peaking out from underneath her trench coat, you can piece things together fairly quick.

They are on a date, no doubt.

You ignore the funny feeling spreading along your spine and squint at them, deciding to let them be and depart as soon as possible before more ruthless emotions can bubble up to the surface. The dull thrum of something doesn’t need to be analyzed deeper while you can feel every single piece of clothing you wear sticking to your skin.

“Uhm… so yeah, I’m going home now… uh… Sorry for bumping into you guys. And… have a nice evening?” You’re not sure what else to say, but you need to get going now before you are forced to talk more and risk looking like an even bigger fool.

You don’t even want to imagine what a sight you must be to them. Some sort of grotesque stray, interrupting their outing and keeping them from escaping the rain? Seems about right.

Mortification is quicky rising inside you, yet you do your utmost to push it down, not deeming it the right moment to linger. You wipe the copious amounts of rain from your forehead and eyes–not that it does anything with more rain pouring down continuously–and send them both a half-convincing smile while waving your hand in a goodbye.

“Wait!” Jack calls before you even manage to fully turn away and you watch in horror as he takes a few steps in your direction without thinking. In his haste to reach you, he fails to remember that two people are occupying the umbrella he is holding up and a moment later there is a surprised sound coming from Kristine, when her cover is abruptly taken from her and rain starts falling onto her neatly styled hair.

Jack doesn’t spare her another glance or tries to detect the reason for the noise. He just runs up next to you, tilting the rainshade in a way that shields you from the cold drops landing on you.

“It’s raining,” he rasps the obvious, searching for your eyes and immediately locking onto them when you let him. You stare back at him bewildered, heart pounding treacherously in your chest and overpowering the rainfall drumming onto the waterproof fabric above you.

The respite is short lived. Reality making a comeback, slamming into you like a freight train. You swiftly reach for Jack, pushing him away.

“Jack! I know it’s raining. What about Kristine?” You throw a quick look in her direction, watching her raise a hand to hide her face from the onslaught of water pelting down onto her all of a sudden, turning to the side in search for shelter.

It takes another second and an urgent look from you to Jack for him to finally snap out of it. He swivels around, realizing he just left his date to fend for herself, but stands still, hesitating. You don’t give him another chance to possibly be torn between you and her, pushing him even harder in her direction.

“I’m fine Jack, I’m already soaked, no need to play the hero now.”

Your words seem to have the intended effect, Jack briskly scrambling back over to her and putting the umbrella over her head again.

“I’m sorry, I­–“ “You forgot all about me!” Kristine laughs warmly, pushing a few wet strands of hair out of her amused face. You watch her shaking her head in disbelief, but when she looks back at Jack you don’t get the impression that she is awfully cross with him. At least she can still muster to give him a beaming smile which he definitely doesn’t deserve.

An amalgamation of emotions rush through you–disappointment, relief, embarrassment– you aren’t sure which one takes the lead in the end. You only know, you need to get away from this situation, to not make it your problem and stop interrupting a couple from enjoying their night.

Swallowing hard, you wring your hands, fingers near frozen and skin wrinkled up. Would it be weird for you to just disappear now? You already said your goodbyes; was another one necessary or could you just run now?

The decision is taken from you when Jack turns his attention back to you yet again.

You can’t help but glare at him through the rain, trying and failing to tell him without words, that he should be solely focused on the woman whose arm finds its way back into the crook of his elbow.

He has no business eyeing you up when there is a formidable lady holding onto him.

“Why are you out so late? And why are you running around without an umbrella?” Jack sounds accusatory, almost furious and the frown on his face confirms his displeasure tenfold.

The sudden assault has your hackles rising instantly, arms crossing in front of your chest, rainwater squishing between your layers.

You can’t remember Jack ever speaking to you in such a tone. Like he has a right to be angry with you or that you’ve broken a rule he has set. You don’t understand where this ire is coming from, but you don’t appreciate it one bit.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to go out anymore. Next time I have a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon I’ll make sure to inform you first, so you can plan ahead and not accidentally run into me.” At the defensive bite in your voice Jack falters a bit, hand coming up in a deescalating gesture.

“I’m not saying that. It’s just… it’s dark outside and you’re alone and it’s raining. With your track record you should be more mindful.” You know he isn’t wrong per se, but for whatever reason you feel miffed by his gruff tone. Eyebrows drawn, you huff, “Well, I was on my way home just now. So, no need to worry anymore.”

“You know I always worry about you.”

Whether that was intentionally said or simply slipped out, you aren’t sure. By the looks of it, Jack can’t decide either, his expression changing between somewhat shocked and looking completely resolute in his remark.

Jack’s honesty does calm you down though, your irritation waning while your pulse spikes. It’s frustrating how a single sentence from him is able to melt away the irritation just as quickly as it had come.

You can’t help but assess Kristine’s reaction to the words, being met with her thoughtful gaze flicking between the two of you. You promptly avert your eyes and shake your head. “No need for that tonight. You clearly have other priorities.” You don’t try to make it sound like a jab but rather like the reminder it is–Jack flinches anyways.

To buffer the blow, you give him an encouraging smile, showing goodwill and that you aren’t mad at him.

You have no right to be.

Jack isn’t doing anything wrong. You can imagine he must be feeling tense, stumbling into you out in the wild while he’s taking someone on a date. You know, you would be too if the roles were reversed.

Maybe he feels uneasy with you accidentally prying into his private life, maybe he thinks it’s weird to be seen by you under such a delicate circumstance.

Not to mention, that you obviously aren’t helping the situation by being your usual awkward self.

Somehow you are even leading Jack to look possessive and irrational in front of his date, as if he has forgotten all common sense and manners. You can’t have that–don’t want to ruin his chances with someone because you acted like a brat in front of them. It’s only right to consider Jack’s emotions right now, not your own.

You can do that, can ignore the little cynic voices in the back of your head, urging you to continue on making a scene and break apart the happy couple for selfish gains. It’s something you’ll have to deal with later, or maybe you can suffocate the burn spreading along your nerves into nonexistence all together.

Right now, definitely isn’t the right moment to venture into a territory of insecurity or jealousy. You will have plenty of time to go there when you’re not drenched to the bone and standing in front of the person causing all those confusing feelings.

But they are your personal issues to deal with, no need to involve anyone else. No need to drag anyone else down with you.

“We were just going to Jack’s place. Why not walk together?” Kristine’s voice cuts through the rain like the warm rays of the sun. It has you baffled, looking back to her to check if you can see any indication that she is just putting on an act and might secretly try to tell you with a discrete twinkle in the eye to fuck off.

But when you scan her face, all you find is the same warmth her voice carries. Her dark eyes are focused on you, yet it doesn’t feel like there is any accusation sent your way. Just a polite offer.

“Uh… sure. Yeah, I mean… if you’re okay with that? If-if Jack is okay with that?”

You both end up waiting for him to react and he takes his sweet time with an actual answer, pretty much just staring at you, brows furrowed and jaw clenched.

After seconds of nothing he at last nods. “Right. It’s the same way, obviously. No need to separate.”

You wish he would’ve come up with a reason to delay his return so you could’ve walked back in peace. The idea of trudging along with the couple and either being forced to do small talk or worse, listen to them get to know each other better is nauseating. The trip can’t end quickly enough.

Hesitantly and with the grace of an awkward teenager you gesture for Jack and his date to get going, waving them on like a damn usher. Without saying anything else they follow your silent request and walk past you.

You don’t miss the way Jack’s eyes don’t leave you until the very last second, but you don’t waste your energy in trying to deduce what thoughts his unreadable face might be hiding. You simply slot in behind them, the rain soaking you even more with the drops jumping off their umbrella right into your face.

Fucking fantastic.

“So, you’re friends you say?” Kristine’s voice manages to penetrate the dense air, forcing you look up from the ground. The woman has crouched down a bit to be able to look beneath the umbrella’s edge and give you an inquisitive smile.

For a second you freeze, not having thought that she would actually make an effort to get to know you better after you purposely created space and an unspoken barrier between you. But perhaps she is just fishing for more information on Jack that doesn’t come directly from him. In order to not look rude, you find your voice after a short hesitation.

“Uh, yeah… I-I mean we are neighbors with… well I am kind of all over the place and it leads to some chaotic situations and Jack is usually the unfortunate one to either save me from things or get involved in my troubles. It kinda happens so often that I’ve become a regular nuisance to him. And I guess, at some point we became… friends.”

“Well, that certainly makes you sound like quite the gentleman. I’m looking forward to hearing about some of your heroic moments,” she croons and her cleanly manicured hand pats Jack on the upper arm. He doesn’t react from what you can see.

You walk on for another minute, water still running in rivulets down your face, your clothes sticking to your body in the most uncomfortable way possible and puddles collecting inside your shoes, making you feel like you’ve jumped into a pool fully clothed.

Still, it’s the silent trotting behind the couple that makes you feel the most uneasy. In a desperate attempt to make the anxious feeling in your chest subside, you ask, “So… how-how do you two know each other?”

You don’t know why you’re asking and the second it comes out you are praying that the rain washed the question away. You know this is definitely none of your business and no matter what the answer will be, it surely won’t give you less to think about, so you curse yourself even harder when your inquiry is not ignored in the end.

“Ah, well, we have a mutual friend and it seems I was the first choice of recommendation when Jack mentioned that he was interested in dating again. We haven’t met before but I must admit, I was quite intrigued after hearing about him.” “Oh, yeah, I can imagine. Jack is great.”

The sentence is barely past your lips, when said man comes to sudden halt, making the rest of your peculiar trio stop as well. He turns his head at breakneck speed, capturing you in an intense stare down until you question what you had done to garner that kind of a visceral reaction.

It only dawns on you a few seconds later that agreeing with his brilliance could easily be interpreted as swooning over him, rather than talking him up to his date.

A good deed being mistaken as possible competition.

Eyes widening in realization, you almost choke on your own saliva, forgetting all your natural bodily functions with Jack peering at you. “I mean, I obviously just see him as a friend. But if I was anyone else, I’d be head over heels for him too. Of course, he’s not perfect, but he has a lot to offer. And I’m saying this as a friend of his, so he is probably a really good partner in a romantic relationship.”

You have the impression, that with every word you say, Jack’s expression turns darker, which is exactly why you decide to shut up before trying to hype him up even more. Apparently, Jack isn’t appreciating it as a show of goodwill.

You wreck your brain, trying to identify if your mindless babbling had given up anything incriminating or unattractive about him, but come up empty.

Not being called perfect was just keeping things realistic and if you slapped it on too thick, it would sound once again like you were trying to convey your own interest in him. Something you wouldn’t dare do anywhere other than in your silliest dreams.

There is a shared moment of silence between you which is only broken when Kristine lets out a hearty laugh and Jack’s need for eye contact is interrupted by a nasty raindrop falling right into your eye a beat later.

You can’t help but blink rapidly, trying to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling, most likely looking as if you have a spastic attack all the while.

“Why don’t you squeeze in under the umbrella with us?” Kristine decides to butt in, giving you a way out of standing around awkwardly.

Her offer manages to let an incredulous laugh spill from you lips which you just as quickly try to stifle, shaking your head. “Oh, no! I’d rather not.” “Then trade places with me at least. I don’t mind getting rained on,” Jack cuts in as well, already moving, pressing the umbrella handle into Kristine’s unsuspecting hands.

With a panic-stricken face, you reach out to him, holding him in place before he can step into the cloudburst. “What? No! Jack, come on now. I’m already soaked. And it’s not even a big deal. Let’s just move along and not do anything illogical, okay? I’ll survive a little bit of rain, trust me.”

Your eyes ripped wide open, you try your best to express that you are serious and his idea is ridiculous.

It takes an astounding amount of stubbornly pushing against Jack’s arm for him to give in and turn back around, taking back the umbrella. You have to bite back a comment on how his ill-timed chivalry is actually forcing you to get rained on even longer, not wanting to make him look worse than Jack is already presenting himself.

You’ve never been gladder than when you finally get to move again, the couple continuing the way back home and you following like a lost puppy.

While nobody is paying you any attention for a change, you shake your head at Jack, silently reprimanding him for acting so thoughtlessly all of a sudden. It’s so unlike his usual, collected self.

For your part, you had impressed with equally stupid, albeit predictable, words so far. Of course, that doesn’t make it any less bad, so when the memory comes echoing back, you slap your palm against your forehead multiple times as punishment for trying to play a supportive match-maker.

“Why didn’t you take an uber home in this weather?”

It takes you a second to realize Jack is talking to you, fully expecting him to focus back on his date and ignore you in the rear. Your slight pause is taken as hesitation and instantly Jack is facing backwards again, scrutinizing you. You hold back a sigh.

“It’s not a long walk. That would be such a waste of money.” “Don’t you have anything left? I thought I sent you enough last week. Why didn’t you tell me you were running out?” “Jack!”

He probably looks at you with the same level of disbelieve you do to him, but for entirely different reasons. Yours is definitely more valid though, after all you are affronted by him ignoring the bombshell of a woman to his left and fixating on all the wrong things.

You wish you could tell him exactly that, other than by glaring straight at his face. By the looks of it he seems too dense to catch your drift when he usually is so good at reading you like an open book.

“I don’t need more money,” you press out through clenched teeth in a futile endeavor to conceal your words.

You really don’t want Kristine to overhear and get the wrong impression, but Jack is acting as if even your damn grocery list would be more important than showering his date with the attention she deserves and the longer it goes on, the more you want to scream at him.

Why was he even going out with someone in the first place if he got distracted by completely irrelevant details regarding you?

You’ve never pried further into his Jack’s love life, never had the guts to, only roughly aware about his late wife, but now certain questions are close to bursting out.

When was the last time he went on a date? Was this a proper example of how they usually went for him? If so, it made sense that Jack remained single despite appearing like a catch from all the sides you had been able to see him before.

Uncertainty and nerves are bubbling up inside you and for once it’s not aimed at yourself but him.

Maybe he needed your help in steering this experience in the right direction before he messed up his chances with Kristine.

“If you don’t need more than why aren’t you using it to get home safely?” “Because I won’t indebt myself even more to you over useless trips with an uber,” you argue, voice becoming more desperate.

Your eyes keep skipping to the other woman, suspicious that she isn’t saying a peep and worried that she might already be over Jack and his peculiar behavior. It can’t feel too good to be sidelined and being forced to listen in on insiders between your date and a stranger.

Surprisingly, Kristine doesn’t seem all that bothered, face relaxed, lips upturned as if she is just enjoying the background noise while she is taking a walk on a rainy evening.

You can only imagine that there must be a volcano brewing underneath, just waiting for the right moment to erupt. Selfishly, you hope that only happens once you are safely back in your apartment.

“I really didn’t think you would take it seriously when we talked about you paying me back. It’s not necessary. Just take my money and use it. I’d rather see you safe than worrying about your spending habits.” Spoken like a rich doctor through and through.

You sigh loudly, licking rain from your lips and decide to once again safe Jack’s ass from seeming inattentive towards the other woman by spinning a tale about his generosity.

“Of course, I took our deal serious, Jack. We are neighbors–friends–sure. But I can’t just take money from you and not pay it back. It’s a really nice gesture of you to help me during tough times… like really, really nice, and considerate. I appreciate it a lot. But it’s a one-time thing, you’re helping me out just while I’m scraping by this rough patch. And that’s it. So, keep your money and spend it on… people who deserve it.” The *wink wink* is so heavily implied, that you don’t believe Jack can miss it.

That hope is decimated when he frowns at you as if you are the one needing help. “I’ll always help you, if you need me to. You already know that.” “Yeah, because you are an amazing friend. I can always count on you… bro.” A chill runs down your arms, cringe showing itself in physical form and it takes every last ounce of self-restraint to not display a more visceral reaction to your own words.

Jack luckily manages to wear an exceptional ‘what the fuck?’ expression for both of you, staring at you with equal amounts of concern and confusion. He must be asking himself if he needs to bring you in for a psych eval, no doubt.

But really, what else can you do, other than blurting out the most obvious friendzone-y things to make it clear that Jack is not in fact treating you preferential because you are a woman he could be interested in?

He is accidentally making it seem like you aren’t just his silly little neighbor with a plethora of issues he deals with on the regular and you are sure Kristine won’t be listening in on your squabble much longer, if you don’t make it obvious that Jack’s intentions with you are pure and innocent.

“Are you okay?” “Never been better.”

After another moment of Jack watching you intently, deep lines forming between his brows, he finally turns his head back around, looking upfront and leaving you alone.

Perhaps he at last got your hint, perhaps not.

He doesn’t say anything to Kristine for the rest of the way, but at least he doesn’t speak to you again either.

There is such a massive amount of relief falling from your shoulders, when you reach your apartment complex, that you have to hold yourself back from running past the couple and sprinting up the stairs just to escape being a third-wheel for much longer.

You console yourself with the knowledge that the countdown has started, that you’re soon to be free and reunited with your bed where you will have a field day with overthinking every little interaction and hidden meaning of todays happenings.

The thoughts are already banging on their cages, ready to be released and run wild, making connections where none should be and showing you realities that could never happen.

Only a few minutes to go. You can do this!

Jack holds the entrance door open for both Kristine and you. Her black high heels click loudly on the tiled floors when she takes a few steps in. Your completely wet and dripping shoes are a stark contrast to them, squeaking and squelching along, making you feel like a duck wading through the moorlands.

You truly must be a sight for sore eyes, dragging a whole lake in with you. If you dared to shake the rain of now, you could most likely pass as a mutt or maybe a feral, overgrown toddler coming in with their parents. Jack and Kristine would play the part quite well, both of them looking composed and like actual adults, not like an absolute mess.

Huffing in the wake of your own misfortune, you splish-splash your way over to the elevator and press the button, barely mustering up the patience for it to come down. Why couldn’t it be on the correct level for once? Another win for your bad luck.

Jack and Kristine come up next to you not long after and without looking over, you can already feel his gaze running along your face. It takes your all not to turn the other side, extremely conscious of your side profile even on a good day. You don’t want to imagine what your newest drowned style is doing to your features.

While willing yourself to concentrate on literally anything else than this horrid reality, you raise your hands, shaking off more water and blowing on damn near frozen fingers in an attempt to warm them up. It’s really more of a distraction than actually doing anything but you immediately regret your mindless action.

“Here, take this, you must be freezing.” There isn’t enough time to register the words and react accordingly before you can feel a weight settle around your shoulders. Floored, you turn your head, watching Jack’s hand adjust the collar of his jacket on your very person.

His warm fingers unintentionally drag across the sensitive skin on your neck and there is no denying that the following goosebumps are a direct result of that gentle touch.

You still fight that fact internally, making the rain responsible. It’s the safer option.

You’re too busy pushing down less than ideal nor appropriate fantasies from your mind, that you nearly forget that Jack once again is doing out of pocket things that would already be questionable under normal circumstances but are absolutely atrocious right now.

“Jack! What–“ “Don’t argue, just take it,” he interrupts, meeting your startled eyes head-on without a trace of shame. “I’m almost home, I’m getting it wet for nothing.” You’re wiggling around, trying to shake the piece of clothing off and return it, but Jack doesn’t let you. His hand clamps on tight over your own, stopping you from removing the jacket.

“Keep it on, get it wet, I don’t care. It’s just water and I’m the one doing your laundry anyway, so just put it in with the rest of your stuff and bring it down with the next load.”

You look at Jack like he just waterboarded you into submission, mouth opening and closing like a fish on land, not able to come up with a retort quick enough. Then your gaze slides beyond him, horrified when your eyes find Kristine watching the interaction with rapt attention.

The reminder that Jack said yet another thing in a way that can lead to speculations on your relationship has you scrambling for his sake. You’ve lost count by now, how often you had to save his ass in only a few minutes.

“Oh! This-this is not what it sounds like! Jack is only doing my laundry because my washing machine broke and the one, we order–I mean the one I ordered has a delivery delay and I’m waiting on it, but in the meantime, he offered to wash my clothes for me. But actually, I usually put them in myself and we do separate loads! So, it’s not as weird as it sounds!”

You wonder if Jack has forgotten all about the actual star of the night with the way he keeps showing up for you instead of Kristine and the possibility threatens to dismantle you.

You feel so embarrassed for everyone involved and so bad for Kristine who must be silently imploding at the sight of her date caring more about his neighbor than her.

If Jack keeps on doing so for much longer, you might just push him onto her and abandon ship in a last-ditch effort to help them out.

To your relief–and truthfully, confusion–Kristine doesn’t show a singular sign of annoyance. Her face remains relaxed, sporting an amused expression and when she talks, there is no trace of an underlying complaint escaping either.

“Well, I did say I wanted to hear more about Jack’s good deeds, so feel free to fill me in while you still can. You seem to know a great deal about them,” She sends you a playful wink which has you a little starstruck, dumbly nodding along, although you’ve already decided to keep your mouth shut from now on.

Continuing to sing Jack’s praise could lead to even more misunderstandings appearing out of thin air and you’re in no mood to fight more battles for his sake, while he obliviously ruins his chances with his possible dream woman.

Silently praying to be released from this torturous encounter, you reach out to press the elevator button again. Perhaps some god does listen to you in the end, because the telltale ding of its arrival sounds shortly after and the doors open in front of you.

The three of you file in, you pressing yourself into the furthest corner automatically in hopes of being forgotten all together and leave the other two people enough space to hopefully realize they are on a date and not just casually riding up to Jack’s apartment for no reason.

You fear you might have caused the romantic vibes between Jack and Kristine to dissipate with your intrusion. Maybe only your disappearance will help ignite the flame again.

If only Jack would stop fixating on you.

You bite your lip in frustration when he presses both his and your floor, then turns to throw you a quick look, checking in with you instead of Kristine. He frowns at your unnaturally position, pretty much hugging the wall.

“Are you good?” “Sure. What about you? Are you drunk or something?”

The question slips out a little sassy and accusatory, Jacks brows furrowing even deeper at the seemingly out of context inquiry. In your mind, it’s the only possibly explanation for his odd behavior.

Unexpectedly it’s Kristine that chuckles and answers you mysteriously. “I guess you could say that.”

Jack lets his eyes flick between the two women sharing the small space with him, trying to understand what either of them is talking about, neither grasping where you got the idea from nor why Kristine would lie about that.

He can’t actually seem like that much of a lightweight, that she thinks the one glass of wine he had at the restaurant would lead to him being intoxicated, right?

Before he can argue or find out what made you believe that in the first place, the doors of the lift open on his floor.

Jack reluctantly steps out, ignoring the urge to ride up with you and make sure you’re truly okay. He needs to remind himself that even if you’d let him, he is the one bringing home company which he can’t just leave hanging all of a sudden.

With a clenched jaw, he turns back around, watching Kristine follow him into the hallway, watching him thoughtfully. He gives her a fleeting smile before focusing back on you, needing one last look to reassure himself that you are fine and not just putting on an act.

It’s both natural worry talking and guilt eating away at him.

He had never planned on you seeing him go out with someone else.

Obviously, it’s his own fault for inviting Kristine for a nightcap at his place instead of ending the evening at the restaurant. But Jack had simply not expected to run into his neighbor.

Usually, you don’t leave your apartment once you return home from work and this trust in your normal schedule had now become his downfall.

Jack tries to tell himself that he isn’t doing anything wrong, that there is absolutely no valid reason for him to think you even care about him going out with someone. After all you don’t appear all that distraught over this latest revelation.

But this annoying little tingle at the back of his neck is rather difficult to ignore, no matter how much effort he puts into it.

Because while you might be okay with him venturing out into a world, he thought he had long lost interest in, it is his own mind betraying him.

He is uncomfortable, stiff, nowhere near as suave as he wants to be, all because there is this inkling of knowledge in the depths of his mind, that he isn’t doing what he really wishes for.

But how could that actual, reckless dream ever become reality after this– at most–mediocre performance he put on today? God, he knows he is not raising the bar, probably barely scraping it with the tips of his fingers and it’s disheartening, given the grandeur of his unreachable goal.

If he can’t even woo someone on his level anymore, how can Jack even think about reaching for a brighter, far riskier star in the sky?

The realization hits once more when your eyes lock, the dim light in the elevator hitting yours just right to let them shine. His heart clenches painfully, hope crumbling under Jack’s boot, making him take a step back, accepting the harsh truth.

He watches you smile innocently, then wave your hand. “Well… good night then.”

As if on cue the metal doors slide close.

Jack can’t help but draw out the moment for as long as possible, not breaking eye contact until the last tiny gap, the last glimpse of you disappears and the rumble of the mechanics lets him know you are escaping upstairs.

Only then does he turn around where Kristine already waits for him to lead the way to his apartment.

Jack clears his throat, feeling a bit awkward and hoping he wasn’t too obvious with his secret longing.

The twinkle in her eyes is hard to discern.

“Sorry about that. She is like a magnet for unlucky things and it’s become a norm that she needs help whenever we see each other. I didn’t mean to…” Jack grapples for the correct word, patting his slack pockets for his keys. “It’s okay Jack. I understand.”

He looks at Kristine, doubtful that she does, when he himself is struggling. But she surprises him by ripping his chest wide open with gently spoken words. “You like her. More than she realizes. Maybe more than you do too.”

He comes to a sudden stop, staring at the woman petrified, scared to accept what she is saying. “It’s not like that.” “Oh, now, none of that please. I have two functioning eyes and a very intelligent brain. Not that I would need either to notice what was going on between you two. Does that usually happen with others? You completely ignoring them when she is around? Or am I at least special in that regard?”

Panic spikes along Jack’s back, his throat tightening up and eyes burning with pressure.

Had he really been this obvious? This ignorant?

“Don’t look so shocked, Jack. I’m not mad. Honestly, it was quite delightful to see you doting on her like that.” Kristine grins at him, blinding smile honest and it has admiration bloom in his chest.

She really is an amazing woman; he wouldn’t dare to ever contest that. And if Jack had decided to date someone months ago, Kristine could have been great for him. Confident, successful, well connected. She had the potential to be the perfect woman.

But not anymore. Not for him at least.

“It’s… a fantasy. Nothing more. Just an old man’s dream. I mean, you met her.”

He might as well be offering his heart on a platter, being vulnerable, admitting his most secret desire in the middle of a hallway.

And yet it feels safe, comforting to have said it out loud at least once, to a person he might never see again after tonight.

“I did meet her. And I think, not all hope is lost.” “She is young.” “Do you like her or are you attracted to her, solely because she is young?”

He sighs, head thrown back, eyes pressed shut. He doesn’t want to look at Kristine, feels already flayed open and exposed after confessing. It’s one thing to be the guy looking into people’s souls, a whole other when the roles are reversed. Jack doesn’t think he can handle it.

“No, of course not. But it’s an obstacle.”

He shakes his head, deciding to finally open his door and no longer discuss such personal things in the open. But when it’s unlocked, Jack hesitates, shoulders tensing.

“I’m sorry for this evening. I… I never intended to lead you on and I did enjoy my time with you. You are a fantastic person and the way you view the world; your work and other people is truly inspiring. It’s my fault for thinking I was ready for something I clearly wasn’t.”

Jack has enough decorum to look Kristine in the face while apologizing and subtly rejecting her. She cocks her head to the side a bit, studying him with a smile on her lips and Jack swallows at the scrutiny.

“Well, maybe you are ready. You know, maybe you just won’t feel like it until it’s with the right person. But that’s for you to find out for yourself. I, for one, did enjoy our dinner and your company as well. I wouldn’t change a thing if I could. I had fun. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think we would’ve worked out anyway. I do love connecting with other people in the medical field, but I have to admit, I am not looking for a doctor to date. I’ve been married to one before and one of the reasons why we’ve divorced is that it makes for rather monotonous conversation off the clock.”

Relieved, Jack loosens his harsh grip on the doorknob, smirking when the woman shrugs casually, a mischievous expression crossing her face.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to come inside anymore.” “We could still have our nightcap. I mean, I escorted you here, I don’t want to have wasted your time,” Jack is quick to assure. “You didn’t waste my time, Jack. I was excellently entertained the entire evening. I just think, you need some time to unpack a few things. And sometimes the hard truths are best discovered on our own. So, I will be leaving you alone now and it’s entirely on good terms.”

Jack is a little stunned at the idea of him turning out to be the one getting dumped after all. It doesn’t sting and he gladly lets Kristine have the final say and win tonight, but it’s unexpected. “Do you want me to call you an uber?” “No need. I can manage on my own. But I’ll be taking this. Good night, Jack.” She reaches out, taking Jack’s umbrella without hesitation.

He doesn’t object, just watches as the woman turns with a last grin and saunters back the way they came.

Jack remains standing until she is gone from sight, then he lets out a deep breath, thoughts of you flooding his mind in no time whatsoever. There is nothing he can do to stop it and after closing his door behind him, Jack knows he needs to follow the advice he received or he won’t be able to function properly anymore.

Taking off his shoes, he walks over to his couch, falling into the cushions, staring at the ceiling. There is some clinking and clanking coming from upstairs and he just takes it in, imagining you living your life above him.

The reality, that he only went on a date with someone else because he can’t have you, weighing heavier than ever.

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