Get It Together

[Oneyka A. Duffuor]

Strange enough, she had kept count. It had been five months... Five whole months since she broke up with Jack and left the States. Sure, she had priorities as any daughter did when their father was in their death bed but for some reason she still couldn't shake the feeling of abandonment. Abandonment in terms of what she had released onto Jack and not the other way around. It hurt. Lately everything just... hurt, but at least she wouldn't allow it to hold her back, not today.

The ebony shapeshifter stayed in her PJs, covered in decorative covers and her messy brown hair relaxed all over her pillow. It had been almost a week since her arrival and she'd finally gather enough courage to text him because she knew that hearing his voice would have snatched that tiny bit of courage she had left.

To: Jack McCarthy
From: Oneyka Duffuor

Hey.

[Taylor McCarthy]

Taylor lay, slumped lazily on his couch with the TV remote in one hand and a Guinness in the other. It was his day off leaving him with so few fucks to give it was lucky for Jack that he'd even bothered to put on pants. There wasn't much on TV, not that he watched it much to begin with, rather it was little more than flickering images and sounds to keep his brain occupied without actually having to think.

The Irishman downed the rest of his beer and groaned as he sat up, getting to his feet so he could head to the kitchen and replace the now empty bottle. The sound of the shower starting in the bathroom gave Taylor a bit of pause as he dug around the fridge for another beer. Jack was up and bathing. A quick glance at the clock over the stove showed it was just after 4pm. Taylor nodded to himself. At least it looked as though Jack was improving.

An obnoxious chime from Jack's phone, which was sitting on the coffee table in the living room, caught Taylor's attention before he could make it back to his spot on the couch. With a furrowed brow he glanced to the device. The screen had flashed on, displaying the name of the message's sender: 'ONNIE'. With a glance over his shoulder in the direction of the bathroom, Taylor set his beer bottle on the table then scooped up the phone.

Taylor stared at the simple message for a few seconds before his eyes narrowed and he tapped out a response.  Surely Jack wouldn't mind.

What's up?

[Oneyka A. Duffuor]

Oneyka hadn't let her phone leave her sight, so when the text buzzed in, she already had her brown eyes looking over the message. Had this been a few months back, Onnie may have been calm to respond but right now her heartbeat was far from it.


I know it's been a while and I apologize.
It's been crazy at home and I just wanted to check up on you.
You know, see how you were doing.

[Taylor McCarthy]

Taylor held the phone in both hands as he deliberated his actions. Was it his place to intervene like this? Jack had been an absolute mess since Onnie had left and Taylor knew his life brother needed to let go. The longer Jack held onto his past relationship the harder it would be for him to move on. Maybe his big brother really did need to step in.

When the phone chimed is obnoxious tone again, Taylor didn't hesitate to respond.

How is home? I didn't know your American phone worked in Africa.

I'm fine. Living life. You?

[Oneyka A. Duffuor]

At least she was getting replies in a timely manner. She hadn't expected that much, nor could she blame Jack if he chose not to answer, or left her message on READ. His reply was enough to make her want to stop, as if she was making a mistake, just popping up like this.


Home is... home, but I'm glad you're doing well. I really am.
I'm okay.

She paused for a second, almost sure she once reminded him that contact could be made through free international apps. Onnie had to remember that he was sometimes forgetful but then again, it took her way too long to get in contact with him. She'd be forgetful too.


That's the thing... I'm no longer in Africa.
I arrived a few days ago and I wanted to reach out to you earlier but I had to get settled  in and all.
You know, with teaching at Bellefonte and everything else.


Taking a deep breath, she sunk further into her bed. Not too sure how to go about what she wanted to say next. I miss you? No. Is there anyway you can forgive me and take me back? Oh god, absolutely not. That wasn't fair to him.


Wanted to know if you cared to meet up soon?
Nothing too serious. Just so we could catch up?
Or just a Hi and Bye.
Maybe at the park?


[Taylor McCarthy]

Taylor once again paused to debate what he was doing.  If Jack found out he'd surely be pissed, and rightfully so.  It wasn't Taylor's place to be interfering like this even if his intentions were good.  At some point Jack would have to come face to face with more than just the presence of Onnie again and maybe delaying that would make things worse in the long run.

At this point he didn't know if it mattered.  The train was already going, he doubted he could stop it now.

Sure.  I'd like that.  When?  Today?

[Oneyka A. Duffuor]

She was sure her heart was beating entirely too fast for its own good. This was nerve wrecking. For the first time, Oneyka was actually anxious and afraid of what might happen. There were so many different responses she could get from Jack and almost all of them were justifiable. She wasn't sure what she was expecting out of meeting up with Jack, all she knew was that she wanted to physically see him. At least just some sort of... sign, that he was alive and well... and okay without her.

The next buzz came in, vibrating her phone that stayed in between her slender fingers.


Yeah, today is perfect. Let's say around 3:3opm?
Or anytime that was good for you.

[Taylor McCarthy]

Taylor mumbled a curse under his breath.  He'd gone too far now, there was no turning back.  He'd inserted himself into this and he had to see it through.  When the phone chimed again his head shook.  He read the message than typed out a quick reply.

That's great.  I'll see you then.

Once the message was sent he made sure to delete the conversation thread completely, lest Jack learn of what his brother had done.  The shower turned off and Taylor tossed the phone back where it had been sitting and slumped back into the couch.  He stared idly at the TV for a few moments before getting to his feet and downing the rest of his beer.  He stepped into the kitchen long enough to be rid of the bottle and started for his bedroom, still grumbling to himself.  He wasn't sure, at this point, what he'd gotten himself into but he'd at least do Onnie the favor of getting properly dressed before meeting her.

[Oneyka A. Duffuor]

She surely didn't know what to expect out of this either...


Ditto.
There were hundreds of scenarios that went through her mind right there and then. Scenarios of a Jack who acted as if he wasn't upset about her trying to reach out to him, and then a Jack who might have been still upset with her and wasn't afraid to show it. Yet, she got this one... A Jack that seemed unphased, unbothered, non-nonchalant in a way? It was crazy to assume but that's just how it came off... text wise.

Wait, did she just reply back a "ditto"? Groaning at her very own awkwardness, Oneyka turned over, tugging the covers over her messy head. "Ditto... seriously."