It’s been a couple of hours since Jamie was awoken by the screams of Grace and Kevin. Since then, he’s been awake. He rubs his eyes in frustration and tosses around the uncomfortable sofa. He makes the decision to get up from the sofa and walks to the kitchen.
He stops in place when he sees Kevin sitting on the island, drinking a small carton of chocolate milk. He slowly walks to the island and toward the counter to make a pot of coffee. Kevin watches him.
Jamie: I know you’re watching me.
Kevin: Why are you making coffee at 4 in the morning?
Jamie: Why are you up at 4 in the morning?
Nothing is said afterward. Jamie turns around toward the island after grabbing a mug from the cabinet. Jamie doesn’t look at Kevin as he pours the coffee into the mug.
Jamie: Just say it already.
Kevin: Why? I’m only going to waste my time telling you what I’ve been telling you these last couple of months…
Jamie: It’s really not what you think, Kevin.
Kevin: It’s exactly what I’m thinking, hyung! She’s here like nothing happened! And then you defend her after everything she’s put you through!
Jamie leans in close to Kevin on the island.
Jamie: Can you please keep your voice down? At least let her sleep through the night.
Kevin: Do you hear yourself? You literally don’t know who Grace is; she’s not the same person you knew back in New York! She left that life behind. Why are you holding onto something from the past?
Jamie can’t answer right away. He sighs.
Jamie: That night the three of us went to the bar on the pier, I took a walk on the boardwalk. There’s a cafe a couple of stores down from the bar, I walked in there and… she works there. I gave her my number. She didn’t call me, her cousin did, which is who Shawn is with right now–
Kevin shakes his head in confusion, holding his hands up for Jamie to stop.
Kevin: My point is that she put you through hell, yet you see her once and bam… none of that matters anymore.
Jamie: I appreciate that you are looking out for me, but I know what I’m doing. I wasn’t going to leave her at the bar without a place to stay for the ngiht–
Kevin: Why not? She left you in New York by yourself…
Jamie grows frustrated.
Jamie: We weren’t together when she did that–
Kevin: No, but it wasn’t long after she told you about–
Jamie: *stern* Don’t.
Kevin scoffs; his voice gets louder.
Kevin: Do you see what I mean? How do you have the woman who did that to you laying in your bed like nothing happened? She has the right to do whatever she wants to do with her body, but you have the right to protect your heart.
Jamie doesn’t say anything, he just takes his mug and begins to walk out of the kitchen.
Kevin: Hyung–
Jamie stops and turns back to look at Kevin.
Kevin: If you felt like you had to hide this from me, then you know this isn’t a good idea.
Jamie turns away and walks out of the kitchen.
…
The sun is up for the day and Grace and Jamie exit the house and walk to the car in the parking lot. Nothing is said between them. Before Jamie can open the passenger’s door, Grace opens it and enters the car. Jamie doesn’t take it personally; he proceeds to walk around the car to the driver’s side and enters.
Jamie looks at the GPS on his phone as he drives on the highway. Grace looks out of the window; she hasn’t said anything for the entire ride. Jamie keeps looking at her direction, anxious. He takes in a deep breath and quickly lets it out.
Jamie: Are you okay? Are you feeling hot?
Grace: No, I’m fine.
Silence.
Grace: Thank you again for allowing me to stay over your house for the night.
Jamie: It was nothing. Again, I feel responsible for Shawn going off like that. It’s not like him to do that…
Grace: Skylar can be very persuasive.
Grace finally looks at Jamie.
Grace: She persuaded you to go to The Voyage.
Jamie: She seemed to have persuade you to go as well.
Grace chuckles and looks forward towards the highway.
Grace: Touche.
Jamie smiles without even realizing he is. He clears his throat.
Jamie: I also apologize for Kevin’s behavior. That was very much uncalled for.
Grace: Hey, you can’t help your friends that are just trying to protect you… Ari would’ve killed you before killing me if it was the other way around.
Jamie: I’m… legitimately afraid of Ari.
This makes Grace genuinely laugh and smile. Jamie feels less tensed up.
Jamie: *looks at GPS* Do I keep going up this road?
Grace: *nods* Mhm.
Jamie continues to drive. Moments later, Grace turns on the radio to ease the silence between them. Jamie is relieved.
They eventually get to Grace’s place. Jamie stops the car in front of the condo where Grace lives. There’s a silence between the two for a moment.
Grace: Thanks for the ride home, I really appreciate it.
Jamie: It’s the least I can do.
Grace smile and begins to exit the car. Jamie walks her, never taking his eyes off of her. As she gets out of the car, she turns around to smile through the window; Jamie returns the smile back. Grace then proceeds to walk towards the condo. When she enters, Jamie lets out the breath is was keeping in.
…
Jamie walks into the front door of the vacation house. He hears laughter coming from the kitchen; he immediately knows who it is. He speed walks towards the kitchen. He’s not surprised to see Shawn standing over the island talking to Kevin.
Jamie: *stern* Ya~
Shawn and Kevin look at Jamie.
Shawn: Hyung! Where were you?
Jamie: *sarcastically* Oh nowhere important, just had to drop off Grace since she couldn’t go home last night.
Shawn: Did you spend some quality time with her?
Jamie: *yells* Does it look like I’m joking with you, Shawn?!
Shawn walks over to the fridge to take out a bottle of water; unbothered.
Shawn: What has you in such a bad mood today?
Jamie: You ditched me at the bar last night!
Shawn: You were with Grace though, it couldn’t have been that bad…
Jamie: Not only did you ditch me and leave me with Grace, you went and stayed over her cousin’s place that you had just meant hours before! Are you out of your mind or something?!
Shawn: Hyung, Skylar is… so amazing.
Jamie: *yells louder* I don’t care, Shawn! My point is you were irresponsible and wreckless and left me for a woman!
Shawn: You were the one that tagged me along so you can meet up with Grace! I just gave you two some alone time!
Jamie shakes his head and walks out of the kitchen. Shawn, now defensive and annoyed, follows Jamie. Kevin tries to stop Shawn, but is unsuccessful.
Shawn: I don’t know what’s your problem! You had a whole night with Grace! What happened? Did she break your heart some more?
Kevin: Hyung!
Jamie doesn’t even turn around, he just keeps walking towards the front door.
Shawn: If you had such a miserable night, then maybe that’s your sign that you should let her go! Forget her! Don’t be angry at me–
Jamie: *yells* Ya!
The house gets quiet; nobody makes a sound. Jamie grabs his keys and opens the front door.
Kevin: Hyung!
The door slams shut.
Letters From Liz. 