Chapter 129
1298words
"Jean?" I questioned, trying to understand why he decided to remain quiet. He had been off since the moment he picked up the call, and his behavior gave me reason for worry.
"uh, I'm not exactly busy. So you can tell me why you called, I'm all ears," he said, sounding somewhat strained and he only left me with more questions.
Where was he?
What was happening with him?
Why did he somewhat off?
I sighed and pressed my lips together, "Well, I actually called to know what you've been up to and if you would be free this evening ." I said, simply blurting it out. Even though he was acting weird, he could not possibly tell me I wasn't allowed to come over. Or could he?
"this evening?" he asked, and grew quiet again and I think that was all the confirmation I needed that something was definitely off and wrong somewhere.
"yes, this evening, I mean if you feel up for it. I wondered if we could do a bit of stargazing together. It's been a while yet since we did all of that." I said softly and I heard him let out a soft breath,
"I suppose it has been, it sounds good to me. Would you like me to come pick you up?" he asked and sounded more like the jean I knew. But I still had my doubts I suppose,
"oh, you don’t have to worry about coming over to pick me up. I can come over as soon as I'm ready." I said,
"I'd feel safer… I'd be more sure of your safety if you'd at least let me come pick you up," Jean said, and at least that sounded like the Jean I knew.
I smiled, "all right then. When will you come over?" I asked, and he went silent again,
"Jean?" I questioned and he blew out a breath,
"My apologies, Em. I'm just very tied up in work at the moment."
"I know that. That's why I asked you if you were busy at the very beginning."
"never too busy for you, Bon Bon." I smiled at the French term for sweet.
"I know you are'. But I really don't want to be the reason you have to put in extra time." I said, hoping I sounded understanding.
"Thank you for that. But really, it's okay," he said, but he sounded strained and I pointed that out,
“You don’t sound okay though.”
"If I sound a bit strained, it is because I might just be weary from all this work. That's why I'm glad you're here. You can keep my mind off things." he said and I giggled but something wasn't right.
Jean didn't exceptionally love his work, but he was an incredibly hard worker who attacked all of his work with everything in him. And he never said a word about being weary.
And there lay my confirmation that all was not right.
"no, you go on ahead and finish up what you're doing. Then after you've rested a bit, you can call me up and let me know when you're ready to pick me up. How about that?"
"Well…" he said, and in the silence that ensued, I could swear I heard a gurgling sound, "that will be fine. Talk to you soon," he said and hung up before I could even tell him goodbye.
I stood there in the kitchen. Simply stood there and had to wonder what in the world had just happened. He was hiding something, that much I knew. He had been doing so for more than a week now, and I convinced myself that if I didn't know, it was because I was not supposed to know. But now…
I could not help the worry that crept up my spine because of the call I had just had with Jean. Why had it been that way? He had spoken like a man who had his mind divided.
Sure, he said he was working, but I knew Jean well enough to know that all that paperwork on his table could never actually make him sound so strained. And what the hell had been that gurgling sound at the end?
No, something wasn't right with Jean. And as his friend and mate…well, technically I had rejected him. But then, considering the relationship we shared, I was allowed to worry about him and check in on him when I didn't feel like things were right.
My mind suddenly made up, and I began to head to my room, but too lost in the world of my thoughts, I had not been paying attention to where I was going and nearly bumped into my brother on the way, but he held me by my shoulders and looked at me with some concern,
"Anything the matter, Em? Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked and I looked up at him, feeling somewhat confused,
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just" I said and placed a hand over my head with a sigh, "sorry."
He put an arm over my shoulder and led me to the living room, "alright, let's hear it. What's got your knickers in a twist?" he asked and I sighed as I sat down,
"It's Jean," I said in a whiny tone and he looked so confused,
"What about him? Did he get hurt?" Axel asked, and I shook my head and simply threw my hands up I the air,
"I don't even know. He's been acting weird all this time, but today? Today was more than I could take. I called him and all through the call he was either really quiet or sounded strained, and then there was this gurgling sound and the end that sounded like it was a person in distress." I blurted out and blew out a breath, "What the hell could be going on, Axel?" I asked, needing answers,
"I really can't answer that for you, Em. Although I wish I could." he said and sighed, "is that why you were rushing out? You wanted to go find him?" Axel asked, and I nodded,
"I thought maybe if I saw him, and he answered those questions while I looked him in the eyes, I would be able to get my answers." I answered and shook my head, "But I suppose that's just my paranoia making me delusional." I said and rested my head on his shoulder,
"you're not paranoid. If you feel Jean is acting off, given how much you know him, then I believe you. Now we just need to figure out what exactly the problem is." Axel said, being the voice of sensibility and reasoning and I sighed,
"I wish it were that way. But if he isn't talking to me about it, it's because he doesn't feel like it's any of my concern. There's no way I'm getting it out of him when he gets like this." I said, and Axel shrugged,
"you should at least talk to him about it first. When you aren't so agitated, I advise." Axel said and I smiled sheepishly,
"Yeah, meeting him while I feel this way might only serve to push him further away."
"you can only truly push him away after bringing up an issue if he never cared for how you feel. So don't worry about that." Axel said and said and I nodded, sighed, and smiled at him,
"You're so knowledgeable," I said and made him chuckle,
"Thank you." he said and leaned back against the couch, "and so, if you feel better about his whole thing, how about we shift this to the side, and discuss your rising to power that should not be too far away from now."
