Made To Be Broken

Chapter 2

Jack fanned his face as he got up from the chair in front of the buzzing computer. There had to be someone who could get the air-conditioning going. He rubbed his face, wiping away sweat and then, finally, felt the cool air fill the room.

"About time," he muttered, reaching over to his phone, pressed the button that made him available and sat down again.

Almost immediately, it started ringing and he pressed another button to answer, lazily putting on his headphones.

"Computer support, this is Jack Dawson, how may I help you?"

Bored, he scribbled in his notepad while he answered a panicked woman, telling her what to do to make her computer work again. Jack leaned back in his chair, sighing lightly before the next call came. He liked this job, but it was unbearably boring at times and he couldn't wait to get home, to get to work on his art project for class. It was just an afternoon, evening job, to help pay the bills at his apartment. During the days, he attended class at the art school, trying to improve his abilities to one day get his work into a gallery, become famous, and make his living through art instead. Right now, he felt like he could kill for a cool bed and a huge glass of ice-cold water next to him. It was really too hot to be sitting in front of a computer. Too hot. Too hot to think.

He had been late for work today, since he had had a doctor's appointment, just a check-up, at the hospital. So, he had to work an hour more, until 11 P.M. But strangely, that wasn't what filled his head when he thought about the hospital. He thought about the young woman he had run into outside. She had been tired, probably after working in this heat. Unbearable heat. But her smile stuck with Jack. She had been very beautiful, and sad in a way no one would notice. Melancholy was the word.

Jack sighed, listening to someone ramble on about how their computer had made weird noises and then blacked out.

"Try restarting it," Jack said tiredly, not even aware what he was saying anymore. The heat was starting to really get to him. And that young woman...her smiling face danced in front of him. Rose Hockley...was she married? Taken? Such a pretty woman had to be taken.

Jack sighed, making the man he was talking to, start screaming at him.

"Pay attention! This is my computer...my life, my whole reason for being here! Help!"

Jack chuckled silently and concentrated. But Rose kept dancing in the back of his head. Rose...Rose Hockley.

7:02 P.M.

Rose breathed in the evening air, feeling relieved to be rid of the powerful afternoon sun and air. Cal was picking her up at her place, but she didn't want him to come inside again, so she waited outside her building.

Her heart missed a few beats as something in her gut told her that this was a bad idea. Of course it's a bad idea...you're dating Cal, the man who hit you, forced you to sleep with him when you didn't want to, the man who wanted to shatter your dreams.

To her surprise, the blond man from the day before popped into her head again. Jack Dawson. She found herself wondering why he had been at the hospital, what he did for a living, what he liked, what he didn't like.

"He wouldn't like Cal, that's for sure," she whispered to herself and then smiled politely, watching Cal run up to her. He looked nervous and his tie was on askew, his dark eyes shone with excitement.

"Why are you waiting here?"

"To save time," Rose replied curtly, walking with him to the car. He looked at her, hurt showing in his eyes.

"Come on, let's go!" she said, trying to smile at him as he opened the car door and she got in. He sped off, making her heart jump. He seemed angry now and anger was never good with Cal. He could never control himself.

Well, at least we're outside, with people around. He can't hurt me. He wouldn't dare. It would ruin his reputation...this time for good. She remembered one time when he had hurt her so badly that she had had to go to the hospital and he had lied, told the doctors that she had fallen down the stairs. His reputation was everything. That was why the divorce would be hard for him, not because he still loved her.

So, why was she out on a date with him? She felt sorry for him and wished the old Cal would come back, the only man she had ever truly loved, the only man she had ever been able to be herself with. He was gone now, but her heart had trouble accepting that. Sighing, she followed Cal inside the extravagant restaurant.

"So, Rose...what's new in your life?" he asked pleasantly, taking her hand across the table.

"Nothing really. Just working, trying to make the apartment feel more like home. You know, Cal, it's the first place of my own I've had."

He smiled, but she saw in his eyes that he couldn't care less and she was beginning to regret her decision to give him a chance again. Why should she give him another one of the endless chances he had been getting? He would only hit her, try to control her, hurt her, make her miserable over and over again. She should know better.

But now she was here and she could at least enjoy the dinner.

"Rose, please, why won't you take me back?" he whispered, trying his best to look like a sad puppy, his eyes shining with tears and his lips trembling.

"Stop it, Cal. That won't work." She smiled at him as he looked at her with hard eyes now.

"We were married for five years...five years...how can you just throw that away? How?"

"Because I like my life, Cal. I don't want you to destroy it ever again." But her decisive tone was fading. She didn't like the idea of a divorce anymore than he did. She just had to be sure he wouldn't hurt her again.

"But I'm a changed man, Rose.really I am."

Rose just smiled at him, taking a bite from her cold salad, it was really too hot to eat anything else.

"I love you, Rose...please give me a chance."

She stared into his eyes, feeling herself soften, against her own will.

No, I can't believe him...but it would be so nice with a new start, someone to come home to, someone who cares. He does care, in his own twisted way. And he was always so wonderful before we got married, those first two years even, they were great. Maybe he is different now...maybe he is the same man he used to be?

He smiled at her, picking up her hand to kiss it softly and Rose's insides went completely weak. She just stared at him and then smiled, nodding.

"All right, one more chance, Cal, I'll move back with you."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight," Rose whispered and closed her eyes as he got up from his chair, hugging her tightly. "Oh Rose, you won't be sorry. I'm so glad you reconsidered. I cannot live without you. I just can't."

She felt her eyes fill with tears and she held him gently. It felt good to be in someone's arms again and maybe.this time things would end happily? He did say that he was a changed man. Maybe?

The blond man's face danced before her and she squeezed her eyes shut, moving her head to Cal's and they kissed deeply.

Things would be okay.

More coming soon!