Briony wrote:
By the time Kaylee had arrived, it was a second too late.
He'd called her a matter of minutes before, requesting a hand to keep his new invention stabilized; as she always did, she responded with a loyal 'I'll be right there', as a best friend of fifteen years should. And she was; but just a second too late.
"Jack? Are you in here?" Kaylee pushed opened the squealing doors of the garage; the soft sound of her voice echoed around the empty hall, the soft, lilting tones not disguising her worry. Her voice, in the silent, veiled blackness, sounded as swift and jolting as a klaxon.
"Kaylee..." Jack's voice sounded broken with regret and misery. "Kay...lee..."
"Oh, Jack." Kaylee picked up the skirts of her nightgown and hurried over, careful to avoid the steaming shards of glass the littered the floor perilously. She skipped over on her toes, agonized and afraid. "Oh, Jack. I'm so sorry."
For, where Jack sat, lay the remnants of what must have been his latest project. Kaylee kept her tone carefully apologetic, and sad: though by the looks of the dangerous knives, the axe blades and the red wires, his invention had not been one for cutting wedding cakes. Although it was unlike Jack to create weaponry, his business was failing and money was low. Kaylee was sharing as much of her allowance with him as she could; but still, it was not enough for them both.
"She was going to be perfect." Jack croaked brokenly; Kaylee knelt next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Jack." Kaylee apologized again, dropping her hand to his and letting her head fall onto his shoulder. "Really. If only I'd gotten here quicker."
As soon as it was out of her mouth, Kaylee regretted what she'd said. Jack had a notoriously bad temper, and a habit of pushing the blame off of himself, and pinning it on another: that person often being his best - and only - friend, Kaylee. Kaylee felt his shoulder stiffen, and her eyes closed, braced for impact.
"Yes, yes! If you'd been here sooner, then everything would have been okay!" Jack pushed her head off his shoulder roughly; Kaylee skirted a mound of springs and backed away, looking wounded.
"Jack, I did as much -" She started; but Jack shook his head and clapped his hand over his ears; his bright, intuitive green eyes squeezed shut and Kaylee felt a sinking in her heart. She'd lost him; he wasn't going to be reasonable, or not tonight, at least.
"Leave me alone, leave me alone! You always ruin it!" Jack's words hurt her, like they always did: on nights such as these, she was worthless, stupid dumb.
And on the following morning she'd always be perfect, forgiving, beautiful.
Pinching her lips, Kaylee rose and turned her back to walk away. Fiercely wiping away the tears, she reminded herself that he wasn't worth it; repeating it to herself, she unwillingly turned back as she approached the door. Jack was crouched over his broken invention, muttering feverishly, a glazed look in his eyes. Kaylee's eyes filled with tears at the lack of remorse; and as she faced her friend for the last time, she felt a tear spill down her cheek.
"Goodbye, Jack." She whispered to herself.
~
"Kaylee, Kaylee, I've got it!" Jack hollered down the phone; it took him a couple of seconds to realize Kaylee wasn't replying with her usual gusto and he paused. "Hello?" He added, suddenly unsure of himself.
"Oh, Jack."
Kaylee's father didn't sound as pleased as he usually did to hear his daughter's best friend. The two were relatively close; they shared a passion for science, and would often rattle off facts and figures for hours, while Kaylee struggled to get a word in edge ways. That was how it had always been, and Jack had never considered that she hadn't enjoyed listening to the two of them.
"Hello, sir. Is Kaylee there?" Jack requested politely, not remotely abashed. His feverish excitement for his new invention was almost overwhelming; he checked the clock, glancing over his shoulder, fidgeting in his seat. He needed Kaylee for the finishing touches; then they could admire it together, his weapon, and then last night's events would be forgotten.
"Sorry, Jack, but she isn't." Kaylee's father's tone was ominous; foreboding. Jack's excitement dimmed as something in his gut swooped. Kaylee was never not there; she didn't have many other friends, and she was always on standby for his inventions, always ready to help. Kaylee not there wasn't a reality that existed.
"Oh. Uh - well, when she gets back, can you tell her to come over immediately? It's very important." Jack's high was crashing, and he felt miserable, close to tears. Was she angry at him after last night? That had to be it, didn't it? Maybe she was sulking, avoiding him? But... that had never happened before. Kaylee understood... didn't she?
"Sorry, Jack." The other end's voice sounded tight with tension; anyone who was anyone would be able to predict that Kaylee's father was about to snap. Jack, dear, gormless, Jack, had no clue. "But no."
And then, he snapped.
"Her bed's empty what does she think she's doing walking out on school just because you, you insolent, uncaring boy didn't listen to her I can't believe she's just walked out of town without considering her parents or her schoolwork whatsoever -" Jack slammed down the telephone, his heart racing with fear. Kaylee couldn't have left - she cared so much about her schoolwork, her college applications, getting a decent job, and all those things...
Jack ran to the garage, where last night's scene had taken place. Someone had been here, so much was evident; fresh tracks carved their way through settled dust as Jack inspected last night's damage.
A note, one of Kaylee's. Her usual, pink, heart-shaped Post-It notes, was stuck to a metal crowbar.
I love you.
Goodbye.
Kaylee xxx
By the time Jack had realized, it was a second too late.
He had always been there, but never listened. And now he was there; but just a second too late.
This is awesome.
I love the repetition of the second too late and I literally almost teared up