Phase 9 Drop by the Downtown

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Best advice for decision making: Never consult more than one person, including yourself.
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ONE DAY. Just twenty-four hours. How such a momentary period would be enough to take a life-changing decision?

Amy's words kept repeating in Jake's head, "I'll give you one day to think over this. Tomorrow correctly at this time, the validity of my offer expires. So its up to you, whether to accept or deny my offer"

Just two hours have passed since Jake had left the Hamilton mansion, and his mind has been oscillating like crazy. If he accepts the offer he must abandon racing for a year, and if he turns down the offer he'd be back to his old and boring self of living and caring only for himself.

Racing has been your whole life. Even if its just for a year, how can you abandon racing and go for a new job. No, you must not accept the offer.

Life is unpredictable. Anything can happen at anytime. Do something remarkable before dying. Accept the offer.

With so many thoughts crowding in his brain, Jake's head was about to burst.

Except for himself and Amelia, no one knew what kind of job he was going to do. According to Jake's family, Jake would be the personal secretary of a billionaire, helping her in the administration of a group of hospitals. He alone knew that enrolling in the American military would be safer than this job. Anytime he must be vigilant to deal with weapons, ranging from Swiss knives to explosive missiles, and occasionally Ducati thieves.

Twenty four hours might not be enough to take a decision, but it was more than enough for Jake to hangout, so he gallivanted the Brooklyn streets in his car, along with his hangout buddies- Anne and Justin. Justin was Jake's best mate for the past ten years. They had many things in common- born in a rich family, dependent only on themselves, and had a perpetual fascination in off-road racing. Justin was a black. His features reminded Jake of Tej Parker from Fast and Furious, but he never mentioned it before Justin as he would brag endlessly about his looks.

Anne was the only girl in their trio. She leaves school by two in the afternoon but Will returned home only after eight, sometimes even later than that so she spent most of the time with Jake. Anne was the brightest member of their group. Whenever she was present, laughter and giggles were also present.

"Hey Jus, Where can I buy some decent clothes?" Jake consulted with Justin, who rode the shotgun.

"Clothes? Are you dating someone?" asked Jeanne, who sat at the back seat.

"I must have a chat with your friends. You seem to have a very bad influence." Jake grumbled about the disrespectful present generation and his glorious school days, while Justin suppressed a laugh.

"My friends? God, Jake don't be so typical." Anne mocked playfully while playing a racing game in Jake's mobile.

"If I was dating someone, I wouldn't be taking you both for shopping" Jake made a sharp turn at the alley giving a jerk to the passengers in the car. Anne's game got over due to Jake's rash driving. She was disappointed as she was so close to beat Jake's highest record in the game.

"So rude" she muttered.

They scanned the roadsides searching for clothes stores and stopped by the Downtown showroom. The gust of hot air from the heater above the glass doors tousled their hairs, which made Anne grumpy. The showroom was decorated with artificial trees having pumpkin orange and blood red leaves, and fragrance of apple and cider to signify the fall season. The salesman was flirting with the girl in the counter without noticing them.

"So what kinda clothes you're gonna buy?" asked Justin

"Just some formal wears" said Jake, glancing around the shop . Anne and Justin, stared at him with utter amusement in their eyes. Jake felt his cheeks heating up. Formal wears were out of his comfort zone. The formal wears in Jake's closets were just gifts from his parents and Will. He had mostly been in flirtatious clothes as termed by Amy.

He hadn't made his decision about Amy's offer but there he stood, purchasing formal clothes.

Or, had he already decided?

Jake washed away his overflowing thoughts, "Let's purchase some unflirtatious clothes" He simpered and walked inside, without looking back to see the perplexed faces.

Jake rummaged through an entire row, but came up with nothing. They were too bright or too formal and not his style. Finally Jake came up with a sky blue button down shirt. It was simple and elegant, perfect for his style.

"Hey Jake, how is this?" said Anne, holding a grey striped polo shirt.

"Picture perfect" Jake replied holding up his thumb, which made her smile. Jeanne knew about Jake's preferences more than himself.

Jake placed the two shirts on the counter. The girl at the counter, cut the price tags and packed the shirts in a bag.

Her thin fingers with long and glossy nails tore the bill from the printer "Eighty nine point nine dollars, Sir" she recited.

Meanwhile Justin was checking out the girl at the cash desk, ignoring the guy beside her shooting daggers at him. He leaned over the table pulling his A-game in a seductive smile, "Accept someone whom you think they deserve you." he leaned even more closer, "Not the guy behind you. He's just a flirt." Justin whispered.

"I will" the girl whispered back with a grateful smile,"Shall we meet up tonight?"

"I'm afraid not. I should fly the New York streets, hope it'll not be easy to catch me"

"Lemme see" she said, dropping the hundred dollar bill paid by Jake in the drawers. "Thank you, Sir"

"Are you sure she'll see you out?" Jake had a disgusting expression on his face.

"Man, good guys are outdated. Bad boys are on hot trending" exclaimed Justin.

"Whatever. I'm hungry" groaned Anne

"Come on. I hope there is a cafe round the corner." Jake insisted.

The smell of chocolate from the blender and fresh turkey from the oven made their stomachs grumble. They occupied a table near to the window, where Jake kept the shopping bags next to his feet. Anne scanned the menu card and passed it to Jake.

"Your order please" asked a boy. He must be a high school part-timer, as he looked very young and enthusiastic.

"I'll have a turkey sausage wrap" ordered Anne. She came there numerous times with her father so she had the menu card memorized by then.

"Sounds delicious. I'll have one of that" said Jake.

"I'll too have one of that" came a voice, which was Justin.

Jake and Justin stared at each other for a moment and burst into serious laughter. The waiter looked at them in confusion, and Jeanne stared at the ground pretending not to know them.

"Guys stop it. People are watching." she made the rest of the order.

The waiter gave a deep sigh, "I'll repeat the order. Three turkey sausage wraps, one medium iced latte, one medium sweet iced tea and finally a frozen hot chocolate. Are we good?"

"Perfect. Just go already." said Anne.

The waiter stalked away and came back after ten minutes with their order. Justin and Anne munched the snack like they haven't eaten food for days. Jake leaned back on his chair nonchalantly and sipped into his drink. As the cold drink slid smoothly down his throat, his thoughts rewound two days behind.

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Two days ago

A prick of conscience made Jake stand at the gates of the Hamilton mansion for three days, after Amy passed out on high dosage of sleeping pills. The gardener who came early in the morning, wondered whether Jake was the newly hired security guard. Hayden stayed at the mansion and looked after Amy for the three days. Jake was damn sure that he knew Hayden, but his dumb brain failed to remember. He couldn't interrogate Hayden as he avoided Jake as far as possible.

It was the fourth day and again Jake stood before the door, waiting for Amy to open. Impatiently, he rang the bell several times, till he heard a annoyed sigh from the other side.

"Amy, open the door. I know, you must be angry with me. I'm really sorry" Jake yelled at the intercom.

"Say the magic word" came a reply from the other side.

Oh Oh.., It was not Amy.

This voice was light and enthusiastic. Jake had never seen even an ounce of enthusiasm in Amy.

"Who's this?" said Jake

"Magic word?" demanded the voice.

"Abracadabra?" guessed Jake. The door immediately clicked open. Jake cheered within himself.

Amy leaned at the door frame, raising an eyebrow at him. Well, it was not Amy. It was actually a bright young man, with a fedora hat on his head. Amy's face was swollen in the long sleep, but the young man wasn't bothered about it.

"I see the reason why Nick gave you a black eye. You're such a pain in the ass" smirked Leo, "The magic word was P-L-E-A-S-E" he added

"Please" repeated Jake. Leo chuckled and let Jake in.

"Do you have a twin?" said Leo

"Yes, I do. How did you know?" Jake was turning anxious. He didn't want his family to be involved in this.

"I gave him a lift when he was getting beaten into a pulp"

A pressure formed in Jake's chest. He realized the reason behind Will's strange behavior. Obviously Will would've been confused to see a girl behave like a man.

"I'm Jake. Your name?" Jake asked politely, holding out his arm. Leo scanned Jake from top to toe, and shook his hand with a warm smile.

"Leo" he replied, "What was your twin's name?"

"William. William Turner"

"Will asked for my name. Tell him it was Leonard" said Leo

"Sure" Jake lied. If Jake told Will, he have to explain Amy's situation. He apologised to Leo in a one-sided telepathic conversation.

"I just wanted to check on you after Amy took so much of pills last time. I'm thankful that you're fine. I'll get going" said Jake. He felt that staying away from Amy would do good to both of them.

"Stupid girl. Always tries to clean our messes. She doesn't know the consequences of her actions" Leo cursed.

Jake who was about to leave, turned back on listening to Leo's weird accusation,"What do you mean?"

"Wanna know? Follow me" said Leo , jolting to the stairs. He performed dance moves and sang songs while climbing the steps.

"I'm too hot (hot damn)
Called a police and a fireman
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Make a dragon wanna retire man
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Am I bad 'bout that money, break it down" sang Leo.

Jake couldn't bear Leo's voice anymore. He tried to divert Leo by talking. "Are you a fan of Bruno Mars?"

"Never. This soul is one and only for MJ. Well this Mars guy's song seemed to define me. So I liked it" said Leo.

Jake wanted to know why that soul didn't die when Micheal Jackson passed away.

"Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you" he continued. Jake followed him, holding his forehead.

Jake doubted it was earthquake, as there was a slight tremor on the ground while they entered the east wing. Leo opened the door of a room. Jake can't tell he was deaf, but he was damn sure he'd be in the future. The speakers from Leo's room blared in the maximum volume.

"They told him don't you ever come around here
Don't want to see your face, you better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it" roared the speakers.

Even though Jake sealed his ears, the sound was deafening, "What the heck? Leo stop it" Jake screamed. Leo was unscathed by the sound. He calmly walked to the speaker and turned it off, "Dude you're gonna blast your eardrums" Jake snorted.

"It makes me forget who I am. That's what I wanted. Better than sleeping pills" said Leo.

"What did you mean earlier about the consequences of Amy's actions?" said Jake. He followed a wack job of a person just to ask this single question.

"The Alters are sensing a re-dissociation, creation of a new identity to be precise. It makes them feel insecure. There might be an appearance of a new character to share their time." said Leo, staring at the ground. Jake could tell from his eyes that Leo was also feeling insecure, so that's why he has been listening to music in such a high volume.

Jake was intrigued, "Do you have any idea about it?"

Slowly Leo nodded "Whenever Amy tries to end her life, the alters give their most to prevent her from dying. Sometimes a new alter might be formed to handle her depression. Myself and Barbara were formed under such circumstance. When I figured out that I was a alter, you don't wanna know what happened. I never had such a depression. Considering the irony, I was formed to handle Amy's depression" Never in the hell Jake thought there would be so much depression behind an alter who was always smiling.

"What about Barbara. How did she take it?"

"Barbara hasn't figured it out yet" said Leo, still staring at the ground. It lit up Jake's senses. Barbara has been roaming freely, without knowing that she was a alter. She thinks she is an independent soul. If the optimistic Leo didn't handle the truth well, then what would be the condition of Barbara?

"If a new character forms, she'll figure it out. How did I not think about it?" Leo scratched his head, "Anyways it has to happen one day. Jake will you do me a favor?" asked Leo, raising his eyes from the ground.

"What can I do?" Jake was perplexed. How the useful-for-nothing type Jake would be helpful to someone?

"When Barbara figures it out, I need you to be by her side"

"Why me?"

"Because" snorted Leo, "Barbara seems to like you"

Jake snapped from the flashback when Anne tapped on the table to get Jake's attention. He looked up from the table, and noticed that Justin and Anne were gawking at him.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Jake rubbed his nose to check what they were staring at.

"Yeah. Man, you're pale like you've seen a ghost" commented Justin.

Jake took the mobile in his pocket and dialed to Amy. She picked it on the first ring.

"Hello. Who is this?" said Amy

"Hello Amy. What I wanted to tell is.. that is.. I wanted to.." stammered Jake

Stop beating around the bush idiot. Do it like a man.

"Amy. This is Jake. I accept your deal"

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AN: Any Bruno Mars fans out there?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for reading.

Votes and comments are highly appreciated

Happy reading :-D


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