A/N Well, I finally had time to write Jenny's story :) Glad you all liked Passive, and I hope you like its prequel. I was going to just have a few flashbacks in the sequel, but it kind of got away from me. But, don't worry, the sequel featuring our lovely Dr. Crane will be coming pretty soon. Please R&R!
Thought I Was Over the Bridge Now
I walked hastily down the dark streets, avoiding eye contact with the various vagrants and otherwise unwholesome characters I passed by. My hands I kept in the pockets of an old trench coat, fingering the pepper spray kept there. I didn't want to attract attention, but being the only woman on the street, alone, was not fulfilling this wish very well. I cursed quietly under my breath.
"I hate the Narrows," I growled to myself. I sped up slightly as I finally reached the bus stop. I pulled my trench coat closer around me, surveying the other riders for anyone recognizable. None struck me as being memorable, so I looked around for the bus.
Perhaps I'm early. Perhaps there was traffic. Perhaps I'm in the Narrows and the bus driver wouldn't be driving any more busses. I believe the latter would be the most likely. By the worried looks on some of the others, they agreed.
Well, if worse came to worse, I could always go back to work. The diner was just down the street, and generally considered a safe place. Mainly because the owner, Eddie, paid more than he could afford to Carmine Falcone. However, it was still less than what many others had to pay. Fortunately for Eddie, I worked there. While not exactly an ally of the crime lord, I tend to come in handy from time to time. I bring in errant hit men and various other fugitives, provided Falcone pays me more than the police. Recently, I'd condescended to settle with just what the police reward was, so long as the diner was "protected" at a discount.
The patrons of the diner are as diverse as its employees. Eddie hired me a few years back, when my brother, Alex, disappeared. Eddie and Alex were good friends. Most of the employees are young women, hard on their luck, looking to make enough to leave the Narrows. As a result, many of the patrons are male, looking to keep the young women in the Narrows. Needless to say, I despise most of the patrons. But I serve them with a cool smile, never given in to their flirting. Unlike my best friend, Lisa. Lisa's a beauty. She intends to use this gift to snare a rich husband, and leave this place forever. How she plans to do that, I don't know. She's started recently to attempt to get invited to fancy parties. As predicted, her pretty face and demure manner have gained her entrance to a surprising number of supposedly exclusive parties. I can't help but be impressed.
Ah, but here's the bus. As has become habit, I sighed with relief at the sight. I don't live in a particularly good part of town, but it was better than the Narrows. A person might be mugged there, but would probably survive the experience, losing only a wallet and maybe jewelry. I have no jewelry and little money. My trench coat has seen better days, so hopefully I won't be presumed wealthy enough to take the trouble. However, it pays to be careful. I kept an eye on everyone I passed carefully as I hastened off the bus and onto the street. It's a block to my apartment building, but I can walk that in a few minutes.
Soon, I was safely in the building, not having been followed. I allowed myself to smile while I collected the mail. Which promptly wiped the smile away. In addition to the various bills, there was a letter from my sister. This was depressing enough, but there was also a letter from the bank.
Upon entering my apartment, I carefully locked all the locks behind me, then checked my phone for messages. Not surprisingly, there was nothing. Glaring at the phone for not providing a distraction from the bank's letter, I headed to the kitchen table. With a sigh, I opened it. While not a surprise, it was still quite a blow to find out its contents. "EVICTION NOTICE" it read. Along with other legal stuff to which I paid little attention. Where would I live now?
"Eddie? Hi, it's Jenny. Um, I just got evicted from my apartment. Do you know of anywhere cheap I could stay for a while?" I asked tentatively. He was my best bet. Lisa lives with her family, and, while I'm sure they'd welcome me, I don't want to impose on them. They have a hard enough time making ends meet without another addition to the household.
"I think I can help you out. There's an opening in my building, Jen. It's within walking distance of the diner. And it's pretty safe," he added.
I sighed softly. I didn't want to live in the Narrows. But, hey, beggars can't be choosers. "Thanks, Eddie. When can I move in?"
"The wife and me can come by tomorrow morning to help you pack up and stuff. Then you can come have dinner with us," he added. "I know you want to get away from here, but sometimes you have to move backward to move forward, right?" he said cheerfully.
"I guess you do," I replied quietly. "Alright, I'll see you soon."
The next morning, I sadly packed up my few belongings and reminders of the family I'd lost. I tried not to think about things like that. Like the fact that I'd lived in this apartment with my brother after my parents left. Then, he, too, had left me. But at least he had done what he could to provide for me, should I be alone. That's how I knew Eddie, after all.
I shook myself out of my reverie, before it went down paths I didn't want to follow. Not today. I smiled at Janet and Eddie, who were quite happy to help me. It was a rare trait in people, I thought bitterly.
"It will be so exciting to have a new neighbor," Janet said. Gushed, more like. I resisted laughing with some difficulty, especially considering how Eddie rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"I'm looking forward to it," I said sincerely. And, to my surprise, I found I was. It would be nice to live near people I knew. And not to be alone all the time.
"Good Lord, what is in this box?" Eddie demanded, hefting said box with difficulty.
"Bricks," I responded immediately. Janet stared at me in surprise. "And rocks," I added, winking at her.
She laughed. "She's so funny, Eddie! You'll have to come over for a dinner a lot," she told me conspiratorially.
"I'd love to," I said.
"We can talk about all sorts of girl things," she continued.
Before she could say more, Eddie broke in. "Oh, no, you are not coming over to my home just to talk about other men you both like more than me," he said, pouting.
Janet kissed his cheek. "Nonsense, darling. They're just more handsome, but have none of your charm," she said patronizingly.
I watched them, wondering how they could stay so happy when things were so dour. They lived in the Narrows. Worse, they had little children, who certainly deserved better. But perhaps that was it. They had each other, and that was enough for them. I considered the few wealthy families I had known, who had each other and a great deal more. They weren't nearly as happy. Perhaps they lost track of what was important. I would never make such a mistake, I thought. Even if I did somehow end up with more than what was necessary. And a family. I'm not sure which was less likely. It occurred to me that Janet was talking about me again, so I forced myself to pay attention.
"So, you got any knight in shining armor coming to rescue you from this place?" she asked with a smile.
"Not that I know," I replied, forcing a smile. I hadn't really considered the possibility. None of the men I knew could, by any stretch of the imagination, be termed valiant or noble. With the possible exception of Eddie, of course.
"Well," said the man in question, "I'm sure they're lining up for you by now. How do you keep them away?"
"With a stick," I grinned. This comment sent Janet into fits. Fortunately, she had the foresight to set down the box she held before collapsing onto the couch. Eddie smiled at her affectionately.
"You're not the most brilliant woman I've known, my love," he said gently.
"Of course not," she replied emphatically. "I wouldn't have married you if I were brilliant." She laughed while he pouted again. It was strange to see Eddie pout. But I like watching them. They're entertaining. I haven't seen many people like them. Then again, I suppose there's no one quite like them. I would enjoy being their neighbor, though their banter might become annoying after a while, I thought.
We packed their truck and my belongings and I said goodbye to my home. I hadn't extracted a promise for them to help me unpack, but, to my surprise, they were quite willing to help. Janet said they never stopped a job halfway. I smiled, but I didn't speak again until they left to start dinner. I had about an hour before I needed to go down to eat with them.
Surveying the mess that was my new home, I sighed. It wasn't a bad apartment, really. Oddly, it had two complete bathrooms: one in the bedroom and one off the main hall. Eddie had said that a previous occupant had converted a closet for some purpose he didn't go into. I'm not sure I want to know. I couldn't imagine any reasonable motive for two showers in such a small space. Oh well. It was a nice place, no worse than my previous abode. A bit smaller, but there was only one occupant now. No reason to get more space than I could afford anyway. And it was cheap; Eddie probably had given me a discount. But I appreciated it. There was no way I could afford somewhere this nice, this close to the "good" side of town, without paying quite a few bribes. I would have to work extra hard to prove my appreciation for the favor.
I unpacked for the remainder of the time I had. Specifically, I unpacked my clothes. I had few other possessions, but I've always loved clothes. There were only a few left when Janet came to get me for dinner.
Much as I enjoyed dinner with my friends, I felt a sense of foreboding throughout the evening. I was, after all, back in the narrows. The place where all pain seemed to originate. Of course, that was probably irrational. But it is a place to be feared, regardless of previous experience. I would have to be careful not to get into trouble while I had to live here, since I had no one to rescue me. Not anymore.