(Cont.)
Jenny felt strange, being in Tim’s arms, protected, guided. She found herself thinking how insignificant to the moment she really was. Tim was doing all the work, and part of her felt like a fraud as she awkwardly struggled to find his rhythm. If she did make the shot, did she deserve the accolades that would follow? If she missed, couldn’t she technically just blame it on Tim?

She silently made a wager with the pool hall God’s that if she made this shot, she’d devote herself completely to him. She’d go back to the way things were, back to the original plan, back to the promise’s she made. No more distractions!! And as the ball cascaded off the bumper and made it’s way back up the table, she wondered what, if anything, it meant.

Jenny had been paying attention to the ‘signs’ lately. She needed answers to questions that she had been too ashamed to ask. And this practice, although juvenile, had become her only source of wisdom. She was alone in a strange city, and the only two people she really knew, were the two in front of her biding for her attention. She was snapped out of her thoughts by Marina’s clapping, and as Tim released her she turned to face him. “I’m sorry Tim.” Tim was clearly annoyed by the obnoxious clapping coming from his nemesis, but as he looked down at Jenny, he did his best to force a smile, “You’ll get it. Don’t worry, it’ll come to you.”

“Yes Jenny! Practice makes perfect!” Marina walked over and slowly took the pool stick from Tim’s hand. They watched as Marina lined up her shot and as she was about to take it, she glanced up at Jenny, stunning her with her glare. Marina mentally gave herself a pat on the back as she reveled in the power she had over her, and looking down sank one in the side pocket. As Marina walked passed Tim she said, “Don’t worry Tim, I’m sure that was just luck” as she lined up her next shot. Tim kept his daggered stare planted on her. He was just waiting for that ‘luck’ to run out as Jenny began turning her attention to the room.