Free Falling From Disgrace by L Maretta

on calling him that evening to let him know she was fine and that she’d see him later during the week but he had just shown up again and she knew he saw her take the Vicodin in her bathroom.  She was annoyed, anxious, and embarrassed. 
     
    Jack could tell Adrianna was in a bad temper but when she was finished at the sink he stood before her.  He bent at his knees, bringing himself to the same height as her and looked at her expectantly.  “Hi,” he spoke, the word coming out almost like a question.
     
    “Hey,” she answered and then half-grinned at him, her eyes conveying that she was, for some reason... worried?
     
    Jack kissed her and then straightened, pulling her into an embrace that she did not return.  He ignored that though, and kissed her temple before asking, “Are you feeling better?”
     
    “I’m fine,” Adrianna answered tersely, pulling herself from his arms.  She stood across from him, leaning her back against the stove.
     
    “You don’t seem fine,” he pressed.
     
    “Jesus, Jack, I’m fine!  Give it a rest, okay?”
     
    Jack was taken aback by her outburst but he went to her once again and brushed her bangs across her forehead.  “Alright, Ilsa, take it easy.”
     
    Adrianna’s face twisted in confusion and she scathed, “Ilsa?”
 
    Jack waited a beat for her to catch on and when she didn’t he said, “Rick and Ilsa?  Tell me you’ve seen Casablanca .”
     
    Adrianna shook her head with a, “No.”
     
    “Holy shit, you’ve gotta be kidding me!” he teased.  “You claim to be a movie buff and you haven’t seen Casablanca ?  That’s practically blasphemy.”
     
    “No, I haven’t seen it, alright?” she huffed and then stalked towards her living room where she deposited herself on the sofa.
     
    Jack sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair, not knowing what he was doing wrong.  “Did you eat?” he called out to her.
     
    “No.”
     
    “You want me to order a pizza or something?  I’m starving.”
     
    “I don’t care.”
     
    Jack sighed again and pulled out his cell phone.  After being told their food would arrive in about forty-five minutes, he helped himself to a soda from her fridge and then reluctantly joined Adrianna in the living room.  Figuring she needed some space, he didn’t sit beside her, but on the adjacent loveseat.
     
    “Mind if I put the television on?” he asked, reaching for the remote.  “The Sox are playing.”
     
    Adrianna shrugged and studied her cuticles while Jack sipped his coke and watched baseball.
     
    He didn’t really pay attention to the game though, getting more annoyed by the second at Adrianna’s sullen demeanor.  When she finished picking at her nails she sat with her elbow on the edge of the sofa, her chin resting glumly on her hand, and just stared at the wall across from her. 
     
    Jack exhaled loudly, muted the television and spat, “Will you please tell me what the hell is going on, Adrianna?”
     
    Adrianna snapped her head around to glare at him.  “If you don’t like how I’m acting you’re free to leave.”
     
    “Do you want me to leave?” he shot back.
     
    “If you want to leave, leave!”
     
    “No, I don’t want to leave; I want you to tell me what’s wrong.”
     
    “For God’s sake, I’m just tired, okay?” she huffed, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
     
    “Really?  You’re going to feed me the ‘I’m just tired’ bullshit.  Come on, Ade,” Jack admonished.
     
    “What do want from me, Jack?” Adrianna shouted, her voice cracking with strain.
     
    “I want you to talk to me,” he insisted, saying each word with careful deliberation and glaring right back at her with blue eyes that were dark and narrowed.
     
    Adrianna turned her gaze up to the ceiling, clenched her jaw, and wished Jack would just give up on her.  Maybe now she should just spill her guts to him so he would become disgusted with her and go.
     
    They were interrupted by the