Page 2 of Saving Little Jenna
Chapter 2: Clark
I was right behind the beautiful stranger who said her name was Jenna. She spoke in a low voice so she must’ve been embarrassed about the situation she was in. I didn't mean to intrude but I happened to overhear her conversation with the cashier.
I knew what it felt like to be in Jenna's shoes. My mother kicked me out as a boy when my father had left. She chose to start over and remarry a rich man who didn't want to raise another man's son. My mother's decision didn't come as a surprise. Of course she chose a rich man over her own son. Some people just weren't meant to become parents because they couldn't love anyone but themselves.
Being homeless at such a young age meant starting my life with a huge disadvantage. I asked around for food in exchange for work. I was lucky enough that kind strangers helped me along the way. It was still unbelievable how I’d managed to beat the odds years later and become one of the city's most successful entrepreneurs. The journey wasn't an easy one but I wouldn't be where I was if not for the kindness of strangers.
I always wanted to do something in return now that I was well off. I donated a large portion of my earnings to several charities that worked on ending homelessness and hunger, two of the most important issues to me. Most millionaires worked hard to make themselves richer, but my motivation had always been to help the needy. The harder I worked the more likely it was that hundreds of people didn't have to go to bed hungry. It was why I got out of bed each morning and pushed myself to work harder.
While I didn't involve myself directly with helping the needy, I knew my efforts were best put elsewhere. But when I saw Jenna run out of the store crying, I knew I had to do something. Maybe money wasn't the only way I could help the needy.
When it was my turn at the cashier who looked at me with a forced smile, I gave her a sour look. She didn't have to be so rude to Jenna. She made the poor woman cry. I abandoned my shopping carts and rushed towards the exit, hoping I didn't lose her. Jenna was probably the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen despite her messy hair and sweaty clothes. What I was about to offer her was only going to be out of kindness, but why did she have to be so pretty? It was only going to make things harder for me.
My last relationship had ended poorly. I didn't want to grow overly attached early on and fall for another woman after what happened last time. It was stupid of me to keep making the same mistakes and expect a different result, but I couldn't help who I was. My failed relationships had brought me to the conclusion that I was different from other men and no woman was compatible with my personality. I recently made the hard decision to accept that no matter what I did, I'd end up alone.
I liked the idea of coming home to someone and waking up next to someone for the rest of my life, but sometimes you can't have it all. I had a successful career and I should be content with it. Maybe if I tried hard enough, I could derive all my happiness from my career and ignore this deep desire I had to take care of someone. All my problems would cease to exist if only I was like some of my friends, who only needed one-night stands with strangers to keep them happy. But no, the heart wanted what it wanted.
The moment I stepped outside the supermarket, I felt a wave of emotions take over me at the sight of beautiful Jenna in the distance, sitting on the ground and wiping tears running down her cheeks. I had this immense urge to throw my arms around her and tell her everything was going to be alright, that I'd take care of her no matter how hard her life was. I took a step towards her before stopping. Wasn't this the reason all my relationships ended? I got attached too soon. I was too caring and protective to the point that my exes felt suffocated. If I tried to help Jenna now, I wasn't sure I was strong enough to resist her. I would grow too attached too soon and she'd find it suffocating too. I would get my heart broken again and it would be painful, but at least this time I would help someone in the process.
I ran towards Jenna and sat on the ground next to her, placing a hand on her back and gently rubbing it. She almost jumped when she turned her head and our eyes met.
"Are you quite alright, Jenna?" I continued rubbing her back in small circles. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. She had no right to be so rude."
When she tried hard not to sob from embarrassment, I threw my arms around her and instantly felt her shoulders relax against my chest. She hesitantly put an arm around me and let out a loud sigh of contentment.
"Don't you worry now." I broke the hug and smiled at her, glad that she had stopped sobbing. "I have some leftovers back at my home. You're more than welcome to come with me and have them. Do you have a place to stay?"
She found it hard to look me in the eyes, looking away in the distance instead and sitting there in silence.
"You can trust me if that's what you're wondering." I crossed my legs on the ground and waited for a reply, but she put her head down and continued to sit in silence. "At least let me buy you some food. I'll be right back."
Just as I stood up to head back into the supermarket, she grabbed my hand. She tried her best to look me in the eyes and nodded before standing up, still shaking as her stomach rumbled loudly from hunger. The fear in her eyes was the most intense I'd ever seen, which didn't make any sense. Was she in trouble with the law? Was she running away from someone? Or was she just scared of strangers?
"So you'd like to have some leftovers then?" I asked, to which she nodded.
As I began walking towards my car, Jenna continued to hold my hand in a tight grip, keeping her body close to mine which I somehow found adorable. I was such a hopeless romantic, fascinated by a woman who hadn't even talked to me yet. I had to stick to my original plan, though. No more falling for women because it all ends in heartbreak. I just had to accept that I'd end up alone. Hopefully, Jenna would end up being a good friend, an exceptionally beautiful friend.
I was glad Jenna decided to trust me. Physical contact such as a hug was an easy way to show someone you meant them no harm.
When I opened the door to my car for her, she got in and collapsed into the seat. When she let out a sigh of relief, she looked like she was beginning to relax.
When I got in the driver's seat, I decided to clear things up before I started the car. It was important to communicate my intentions.
"If you're wondering why I'm doing this," I began as she sat up straight, the fear and sadness in her eyes swiftly returning. "You reminded me of myself. The world would be a much better place if we all helped one another instead of being so self-centered. Decades ago, I asked around for food too in exchange for work. Let me tell you, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Everybody needs a little help every now and then. Back then, I couldn't have survived if I wasn't helped along the way. So now whenever an opportunity arose, I tried to help however I can."
She looked at me astonished with her mouth half open and when she spoke, it was so quiet I could barely hear her. "Decades ago? How old are you?"
When I chuckled, she nervously looked down at her fingers and began fidgeting with them.
"Oh, no." I shook my head. "It's alright. I'm thirty-six and my name is Clark Scully. How old are you, Jenna?"
"Twenty," she said in a low voice, her head hanging low.
"Do you have a place to stay?" I asked.
She had a backpack with her, which she clutched close to her chest. So I guessed she was new in town.
She shook her head slowly and looked at me sadly. I could tell she was rethinking the decisions that led her to ask around for food.
