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The view was just as Carly remembered: the calm sea stretching on and on until she couldn't see it anymore as the setting sun reflected on its waters, with the orange and pink sky slowly turning into a blue and purple. It was a breathtaking sight, for sure, but she didn't expect to come back here again. The last time she was here, she was a journalist desperate for a scoop— one that could potentially ruin her new friend, similar to the gossip columns that the people loved to read. That was the day when she learned a little more about Jack and herself.
A heartwarming memory . She likes to think that she also helped him in a way. Carly has never been good with words, at least the spoken word. Writing is one thing, but speaking… She wonders how she managed to say the right things at the time, especially with her tendency to get off-topic and ramble.
Carly looks at her companion, who was staring at the sea. "You still can't see Satellite from here, you know." She comments, internally wincing as the words come out of her mouth. Maybe it wasn't the right thing to say.
"I know." Jack says, his gaze not wavering. He seemed to be lost in thought. Carly makes a note to leave him be for now, no matter how curious she was to know what he was thinking.
She was usually the one to invite him out, but today, he suggested going for a walk. He could have gone by himself, but when he raised a brow with a " What are you waiting for? ", Carly hurriedly got dressed to join him. She didn't know that their walk would bring them here , of all places. Did he plan this, or were his feet subconsciously bringing him to this tower? Maybe he wanted to reminisce— maybe this was a special place for him, too. Of course, she would never know this without asking him directly. But the tiny little feeling in her chest makes her hope that this was their special place.
The hopeless romantic side of her starts letting her imagination run wild, thinking about how he would propose in a place like this. However, she also doesn't mind if they just stayed as friends. It was fun fantasizing about being in love, but deep inside, she knows that Jack isn't the type to be tied down for love.
Carly ignores the dull ache settling in her heart and looks at the view with a smile.
Jack doesn't know why he brought her here. Hell , he doesn't even know why they were here in the first place.
His urge to take Carly out came out of nowhere, and he didn't realize where his body was taking them until they stopped in front of the tower. Something was telling him to go, and with an obedience he never knew he had, he went and walked over to the view overlooking the sea.
It felt right being here with Carly. He could feel her stare on him, but he doesn't want to meet her gaze, fearing that she would see through him like all of those times before. He remembered that it happened at least twice: after their little amusement park outing (It wasn't a date . Or at least, he avoided the possibility that it was) and the time when…
They were not there physically, he could remember it vividly. The glow of the sun from behind her as she smiled, pleading with him to end the turbo duel they were forced to have. How could she smile while saying something like that?
He tries to think of something else. Anything else. He didn't want to remember one of the worst days of his life, not when she was here. Carly was perfectly fine, as if it never happened, emphasized by her having no memory of that day.
"You still can't see Satellite from here, you know." She says, probably to lighten up the mood.
"I know." He replies, once again fighting the urge to look at her. Because he knows that he'll look at her the way he did on that day. It might trigger her memories. He didn't want that yet— he wasn't ready. Jack knows that he's being selfish, but he needs time to prepare. He has avoided this topic for so long, avoiding it for a little while longer won't hurt. The woman who saved him so many times deserved an explanation at the right time and place, but this wasn't the right time for him. No, he wasn't running away. He was just waiting for the right time to strike.
He allows himself to glance at Carly. She stands beside him with a small smile on her face, attention elsewhere. He wonders if she's enjoying herself, even if he kind of dragged her along with him. Is she remembering the time they spent here? Does she remember saving him again on this tower? Probably not, but he hopes that it holds a special place in her heart like he does.
Jack looks away quickly, before he focuses too much on how the glow of the sun reflects on her hair and the gentle look in her eyes as she stares at the horizon. A comfortable silence settles between them.
He wouldn't mind being here with Carly again. Someday, he would speak to her about his thoughts. For now, he was content to watch the calm waves of the sea with her, the sun setting behind them.