jones, james a.

[Deleted]

full name james andrew jones. date of birth 27.11.89 (25). home town san francisco, california. current city new york, new york. education ucla class of '11, english major. occupation movie critic. ________________________________________ I sat next to Jess in homeroom for years. Romantic, right? It gets worse. Because we're such a cliche - her, the all American girl next door, blonde hair all swishy in a high ponytail. Then there was me, desperate to grow facial hair, hunched over in my chair wearing a too-big leather jacket and giving her dumb jock boyfriend the finger when he'd go to lean on my desk. We were a bad teen movie. Ever since the days when the smell of her too sweet perfume would mingle with my own signature blend of stale cigarettes and too much cologne, we've been drawn to each other. Back then it was to fight, by senior year it was to fuck, and now... now it's a bit of both, but then it's a fine line between the two anyway. There's no one on earth I'd rather have as the mother of my child, she gives everything to Jasmine. Everything, including our marriage.  Because as soon as Jas came along, I was relegated to the sidelines. She used to meet me at the airport and be so eager to show me how much she missed me she'd drag me into the toilets, but with Jasmine around, she didn't even come pick me up. If anything, she seemed pissed at me for going in the first place. As if we didn't need the money more than ever, what with her taking time off work... the last couple years have been tough. But I still love her. I honestly know that I'll love her forever, I've never met anyone who could compare. But it's hard. ................................................... ................................................... That's a bitch of a question. My dad was my hero when I was growing up, and of course every dad wants that, wants to be a god in their kid's eyes. I want Jas to see me as a pillar of strength, to go to sleep feeling safe because daddy's there and always will be there for her, even when I can't be physically there or when she's too old to want me around. Man, I want so badly for her to always want me around, but I'm a realist about these things. She's always gonna be my little princess, even when she has little princesses of her own. But I think your question's a bit more ambitious than that. I benefitted from having two parents who were different from each other - there was my dad, an eternally struggling artist who believed in nothing but creativity and love and artistic freedom. Then there was my mom, a pragmatist through and through. While my dad encouraged me to finger paint with wild abandon, my mom would become frustrated when I consistently painted elephants purple or giraffes green, irritated by my preference for imagination over reality.  I want Jasmine to have the benefit of those two worlds. I want her to see everything from two sides. Some folks, they want to shelter their kids from everything, but that's never gonna be me. I want her to know what the world at large is like, but to know that her world will be whatever she makes it. I want her to take risks, but to face up to the consequences when those risks don't pay off. I want her to listen to me and her mom, but to be her own person always, to make her own mistakes and learn from her own experiences. Of course that's easier said than done-- we'll just have to see if I can practice what I preach when she's old enough to make those mistakes. ................................................... BEST MAN DAN: Dude, I know what you're doing. JAMES JONES: Oh yeah? What's that then? BMD: Fucking ruining your marriage is what. What the fuck is wrong with you? I thought you and Jess were good? JJ: I don't know what you're talking about man. BMD: Shut up. Just shut up, don't give me that shit. JJ: Dan, dude, chill out! It's not a big deal. BMD: Isn't it? You're a dad, J. As your daughter's godfather I'm fucking pissed, I can't imagine what Jessica is gonna say. JJ: ... Don't tell her. BMD: Don't tell her that her husband is fucking some teenaged wannabe actress? Why the fuck shouldn't I? JJ: It's not like that. BMD: Christ, don't tell me you love her. JJ: I didn't say that. BMD: She's practically the same age as your daughter. JJ: Hyperbole at its finest. BMD: She might as well be. This is going to blow up in your face sooner rather than later, you know that right? JJ: No, I'm gonna call it off. Don't say anything to Jess. BMD: You're making it really hard to like you right now man. JJ: I'm gonna call it off. BMD: Sure you are. JJ: I am. BMD: Right now? JJ: ... Maybe tomorrow. BMD: Alright Jay. JJ: I can't kick her out of bed, she's asleep and it's cute as fuck. BMD: You're a dick. JJ: I know, I know. Talk later, she's waking up. BMD: I hope she gives you AIDs, asshole. JJ: Love you too xxxxxxxxxxxx ................................................... ________________________________________ your name lex. play-by christian hogue. member group resident.