EDITED
26
"That's stupid! Do they not even know that he cheated on you?" Dylynn exclaimed after I explained to her what went down at my meeting with the Dean.
"No probably not." I chuckled. Like the school board would care about my relationship life. "I can't dwell on the past, anymore. Whether he cheated on me or not, this school means a lot to him and I don't want him to get kicked out."
Dylynn bit down on her lip. "You're not coming back in the fall, are you?" She asked, catching me by surprise.
I hadn't told anyone, how could she even have guessed that?
"How did you know?" I asked curiously, turning around on my desk chair.
"I don't really know. You've been really distant and it seems like you do nothing for yourself anymore."
"I can't come back, Dyl. It was a good during the first three quarters of the year. Everything I've ever dreamt of really, but after I lost Claire everything went down hill. I can't stay here, being reminded of everything I've lost."
"I understand." She nodded, with a sad sigh.
I could tell she was upset I was leaving because we had only just met. But, just because I was going back home, doesn't mean I would cut strings with everyone here. Josh needed me just like I needed him, so I'd tell him eventually. Plus, Dylynn has done so much for me since the whole Jackson thing went down. I couldn't ever cut strings with her either.
"Aren't you scared to go home, though?" She asked. "Like, running into Michael?" I merely shrugged.
"I never loved Michael the way I do Jackson. If I can continue to face Jackson after he cheated on me, I can face Michael too. It's been years, it's time I get over it." Then I remembered what happened at the library, seeing him there with Jackson. "Besides, I'm pretty sure he lives here now, in California." I added.
My phone rang from a reminder that I had set. I had agreed to tutor Jackson today at 2:30 at the local Starbucks. No way in hell was I going to go back to his dorm room. The one bad memory was enough to wash away all the good ones.
It was 2:15 so I had to head out.
"Tutoring?" Dylynn asked as I slipped on my flip flops. I was wearing black high waisted shorts with a feather pattern on them, matched with a white loose tank top and a three quarter sleeve black cover-up. I looked through my jewelry box for a necklace to wear and decided on the one with my best friend promise ring strung on it.
Claire gave it to me a few months after we became roommates; she was buried wearing hers. I thanked her mom countless times for that one.
"Yea." I confirmed.
"Call me if he's being a dick."
I chuckled and gave her a thumbs up. "Sounds good. Thanks, Dyl."
I took my time walking to Starbucks, really not eager to be there with Jackson. I purposely planned 2:30 because I had come to notice it was their busiest time of the day. I didn't want to be even remotely alone with him.
It's ironically humorous how far we got and then we were shot so far back, further back than the beginning.
I reached the Starbucks parking lot and instantly recognized his pickup truck. As I walked past it, I allowed my hand to drag across the drivers door.
I missed riding in Lucie with him, smiling and having a good time. I missed what we had. But a guy like Jackson Garfield can't change, I should've known it from the start.
"Jaycee!" Jackson called me over from the opposite side of the café. I held up a finger, telling him to wait a moment.
I stepped up and pulled my Starbucks gift card out my wallet. It was a good luck gift from my parents for the exam that I skipped. I wasn't going to waste perfectly good money though.
"What can I get for you?" The deep voice of the barista asked.
I looked up and saw Chris, the guy from the fair. I smiled. "Long time no see."
"Jaycee?" I chuckled and nodded. "Wow, long time no see." He agreed. "Hey, I...heard about your friend. My cousin told me. Really sorry for your loss."
"Thanks." I accepted, ignoring the chills I got from thinking about Claire being 6 feet under. "I lost your number," I lied; I deleted it when Jack and I started seeing each other. "Can you give it to me again?" I asked.
"Yea, I'll text you on my break, because I still have yours." I nodded, agreeing to that. "Now your order?" I chuckled and ordered quickly, seeing as the line behind me was growing and people were getting angry.
I went to the end of the counter, also by where Jackson was sitting with his math textbooks.
"What's taking so long?" He rudely questioned. I simply ignored him and accepted my coffee. I smiled when I realized Chris had spelt my name correctly on my cup.
Yay, now I could finally take the basic Starbucks picture!
Usually, they spell it JC.
"Let's start." I said. Jackson didn't fight it, like he would've a few months back. He knew this was his last chance.
I helped him and he didn't do too horrible, but not well enough to get a passing grade on that exam. Oh well, it is a work in progress. He wasn't going to be a mathematical genius after one session.
It was now 2:30 and our session was over, so I began to pack up my stuff, as did Jackson. I finished up before him began to make my way out of the cafe.
"Wait, Jaycee!" Chris called from behind the counter. "Wanna go do something?"
I gave this a quick, but thorough thought. Even though I wasn't looking for a relationship, making a friend never hurts.
"Yea, sure." I agreed.
"Two minutes." He said and completed taking some lady's order.
"I thought I told you I didn't like him." Jackson mumbled walking up next to me.
I let out a sarcastic laugh and rolled my eyes. "One, you don't get a say in those decisions in my life. Two, you don't even know the guy." Jackson didn't say anything as he turned and continued his way out the door.
So much for never going to stop trying to get me to forgive him.
He's bitter.
I called Dylynn quickly and informed her I was going out for the day with Chris. Her reaction was...
Chris?! From the fair? I found him on Facebook he's a hot peace of meat.
And it caused me to nearly die laughter.
"Bye, Dyl." I ended the call and finally turned to Chris with a smile.
An almost real one. Almost. That was enough for me.
•••
It was Sunday afternoon, I've been spending a lot of time with Chris lately. We were both currently on our way back to my dorm.
We are friends, and that's all. We both know that; we both had laid down the law with each other to make it clear.
You wouldn't believe what Chris and I had walked in on.
Dylynn and Matt kissing. Like...making out. Me being me, I screamed.
"fuck!" Matt cursed.
"Hey, Jay." Dylynn said casually. She didn't move from her spot on Matt or anything. At that, Chris and I looked at each other and busted out laughing.
It was weird seeing Matt be with someone and not drunk. Jackson used to always talk about how Matt wasn't a player, but he hasn't had a serious relationship since junior year. Matt is usually only with girls like that when he's drunk or at a party or something of that nature.
So, obviously, Dylynn meant something to him.
"Shut the hell up, both of you." Matt rolled his eyes at our over-exaggeration.
"Is it official?" I asked walking up to them and pushing on Dylynn's shoulders.
The two stood up and Matt put his arm around Dylynn's waist and pulled her into his side. "Yep." They announced in unison.
Dylynn and I made eye contact and she pulled away from Matt; we both squealed and held hands.
Like little middle schoolers discussing going on their first date with their long term crush.
It was a good feeling.
I pulled away from Dylynn and approached Matt.
"Listen here, Matthew Avalon, you hurt her like Jackson did to me and you will never have children." I said with a sarcastically sweet smile.
"I know Jackson told you this same thing, but I will never, ever hurt her. Keep in mind Jackson and I are two completely different people."
I nodded. "That's so true."
I trusted Matt with Dylynn like I trusted Josh with Claire. One can only hope their relationship doesn't have to come to end, especially the way Josh and Claire's did.
•~•~•
I am so determined to finish this story by the end of June, also to the best of my ability.
I hope you guys are enjoying.
Are you guys shocked that Matt and Dylynn are together?
Make sure you follow me if you want mini teasers that I post!!! I'll always give updates On how long the update should take and all that!
- emily