Chapter 6 - Can't stand no more

Jack was content with Cindy and his love for her, he confessed openly. It was 1:37am and Jill was fully awake and feeling numb from all the crying and sadness. Thinking about Jack and how she still thought he was making a terrible mistake. And wondering why he just didn’t pick up the phone and call her back, or at least check his messages? Jill was talking to his picture as if he was there.

“Why did you break my heart? Why didn’t you just talk to me instead of walking out of my life? You gave up on us, something you promised you wouldn't do.”

Jill made a final decision, to end all contact with Jack and to accept he had moved on without her. She was going back to Summerville, where she had already settled in and made new friends. No more whispers or being mocked for losing Jack to someone else. Jill started regretting more and more, the day she decided to come back to Thornsberry. The next morning Jill spoke to her parents about moving away indefinitely. Apologizing to them for everything that happened between her and Jack, including all the embarrassment, rumors, and humiliation. She informed them that she was going back to her old place she had in Summerville, and her employer said she could have her old job back, which was good news for her. Jill was disappointed with what happened, but at least no one in Summerville knew about her life in Thornsberry and for that she was grateful.

Her parents agreed it was best for her to leave, and they promised to visit after she gets settled in. They were hoping it would help Jill to feel better about herself and maybe start dating again. Although she wasn’t interested in a new relationship, Jill needed time to heal. Another relationship was the last thing on her mind, especially how Jack made her feel. With her things packed, she said her good-byes, letting her parents know she was going to be staying with a friend until she could move back into her old place. Jill hugged her parents and got on her way, leaving Thornsberry behind. She was remembering all the fun times she had growing up in the neighborhood. She gassed up her car then went inside to buy some snacks for her drive back to Summerville.

In the food section where she was standing, she saw Cindy and Jack being playful with each other. Jill walked past them as if she didn’t even know their names. Jack and Cindy didn’t say a word either, they just looked the other way. They all stood in line at the same time, with one person between them.

Once she paid and headed back to her car, she turned around and saw them kissing passionately in line. Jill rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath because she was angry. Jack wasn’t looking, but Cindy turned around with a smirk on her face, glancing over at Jill.

“I guess the trash is taking itself out of Thornsberry. Good riddance!”

Jill grimaced and called Cindy a bitch as she walked out of the store to her car. Jack never even turned to acknowledge Jill but walked straight to his car.

When Jill drove off, she didn’t get very far before her car overheated, then she had to pull over on the side of the road. Driving by fast and at full speed, Jack passed her by without even pulling over to make sure she was OK. He didn’t even slow down or turn his head to look at her. Jill was boiling mad and she was furious because he didn’t even stop to help her. She knew she wouldn't have left Jack stranded, no matter how she felt, even if she was upset with him. Jill was frustrated, and angry. She immediately called her dad.

“Dad, my car has stalled and now it won’t start. Please come and pick me up." (Jill’s dad finally arrived almost 2 hours later.)

“Sorry, it took me a while to get here honey. but I'm glad it's not dark yet."

"I’m so glad to see you, Dad. If I had got stranded out here, I wouldn’t have known what to do. I saw Jack with his new girlfriend, and he didn’t even stop to see if I was OK or needed help. Since we broke up, he hasn’t had anything more to say to me. He treats me worse than a stranger. It wasn’t my fault he assumed I had bad news or because he didn’t pick up the phone to return my calls.”

Her father was not pleased when he heard how Jack drove past her without stopping or how he handled their relationship after Jill returned home.

“No, it’s not your fault sweetheart, you still deserve respect. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and thank goodness he’s NOT the only one. Your heart won’t hurt forever and you’ll be glad when you no longer cry over Jack. And you won’t have to hear people’s criticism or listen to the rumors about you and him. You’ll going to be just fine without him.”

Jill’s dad called a tow truck for her car and allowed her to drive back to Summerville in his car. She had to take her dad back home before she could be on her way to Summerville. But since it was getting late and she didn’t want to drive in the dark, she chose to stay in Thornsberry overnight.

“I’ll leave in the morning dad. It’ll be daylight when I get there.”

"OK, honey. That's fine and it's better than driving at night."

Jill thought about telling Jack that she was leaving, but she knew he didn’t care anymore. Since Jill was leaving the next day, she decided to drive over to the pub to meet an old friend. The Mill was a place that held so many memories for her and Jack, and their favorite hangout spot with their friends, once they all became adults. Tears filled her eyes as she remembered their first time there and all the fun they had. She had so many memories going through her head, it made her feel very sad all over again. When Jill got to the pub, she saw Jack and his best friend Chuck having a drink. Jack noticed her but quickly turned away, Jill didn’t know what to think. Chuck came over to the bar where Jill was sitting to say hello and ordered another round of drinks for him and Jack. He spoke to her.

“Hi, Jill. I saw your parents the other day and they said you were leaving town.”

"Yeah, things didn’t work out like I planned, so I chose to move back to Summerville.”

“Sorry, it didn't work out, but good luck. I hope everything goes well for you. You’re going to be missed.”

Before he grabbed the beers, he gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then he grabbed their drinks and walked back over to the table with Jack. Jill could hear him telling Jack about her moving out of town. Jill didn’t want to say too much because she knew Chuck would tell Jack. She wondered if Jack still cared and what he was saying. Jack took a glance at her, then swiftly turned his head.

“I wish she had stayed away. She has been nothing but a pain since she came back."

"Wow! I thought you loved Jill. What happened between the two of you?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Had she not left we would still be together. She was selfish and only cared about herself."

Chuck realized how upset Jack was, so he didn't ask any more questions. Jill heard what Jack said about her. She felt a heaviness in her heart and she became angry again. Jack wasn't being fair or honest about what happened but she couldn't defend herself. She paid for her drink and quickly walked out, hoping to avoid another embarrassing situation. Her phone rang, it was her friend, Chelsey, saying she had changed her mind and wasn’t coming to meet Jill at the pub. Jill told her what happened at the bar and how Jack was being mean. Chelsey apologized to Jill and suggested revenge for all the humiliation Jack caused her. But Jill declined and headed home because she felt too much anger.

It was almost dark and Jill didn’t want to be out too late, but she took the long way home. As she was passing by the old well, upon the hill, she was reminiscing about their first date and how they carved their names in the big tree. Jill parked across the street from the hill for a few minutes, then she got out of the car and walked over to the big tree on the side of the hill. She saw where their names were carved in it; those times when they were happy and carefree. Jill remembered where they had their first kiss while lying on the grass. It’s where they became friends and where a lot of their memories happened when they were in their youth. They had the best times growing up in Thornsberry. Jill heard voices and laughter from the top of the hill. When she turned around and saw no one, she walked halfway toward the top of the hill, where she saw Cindy and Jack kissing by the well. She wasn’t sure if they noticed her or not, but it was too dark to see anything. She felt jealous and she hated watching Jack caress Cindy like he used to do her. But for a moment Jill’s mind had blacked out and everything became a blur and she felt agitated.