I cried the entire way home. I cried like I’d lost my best friend...because really, I had. Jesse had been everything to me, and he’d tossed me aside like I didn’t even matter. He’d begged me to believe him. But how could I when I walked in on him and Ally? There was no coming back from this. I’d given him everything, including my virginity, and now, I had nothing left—nothing.
True love doesn’t exist.
Jesse
I watched her car disappear around the corner, taking everything that mattered to me with it. How did this happen to us? I knew from the pain in her eyes that she was truly gone. I didn’t cheat. I know I didn’t. No matter how drunk I was, I would never betray her like that. Despite my insecurities from the night before, I still wanted to be with her.
It took everything I had not to chase after her. I couldn’t let her go. I couldn’t let her think the worst of me. Maybe if I gave her a few days to calm down, she would see reason and know that I didn’t cheat. Needing some kind of outlet for the emotions running through me, I slammed my fist into the side of the trailer before I walked inside. I went back to my room where Ally was still in my bed.
“Why were you in bed with me?” I asked.
“I’m sorry. I got tired while I was watching you. I must have fallen asleep.”
“How did I end up in only my boxers?”
“I took off your clothes for you while you were sleeping. I thought you might be uncomfortable.”
I sighed. “I wish you didn’t. It looked really bad when Emma came in here.”
“So what? I thought you were done with her.”
“I never said that. I was just confused and upset over some stuff her mom had said. Now, it looks like she’s done with me. She told me to stay away from her.”
“I wish I could say I was sorry, but I’m not. It’s time you moved on from her. She’s not the right girl for you.”
“How can you even say that? You know nothing about her,” I said angrily.
“But I know you. You could do so much better, Jesse. Why can’t you see that?”
“I don’t want anyone else!” “Not even me?” she whispered.
“What?” I asked incredulously.
“You heard me. You can’t pretend that you don’t know how I feel about you.”
I wasn’t pretending. I had no idea where this was coming from. Ally had never even hinted that she felt that way about me.
“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Her face twisted in anger as she spit out her next words. “Of course you don’t. You’ve been so wrapped up in her that you can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”
“I—”
“Just don’t even say a word. I should have known better than to hope for something between us.” She stomped past me and out the door.
I stood there with my mouth hanging open, trying to process what had just happened. Ally wants me? When did that happen? I walked over to my bed and fell down onto it. My head was pounding like hell, and my world had gone to shit in just twenty minutes. Why the fuck do I even try? I closed my eyes, letting the world fade away.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept, but I woke up to someone tossing my ass out of bed.
“What the fuck?” I groaned.
“Get up, asshole,” Andy said.
“What the hell is your problem?” I asked. Apparently, today was shit-on Jesse day.
“Ally just came home, crying her eyes out. I can’t believe you would do that to her!”
“Do what?” Now, I really was confused.
“Sleep with her, and then kick her out. I thought you were better than that. We’ve been best friends for years, and she’s my sister!”
“Whoa, wait a minute. I never slept with Ally, I swear.”
“Well, that’s not what she’s saying, and I’m taking her word over yours. Stay the fuck away from us, or I’ll kick your ass. I mean it.”
“Andy, I swear, I didn’t!”
“Whatever. Just stay away from us.”
He turned and stormed out of my room. Jesus, could anything else go wrong today? I’d lost Emma, Ally, and Andy in the span of a few hours.
“Jesse, why are you on the floor?” my mom asked from the doorway.
I looked up to see her staring at me with concern. “It doesn’t matter. Is your offer to go with you still open?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Of course it is, honey. What happened to make you change your mind?”
I ignored her question. “I can have all of my stuff packed by morning.”
Yeah, I know I’m running, but I don’t care. Obviously, my word is shit to everyone around here, so what does it matter if I’m here or on the other side of the country? I’m done with all of it, all of them.
I spent the rest of the day and the night packing.
When Mark pulled up the next morning with the U-Haul, I didn’t hesitate to load my stuff first. After we had everything loaded and my mom’s car attached to the back of the U-Haul, I hopped into my Jeep, and I didn’t look back as I followed them onto the interstate and away from everything and everyone I loved.
––––––––
Life sucks. It had taken me a while to realize that, but it finally hit me like a ton of bricks. The only positive is that you learn from your experiences, and you grow.