Chapter 56:
She couldn't for the life of her, understand his anger. His betrayal so thick in her throat, that it felt like sludge. As if it was blinding her.
She couldn't see past it.
She could only hyperfocus on the fact he had manipulated her, just like Randy once did.
Her fingers fisted into her red dress. "You watched me cry over him and you never corrected me. You just let me feel hopeless and betrayed...I trusted you."
Jackson looked furious.
"Should you have felt any different?" Jackson's voice thundered, "He cheated on you and slept with you right after he came home from a trip with her! Or did you forget that part?"
Kaitlyn felt like her heart was going to burst, but she didn't back down. "Of course I remember what happened! But you should've let me choose how I wanted to feel, not how you thought I should feel. I deserved to form my own decision when it came to him and what he did!
Chapter 57:Kaitlyn didn't understand how she had missed him, couldn't comprehend how she hadn't moved fast enough.But she hadn't. The dark, inky black of night, showcasing her the truth.That she was alone.She took another two steps forward, her bottom lip trembling.But Jackson couldn't be spotted anywhere. Her lungs heaving in her chest as she bent over and grasped at her knees for leverage. Her bare legs were shaking, the cold biting at her as tears welled up in her eyes.She couldn't believe it. Was he really...? Kaitlyn felt like crumbling."Jackson!" She called aloud, hoping maybe she just couldn't see in the lack of light.But there was no answer.Reality set in. In a moment of crushing depression, she crumbled to her knees on the frigid sidewalk. Tears flooding past her lashes. Her eyes burned from the mascara she had applied for the party.Her littl
Chapter 58:Jackson set his drink down, a single brow raising on his face."Well, well, look who it is. What are you, a wizard or something goldy locks?"Jackson watched as his best suddenly appeared across the room, his blonde brows furrowed as he crossed the room like an angry storm. Spencer always seemed to know where to find him when shit hit the fan. The blonde man scooted out the stool beside him and stared him down when he took a seat.The question in that gaze was very readable, but Jackson looked away. Not wanting to answer.So, he played the fool instead. He made sure to keep his gaze downward on his glass, "So what brings you to this lonely place? Or did you come here to stalk lil' ol me?" He slurred, ignoring the way Spencer scoffed."I've been looking everywhere for you," Spencer explained, his face serious. "Did you know Kaitlyn called Hannah? She was balling." Spencer informed with a scowl. But th
Chapter 59: "He's gone." Hannah's voice was a blurred ball of anxiety over the phone. "Do you have any idea where he went..?" Kaitlyn sounded hoarse, even to her own ears. It was quiet, and for a moment she thought maybe the woman hung up. She cupped the phone closer to her, her fingers trembling. She heard Hannah breathe a sigh. "I know he wouldn't do anything crazy, and I did call his job--he's still there. I pretended to need an appointment." She informed with a laugh before she grew serious again. "But I don't know where he he went... or where he's staying. Knowing Jackson, he could be holding up in a hotel until he finds an apartment or until he calms down. I'm sorry, Kaitlyn. He wasn't himself last night, he was a mess." The information had her bringing her lip between her teeth, before she froze, remembering how Jackson had informed her how much he had liked when she did that. Instantly, she f
Chapter 60: Kaitlyn was surprised by the vulnerability on Josh's features. She shook her head, setting her flower neatly on the coffee table. She'd have to find it a vase soon. "No, of course not." She answered, after a moment of thinking on it. There was no twinge of betrayal. "Why not? I kept him from you too, you know." Josh stated, matter of fact. Kaitlyn sighed, "But it's different. You didn't deceive me. Or at least, for some reason, it feels different." Josh raised a brow. "All I told you was that he was staying with me. I never made it clear that Jackson should tell you about what happened that day, but don't you think that makes me partly to blame?" She frowned, shaking her head. "Josh, you shouldn't have had to tell him to come clean, and I know you didn't know I wasn't aware still." "That may be true, K, but I can't say I didn't think Randy needed to leave too. You didn't
Chapter 61:Her eyes opened.Josh looked perplexed."Randy lied, over and over. And you still believed him over Jackson, K. So is it the fact he lied, or is it because you're scared of getting hurt? Also, I can't tell you how to feel, just like on the beach, it has to come from you. But K, it's up to you to weigh out the cons and the pros."Kaitlyn could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Josh's words were like a knife, but she refused to recoil from the truth in them."You're right. I need to think about this some more." She leaned against his arm, he raised his arm to hug her sideways. Instinctively, she leaned into it, seeking the comfort his embrace would provide.He was always the boulder, the older brother she always wanted. She was grateful to him."What if I'm not strong enough to figure out the right answer?"He squeezed her arm, before pulling back. "What did I tell you bef
Chapter 62:Kaitlyn wondered when the radio silence would finally come to an end.It had been days, with constant feedback from both Spencer and Hannah, about the missing man they each cared about deeply. None of them knew where he was staying, but he had at least made contact with Spencer out of all of them. It stung a bit to know he hadn’t chosen to reach out to her, but she was grateful that he at least didn’t abandon all of them. Apparently he had made plans to visit the both of them soon, before promptly disconnecting his phone. Kaitlyn was sure he did so to stop her from calling.It seemed, the only person he was truly avoiding…was her. Jackson’s words reverberated inside her head; that he was done with both Randy and her. The hurt that had been in his eyes still haunted her, and as she realized that her talk with Josh might have been for nothing, her lashes folded down. Jackson was making it
Chapter 63:Restless. It had been almost two weeks now. And Kaitlyn thought she’d feel better by now, but it was like living in a hell she couldn’t get out of.She didn’t remember Randy hurting this much, even though she was sure it did. But this time, there hadn’t been a Jackson to soften the hurt. It felt like she’d never get better.And that was why as she stared up at the building near his workplace, she was clutching at her purse. She had heard from Hannah that he was giving side lectures here now, and the idea of seeing him made her heart race. She pushed through the doors of the community college and glanced around. The white halls were eerily deserted. Kaitlyn supposed the emptiness was because the students were still on their holiday vacation. She wondered why Jackson would be here then, but she didn't want to question Hannah's information. She barely had any i
Chapter 64: Spill"But I went there and I didn't see him! I went into his classroom and I left a note on his whiteboard telling him to come home. And he never showed.” Kaitlyn explained with a groan, falling back on her bed. After her bizarre meeting with Randy and Josh yesterday, Kaitlyn had invited over the girls to hang out.Hannah grimaced. "Ooh, I think I know what happened there."Kaitlyn raised a brow. "Jackson told me the other day how the janitors annoyingly clean his white board every afternoon even though he clearly marks for it to not be erased."Kaitlyn groaned and fell back against her bed. "This shouldn't be so hard," she whined.Olivia comfortingly patted her leg. "Oh, K, I'm sorry. But you'll get through to him," she assured with a small smile, "Just don't give up."The redhead covered her face with her hands. "I'm not even sure if he wants to see me!"It was Hannah’s turn to groan in ann