(Okay for any of you Gossip Girl fans I totally stole that title from Chuck Bass himself lol. Thanks for the reviews, the more reviews the quicker chapters get up. Yeah that's a bribe, but seriously I've been packing and moving across my college campus to another dorm that is open for the summer, mine is being fixed up. Totally crazy but with out further adieu here is chapter 10. Get ready for the tissues)
Chapter 10 (Because I Love Her)
It had been almost two weeks since Jennifer was stopped by Mr. Chandler of L&B Records at Nicky's and been offered to do a demo in hopes of a record contract. She had talked to everyone who mattered about the situation and they all, including her mother Evelyn Danvers, agreed that she should take the chance. Now she and Tyler were sitting in the Simms' large den on the floor in front of the fireplace that had a roaring fire going due to the sudden cold snap that had occurred earlier that week.
"So I think I'm going to call Mr. Chandler back tomorrow" Jennifer said as she leaned closer to her boyfriend breathing in his scent of sandalwood. She always loved that scent, she remembered that her father used to have a cologne that smelled just like it.
"That's great baby" Tyler said nuzzling her neck. "Its something you really want to do, and you've already gotten all of your opinions from us so go for it. I just still can't believe your mother agreed to it."
"Yeah I thought she was going to go ballistic when she found out" Jennifer laughed, "but she surprised me. She didn't take it badly at all. I think she was more excited for me than you all were put together."
"Hey" Tyler said, "I'm offended by that, I claim that I was and still am the most excited about the whole situation." And he was excited for her. He didn't know if this would change anything between them or if it would cause their relationship to crash and burn. He now knew what it felt like to be that guy from the show Jennifer made him watch. He was going through the same thing that Nathan Scott went through in season 2 of One Tree Hill. Its kind of amazing how a show he had never heard of before became like second nature to him when he was with Jennifer.
Tyler was jumped out of his thoughts by Jennifer nudging him slightly. "Hey where were you just then" she asked looking up at him with her ocean blue eyes.
He shook his head and smiled a small smile, "No where, just thinking about the holiday break coming up."
"Yeah I can't wait, after the break there is only 5 months until we graduate Spencer and are free." Jennifer clapping her hands together, "yeah I know that was silly, but I am seriously excited to be almost done with high school. That way I don't have to see Kira or Aaron's faces everyday"
"Yeah I thought Kira was going to rip your eyes out at Nicky's that night after you sang. She looked insanely jealous. That was a tripp" Tyler laughed wrapping his arms around her waist tightly.
"True" Jennifer said smiling brightly, "I passed her in the hall the Monday after and if looks could kill Caleb would be an only child."
The pair continued to talk about L&B Records and everything in between but Tyler felt a dark cloud hanging over his head and he just couldn't shake it.
The next morning, Jennifer called Jason Chandler and step up an appointment to discuss working on the demo for that Saturday morning.
"I still can't believe that you are going to New York City to meet about a demo" Brooke squealed throwing a pillow at her roommate, "I'm so jealous."
"Yeah its kind of unreal" Jennifer replied taking the same pillow that had just hit her minutes before and chucked it back at her friend. "At least I won't be alone. Caleb and Sarah are coming with me."
"Tell me again why Tyler isn't going with you" Brooke asked as she rolled on to her stomach her feet dangling over the side of her bed.
"Something about a thing with his family going on that weekend." Jennifer shrugged, "I don't really know, but he's going to call me to see how it goes."
Brooke let the words sink into her head before speaking up again, "I don't know JD, how do you know that Tyler is really happy for you. If he was I think he would jump at the chance to go with you on Saturday."
"Look I just know okay, Tyler wouldn't lie to me about anything" Jennifer said annoyed by her comment. "He said he was very excited about this opportunity for me and he practically forced me to give him a date on when I was going to call Jason Chandler back."
"Okay" Brooke said still unsure, "If that is what he told you, then I have to trust that he means what he said."
"Thank you" Jennifer said flopping down on her bed. "So what are you up to tonight"
"I've got a date with Reid" Brooke said slyly.
"Should I expect Tyler tonight" Jennifer asked laughing.
"Maybe" Brooke said with a devilish grin.
"You guys really need to find something else to occupy your time with besides the obvious."
"What can I say" Brooke replied, "It works for us."
Jennifer just laughed and rolled her eyes. Her best friend was nothing short of entertaining when it came to her relationship with Reid Garwin.
That Saturday afternoon Jennifer waited for Tyler to call her to see how the meeting went with Jason Chandler. For her it had gone extremely well. They said that she could record the demo the next weekend and she would know something by that Monday after. Jennifer looked down at her watch and noticed that it was getting on into 6pm. She decided to call Tyler herself, unfortunately his phone went straight to voicemail. She left him a message to call her back as soon as he got this and then hung up. Of course he called her back almost 2 hours later apologizing for not calling her sooner but said something about his aunt Samantha and his mother had gotten into a heated argument and it had taken a while before things had calmed down.
The next Saturday rolled around and Jennifer was off to New York City again to record her demo, this time only Sarah went with her. The boys had a swim meet that afternoon and there was no way the Caleb or Tyler could go with her so Sarah went instead while Brooke and Kate stayed for the meet to cheer on the Sons. Once the demo was made Jason handed her a copy and kept one for himself to give to the executives.
"Something to remember the day" Jason had said handing her the CD. "Hopefully I'll give you a call come Monday afternoon. I have a meeting with the head honchos at 9am Monday morning."
"Thanks for everything" Jennifer said giving the man a hug, "This has been my dream for a long time."
"Well lets hope that they like you enough to make it come true, which I think there is a 99.9 percent chance that they will love it." Jason said as he Jennifer and Sarah left the recording room. "I'll give you a call on Monday. Nice to see you again Sarah"
"You too Mr. Chandler" Sarah said as she and Jennifer headed out to the train station to catch the train back to Ipswich.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Jennifer screamed into the phone, "Are you serious"
The sons and their girlfriends were lingering around after school had let out. Seeing as they had had a meet that Saturday the swim coach gave the players the day off from practice. They had been out of school for about an hour when Jennifer got the call from Jason Chandler on her demo.
"What" Brooke said jumping up and down.
"Thank you so much" Jennifer said turning her head away from the group so that she could hear Jason clearer. "Yes I will be in New York next week. See you then and thanks."
"You got it" Kate said excitedly
"Yeah" Jennifer shouted jumping up and down along with Brooke. "They want me in New York next week to start working. I'll be there for a week to get the ground running and then I'll be back for Christmas and then its back in the studio after."
"What about your classes" Pouge asked, "Are they going to let you do that by mail or something"
"Yeah I already talked to the headmaster about it just incase." Jennifer said smiling, "He said that it would not be a problem seeing as I am already ahead in a lot of them as it is."
"Well I say a party is in order" Reid said, "Lets head out tonight to Nicky's and do it up right."
"I say yes to that" Kate said.
Caleb pulled his sister aside and gave her a hug "I'm so proud of you and I know dad would be too."
"Thanks Cal" Jennifer said softly before returning to the rest of the group and throwing herself into Tyler's arms. "I'm so happy right now, I've got my man and my dream career on the rise, what could possible go wrong."
"Yeah" Tyler said softly, "What could go wrong"
Later a Nicky's everyone had gathered to celebrate Jennifer's good news. Nicky had made her swear that when she became famous that she would take time out of her busy career to come back and sing at the bar someday. They had all been enjoying themselves when Jennifer noticed that Tyler had suspiciously disappeared.
"Hey where did Ty go" Jennifer asked looking around for her good looking boyfriend, "I could have sworn he was just here."
"I think he went outside" Pouge said looking back towards the door, "You know him he always has to get out to get some air when Nicky's is this crowded. Claustrophobia and all."
Jennifer excused herself from the group and went outside to find Tyler. Sure enough there he was leaning against his hummer, head down.
"Hey stranger" Jennifer said walking up to him, "What are you doing out here all by yourself."
"You know me and my claustrophobia, I just had to get out of Nicky's, I think it was more crowded than usual tonight." Tyler said lamely.
"Yeah but I could have come out here with you" Jennifer said running her hand through his dark hair.
"I just needed to be by myself to think about some things." Tyler said moving his head away from her hand.
Jennifer was taken aback but ignored it. "So I was thinking maybe since I will be working during the weekdays I can come back on the weekends and spend them with you. I would have something to look forward to at the end of every week."
Tyler didn't say anything and kept his head down. Jennifer looked at him strangely before speaking again. "What is wrong with you tonight. You've been acting strangely ever since I called Jason about the demo and its just gotten steadily worse since then. What gives"
"I think we need to talk Jen" Tyler said looking up at her for the first time since she came out there.
"Oh this can't be good" Jennifer said taking a step back. "Especially if your using the we need to talk phrase."
"I've been thinking about this a lot for the last two weeks" Tyler said looking at her facial expression before continuing on, "You've gotten the chance to do something that you have always wanted and I don't want to be the thing that holds you back."
"What are you talking about" Jennifer said confused.
"In short what I am saying is that I can't be with you anymore." Tyler said as a silence fell over them.
Jennifer stared at Tyler her eyes threatening to spill the tears that were welling up in them. "No, you can't mean that" she said choking out.
"I think its for the best and I think its best for you" Tyler tried to reason, but failing desperately.
"No, I don't buy that Ty" Jennifer said harshly, "What your telling me is that you want to break up so that I can have my entire focus on the music, well what if I told you that I didn't want to break up with you. What if I told you that I wanted to stay with you and do the music thing."
"Look, you can't do both at once. You wouldn't be living up to your full potential if you had to worry about me and trying to make time to see me. Its not fair to your future."
"But I love you Tyler" Jennifer said as she started to cry, "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Tyler just sunk his head down and trying to blink back the tears that were pooling in his eyes at that moment. This was breaking his heart more than he could describe, but he had to do it for her.
"Fine, I never want to see you again" Jennifer said running to her jeep that was parked on the other side of the parking lot and sped off.
Sarah and Caleb had come out to check on them and witnessed the last bit.
"What was that" Caleb asked trying to keep his anger in check.
"I broke up with her" Tyler said quietly.
"Tyler why would you do that" Sarah asked
"Because I love her too much to let her give the music thing half a try. I would just be in the way" Tyler said his voice cracking a bit as Sarah and Caleb looked at the broken younger son, their hearts breaking right along with his.
