Chapter Fourteen: Heartbreak (VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL)
Ianto's POV
"Why?" Jack asks. "What's going on in there?"
"Just go!" Toshiko's voice is so loud that I can hear her through the phone.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"Miss Piper's room," Jack explains quickly. "Come on."
We run as fast as we can down the hall without crashing into things. "Tosh, seriously, what's going on?" Jack asks, breathing heavily. "I have to go look for my-" He stops suddenly and drops his phone. I manage to catch it before it hits the ground, and then come closer to the door.
And then I see it, and it makes me angrier than I ever thought possible.
RFW, pressing Suzie Costello up against the wall and snogging her passionately. Jack's sketchbook is on the ground, clearly having been tossed carelessly across the room, some of the pages ripped and others torn out completely, his beautiful sketches of Gwen littering desks, ruined.
I look at Jack's phone to see that Toshiko's still on the line. "Toshiko, where are you?" I ask.
"Our tree," she replies. I can tell she's holding back tears.
"Does Gwen-"
"Yeah, she knows. She and Martha and I were going to go to my place today, and we were heading out when we saw it. He gave her the bloody finger when he saw us looking in."
And I thought I'd been angry before. "We're on our way," I half growl.
"My sketchbook," Jack almost whimpers, and he reaches for the door but I stop him.
"Not right now."
Gwen's POV
…
…
…
…
Rhys-
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and Suzie-
…
…
snogging-but-?
…
Rhys-why would-why?
…
I bury my head in my hands, tears forming. Martha's rubbing my back and Tosh is saying something about something; I don't even really know.
Why? Why would you?-and you flipped me off-why? What did I ever do to you?
What did I do wrong?
"I AM GOING TO FUCKING KILL HIM!" I look up and see that Jack's coming towards us, and it's like his long jacket is on fire because he's just that angry.
"Jack?" I say somewhat stupidly, and then I'm running to him as fast as I can. Ianto's asking does Owen knows what's going on, and Martha is explaining that Tosh had decided to call Jack first but is on the phone with Owen now, and Ianto's saying that's a good idea, but I don't care. All I care about is getting to Jack, and I'm not even quite sure why.
"Jack," I whisper again as he catches me and hugs me tightly.
"I'm sorry, Gwen," he says softly. "I'm so sorry."
"Why would he do that?" I ask, voicing the question that's been on my mind for the past few minutes.
"Who exactly are you planning to fucking kill?" I turn to see that Owen's walking over towards us.
Tosh goes over to him and whispers in his ear.
"Definitely warrants fucking killing," he mutters. "God, Gwen, I'm sorry."
"Why would he do that?" I ask again, looking up at Jack.
"Because he's an idiot," Jack says simply, looking down at me with his bright blue eyes. I swear I'm melting.. "Because he's an absolute idiot with his head up his ass, and he doesn't deserve you, Gwen. You're far too amazing for him."
And I thought I'd been melting before.
Fuck it. I reach up and press my lips to his. Christmas was tentative; this time, I'm kissing him full on. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me back, and it feels like heaven-
-And suddenly he's pushing me away. "I'm sorry," he says. "I'm sorry, Gwen, but we can't do this. It's-it's not right, not just after-not after-it's too soon."
I stare up at him. "But-but I thought-"
"-I'm sorry," he says again. "You're not ready-"
"-Can't I decide for myself whether I'm ready or not?!"
"I-I don't even think-Gwen, we can't. We just-I'm sorry, but we can't."
"But-" But I love you.
"I'm sorry, Gwen." He opens his mouth to say something else, but I don't want to hear it.
I run.
"Gwen!" he calls after me. "Gwen, wait-"
Jack's POV
"Gwen, wait!" I call after her as she runs. "God fucking damn it." I go to run after her, but Tosh stops me.
"Let me," she says, and she begins to follow Gwen.
"Nice going," Owen mutters.
I sit on the ground and sigh. I've never felt so stupid in my life. She was right there, kissing me! And I pushed her away, and now she's upset.
I've lost my chance, I realize. I've lost my chance with her.
Tosh comes running back to us. "She's in her hiding spot," she reports. Martha sighs and swears under her breath.
"What's that mean?" I ask.
"It means she wants to be left alone. By all of us."
"Well, that's great," Owen says sarcastically. "Well done."
"Owen, shut the fuck up," Ianto snaps. "You did the right thing, Jack."
"Explain to me how that was the right thing," Owen argues. "I mean-"
"Owen." Tosh's voice is steely calm but forceful. "Shut. The. Fuck. Up."
"But-"
"I SAID, SHUT UP!" Tosh shouts. "Jack, you absolutely did the right thing. She's a right train wreck right now, which is completely understandable, given that someone decided to bloody cheat on her, and the last thing she needs is to have the added guilt of wondering whether or not she cheated back by being with you."
"There's a part of me that wants to go back and apologize," I admit.
"Don't," says Martha. "Tosh is right. That won't help her. Too late now."
"I'm screwed," I mutter.
"More like not screwed," Ianto points out. I roll my eyes. "Besides, I think you still have a chance with her."
"Are you paid to be optimistic?" I ask.
"No, I honestly think you have a chance. Jack, she's in love with you. That's no secret, at least to any of us. Right?" The others nod.
"Exactly my point," Owen starts, but then Tosh kicks him directly in the balls.
"I'll go to Martha's tonight," Tosh threatens as he winces in pain. "We have a project to work on."
"She's in love with you," Ianto continues, ignoring Tosh and Owen. "But she needs some time to get over RFW. Oh, God, that felt so good to say."
"Notice I didn't say his name," I say, finally cracking a smile. "I just couldn't-it feels dirty."
"He's dirty," says Tosh. "A dirty, cheating scumbag with-"
"We know," Martha says calmly. "Don't waste your breath."
"A dirty, cheating, scumbag with absolutely no sense of right or wrong, no moral compass, no brains for fuck's sake, who should be hit multiple times over the head with a bloody cricket bat and then left to die in the worst, most painful manner within the sphere of human knowledge!"
Everyone falls dead silent and we stare at Tosh. "Well, it's true," she mutters, and then she sits down, crossing her arms over her chest.
Gwen's POV
I crouch in my hiding spot and bury my head in my hands.
Hey guys! Sorry-not-sorry for the complete and utter cruelty that is this horribly mean Valentine's Day special… hehehehe. Don't worry, it'll get better… that is, after it gets WAY WORSE! *evil laugh*
This'un's dedicated to my Valentine, who shall remain nameless. You know who you are, and you know that I love you. See you when we're the last two on earth, and you can stop that cute little Captain Jack smirk right now, thank you very much. Go on, darling. Stop smirking.
Done yet? Good. Now review this chapter, and for the love of Gallifrey, CALL ME!
Right, that's done. Moving right along - loyal readers, make sure to checkout What the Fluff and Ofelia Sent Me, enter my cover image contest, and let me know if you want to join the Lone Shippers! :D :D
And, as always, love and ducks to the Lone Shippers, hugs to supporters, thanks to Eleonora, Noe, Hanul, and Kizzie, shoutouts to my chosen-sisters, a kiss for my Valentine (just this once… haha jk) and crappy Valentine chocolate for all!
Love,
Ofelia xxxx