Hey guys! We're back with another chapter!
Previously on The New Girl:
Jack's POV:
"Dude, I swear, she took the shirt off. Right in the middle of the mall! Like, what was she thinking!? Did she want to get herself the wrong kind of attention?"
I was currently at my house with Milton and Jerry, filling them in on today's events with Erin. They both looked shocked...I don't blame them. Erin Wilkes taking her shirt off in the middle of the public mall? Doesn't seem likely.
"Man, I would've paid to see that." Jerry said, nodding with a smile on his face. My head snapped towards him, anger bursting from my brains.
"Dude! Don't talk that way about her!" I screamed.
"I meant to see your reaction" he grinned. I just glared at him.
"And by unwanted attention." Milton said, speaking for the first time since I began the story. "You mean like you?"
"Whose side are you guys on?"
"We're on your side, Jack, but we're also on hers." Milton said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I rolled my eyes shrugging him off. "Look, you're both our friends, and we love you guys. Whatever this crap is you're going through, we want you two to just get over it and move on."
"But I don't wanna move on." I grumbled. "I still love her."
"Then why'd you dump her?" Jerry asked.
"For the last time, she broke up with me!" I snapped. "Would you guys just leave me alone!?"
"Where are you going?" Milton asked as I stood up, heading towards the door.
"Out." was all I said.
"But it's your house." Milton said slowly, as if I didn't know that already.
"Well I guess I just don't care. I'm gonna go hit something." I said, shutting the door behind me and heading towards the dojo.
I didn't, however, expect to see Erin there.
Erin's POV:
Urg, why is he here? Does he ever just leave me alone so my heart can start to heal?
"Jack." I said through my teeth. He raised his hands up in defense.
"Not following you princess, just came to punch the crap out of a dummy. Ask the guys." he said rolling his eyes as he brushed past me and walked to his locker. I turned just in time to see him open his locker and find the sweatshirt I put in there for him.
I sighed and sat down on the bench, already tired from doing...pretty much nothing. Urg, it sucks not being able to do anything athletic without feeling exhausted.
Kim had already left and Uncle Rudy was in his office, so it was just me and Jack here. I really don't feel like getting up so I'll just let the awkward silence continue. I'm kind of used to it now.
As Jack went over to the punching dummies to work out, I just started kicking my legs back and forth in boredom. After about two minutes-the whole while I couldn't really see my feet when they came up-I finally seemed to notice my shoe was untied. Crap.
I rolled my eyes as I sat up and bent down as far as I could, trying to ignore the annoying grunts coming from Jack as he punched the dummy nonstop like it'd killed someone he loved.
After about five minutes of trying-and failing-to even reach my feet to tie my shoes, I threw my head back and groaned out loud in frustration.
"Er, you okay?" Jack asked, leaning against the dummy. I sighed tiredly and looked over to where he stood, panting heavily with sweat dropping from his bare chest and arms. Crap, shouldn't have looked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." I said. I mentally ignored his nickname for me. I always loved it when he called me Er.
"You sure?" he asked pushing off the dummy but he didn't make a move to come near me which I appreciated.
I bit my lip and kicked up my foot a bit. I rolled my eyes, sighing. I can't believe I'm about to do this.
"Actually, Jack could you do something for me? Please?" I asked.
He looked at me, hesitant. Not that I blame him.
I sighed once again. "Please? I know I don't deserve it, but no one else is here and-"
"Yeah, yeah, what do you need?" He asked cutting me off. He still looked a bit uncomfortable.
I bit my lip and looked down at my huge stomach because I couldn't see my feet. "Can't you please tie my shoe?"
"What?" He asked, and I could tell he was trying to hide a smile. I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips as well.
"You heard me. I can't even see my feet, let alone reach them. My shoe is untied. Will you please tie it so I don't like trip and kill myself?" I asked. I hate admitting weakness and he knows it.
Jack suddenly erupted into laughter as he walked over to me. He nearly fell on his butt as he bent down to tie my shoe from how hard he was laughing.
"Seriously Erin? You could only see one of your shoes were untied? You could've killed yourself doubly because they both are." he said shaking his head in amusement. I shoved him to the side a little, smiling a little. I really did miss him.
"Yeah, whatever. Thanks Jack" I said smiling slightly when he finished. He smiled back, and then he started looking uncomfortable again.
"Um, it was no problem. I'm happy to help." He said standing up. I looked up at him, wishing I could just reach out and hug him but knowing that wouldn't be right. Eventually I tore my gaze from his face and looked down.
"Um, can you help me up too? Sorry." I said biting my lip again. I've done that so much I'm surprised I haven't drawn blood yet.
"Sure." He smiled, grabbing my hand and hauling me up to my feet.
We just stood there in awkward silence, holding hands.
I looked down and pull my hand away slowly.
"Thanks." I whisper.
I look up to see Jack looking at the sweatshirt then looking at me.
"I thought I told you to keep it." He says looking confused.
I sigh and nod.
"Why did you give it back?" Jack asks, and I can sense hurt in his voice.
"I thought you'd want it back." I whisper.
"Why, so you don't have to remember me?" He snaps at me.
"No." I say.
"Then why?!" He yells and I look at him shocked.
"I don't know!" I yell and Jack looks at me in disbelief.
"I don't know." I whisper and Jack walks towards me.
"What are you doing?" I ask him.
"Erin, you don't know how hard it is to just let you go, to let you walk away knowing I still love you." He says still walking towards me.
"I have to go." I say.
"No Erin, you're going to stay and listen. I'm not going to let you run away when you hear something you don't like or times get too tough." Jack says.
"Jack, just let me go." I say backing up, but ended up with my back against a wall and Jack standing in front of me.
"No Er, you can't run this time. You have to face this. Face your fear." Jack says and I finally snap.
"Jackson Andrew Brewer, you will let me go or I swear…" I start but I was cut off by Jack's lips on mine.
Chapter 25: To Remember Me
Erin's POV:
After a couple seconds, realization hits me and I push Jack away from me as hard as I can.
"Why would you do that!?" I yelled, slapping him across the face before I could stop myself. I can't help it I was just so boiling mad and confused. I didn't know what to do.
"What the crap!?" Jack yelled holding his cheek. I put my hand over my mouth.
"I'm so sorry, I...I mean I don't, I-Why did you kiss me!?" I cut myself off.
"Don't worry, I won't do it again." he said pushing past me. I sighed as I watched his angry figure retreating. Maybe I handled that wrong.
"What's wrong with him?" Kim asked as she entered the dojo. Jack had pushed past her, not even muttering a word as she said hello to him.
"Don't ask." I sighed.
Jack's POV:
I can't believe her! I mean, yes I kissed her and we're broken up but still.
Well...now I kind of see it. But that still doesn't mean she had to slap me.
Erin just makes me so sick and frustrated and my heart and head hurts...everything hurts actually. Urg, I don't know what to do.
Sighing, I turn around and walk back into the dojo.
"I forgot my bag." I say as I walk past Erin.
When I grab my bag and push past Erin, I realize I dropped something when Erin crouches down carefully to pick it up.
"I can't believe you kept this." She says standing up, tears glistening in her eyes as she looks at the disc that has her baby's sonogram from five months ago on it.
"Of course I did." I whisper.
"Why?" Erin asks and I sigh.
"Because, no matter how much we can't stand to be in the same room together without finding something to argue about, I'm always going to look out for you and your baby." I say.
When Erin opens her mouth to speak, I cut her off.
"Oh, I remember. You don't need me." I say looking down.
"Jack…" Erin starts.
"No Erin. Let me go.*" I say and start to walk off.
"Jack, wait." Erin begs and I turn around.
Erin walks up to me and hands me the disc.
"Keep it." She whispers and I nod.
And to my surprise, Erin looks up at me with tears in her eyes and stands up on her toes to kiss my cheek.
"To remember me. In a good way." She says softly and leaves the dojo with Kim following closely behind.
Just then I saw a side of Erin no one sees.
Weakness.
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*A lyric from If You Don't Know by 5 Seconds Of Summer.
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