It was a few days since Frost and Maura planned her big gesture for Jane. It was once the school week had ended that Maura was going to take Jane out. The other day Maura's parents gave her a late birthday present, well her father did to keep Maura quiet about her finding Garrett's mother at their place two days earlier while Constance was out of town that week.
Maura was completely livid that he ended up lying to her, she really didn't want to keep this car but she would be able to drive Jane to the restaurant, the first one they went together when Maura visited Boston during the summer. No public transportation and no having to rely on her chauffeur who started slacking on the job. The thing that sucked the most is she couldn't confide in Jane with all that was going on, since their argument about Tommy Jane had kind of been brushing her off all week, Maura hoped this surprise would cheer her up.
She waited outside the gym, Jane was talking to Coach Korsak about some things, she wasn't sure what it was. Frost was outside keeping her company. "Hey, everything is going to be alright once Jane sees all the effort you put into the surprise."
Maura sighed, "I really do hope so, I hate that Jane has been avoiding me."
"She's been avoiding me too, almost everyone actually. Her brothers don't even know why she's acting like this, she usually doesn't hold grudges or an attitude too long."
"I just hope that it isn't me..."
Frost wrapped his arm around Maura's shoulders, "Hey, Jane will get over herself, if not it's her loss. We've hung out, you and I these past couple of days, I feel much closer to you than I do to her. Heck I've hardly spent time with Gabriel, but he's been busy so I hope he doesn't miss me too much."
"I'm glad I have a friend like you Barry, taking care of me when I'm down."
"That's because you deserve the attention and comforting of a friend."
"You're my best friend, you know that?"
"I thought I was your best friend," Jane's voice was heard as she walked up to them.
"Well you're my girlfriend, plus it never hurts to have more than one best friend," Maura shrugged with a smile. "Anywho, ready to go?"
"I still can't believe your parents just bought you a car."
Maura shrugged, "Yeah well, we should go then. I'll see you tomorrow Barry."
"Bye Maura," Frost nodded.
"Maura, you get the car started, I want to talk to Frost for a moment," Jane inputted. Maura nodded, heading to her car when Jane turned to look at Frost. "What the hell Barry? I leave you two alone for five minutes and you have your arm around her shoulders, what gives? I thought you said you were not into Maura anymore."
"Maybe if you stopped acting like a bitch to everyone Jane, you wouldn't be so jealous."
Jane laughed, "Jealous of you and Maura, please... in your dreams."
"I just want you to appreciate Maura more, she doesn't deserve being treated like crap just because you have anger issues. Honestly lately you really don't deserve her, hope you start acting better or you're going to lose her all on your own."
"Are you threatening me Frost?"
"I'm just trying to help you get your head out of your ass, that's what friends do when they're being an idiot. That's all I'm going to say."
"Whatever Barry," Jane rolled her eyes and walked away. She got into Maura's car with a frown. "So, where are we going?"
"You'll see soon enough, I'm not allowed to give you any hints."
"I'm not so fond of surprises."
"I know, but I'm sure that you'll love it," Maura reached over and patted Jane's knee before driving off. "I love you."
"I love you too Maura, I know I haven't been acting like it, but I do."
"You've been going through a tough time, it's totally understandable."
"But it's not Frost thinks I've been treating you like crap. Do you feel that way?"
All Maura could do was shrug at her question, she really didn't want to answer that right now. She had to focus on driving.
"I am sorry." Jane sighed.
"I know you are, let's just enjoy this evening alright?"
Jane nodded and they sat in silence for the thirty minute car ride. Maura kept looking over at Jane, who was focusing at what was outside of the window as they drove by, it started to look familiar to the Rizzoli especially when they pulled up to the restaurant. "Um Maura, isn't this place too fancy to be wearing normal school clothes? And why is the parking lot empty?"
"It's usually a slow day, the owner closed it early just for us. I called in a favor. Is it too much?"
"No it's nice that you remembered details like where we went when you were just visiting Boston."
Maura sighed in relief, "Good, I was nervous it would be too much."
"I'm in good company and it's a good distraction for real life."
"Yeah, real life kind of sucks."
"But at least you have money and are able to enjoy it," Jane shrugged as they went inside the restaurant.
"Having money isn't everything."
"That's because you have it, you don't live in a low income family you always had luxuries to appreciate."
"I appreciate my time I spend with you more than anything in this world."
"Well I'm flattered, and hungry, let's eat. Did you order for me already too?" Jane asked with a smirk.
"Yeah, I know what you liked from last time, plus with the restaurant closed they didn't want to prepare a lot of different foods."
"Gotcha." Jane and Maura were led to their table by the host and he came back with water with lemon.
"The food will be out in a moment," he told the girls before heading in the back.
"I never had a candlelit dinner before," Jane leaned back against the chair. "Quite romantic Maura."
"Well I do love romance. And you look absolutely beautiful in candlelight."
"Trying to woo me there," Jane asked, feeling Maura's foot brush against her own. "Quite frisky too."
"What can I say Jane, I really missed you these past couple of days."
"I missed you too Maura, sorry I was being such a jerk. Life has been different, with Pop in jail, sure Ma seems to be okay with Korsak but she still seems miserable."
"At least you and your brothers and mom are safe from him now."
"Yeah, I wish that Ma wasn't so upset about it. He didn't treat her or any of us right. It just really sucks seeing how destroyed Ma is, that's why I really haven't been social lately. I should have told you, I know but I didn't want to bring you down."
"Even though I was already hurting with you avoiding me."
Jane frowned, "Ugh maybe Frost was right."
"What did he say?"
"He told me that I didn't deserve you. I shouldn't have avoided you, and you did all of this even though I wasn't talking to you."
"I knew I upset you when I sided with Tommy. I didn't mean to, it just happened when you called him a lost cause."
"Yeah, I shouldn't have said that, if anyone is a lost cause it's me."
"Hey, don't say that Jane, you're not a lost cause."
"Then why do I feel like one?" Jane slumped her shoulders.
"I don't know Jane, but you maybe think that you might be... I don't know, depressed?" Maura suggested.
"Why do you say that?" The food came out as Jane asked her question. "This looks good. Compliments to the chef," Jane smiled at the host before starting to eat.
"Enjoy," he spoke before disappearing again."
Jane and Maura's conversation was put on hold as they dug into their food, Maura observed Jane like she hadn't eaten in days. "Hun, why don't you slow down a bit?"
"It's so good though," she spoke in between bites, putting down her fork. "I didn't forget though, about your depression comment. To my knowledge people who are depressed don't really eat."
"They don't, not usually. They do pull away from their loved ones, I can kind of see through you Jane, I'm kind of a genius."
"Kind of? You're so smart and totally out of my league."
"But here we are, enjoying each other's company when we are together."
"Opposites definitely do attract I guess. I just, what if I'm holding you back. What if years from now you realize I'm not the most important person to you."
"You'll always be important to me Jane."
"You don't know that Maura. Always is a really long time."
"Is this the real reason you were avoiding me because you were trying to have me realize I would be better off without you? I'm not better off without you Jane, we're both better together," Maura spoke with tears in her eyes.
"I'm still broken Maura, I'm not good for anyone right now."
"Why are you doing this Jane?"
"It took Frost's comment to make me realize that he was right. I have been treating you like crap and you're too nice to say anything about it. You would be so much better without me Maura," she fiddled with the ring on her finger. "I don't deserve your love," she went to slide the ring off of her finger. "I definitely don't deserve your promise to always love me. Maura, dinner was great, but this... I don't think this is working. It's completely and one hundred percent me, I'm not deserving of you, of this."
"Jane... you don't mean that. People who love each other could work through anything right?"
"I used to think that Maura, I do know that if I love you I have to let you go. I think you've been relying on me for happiness and I can't always deliver that. You believe there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm just covered in darkness. I don't think I'm in the right mind set to be in a relationship right now. You deserve more than I've been giving you. I love you so much that it's the right thing to do," she stood up putting the ring on the table.
"Jane Rizzoli, don't you dare tell me what I do and do not deserve. You can't just walk away from this that easily, I won't allow it," Maura stood up as well, picking up the ring, trying to hand it back to Jane. "We can work through this, alright. Please just think about what you're doing."
"I thought of it the whole ride over here," Jane wiped her eyes. "I need to go Maura alright. I'm sorry but it's for the best."
Maura put her hands on her hips, "Says you. Jane please just think about it this weekend before you just give up and throw this all away over your doubts. I'm sure you'll realize you're just depressed thinking this is the only way not to bring others down, by letting go and giving up," she placed the ring in Jane's hand. "And at least let me drive you home, please?"
Jane looked at the ring and up at Maura's face, she hated being the reason Maura was hurting but Maura would realize that it was for her own good. "Okay, you can drive me home. I'll hold onto the ring like you want me to, but I won't change my mind."
Maura didn't say anything else as they left the restaurant after saying their thanks and goodbyes to the host. Maura looked over at Jane she couldn't for the life of her read the woman before her as she drove her home in silence. Maura hoped that Jane would really think things over this weekend and that the outcome was better than this evening.
Oh the pain of Rizzles and Jane wanting to part ways, Jane is hiding something, don't you think? She seemed a little unlike herself wouldn't you say? All thoughts and reviews are welcome, the struggles of high school relationships, am I right? Until next time, sorry the time in-between chapters are really spaced out from each other. I hope that I get better at updating.