AUTHOR: JackPhillipsGirl
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters of So Weird – but I dream about owning Jack. =) Gabe and Seth Crawford are from the episode "Angel". The song "Rest Stop" belongs to matchbox twenty. I did write Annie's song, and you can probably tell because it sucks so bad (no, I'm serious). This is my first Jack/Annie story, so be kind! And REVIEW!
Chapter One
"Welcome to Ohio," Jack read, a smile coming to his face as he said the words aloud. "Mr. B, how much longer till we get to Gabe's house?"
"About one second sooner than the last time you asked," Ned replied. His comment only made Jack's grin grow broader. He leaned back on the couch with his arms behind his head as he continued to view the scenery through the bus window.
"Jeez, Jack, how long has it been since you've seen this girl?" Carey asked. He was sitting on the other side of the room with his arm casually slung around Fi's shoulder. They had been going out for a little over a month already, but Jack still had trouble getting used to the idea. He felt awkward whenever he was around them, and he couldn't quite place why.
"Two hundred and fifty-six days," Jack answered quickly, his tone of voice dead serious. Carey raised his eyebrows, shocked at the fact that his friend had been keeping count. Fi rolled her eyes, trying her best to suppress a laugh.
"You did call Gabe and let her know that we were coming, didn't you?" Molly asked.
Jack averted his gaze, focusing on the floor. "Um, actually… no." Here it comes.
"WHAT?" Molly shouted, her eyes blazing.
"I, um, just thought that I could, you know, surprise her," Jack mumbled, feeling guilty for not letting his mother know sooner. But he really wanted it to be special when he saw Gabe again. He could see her in his mind now, after recovering from the initial shock, how her eyes would light up, and how she would smile brilliantly, and the touch of her hands on him when she enveloped him in a hug… a tingle went through his body just imagining it.
"But what if she's not home?" Molly pressed, interrupting his thoughts.
"She will be," Jack replied confidently, although he had no way of knowing for sure. She has to be.
Molly shook her head, realizing that her son had a hopeless case of lovesickness. "I hope you're right," she murmured.
"Well, here we are," Ned announced, pulling into the driveway. Jack immediately leapt up and ran to the bus door, grasping the handle.
"Not so fast," Molly said to him. "Go get Annie – she's had her door closed for a while now and I think maybe she fell asleep."
"But can't Carey or Fi get her?" Jack protested.
"Jack…" Molly said in a no-nonsense voice. Jack sighed, his shoulders slumping as he walked back to the bedroom that Annie and Fi shared.
He opened the door in one swift motion, and walked in. "Hey Annie, we're at…" his voice trailed off as Annie, who had been sitting on her bed, leaped nearly a foot in the air. She tossed what looked like a piece of paper under the bed and turned to Jack, her eyes wide and scared. "…Gabe's," Jack finished. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," Annie answered quickly, flashing a grin to prove her point. "I'm fine."
"Okay," Jack replied, staring at her for a couple more seconds, as if trying to determine that she really was telling the truth. Then he shrugged and hurriedly ran from the room.
Annie heaved a deep sigh as he left the room, retrieving the paper that she threw under her bed and carefully tucking it away in a folder with the rest of her song lyrics. If you only knew.
Chapter Two
Jack raced to the front door of the Crawfords' home as if he were competing in the Olympics. He slowly pushed the button of the doorbell, actually trembling with anticipation. The door opened and Jack's heart stopped at the sight of her, waiting to see her smile, her eyes light up, and to feel her arms around him.
But Gabe only stood there, looking confused, and not all that happy. "Jack? Um, what are you doing here?" She was almost frowning.
Jack's smile faded. Why isn't she happy to see me? "We're going to be in town for a few days, so I thought I'd surprise you with a visit," Jack explained, wondering what he did wrong.
"Oh."
"Did I come at a bad time?" Jack asked, hoping that it wasn't him that she was upset with. He peered over her shoulder, hoping for some sort of clue.
"No, it's… fine. I guess I just would have liked for you to tell me that you were coming here."
"I just wanted to surprise you," Jack said, still waiting for something more. But it didn't come. No smile, no hug… nothing.
She stared him down for a few more seconds, before exclaiming, "Oh!" and stepping aside from the doorway as though it was an afterthought. "Come in."
Jack entered the home, shortly followed by the rest of his family who were making their way across the lawn. Seth walked into the room, having heard the commotion. "Jack!" he exclaimed. "Gabe didn't tell me that you were coming."
"I didn't know either," Gabe said, without emotion.
Molly, Carey, Fi, Annie, Irene, and Ned walked into the house. "I'm so sorry that my son didn't call you to let you know that we were coming," Molly apologized. "I feel like we're invading your home or something, but don't worry, we'll sleep on the bus."
"It's all right," Seth replied quickly. "You know that you're all welcome here anytime – as long as my fence stays in one piece," he added jokingly. Everybody laughed, except Gabe. Nothing even remotely close to a smile had yet to appear on her lips.
What's come between us, Gabe? Jack wondered. Where's the connection that we once had? Gabe avoided his gaze, and Jack felt that he could cry. The only thing that he knew for sure right now was that the connection was gone.
Chapter Three
Jack yawned, stretching his arms above his head. Where am I? he wondered. It was the first thing on his mind every morning; with all the traveling that they did, he could be in five different states in one week. Oh yeah, Ohio, he remembered, feeling disappointed. The entire previous day had been a complete disaster. Gabe hardly even spoke to him. What happened? Jack asked himself. Maybe she was only in a bad mood yesterday. Maybe she had something else on her mind and didn't realize how she was acting. I still love her, Jack thought. And he did. He would tell her today.
It was only eight a.m., but Jack was already awake, so he quickly got dressed and stepped outside the bus. He could see Gabe across the field, milking a cow. Jack approached her just as she stood up and wiped her hands on her jeans.
"'Morning," Jack greeted her, with a slight smile.
Gabe glanced up, apparently just realizing that he was there. "'Morning," she responded, forcing a weak smile.
"Can we talk?" Jack asked.
"I was just going to ask you the same thing."
They walked side-by-side across the field for a while, silent. When they finally spoke, it was at the same time.
"Gabe –"
"Jack –"
"You first," Gabe said quickly.
"Okay." Jack took a deep breath, wondering how to put his feelings into words. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, lately," he began. "About us."
"So have I."
"I know that we don't see each other as often as we'd like to, but… I think about you all the time, Gabe. I've missed you so much and I realized that… that… I love you," Jack blurted, holding his breath.
"You do?" Gabe said, sounding a little scared and even disappointed.
"I really do."
"Oh please, Jack, don't do this to me… it only makes it so much harder…"
What? This wasn't the response that he had been expecting at all. But so far, Gabe hadn't said or done anything that he expected.
"We can't be together," Gabe said.
Jack felt like he had been slapped. A tear fell down his cheek, and he looked away. He didn't want Gabe to see him cry. "What are you talking about?" he managed to say.
"I didn't want it to end like this…" Gabe whispered. "But Jack – it just isn't working between us. Can't you see it too?" She paused, waiting for him to respond, but he didn't say anything. "Oh, I wanted to be happy when you showed up on my doorstep, but… I just didn't… care anymore. I'm really sorry."
"I, um, felt a little like that too," Jack lied unconvincingly. "I mean, the reason I came here was to try to make things better between us, or see if it really was over – like I had a feeling it was."
Gabe nodded, not believing him at all. If Jack was telling the truth, then he wouldn't have professed his love to her. "So, I guess I'll see you later," she said.
"Yeah," Jack replied. "I guess so." Gabe turned around and headed back to her house, and Jack watched her go, his eyes brimming with tears. It's over.
Just three miles from the rest stopAnd she slams on the brakes
She said I tried to be but I'm not
So could you please collect your things
I don't wanna be cold
I don't wanna be cruel
But I gotta find more
Than what's happening with you
If you'd – open up the door
She said – while you were sleeping
Well I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
And I thought – hell if it's over
Well I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening – can you hear me
Have you forgotten
Just three miles from the rest stop
And my mouth's too dry to rage
The light was shining from the radio
I could barely see her face
But she knew all the words that I never had said
She knew the crumpled-up promise of this
Broken down man – and as I opened the door
She said – while you were sleeping
Well I was listening to the radio
And wondering what you're dreaming when
It came to mind that I didn't care
And I thought – hell if it's over
Well I had better end it quick
Or I could lose my nerve
Are you listening – can you hear me
Have you forgotten
Chapter Four
[About 10 minutes earlier, Annie's bedroom]
Annie slowly rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, squinting from the sunlight shining brightly through her window. She glanced over at Fi, but she wasn't there. She tended to stay up late with Carey and usually ended up falling asleep in his arms. Annie sighed. I wish I could have a love like theirs.
She gazed out the window. Don't think of him, don't think of him… she commanded herself, but her hopes were dashed when she saw him across the field. With Gabe. Annie watched them sadly for a little while, her heart sinking. They appeared to be in deep conversation. Why does he have to be with her? she wondered, immediately feeling guilty at her thought. Gabe makes him happy. I have to accept that. I want Jack to be happy, don't I?
Annie turned her attention away from the window, shaking her head. I want him to be happy, all right. With me. She stood up and walked across the room, retrieving the manila file cabinet folder on her desk. In it was where Annie kept all of her song lyrics, and she pulled out her most recent creation, re-reading the words she had written only yesterday. Sitting down, she took out a pen and added a few more lines, and then stopped herself. Why am I writing this? Annie asked herself. I'll never be able to sing it.
Reading her own lyrics almost brought tears to her eyes. It was so true. It was exactly how she felt. And he'd never know.
[Meanwhile, at Gabe's house]
Gabe closed the door behind her, leaning against it and letting out all the breath she had been holding in. I did it, she thought. She expected to feel some sort of relief, like a weight being lifted off her shoulders. She expected to be semi-proud of herself for doing something that was so difficult. She even expected to be happy.
But she wasn't. She was sad… and completely, utterly alone.
Chapter Five
There was a knock on her bedroom door, and Annie tossed the song lyrics into the back of her folder. "Come in," she said softly.
The door opened and Jack stepped into the room. Annie felt her spirits rise, but then she realized that he looked… different. Something's wrong. Jack's eyes were a little red, and his hair was mussed as though he had run his fingers through it too many times.
"Um, we're going inside Gabe's house now to have breakfast." His voice wavered as he said her name.
"Jack? Is something wrong?" Annie asked, her voice full of concern.
How did she know? Jack thought. "No," he lied, avoiding eye contact.
Annie studied him carefully. It was written all over his face, and she couldn't stand to see him so unhappy. "There is, isn't there?" she asked. She wanted him to tell her; she wanted to comfort him… but she didn't want to push him, either.
Jack stared at the wall behind her. He had always thought of Annie as kind of annoying; she was someone who he could never be close to and would never understand him – but right now, why did it feel like she was the only one who could? She was still watching him, waiting, but not trying to pry anything out of him. Suddenly Jack couldn't keep it to himself anymore. "Gabe broke up with me," he blurted.
It was a moment before Annie realized the reality of his words. She had imagined this moment so many times, playing it over and over again in her mind. Now that it had actually happened, she had no idea how to react. She always thought that this would make her so happy – the only obstacle between them was out of the way. Jack could really be hers now.
But he looked so… heartbroken. Annie couldn't bear to see him like this. It was breaking her heart too. She never wanted him to be upset. She never wanted anything bad to happen to Jack – she loved him too much.
"Wow," Annie whispered. "I'm so sorry – I had no idea."
Jack sighed, closing the door behind him and then sitting down on Annie's bed. She swiveled around in her chair to face him. "Neither did I," he admitted, looking down at the floor and absentmindedly fiddling with the angel hanging around his neck.
Annie didn't say anything. She was at a loss of words. And she didn't want to say anything that would make Jack more upset than he already was.
He looked up suddenly, finally meeting Annie's eyes. "How could she do this to me?" he asked, his voice shaking. "How could she, Annie?"
"I – I don't know," Annie stammered, not really sure if he was looking for an answer.
"I told her that I love her," Jack said. He couldn't believe that he was telling Annie all of this, but right now, it didn't seem to really matter. He buried his head in his hands, sobbing softly.
"Oh, Jack…" Annie said. He looked so helpless. She wanted to sit down on her bed next to him and hold him in her arms. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair and tell him that everything would be okay. But she couldn't.
Jack stood up then, brushing away his tears. "Oh God – I'm sorry, Annie. You didn't need to hear all of that." He walked to the door.
"It's… okay," she said weakly. Don't go. Not yet. But seconds later, he was gone.