Chapter 7: In the Rain
Carly watched as they approached. Quickly grabbing Sonny, she smiled sweetly, "Let's go dance, honey!" She pulled him to the dance floor and turned his back towards Jason and Courtney returning. Connecting eyes with Jason, she smiled encouragingly and looked at Courtney only to be met with a face saying stay out of it and a shaking head.
Courtney watched as Sonny and Carly danced. Glancing over at Jason, beside her, she wished he would ask her to dance, but knowing Jason, he wouldn't.
Jason pulled Courtney's chair out for her, but to his surprise, she walked towards a different chair giving him the death stare. Jason, bewildered, sat in the chair himself.
Neither one spoke to each other; they didn't even connect eyes. Sometimes Jason would feel her eyes on him and he would glance her way, but she would always dart away from his stare. He looked her over. Man, she was beautiful. Why had he broken if off if it hurt so badly right now? He loved her still, so why had he done this?
Courtney decided to break the silence, "So, listen, we should be able to get through this dinner alright together."
Jason nodded, "Sure."
Courtney rolled her eyes and mocked, "Sure."
Jason gave her a look and when she avoided his eyes, he asked, "What's your problem?"
She stared at him, shocked, "What's MY problem? Ugh! Jason, do you have any idea how shocked and." She searched for the right word, "dismayed I am to see you! That night, I wished that I would never see or hear from you again!"
Jason laughed spitefully, "Oh, right! It's all my fault!"
She nodded her head at him, "Yeah! It is! You have no idea what it felt like to be led on today at Kelly's! You about ruined my marriage!"
Jason's eyes lit with fury and he raised his voice a little, "Oh right! I must have forgotten that you're bound my slimy older half brother in that sham of a marriage!"
Courtney stared at him, furious. She felt tears in her eyes, but she pushed them away. Shaking her head, she said angrily, "I married you BROTHER? Oh! Were you going to keep that secret from me too?"
Jason laughed humorlessly, "Right, Court. Everything's my fault!"
Courtney stopped at what he had just called her. Quickly recovering though, she answered, "Don't you ever call me Court again! You have no right to call me that!"
Jason nodded, "Fine!"
Courtney smirked, "Oh that's right! Jason Morgan, a man of little words! What's a matter, Jase? Afraid to let me have it?"
Jason couldn't take her taunting any more and he shouted, "FINE! You want me to tell you what I think? I think that you married my jackass older brother in spite of yourself and his manipulations. He doesn't love you, Courtney! He married you because he wanted his so-called son back, and he would have traded you for a second if Sonny had taken his offer. But guess what? Sonny didn't! And now you're stuck in a loveless marriage from HELL and you won't get out of it because of your pride! And since you're angry with yourself, you're taking it out me, because you think I don't care for you, and I wouldn't care. You know what? I do care! I care what happens to you, even though you don't think I do!" Taking a breath and lowering his voice a bit, he added, "I know you better than anyone, Courtney Matthews - excuse me - Quartermaine. You can't deny what I told you because you know it's true."
Sonny and Carly looked up from their dance as they heard Jason and Courtney yelling at each other. Carly was surprised to hear Jason have it out with her. Sonny was surprised at both their actions. Claiming to used to be in love with each other, they were ready to rip each other's throats out.
Courtney's eyes welled up with tears, as she knew in her heart that everything he had said was true. Shakily, she brushed a fallen tear with the back of her hand and deathly quiet she said, "AJ has given me everything that you'll never be able to give me. I hate you, Jason!"
With tears streaming down her face, she ran out of Luke's. She was ultimately humiliated at herself. She let Jason see right into her soul again. She had to stop doing this! She needed to stop thinking of him and stop loving him. It was time to close that chapter in her life and open her heart again. She had spent years wasting her life. Standing in the rain outside of Luke's, she felt her heart break all over again.
***Flashback***
Courtney waited anxiously at the old fishing pier on 'their' lake. Looking out onto the water, she smiled remembering the past two years of her life. He made her change in so many ways and she loved him so much for it. She sighed, thinking of how her life had ever gotten to be so good.
Coming up behind her, he stood still for a moment, not wanting to hurt her. He was so in love with her that he needed to stay away from her. He needed to end this before she drove him crazy to the point he couldn't be able to control himself. Closing his eyes, he made his presence heard.
Courtney felt excitement run through her body as she heard him clearing his throat. Turning around anxiously, she through her arms around his neck. Whispering in his ear how happy she was that he could make it. Pulling away, she was met with icy blue eyes. Tilting her head to the side in confusion, she asked, "Jason? What's wrong?"
Jason couldn't believe what he was about to do, but the truth was he was scared. He didn't want to end up in heartache and he needed to end this before he sold himself over completely to her. He took a step back, needing distance from her. Looking away, he didn't answer her question.
Courtney reached for him, but he pushed her away. Willing away the tears, she knew what was coming. Looking up at him tearfully, she questioned, "Jason? Honey, tell me what's the matter."
Jason was procrastinating. He loved her more than anything in the world, and he needed her, yet he had convinced himself it was better off this way. He was heading off to a new line of work and he wasn't sure if she'd be safe. He couldn't handle losing control because of worrying over her. Sighing, and pushing back tears, he told her, avoiding her eyes, "I can't see you anymore."
Courtney felt the air leave her lungs as she felt like a ton of bricks were dropped on her head. Stumbling back as if his words were physical, she hung her head. "Why?" was all she could ask.
Jason wanted to reach for her, but shoved his hand in his pockets to restrain from it. He felt his heart ripping in two, "I'm leaving town and I need to start fresh." He was lying and he knew it. He didn't want to start over fresh; he wanted her by his side.
Courtney nodded deftly. She felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest and thrown into the lake. Her whole body was numb with shock. Suddenly angry, she stared at him, "We've been keeping a long distance relationship for nearly two years, Jason! Why would you suddenly NEED to end this right now? Jason I love you! I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you!"
Jason shook his head, "No, you're not. Courtney, what we feel for each other, it's nothing. It's not real love; not true everlasting love! You have to understand that I'm moving on! I'm done!" Jason was lying through his teeth and he knew it, but he needed to hurt her. He needed to push her away.
Feeling the need to retort, Courtney angrily stated, "So what? This was your plan? Meet some innocent girl and make her fall in love with you? Then tell her you love her and whisk her away to bed? Jason, did you ever love me?"
Jason looked at her and his heart ached. Looking down, he quietly said, "Yes, I did, but now. no. I don't love you anymore." Jason couldn't believe that he was lying to the most honest person he knew besides himself.
Courtney gritted her teeth and shook her head in fury, "No, you're lying, Jason. I know you better than anyone."
"No, Courtney. I'm done! I'm not going to love you forever! I don't love you anymore!" Jason winced at his lie.
Courtney stared at him, heartbroken. Her breathing became ragged as the tears came stronger now. Looking down, she said bravely, "I want you to leave. Go be happy with your life and just stay safe."
Jason looked at her in disbelief. He had just broken her heart and she still wanted what's best for him. His voice breaking a bit, he nodded, "Good bye Courtney."
Courtney didn't say anything as she heard him walk away. She closed her eyes and waited until she couldn't hear him anymore or feel his presence. She felt empty inside, like there was nothing but air. Her heart had been stomped on, but she didn't feel her life was a waste for the last two years. He was wrong; their love was real and she didn't accept that he had just suddenly stopped loving her. He was lying, but he was going away and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Gone, she thought. He was gone. Letting the grief over take her, she slowly slumped into a ball and sobbed on the pier feeling the summer rain begin to trickle over her.
***End of Flashback***
Looking up in the sky, Courtney let the rain splatter over her face washing away her tears with it.
Inside.
Carly stared at Jason furiously. Resting her hands on her hips, she asked him, "What the hell happened? And what the hell did you say to her?"
Jason sighed, angry with himself. Running a hand over his face, he looked at Carly coldly, "I don't want to talk about it. Can I just go? I don't feel like much of a night out?"
Sonny nodded silently and Jason turned towards the exit. He couldn't believe that he had hurt Courtney again. He was furious that he let her make him lose control again. Why was it that when he was around her he could feel at peace one minute and frustrated the next? He knew why. He needed her, just like he did when he was a teenager.
Courtney was the only woman that Jason had ever loved fully and completely. She was only woman to accept him; good and bad. Robin was controlling and tried to change him and Liz. well, he didn't know what Liz was to him. All he knew is that being so close to Courtney was going to kill him until he did something stupid.
Turning his head as he crossed the street to his near-soaked motorcycle, he spotted the blonde beauty. She was walking to her own car. She was soaked to the core and he knew that she was standing in the rain for awhile. Sighing back, he remembered that on the night of their breakup, after he had left her, it started to rain. Shaking his head, he turned away, not wanting to look at the only thing on that earth that he couldn't have.
Heaving a deep breath, Jason started the ignition in his motorcycle. AJ, he thought. She had married AJ. His own brother, the one he despised more than anything. Riding away, he vowed to himself that if Courtney was ever hurt by AJ, then he would have to pay.
Courtney turned her head as she heard the familiar sound of a motorcycle. Watching as he went by, she sighed. He was gone; he had left her, once again, standing in the rain.
Carly watched as they approached. Quickly grabbing Sonny, she smiled sweetly, "Let's go dance, honey!" She pulled him to the dance floor and turned his back towards Jason and Courtney returning. Connecting eyes with Jason, she smiled encouragingly and looked at Courtney only to be met with a face saying stay out of it and a shaking head.
Courtney watched as Sonny and Carly danced. Glancing over at Jason, beside her, she wished he would ask her to dance, but knowing Jason, he wouldn't.
Jason pulled Courtney's chair out for her, but to his surprise, she walked towards a different chair giving him the death stare. Jason, bewildered, sat in the chair himself.
Neither one spoke to each other; they didn't even connect eyes. Sometimes Jason would feel her eyes on him and he would glance her way, but she would always dart away from his stare. He looked her over. Man, she was beautiful. Why had he broken if off if it hurt so badly right now? He loved her still, so why had he done this?
Courtney decided to break the silence, "So, listen, we should be able to get through this dinner alright together."
Jason nodded, "Sure."
Courtney rolled her eyes and mocked, "Sure."
Jason gave her a look and when she avoided his eyes, he asked, "What's your problem?"
She stared at him, shocked, "What's MY problem? Ugh! Jason, do you have any idea how shocked and." She searched for the right word, "dismayed I am to see you! That night, I wished that I would never see or hear from you again!"
Jason laughed spitefully, "Oh, right! It's all my fault!"
She nodded her head at him, "Yeah! It is! You have no idea what it felt like to be led on today at Kelly's! You about ruined my marriage!"
Jason's eyes lit with fury and he raised his voice a little, "Oh right! I must have forgotten that you're bound my slimy older half brother in that sham of a marriage!"
Courtney stared at him, furious. She felt tears in her eyes, but she pushed them away. Shaking her head, she said angrily, "I married you BROTHER? Oh! Were you going to keep that secret from me too?"
Jason laughed humorlessly, "Right, Court. Everything's my fault!"
Courtney stopped at what he had just called her. Quickly recovering though, she answered, "Don't you ever call me Court again! You have no right to call me that!"
Jason nodded, "Fine!"
Courtney smirked, "Oh that's right! Jason Morgan, a man of little words! What's a matter, Jase? Afraid to let me have it?"
Jason couldn't take her taunting any more and he shouted, "FINE! You want me to tell you what I think? I think that you married my jackass older brother in spite of yourself and his manipulations. He doesn't love you, Courtney! He married you because he wanted his so-called son back, and he would have traded you for a second if Sonny had taken his offer. But guess what? Sonny didn't! And now you're stuck in a loveless marriage from HELL and you won't get out of it because of your pride! And since you're angry with yourself, you're taking it out me, because you think I don't care for you, and I wouldn't care. You know what? I do care! I care what happens to you, even though you don't think I do!" Taking a breath and lowering his voice a bit, he added, "I know you better than anyone, Courtney Matthews - excuse me - Quartermaine. You can't deny what I told you because you know it's true."
Sonny and Carly looked up from their dance as they heard Jason and Courtney yelling at each other. Carly was surprised to hear Jason have it out with her. Sonny was surprised at both their actions. Claiming to used to be in love with each other, they were ready to rip each other's throats out.
Courtney's eyes welled up with tears, as she knew in her heart that everything he had said was true. Shakily, she brushed a fallen tear with the back of her hand and deathly quiet she said, "AJ has given me everything that you'll never be able to give me. I hate you, Jason!"
With tears streaming down her face, she ran out of Luke's. She was ultimately humiliated at herself. She let Jason see right into her soul again. She had to stop doing this! She needed to stop thinking of him and stop loving him. It was time to close that chapter in her life and open her heart again. She had spent years wasting her life. Standing in the rain outside of Luke's, she felt her heart break all over again.
***Flashback***
Courtney waited anxiously at the old fishing pier on 'their' lake. Looking out onto the water, she smiled remembering the past two years of her life. He made her change in so many ways and she loved him so much for it. She sighed, thinking of how her life had ever gotten to be so good.
Coming up behind her, he stood still for a moment, not wanting to hurt her. He was so in love with her that he needed to stay away from her. He needed to end this before she drove him crazy to the point he couldn't be able to control himself. Closing his eyes, he made his presence heard.
Courtney felt excitement run through her body as she heard him clearing his throat. Turning around anxiously, she through her arms around his neck. Whispering in his ear how happy she was that he could make it. Pulling away, she was met with icy blue eyes. Tilting her head to the side in confusion, she asked, "Jason? What's wrong?"
Jason couldn't believe what he was about to do, but the truth was he was scared. He didn't want to end up in heartache and he needed to end this before he sold himself over completely to her. He took a step back, needing distance from her. Looking away, he didn't answer her question.
Courtney reached for him, but he pushed her away. Willing away the tears, she knew what was coming. Looking up at him tearfully, she questioned, "Jason? Honey, tell me what's the matter."
Jason was procrastinating. He loved her more than anything in the world, and he needed her, yet he had convinced himself it was better off this way. He was heading off to a new line of work and he wasn't sure if she'd be safe. He couldn't handle losing control because of worrying over her. Sighing, and pushing back tears, he told her, avoiding her eyes, "I can't see you anymore."
Courtney felt the air leave her lungs as she felt like a ton of bricks were dropped on her head. Stumbling back as if his words were physical, she hung her head. "Why?" was all she could ask.
Jason wanted to reach for her, but shoved his hand in his pockets to restrain from it. He felt his heart ripping in two, "I'm leaving town and I need to start fresh." He was lying and he knew it. He didn't want to start over fresh; he wanted her by his side.
Courtney nodded deftly. She felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest and thrown into the lake. Her whole body was numb with shock. Suddenly angry, she stared at him, "We've been keeping a long distance relationship for nearly two years, Jason! Why would you suddenly NEED to end this right now? Jason I love you! I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you!"
Jason shook his head, "No, you're not. Courtney, what we feel for each other, it's nothing. It's not real love; not true everlasting love! You have to understand that I'm moving on! I'm done!" Jason was lying through his teeth and he knew it, but he needed to hurt her. He needed to push her away.
Feeling the need to retort, Courtney angrily stated, "So what? This was your plan? Meet some innocent girl and make her fall in love with you? Then tell her you love her and whisk her away to bed? Jason, did you ever love me?"
Jason looked at her and his heart ached. Looking down, he quietly said, "Yes, I did, but now. no. I don't love you anymore." Jason couldn't believe that he was lying to the most honest person he knew besides himself.
Courtney gritted her teeth and shook her head in fury, "No, you're lying, Jason. I know you better than anyone."
"No, Courtney. I'm done! I'm not going to love you forever! I don't love you anymore!" Jason winced at his lie.
Courtney stared at him, heartbroken. Her breathing became ragged as the tears came stronger now. Looking down, she said bravely, "I want you to leave. Go be happy with your life and just stay safe."
Jason looked at her in disbelief. He had just broken her heart and she still wanted what's best for him. His voice breaking a bit, he nodded, "Good bye Courtney."
Courtney didn't say anything as she heard him walk away. She closed her eyes and waited until she couldn't hear him anymore or feel his presence. She felt empty inside, like there was nothing but air. Her heart had been stomped on, but she didn't feel her life was a waste for the last two years. He was wrong; their love was real and she didn't accept that he had just suddenly stopped loving her. He was lying, but he was going away and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Gone, she thought. He was gone. Letting the grief over take her, she slowly slumped into a ball and sobbed on the pier feeling the summer rain begin to trickle over her.
***End of Flashback***
Looking up in the sky, Courtney let the rain splatter over her face washing away her tears with it.
Inside.
Carly stared at Jason furiously. Resting her hands on her hips, she asked him, "What the hell happened? And what the hell did you say to her?"
Jason sighed, angry with himself. Running a hand over his face, he looked at Carly coldly, "I don't want to talk about it. Can I just go? I don't feel like much of a night out?"
Sonny nodded silently and Jason turned towards the exit. He couldn't believe that he had hurt Courtney again. He was furious that he let her make him lose control again. Why was it that when he was around her he could feel at peace one minute and frustrated the next? He knew why. He needed her, just like he did when he was a teenager.
Courtney was the only woman that Jason had ever loved fully and completely. She was only woman to accept him; good and bad. Robin was controlling and tried to change him and Liz. well, he didn't know what Liz was to him. All he knew is that being so close to Courtney was going to kill him until he did something stupid.
Turning his head as he crossed the street to his near-soaked motorcycle, he spotted the blonde beauty. She was walking to her own car. She was soaked to the core and he knew that she was standing in the rain for awhile. Sighing back, he remembered that on the night of their breakup, after he had left her, it started to rain. Shaking his head, he turned away, not wanting to look at the only thing on that earth that he couldn't have.
Heaving a deep breath, Jason started the ignition in his motorcycle. AJ, he thought. She had married AJ. His own brother, the one he despised more than anything. Riding away, he vowed to himself that if Courtney was ever hurt by AJ, then he would have to pay.
Courtney turned her head as she heard the familiar sound of a motorcycle. Watching as he went by, she sighed. He was gone; he had left her, once again, standing in the rain.