Chapter Five - The Last Goodbye

PJ expected them to be a bit sceptical, but he wasn't at all prepared for the response he got. Jonesy glared at him angrily.

"PJ we've been through this and we even took your word for it to start with! But don't think you've caused enough pain; we already said our goodbyes and then had to have all of this stuff dragged back up again. Its time to let go!" his words were like a sharp sword to PJ. To him this was possibly one of the happiest days of his life and he wanted to be able to share it with his two friends.

"If you would just come down to the beach tomorrow morning, I could prove it to you, I'm meeting her Jonesy...Susie?" his glance fell on Susie who had her eyes firmly planted on her shoes.

"As much as I hate to say it PJ, I think Evan is right, its time to let go" he could tell the words hurt her to say, but he also believed she meant them. Fury overtook him and frustration but all he seemed to be able to say was,

"Fine!" and he huffily yanked the covers up, hauled himself into bed, rolled over and lay motionless. Susie and Jonesy were stunned, they knew this meant a lot to PJ but they had never really need him act this erratically before. Jonesy gave her a 'what now?' look.

"Lets just go to bed, we could probably do with an early night too" Susie whispered.

"I like the way you think, lets go" he said a ghost of a grin playing on his face. It was met with a scowl.

"You in your bed and me in mine" she said forcing a smile at Jonesy's ill-timed attempt at humour.

A bright light streaming in the window woke PJ the following morning, he wasn't sure what time it was but it was early enough for his colleagues to still be sound asleep. As quietly as he could manage he pulled on a shirt and a pair of shorts. He then began to creep out of the apartment. As he left he passed the airline tickets that had been left out on the table, their flight was at midday today and he had know idea how he was going to handle all of this. He wasn't exactly sure how he would explain to his friends that he was thinking about staying here to be close to Jo. There were still at least 5 hours until he had to be up at the airport, he would have made a decision by then. With a glance and Jonesy and Susie he left the apartment, closing the door behind him as quietly as he could manage.

The beach was absolutely beautiful at this time in the morning because no one was around and the sand was smooth and completely undisturbed. If he was honest with himself PJ wasn't entirely sure what time Jo had wanted him to meet her, she had simply said 'tomorrow morning' and he had been too shocked to ask her for an exact time. He needn't have worried because she was there on the beach waiting for him, all alone without another soul on the beach.

"How long have you been waiting?" he said with an edge of concern in his voice.

"Not very long" she smiled taking his hand in her own. Without wasting a moment he pulled her to him and drew her into a long and passionate kiss.

"I love you, Jo," he said thickly, his nose touching hers as he looked into her eyes and he was shocked as she pulled away from him. He stood there for a moment looking slightly confused.

"I know you do, PJ and I love you with every part of me, but that is as far as it can go" she said a pained expression appearing on her face.

"Why? I want us to be together forever Jo, that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm going to stay here and be with you, forever" he squared his shoulders and attempted to approach her again. But much to his surprise she was shaking her head and tears were filling her eyes.

"NO" she yelled, "you can't do that, I knew I made a mistake letting you see me" by the second she seemed to be becoming more and more hysterical. Feeling slightly distressed himself he leaned forward and pulled her to him determined to kiss away her tears and for that moment she let him. He could feel her heart pounding on his chest as she leaned against him, sobbing softly.

"He's still not here yet" Susie said her voice getting higher as she threw her clothes into her suitcase "what is he thinking! He'll make us miss our flight" by now Jonesy had left his dishevelled pile of clothes and was trying to comfort Susie.

"He'll be here Susie, but even if he isn't I'm willing to bet you I know where he is. If you finish doing your packing we'll work on PJ's luggage together. Then hopefully we will have some time to go and find him before our check in time.

PJ could feel the time was running out on him but he couldn't shake this feeling of wanting to stay with Jo forever. At the same time, he wondered why she didn't want him too.

"Jo, why don't you want me to stay with you?" she looked up at him with tearstained cheeks.

"Because" she began biting her lip "because its time for you to move on"

"But maybe I don't want to move on without you" frustration showing in his voice.

Suddenly on the road parallel to the boardwalk a car pulled up and Jonesy and Susie got out. Jo began to look panicked.

"I told you not to tell them" her voice was shrill. Her eyes fixed on his as she grabbed him for a deep kiss. "Goodbye PJ" she said, letting go of him and running off in the opposite direction and disappearing from his life.

As Susie approached him she had her 'pretend angry' face on, which really meant she was pleased to see him.

"Come on PJ, we've got to go" she said tugging on his arm.

"Wait! Did you see her, she was right there" PJ said his eyes wide. Jonesy just looked back at him confused.

"What are you talking about PJ? There wasn't anybody there."