Chapter 10- PB&J Broken

After Jake's plane lands he runs outside and hails a cab. He opens the door, gets inside and pulls the slip of paper out of his pocket. The driver turns to him and says, "Where to buddy?"

J-" Uhh, 2030 Westchester Road. In Greenwich."

The driver laughs and says, "That's gonna take awhile and it'll cost you."

J-" Doesn't matter, just get me there."

She's the best friend I've ever had and the greatest woman I have ever met. I can't believe I've been such an idiot. I spent all my time pining over another woman when the most perfect woman in the world was right in front of me the whole time. She saw me for who I am and loved me anyway. Every time she looked at me I thought I saw something in her eyes. She always looked at me like she was looking into my soul. I'm such a moron.

He looks out the window and sees a sign that says, Greenwich 1 mile.

-Penny's Mansion-

Penny is rummaging through her parents fridge looking for something to eat. She settles on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Good old comfort food. PBJ. Hmmm. Penny Barnes and Jake. That's weird. If I were that sort of person I'd take it as a sign.

After she settles down to eat her sandwich the doorbell rings. She is sitting silently in her thoughts so it startles her and she jumps up. Her hip catches the edge of the plate, knocking it too the floor where the sandwich rips apart and the plate shatters.

Shit. And there's the doorbell again. I'll clean that up later.

She walks the distance into the foyer and opens the door. One the other side is a solicitor. He grins and says, "Hello Miss. I have an exciting opportunity for you."

P- "No, go away. I'm not interested or in the mood to listen to your tired spiel."

She watches as he turns and leaves. She chuckles to herself and turns to close the door. She slams it shut and is about to head back into the kitchen when the doorbell rings again.

If it's that damn salesman again, I'll freak out.

She opens the door and says, "Listen, buddy. I told you I'm not interested . . . Jake?!"

J- "Hi Penny. Uhh. Can I come in?"

P- "Yeah, sure."

She stands aside to let him in and then closes the door and leads him into the kitchen. She kneels on the floor and starts cleaning up the mess.

J-" Penny, I really need to talk to you. Can you stop that for now and sit up here?"

She sighs and shifts herself up to the table.

P-"What is it?"

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the note and the check.

J-"First of all I wanted to thank you for this money, but I can't accept it without knowing where it came from."

P-"Hmm. I came home to my parents Greenwich mansion. Fair bet says I'm rich."

J-" I figured. Okay and now the note. Do you really feel this way about me?"

P-" Yes I do."

Jake grins and says, "I feel the same for you." He leans forward and they embrace in a passionate kiss. But the Penny pulls away. She looks into his eyes and says, "I can't do this Jake. I can't be here kissing you because chances are you'll break my heart again. I can't put up with that pain again."

He looks at her astonished and says, "But I . . ." She cuts him off. "But you won't hurt me again, Jake? Is that what you were going to say? You change your mind about who you love so often, Jake. It can't work. You should leave. You can see yourself out."

He stands and walks out of the kitchen pausing to look back at her as she kneels and begins cleaning up the mess. He keeps walking out of the house and doesn't see her crying as she picks up the jagged pieces of glass. She picks up a piece of glass wrong and cuts her finger. As the blood drips onto the tiled floor, she starts sobbing. She picks up the pieces, her heart, like the plate, shattered.

A/N- due to problems all thoughts are now italicized.