AN: Tob2008: stuff will be sprinkled in here and there :D Thank you for always reviewing! I love reading them xoxoxo
Walking Away
Sometimes, some people get me wrong
When it's something I've said or done
Sometimes, you feel there is no fun
That's why you turn and run
But now I truly realize
Some people don't wanna compromise
Well, I saw them with my own eyes
Spreading those lies
And, well, I don't wanna live a lie
Too many sleepless nights
Not mentioning the fights
I'm sorry to say, lady
Jennie Garth: (On divorce and rejection) I think with any sort of rejection, you're angry that you weren't enough for that person.
"Hey Luke!" Tori ran over to hug him as soon as she saw him.
"Hey camel!" He said as he nuzzled into her.
"Ugh, I hate that." She playfully hit him, hiding her disappointment
"Hate what?" He cocked an eyebrow
"You calling me camel... making fun of me, is that it?" She folded her arms
"No," Luke said softly, pulling her in for a hug. "I call you that because camels have the longest, most beautiful eyelashes just like yours."
"Oh." Tori blushed, feeling all warm and giddy inside. She reached out and hugged him. "That's so nice! You're a sweet guy, Luke."
Luke crinkled his forehead as he looked down. "Yeah, tell that to your friend." He mumbled
Tori studied him. "Fighting with Shannen again?"
"Nope. Jen. She basically ended... whatever it was."
"What?!" Tori gasped. "Why?"
"I don't know..." Luke shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
"No, wait yes it does." Tori urged. "You guys were so cute together. You're perfect for each other! Give it a chance."
"Nah, if she wants to be like that, let her be." Luke groaned
"Come on, Luke!" Tori pleaded
"No, I'm serious." He determined with a flail of his hand. "I'm not gonna be forced to say something I'm not ready for. Does she want to explore our connection or is she just marking off a checklist of milestones to reach?"
"Let me talk to her," Tori insisted once more
"Tor." Luke shook his head, "Please. Let it go."
"Seriously? You broke up with Luke?!" Tori came barging into Jennie's dressing room.
Jennie looked up at her from her dresser and huffed. "You can't break something that didn't exist in the first place, Tor."
"But you like him. And don't try to deny it. We both know how much you wanted this." Tori warned
Jennie shook her head before looking at her reflection in the mirror. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't want the same things I want." She then turned in her chair to face Tori once again. "Why should I waste my time with someone who's not quite sure whether they want to commit to me?"
"You did this out of fear and you know it." Tori corrected
"That's not true." Jennie said dismissively
"Yes, it is. Even your mother said so. You always walk away from things to avoid getting hurt. But guess what, Jen? Sometimes you have to allow yourself to be vulnerable."
"I was vulnerable. I was fully invested in this." Jennie snapped
"Yeah, breaking things off before they even start because you had one small bump in the road... sounds like it." Tori rolled her eyes
"He's not ready for a relationship..." Jennie sighed
"It's not like you guys are getting married tomorrow." Tori groaned. "Talk it out. You guys have so much in common, it's like... fate."
"I'm ready for a relationship, Tori." Jennie explained firmly. "If it was fate, he would be too. I wanna get married and have babies, and take care of a family. I wanna do all that stuff."
"Who's to say he doesn't?" Tori shrugged
"Come on, Tor." Jennie scoffed. "Luke's career is kicking off in a big way. He's an actor and already a major part of this show. Trust me, I'll be home alone and he'll be out with Jason and all those guys enjoying all the opportunities."
"Can't believe she just threw it away without even hearing him out." Tori said while out at a bar with Shannen.
"She's right, though." Shannen sighed. "She will be home waiting for him and he will be cheating."
"I don't believe that." Tori shook her head. "He's a really good guy. A true, humble guy."
"Yes but he's still a famous 24 year old with a dick and a hell of a lot of groupies." Shannen added. "You saw how those girls push us out of the way to get to them. That's what they'll do. They'll knock Jennie out trying to get to him. Whether he's her boyfriend or not, they don't care."
The next couple of weeks was quite different at work. Shannen was newly engaged and wanted to proudly show off her ring even in scenes. Brian and Tori began a summer fling. Luke and Jennie were barely talking, which wasn't very noticeable since she was spending most of her time with Ann as they had a lot of scenes together the coming weeks, especially during the filming of Summer Storm and Play It Again, David.
However, once they were shooting the latter episode, things came to a head.
"Hi." Luke said as he walked onto the set. Jennie remained silent, rummaging through props on a table.
"Not even gonna say hello to me now?" He scoffed
Jennie stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him. "Hi." She mumbled, to which Luke rolled his eyes before walking closer to her.
"Jen..." He began in that calming voice of his. She closed her eyes as it made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. "It doesn't have to be this way. Let's just admit it, we mean something to each other and acting like nothing happened is hard."
She hated how much she wanted to slide into his arms and forget the entire fight. But she knew it would hurt more in the long run.
"Yeah... mean something to each other, right... Just not enough I guess." She groaned
"Hey, come on." He soothed. "Don't do that."
"Well it's the truth, isn't it?" She replied smugly
"Look," He began. "I understand that you might take it personally, but I don't want to lie to you and say I'm ready for the things you are when I'm not. It'll only fuck things up later."
"Well, thank you for your honesty." She said sarcastically as she continued to appear busy. He could see she was visibly upset and he hated it. But he didn't want to lie to someone he cared so deeply about.
"I know I can't ask you to wait for me. So I'm trying to give you space."
Jennie took a deep breath in and bit her lip, trying not to get emotional but failing. "You know... as an actress, you really have to learn to cope with rejection. And this... this type of rejection is the worst." She turned to face him. "Because it makes you feel... It makes me feel like I wasn't enough." As the tears began to fall, he rushed over to hug her.
"You know that's not true." He consoled but she pulled away from his grasp
She was just about to walk away but turned to look at him one more time. "You're right by the way... You can't ask me to wait... You can't ask me to wait for you."
The cast were on the set of the Beverly Hills beach club. Jason, Shannen, Brian, and Tori were all splashing around on the beach. Luke was sitting with Gabrielle on the sand while Ian and Jennie were at the table with a couple of sodas.
"Jennie." Eloise called as she headed over to the table
"Yeah?" She answered
"That guy, Dean is on the phone again."
"Oh right." Jennie nodded. She then turned to Ian. "Be right back."
Just then Ian got up and headed down to the beach to the others.
"You wanna explain the fallout?" Gabrielle asked
"No..." Luke groaned, "Everyone knows already..."
"Well I don't. I never know what's going on!" She chuckled
"You're far better off." Luke chuckled as he put his arm around her.
After a sweet, tender moment as they watched the other 4 goofing around in the water, Gabrielle finally spoke:
"You really liked her."
Luke cleared his throat, "...Yeah."
"You're a good guy, you know that?"
Luke scoffed "Trying to be."
"No you are." She insisted, "You could have lied. Got to spend more time with her under false pretenses... but you didn't. Instead, you did what's best for her. She'll appreciate it one day."
"That's the thing." Luke shook his head, "I didn't want to end things. Sometimes I really think... I thought she could be the one." He stopped to chuckle at his own words, "I know it sounds crazy but I just do. And if she gave me some time, maybe it could have... maybe it would've been something."
"So tell her that!" Gabrielle urged
"No..." Luke exhaled, "I don't want to be that guy... the one who pushes her to do what I want. She has to decide on her own whether this is worth waiting for and if it's not, I get that. I'm not gonna try to convince her otherwise."
Well, I'm so tired, baby
Things you say, you're driving me away
Whispers in the powder room, baby
Don't listen to the games they play
Girl, I thought you'd realize
I'm not like them other guys
'Cause I saw them with my own eyes
You should've been more wise, babe
And well, I don't wanna live a lie
Too many sleepless nights
Not mentioning the fights
I'm sorry to say, lady
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away, oh, to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away, oh, to find a better day
I'm walking away