Writer's Note: Sorry it's taken me awhile. I always struggle with writer's block when I am near the end. Well, I hope it's okay.
"False alarm, everyone!" Rose shouted out, clearing her throat as she calms her racing heart, "What Jacob just spit out is complete and utter nonsense! I'm not pregnant." She glared over at him, signaling him to follow her to the back, "Sarah, can you take care of the rest please? I need to speak to Jacob privately."
"By all means, take your time." Sarah jolted by Rose's expression and her tone, "Good luck, Mr. Frye." A scared chuckle left Sarah's lips as they passed by her.
"Bloody hell, Jacob!" Rose turned to face him once they entered the back room, "You come into my pub with shocking news like that and not think of the possible outcomes?!" She stared daggers at him, irritated by the intrusion, "For goodness sake, think before you speak!" The young woman groaned, massaging her temple, trying to rid the migraine that began.
"I-I'm sorry, it's just... I never... I never expected... I should have... I..." Jacob kept stuttering, not knowing what to say.
"Look... I'm sorry as well. I've just been under a lot of stress lately, but to make things clear..." Rose looked up at Jacob, seeing worrisome in his expression, "As I stated out there... I'm not." She lied.
Jacob examined her whole face, trying to tell if she were telling the truth. He had difficulty since she has been truthful towards him the whole time they've known each other. The young man could tell something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He wanted to pry what she was hiding behind that weak grin, but he knew she was as stubborn as him, so he didn't try. But he did plan to later that night once everything is set.
"Oh... okay..." He sighed deeply, looking at her with a look of disappointment, before looking down.
"W-Why do you look so down? Isn't it a relief that I'm not?" She chuckled weakly, cupping his face, lifting it up to make him look at her.
"I... don't really know how to respond to that, Rose." He gave out a weak laugh as he tried to plant a smile across his face, "To be honest... I would be scared, but it... it would definitely..." His eyes stared into hers before looking down, "N-Never mind... forget I ever brought this up." He cupped her hands, turning his head slightly to kiss them before removing them from his face, "Anyway... I'll return later this evening." Jacob smiled at her gently before turning to leave.
Once Jacob left the building, Sarah walked into the back, "Are you really just going to hide something this important from him?" She questioned, looking at Rose with a perplexed expression.
"He already has enough on his plate..." Rose looked down, "I don't... I don't want to worry him more than he already is." She glanced over at Sarah, "I'll think of something to... to rid this problem."
"Rose... don't tell me you plan on..." Sarah looked at her with disbelief, "You promised yourself you would never go to such lengths if this ever happened to you!"
"I know... I know, Sarah. It's just... with the things he's told me, the things he has gone through in his whole life, the things he's struggled with... I don't want to strain him anymore than he already is." Rose looked up at her with a weak grin, "I love him... I don't him to struggle with things anymore than he already has."
"Rose... please don't-"
"Let's return to work. People are waiting." She walked passed Sarah, trying to treat the day like any other.
Little did she know, "I knew she was hiding something." Jacob whispered to himself, his hands clenching into tight fists as a sigh escapes his lips, "What the bloody hell can I do to help her?" He began to head back towards the train to think things over.
Once he jumped on the train he groaned with frustration as he struggled to figure out how to put both, himself and Rose, at ease. Though as he did, he overheard people shouting in the next car over.
"What?" Henry spoke lowly with the sound of aggression, "Who's the father?" He growled.
"Henry... look... I'm sorry I..." Evie sounded frightened, "I was reckless, alright?" The older twin whined out, "I didn't... I don't... I'm sorry... That's all I can really say, Henry. I can't explain how this happened."
"Oh, for Christ's sake..." Jacob breathed out lowly, his heart racing out of control, "Please don't tell me."
"Oh dear God... it's Jacob's, isn't it?" Henry questioned, sounding disgusted.
"What? No! For God's sake, no!" Evie responded instantly, sounding terrified and offended, "What the bloody hell would make you think it's his?"
"Well, from what I've been noticing lately, you two have become quite close. Or so it appears to me." He scoffed.
"He's my brother for God's sake! Don't be absurd!" Evie shouted, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Then whose is it, Evie? You and I haven't had intercourse for the past year, so who the bloody hell is the father?" Henry shouted.
"I-I can't tell you! I'm sorry!" Evie began to weep, sounding scared.
"I need time to think things through." Henry growled, walking out, passing Jacob, not even realizing he was there.
"Evie...?" Jacob called out to her weakly, slowly approaching her once Henry was out of sight, "Please don't tell me..."
"Jacob!" Evie jolted once seeing him enter, "Whatever you heard, it's not true."
"It's not true?" He laughed with disbelief, approaching her with the look of annoyance, "You think I can't tell when you're lying? Ha! You need to practice harder then, Evie!" He shook his head with a growl, "Christ... I can't believe myself!" He fell back onto the closest chair, "First Rose, now you?! I thought you said you couldn't bear children! And are you bloody serious? Why the bloody hell were you drinking countless bottles of alcohol if you're bearing a goddamn child?!"
Evie ignored the question of alcohol and had main focus on the name Rose, "Rose? What do you mean, first Rose?" Evie questioned.
The question of alcohol was thrown out the window as Jacob froze after realizing too late of his sudden statement.
"Jacob!" Evie shouted, annoyance beginning to stir, "Is that why you ran off when I told you, you knocked someone up? Are you telling me...?" The older twin fell silent, disbelief beginning to mix.
"Now look, Evie..." Jacob held up his hands, concerned, "I thought you said you couldn't bear children so I thought..." Jacob struggled to find the words.
"Are you telling me you slept with Rose?!" Evie hissed.
Jacob fell silent, tensing up by Evie's sound of anger, "Look, Evie... I'd like to apologize, but what the bloody hell did you expect me to do?"
"What did I expect you to do? Are you bloody serious right now?! I never expected my brother to be the type of man to just sleep with someone so carelessly! Did you do it just to let out frustration?" Evie shouted.
"Carelessly? Are you bloody serious?! You're one to fucking talk, Evie! For Christ's sake! And If I wanted to do it just out of frustration then I would have gone to a fucking brothel!" Jacob shouted.
Evie faltered by the words, knowing fully well that those words defined something she did not want to hear, "When did this occur?" Evie murmured.
Jacob tensed up, falling silent again, trying to muster up his confession, "It... it happened the night before we..." Jacob looked down, his head hanging in shame.
"You slept with her the night before we made love?!" Evie shouted without even thinking the possibilities of other passengers overhearing.
"Evie, calm down!" Jacob spoke sternly, but calmly, "You can't just blame me for everything that has been happening, Evie! I tried stopping you that night and I definitely tried stopping myself!" The younger twin walked up to her, irritation rising.
"Why did you sleep with her? To arise our whole situation? To break me?" Evie shouted out question after question, leading Jacob to groaning as though he was beginning to surrender.
"To let go..." He murmured.
"What do you mean, to let go?" She asked, falling into worrisome.
"To let go of our love. To let go of this whole situation. To let go... of you." Jacob looked up, his eyes exposing the whole truth, "To move on. To be realistic. And... to be honest with myself." He walked up to her, placing one hand on his chest, gripping his shirt while the other turned into a tight fist, "Christ, Evie..." He turned, grabbing hold of his hair, high tension beginning to fill the air.
"To be honest with yourself? Are you telling me...?" Evie asked, wanting to walk up to Jacob, but was planted in place.
"Evie... My time in Crawley made me realize... I love you... I truly do..." Jacob turned, having difficulty looking at her, his arms dropping to his sides.
"But...?" Evie asked, knowing there was more.
"But... after hearing she's pregnant... that changed my views entirely." He looked down, a chuckle escaping, failing to disguise his sadness, "I may have been reckless, but Evie... it made me realize you and I can't... we can't love each other as man and woman." Jacob looked at her, hurt.
Evie looked down, conflicted on how to respond.
He closed his eyes, trying to organize his next words, "When I spent my days in Crawley... the things I've seen reminded me of why I loved you in the first place. The painting I found that had mother and father holding us showed me what love really is and with what father wrote for mother, it really exposed the truth of love. As for the letters... dear God has it made me loved you even more. But..." He sighed deeply, "It opened my eyes and made me notice... my love for you is not the same as it was back then."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Evie asked, feeling hesitant on wanting to know.
"My love for you..." He looked back at her, walking up to her slowly as though magnetized by her, "My love for you may still be lingering in my heart..." Without even realizing, their lips were inching closer and closer as Jacob was coming forward. As their lips were inches apart, he grabbed her arms and shied away, looking down, "But I've come to realize the truth of what my heart yearns for and why I kept pushing the feeling away."
Evie felt a stinging pain in her chest, feeling as though he was about to say something she's not prepared to hear.
"I... I love her, Evie." Tears began to slip out from under his eye lids, "I couldn't accept her because she resembled you and... she reminded me of mother."
"How?" Evie asked lowly.
"The times I've spent with Rose has certainly resembled the stories grandmother has told us about mother. The kindness. The happiness. The support. Everything about her matches, Evie." He looked at her, a faint chuckle escaping, "I know it's hard to hear this, but I need to come clean to both you and myself." His lips began to tremble as his eyes became watery, "I love you. I really do, but I swear to God and even to the damn Creed that I cannot continue this with you, Evie! I cannot accept this kind of position we've led ourselves into! I cannot accept what we have done! So listen to me clearly, Evie..." He closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath, "I will stand beside you and support you any way I can if you plan on keeping this baby. But I will only stand by you as a brother... I'm sorry, darling sister... but my feelings officially end here." Jacob turned his heels, striding off to leave the scene before it gets worse, "I'm sorry, Evie..." He whispered to himself as he clenched his eyes shut before opening them to jump off, "I'm so bloody sorry..."
Jacob ran off, running wherever his legs led him to just to clear his mind. As heartbreaking as it was to having to let go, he couldn't take that risk. He didn't want Evie to have a hard life. He didn't want her to suffer the feel of secrecy. He didn't want her to struggle with anything that could lead to a possible downfall. It killed him deeply inside to not be able to call her his or to give her the happy life she deserves. He felt like an utter disgrace for how things turned out. All he knew he could give was the support a brother should.
"Heh... Big Ben... one of my most peaceful places to clear my mind." Jacob chuckled, realizing where his legs led him.
It's finally official... Jacob thought to himself with a sigh, My love for her has officially ended... here... and now... A faint grin crossed his face as he wiped the tears away, It's time for a new future.
The young man climbed his way to the top of Big Ben to release all of his emotions in silence so he could finally step forward with the woman he was wanting a future with. He still struggled the feeling of falling out of love, but he tried to keep his mind cleared to push through and to move on. Jacob didn't exactly know how to come forward to Rose. He felt nervous of the outcomes. He may have cleared things up with Evie. Though a bit recklessly at that if wanting to be honest. But as he crouched once he reached the very top, he felt he could finally breathe. The pain still lingered of course, but it was dull to the point of feeling like a bruise that can fade in time. Though he knew that the feel of disgrace will be with him as he ages.
The thought of him not being able to support Evie as a lover, but as a brother hit him in the chest countless times. He wanted to raise the child more as a father than an uncle, but with Rose being pregnant as well, he felt he was stuck at a standstill. Even though hes come to love her, he still felt a twinge deep down inside himself.
It took him most of the day to figure out what to do. After sorting things out in his mind and calming down from the little fight that led to the feeling of utter shame, he steadily stood on the ledge and did a leap of faith. Each time he did it, it always calmed his nerves and made him feel free.
He headed to Rose's pub to check on her from afar before heading back to the train to clean himself up. He noticed Rose acting like her normal self, yet she didn't look as cheery as usual. Jacob kept wondering to himself on the reason and he was hoping she didn't do anything irrational. The young man kept in mind to ask her in a somewhat kindly, yet straightforward manner to reassure her and to come forward.
Once he entered the train he jolted then sighed as he saw Evie sitting on his bed, "Good evening, sister." He murmured, discomfort beginning to rise.
"I left him..." Evie mumbled.
"What? Why?" Jacob's eyebrows knitted, concerned.
"He's not the father and I could no longer stand the discomfort him and I have been going through for the past years." She clenched onto the mattress, not being able to look at Jacob, "It may be a wrong choice of me, seeing as to how I'm going to be left-"
"Evie, I'm not leaving you. But I'm also not leaving her. I can't and you know that." Jacob interrupted.
"What if I told you, you can?" Evie glanced over.
"What are you stating, Evie?" Jacob asked, taken aback.
"What if I told you she talked to her sister?" Evie looked up.
"Her sister? She has a sister?" Jacob asked, surprised and lost.
"You don't know much of the woman you love, do you?" Evie scoffed, shaking her head with the feel of disbelief as she felt stabbed by her last few words.
"I know her more than I know you." Jacob snipped back.
Evie's eyebrows knitted out of anger and frustration by his remark, not wanting to admit he had a point there. She looked up at him with a glare and a huff before gripping the mattress even more. She growled before storming up to him, eager to slap him.
"You infuriate me so much that sometimes I can't even bear to look at you without feeling pain!" Evie screamed with frustration.
"You think you're the only one that has suffered through that feeling? You think I feel good with how things have ended? You think I like how things have been going?!" Jacob fought back, "I'm deeply sorry for how things have ended, but honestly, Evie!" He growled, "I. Tried. Stopping. This! And you know that." He laughed as though he was losing his mind. He turned around pacing back and forth, trying to keep calm, "You knew better. You knew better than I did that things would go south! And yet look where we are now!" Jacob began to raise his voice as he headed towards her step by step after each sentence, "You lied to me! You lied to Henry! You pushed and pushed me into something I tried to escape from! You impulsively stepped back into my life, knowing fully well of the fucking consequences once committing those actions!" He turned, shaking his head as a chuckle escaped, "I may have followed through. I may have done actions on my own. But Christ... Evie... I was just inches away from moving on. I was inches away from wanting a future with Rose. I was... I was inches away from proposing..." He looked down with a deep sigh.
Evie gasped by the last statement, "So it wasn't just a confession..." A scoff left her lips, "It was a proposal...?" She covered her mouth.
"It wasn't going to be a proposal. It was just going to be a confession, but after hearing about her pregnancy... I have to take an even bigger step forward." Jacob glanced up with a small sigh, "With the amount of times shes been there for me. I have to... I want to be there for her. And I want to be there for you as well. So don't think I'll leave you behind just because I'm choosing Rose. Alright, Evie?" He looked straight into her eyes, concern still filling the air.
"Alright..." Evie sighed deeply as she resigned, trying to hold in her tears, "Alright... darling brother..." She looked down, I'll do this for you, brother. She looked back up, I'm sorry, brother... She smiled faintly, cupping his cheeks, resting her forehead on his, I'm sorry...
"Thank you..." Jacob sighed with a faint smile, I'm sorry, sister... I'm sorry...
Silence filled the air and time passed that the twins lost complete track of the time. Jacob stood up straight and stepped back, stepping away from anything that could lead them back to square one. He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck, looking over at Evie, gesturing her to give him space so he can get ready for the evening. As everything slightly settled down, Evie left the room, feeling lost, while Jacob tried to ready himself for what was to begin soon.
Minutes passed by instantly and Jacob walked out into a new attire. Evie noticed him, her face turning slight pink, "You look handsome this evening, brother." She spoke, admiring the sight of him in a tux, "You'll really... really capture her heart tonight." She smiled faintly, thinking to herself, After all, you definitely have captured mine.
"Thanks..." A faint grin spread across his face, stuck with the dull twinge in his chest, "I really... I really hope I don't become a nervous wreck." He spoke jokingly, trying to lessen the discomfort, "Well... if you'll excuse me. I'll be back later. You know where to find me if you need me." He kissed her temple by impulse, his heart throbbing by the sudden action, "Sleep well, love." The young man kicked himself mentally for his heart and body acting out all on their own that he stride off the train.
Once he reached Rose's pub, he peeked through the window, seeing her serve her regular customers with a smile per usual. A huge smile crossed his face, thinking of how to enter. He wanted to make a big entrance, but he recalled last time he did he got lectured. So he planned on entering through the back.
When he crept through the back he bumped into a table that had papers, leading to scatter along the floor, "Shit!" He murmured, rushing to pick up the papers, "What's this...?" There was one piece that caught his eye, "Is that...?"
"Papers of agreement to feticide?" Rose finished the sentence, "It happens to be so..." A sigh escaped, followed by a chuckle, "What are you doing here, Jacob? Shouldn't you be with your sister?"
"O-One moment... are you telling me you're...?" Jacob could barely speak as he had trouble breathing.
"Yes... I'm... I'm pregnant and going to abort what lies inside me." She placed her hands on her stomach, looking down.
"B-But... but why?!" He walked up to her, worried.
"I'm not prepared to raise a child... let alone raise one by myself..." Rose looked up at him, trying to hold herself together.
"What in the world makes you think you'd raise this child alone?" Jacob questioned, feeling slightly offended.
"I saw..." She looked at him, expressionless.
"Saw what?" He asked, confused.
"I saw you leave a hotel the night after we..." She looked down, having difficulty of coming forward, "Then I saw your sister leave behind you." Is all she could finish as she tried to hide her tears.
"What are you talking about, Rose?" Jacob tried to look offended, but failed slightly by nervousness, "For heavens sake I would never-"
"Oh, don't think I'm stupid, Jacob! I can see the way you look at her like I did with my..." Rose fell silent, wanting to come forward, but the words could not leave her lips.
Jacob was conflicted on how to respond, but in the back of his mind, the words she was beginning to spit out sunk in his mind, leading him to wonder on what she was going to say, "Rose... what are you hiding?" He looked at her with a look of concern, "Were you... were you about to bring up... your sister?"
"How do you know about her?!" Rose shuddered by the sudden question.
Jacob dodged the question, "Why won't you answer my question?" He looked at her, confused on how to react.
Rose fell silent, looking down as she shivered. She didn't know what to do or say. The young woman was lost on what to say let alone where to begin. As several seconds passed, she sighed deeply, feeling as though she was being filled with lead. Every emotion she buried down for years began to rise.
"I... I was in your position before..." She looked up at him, wiping away the tears that continuously left her eyes, "M-My sister... my sister and I felt the same as you felt with your sister Evie..." Her lips began to tremble, making it difficult for her to speak clearly, "That's... that's how I was able to understand you as the years passed." Rose closed her eyes tightly, her whole body beginning to tremble, "I loved her... I loved her so much." She buried her face in her palms, tears streaming down her face, "And... And when I thought I could never love someone as much I did with her, you came into my life, and yet... I saw you give your sister the same look as I gave to my sister Rebecca." The young woman continuously wiped away her tears, clearing her throat, "You looked at her gently. You smiled at her softly. You cared for her as a lover than family. You... You exposed your love to her. Whether it be blind to you or Evie. It showed. Not to just anyone though. But it showed brightly to me." She chuckled faintly, biting the inside of her cheek.
The young man wanted to go into denial, but he thought what the use of lying would be, since she was truthful to him and went through the same issue, "Rose..." Jacob looked at her, wanting to hold her closely, but didn't even know where to place his hands to comfort her, "I'll... I'll admit... I did love my sister. But that feeling has come to rest. Our feelings ended. It faded. It's gone." He stepped closer to her, little by little, "There is only one beautiful woman I have fallen happily and madly in love with. I feel like such a fool for not seeing what was right before my eyes. I'm utterly sorry for how things must have felt for you as the years passed, but please... please let me finally show you... the only one I love... is you, Rosaline Moore."
Rose jolted and stepped back, hanging her head, "Jacob..." She scoffed, shaking her head, "I love you... I do... but... I don't want you to live a lie for the sake of me. I don't want you to end up in the same position I did. I don't want you... to end up with someone other than the one you love just to rid the pain that lies deep in your heart." Rose looked up with a pained smile, "And the reason I'm saying this is because I did just the same..." Rose looked into his eyes, trying to find a way to be open, "Years back... I..."
Eight Years Ago...
"Rebecca!" Rose called out, entering her house.
"In the kitchen!" Rebecca responded.
Rose sped up her pace and headed towards the kitchen. Her smile widened once seeing her sister. She ran up to her and embraced her tightly from behind.
"How was the talk with mother and father? What was it that they wanted to speak with you about?" Rose questioned.
Rebecca shuddered once she remembered the conversation, "It... I'll tell you later this evening. Alright, love?" She plastered a grin on her face, turning to hug her in turn, "How was school?" She kissed her cheek.
"School was good, but hectic, I will admit." She giggled, "How are your patients?"
"Sorry, sis, but confidential." She chuckled with a wink.
"Booooo." Rose pouted, her shoulders drop from disappointment, "Fine... I won't pry any further." She stuck her tongue out teasingly, admiring the sight of her sister cooking.
Rose and Rebecca cuddled when their day finally came to an end. The girls drifting in and out of sleep. As the evening passed, Rose recalled the sudden topic from earlier. The young woman opened her eyes slowly and looked up at her sister.
"Sis...?" Rose asked.
"Hm?" Rebecca responded, her eyes still shut.
"What was it you, mother, and father talked about?" She asked lowly.
Rebecca froze for a moment, stuck on what she should say. Discomfort filled the air, not knowing how to respond. Rose sat up, resting her weight on one arm as she awaited for a response with a blended look of curiosity and concern. Rebecca cleared her throat, avoiding Rose's gaze, opening her mouth slightly then closing it, having difficulty on what words to say. A deep sigh left her lips as she tried to find the right words to say.
"There... there's a man I'm having to meet by the end of this week." She mumbled, "It appears he and I..."
"What is it...?" Rose questioned hesitantly.
"It appears he and I are quite compatible. Mother and father told me about him and wanted us to meet... and if... if everything goes off without a hitch..." Her gaze began to slowly look over at Rose, her face becoming flushed, "We are to wed by this upcoming Spring..."
"WHAT?!" Rose shouted with shock, "This is ridiculous! Please tell me you refused!"
"Rose..." Rebecca looked over at her, trying to build up courage, "I know... I know how heartbreaking and how troublesome this has become for you and I, but... with the conversation I had with mother and father, they had plausible reasons to arrange this possible marriage." She spoke calmly, trying to rid the feel of regret, "I pray this marriage does not follow through, but... if it does, then we have no say in the matter. Our love will have to end. And we both knew that from the very start." Rebecca swallowed hard, putting effort into calming her pounding heart as she tried to comfort Rose.
Weeks rushed passed them and lead them both to a painful end. Rebecca was engaged and the sight of it killed Rose during every passing day. As the pain became more severe after seeing the affection between the two, she couldn't take much more of it. The week before her sister's wedding, she left. She couldn't bare the thought of attending her sister's wedding. So she fled. She left a letter, her work clothes, her name tag and left without a word, leaving everything and everyone behind her once she walked out the door and began a new life.
As years passed, she tried to avoid any contact with any of her family members. She pulled out the money she had saved for years to put into buying the pub she owns now just so her family would leave her alone by disowning her. Rose could feel the presence of her sister being nearby, possibly even watching her from afar, but she brushed off the feeling and continued her days with the regular customers and began to grow a strong bond with Sarah and slowly with Jacob as the years passed by, beginning to completely forget her past as her feeling of love fell into the hands of Jacob Frye.
Present Time...
"So that's how I understand you." She barely looked up at him, "And with the chance you have with her... I don't want you to lose this chance you have with her." Her eyes became watery, "I love you... I truly do... so I can't accept this or else you'll be living a lie." Rose buried her face in her hands, shielding the tears that kept pouring out.
Jacob stood there for several minutes, bewildered on what to say. The young man knew that this was his opportunity to take this risk with Evie. A part of him wanted to so badly, but another part of him felt he shouldn't. He closed his eyes tightly, looking down as his hands turned into tight fists. Jacob tried to relax all his muscles as he sighed deeply. He looked back at Rose and a faint smile crossed his face, his lips parting slightly as a chuckle escaped, leading him to come forward with his honest answer.
Writer's Note: I'm seriously feeling so bad right now T~T
Well, anyway... Be prepared for the next one. Because everything is officially coming to a close. Until then readers...