KNEW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME- PART 5
Two weeks later.
Tilly is is asleep in her bedroom. There is a light tap on the door but Tilly doesn't even stir. The door opens slowly and Jen enters. Jen smiles at how angelic Tilly looks and quietly closes the door making sure she doesn't wake her up. Jen sits on the edge of the bed and gently runs her finger down Tilly's face. She sits and watches her sleep with a sad smile. All the time they were together she never got to see this. They missed out on so much by having to sneak around and have an incomplete relationship yet Jen had never felt so complete ever. Something had clicked between her and Tilly. Something that had never happened for Jen before. She didn't fall easily yet with Tilly it was so effortless that she hadn't even noticed how far or fast she had fallen. Jen looked around Tilly's room. Just how she'd imagined it to be. Creative yet organised. Her attention was drawn to a screwed up piece of paper on Tilly's bedside table. Jens smile faded as she realised it was the sketch she had done for her. Tilly stirred and jumped as she saw Jen standing beside her.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you" Jen smiled and sat back down on the bed.
"Sit down..." Tilly rolled her eyes sarcastically and tried her hardest not to show how happy she was to see Jen. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh. Your Dad let me in. I tried to visit you some more at the hospital but apparently you didn't want to see anyone?" Jen seemed confused by Tilly's cold reception.
"That's right. Still don't."
"Right well I suppose I better buggar off then hey?" Jen laughed hoping to make Tilly smile.
Tilly just looked blankly back. "If you don't mind"
Jen shook her head with a frustrated sigh and headed for the door. Changing her mind she turned back around. "Actually Tilly no."
"No?"
"Yeah you heard. No. No I won't keep playing these stupid games, no I won't leave and no I won't forget the fact that we agreed to be friends again." Jen stood over Tilly.
Tilly looked up at her silently cursing. How dare Jen act this way she knew Tilly couldn't resist her when she was bossy. Bossy is something Tilly despised but not on Jen. On Jen it was sexy and always made Tilly cave in.
"Look I know about your new little fling Jen. I'm not bothered."
"Right. Well do you want to tell me about it because I'd hate to miss out on the fun!" Jen laughed. Tilly didn't laugh much to Jens confusion. "Tilly. What are you going on about?"
"Esther." Tilly stared Jen straight in the eyes. Making eye contact for the first time.
Jen frowned waiting for Tilly to carry on. When she didnt, Jen laughed. "Esther? What about her?"
"Don't you dare laugh at me Jen. I saw you two together. Outside the hospital. Kissing."
Jen looked confused for a few seconds until the penny finally dropped. "Oh that! Well..." Jen sighed and sat back down about to explain.
"I get it. You get off on sleeping with your students. That's fine. How many others are there?"
Jen bit her bottom lip. There it was the disgusted look again. Surely Tilly wasn't being serious?
"Tilly. Get real. You know that's not true. Let me explain..." Jen was starting to lose patience.
"You're a weirdo Jen. Is this why you wanted to be a teacher in the first place? To abuse your position? Seduce girls a lot younger? Get the thrill of sneaking around without getting caught?"
Jen stood up. Anger now covering her face. Making her physically stand back from Tilly as if the further away she got, the less Tilly's words would hurt her. "Careful Tilly. Once you've said things like this you can't take them back"
Tilly scowled. "Like I care. I'm just glad I'm not a part of it anymore. Get out."
Jen shook her head.
"I said get out! I mean it Jen. Don't make me scream for my Dad to come up."
Jens lip quivered half with anger and half upset. She didn't recognise Tilly. Did she not know her at all? Did she really mean all of this? Jen was determined not to cry in front of her. Not again. So she turned to leave.
"Oh and don't expect me back in college any time soon. I'd rather be a drop out than spend one more minute in the same room as you. I won't be grassing on you though. I don't want anyone to find out about us. I'm so ashamed."
Jen stood listening with her back to Tilly. She let the tears roll down her face as she walked away.
Once Jen was gone Tilly's protective mask slipped and sobs took over her whole body. Realising that was the last time. There was no going back now. It was over. She didn't believe half of what she had laid on Jen but she convinced herself that was just because she didn't want to believe it.
Jen sat at her desk staring into space. All she wanted to do was lock herself away. Teaching a class full of ungrateful students was the lady thing she needed today. But what would be the point in putting it off? She needed to get on with it. This job was the reason she'd lost Tilly in the first place so giving up would mean all of that had been for nothing. She was disturbed from her thoughts as the students started to enter the classroom. Jen took a deep breath and her professional smiley face replaced her melancholy ached face. Her smile dropped momentarily as she stared at the empty seat. The seat Tilly used to occupy.
Tilly walked through the village with her earphones in. Not really knowing what to do with herself. Involuntary she found herself making her way to the shed. Their shed. Where so many promises had been made, break ups & more importantly make ups. She closed her eyes and fell onto the abandoned couch. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Tilly!"
It was Esther. Tilly tutted and begrudgingly pulled her earphones out.
"I tried shouting you but..." Esther smiled nervously.
"So you decided to follow me instead? What do you want?"
"So she's told you then. Jen?" Esther looked at the floor, embarrassed.
"She didn't have to. I saw you. To be honest I'm not interested Esther. So if you don't mind. I'd rather be on my own" Tilly nodded towards the shed door.
"I'm so sorry Tilly. I was drunk. I'm mortified!"
"Yeah well. Be prepared to be used & dropped wont you?"
"What?"
"By Jen. She'll drop you once she's bored." Tilly stated pretending like this wasn't killing her.
"Hold on. You're not back together?" Esther frowned.
"Why would we be? I'm not into sharing Est."
"If you saw us outside the hospital then you saw Jen push me away..."
"Has Jen asked you to say that? She needn't bother. I'm not going to say anything I can't be bothered."
"Tilly. You've totally got the wrong end of the stick."
"I saw you kissing!" Tilly starts to fail with the whole 'not bothered' act she's trying to pull off.
"Then what did you do?" Esther frowned.
"Funnily enough I didn't want to stand and watch do I left."
"She loves you Tilly. She was trying to be nice to me. I read it wrong. I'm so sorry" Esther's eyes are back on the floor.
"She... she loves me?" Tilly eyed Esther suspiciously.
"She didn't mean to tell me. It slipped out. Thought you should know. If someone loved me I'd want to know" Esther shrugged and left Tilly.
Tilly sat open mouthed. Her turn to be mortified. How had she got it so wrong?
Jen went through the motions with her class. Just willing for the bell to ring. She loved her job and so hated the fact that she couldn't concentrate. She just couldn't get Tilly's words out of her head. She thought Tilly knew her. To say All those things she didn't know her at all. Jen started to question why she would get it do wrong. Maybe they weren't soulmates at all. But then why did it hurt so much? Jen looked up and her class had left. How long had she been daydreaming for? She rolled her eyes disappointed with herself. She started to clear away. As she took paint into the art room cupboard & the door closed behind her, she finally gave in to the tears that had been threatening to fall all day. She slid down the shelves and sat on the floor, her knees up to her chest and cried.
Tilly ran into the classroom. She rolled her eyes as she realised she was too late and Jen had left. She was just about to leave too when she heard a noise coming from the cupboard. She turned and noticed Jens bag was still on the desk. Tilly walked over to the cupboard and opened the door...