Leah. You keep on not answering me so I'm coming to Lima and I'm coming to Lima as soon as possible. Come on, don't ignore me. We need to talk.
-Jack
"Come on."
"Jack again?"
"I swear to you I will block his number if he keeps on doing this. How hard can it get to understand that I want nothing more to do with him? And I mean, he's the one who screwed up- not me."
Of course I and Lex had already known since Friday that Mr. Schue was going to make the week, over the end of February and the beginning of March a week for singing to each other. But we still went to the choir room on Monday for him to tell everybody.
"So… Let's say he shows up in glee club tomorrow… Will you sing that song you suggested?" Lex started humming on that song again that I said I would do. "You said you would do that one and it would be perfect."
"It would." I had to agree. "But at the same time I think I could come up with something more creative than that. That song just seems so perfect and obvious and… I don't know how many songs there are that would suit now- billions I guess. I know at least one that I like. The thing is, now I almost hope that he'll show up and I can sing something… Well, I will anyway. But I just need to see the look on his face while I sing. And knowing Jack he actually might. That's what he did during the fall didn't he? Do you remember, he just showed up in glee club?"
"When you didn't tell him that you were in a wheelchair? Oh yeah. I remember that…"
"Actually I can hardly believe that's the same boy… he was always so nice…"
In the glee club rehearsal on Tuesday, I was the first one to raise my hand when Mr. Schue asked if someone had a song to show the rest. I quickly got up and faced the others, and took a deep breath before I started.
"Well. As some of you know I and, you know… Jack who at least most of you have met aren't together anymore. Because- a very short story short, and no. I didn't say that wrong… He cheated on me. And he's not here but…"
I was suddenly interrupted…
"I was hoping…" I heard from behind me, a voice I knew way too well. I didn't have to turn around to see it was Jack. "…I'm not a part of the glee club really." He came walking in, right after him dad appeared in the doorway with an apologetic look towards me. "But I think you know me as Leah's boyf…"
"EX" I interrupted. "If you please." Jack only ignored me and nervously fidgeted with his hands while the rest of the group could just as well have ordered popcorn by now.
"Well… My name is Jack. I screwed up. I came here. Abram told me it is the glee club week for singing songs to each other and I had an idea for a song that I… I heard it so long ago I can't even remember when I heard it first so… Excuse me can I…?" He didn't even have to finish the sentence, Brad more or less flew up from the chair and Jack took his spot. "Thank you."
I was still glaring at dad, but then turned and walked over to sit down with the others. I could see Jonah smirking, he was quite enjoying this I bet. I could also see Lex frowning and I couldn't help but to feel a gust of jealousy when I saw the way she sat with her head leaned to the side towards Tyler's shoulder. A relationship like theirs was something most people could only dream of and they obviously loved each other very much.
I turned to watch Jack, while I mostly wanted to run far, far away with every key Jack hit on the piano. And even worse when I heard Jack had chosen a song that was really sung from the point of view from someone who had been unfaithful, trying to justify it with it being only a mistake.
And I was angrier than ever- it seemed he hadn't even known what he was doing.
"When cheating on someone…" Just as Jack had finished the song it went all quiet and I remembered something I had read somewhere. "…You should stay with the new partner. Because if you were happy with the one you were with before you would never had been unfaithful from the start. And whether you could see it yourself or not Jackie McCall. Then you knew very well what you were doing. And now. If nobody minds then I too have a song I want to sing to someone."
I got up a karaoke version of the song on my phone and plugged it into the speaker before I turned the video on and the intro played loud through William McKinley High School's choir room. Then, as soon as the first line passed my lips I knew that I had chosen the exact right song for this.
The others were wearing different kinds of reactions, some didn't seem to care at all, some ("cough" Teeghan "cough") looked as if this was the most stupid thing she had ever seen. Some were frowning, some, mostly Jonah looked quite amused.
None of it mattered to me, all that mattered to me was that Jack seemed to sink deeper and deeper into the chair he sat on, was bright red, and obviously wanted to sink through the floor or rather, fall off the face of the earth.
And I couldn't have been prouder of mortifying him. I would do it over again a hundred times worse if I could.
Jack deserved every little piece of it.
"Mr. Schue…" Jonah was the first one to say anything when I had finished. Jack didn't make a sound. "And the rest of you too. I know we usually have glee club meetings Tuesdays and Thursdays only. But can't we have it tomorrow and Friday too this week. Because I think we need more days and glee club meetings to cover up all the drama that's going on."
"I think I agree with you Jonah… but… I'm busy tomorrow. So, sorry. I know you love the glee club- we can have one extra rehearsal on Friday if you want." The rest of us didn't answer- but Jonah's smirk was undeniable. "Who could say no to that?"
"YES."
"I think we should say glee- club's over for today." Mr. Schue looked around. "I think you know why…" He was still looking at Jack who sat right next to him. "Have a good day."
Good day? Well that was easy for him to say.
"Leah?"
I ignored Jack, only took my bag, sent a look towards dad and Jonah. They both quickly got up and followed me while I walked away from Jack. Which was a whole lot easier said than done, especially, in the hallway when he reached out and took me by the arm.
"Leah? Please? Can't you listen to me?"
"What?"
I could only ignore him for so long…
"Look. You screwed up. So don't let your guilt go over me. That song said pretty much it all. You, leave. I never want to see you again…" I hesitated and suddenly a memory flashed by. "…New Year's… you seemed so distant…" Jack lowered his head in shame but still nodded. "Seems like you had a lot of time to think over what you did then. And you can go back to that blonde all you want. Because I don't care…" I span on my heel and walked away. "And no dad. Don't even think about saying we can give him a ride. This was your mistake Jack. Now you can get out of this on your own…" Dad grimaced slightly, Jack didn't react but I could feel a pout forming on my lips while I could see Jack turn and walk away, God knows what direction.
When I turned in the other direction towards dad and Jonah, Jonah stood with a raised eyebrow and seemed to have a hard time to keep himself from laughing. That was my brother for you, dad frowned however- and it wasn't hard to figure that he was the one that had taken Jack here and had now regretted it.
"Maybe I should just have waited at home with him." Dad said, more to himself than to me while he rubbed his face. "Maybe I…"
"It wouldn't have mattered." I started walking again and dad and Jonah followed me. "I still don't want to talk to him. And don't you dare laugh at this Jonah." That was the last straw for him, he snorted and broke down laughing. I just sighed and rolled my eyes. "I'm still not talking to Jack. I meant it- he was the one who got us into this. I'm not doing anything wrong. So if he comes around again then kick him out or whatever it takes."
"Yeah. I know you want that but…"
I glared back at dad. I didn't want to hear his reasons. I knew what he was like with forgiveness and everything, he was a pastor so what would he be like? It was only that after how broken I had been when he came to the hotel I had stayed at when I had found Jack with that other girl I would have thought he could make an exception.
"Traitor."
Playlist
Lex's suggestion- Hit the road Jack!- Ray Charles
Jack- stupid mistake- Gareth Gates
Leah- Leave (get out)- Jojo
Random fact
I don't know how old that song Jack sings is. But I do know that there's a Swedish version of it. And I do know I walked around the village I used to live in and sang that song, and "som stormen" (Such as the storm) by Sara Löfgren out loud one evening. I think I must have been eleven or so at the time. Anyway, I just had to use that song for something and here we are.
Anyone who reviews will get a shoutout.
