Jen looked over at AJ who was gazing out the window. He hadn't been himself for the past couple of days. She had begun to wonder if it was about their engagement. Jen was a bit concerned because she didn't want him to have doubts about them being together.
AJ sighed as Jen continued to look on. He had only begun to act like this the morning after they had decided not to get married. There was a slight feeling of responsibility towards AJ's abnormal feelings.
"AJ, what's wrong?" Jen asked hoping that he wasn't going to break her heart.
"Should we be getting married?" he asked continuing to look out the window.
"I was hoping that wasn't what was bothering you. Look, if you weren't sure, you shouldn't have asked me to marry you. This is serious and you shouldn't be messing with my heart like that."
"I thought this was what I wanted, but now I don't know."
"What made you change your mind?"
"Brian. He said a lot of things that made a lot of sence. I don't know if I'm ready to get married."
"Here," Jen said handing AJ back the engagement ring, "Do what you feel is right. I don't want you to marry me if you feel like you have to, that's not right. Don't marry me if you think it's the right thing to do or because you feel bad for me. Do it because you love me and you know in your heart it's right." AJ looked at the ring in her hand and then looked at Jen.
"Is this the end of our relationship?" he asked.
"I guess so."
"Can we still be friends?"
"I hope so," she answered.
"So what do we do now?"
"Move on. I'm gonna go stay with my mother, start fresh."
"Nice knowing you," Jen said hugging AJ.
"Is that all you can think of?" he joked as he hugged her back.
"You better believe it," she laughed.
"Well, I'm going to get my stuff and I'll be outta here," he said pulling away from Jen.
"Okay," she said. AJ walked off to gather his things and Jen reached for the phone to call her mother.
"Hello?" her mother answered.
"Mom, me and AJ broke up. Can I come stay with you? I want to start over, get out of this house and begin a new life."
"Yeah come right over, we'll talk."
"Okay, I'll be over soon," Jen said hanging up the phone. She headed up the stairs and into Anthonys room. She began to gather a few things that she was going to need for him.
"Heading over to your moms?" AJ asked looking into the room.
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm gonna get going."
"Alright, I'll see you around," Jen said.
"Yeah, okay," he said walking out of the room. She sighed and turned her attention back to getting Anthony ready. Jen closed her eyes and tried to hold back her tears. There were so many emotions running through her heart that she couldn't control.
AJ did what he promised he wouldn't, he hurt her. She couldn't believe that she had been hurt badly again. She kinda saw it coming, the whole relationship was too good to be true.
Jen picked up Anthony and grabbed the bag she packed and headed down stairs. She didn't want to stay in this house, too much had gone wrong in there. Luckily she had a great mother who was a great friend.
She got in her car after putting Anthony in his car seat. After making sure everything was ready, she took off to her mothers. The realization of the true extent of how much pain she was in did't hit her until she was outside of her mothers and she truly knew it was over.
Jen got Anthony out of the car and headed to her mothers door. She rang the bell and waited for her mom to answer. Her mother quickly arrived to the door to comfort her hurting daugther.
"Jennifer, are you alright?" her mother said taking Anthony. Jen walked in the house behind her mother and sat on the couch and began to cry even harder.
"I loved him," Jen said.
"I know, I know but it wasn't meant to be honey. You have to accept that. Just remember, you'll find a great guy who you'll spend the rest of your life with," her mother said trying to comfort her.
"But I want him."
"You'll get over him in time and you won't want him anymore."
"What if I don't get over him?"
"You will, but what exactly happened?"
"He wasn't ready to get married. The relationship was too much."
"Marriage is a big step."
"I know and at this rate, I'm never going to get married."
"Yes you will. Nick and AJ just weren't the right guys for you."
"Why did this have to end like this?"
"From what I hear, you guys could probably still be friends. It didn't end through a fight. I know that's going to be hard but you're strong."
"We may not have fought, but it still hurt."
"I know you really loved him, but you guys weren't ready for marriage."
"Yeah, I guess."
Chapter 23