Hamilton couldn’t take it, he had just watched the only person that made sense in his world leave him. He turned around and just ran. He had no idea where he was going but he had to be alone. He found himself by the lake, a place that held so many memories for Jake and him. He sat under a tree and cried. Jake had to pull over; her tears were blurring her vision. She was numb and couldn’t believe that she had just left her perfect world behind. But she had no choice; she couldn’t go back, everyone knew now. “Well,” she thought, “at least no one thinks we’re gay now” but that didn’t help her at all and she just cried even harder. She loved him so much. She had a life at Rawley that was amazing, perfect, after all the struggles with her mother, her father dying, and having to disguise herself, she actually had the most unbelievable group of friends she could ever want. Her eyes brimmed with tears all over again as all her fun times with Bella flashed through her memory like a movie. Than the Hamilton movie began. She watched their first kiss on the roof, her showing him she was a girl, him helping her escape her mother, their first ‘I love you’, and so much more. How was she ever going to live without that life and the immense love that came with it? But she had to, she was fully aware of the dean’s stubbornness and couldn’t even blame him for making his decision, but she still hated him for this. She revved up the motorcycle again and drove on to New York, trying as hard as possible not to think about Hamilton’s and his amazing blue stare. Jake, exhausted from the long trip, entered the lobby of her 45-story apartment building. Her face lit up as she saw the stout, middle aged, Italian man sitting behind the official desk. “Benny!” She shrieked and ran into his waiting arms. “Jacqueline, how I have missed my little philosopher so much! How are you?” Benny asked her lovingly. “I’m fine, I have so much to tell you!” Jake said. “I want to hear everything” He said. Jake started, “OK, so you know the whole thing I was planning, you know, to dress like a guy to get my Mom’s attention. Well, it was working great until I met this guy. His name is Hamilton, he’s the Dean’s son. God, he has these amazing blue eyes that just make me want to melt!” She said dreamily. “And we became really good friends. All that time he still thought I was 'Jake'. But one day, on the roof I kissed him. He was totally freaked and he had every right to be, I mean he thought he was gay! Poor Hamilton spent the next few weeks totally afraid of his identity and everything. One day, at this dance, he just decided to ‘throw caution to the wind’ and he kissed me. Then he went crazy thinking he was gay and I told him everything. After that, well, I’ve never been in so much love in my life. It feels so good, Benny to know that someone cares about me so much. He was willing to be gay for me. He’s my best friend and my boyfriend and I really love him, he’s the best, I just wish you could meet him. God, when everyone found out and I was thrown out I couldn’t handle it. I mean, I already miss school and my friends and him so much, I don’t know how I’ll live without him. ”She finished, with one solitary tear sliding down her cheek. Benny, who had been listening very intently smiled, “It sounds to me like you have found the love of your life Jacq, and if you really are as in love as you say, which I’m sure you are, you’ll find some way to work things out, I know you will.” He said giving her a hug. “Thanks Benny. Wow, I’m exhausted, I just drove here on my bike all the way from school”, Jake said. “Wow, you must be getting very good on that Harley” Benny said. “Let me help you upstairs”. “Thanks” Jake said handing him her heavy bags. They rode up the elevator to her 45th floor penthouse apartment. “OK, here we go Miss, I can’t wait to see more of you now, sweetie. Please come down and see me anytime you’re bored. ’Ole Benny gets lonely without you!” “I will, I promise” Jake said. Jake knocked on the door. A perky, plump Hispanic woman opened the door and screamed,“ JACQUI IS HOME!”. Almost immediately, all the staff came running to greet their favorite Pratt and make her more comfortable. Jake was disappointed when she noted that as usual, her mother wasn’t home. Consuela, catching on to her disappointment commented, “Your mother is caught up in work. She’s filming something in Los Vegas, she should be back in a few days but she’s going to hurry. No one expected you to be home today but I still managed to whip up your all time favorite…” Jake smiled “You made me French toast? For dinner? Wow, thanks so, much, that’s the best welcome home present ever.” Jake said, trying as hard as possible to seem happy to be home. Consuela had known Jake her entire life. So she knew that something was not right. Jake didn’t have the twinkle in her eyes that she was used to, nor did she have the magic in her voice that she had heard in their many phone conversations over the past few months. “Is something the matter, Jacque?” Consuela asked with concern. “Yeah…” Jake answered, “Everything’s the matter.” “Oh, Chica, come here” Consuela said embracing the girl that was like the daughter she’d always wanted. “You can tell me all about it if you want” She offered. "Thanks Con, but I really need to be alone for a while, I hope that’s OK” Jake said sadly. “Of course Niña, I’ll bring the French toast into your room as soon as it’s warmed up” Consuela comforted her. Jake went off to her room, sulking as she wondered what Hamilton was doing at that very moment. It took Hamilton about five minutes to realize he’s made a huge mistake; he’d let her go. He had to do something about this, every moment he knew she was gone was like a knife in his heart. He couldn’t just do nothing, he had to give his parents one more chance to take back their mistake before he did something drastic. He knocked on his father’s door. “Dad,” he started, “You have made a huge mistake.” “Excuse me son, I’d like a little bit of respect from my own son, at least.” “Yes sir, but I’m having trouble respecting you right now. You know she means the world to me Dad, you know I’ve never been as happy as I am when I’m with her, and yet, you put your job before your son. How could you do this to me? I’m dying inside. I mean, can’t we work something out? Let her got to Rawley Girls, ground me for life? Anything, I’ll give up anything just to be with her, that’s how I feel Dad, why can’t you understand what’s in my heart?” Hamilton begged. “Hamilton, don’t anger me like this, don’t make things worse than they are, I have been shamed and deceived and rules are rules. She is just a girl, there will be more loves in your life, I promise. Now let her go because I won’t take any more disrespect from you. What’s done is done. She should have thought about this before she came in to my institution masquerading as a man!” “Dad, you can’t be serious, I LOVE HER!”. “Well, than I guess you're just going to have to choose which love is greater, some girl or your family” The dean said nonchalantly. “Dad, don’t make me choose” Hamilton said. His father just shrugged. Hamilton couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He knew what he had to do. “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FATHER! YOU DN'T EVEN KNOW ME! YAH, SOME FATHER!” and he stormed out. Hamilton ran back to his house and up the stairs to his small bedroom. He threw some important belongings in a backpack. He counted his money to make sure he had enough for a bus ticket and a little extra and wrote a note to his mother. Dear Mom, I’m sorry to do this to you, I know you love me and I promise, I love you too. But I love Jacqueline with all my heart and soul. She is part of me and not being with her is like losing my other half. All I know is that I can’t live if she isn’t part of my life. I thought you guys might understand that, understand my heart, but I guess your not exactly who I thought you were. I’ll try and call to let you now I’m OK. Again, I’m sorry to do this to you but I’m not sorry to do this to Dad, he doesn’t understand me at all. I was hoping at least you would. I love you forever. -Me Hamilton finished and taped it to the fridge. He grabbed some food and ran out of his house. He walked through the woods to New Rawley. He pictured Jake holding his hand as she had been that morning on the same path and knew he was doing the right thing. He got the first bus ticket to New York. The bus wasn’t due until around 12:30 p.m.. Until then, he hung out at Bella’s. She was going through a rough spot in her life as well. In the hours he spent with her while waiting for his bus, he got to talk to her. “So, How’s Sean?” Hamilton asked, trying to think of someone other than Jake. “Actually, um we’re breaking up. God, I would really love to have Jake to talk to about this, you know, woman-to-woman.” Bella sighed. “Well, I don’t think I can help you with that, but I’m a pretty good listener.” He offered. “Well, like Will, he just got a scholarship to a sports academy in California. You know how he’s like ‘Mr. Baseball’. So, naturally, he accepted the opportunity. Seems like pretty soon I’ll be the only one left around he” Bella said, trying to finish on a more silly note. “Why don’t you seem so upset he’s leaving?” Hamilton asked. “Well, that’s the thing, I mean Sean is really great and we’ve been friends for forever, I just don’t love him the way you love Jake, the way I loved Scout.” Bella finished with her eyes watering. “Oh… so this is about more than just Sean. Listen Bella, I’m no expert advice giver but I am in love. Whatever the issue is between you and Scout, I can promise you that the love you’ll have in the end will all be worth it. Besides, you don’t even know for sure you really are…you know.” Hamilton trailed off. “I know, and you’re right. I just hope he feels the same way about me.” Bella said. “Trust me, he does.” Hamilton assured her confidently. By that time, it was already after12:00 and he made his way to the bus stop. The bus pulled up a little early and he got the last seat in the back next to a blonde girl of around 17. He just wanted to get some sleep so he could surprise Jake in the morning. He said hello to his neighbor and tried to sleep. But he was worried. He knew he couldn’t stay with Jake in New York forever; he had to go home some time. He also knew that his parents were probably beyond mad at him for this. He hoped things would be OK, and promised himself he wouldn’t return without Jake. “Hey, why so glum?” the girl next to him asked. She was pretty, blonde hair and blue eyes and was wearing a very low cut tank top. “Oh, you wouldn’t understand “ He said in a very depressed voice. “Try me! By the way, I’m Brittany, what’s you’re name? You’re kinda hot, do you have a girlfriend?” she asked him flirtingly. He was not in the mood for this. “I’m Hamilton, I do have a girlfriend. Not that it’s any of your business but I love her with all my heart and my Dad just kicked her out of my life and I’m trying to save our relationship so please just leave me alone.” he said. “Whoa, sorry, are you OK?” she asked not really concerned. “I will be if I can find her, thanks, I’m going to try and get some sleep now” “goodnight, nice talking to you, here’s my number if things don’t work out” she said scribbling her name on a sheet of paper. He rolled his eyes, “whatever" he said. And finally fell asleep. The next thing he knew, it was 6 am and the bus was pulling up to a street so full of people it looked like a parade. Brittany was waking him up. “Hamilton, your chick needs you so get the hell up!” Not the nicest way to wake up but it worked. “I’m up, I’m up!” Hamilton said, annoyed! “OK I’m going, nice meeting you Brittany” He said and exited the bus. He was alone in what seemed like the hugest city in the world, it hadn’t occurred to him that he’d have no where to go once he got there. He looked at the people hurrying around him- he couldn’t stop them. The ones going at a steady pace or not moving at all were way too scary to ask. Plus, it wasn’t like New Rawley, if he asked if someone knew where “Pratt” lived they’d think he was nuts. How the hell was he going of find Jake in a city with millions of people??? He made his way over to a diseased looking phone booth. He called ‘Information’ and asked for the listing for Monica Pratt. The woman on the other end was very helpful and Hamilton was surprised at how easily he gotten Jake’s address. He was on his way to see Jake again, God, just thinking about her he realized how much he missed her. Jake woke up at 6:30; she had not had a good sleep. She kept dreaming about Rawley and waking up expecting to be there, only to find herself in her bed at home. She reluctantly arose and hopped into the shower. When she came out she happily put on her girliest clothes (a pair of denim capris and red tube top). It was too early to eat breakfast so she decided to go down and talk to Benny. Hamilton reached the huge apartment building with Jake’s address on the crimson awning. He entered. Jake was annoyed at the slow speed of her old elevator Hamilton saw a middle aged stout man at the front desk, he was amazed at how official everything was! Jake was relieved when she finally heard the “ding” of the elevator reaching the lobby. She stepped out and expected to find Benny reading his New York Times as usual. Jake looked up and couldn’t believe her eyes, before her she saw Hamilton. “Now I must really miss him” she thought, “I’m hallucinating!”. But she couldn’t contain herself. “Hamilton?” She said. “Jake!” Hamilton said, looking towards her as she spoke. She was the most beautiful site in the world. They ran into each other’s arms and embraced as if they had been apart for years. They kissed each other lovingly, and Jake knew at the touch of their lips that she was definitely not dreaming. All the while, Benny just stood on the side watching this beautiful, romantic reunion. |
| Perfect |
| Part 3 |
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