A New Life
The
story starts after Jennifer woke up alone in Jack’s bed and found a note
saying “Have fun in New York.”
Chapter
1
For
a moment Jennifer kept staring at the note, trying to hold back her tears. She
couldn’t believe that Jack would actually do something like this to her.
“Damn
you, Jack!” she cried and tore the note into small pieces. She looked at the
pieces and sighed “But you know what? That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I am going to have the most fun of my life in New York. And I don’t need you
to do that.” She tried to convince herself of that but she knew that this
wasn’t going to be that easy.
She
got dressed, gathered all her things and left. When she finally made it to the
loft, she collapsed on the coach and grabbed a pillow to have something to cry
into.
“Jennifer…”
after a moment she heard Isabella’s voice.
“Yeah?”
Jennifer answered without moving. Isabella sat on the coach next to her and took
the pillow away.
“What’s
wrong?” she asked with concern.
“Nothing.”
Jennifer responded, but she didn’t really think herself that Isabella was
going to believe that.
“Right.
And that’s why you’re crying your eyes off into this pillow?” Isabella
looked at her questioningly.
“I
am not crying.” Jennifer said firmly, but she didn’t even try to hide her
tearful eyes.
“Come
on, you can talk to me.” Isabella said looking at Jennifer with concern.
“I
don’t want to talk…” Jennifer cried and took the pillow from Isabella
again.
“It’s
about Jack, isn’t it?” Isabella guessed perfectly.
“I
said I didn’t want to talk!” Jennifer almost screamed.
“Come
on Jen, please tell me what happened. Maybe I can help you.” Isabella offered.
“You
can’t help me. Unless of course you can make Jack believe that he is the right
man for me… But you can’t do that. No one can. Jack already made up his mind
that he didn’t want anything to do with me…”
“What
did he do this time?”
“You
wanna know what he did? Great! I will tell you… I will tell you what a bastard
he is!” Jennifer stopped for a moment and looked at Isabella. Isabella
didn’t say anything and kept listening. “You know what he did?” Jennifer
continued. “Yesterday I went to see him… I told him about the job offer in
New York. And for a thousanth time I told him how much I care about him and how
much I want to be with him and… And that his one word could make me stay…
And I… I thought that he finally made up his mind…. We… We made love and I
thought… I thought that finally that was his way of asking me to stay… To be
with him… But no…” Jennifer started sobbing and Isabella gave her a hug.
“What
happened?”
“I
woke up today alone in his bed… And I found… I found a note saying ‘Have
fun in New York.” Jennifer stopped for a moment. “Would you believe that?”
“That
really is low.” Isabella stated. “I cannot believe he would ever do
something like this.”
“Me
neither… But he did. And you know what? I am sick and tired of chasing after
him like some stupid teenager when he keeps pushing me further and further away.
I am sick and tired of giving myself to him so completely just to… Just to
find a damn note in the bed!!!!” Jennifer screamed the last part and
continued. “I am through! I am through Jack Deveraux!!! I am going to go to
New York and start a new life and I will leave him here wondering what me might
have had.” Jennifer threw the pillow onto the coach and went to her room.
Chapter
2
Jennifer
took her suitcase out of the wardrobe and started packing her things.
“The
sooner I go, the better.” She said to herself as kept putting her clothes into
the suitcase. Suddenly she came across and old photo of Jack in the Spectator
and for a few seconds kept staring at it.
“Don’t!”
she told herself off. “Don’t do this to yourself Jennifer Horton! He is not
worth it!” as she said it she tore the paper and threw it into the trash bin.
“That’s where you belong, Mr. Jack Deveraux!”
Jennifer
finished packing and decided that she needed to talk to someone before she
leaves. She left the loft and went to her grandparents’ house.
“Jennifer
darling, it’s nice to see you.” Alice opened the door. “Come on in.”
“Hi
grandma” Jennifer kissed Alice and went inside.
“So,
what brings you here?”
“I
came here to say goodbye.” Jennifer saw Tom entering the room. “Oh
hi granpa. I’m glad
you’re here too.“
“Jennifer
came to say goobye.” Alice explained.
“Goodbye?”
Tom was surprised. “Where are you going? And for how long?”
“I
don’t know…” Jennifer answered “For as long as possible.”
For
a moment they remained silent and sat to be more comfortable.
“I
am going to New York.” Jennifer started. “I got a great job offer and I
think it’s a great opportunity for me as a reporter.”
“Jennifer,
does your escape have anything to do with certain young gentleman?” Alice
looked inquiringly at her granddaughter.
“This
has nothing to do with Jack!” Jennifer almost shouted.
“How
did you know I meant Jack?” Alice smiled. “Jennifer, why are you running
away?”
“I
am not running away. I got a great job offer and I want to take the opportunity,
that’s all.”
“And
you’re saying this has nothing to do with Jack.” Alice looked into
Jennifer’s eyes and Jennifer knew that there was no point in denying.
“OK,
so maybe it has SOMETHING to do with Jack.” She admitted. “But he’s not
the reason I’m going.”
“Jennifer,
why are you trying to escape? Why don’t you stay and try to work things out
with Jack?”
“That’s
what I’ve been trying to do for the past year, grandma. But he doesn’t make
it easy. And I’m just tired. He made it completely clear that he wanted me out
of his life and that is exactly what he is going to get.”
“Are
you sure there’s no chance for you?”
“No.”
Jennifer answered sadly. “Not after everything that happened.”
“If
you think so.”
“I
know so.” Jennifer said firmly. “Jack and are over. For good.” She said
and once again had to hold back her tears not to let her grandparents know how
much she was really hurting. For a moment they remained silent. Finally Tom
ended the awkward situation.
“So
you’re going to see the Statue of Liberty, huh?”
“Yeah…
This job is really great, you know. And I’m sure I’m gonna be able to
improve myself as a reporter. And New York is great.”
“Well
if that’s what you want…” Alice looked at Jennifer meaningfully.
“It
is. I need a fresh start.”
“You
mean without Jack around?” Alice knew exactly what Jennifer meant.
“Yeah.
I mean Salem is a small town. I don’t wanna walk the streets scared that I’m
going to bump into Jack round the corner. I wanna be free.”
“Well
you certainly can be free in New York.” Tom laughed.
“I
know.” Jennifer smiled and looked at her watch. “Look, I think I need to go.
I need to call the airport to book the ticket and pack the rest of my things. I
just wanted to say goodbye to you.”
“I
hope you know what you’re doing.” Alice looked at Jennifer concerned.
“I
know.” Jennifer smiled, not really sure whether what she was saying was true.
“Well,
have a nice journey.” Tom said and hugged her. “And don’t forget about us.”
“I
won’t.” Jennifer said and hugged her grandmother. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye
sweetheart.” Alice smiled and Jennifer left.
“What
do you think?” Tom asked.
“I
think that if she thinks that going to New York is going to make her forget
about Jack then she has never been more wrong in her life.” Alice sighed and
Tom wrapped his arm around her.
Chapter
3
Jack
came back home and found the pieces of his note on the floor. He sat on his bed
and sighed.
“I
am so sorry, Jennifer.” He said to himself. “I really had to do it. That’s
what’s best for you. You will realize it soon.” Jack collapsed on the bed
and closed his eyes. And as much as he was trying to deny it, all he was seeing
was Jennifer’s face. Every five minutes he kept having flashbacks of their
times together.
“I’ve
got to stop doing this to myself.” He said and at the same time the doorbell
rang. “Now what?” he asked angry but of course didn’t get any answer.
“I’m coming!” he shouted after a while and went to open the door. It was
Isabella.
“You
know Jack, I know you are weird. And I know you have your humors, but you have
no right to treat people the way you do.” Isabella stated angry and went
inside.
“Oh
how Isabella, nice to see you. And in case you are wondering, yes, you can come
in.” Jack was back to his old tricks for a moment.
“Don’t
you dare jerk around like this, Jack!” Isabella was getting even more serious.
“You and I need to talk.”
“About
Jack?” Jack was trying to play fool.
“As
if you didn’t know.” Isabella sighed. “You know exactly what I want to
talk about.”
“I
do?” he didn’t seem to give up.
“Yes
you do. I came here to talk about Jennifer. And I am not leaving until I get
answers.” Isabella stopped for a moment and looked seriously at Jack. “Why?”
she continued. “Why do you keep treating her like this? Why do you keep
hurting her like this?”
“She
would get hurt ten thousands more if she stayed with me. I’m doing this for
her own good.”
“And
why won’t you let her decide what’s good for her, huh?”
“Because
she doesn’t know. She thinks she knows me, but she doesn’t. And I know
myself, I know I would hurt her eventually. Even more than I already have.”
“Jack,
do you hear yourself???”
“Loud
and clear.”
“You’re
letting this wonderful love walk out of your life just because you think you
would hurt Jennifer?”
“I
know that, OK? I know!” Jack was becoming more and more nervous. “Everything
I’ve done was for Jennifer’s good. I just want her to be happy.”
“Jack,
don’t you see that you’re the only one who can make her happy?”
“No,
no, no… Somewhere there is a man who will love Jennifer the way she deserves
to be loved.”
“No
one will ever love her more than you do. We both know that.” Isabella looked
straight into Jack’s eyes.
“I
don’t…” he said nervously. “I don’t want to talk about it, OK?”
“Jack,
don’t waste this chance. Love like yours and Jennifer’s doesn’t happen
every day. When Jennifer leaves, it may be to late.” Isabella said and once
again looked at jack. “Just think about it.” With those words she headed
towards the door and left.
“Oh
Isabella, I have thought about it.” He said to himself and sighed. “That’s
the only thing I have been doing recently. And I have made up my mind. I can’t
let Jennifer stay around me because she will get hurt. She will be better off
without me.”
Chapter 4
Jennifer
looked sadly around her room. She had already packed her things and was ready to
go. She had also booked a ticket for the evening. She had hoped that maybe the
first flight would be in the morning, but they had booked her for the same day.
And she wanted to get away from Salem as soon as possible.
She
looked at the desk where several of her things were still left and noticed I.D.
card from the times when she used to work for The Spectator.
“Don’t
even think about it!” she reprehended herself for even thinking of going to
the office. But the will to say goodbye to the old walls was stronger. And, of
course, she was hoping that she would bump into Jack and he would finally let
her into his life. Because in spite of everything that had happened, she was
willing to give Jack one last chance.
She
took her purse and left. When she got to the office, no one seemed to be there.
She used her old keys to open the door. She went inside her office, sat on her
chair and started remembering the times she used to work there. Then she
remembered all the wonderful times they had shared with Jack – from all their
false and not-so-false kisses to the wonderful time they had had on the island.
She didn’t even realize that her eyes were full of tears. Suddenly she heard
someone on the corridor and the door to her office opened. It was Jack.
“Jennifer?”
he was surprised to see her. “What are you doing here?”
“I…
I was just… Never mind…” she hurriedly stood up and headed towards the
door but Jack grabbed her hand.
“Not
so fast.” He said as pulled her inside the room again.
“What
do you want, Jack? Haven’t you hurt me enough already? What else do you
want?”
“Don’t
forget that this is my paper and you are an intruder here.” Jack, as always,
was trying to put his mask on. “I will not let you go until you tell me what
you were doing here.”
“That’s
none of your business!”
“Oh
it is very much my business since I found you snooping around in my paper.”
“I
am not snooping around.”
“Then
what are you doing?”
“I
came here to say goodbye to Vern, OK? Satisfied? That’s why I am here.”
“Vern
is not here.” Jack answered.
“So
I’ve noticed… And that’s what I’m going.” She headed towards the door
again and once again he grabbed her hand.
“Wait
a minute… You said you were going to say goodbye to Vern… Are you going
somewhere?” Jack asked although he knew exactly where Jennifer was going. She
was also aware of the fact that he knew.
“You
know exactly where I’m going. You told me to have fun and that’s exactly
what I’m going to do.” She said sadly and looked at him as if waiting for
some kind of answer.
“Jennifer,
I’ve never intended to hurt you…”
“Well
apparently your intentions weren’t enough because you did hurt me. But that
doesn’t matter because I am not going to let you do that again. Never!” she
said firmly. “Goodbye Jack.” She finished and turned around.
“Jennifer…”
he called her name softly. She turned around hoping that he would do something.
Something to make her stay. But he only looked at her and said. “Take care of
yourself.”
“God,
why am I even talking to you?” she asked mad and ran out of the office.
Jack’s heart was breaking. He wanted to run after her and tell her how he
really feels, but something was telling him that he wasn’t good enough for her.
So he stayed in the office, trying as hard as he could to put it together and
not fall apart.
“Goodbye
Jennifer…” he whispered emotionally. “I will never forget you.”
To Be Continued...