Robbery in Progress

Thirty-Seven

The following day was going even better than the day before. I wasn't feeling very tired, so I decided to go home after work, change my clothes, and go for a walk in the park. My plan didn't last long, though, and it wasn't a good thing either.

"What the crap are you doing here?"

"Jen, please..."

"I asked what you're doing here." I unlocked my door and went inside, hearing his footsteps behind me.

"Jen...I...I..."

"Stop it!" I paused for a moment and took in a deep breath. "Tell me what you are doing here right now, or you can leave. I don't want to deal with you."

"Jen, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For what happened to you...for how things ended with us...I'm sorry."

"Save it."

"I know what I did...not talking to you for days hurt you, but I'm sorry for that. I've apologized for it. I don't know what else you want me to say or do."

"You still think that's the whole problem?" He looked confused. "The problem is, Derek, that you said you something that I will not be able to forget."

"What comment?" I gave him a look and could see him starting to think back to the day we had our huge fight and broke up. "You mean..."

"The comment you made about me freaking out...that it was why my last boyfriend probably cheated on me..."

"Jen, I didn't mean to hurt you with that."

"But you did." Derek looked towards the ground and even though I could see he was upset about the realization of what he did, I was not going to forgive him so easily.

"I'm sorry, Jen. If I had known that's what this was all about I would have tried to do something to fix it." He paused. "I was so caught up in the moment and...I just said something because I was mad and frustrated. I should have thought before I spoke. I'm truly sorry about what I said."

"Derek, are you finished?" Derek walked closer to me and I started to feel a little uncomfortable.

"Can you forgive me?" Derek looked up, gazing into my eyes. Without losing his gaze, he slowly grabbed my hand.

"Derek..."

"Jen..." I was so caught off guard.

"I think you should leave." I pulled away from him.

"Jen, I miss you."

"Derek, stop. Just go."

"Is this other guy...does this other guy make you happy? You know we had so much fun together."

"Derek, I said stop!" Derek jumped a little and went out the door, closing it behind him. I was leaning against the wall, slowing sliding down it until I reached the floor. I began to cry. I was so frustrated with him. Everything was going so well with John and of course, someone was trying to mess with that. I sat there for a while before I got up. I called Paul. He always knew what to do.

"Jen, is everything okay?"

"Paul?"

"What's wrong? Do you need me to come get you?"

"No, you don't need to do that." I took in a deep breath. "I got home and Derek was here."

"Derek? What was he doing there?"

"He wanted to apologize...and to tell me he missed me. Paul, I don't know what to do. He...he..."

"Jen, did he do something?"