Jerry's Cousin // Jack Brewer X OC

•76•

||JUST FRIENDS||

|CAMI

I knocked on the door reluctantly, waiting for someone to open it. I had just collected all of Jack's things and was about to give it back to him. On top of this breakup, my birthday's coming up soon, so this year won't be very cheerful. Mrs. Brewer opened the door, looking at me sympathetically. "He's upstairs," she quietly told me, allowing me to make my way to Jack's room on the second floor. I opened the door quietly, not wanting to accidentally wake him. He was awake, laying on his back and looking at the ceiling fan with puffy, red eyes. I sighed, lightly knocking on the door.

"Cami," he exhaled. "Cami, please, I- I need you. Please don't leave." His pleas and desperate eyes almost made me give in.

"I'm sorry Jack. It's probably for the better," I replied. "Here's your stuff. I'm just gonna get my stuff and get outta here."

"Please, Cami. I love you," he pressed. "Please, just let me explain."

"What's there to explain? You know what you did. You know it hurt me. You know you lost my trust," I sighed. "Please don't make this harder than it already is."

"But, Cami. Please- it- it's not what it looked like. I promise," Jack pled. "Please don't leave."

"I'm sorry Jack," I spoke empathetically, grabbing the rest of my stuff silently.

•••

I walked into the gymnastics gym, ready to train my students. I may be heartbroken, but physical activities always cheer me up. "And bridge," I instructed as the 7 year olds did what they were told. Rudy bursted through the doors making me raise my eyebrows. "Alright, you guys can go play in the foam pit and trampolines. I have to talk to Rudy," I allowed, walking up to Rudy. "What's up with you?"

"You're what's up with me!" he responded.

"What'd I do?" I asked, completely lost.

"When Jack got into work this morning, he looked awful! And by that I mean his hair wasn't brushed! Jack's hair is always brushed! What did you do?" Rudy glared.

"What makes you think it's my fault?" I asked.

"Because whenever I ask he always says 'Cami' before breaking down again. He had to cancel all his lessons this week. Do you know how bad that is for business?!" Rudy asked. I took a deep breath, not also wanting to break down.

"Um me and Jack, we uh we broke up," I answered.

"You- you two broke up? But you were the power couple of Seaford!" Rudy exclaimed.

"Um yeah. I ahem I know. Uh I need to get back to work. Um come on, girls! Back on the mats!" I ordered.

"Uh yeah, yeah. Sure. Uh get back to work," Rudy sympathetically agreed, leaving me with the girls.

"And bridge again. We're gonna see who can hold it the longest. Whoever does gets to flip into the foam pit," I continued my class, trying to cover up my sadness.

•••

I was sitting alone in a booth at Phil's, occasionally sipping my soft drink. "Hey cuz. Whatcha doin'?" Jerry dragged out sliding into the booth across from me.

"Drinking my sadness away," I replied.

"What's wrong?" Jerry asked. "Yo, you and Jack must have that telepathic emotion thing cause he was pretty bummed too." Wow. He just couldn't connect the dots, could he?