Worth It.

Chapter 1

*This scene is from where they met one last time after they met at the library and before Jackie leaves Bloomington"

"Take care of yourself, okay?"

said Jackie with tears in her eyes while looking at an equally tearful Catherine.

"You too."

They hugged, shed a few tears, took a deep breath, and finally Jackie left.

Jackie never saw the regret in Catherine's face. Just when Catherine was about to cry, she heard Jackie coming back into the room. Confused, she looked up and heard Jackie.

"Am I still?"

Not following where Jackie was going, Catherine asked.

"Stil what, Jackie?" 

"Still not worth it?" 

uttered the young woman with a lot of uncertainty.

This broke Catherine's heart. She always regretted her words after that night of the party right after it went right out of her mouth. She was never supposed to say such a ridiculous thing.

At the heat of the moment, when she was scared, confused, and unsure, right where things just got so real, she just had to say those things and ruin her shot at happiness. Stupid.

She just doesn't know what to answer. She knows deep in her heart that Jackie made her so happy. Her little porcupine. But was it really worth it? Facing the media? Telling the world? Risking both their careers?

It took Catherine a while to gather all her thoughts. This was enough for Jackie to take it as an answer. Before Catherine could do anything, Jackie was gone. This time, for good.

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The next day while fixing her stuff, some professor asked something to Catherine. Catherine was deep in her thoughts; she didn't even understand what the professor was asking.

"Why are we whispering?"

Asked Catherine.

"Oh they are shooting some TV show downstairs."

First thing that came into Catherine's mind was Jackie. She took a pause, tried to clear her throat, and thanked the professor.

She saw Jackie through the window in her office. Talking to a reporter of some sort. Although the smile in Jackie's face didn't meet her eyes, she can see that Jackie was made for this. Made for the spotlight. And maybe that means Jackie was not made for her. She tried to convince herself futilely. It will pass, right? Just like all those other girls before Jackie. She'll get through this. She hoped.