When The Curtain Falls

14 ~Out in the Open~

Jenna was pacing at the end of her bed, waiting for Nate to come home from work. The room looked so empty, she had all her things packed in her car. She was ready to get this over with and never see him again. She practiced what she was going to say to him over and over again. "Nate, I want to break up. No, that's too blunt. Nate, I think we should see other people. Wrong choice of words. Nate-"

The door opened and she heard bags drop on the floor. She reluctantly left the safety of her room to greet Nate.

"Hi, honey," Nate said sweetly. "How are you doing?"

"I'm still sore," Jenna replied bitterly.

Without giving him a chance to really get in the door she immediately brought up the situation.

"You know I'm beyond sorry about what I did. and- I -... I wish more than anything to take back what I did to you."

"Nate, I don't want to hear it. What happened happened and all this bullshit isn't going to change anything."

"Baby, I just want you to forgive me. I want to just forget about this and move past what happened"

"I do forgive you, but I will never forget what you did to me. Nate, I don't feel safe in this relationship. I anticipate you coming home with this uncontrollable fear."

"What are you saying?" Nate asked, sitting down on the sofa with Jenna.

"I think you need some time to grow. Without me. You're obviously not in a good mental state, Nate."

"Jenna-"

"Nate, trust me. This is for the best. For both of us. I want you to get better."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I am fine."

"Don't lie to me. Don't lie to yourself. You've been waking up screaming and in a sweat every night. You've become closed off lately. You've been stressed out from work. I feel like you are a different person. I don't want to be with this person you've become."

"Are you... breaking up with me?" Nate asked in shock. "Is this so you can fuck that hobbit without guilt? Is he making you do this?" Nate walked up to Jenna, about to strike her, but stopped himself as he saw her coil in fear.

"Nathan. Please don't do this to me. I can't take it anymore. Can't you see? You're not well. And this breakup is my choice! We've never done anything. We're just co-workers."

"Co-workers?"

"I was going to tell you sooner. I got a job offer as the band photographer."

"no- Jenna you aren't working with him-"

"NATE! Don't interrupt me!" Jenna pointed her finger in his face.

"This isn't up for discussion! You don't understand! You don't control me, Nate!! I've had enough of this bullshit, you telling me what I can and can't do, who I can or can't see. If I want to see Josh, I'm gonna see Josh, goddammit!"

"Jenna stop fucking overreacting," Nate spat.

"You're the dramatic one! If you were confident in our relationship you would've trusted me with him or to be around any guy. This hasn't been the first time you've been like this. and if I wanna fuck him, I will, because we're done, Nate. I can do whatever I want and I don't need your consent"

Jenna ran to her bedroom, not giving Nate any time to comprehend what she just told him.

"Oh, you're really just gonna walk out like that? Where the fuck are you going?" Nate followed her.

"Get away from me!" she cried in fear, slamming the door, but she couldn't lock it in time as Nate forced the door back open.

"Jenna, you're the one who isn't well. What has come over you? You were fine till now and all of a sudden you're breaking up with me? Just like that?" Nate took Jenna by the wrist, clenching it hard enough to where her circulation cut off and her eyes watered from his nails digging into her skin.

"Nate, you're hurting me," Jenna cried out in pain. Maintaining his grip, he ignored her, not noticing he had begun to draw blood from her wrist.

"Do you know how stupid you are for doing this? You are in a stable relationship right now. I help put food on the table and pay the rent. Where are you going to live? You need me. You may not realize it, but you're gonna come crawling back. I just know it. You can try, but it won't be easy."

"Nate, can you please let go of my wrist?' Jenna said in a high voice as a tear rolled down her cheek. He released his grip, but only to push her back on the bed.

"You are mine. And I am going to show you that you are mine."

This wasn't Jenna's first experience with Nate being hostile like this. She frantically looked around and saw to her side was a mace she had prepared in case Nate wouldn't let her leave. She was grateful for that little container. Jenna knew she had to keep her cool if she was going to get out. Nate held his forearm firmly over Jenna's pelvis and slid off her jeans and underwear. She was paralyzed by fear for a moment before grabbing the mace and waiting for him to bring his face closer to her. Nate got on top of Jenna and that was her cue to attack. She sprayed the mace in his face and he coiled back as it stung his eyes. Jenna kicked him in the balls and pushed him off of her, she grabbed her bag and her clothes that were on the floor before bolting out the door. She didn't care that she was half-naked in the hallway. She needed to get out of there. Jenna quickly put on her underwear and jeans before making her way to the parking garage.

As she went down the hall, she heard Nate open the door and yell at her: "You're never going to get anywhere with that rockstar. All they know is sex and drugs."

Jenna ran as he said this, afraid he was going to follow her. As she got into her car, she tried to call Bella, but there was no answer. She tried again, still nothing. She cried.

"FUCK!" she yelled, hitting her steering wheel.