FLASHBACKS ➳ JACK GILINSKY

CHAPTER SIX - NOT OVER YOU

"i wanna punch his hot face" -magnificientmarais

"im so angry youdon't even know... wow this story is making me actually feel emotion when i read" -peterkavinskys

SIX

Two years ago today I was happy. And why? Because I was with him. On this same date, two years ago, we were both preparing for our first live performance together. We were together. But now, he's standing a couple feet away from me, with that girl holding his hands. She's the one comforting him, calming down his nerves, making him feel better.

She stood up on her toes, kissing him lightly on the lips, and that was when I looked away. It's too painful because I still remember the times where that was me in her place. I still remember how his cold but smooth lips felt on mine. It hurts to know that those exact lips that I once claimed as mine was no longer mine and are kissing a pair of lips that aren't mine either.

Ivy heaved a huge sigh next to me, looking at me with hurt in her eyes. Why is she the one who's hurt though? "Why don't you just move on? It's been a year, Elena," she said calmly, and all I wanted to do was shout at her. To scream in her face that she doesn't get what it's like. She doesn't understand how painful it is to have the love of your life, leave you, cut you from his life, hate you a year later, and is happy with his new girlfriend, while you're there watching, still trying to get over someone who has clearly gotten over you.

Instead, I shut my eyes closed and focused on my breaths. "I don't think I can do this."

"It's easy. Just find a cute boy, talk to him, laugh with him, make him laugh, make sure he asks for your number, go on a date with the guy, ki-"

"That's not what I meant," I said, cutting her off. "I meant performing on stage. I can't do it. What if I mess up? Jack's going to hate me even more than before. I can't mess up, but I feel like it's what I do best."

"Of course you're going to mess up with that attitude! Lighten up, Ellie! Forget about him and just focus on you! I know you can do it."

Before I recollect my thoughts and apply what she said to use. Nick Cannon, the MC, called for us to go up on the stage. "Up next is the duo that everyone loves... Jack and Elena!"

"Give me a kiss for good luck?" I heard Jack say from behind me.

"You're such a dork!"

"But you love me."

I picked up my feet and quickly made my way to the stage, away from the familiar conversation. I find my place on the couch that is set on the stage.

"Calm down," I whispered to myself. "You can do this. You got this."

Jack finally stepped onto the stage right after our new introductions and interviews—on how we feel about the competition so far—are shown on the screen. He found his place onstage, on the other side of me, sitting on his seat at the table.