You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

People like...him

Liz's pov

Jack:so...who's Ian?

Liz:excuse me?

Jack:Ian. You mentioned him earlier, right?

We were seated on the couch again. Work done and over with and shop closed up for the night. I was tucked into jack's form once again, polishing off a box of takeout I'd grabbed on my way home.

Liz:...I don't remember being him up with you. Did I?

Jack doesn't say anything. He looks thoughtful...maybe even worried? Did I ever tell Jack about Ian? Now that I thought about it...the subject really hadn't come up formally. Which. Is a bit odd, considering Ian's room remained undisturbed, and right across the hall of my own. It was same as it had always been, minus what he took with him when he moved to a fancy performing arts school in another state...I hadn't been in there since the breakup. But jack never wondered either?

Jack:you seemed really unnerved today. This..."Ian"...he's the one who hurt you today, wasn't he?

Liz:..not hurt.

I push my food around the box, almost defensively by force of habit.

Liz:...well. Not today...

Jack:I've never seen you like that. You've always been so happy with me...

No. No, that's not always been the case. When he got here...I was a mess. He just came at the right time is all.

Jack:remember what I told you...about other people.

Liz:what do you mean?

Jack:you're very special, but sometimes...I-I don't know. I do worry about you.

Liz:worry?

Jack:people like...him. Do you really think he's worth all this pain? What does he provide you...to make all this worth it?

That's not a simple answer.

Jack:he never has to hurt you again. I can make sure of it...would you like me to make him go away for you?

I feel my spine turn to jelly, the way he says it. Maybe my head isn't on right, but...he has no idea how nice that sounds. It feels even better as one of his hands begins to firmly grasp and almost massage my shoulders, while the other snakes down my arm and takes my hand sweetly into his. I never wanted to think about these conflicting feelings ever again...wouldn't it be funny if I could just...erase these thoughts. Me and Ian...walking to school together in the snow...our first dance...moving here even. Coming to this place to be together, only for him to move away to his fancy college, and...

Jack:you don't miss him, do you? Awe...sunshine...he's really fooled you, hasn't he? He promised you the moon and all the stars...and I bet he did it so well...but what did it all amount to in the end? He doesn't love you...he can't love you...nobody who can do what he's done to you knows what love even is.

Jack squeezes my hand, punctuating his words with soft affirmation.

Jack:if he's what's holding you back from being truly happy with someone who loves you...maybe it WOULD just be better if I did something about it. Would you like that, sunshine?

I feel my lungs growing short of air, the way his hot breath feels against my ear and shoulder. I end up having to choke back a huge sigh-like breath, but it comes out more like an audible shudder. It's so warm now. Warm, and foggy and hazy...I don't want to think right now. I don't know if I could. I can't help but think...maybe it WOULD be better if he could just...take control?