𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 | 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦! 𝐎𝐂

9. Don't Let Him Go

"Oh?" He questioned his grip on my hands tensing, "Are you okay?" He asks concerned. I gulp "I- You're moving?" I ask, finally bringing my eyes up to look at him. "I'm moving." He sighs, bringing his head to rest against mine. "Why? What happened?" I question him curiously, sadness evident in my voice. He's leaving, and I'm never gonna get to tell him how I feel. "I can't stay in stars hollow. I can tell it's getting too much for Luke to look after me, I'm not doing well in school, and there's nothing here for me." Hearing him say those last words put it into perspective. "Besides you." He finishes, "You came over here to tell me how you felt then you just leave? You shouldn't have said anything" I take my hands away from his and look away. "That's not how it was meant to be like" "then what is it like?" I ask my voice growing louder. I had forgot that we were in my house in the dead of night. "I just wanted to say goodbye" he confirms, trying to take my hand back again. "Well you said your leave. Now go" I cross my arms, walking over to the window to open it. "Maria plea-" "JUST GO JESS!" I shout at him. Loud enough for a whole neighbourhood to hear. And like that, he left. "Maria?" Dean calls from the hallway...

The instant regret lingered through my room as he left. I was too up in my own headspace to care about his feelings. And now I won't get to apologise because he's already left. It's been days. And he's the only thing I can think about. The only one who knows about our argument is Dean. As I walk around town with Rory the topic of Jess comes up, "you know he went back to New York?" She asks me noticing his absence, "no- I didn't" I lie. I can't let anyone know that I'm hurting, especially if it's over a boy. That's not me. I'm not that person. At least not to anyone else. "That's why he hasn't been around, if you were wondering" she smiles as we get to Luke's, "I have to get coffee before I go to school" and she walks through the doors of his diner. I can't bring myself to go in there. So I leave walking back towards my house.

"Sorry I left earlier, I felt a bit sick" I was on the phone to Rory explaining 'why' I left her this morning. "Don't worry about it, I was just confused" she chuckles, I can feel her smile through the phone. "Are you okay now?" She asks me and I sigh, "yeah I'm okay I just have a stomach ache" I lie to her again, I feel bad about it, but I don't want anyone to see me so unlike myself. "Oh gotta go Deans here." She says, as there's a knock on her door that I hear through the phone. "Bye" I put the phone down and lie back on my bed. "You're really good at lying" a soft voice says and I sit up, finding Clara standing in my doorway. "Hi C" I smile at her, "do you like him?" She asks me, walking to sit beside me on my bed. "Who are you talking about?" I try to act dumb infront of her, but she's a smart kid. "Jess"

and the moment she says his name, in this room. It comes back. I sigh and take a look at my young sister, "I do." I admit through a shaky breath. "I like him a lot" I sigh, smiling at Clara, "then don't let him go." She says, obviously knowing he's gone away. "It's too late Clara, I'm not going after him. I'm not the type of person to chase after someone" "even if you really want it?" She questions, and I nod my head, "even if I really really want it... now why are you awake??" I ask noticing the time on the clock, "couldn't sleep" she says, I stand up taking her hand "well let's change that, you have to be asleep before Dean gets back from Rory's or he'll kill me" I whisper to her and she laughs sweetly.

I didn't even notice what time I was, I was sat on the side of Clara's bed, softly stroking her hair. She must've fallen asleep ages ago but I was too caught up in my thoughts to notice. "You've been here for 5 minutes" a voice takes me away and I immediately look behind me to see Dean. "Yeah I'm sorry, she had trouble sleeping so I'm here. I didn't even notice she was asleep" I whispered to him and finally got up. He moved out of the way to let me out and close the door to Clara's room. "Are you sure you're okay?" Dean asks me worriedly, he's the only person I can't seem to lie to. So I look at him, "no, I'm not" I shake my head, he pulls me into a short hug. "I know I'm hard on you, but you're the strongest person I know. Jess is an idiot for just telling you then leaving" and it's moments like this where I'm really lucky that I have Dean.

"You're my favourite brother" I say to him and he laughs shaking the top of my head "I'm your only brother... can't say your my favourite sister though" I immediately punch his shoulder as he says that, "you know what. I take back what I said." I huff, crossing my arms. "You can't really have another favourite brother because I'm your only brother, Maria" "whatever" I scowl, walking back to my room, acting annoyed. Talking to Dean made me feel so much better, surprisingly. I just have to move on from Jess...