Velocity-> Jack Gilinsky

Epilogue

SONGS: Sleeping At Last- Saturn (the lyrics of the song will come in towards the end, I promise!) and Lifehouse- Storm (Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease listen to these while reading, they are PERFECT for the ending of Velocity!)

Four and a Half Years Later

*Olivia's Pov*

I adjusted my dress before standing, nervous by everyone's stares and the situation itself. I looked to my right, seeing my dad give me a reassuring nod, which helped me regulate my breathing. I focused on my walking, placing one foot in front of the other carefully. I turned once reaching a spot that satisfied me, coughing uncomfortably as everyone waited for me, silence overtaking.

"Hi everyone, I- I wasn't really expecting this. So, there's not much- actually, nothing at all- that I have planned out to speak... Jack and I have been together for the past four and a half years, and it's unbelievable how much we've grown and matured. It's breathtaking how different we've become, in both good and bad ways, but I think it's what was written in the stars for us. Jack and I met senior year of high school; I was a scared, isolated girl that was afraid of the "bad boy", Jack Gilinsky... And I don't know what it was in me; maybe the fact that I was already in love with him, or maybe I was just intoxicated by my feelings, but I let him get to know me. And from that, I got to know the true, original Jack Gilinsky. Not the one everyone talked about at school, but the one he was when around me. The loving, supportive, intense, and sometimes reckless Jack. The one I've been unconditionally in love with. We balanced each other out; I was the innocent part of him, and he was the rebellious part of me... I don't think he knew last night would be his final when he overdosed, but maybe he truly wanted it to be. I know that once someone passes away, it's normal to think that they're in a better place... away from all the dangers of this ever changing world. And I agree with that because- because that's what I believe. But at the same time, I know that Jack just wanted to be the one protecting someone, and in this case, maybe he wanted to be protecting me. I don't think- I know- this wasn't him showing his weakness... It was him realizing that he needed to see a couple of the most special people in his life; Elizabeth and Leo. I know how dark and scary that place is- the state of mind that depression lures you into..."

My eyes drifted to where my father sat; a true hero to me. And that's when the pressure being made by my tears was unbearable, as I allowed them to race down my flushed cheeks. I took a second to wipe a few away, then continued speaking.

"I-I'm sorry. It's just- velocity took over when I met Jack. The impact he had on me- on my life- was so unbelievably strong. Our adventures together are something I will never forget nor regret, because that's what led me to discover a beautiful human being hidden inside of the broken person I fell in love with. But Jack, I just want you to believe me when I say that you've made me break out of my shell in the most indescribable and amazing way. You've...You've showed me what it truly is like to be alive, aside from simply breathing. You've helped me understand how it feels to love someone so unbelievably much that it hurts. And, for the last time, I want to thank you for the past four and a half years, although they were cut too short. I wish you could feel how much I loved- how much I love you. But I want to promise you one thing; I will remain strong for you, Elizabeth, and Leo... Thank you all for being here and for all the support."

I felt a rush of anger take over me. I was angry for what Jack had done to himself, to us, and to the rest of the people in his life. What Jack had done was selfish; he hadn't thought about what would happen to me or to his family. I made a promise to help him be a happier person, but Jack took that promise out of my grip and crushed it, just as he had done to our relationship. I wanted to be the reason he was thankful to be alive, because he was the reason I was. I loved him, oh god did I love him. I just wanted him to tell me why he didn't express how overwhelmed he was. He didn't have to do it alone because he had me. And suddenly, I felt useless. I loved him, yet he left me to be alone. I felt like I hadn't been enough for him, and it destroyed me from the inside out.

I lowered my head while walking back to my seat in between my mom and dad, Jack's parents and Thomas sitting beside us. My head stayed limp and my vision was blurry, focusing on the pale, gray cement below my feet. The tears flowing from my eyes decorated the cement as they splashed onto it, creating intricate patterns that helped distract me from the pain of losing him.

"My beautiful, strong daughter..." My father whispered gently, interlacing a rough, aged hand with mine before leaving a delicate kiss on the back of my hand.

Just when my life was falling into place, it broke apart at the seams all at once.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ceremony came to end as I found myself walking back to our car with my parents, no conversation being made. I sprawled my body across the rear seats, resting my one hand inside of the other on my stomach as I dazed out the window. I felt nothing but numb as I focused on the movement of the telephone wires outside, zipping past our car as we drove further and further away from the cemetery; from Jack. I mentally comforted myself, replaying the memories with him that I could never forget; the memories that created the best years of my life. But one seemed to be lodged in my mind much stronger than the others.

~Flashback~

I searched the busy parking lot of my high school, pacing around in my extremely tight dance uniform with yellow flyers for the pep rally in hand. My eyes scanned the faces of several people until they landed on one very particular.

"Hi, I'm part of the varsity dance team and we're going to be having a pep rally this Friday at 8! Come and support the team!" I smiled before handing him a yellow flyer with all the details of the event.

He locked eyes with me before speaking, and I don't think I've ever felt that much intensity until this very moment. "Hm, I need to wait another 2 days until I see you again? As long as you're there, I'm down." He gave me a smirk, but I continued my "unimpressed" look, almost afraid of him.

"Uh, y-yeah." And with that, I left, leaving him in a confused daze.

Secretly, deep down in me, I was praying for him to be at that game; to see him again. Deep down, I wanted there to be something between us.

Little did I know...