How To Loose A Wentz In Ten Days (Or Less)

Chapter Nine

I shakily put the phone down on the cupboard, my mind racing into a thousand directions at once as I grabbed my car keys and jacket off the coat hanger.

"You all right, Ma'am?" Maria asked, carrying a bundle of washing with her.

"Yeah, sure-" I half answered, pushing a smile as I try my hardest to keep myself together.

"Peter?" she asked sympathetically.

I swallowed hard, running back to grab my phone off the cupboard and making my way to the door. "I'm going out to band practice. Please tell Mr. Wentz I'll see him when he returns from Chicago." I answered bluntly before slamming the door behind me, spinning around right into Pete's chest. 

"If I didn't know any better, Jen - I'd say you were trying to avoid me." Pete said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Don't be absurd." I snapped back, pushing him aside.

He dropped his head, tongue in cheek as he shook his head and chuckled. "Fine. It's over. Just what you wanted." he gently grabbed onto my arm and pleaded, "I'll leave you alone - just... just let me say goodbye to you before I leave." 

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, feeling tears prickle in my eyes as I nodded. He studied my face, a smile spreading across his face as he gently slid his hands in under my short blonde hair. "I really hoped it would work out this time-" he whispered before bending down and pressing his soft warm lips against mine. I closed my eyes and granted him the access he wanted, sliding my tongue into his mouth. I wished that kiss would never end. He pulled me closer to him, pressing my frail body up against his. I hugged him tightly as we broke our kiss, tears rolling down my cheek as I stared up at his beautiful face. He stroked my tear away, kissing the top of my head as he softly whispered goodbye. 

I hope Gabriel would be happy now. I've destroyed Pete to stay in the band - just like he wanted to. But to be perfectly honest, I hated them. I hated Steve, Gabriella, Gabe and Phoebie more than life itself. They made me sick. And tonight... tonight I was to tell them just that.

I've just about had enough of this.

*** 

I walked into the studio, Gabriella and Phoebe going over some new songs while Gabriel and Steve sat aside - each with a beer in hand. I could feel their eyes undeniably following me as I walked over to the locker and placed my phone and keys inside.

"What?" I barked when I heard no one was talking anymore.

"Jen?" Phoebe asked gently, excusing herself and walking over to me. "What's the matter?" she whispered, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"I just... I just fucken hate you all so much!" I went off, covering my face as I start to break down. I fell to my knees, breaths coming in shallow puffs as I try to keep the tears back. "It was all a joke at first. Then? Then Pete bought up the past. Fucking me up all over again-" I add, glaring at Gabriel. "You knew this would happen, didn't you?"

His eyes went wide as he nervously chuckled, placing his beer down on the turntable. "Jen, what are you talking about?" he asked, a smirk forming on his lips as he innocently shrugged at me.

"You knew we had a past-" I barely whisper as he reached me.

"But I thought you were over him. I thought you did this to get him back because of that-" he answered, offering me his hand to get up. I warily placed my hand in his as he entwined his fingers with mine. "Hopefully you'd see who really likes you now-" he whispered, only soft enough for me to hear.

"What?" I asked horrified, tugging my hand away from him. "You?"

"Shhhh-" he shushed me, laughing nervously. "You can't deny it. I've seen the way you look at me." he kept going.

"I can't... I just-" I stumbled, grabbing my belongings and running out the studio as fast as I could. Halfway out the door I could still hear the commotion going on as Gabe burst out the door, running after me.

"Jen... Jennifer - I'm sorry. I really thought-" he apologized, grabbing my arm - his fingers making an indent in my arm.

"The feeling was mutual?" I spat out, glaring at him. "No wonder you were so fucken determined to make Pete dump me again. You just wanted to prove a point that I shouldn't trust him. It's you I shouldn't trust, you fucken pig!" I ranted, unlocking my car and getting in. He just stood there, running his hands through his long dark hair as he exhaled loudly. 

I turned into oncoming traffic, not taking the time to check as horns honked and brakes squealed. I stopped, avoiding the accident as I clenched my eyes closed. I saw him look at me in horror as I flipped him the bird and joined the mainstream of traffic.

I drove and drove for what felt like miles on end, ending up on some interstate road. I rested my head on the wheel for a second as my phone pinged with a text message. I bent down and picked it up, smiling when I saw it was Pete. 

There's a light on in Chicago and I know I should be home and I know I should be home. All the colors of the street signs, they remind me of the pickup truck out in front of your neighbor's house. Take care. Hopefully I'll see you when I'm around the LA area again. XOXO - Peter

I smile at his text, my eyes catching something standing in the road at the last second - my headlights freezing the deer dead in it's tracks. I hit the brakes and swerved out of the way as hard as I could manage, catching a bump in the road as I tried to swerve back - causing the car to roll. The awful sound of shattering glass combined with my scream felt like hell. I stopped on my roof, blood trickling from my forehead as the smell of leaking gasoline filled my nose. I slipped into unconsciousness - the faint ringing of my phone fading into the background as darkness engulfed me.