The Legend - Watty Awards 2012

Chapter Twenty

               The sun was setting, throwing an eerie glow around the garden. Paul watched Jenna's back as she sat slumped on the doorstep. He wished for the millionth time that he could do something to make her feel better.

                The other day, a nagging feeling had forced him to rush over here. He had banged on the front door several times and hadn't received any answer. The sense of dread only grew stronger and he rushed around to the back and had forced himself in. Once inside, he had heard wretched sobs coming from the basement. The sight that met his eyes had almost made him throw up. He quickly called Tyler and the two of them together had somehow put Jenna to bed, cleaned up the place and had made swift arrangements for the burial of Pat.

                 Jenna hadn't spoken a word since that day.

                Tyler had left the previous night as he and his parents were travelling out of town for a couple of days on some important family work. Paul had decided to stay here with Jenna.

                Now, he walked over and sat down next to her. Silently, he placed a huge mug of steaming cocoa in her hands. They continued to sit in silence staring out into the rapidly darkening night.

                "This is all your fault"

                 Startled out of his reverie, Paul turned to look at Jenna. He tried to maintain a straight face but inside his heart was breaking into a million pieces as the first words that came out of her mouth were not exactly what he wanted to hear.

                "It is because of you that we moved here,you know. My parents gave up everything just to keep me happy and today both of them are gone. It is all your fault."

                 "I'm sorry Jenna.. I really didn't mean to.."

                  "Then why did you?" She interrupted him. "Why did you pretend to love me all those years? Why did you pretend to want to spend your life with me? Why did you leave me all alone in front of the entire church? Why? If you didn't mean to, then why the hell did you do all of it?"

                 "I was frightened ok. I didn't know whether I was ready or not. I know my explanations are no excuse for what I have caused you. I am really very sorry. I couldn't forgive myself after you left and that's why, I just had to come look for you."

                 Jenna let out a small, dry laugh. "What you have caused me? You have single handedly destroyed my life and my family and you say sorry! And the sad part is that I am still sitting here and talking to you. I still want to forgive you. I will never ever learn my lesson, I think."

               "Jenna look at me."

                Paul gently turned her face towards him and took both her hands in his.

"I really, truly am sorry. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. I promise you this time I am not letting go, no matter what."

                "How do I trust you again Paul? How do I know that you aren't going to run away, leaving me high and dry again?"

                 "Just trust me this one last time and I will make sure that you don't regret it. Let us get out of this place. Let us go back to New York and begin our lives anew."

                   Jenna turned away from him and stared vacantly in front of her. A million thoughts ran threw her mind. Does she trust Paul again? Did she trust him enough that he wouldn't break her again? These past few weeks, he really had been there for her though. And anyway what did she have left to lose? She had nobody.. This house contained only horrid memories and she knew no one in Bedhill.

                 Tyler.. His face flashed in front of her and her heart did a little leap. What about him? He too had been her rock when she needed him.

                  She contemplated in silence and finally she had made up her mind. She turned towards Paul and gave him a small smile.

                   "Let's do it," she said.

                    Smiling, Paul leaned to kiss her. Jenna closed her eyes and leaned forward too. But just before their lips could meet, a loud bang resounded from inside the house. Startled, they jumped apart and rushed in to see what happened. They found several pots and pans lying on the kitchen floor. They began looking around to see what could have caused this when Jenna suddenly spotted a clump of hair stuck to the door. It looked like whoever was trying to rush out in a hurry had got caught in the door and had pulled really hard to escape.

                  "Paul, over here", she said.

                 Jenna stared at the clump of hair.

                 Long hair...

                 Long dark brown hair..

                "Dammit Michelle," she muttered.

                 "What? What did you just say?" Paul asked her.

                  "Nothing," she replied. "Nothing at all."

A/N: Heyyal.. so it isn't proof read. Down with very high fever and have written the entire thing on my phone. Hope you like it. Don't forget to Comment and Vote!!