CRUISE | rudy pankow

02.

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THE TWO FAMILIES sat around a dwindling bonfire at the Addison's house while everyone shared their favorite memories of Rudy and Erin.

"I'll never forget the time Erin and Rudy tried to run away from home together when they were 8." Rudy's dad shared with the group.

They all started laughing before Rudy cut in, "Ha yeah, but then little Air Bear fell off her bike by the time that she got to the end of the driveway. It totally ruined the whole plan!" Rudy threw his arms in the air dramatically

"I still have a scar from that, see!" Erin rolled up her sleeves to show a small, nearly visible scar on her elbow. She shoved her elbow in Rudy's face, playfully, "see! see! see!" Rudy laughed and pushed her elbow back down.

"Poor thing! You scared me so bad. I had no idea what to do with you." Rudy's mom, Michelle, chimed in. Everyone laughed as Erin looked at the ground.

"Ru," Erin started looking back at Rudy, "do you even know why we wanted to run away so bad?"

Rudy furrowed his brow and thought for a second. "I have no idea. I literally think we were just upset at our parents for something and wanted to see if we could pull it off."

"Well, obviously, we didn't pull it off." Erin joked, pointing at her elbow.

"Well, I'm glad you decided to stay around," Jairus said, kissing her elbow awkwardly. Rudy looked over at the couple and rolled his eyes.

Trying to break the awkward silence, Mr. Pankow stood up from his chair and exclaimed, "Oh my God! It's almost midnight. Time flies by when you are having fun. Ready to go?" His wife and two sons nodded in agreement. Everyone said their goodbyes and waved as the Pankow's walked across the street back to their house.

"Hey! Next time I see you guys, I want it to be on a cruise boat on the way to Europe!" Mrs. Addison yelled across the street as the Pankow's walked to their home. Erin and her parents started cleaning up the cups and plates around the backyard as Jairus and her brother messed around with the plastic spoons.

"Hey Baby, I'm going to head out," Jairus said, kissing Erin.

"Okay, before you go, can we talk for a sec?" Erin's heart was racing, knowing now would probably be the best time to end her relationship with Jairus finally. She had tried to break-up with Jarius since the beginning of college, but every time he would always win her back with some charming act. But not this time. She was done with his antics, his jealously, and quite frankly, just him in general. She had reached her tipping point, and since she was leaving the country for a month anyway, she felt there was no better time than the present.

Jairus knew what was coming. He could feel her resentment all day. But he was not worried, he knew he could sway her. Jairus and Erin had broken up and gotten back together so many times, he knew exactly what to say to have her run back into his arms.

Jairus and Erin walked into her bedroom and sat down on opposites of the room. Erin started, "Okay, J, I don't really know how to start this conversation, but I just feel like.."

Jairus interrupted her, "Babe then don't, how about we just cut to the part where I say I'll stop being jealous and you assure me that nothing is going on between you and Rudy." Jairus stood up and sat down next Erin and placed his hand on her leg, "We can just move on and pretend this never even happened."

Erin stood up, obviously starting to raise her voice, "Jarius, I'm serious this time. We're done. And why would you even have you mention Rudy this has nothing to do with him?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you are joking about having three-ways with him and racing him to the car and running and jumping into his arms and..." Jairus retorted.

"He's my best friend Jairus, we joke around. And that does not make up for the fact that you have treated me like this dependent, little princess that you can just use whenever our relationship works for you." Erin snapped back, "For seven years, I followed you everywhere, and I forgave you every time, you made me feel like the bad guy, like I betrayed you, but not this time. You made me feel worthless. I loved you, and you treated me like garbage." A tear fell down her face, not because she was broken-hearted, but because she was mad, she let Jairus have this much control over her emotions.

"Baby, you don't mean that," Jairus said, giving Erin his pouty face and reaching out toward her hand.

"Stop with this baby talk, and oh, you don't mean that speech. We're done, and there is nothing you can do or say that will make me take you back." Erin said, standing up for herself, finally.

Jairus stands up and towers over Erin, "You're going to regret this in a month when you come back, and Rudy finally rejects you, and you are all alone, and no one loves you the way I love you."

Erin's face went pale, "Jairus, you obviously don't love me, because if you did, you would respect me, and my body, and my friendships, but you don't. You never listen to what I have to say or my thoughts or anything. Now, please get out of my house before I say something I will actually regret. Because so far, the only thing I really regret is wasting my life trying to please you."

"You're nothing without me, Erin. Don't forget that." Jairus stated before slamming her door and running out of the house.

Erin looked out the window as she saw Jairus start his car and speed away. She fell into a pile onto the floor and started crying. What if Jairus was right? What if she was worthless?

But she couldn't let herself think that way. She had allowed Jairus to control her thoughts for too long. Erin and Jairus were over, done for good.

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