Caroline's Cries

Chapter 13

Jake's POV

Seeing Caroline laughing and happy with Amanda at school again made me happy. A bit jealous that I wasn't the one making her snort uncontrollably, but I was happy for her. 

She seemed to be moving on. I saw her in the halls captivating the other guys' attentions and talking to them as they practically drooled all over her. There was nothing I could do to stop it. Part of me did mind. Part of me did miss her so badly to the point where I just wanted to run up and apologize for everything wrong that I did to our relationship. But if she was already moved on, I can't force that upon her. 

Me? I haven't moved on. Every night she haunts my dreams, her big green eyes and soothing voice causing goosebumps to form on my skin. No matter how hard I looked at the other girls I knew, none of them could replace her. Caroline still had a huge space in my heart, and no other girl could fill the space up again. 

Quickly, the news spread throughout school that me and Caroline had parted ways. That I was single, and that she was single. Only few seemed to mind. Though, one day at my locker, as I was rearranging my textbooks, Sasha walked straight up to me. 

"Hi Jake." She said in her strong valley-girl accent. 

I didn't want to be rude, but Sasha was super annoying. 

"Hey." I replied, hoping that she would get the hint that I wasn't very interested in talking to her. 

"I heard about you and Caroline." She frowned. 

"Yeah." 

"What a shame, you guys were such a cute couple." 

"I guess." I laughed.

She looked around at the empty hallway and then touched my shoulder. My whole body cringed as her pointy fingernails pierced my skin. 

"I've always had a thing for you Jake. I was hoping that some day you would have noticed. But I guess you didn't." 

"I've got to get to class." I quickly replied. 

"Jake, are you even listening to what I'm saying?" 

"Yeah, but I still love Caroline." 

She rolled her eyes, "Come on, you know I'm better than her." 

"Do I?" I sarcastically smiled. 

She rolled her eyes and walked over to Bianca. I quickly made my move and escaped the situation, dodging everyone to go to my next class. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Caroline and Amanda behind a wall, and Caroline looked angry. 

"Hey," My friend Dustin said as he walked next to me. 

"Hey dude." 

"Guess what?" 

"What?" 

"I found you a girl," He grinned. 

"I'm not interested, sorry." 

"Oh come on, Jake." 

"I said I'm not interested." 

He grabbed my arm, stopping me in the middle of the hallway from walking away. 

"You need to move on." He whispered. 

"I'm not ready to move on, it's only been a week." 

"Yeah, a week where you've been missing out on all the awesome girls we've picked out for you." 

"Look," I pulled him aside, "None of them are her. None of them can ever be like her. I love her. I love Caroline." 

He shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself, dude. But all I'm saying is that she's going to find another guy and when she does, you'll be left in the dust. No one likes being left in the dust Jake. We've picked out girls that match your personality. Could you just give them a chance at least?" 

I shook my head quickly, "I already said I only love her." 

"But she doesn't love you like that anymore dude, you need to let go." 

A small voice inside my head wanted to agree to letting them set me up with a new girl. But it was too fast, and again, I only love her. 

"Out of all of the girl's I've ever met," I continued, "None of them have ever been like her."

"Dude, you guys fell in love by looking at each other in a doctor's office. Come on." 

I shook my head, "My answer is still no. Thanks for the offer, I'm just not going to take it." I turned around and started walking away. 

"What if she dies?" His voice yelled after me. 

"What?" I spun back around. 

"What if she dies? You said it herself, it's a strong possibility. If you don't move on you're going to be crying over a girl that doesn't even love you back." 

"I'd cry over Caroline even if we weren't together." I answered strongly. 

He shook his head and walked away, muttering something to himself. 

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In class I couldn't focus. Dustin's words played in my head. 

"What if she dies?"

"She doesn't love you." 

"Move on."

"Excuse me?" I called out as I raised my hand. My teacher lowered his glasses. 

"I... need to take a breather." My voice said while shaking. 

He nodded and I grabbed my backpack and ran out of the room. I found a hallway where no one could see me and I just sat down and cried. I missed her so much. I didn't know what to do. 

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I quickly darted up, wiping any remaining tears on my face, and saw Bianca staring up at me. 

"Jake, I would like to apologize for Sasha's behavior." 

"It's fine." I sniffed. 

"No, it wasn't nice of her. You need time to heal, and I tried telling her that." 

"I'm already healed, I'm fine." 

"Jake," she lowered her voice, "You're crying on the floor in the school hallway. You're not fine." 

"No I wasn't." 

She raised her eyebrow and I gave her the "I admit it" face. 

"It'll be our secret." She winked. 

"I better head back to class." I replied while quickly gathering my stuff up. 

"Wait, I overheard Caroline talking to Amanda. She's angry at you. Like, really really angry." 

"Why?" 

"She thinks you and Sasha have something going on. She thinks you moved on too fast." 

"No! That's not the case at all! There's been a huge misunderstanding. Where is she? I have to clear it up with her." 

"You can't." Bianca sighed. 

"Why not?" 

"She went home, she's sick." 

"I'll have to call her then." 

"Good luck," Bianca yelled after me as I sprinted down the hall to the classroom. 

"Yeah, I'll sure need it." I thought to myself