Gabrielle POV-
Another day done in college. Luke is suppose to be coming over later so we can make a video, so I need to get my homework out of the way now. It is harder now since I have to do the editing myself. But I am working it out. I still have no idea what to do for the vid tonight, maybe a Q&A would work. I am glad we get along so well. I mean it's not like it was with Jack, but it's new and fun. Who knows, maybe eventually we will fall in lov...
Ring,Ring,Ring.
Oh hey, it's Cassie. I wonder what she wants.
"Hey Cassie."
"Hey Gabrielle, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
I could hear her take a deep breath. Now I am wondering what she has to tell me.
"Gabrielle, I am not sure if you even want to know. It's about Jack."
Cassie called me about Jack? Cassie? I wonder what stupid thing he did now. I really don't even want to know.
"Cassie, we are over. I really don't care what Jack has done now..."
"He's in the hospital Gabrielle. It's bad."
OK, that hit me. What happened? I mean I saw Jack the other day in Wallmart with Jaycee. I made sure to just head the other way before they saw me. Wait, is Cassie pranking me to get me back for the one Luke and I pulled on her and her boyfriend the other day?
"Cassie, is this a prank?"
"Gabrielle! He was shot multiple times this afternoon in a robbery attempt. Olyvia said he is still in surgery. They are not sure he is going to make it even if they can get all the shrapnel out. She said the bullets damaged his heart Gabrielle and he lost a lot of blood even before the surgery. Even if he makes it through the surgery, he may never wake up."
I froze. My phone fell out of hand and banged off the desk. I could hear Cassie faintly calling my name but it didn't register. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. This can't be happening. Not to Jack. I don't understand. She has to be wrong. Even after all that happened. All the bad stuff at the end. He can't be dying. Not my Jack.
It took me a minute to come back to myself. Five years of memories are still running through my mind. I finally realized I could hear Cassie yelling my name through the phone so I hurried to pick it up.
"Cassie, are you sure. That can't be true. Not to Jack."
"Gabrielle, Mom called the Jack's Mom. It is true. I could hear her crying over the phone from across the room."
Now I started to cry. I couldn't help it. Everything flew out of my head but thoughts of Jack. I needed to go there.
"Cassie, where is he? I need to go. I have to see him. I..."
"Gabrielle, I am not sure that is a good idea."
"Cassie, it's Jack. I have to go."
"Do you think Jack's parents will want to see you there Gabrielle? After everything? What about Jaycee Gabrielle? Do you think his girlfriend would want you there? What about Luke, you know, your boyfriend?"
"Cassie, I know.. But I have to go..."
"Gabrielle, I really don't think that it's a good idea right now."
"Cassie, it's my Jack. I know everything you said. It's all true, I know they wouldn't want me. But I have to go see him Cassie. I might never get to see him again. I can't handle that. I still love him Cassie..."
That's when I heard the glass drop on the floor behind me. I turned and saw Luke. I must have missed him coming in. Oh my god, Luke just heard that. He heard me admit out loud that I was still in love with Jack. I can see it in his face. The hurt, the anger, the finality. I knew that even if I tried to take it back he would never believe me. I couldn't take back what I said anyway. Even I am not that good of a liar, not to people that know me. Now that I admitted it, I can't hide it again. No matter what happens Luke and I are through. I can see that in his face.
"Cassie, I have to go. I will call you later..."
"Gabrielle, what? We still need to discuss..."
"Luke is here Cassie. I will talk to you later."
"Oh my god. Did he hear..." Click
I took a second to take a couple of breathes. He still hadn't moved. He was just looking at the glass on the floor, water everywhere. I was about to speak when he started.
"So that's how it is huh? You really could have told me that before Gabrielle."
"Luke, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to say it. Jack is in the hospital. He might not make it. It just slipped out."
"Did you mean it?"
"Luke..."
"Did you mean it Gabrielle?"
I took a deep breath. I couldn't lie to him about this. I didn't want to lie to him.
"Yes Luke, I meant it. I am sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I didn't think it..."
"At least you admitted it Gabrielle. At least it came out before we got anymore serious. I think I am going to leave. Do me a favor. Pack up any of my stuff that is around here and have Sandy call me to pick it up. I really don't want to see you when I do. Good bye Gabrielle. I hope you find what your looking for."
"Luke I..."
"No Gabrielle no more words. I need to leave. I can't see you right now."
With that he walked out, slamming the door. I started crying even harder. Now I managed to hurt Luke. He didn't deserve it. It was all my fault. I thought I was over Jack, I really did. Luke was a great guy and he came around at the perfect time for me. I guess I was fooling myself as much as I was fooling him. I regret doing that to him. He is a good guy. But I need to calm down. I have to go see Jack. If I have to face everyone I will. I know they will not want me there, but I just have to. He may even send me away, if he wakes up.... No when he wakes up. I have to think that he will be OK. I can't think that he will...
I start getting my things together. I find my keys and was just about ready to leave when I heard the door open. It was only a couple of seconds before I heard Sandy call me.
"Gabrielle, what's going on? I saw Luke leaving outside and when I said hi he just said it's over and drove away. What happened?"
"We broke up Sandy. Luke and I are no longer together. He did ask that when I gathered his things to give back to him that you do it. He doesn't want to see me. I don't blame him.
"Why Gabrielle? What did you do? You guys were so happy, what could be so bad that you guys just broke up out of the blue like this?"
"He heard me admit that I am in love with someone else. It's over."
"Gabrielle, who?"
"You know who. You may not like it, but you aren't stupid. I still love him Sandy."
"Gabrielle, Luke is so much better for you."
"No he's not. Not when I am still in love with Jack. It wasn't fair to him. It wasn't fair to us."
"Gabrielle, Jack has a girlfriend and is happy he won't..."
"Don't you think I know that? I know how much I hurt him. I know he is happy moving on. That doesn't change how I really feel Sandy. I need to go see him."
"Why Gabrielle, what caused all this?"
"He's hurt Sandy, he is in the hospital and might die. I have to go."
"Gabrielle, don't you think you should wait. Think about it. His family..."
"Sandy! I know. I know everything you are going to say. I am going now. I just have to. Please leave me be."
With that I walked past her and out to my Jeep. I took a few minutes to calm down and gather my thoughts. I hope I am not to late. I am going have to drive there and hope. I can't let them send me away without seeing him. I have to see him. Even if it's for the last time.
