1 Week
Later
A light, frozen rain fell that morning as Jack and Dan loaded her suitcases into the back of the SUV. There weren’t many, only about four, not including the two carry ons. In her hand she held a small black gym bag, which contained her laptop and CD player, and in her other hand was her purse. She put them in the front seat and returned to the house to say goodbye to everyone.
“Girl, you’re leaving me again. I can’t believe you,” Nadia tried to stay cheerful even though tears filled her eyes.
Jack wrapped her arms around her friend and replied, “I’m gonna miss you, Nadi.”
“I’m gonna miss you too, Jackie. You’d better call me when you get there.”
“I will. You’d better not forget to send me pictures of Vince so I can put them around my apartment.”
“You know I won’t.”
Beside Nadia stood Leonie. “Leo, my crying buddy,” Jack said as she hugged her.
“I know,” Leonie replied. “Now who am I gonna be able to sit down and have a good cry with?”
“You’ve still got Nadia,” Jack said. “I’m gonna miss you, girl.”
“I am too. It was so wonderful to get to know such a great person. Everybody’s gonna miss you.”
Ben was next in line. “I can’t believe the only girl who can possibly beat me in a drinking contest is leaving me,” he said, giving her a tight squeeze.
“Ben!” Jack giggled as she playfully punched his arm. “Check yourself into AA then call me about that drinking thing.”
“Yeah, right,” he laughed in her face.
“Bye, Ben. We’ll meet again someday,” Jack replied as she hugged him once more. “Hey, where’s everybody else?”
“They send their best wishes and farewells,” Leonie said.
“What about Darren?”
“He left this morning, I don’t know where he went though,” Nadia answered.
“Oh.” There was a long silence between them. “I’d better get going. I don’t wanna miss my flight.”
“Bye!” they all called as she stepped into the car and closed the door. She waved to them as Dan pulled out of the driveway.
The road to the airport was a long and quiet one. Jack kept her eyes glued to the icy asphalt ahead of them. Her mind was far from anything in particular, except for Darren. She kept wondering where he was and why he left the house without saying goodbye. ‘He’s probably still pissed at me. God I hope he didn’t try to kill himself again,’ Jack silently prayed. ‘That’s the last thing I need, another guilt trip.’
“I can’t believe you’re really leaving us,” Dan said, finally snapping her back into reality.
“I need to get my life together,” Jack replied.
“Yeah, I know. You told me. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna try to persuade you to stay,” he answered. “I promised you I’d stay out of your life, and I intend to keep that promise.”
“Thanks, Dan,” she said. “I’m glad you understand.”
“Hey, that’s what I’m here for.” He pulled up to the terminal curb so Jack could unload her stuff.
“I’ll meet you at the gate,” she said after every bag was loaded onto a cart. Jack walked inside, checked in her larger bags, then headed for the gate. She climbed onto the escalator, letting it take her to the second floor without rushing. Just as she reached the top, she found Darren waiting for her, his hair and jacket soaking wet.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, surprise and anger hitting her at the same time.
“I couldn’t just let you leave like that,” he answered.
“Don’t even try to beg me to stay. I’m leaving and that’s final,” Jack retorted. She began walking away from him.
“I thought you wanted to end this on good terms,” Darren called. She stopped and turned around to face him. “I just wanted to say I was sorry about the way I’ve been acting. It took me a long time to realize that letting you go would be the best thing.”
“You’re not just saying that, are you?” she cautiously asked.
“I’m not. After all, you need to spread you wings. If you come back, then it was meant to be. If you don’t, I’ll just have to learn to accept it and be happy for you,” he answered.
“Thank you,” Jack said as she hugged him. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome,” Darren replied as they started walking to the gate. Dan was already there waiting for them.
“You showed up?” he asked in surprise.
“Yeah,” Darren said.
The three of them stood by the tinted windows watching the first set of passengers board. Jack knew it was time to say her final goodbyes. She turned to Dan and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m gonna miss you so much,” she began to weep.
“Jackie, don’t start crying. You’re gonna get me all worked up,” Dan replied as he hugged her back. “Be a good girl, okay?”
“Of course,” she said. “Bye Danny.” She kissed his cheek and turned to Darren.
He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “I’ll always love you.”
Jack let go and gently brushed her hand against his cheek. They stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like the longest moment in time. She searched those deep blue pools for something that she knew was still there, that love he had for her. It was something to hold onto while she was gone, something she knew would still be there when she returned, if ever.
“I love you, Darren,” Jack choked. “I’ll miss you.” Darren grabbed her before she left and gave her the deepest kiss she had ever felt. Her eyes filled with tears as she pulled herself away from his strong hold.
“Bye,” he finally said. Jack headed for the catwalk down to the plane
as Dan and Darren stood at the door and watched her disappear into the cabin.
She was finally gone, back to San Francisco to find herself again, no matter
how long it took.
Ooh
How can I say that I love you
When you’re so far away?
So tell my why you had to go
Was it me, I need to know
Ooh
What can I do to make you see
That I’m here, here for you?
I really hope that you’ll come home
So we can be together again
Ooh
What can I do to make you see
That I’m here, here for you?
I really hope that you’ll come home
So we can be together again
The End… Or so we think...