Jake was sitting on a bench alone at the park. It was night, dark clouds all over the sky; he was cursing himself for what happened to Kate.
He was crying and says “she was bleeding and it’s my fault ...” Jake looks at his hand then fold them tightly and hit the bench. He wants to tell Kate that he miss his family and want to come back so she talks to his dad.
But everything gone wrong he felt so lonely and wanted to scream. He sense someone coming, someone he was waiting. It was Zac he's the one who put the gun in Jake's jacket.
“Why ... Why did you do this to me...? When I told you I don't want you or your friendship in my life then why... You know I miss my family and I want to go back then why you put the gun in my jacket Zac” Jake shouts and grab Zac's collar.
Zac look at him and said “family... you are right Jake… family all stay together that’s why I did this to you... Because we are family” Jake surprised he release his collar.
“You are not my family... they are” Jake shouts then turn to leave.
“No Jake ... they are not you're real parents. You're real father send us to take you to him” Zac said Jake get cold feet.
He turns to him in surprise, he always said to himself that they are not his parent but he never means that.
“YOU ARE LYING ... I LOOK EXACTLY LIKE MY MOM... And my dad…he loves me so much... Because of you I broke everyone’s heart… because of you my best friend is the hospital, and now you are lying to distract me…Kate was right about you, you people never let anyone happy because you are not happy in your life “ Jake said full of rage, he didn’t realize Emma stand there too.
He didn’t want all of this in front of Emma. He likes her and don’t want see her again because he promise to leave Zac and his company, it’s hard for him to say this to Emma.
“Okay Jake…anything else... They do all of that to get to your father... Don’t you get why your mom always so rude to you and your so call dad favors you” Zac said, he know that Jake’s thinking about everything he just said.
“wh... what do ...you mean... Who...I... I am?” Jake asked in broken words.
“Come with us Jake I’ll show you who you are and you'll be proud of yourself... you'll be proud on your father ... Cousin” Zac said putting his arm around Jake.
“No... Never... I never believe you, Kate told me you are not a good person but I was so stupid to thought that she’s saying all of this because she don’t want to be alone. Now I know she was right... You are a bad person. I am going back to my family; I don’t care what you say they are and they always will be my family...” Jake said and turns to leave but then stop and said
“By the way... I do proud of my father and he is an amazing person”
When Zac see this change in Jake’s reaction, he has a thought then said
“Well fine go ... Then what do you think your father would be so proud on what you did to Paul, I didn’t tell you to do that you did that on your own. Then what happens to Kate everyone saying it was you. If you go, your father will hand you to the police and everything for you will be over... Well specially Kate’s reputation. You remember that how much she cares about her reputation, what will happen to that if you go back... How will she face people questions about you...? It will be your fault if your family or Kate suffers. You belong to us now Jake”
He put his hand around his shoulder then said
“Come with us... You are the only one who saves them from this humiliation... Think about your family... Think about Ki… Jake”
“Who is he?” Jake asked down face. He realizes that what Zac is saying is right. If he goes back there will be so many questions. He thinks that
“My mom doesn’t like me that much... If I go back now after I did so many things, she’ll never see me and Ki… I already destroy her love life enough... I can’t destroy her career... I have to go”.
“You’ll know... Now when you leave them and coming with us... I have to tell you, they can never follow you... you'll be more like dead to them” Zac said. Jake listen Zac’s words, his tears drop on ground. Jake look at Emma, she looks the other way to hide her tear.
...
It was heavy rain with lightening. Jake was standing in Kate’s room in hospital staring Kate asleep. He remembers what Emma said to him, he sit on bench after Zac said everything to him. He was very down, Zac and his men were leaving but Emma stay and Zac give her a nod as he leaves, they were alone she sit next to him quietly “I can’t leave my family…I can’t leave” Jake said, he down his head.
“You have to Jake… you can’t go back to them…they don’t love you anymore…and you can’t explain yourself to them” Emma hesitates.
“Ki don’t leave me…she find me anywhere” Jake said in low tune. “Then tell her not to follow you” Emma said, Jake looks at her in confusion.
“You have right to live happy Jake and you are not happy… you need to be with people who love you for who you are” Emma said as she hold his hand and smile.
He has a letter and ring shaped black thread locket which Kate give him on his 14th birthday.
He never takes it off but now he didn't want to take anything with him that belongs to Kate.
He put the locket in her side table. He moves to kiss her on her forehead and drop his tear on her cheek. Then put the letter in her hand and fold it. It was the last time Jake saw her he look her for a while. Then move toward the window to leave.
The wind was fast Jake close the window but it didn't close properly and open by wind. The curtain on window push vase on the near table it fall and break.
Kate wake up but can't open her eyes completely because of atheistic injections and pain killer medicine, she was feeling woozy. She feels something in her hand as she came in her conscious she feel water drop on her cheek. She open letter quickly. Jake writes in letter
“Ki... I'm leaving the town and don't know where I go... but I will find my way.
Please tell dad and mom that, try not to find me. I am sorry what happened to you and for your own good don’t look out for me. Stay happy always, please tell Miley to be a good girl and I always love my little sister ... Good bye ... Jake”
She gets shocked. She looks around and find Jake's locket. She gets more scared.
She gets off the bed but her left leg hurt. She controls herself and ignored the pain she reached to the window. She saw someone going in the dark. She grabs her coat and hides her face to get out of the hospital.
It was raining with fast wind and she start running even one of her leg hurt because it was bandaged.
She knew Dr. Drew gone on his home. She took the short way to reach the road where town meet the city, she knew it’s the only way to get out of the town. She was running in the forest, it was deep dark and long, wide trees. She can only see her way in thunderstorm light.
She was not crying but her tears block her sight and she wipes them every time. As she was running she remembered all the time she and Jake have together.
She was having thought of Jake leaving the town and she fall her hand get cut by stone on the ground, She get up, balancing herself and wipe her tears. She can't feel the pain because her heart has more pain than her injury.
She saw Jake at bus stop sitting in car. She was on the edge she yells his name but he didn't listen.
She runs down as fast as she can, before she reach the ground she fell again and car stop before it run over her. She put herself together and stands. Jake gets out of the car. They look at each other in the thunder lightening.
It was June’s rain. They were facing each other. The road was wide, long trees are on both side of the road. The wind was fast, raindrops falling on leaves making a sound as they both silently looking each other, they were alone on road, Kate see some guy standing at the front gate of the car but can’t see his face because car’s lights blocking her sight.
“what are you doing Jake... first you become the reason for my break up... then yo
u humiliate me... then you yell at me ... then you hit me and now you want to leave me... how dare you Jake ... c'mon we are going home right now... And I will not listen any other word” Kate said as she take deep breath to calm her heart and hold his arm.
Jake Push her hand away from his arm then said “Ki... go home! You are injured...I’m not coming… I'm leaving” when Kate saw Jake's not stopping she yell at him
“I can't believe Jake you are so selfish ... I did so many thi... things for you and you are leaving me alone... That’s what you call friendship... I'm hurt and tried but still run all the way from ho... Hospital to stop you, because I care about you and you are still leaving... you so selfish Jake ... so selfish” she said as she was crying.
Jake doesn’t want to break and he can't stop either. So he decides to break her heart
“I'M NOT SELFISH KI... YOU ARE! YOU DID EVERYTHING FOR YOURSELF... ALWAYS TOP IN CLASS ...ALWAYS SHOW THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO IS RIGHT ...and do you know what i did for you ... I was the one who email you as your father”
He take a pause, then continue.
“Your grandpa used to do that so you don’t feel alone, after him I did that, because he knows that I’m the only one who never leave you but what did you do for me, I want to do what I like but you always came in my way, you never understand what I like and still don't understand me what I want to do in my life... I always care about you... YOU NEVER LOVE ME. YOU JUST LIKE ME BECAUSE YOU WANT SOMEONE TO SHOW OFF... I ALWAYS KNOW THAT BUT STILL… I CARE ABOUT YOU AND NOW IT’S MY LIFE, AND I DON'T WANT YOU IN IT... SO JUST GO AWAY” Jake said loudly. Kate was looking him with wide eyes. She can't believe its Jake.
There was silent again and only voice that can be heard was rain drops falling on leaves.
Her heart break when Jake turn his face and move toward car she put her all strength together to try one last time to stop him.
“Jake... please don’t go ... please Jake... it’s raining… I want to go home... Please Jake don’t go... You a... are my o... only friend Jake... I will be... alo... alone… you can’t do this to me… to our friendship” Kate said in heavy voice, her voice breaking because she’s crying. Her feet stick to ground she can't move but she can see he’s leaving. Jake can't hold up his tears, they fall on his cheeks but he had to say something otherwise he can’t leave
“I don’t want your friendship… go home Ki” Jake said then sit in the car, Kate can’t see his face, his tears.
The car start to leave, Kate feels she's going to lose everything. She remembers the time when they were 12 year old and Kate’s grandpa died. It was raining she was standing there, watching her grandpa buried. She stand still at his grave, everyone was leaving. Maria was holding an umbrella for Kate, she have no one for her.
Then Jake came to her and holds her hand and now she felt that hand losing her. The car starts to fading from Kate eyes. Kate runs behind the car. She yell Jake's name, try to stop him as car took left turn for highway, little away from Kate sight and suddenly it explode. The energy was so strong that it pushes Kate backward and she hit the tree.
Last thing she saw was fire flames reaching to sky.
CHAPTER 16