Love's Requiem

“Do you go every few years?” She asked me.

“No, no my parents go every year I usually stay home.”

“So then what do you normally do on Christmas?”

“Spend it with my friend and his family.” I answered as she nodded.

So Alex’s family ended up leaving around 10. Leaving us to do a lot of dishes.

“Don’t you just wish they’d wash themselves?” Alex asked me as we both stared at the massive amount of dishes in the
sink.

“And dry.” I sighed being the bravest and grabbed on to start cleaning.

“I think we have this whole thanksgiving thing in the bag.” He laughed as I passed him another dish to dry.

“I think you’re right.” I nodded. “So when should I go back to New York?” I asked him, dreading letting that out as soon
as I said it.

“Why do you have to go back?”

“Uh I have to pack, and go Christmas shopping with Jesse, and a bunch of other things.”

“Move in with me.” He said blankly.

“What?” I choked out.

“Move here, with me? This you and me living in separate states is bullshit.”

“Alex, it’s too soon.” I told him.

“We’ve been together for almost a year and a half.” He protested.

“Which is exactly my point, it’s not serious yet it’s in its puppy love stage. For you know we could break up a week from
now and then I’d lose my apartment and be screwed.”

“Fine Bella.” He said angrily.

“Alex.” I said softly.

“No, Bella it’s okay.” He said shaking his head.

That night we both went to bed being distant with one another. I fucked up, but I had a point. I wasn’t ready for that
commitment yet and deep down he wasn’t either. I woke up the next morning alone. Alex was gone. I went downstairs expecting him to be in the kitchen or the living room but he wasn’t. I felt a pang of guilt as I headed back upstairs to get dressed. I tried calling Alex later on but it turned out he had left his cell phone.

“What is up, fairest of them all?” Jack said answering his phone.

“I pissed off Alex and he’s gone and run off.”

“That sounds like a heap of fun. What are you doing right now?” He asked me.

“Sitting in Alex’s room, mentally kicking myself repeatedly?”

“My favorite past time, I’ll pick you up in 15 mins.” He said and then hung up.

I pulled on a grey sweater over the Pantera shirt I had on, and headed downstairs after tying my grey converse. When I heard a horn honk outside I swung my bag over me and left locking the door behind me.

“Hey Bella.” Jack said simply as I got in the car.

“Hey.” I said quietly as I put on my seatbelt and he drove down the street. “Where are we going?”

“It’s black Friday Bella.” He said simply.

“Jack no! I don’t want to go shopping! I want to make it to my 24th birthday!” I exclaimed.

“Oh please I’ll protect you.”

“I’m fucked!” I whined putting my head in my hands.

“Drama queen.” He laughed. “So how was thanksgiving with the Gaskarth’s?”

“Good, how was thanksgiving with the Barakat’s?”

“Good but we ran short on pumpkin pie so it went all WW 2.” He told me making me laugh.

So Jack and I continued to share jokes and talk until he pulled in to the already crowded mall parking lot.

“Now it won’t be so bad.” Jack said as we headed towards the mall.

“I hope so.” I told him taking a deep breath as we walked in to the entrance.

It wasn’t the mad house I had expected, it actually looked how it usually did just more people.

“I guess you’re right.” I shrugged.

We searched a few stored browsing through clothes and little things. I needed something to read so our last stop after the mall was heading to the nearest Borders.

“So now that I’ve bribed you with shopping and coffee, what happened with you and Alex?” Jack asked me as I was looking for a good book.

“So last night he asked me to move in with him.” I said reading the back cover of a book that had caught my attention.

“And?”

“Don’t be silly now, it’s only a year and a half, too soon.” I told him, putting the book back.

“Why? What’s so bad about it?” He asked as we continued looking.

“I’m not ready yet.”

“You never let down all your walls do you?”

“Nope.” I nodded. “What’s this Twilight I’ve been seeing it everywhere.” I said picking up the book.

“Got me, I think it’s something with Vampires or whatever. Probably right up your alley.” He told me.

“Worth a shot.” I shrugged putting it under my arm.

“Getting back, so what happened?”

“He got mad, we went to bed. I woke up he was gone, and now I’m here shopping with you.”

“You call him?”

“Left his cell phone.”

“Well just wait it out then I guess.” He sighed, “Unless you’re up for me to drive you home tonight.” He said with a sly
smile.

“Nah, I think I’ll wait this one out Jack.” I told him.

“It was worth a try. You want me to take you home or wanna grab something to eat?” He asked me, while we got in line to pay.

I looked down at my watch. “It’s almost 7, I think I’ll go back home. If he isn’t back yet I’ll just heat up some left overs.”
I told him

“As you wish.” He nodded.