Chapter sixty-six: I miss Him

Chapter sixty-six: I Miss Him

Jessica

"So you just left?"

Janice asked as we sat down on the bench outside. It was an abnormally warm winter day and I wanted to meet up with her when she arrived back at campus so I could talk to her.

I nodded and pressed my lips, looking down at my hands. I felt dead without Jeffrey. It has been one week since I came back from Paris and he has kept calling me but I refused to answer his calls or reply to messages because it would only get harder to move on if I continue to be in contact with him.

"I am so sorry, Jessica." She placed her hand over mine.

"It is fine," I lied, it wasn't fine. Infant, nothing is fine without him.

"I just need to focus on this semester and then soon we will be seniors and we can get the heck out of this University."

She gave me a small side smile and then wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me in closer.


*****Three weeks after*****

The first three weeks back to school were absolutely terrible. I cried myself to sleep every night and Olivia had moved out completely. I had a new roommate now named Lilian for the semester but she insisted that I call her Lily. She is nice, a lot quieter than Olivia. She is also single which made me happy because that means no boys would randomly be over when I least expect them.

"So, you are the girl Jeffrey Craig is dating?" She asked as I was getting ready to go to bed. I frowned, blinking away any potential tears.

"Um, no. Actually, we are not together." I said flatly.

"Oh, I had no idea. I am so sorry for asking."

"It is fine," I rolled over to face away from her so I could cry and she wouldn't see it.


****

By the end of January, Jeffrey had completely stopped contacting me. I felt terrible but I knew that he would finally get the business he deserves without me holding him back. I had to come back, anyway. I had to return back to school, me leaving Paris was probably for the best.

I was reading a magazine and I came in contact with an article section about Jeffrey's birthday. I felt like contacting him, his birthday is in three days. He would be turning forty-one and I am not even with him to celebrate.

I closed the magazine and nearly threw it back into the rack in the store, walking out and feeling like I had completely hit rock bottom. Was this how it is going to be? How long was I going to feel dead inside before I could finally pick up every piece of me and walk away with my head held high?


Today is Jeffrey's birthday, I was sitting on my bed with my phone in my hands, my thumb lingering over the send button. I wanted to wish him a happy birthday but I also didn't want to talk to him. I was being extremely stubborn with this but eventually, I clicked the send button. I sent him birthday wishes and tossed my phone aside.

I couldn't even bring myself to visit home or his company here in Katagum. I needed to socialize otherwise I knew I would completely lose my mind more than I already had at the point.

I managed to hang out with Rose and Angelie before they left Katagum. Angelie is going to the UK in months time and Rose will also be leaving as well. As much as I wanted to be happy for Rose and her engagement, I still felt a sting of hurt because Jeffrey and I could have possibly had the same happy ending if only the public hadn't ruined it for us.

"I still want you to come to my wedding." Rose said to me as we waited for our sushi.

"I think we will be getting married next spring. It gives us time to finalize everything and make sure the venue is booked and there won't be any conflicts."

Rose kept visiting me to cheer me up a bit and today we were at the favorite sushi restaurant.

"Hopefully, you can get it booked during my spring break. Then I won't have to worry about traveling if I have an entire week off."

"We will make it work for you, okay? There is no chance in hell that I am getting married without my best friends with me." She assured me.

I nodded as the waiter brought our lunch and I immediately took a bite of my food.

"That reminds me, I would like you to be the Maid of Honor t in my wedding."

"What?" I gasped.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes of course," she said as if it were obvious.

"I know I haven't known you for that long, Jessica but we have gotten along so well and we have so much in common. I want you to stand with me on my big day."

"Yes, a thousand times yes." I grinned, this is probably the most exciting thing to happen to me since I left Jeffrey.

After lunch, we went back to her house and hung out before I had to go back to campus. It felt wired, being around her when we only met because of Jeffrey and now that he isn't in my life, I felt like the bridge was missing.

"Something on your mind, Jessica?" She asked as she sat down on the couch next to me and I shrugged.

"It has always been Jeffrey." I said softly, she took my hand in hers, looking at me apologetically.

"I am sorry, Jessica. I am really sorry, I honestly thought that the press would leave it alone. I didn't realize it would get so out of hand."

"It is fine." I mumbled.

"The press is stupid, I was already rooting for the both of you." I smiled only the slightest, looking down at my wrist and seeing the ink of my tattoo poking out from underneath my sleeve.

"You are not wearing the necklace anymore?" She noticed, I shook my head, rolling my lips between my teeth.

"I…um…I left it on his pillow before leaving." I said quietly.

I am missing Jeffrey but I knew I needed to stay away so that he business and career will not get ruined.