Friday, November 25, 2011

Part 2 - The End of The World As We Know It. (Jack & Jillian)

Life. Is Good.

Those were the only words on Jack's mind since that day outside of the video store, the day that changed his life. "Jillian and I are dating!" He says to Warren. Jack and Warren were hanging out at Jack's place. He couldn't wait to tell Warren the news. "You're...dating? as in, DATING? Like, boyfriend/girlfriend?" Warren questioned. "YES. She kissed me and everything! it was like, something out of the movies, like, true romance, or something." Jack explained. "Wasn't True Romance about gangs and shit?" Warren said. "No no, i wasn't talking about the movie True Romance, i was talking about real romance." Jack said. "Real Romance? Is that movie any good?" Warren said. "You're a retard." says Jack.

Jillian knocks on Jack's door. "Hi Jack!" She jumps on him and gives him a welcoming kiss. "Wow, hey Jillian. Man, you look so beautiful today." Jack says to his girlfriend. That's right. Girlfriend. "Jack, you are the sweetest." Jillian says, smiling. Jack and Jillian have now been dating for a month, but it doesn't seem like a month, it almost seems like it was a minute ago that the two shared a moonlit kiss after both getting physically assaulted by Martin. "Happy one month anniversary!" Jillian says to Jack. "Same to you! It sure has been an amazing month...but can you really call it an anniversary? I mean, anniversary means one year right? It's been one month, it's not an anniversary." Jack explains. "Oh, shut up, Jack. Anniversary or not, I'm still happier than I've ever been. Nobody has ever made me as happy as you do, and i hope that i will never have to deal with the Martins of the world again." Jillian says to Jack, while smiling. Jack swears her smile can light up a room, almost every time she smiles he sees a white light reminiscent of an angel, and every time she speaks it's like every other noise just doesn't exist anymore, like she is the only person alive and her voice is the only sound that can be heard. Jack knew he was in love with this girl, and he never wanted to lose her.

"Jack! Jack!" Mike yells. "JACK!". "WHAT! I AM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!" Jack exclaims. "Oh. Yeah. Right." Mike says. "I just saw Jillian hanging out with Brandon." Mike says. "Uh, yeah, and? They're friends. So what?" Jack answers. Mike stares at Jack like a deer about to get slammed by a Hummer. Jack almost sees Mike as a deer in that very moment. "Yeah, but you don't understand, Brandon is the biggest player in town, he will woo her with his good looks and flat brim hat, fuck her brains out, and leave her instantly. Jillian is going to leave you for Brandon, dude!" Mike says. "Okay, i doubt a HAT has any power over ANYONE much less a girl's vagina. Plus..." Just then, Jack sees an empty flat brim hat across the street walking a girl into a house. "Uh. Did you just see that?" Jack asks Mike. "See what?" Mike answers. "Never mind...my point is, a hat has no power over a woman, and besides, Jillian loves me, she loves me for WHO I AM, she's not going to leave me, you're an idiot."

Just then, Jillian texts Jack.

Transcript of their text message:

Jillian: Jack, we need to talk.
Jack: Okay...want to meet me somewhere?
Jillian: No, that's okay, i can't say this in person, it will hurt too much. Jack, i am leaving you. I just...i can't do this anymore, i thought i was ready but I'm not, i can't be in another relationship right now, not after Martin. I hope you understand.
Jack: Wait...it's been a month, why are you deciding this now? What's going on?
Jillian: I know it's been a month, it's our anniversary, remember? Turns out a month was the right amount of time i needed to realize that i just need to be alone right now.
Jack: It's not an anniversary. This doesn't make any sense, are you sure there's no other reason?
Jillian: I'm sure of it. I'm sorry Jack, i still love you.
Jack: Don't do this...please?
Jillian: I'm sorry...
Jack: but it's our anniversary!

That was it. Gone. Forgotten. Just like that. Jack could not believe how something so beautiful could end so quickly. How something that meant so much to him could just wither and die right before his eyes and he couldn't do anything to stop it. It was nature, the circle of life. Things are born, and things die, and that's exactly what happened to Jack and Jillian. Much like a human life being destroyed. Jack certainly felt destroyed. What was he supposed to do? He's never felt this empty before.

Jack stared at the ceiling again. Much like he did after their last conversation before they started dating. Only this time, he wasn't thinking about the fact that he felt so stupid after flipping out at Jillian, this time he was wondering what it really was that he did wrong. What was the real reason for her breaking up with him? "She just ended it..no warning...no real explanation, at least none that made sense to me." He sighs to himself. "Maybe...shit...maybe Mike was right? No, it couldn't be, she's not that type of girl. No way." Jack hears his phone go off, it's a text message. "Jillian?" He jumps out of bed, and picks up his phone. "Oh, it's just a Postbook notification. I wonder who it is."

Jillian is now in a relationship with Brandon.


"WHAT!"


Suddenly, Jack sees red. Literally. His entire room turns red, his eyes feel like they're bleeding with rage, he touches his face, he feels blood. Suddenly it's gone, "Is this real?" He says to himself. Jack imagines that he is beating Brandon's face in with a hammer. He thinks about the satisfaction it would give him. It's not right, he knows it's not a thought he should be having but his brain isn't thinking logically right now. Jillian, it's Jillian's fault. It's not Brandon at all. Jillian. She did this, she hurt me. Jack witnesses his heart fall out onto the floor and shatter into a million peaces. Leaving a stain. He gets down on his knees. "Jillian, what the fuck. Why?" He's talking to himself, is he going insane? He looks up at the ceiling. Jack sees the pale moonlight from the night they kissed for the very first time. So vivid, so powerful. He sees Jillian's green eyes. They turn red, then black. Jack sees Jillian's face turn into Satan himself. She is evil, she is the Anti-Christ. Why? Why would she do this? Jack falls from his knees onto the floor in a slump. He rolls onto his back. It feels like the night he got knocked out, it feels like their first amazing endeavor. He remembers a time at the mall where she made him hold all of her bags. "What a bitch." He remembers a time when she slept at his house, she took up the entire bed. "Greedy whore." All these little things he thought were cute at the time, now enraged him. He wanted to kill someone. He wanted to die.

Jack, you're going insane.

Jack.

Jack.

JACK.

"WHAT! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Jack screams. "Dude...you okay?" says Mike. He was outside, in front of his house. "How...how did i get here?" Jack says. "You...walked down the stairs and opened your door and came outside...duh" Warren said. "No...no i was just...i was in my room...i...good lord." Jack says, breathing heavily as if he had just ran a mile. He has barely moved. "Okay man, this chick fucked you up, you can't let her get to you like this, it's INSANE. You sound like a mad man." Mike says to Jack. Mike was always the logical thinker and seemed to hold their group together. He was always there when someone was freaking out. "You need to move on and forget about her, dude." Mike says. "I just can't do that man, I've waited so long for her, hell, i turned down OTHER women for her, and you know how often i get women. Not very often." Jack explained. "I need her in my life, and she doesn't even want to talk to me. I can't believe you were right man, i just can't believe it" Jack continues. Mike stares at Jack for a moment "Alright. You want her back, i understand, man. I really do. As far as i see it, you have two choices, you either forget about her, or you win her back." Jack's eyes light up. "Yes. Win her back. I won her the first time, somehow! I'm sure i can think up something to win her back. Thanks man, you always know what to say!" Jack hugs Mike, and runs inside his house up to his room. Mike remains with Warren outside Jack's house. "Did he just...hug me?" He says, uncomfortably. Warren starts laughing.

Jack paces in his room, he needs to think of something, something very romantic, very special, something that will make Jillian remember how much she loves him. "Come on, Jack, THINK! I know you got it in you!" He says to himself. He wants to make her feel like she's in a movie, you know, one of those cheesy romantic comedies that always end happily. Girls love them. Suddenly, an idea pops into his head. "I GOT IT! She will love it, I'll have her falling for me all over again! Like a bad 80's song! She'll be all like I. I JUST DIED IN YOUR ARMS TONIGHT. MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING YOU SAID. YEAH! Just like that!" Jack begins working on his plan to win back Jillian. He knows that if this doesn't work, he might just lose the only girl worth all of this. The only girl worth giving his entire world for. Jillian.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Jack & Jillian. - AThree Part Short Story.

Part 1 - Love At First Fight.

This is Jack. Jack is an average boy, 23 years old, he's slightly chubby, short brown hair, wears glasses, and isn't very appealing to women. He's pretty much the definition of the modern nerd. Jack likes Jillian. Jillian doesn't know. Jack and Jillian have been best friends for years, and Jack has watched her go from asshole boyfriend, to asshole boyfriend over and over again, starting in 9th grade, and continuing well into their 20's. You'd think, both Jack and Jillian being 23, that she would have grown out of the asshole boyfriend phase years ago, but she hasn't. This is a story about trying so hard but never reaching the goal, this is Jack's story.

Jack gets home from work late one night, he goes on his computer, hoping to talk to Jillian. "the Internet is so boring, nothing but shit I've seen too much, and people bitching about how much their life sucks" he mutters to himself. Jillian comes online, Jack gets excited and decides to instant message her.

Postbook Chat Transcript:

Jack: hey Jillian.
Jillian: JACK! oh my god! i am so glad you're on, i need to talk to you.
Jack: what's up?
Jillian: It's Martin...he's acting weird. He barely calls me, and yesterday we got in a huge fight.
Jack: oh my, what about?
Jillian: well, he doesn't want me talking to any other guys, which is why i haven't texted you very often lately, and he caught me talking to this guy i work with, he FLIPPED, started calling me names and everything. I didn't know what to do, i just cried my eyes out and apologized.
Jack: you know you shouldn't apologize, you didn't do anything wrong. Yeah, i was wondering why you haven't texted me at all, that's bullshit, why are you still with that jerk?
Jillian: Jack...i think I'm gonna go to sleep.
Jack: wait no, I'm sorry, i didn't meant to snap.
Jillian: goodnight.

Jack sighs heavily. "What the fuck." he mumbles as he continues to surf the web, eyes getting heavy. "I guess I'll just go to sleep" he says to himself. Jack lays down on his back, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the conversation he just had with Jillian.

Jack's thoughts: What do i do? I just want to help her. Yeah i know i like her more than a friend and wish i was her boyfriend, so what? Doesn't mean i can't look out for her well being, i mean that's what a good boyfriend should do, right? She knows I'm right, I've been telling her for years, that's why she always avoids confrontation about this now. Has to be it. You know what? Maybe she's just on her period. Stupid periods. I wonder what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow...

Jack drifts off into a deep sleep after about an hour of thinking.

Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep

"OH MY GOD!" Jack awakens, startled by his alarm clock. He looks around, dazed, sighs to himself "I hate mornings". He gets ready to go to work at the local video rental store down the street and wonders why it's even still open, the format is obsolete, and with the Internet at it's peak, nobody rents videos anymore, so the place is always dead. Even with those thoughts in mind, he gets on his bike to ride down town to work. The ride there is sort of somber, his iPod is dead to he has no music to listen to. Everything just seems really quiet and weird to him, trees seem taller than usual, the ground seems to be moving with him. Jack stops in front of the video store, he looks up at the sky, "Wow, the clouds seem very creative today" he says as he noticed the oddly shaped clouds and weird yellow sky. "Must be an early sunset (10:00 AM)" he says jokingly. The day seems to drag on forever, with once again, no customers, and the TV playing nothing but Dr. Phil all day. Jack hears the door open "Customers?" he says out loud. Turns out to be Jack's best friends, Mike and Warren. "Hey fucker!" Mike exclaims, "Any new rentals in?". "Oh come on, Mike, you know we never have anything new, haha, how's it going?" Jack says. "Oh, alright, i heard you were talking to Jillian last night and it didn't go well, what the hell, man?" Mike says. Jack, staring blankly at Mike, says "How could you possibly know that?" "Well, i just started dating her best friend, Courtney. She told us all about it. Apparently Martin wants to kill you now or some shit" Warren speaks up and says. "KILL ME?! BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! Goddamn." Jack yells. "Look we gotta go, but hey, hopefully he doesn't see you in here" says Mike. "Nobody comes in here, so no worries there." Jack says.

Jack opens the door to his work, finds himself overwhelmed with apathy. He locks up, 9:00 PM, closing time for the video store. He doesn't know how much longer he can take these work shifts. "They need to hire some new people" He says out loud. Suddenly Jack hears a commotion from around the corner, it sounds like a girl yelling. "I AM SO TIRED OF THIS!" Unknown Female exclaims. "EVERY SINGLE DAY, YOU ACCUSE ME OF SOMETHING, WELL NOT ANYMORE!" She yells. Jack hears running, around the corner turns Jillian, and not far behind her, is her abusive boyfriend, Martin. Jillian stops dead when she sees Jack "Jack? what are you.." Her sentence is cut off by Martin, who pulls her hair. "LISTEN BITCH, DON'T YOU EVER TALK TO ME THAT WAY AGAIN! I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!" Martin says, as he looks up and sees Jack. "Well well well, if it isn't the best friend." He says to Jack. Jack looks behind him, hoping to see someone else, and then turns his attention to Martin, who is holding the girl he loves by her hair. "Uh, me?" Jack questions. "Yeah you! Who else, retard?" Martin says. "Martin! Don't you dare go near him!" Jillian says. Martin slaps Jillian and throws her to the ground, he was tall, tan, blonde hair, and he was wearing jeans, and a sports t-shirt. He had a fit body, and a pretty boy face, everything a common girl would want in a man's looks. He turns his attention to Jack "Now it's your turn" he says, walking towards Jack. "No, um, hey, you better not hurt her again." Jack says, his voice shaking, he is shocked and angry at what he just saw, but can't seem to find the right words to scare off Martin. "Oh yeah? What are you gonna do? She'll never leave me, she will do as i say, for the rest of her life." Jack fills up with rage. "I said, YOU BETTER NOT HURT HER AGAIN!" Jack charges at Martin, filled with more rage than he's ever felt before, he clenches his fist, winds up as he's running, when suddenly....

BOOM.

Martin clocks Jack right in the eye, knocking him out almost instantly. "Pussy." Martin says as he walks away, the last thing Jack sees is the dark, blueish night sky...

Jack wakes up slowly, and he sees what he thinks is an angel above him. "Am I dead?" he says. "No, silly, you're fine!" Jillian says through tears. He opens his eyes wide, he sees Jillian staring back at him. She had long flowing black hair, black rimmed glasses, glimmering green eyes which looked more beautiful than a summer sunset, and skin the color of the clouds on a perfect weather kind of day. Her beauty was hard to explain without sounding completely corny, all he knew was that even with tears flowing from her eyes she was still the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. "Hi...Hi Jillian." He says, stuttering. "Hi Jack." She says, sniffling. She gives him a big hug. Jack hugs her back. "I am so sorry for how i acted last night, and i am even more sorry for Martin hitting you" Jillian says. "Oh uh..it's okay, it wasn't your fault, unless you hit me and i didn't know it. Where is Martin anyways?" he says. "Oh he's gone, we broke up, i couldn't let him treat my best friend that way, now could i?" Jillian says. Jack hears the words "best friend" and his heart sinks, he figures he has to say something now or else he will never be able to tell her how he feels. "Listen, Jillian, i don't want to be your best friend anymore..." he says, hesitating. "What? Why?" She says, sounding shocked and sad. "I never wanted to be your best friend, because from the moment i saw you, i knew you were something special, and after years of an amazing friendship, i realize now that i am in love with you, if that makes any sense at all." he says. "I...i don't..." Jillian tries to speak, but Jack interrupts, "Well it makes sense to me, goddammit. I mean, you have always been there for me, and every day when i wake up, i hope and pray and whatever else it is that we humans do when we want something badly, that you will call me, so i can hear your sweet voice, or that you will come visit, even for 5 minutes, so that i can smile all day. Every single day, i need to hear the voice of an angel, and i need to see the most beautiful thing on earth, or else, i feel as though there is no hope for the world, because whether you believe it or not, i feel as though you, Jillian, you make the world turn. At least, you make my world turn" Jillian looks wide eyed at Jack after his speech, she looks down, and begins to cry. "I'm...I'm sorry Jillian" Jack says. "I didn't mean to hurt you with that, i just..." Jillian interrupts Jack by kissing him, better than she's ever kissed anyone before. They kiss in the fluorescent moonlight, stars shining brighter than they've ever shined before, just for Jack and Jillian, until they stop, and Jack says one thing "Jillian...will you consider being my girlfriend?" Jillian smiles at Jack, and says "It's already been considered." Jack smiles, and they walk home together, holding hands, and holding hearts.