Dedicated to @_Deep_thought_ for their wonderful comments and support! Thank you! :)

   CHAPTER 44 - Into pieces

It has been a couple of days since Sage and Aiden broke up. Sage is alright now. She's a strong girl, she can never be affected by such small obstacles in her way. I know I am not as strong as her but I wish I was. She is trying her best to move on from Aiden and she's pretty successful in that.

Weird thing, Zac has been giving her random visits after their break up. I even saw him comforting Sage, though she pushed him away but at least he tried.

Believe me, that guy has some serious issues.

Many other things occcured as well. Like Blair had a fight with Derek over a pity issue and she ran to me. That whole night went by Blair complaining about how stupid Derek is and blah blah blah. Derek came to my house to convince her with a enormous bouquet of exotic flowers with a self composed poem and suprise, suprise, Blair got convinced and went to a date with him right away. 

That girl is too easy to get!

Then, there's Jess. Well, nothing much happened with her. Same life.

But then there' one thing that's really making me worried..

It's Ryan's behaviour.

He has been acting a little different. He's not paying attention to what I say. He's been different. And I guess, this change is from when I told him about Sage's break up. I know he really cares about her but that's not a reason to get all spaced out. It seems like he's always thinking about something. 

Something very important.

"Jade, something wrong?" dad asked, while we all were sitting for our breakfast.

I turned to him and shook my head as a no.

"You look concerned and serious about something. That's something new." he chuckled.

I narrowed my eyes at him. What does it mean that it's something new? I am serious all the time.

Conscience : Hahahahaha! Stop joking Jade. My stomach's hurting because of laughing so hard.

Weirdo!

"Everything's fine." I answered.

"Good morning Bozohead." Sage ruffled my hair and sat on her chair for the breakfast.

"Morning Freak." I greeted, my eyes on my boil and mind on Ryan's behaviour.

"Stop calling each other with such stupid names." dad scolded.

"I like calling her Bozohead." Sage exclaimed, but I was too lost to fight back or give back an awesome comment.

"What's wrong with you Bozo?" Sage asked.

"I am fine. Why does everyone thing something's not fine with me?" I asked, stirring the milk with a spoon.

"Because you didn't fight back. That's something new." she said.

"I just said the same words." dad chirped with happiness. Wow, what a coincidence? Note the sarcasm.

"Hey by the Sage, are you fine now?" dad asked.

"Yupe. Why won't I be?" she answered.

You see, since Sage broke up with Aiden, dad has been a way too sweet and kind with her. He's trying his best not to mention words like boyfriend, love, break up, heartbreak and heart. He even tried to convince Sage to allow him to beat the hell out of Aiden but she stopped him.

"Are you sure that you don't want me to break that bastard, who broke my little angel's heart, legs?" he asked. Ahh, drama queen.

"Yes dad. I told you that almost a million times. He didn't break my heart. Now shut up and eat." she ordered and by my suprise, dad sat down quietly and ate.

-

-

"Hey Ryan." I chirped, walking to Ryan while he was standing near his locker.

He turned his eyes on me and said,"Hey."

He still looked lost. Lost in his Wonderland. I hope it's not given by me. You know how much I space out and in my Wonderland. Almost all the time.

I even tried to ask him the reason but he would say something like,'It's nothing.' or 'I am fine.'

Something is definitely wrong with him these days. But what would have happened? Did he got into a fight? Is he failing? Well, that can't happen, he's really intelligent. 

Oh God..

What if he's really cheating on me? Just like Blair said?

No, no, no. That can't happen. I know he won't do anything like that to me. He's better than that. He won't cheat on me. EVER!

"What's wrong?" I asked, stepping closer to him. 

"Nothing." he forced a smile and kissed my cheek.

Ah, one more thing. I have noticed that he's not even talking to his friends that much. They try to start a conversation but all he replies is by nodding his head or by single words.

"Something is wrong Ryan. You've been acting really different these days." I commented, placing my hand on his fine chest.

"It's nothing Cupcake. It must be because of the exams coming. Nothing else." he answered. 

For a second, I even believed in his excuse but then, I know he won't get too tensed because of his exams. I know it's his senior year but still. That guy is a way to lay back. He don't get worried because his exams are near. It just can't happen.

I nodded and smiled.

He gave me a weak smile and then walked away, leaving me alone in the corridor.

During the luch time, Ryan was absent. He don't attend the luch usually but from a few days, it's like he's just not involved in anything. He's too lost in his thoughts. I want to know what happened. I want to fix him up like before. Only if he let me, which he isn't.

"Hola guys." Blair said and sat on our table.

"Hi." we all said in unison.

"So, I went to a romantic date with Derek yesterday." Blair announced, playing with her blond locks.

"Again?" Jess and I said in unison.

"Why are you two so shocked? Your boyfriends don't take you for dates?" she asked.

"But didn't you went to one day before yesterday?" I asked.

"I did. And this one was better than that one. More romantic, more cuter and more sweeter." Blair admired.

"Hopelessly romantic. Come back to the real world Barbie. Oh look, your Ken's here." Jess joked when we saw Derek coming toward us.

Jess and I laughed while Blair gave us death glances.

"Hey ladies. How are you?" Derek asked.

"Great, you?"

"I am good. Glad to know you guys are fine. But may I ask you two for a favor?" he asked.

Jess and I shared glances and said,"Yeah?"

More like a question.

"May I borrow your beautiful friend over here for a few minutes?" he said, pointing toward Blair.

"Yeah sure."

"Thank you." he said and went outside the cafeteria with Blair.

As the moment they went out, we began to laugh.

How can someone be so formal? 

Of course Derek, also known as, Ken.

-

-

The school was over. The corridors were empty, no sound anywhere. It was even very dark outside and I? I was sitting here in the library, helping my English teacher, Mr. Scott. And guess what? We are searching on some literature by epic author and I found Taming of the Shrew. How ironic. Note the sarcasm.

Ahh, I know, what a nerd, right? But you've to a lot for extra credits.

"Well, it's enough for today. Thanks a lot for helping me Miss Newly." Mr. Scott said.

"No problem sir. You can count on me for any help." I smiled.

Ahh, please don't think that's true mr. scott. I don't like staying here for so long.

We packed up our stuuf and went outside the school's building. It was rreally dark outside. I took a glance at my watch and saw that it was sevn in the evening. It's winter so the Sun goes down too early.

"May I drop you home Miss Newly?" Mr. Scott asked.

"No sir. It's alright. I'll go by myse-" before I could finish my sentence, I saw a Jaquer F type, parked outside the school.

Must be Ryan.

"I'll take care og it." I said.

"Are you sure Jade? It's too dark." he said.

"I'll take her." Ryan's voice called from front.

I looked at him and smiled. He still looked tired because of the over-thinking but sexy as ever.

"Okay then. Good night Jade." Mr. Scott spoke and went to his car.

"Night Mr. Scott." 

"Hey." Ryan whispered.

"Hi." I chirped.

He began walking, indicating me to do the same and I did. I matched his pace and we went to his car. 

The car irde was quite. i tried to ask him random questions but he didn't seem interested. He didn't say much.

We entered my driveway and he parked in front of the door. His eyes were still on the road and hands tight on the steering wheel.

I turned to him, thinking of a way to say goodbye. Should I kiss him? Or just a bye will be alright?

A good night kiss will be fine.

I leaned a little forward when he turned to me and said,"I-I want to tell you something."

Okay, and that's what you call is total embarassment. 

I was leaning in for a kiss? And got an 'I want to tell you something.'

Oh..wait.. What does that mean? Tell me something? Is it serious? Why was he stammering?

"Yeah." I said slowly.

"I'-I can't.." he tried his best to speak but he couldn't.

"You what?" I asked.

He took a long breath and pulled a firm look and said,"I can't do this anymore."

What?

"Do what?" I asked, my voice becoming a little shaky. My heartbeat getting faster. 

Is he going to..No, he can't.

"Us. This ain't working." he said, breaking my heart into piece.

"What?" I stammered, totally shocked by his words.

"I just can't. This won't work Jade. I-I think we shouldn't continue it." he spoke, with my heartbeat getting faster and faster.

Are my ears hearing the same thing he just said? Am I dreaming this? Is this a dream? Is it even the same Ryan?

"But why?" I asked softly.

"Look.." he pused and turned to me and then begin,"I know we were friends when we were kids, we used to paly and all. But now, we're grown up. Everything doesn't stay forever. It's not working."

"You're joking right?" I said and oulled a smile, hoping that he'll say yes and then began to tease me for falling in his trap but he didn't. He shook his head and lowered his eyes.

"But why Ryan? What happened suddenly?" I asked, my eyes began to get wet, my whole body shivering.

"I know I was the one who asked you to become my girfirend but at that time, I thought it was a good idea but now, I don't feel so. I am not getting a good feeling about this. I feel like I've never really loved you. Maybe it was just in the moment or an attraction." 

His words acted like a knife to my heart. Ws he out of his mind? He thought this all as an sudden attraction? How could he?

"I think it was just lust that we mistaken as love." and that was it. Those words made my heart to break into peices, pieces that can't be fixed. Now, I knew that he wasn't joking, he was serious.

"It wasn't lust. It was love" I clenched and jaw and shouted.

"Then I guess it wasn't for me." 

Those three words got into my head like a iron rod, making a painful wound.

"Wha-what?" I stammered, tear dropping from my eyes. I came out of the car and banged the door but waiting for Ryan to come out. He came out and kept staring at me. 

His eyes soften,"I am sorry Jade. I've been thinking about this for a couple of days. And that's why I think.."

And that was when I knew what he'll say next. Those eight words that broke me into million pieces.

"And thats why I am ending this relationship."

**********

Awwwwwwww! :'(((

Why Ryan? Why?

Poor Jade! :'(((

Sorry Rade shippers! :(

Don't get mad at me people, I know what I am doing! :)

QUESTION TIME :

What do you think the reason behind Ryan breaking up with Jade?

Hope you liked it! :)

Don't forget to :

VOTE

COMMENT

AND ENJOY! :))