CATHERINE MCMILLAN

-------------------------------------

"Dylan?"

The image faded away as the rain had finally stop. I was soaking wet and my body was shivering.

"Jacob?", I asked.

"Geez. You should thank me for this. If I hadn't followed you, who knows what would happen.", he replied. Disappointed, I frowned and looked down.

"Why did you follow me?", I asked.

"Well, the minute you left, it started to rain. I got worried and took and early out too.", he replied. I sighed. Too bad. It was only my imagination.

"I'll take you home. I'll go get my car.", he said as he ran in to the rain and disappeared. I didn't want to go home yet. I just wanted to pass the time here. Later, Jacob arrived and he parked his car in front of the bus stop. He came out bringing an umbrella.

"Let's go?", he asked. I couldn't turn down his offer so I nodded and we both went in the car. The whole ride was silent. I didn't want to talk and I'm sure Jacob knows that. Minutes later, I dozed off.

---------------------------------------

JACOB MADISON

---------------------------------------

I carried her to her room. She dozed off while we were on our way here. I opened the door, closed and locked it. I went in her room and gently placed her on her soft bed. I touched her forehead and damn she was hot. I went to her dresser and took out her thermometer. It was a digital one. I placed it on her underarm and waited for one minute. After, I took it out and checked. It was 38°C. I made my way to the kitchen and prepared water and medicine. Then I heard someone cough and I went in Catherine's room. She was already awake. I sat beside her and handed the medicine and glass of water to her.

"Take it. You have a bit of fever going on there.", I told her. She took it and drank the water. She placed the glass on the table beside her bed.

"Thank you Jacob.", she said.

"You're welcome Catherine.", I replied. She raised both her arms in parallel with each other and looked at me.

"Hug me.", she said. I smiled at her and I hugged her.

"Are you okay?", I asked. I suddenly felt Catherine tighting her hug.

"I miss my friend.", she replied.

"You miss Dylan that much?", I asked. Catherine buried her head on my chest and nodded.

"Why? He's just a friend.", I said.

"He's my best friend!", she replied. I startled and I got pissed off.

"What's so special about him anyway? You already have a boyfriend too. Just what am I to you Catherine?", I asked. I was really confused now. I didn't know what my relationship was with Catherine anymore. Catherine pulled away but she was still holding onto my sleeves. She looked at me with sad eyes.

"You're my friend Jacob. You're someone I can lean onto at times like this.", she replied.

"So I'm just a rebound?", I painly asked. So I'm just some old pin cushion openly ready to be pinned with someone's pain? Am I that insignificant to her? Isn't that unfair? I'm not some rebound!

"No. You're not a rebound.", she replied.

"So you only need me when you are in pain? How about when you're happy? Don't you need me at times like that?", I asked. I love Catherine so much that I couldn't understand  why she thinks of me so insignificantly. She raised her left hand and cupped my cheek. I stared at her and she stared back at me. She closed her eyes and I went near her. Then we finally kissed. This was my very first kiss. Her lips were so soft and she kissed me so gently and I kissed her back so passionately. We both pulled apart. This is it. I will tell her how much I love her.

"Catherine, I have something to tell you."

"What is it Jacob?", she asked. I took her hand and we both looked.at each other.

"I love you Catherine.", I said. Finally, after how many years, I have finally told her how I felt.

"You do?", she asked.

"I do. It started when we were still kids. Up until now, these feelings won't fade. I don't care if you have a boyfriend now. I just want you to know how I felt for you. I don't need an answer anymore. You love someone else. I know I'm selfish, confessing to you and kissing you. I hope you'll be happy with your boyfriend and I hope you'll see Dylan again. I want you to be happy Catherine. That means, I'll not be selfish anymore and I'll be here to support you. I love you so much Catherine.", I told her. I hugged her and continued,

"I love you so much that it really hurts. That's why, I'll let you go. I'll move on and start a new life. I'm sorry I wasn't there went you had fever. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend a lot of time with you. From now on, I love you not as someone special. But I'll love you as my friend, the friend that I had met when I was a child. Atleast now, I finally had the courage to tell you how much I love you.", I said. I'll let her go. These feelings are worthless but I'm happy to have loved this girl. I won't regret that I have loved her by a long shot.

"Thank you Jacob. I love you too.", she replied. She hugged me and I hugged her back. The rain continued to pour again. It was dark and silent. This dreadful silence that by each minute made me realize that I had fallen in love with the wrong girl. Yes, she did say it but it was a friendly I love you. It was the reason why I had to let her go. It was the meaning behind her I love you.

---------------------------------

aww :'( Poor Jacob. What will happen to Catherine amd Jacob's friendship now? Find out on the next Chapter of Umbrella! :)

Hey guys! Was it really right for Jacob to let Catherine go? Let me know your thoughts on the comments! :)

-SophiaMission