I lead us to the front of the house and then turn around to face Jack. "Okay. What's going on with you?"
"What do you mean?" he rudely asks, covering his bottom lip with his top one like he knows exactly what I'm talking about.
"C'mon, Jack. Something's wrong. Was it dinner? Did something happen?"
"No."
"Jack," I huff, clutching onto my waist, "I'm trying here."
"Well maybe you should try a little harder."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that...as I was having the worst night of my life, you're off at the movies with another guy. A guy who fucking fantasizes about you on a daily basis," he says, his voice raised.
"What? Why was it the worst night of your life?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It does matter," I say, walking up to him and holding onto his hands. But he pulls them away. I shut my eyes and then open them. "Jack, I'm sorry that I brought Henry here. I shouldn't have done that."
"You know what?" he chews on his lip, chuckling. "It doesn't even matter anymore. Because my dad was right. This entire thing is a big mistake."
"What are you talking about?"
"You and me," he gestures between us. "This. Whatever this stupid connection was. It's over. I'm done."
I swallow hard, on the verge of tears, and then I walk up to him, holding his hands in mine. "Jack, I know that something's bothering you. Why can't you just let me in?"
He sniffles his nose, looking away from me, and then I feel his body move away from mine.
"I don't want to."
"You don't want to or your dad doesn't want you to?" He doesn't respond, which actually answers my question. "Why are you so afraid to live your life on your own terms?"
"You know nothing about my life, Anastasia."
"I'm trying to. But you won't let me."
"Because someone like you could never understand."
"Someone like me? Are we seriously back to that? Geez, Jack, if you're so hung up on the fact that we're from two different worlds then why even be with me?"
"You're right," he says, his voice cracking. He can't look at me. "I don't know why we're together."
I shake my head in disbelief. "I guess I don't know either," I say in a low tone.
He nods his head sarcastically, his hands on his hips, and looks down at the floor before bringing his head back up. "Great, so we agree? We're over."
"If that's what you want," I state matter-of-factly, but I see him hesitate.
"That's what I want," he finally says, but with no assurance in his tone. "We're over."
"Great," I lie. "We're over."
I give Jack one more look before walking away. I feel the tension between us as I move past him, and I can't believe that I actually expect him to stop me from leaving; to realize that breaking up is a mistake and that he doesn't mean what he just said to me. I sure as hell didn't mean it.
But he doesn't, and when I make my way back to the pool area, Molly runs over to me.
"You okay?" she asks, rubbing my arm.
"Let's just get out of here," I whisper.
Henry walks over to us and puts his hand on my shoulder. "You good?"
At the same time that he does, Jack walks our way, his eyes going straight to Henry's hand.
"You know, it's getting pretty fucking pathetic, Astor. Always pining over things that aren't yours," Jack calls out.
"Stassie's not anyone's, Jack. And it sure as hell doesn't look like she's yours right now. So good job on fucking that one up."
"I know you're fucking thrilled about that, aren't you? Gives you more of a chance now to swoop in and take someone who doesn't want to be yours." Jack takes steps in Henry's direction before coming to a full stop in front of him. "Can't you see, Astor? She doesn't want you. She's never going to want you."
"Like you're better for her?"
"Guys, c'mon, stop it," I try to intervene, but they keep going.
"Someone like you is only going to steer her onto the wrong path. Stassie's a good person with a lot going for her, Jack. Don't ruin that."
"You son of a bitch," Jack says, charging at Henry, but his friends are quick to race over and grab him.
"Exactly my point," Henry mutters.
"Get him out of here," Jack shouts over Rafe and Johnny's shoulders.
"You don't have to. We're leaving. 'C'mon, Mol," he says to her as I just stand there.
I'm staring at Jack. Trying to make sense of this entire night. How did we get here? How did things turn so suddenly?
"Stassie," Henry softly calls out, "you coming?"
I give Jack one more look before saying, "Yeah. I'm coming."
***
As if the weekend didn't take enough of a toll on my mental well-being, I'm currently sitting at a table in the library with Jordana, working on our extra credit assignment, which requires us to answer 5 questions related to one of the books we had to read this semester.
"That answer is stupid," Jordana says. "That's not a theme in The Great Gatsby."
I huff, my patience wearing thin. "According to you, all my answers have been stupid so far."
"They have. Hey don't blame me, it's not my fault. I'm just telling you the truth. You're saying that we can't repeat the past, but even Jay Gatsby himself says you can."
"If Jay Gatbsy was able to repeat the past then why didn't he and Daisy end up together?"
"Because that psycho gas-station owner guy killed him."
I rub my temples. This is too much. "Why do I get the feeling that we're not talking about Jay Gatsby and Daisy..."
"Excuse me?"
"If you have something to say to me, you can say it."
"You know, I would if I did. But my words are precious, and I'm not going to waste them on someone like you."
"This is clearly about Jack, and he and I aren't together. So...have at him."
"Please. Like you two ever were. And what makes you think I need your permission? Unlike you two, Jack and I have history."
"Right. Which is in the past..."
"So? It still happened. It can still happen. I'm not going to throw away what can be between me and Jack just because he suddenly decided to forget who he is and go for a loser like you."
"You know what?" I say, standing up and packing my things. "I'm leaving."
"If you leave, we both don't get the extra credit."
"Well then, it's a good thing my GPA is right where I need it to be. Where yours is is your problem."