Jane was determined not to cry, no matter how much she wanted to. She already felt awful. But to stand there and wait to hear what Dirk had to say was terrifying.
"I don't-" She started to say, but then Dirk continued, and she couldn't interrupt him even if she wanted to. Every single word cut to her core, and every cut stung worse than the pressure of her feelings had hurt. The bitterness, the sarcasm - but nothing hurt more than his final accusation because it wasn't true. Jane wasn't an option when it came to Jake - she wasn't even the smallest factor. She never stood a chance against Dirk when it came to this sort of thing.
Even if she did still care for Jake, even if she ever got the chance to be with him, there was part of her that knew it wouldn't be worth it. Not if he was just as much of an idiot, and especially not if it ruined her friendships. Although, on that front, it seemed that Jane was doing fine all by herself.
She took a deep breath, but it shook, and she tried to be still and composed with all she had. "That's not...no," Jane said, "No, I didn't mean it like that." Her legs wobbled, and she wished she had decided to stay on the floor instead of pretend to be strong. "I don't hate you - I never said anything because I knew you would be upset!!" Her voice cracked on the last word, and she felt hot tears in her eyes, but she wiped at them quickly and set her mouth in a firm line. There would be no crying from her.
I think you win the award for most heart-wrenching tag in the post
"I don't-" She started to say, but then Dirk continued, and she couldn't interrupt him even if she wanted to. Every single word cut to her core, and every cut stung worse than the pressure of her feelings had hurt. The bitterness, the sarcasm - but nothing hurt more than his final accusation because it wasn't true. Jane wasn't an option when it came to Jake - she wasn't even the smallest factor. She never stood a chance against Dirk when it came to this sort of thing.
Even if she did still care for Jake, even if she ever got the chance to be with him, there was part of her that knew it wouldn't be worth it. Not if he was just as much of an idiot, and especially not if it ruined her friendships. Although, on that front, it seemed that Jane was doing fine all by herself.
She took a deep breath, but it shook, and she tried to be still and composed with all she had. "That's not...no," Jane said, "No, I didn't mean it like that." Her legs wobbled, and she wished she had decided to stay on the floor instead of pretend to be strong. "I don't hate you - I never said anything because I knew you would be upset!!" Her voice cracked on the last word, and she felt hot tears in her eyes, but she wiped at them quickly and set her mouth in a firm line. There would be no crying from her.