Justin's Jacket

“Why did you have to drag me out here?” I complained. “I was just fine sleeping.”

“Wait for it,” Justin said. 

I turned away from him and wrapped my coat closer around me.

Noticing that I was cold, Justin gave me his jacket. The one that I got him when we were an item for three months. I looked back toward the lake as the sun began to rise. 

“Oh, wow.” 

“Told you it would be beautiful. Just like you.” 

I felt my face flush. “Stop it,” I said, swatting his arm playfully. 

“I mean it,” said Justin. 

I sighed. The sky looked so beautiful with the pinks, blues, yellows, and reds. The lake reflected the image of the sky. 

“So,” began Justin. “I think we should head to your house before your mother finds out that you’re gone.”

I sighed again. “Yeah.”

Justin offered me his hand, then held the car door open for me. 

“You don’t have to do that,” I said.

“Amber, I have to.” 

Justin drove me almost to my house. Almost because I would be sneaking in through my window. It was only when I got inside that I realized I still had Justin’s jacket. 

. . .

After hitting the snooze for the third time, I finally dragged myself out of bed. I put on my favorite pair of jeans and a light pink sweater that I got for Christmas last year. I carefully folded up the jacket and put it into my backpack. 

“Amber! Justin’s here,” my mother called. 

I ran out of my bedroom, still looking for my other boot. Was it possible that I saw the sunrise this morning? 

I slid into the car and noticed that something was wrong with Justin. He wasn’t looking at me and he didn’t mention this morning. I put it out of my mind. It was just that US History test that was today. Yes, that was it. 

Justin pulled up in front of Harbor View School and dropped me off. 

“Bye!” I said to Justin. “See you later?”

“Yeah. Later.” 

. . .

Where is he? I wondered as I left my calculus class. Justin was supposed to pick me up for lunch today at Olive Garden. 

“Move it,” a junior snaps. 

I moved to the other end of the hall. He was supposed to meet me. Maybe he’s talking to the teacher. 

Yeah, right.

I see Russel Ward, Justin’s best friend, walk past. 

“Russel! Where’s Justin?” 

“You’re boyfriend’s at the food court,” he said. “You goin’ on a date?” 

“Possibly, if I can find him.” I craned my neck to look over the crowd going to lunch. I pulled out my phone to shoot him a quick text. Where r u? 

He doesn’t respond. 

“I’ll take ya, my lovely lady,” Russel said. 

“Nope,” I respond. “Thanks for the offer, but my very handsome date hasn’t shown up yet.”

“C’mon,” he says. “Justin will be at the Place of Rotting Garbage.”

“Funny,” I mutter. Russel has a name for everything. 

“I must stop and the Box of Metal Storage,” he announces. 

He leaves to go to his locker and I begin to go with the surge of people heading to lunch. This doesn’t make sense why Justin wouldn’t be here. He always is on time. It’s one of the things that I love about him. 

I walk into the food court and I don’t see Justin. The jacket in my backpack now seems like a weight, guiding me out the door and to the top of the hill. The Kissing Tree. 

It’s a large willow and the branches drape the couple sheltered in its branches. It was our spot. Where we had our first kiss and when we became ‘Jamber.’ If you look closely into the branch that’s at eye level, you can see messages. 

I see two pairs of legs under the branches. One of them is wearing jeans and red high-tops. The other one has pink sandals and a pink sundress. 

I carefully step up to the willow and brush aside the curtain of leaves. 

I stop dead in my tracks. 

Because Justin is kissing another girl. 

How did I not see this coming? I thought. 

I stare gaping at them until they break away. 

Justin stares at me.

I stare at him. 

The girl stares at Justin, then at me.

“Erin,” Justin says. “Can you go?”

“No,” says Erin. “I’m staying here.” Erin Fletcher was a sassy cheerleader who dated all the cute boys. Maybe more than three for one week. 

“Amber,” Justin begins. 

“Save it,” I snap. How can he know what I’m feeling? I throw the jacket on the ground at his feet. “I don’t want it,” I said. “Or any memory of you.”

Erin dragged Justin away from me and they walked hand-in-hand down the hill. 

I walk, partly in a trance, to the Message Branch. 

I see the message that Justin carved with his car keys nine months ago. Our ten-month anniversary was in five days. How could he do this to me?

Seething with rage, I stalk down the hill. My phone buzzes and I see a string of texts. 

Amber?

Please pick up.

Where r u?

Amber!

I’m sorry.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

You weren’t supposed to know.

Please, talk to me.

Or meet me at the lake.

Please? 

Tonight. 

Amber?

As if I wouldn’t notice if my boyfriend is cheating on me. The realization hits me and I run to the bathroom. The broken one, on the second floor. That nobody uses.

The tears come raining down my face, ruining the makeup that I so carefully did for our date. I sob, my breath coming in ragged gasps. 

“Why?” I asked aloud. “Why, Justin? I loved you. But you didn’t love me.”

. . . 

I walk down toward the lake. Our spot. Where this morning we saw the sunrise, our troubles left. I remember his voice. Beautiful. Just like you.

What a liar.

I see Justin sitting at the edge of the pier, his Dwayne Johnson leather jacket folded upon his lap. 

I have to. 

Is that why he was so nice this morning? Because he didn’t want me to know?

I storm down the rest of the path. If this was a comic book, there would be thunder and lighting surrounding me. But it’s not. It’s real life. 

“Why, Justin?” I scream when I get to him. My voice shatters the calm night and birds take off into the air. 

“Amber, I’m sor-”

“I don’t care about your apologies!” I sit on the edge of the pier next to him. 

“Then, this is goodbye.” I can tell he doesn’t want to admit it.

He leans in and kisses me. A light goodbye one. I bite my lip, tasting blood mixed with the salt of my tears. Justin stands up and leaves. I hear his car rumble to life. Then nothing.

He left his jacket, I realize. The one I got him as our three-month anniversary present. 

I look out onto the lake, the night silent. 

I look out and see sadness.

Loneliness. 

My face in the water, reflected by the moon.