Chapter 3
After Jane fled Schloss Morgendorffer, she knew she had to stay to her word.
She rang the doorbell, waiting awkwardly as she adjusted her black shorts that she wore over her black leggings. Finally, she heard footsteps coming. Well, she wouldn't know if he had any siblings or a dozen more mini-Tom's in the making because he didn't even show her to his family, like he was ashamed that his girlfriend was... Jane Lane.
"Oh. Hi!" Tom greeted, with a smile.
"Um, hey." Jane sighed. "Tom, we need to talk."
"Sure. You wanna come in? Elsie and my parents are out for the night."
Jane raised an eyebrow.
Ah, his sister and his parents.
"Let's stay out here. It'll be quicker that way."
He gave her a concerned look, dreading whatever it was she was going to say. Because it seemed bad based off her stern expression.
Tom closes the door and takes a step into the heavy, awkwardness that briefly hung into the air of the spring evening.
"Is this about the hair thing?" he paused. "Your hair looks nice."
"Thanks. I dyed it back. I think I've finally decided between the lady or the tiger. It's the former for me." she quickly runs a hand through her newly dyed hair.
The brunette let out a chuckle.
"Did Daria tell you I called?"
"No, but interesting you'd bring her up." Jane crossed her arms.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Look, um, I've been doing some thinking... about us."
"Me too."
"You were a good boyfriend and you're still a nice guy, perhaps a bit egoistical..."
And awfully smug.
Tom looked away as she spoke.
"You're breaking up with me?" he asks. "Well, that's one way to do a send-off."
---
They now sit on a old wooden swing set in the backyard.
"So that's it? We're breaking up?"
"I don't know Tom, looks that way." Jane shrugged.
"Is there..." he paused again. "... someone else?"
"Why? Have you found someone else?"
"What? No! I'm just saying that's probably why you're breaking up with me anyway. You know, usually it's the other way around."
"Guess not." Jane slumped, but the sharpness in her tone returned. "Now you think you got a chance with Daria?"
"No, I'd never do that."
"Let's be honest. We were about to break up anyway." Jane gave him a sad look.
"Yeah."
After a pause, Jane spoke up.
"Um, maybe there is somebody else..."
"Who?"
"You know her pretty well."
"Daria?" he perks up.
"Yeah." Jane narrows her eyes at the perkiness. "You like her, don't you?"
"I..." Tom cut himself off, flustered.
"Come on, Tom. You wasted maybe an hour in Penny's room talking to Daria about The Prince."
"Jane, you know I wouldn't—" Tom nervously ran a hand through his hair.
"Do I, Tom? Do I? Maybe you and Daria made out behind my back."
"Jane." he tented his eyebrows.
Jane looked down at the grass that brushed against her boots softly.
"I really like you, Jane. You're smart and you're funny, you have a great attitude... you do everything on your own terms. You're, like, from a cooler world." Tom tilted his head and smiled at her.
"I am, aren't I?"
She didn't look up.
"You really are."
"Too bad you're such a dork."
"I know."
"I have one more thing to say."
"Yeah?"
"I kissed Daria."
"What?" Tom looked both nervous and upset at this.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
"How can you not mean to?" he raised his voice.
"I mean if you kissed her, it would be different, right, Tom?" Jane rose to her feet. "I'm gonna head out now. See ya, Tom."
"Hey, you can't just—" Tom sighed. "It'll probably be better this way anyway."
Jane nodded.
"Friends?"
"I don't know. We'll see."
I always knew she was too good for me.
Tom thought as he sadly watched her walk away.
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