Between the Lines

He walked along the water's edge, feeling indifferent. The past few times he had met her here he felt only excitement and love. But this time, something had changed. He could see her car pull into the gravel parking lot further down, the headlights switch off as she kills the engine. He slowed his pace and waited for her, pulling his jacket tighter. She scurried over the rocks and down to the path, making her way towards him with determination. They had only ever fought about her friendship with Mark once before, when she had been out all night boozing with him and his friends.

She inched closer, but he turned away from her. "Jake!" She called out to him, as if he didn't know she was there. He cringed at the sound of her voice. Jake stood silently listening to the gravel crunch beneath her feet as she came closer. "Wow, Jake. Look at how beautiful it is." She said, staring across the water at the city line lit up by buildings and street lights as the sun set over the horizon. "Yeah, it's something." Jake responded with a different meaning behind it. "Are you still upset with me about Mark?" She asked, the name lingered in Jake's mind. "Chloe" He tried without a chance. "Look Jake, if you want this to work out, you're going to have to understand that I have friends, and I need my space." Jake turned. "I'd hardly call him a friend."

He walked further down the path, she followed relentlessly. "You're being childish." She pressed. "Chloe, you know damn well I have a right to be." She knew what he was getting at. She and Mark had had a history not to long ago, one she hoped was forgotten. Jake was a good, loving man who had taken care of her when things ended with Mark. He was hard working and did everything he could to support her and himself with his low income job. He couldn't understand, after all he had done... why she would turn to this monster when things became hard for them. "He's not a bad guy Jake, he's turned his life around. He's getting a new job..." "So you're defending him now?!" Jake shouted at her, his voice echoed loudly over the raging rapids. "No, I'm not defending him Jake!"

He shoved his hands into his pockets, the ring he was going to propose to her with that night pulled at his emotions as he fought back tears. "I need to know, did you see him again Chloe?" The sound of the water rushing past them carried the answer he was looking for. "Did you sleep with him Chloe?" He persisted, the wind blowing colder now, swirling around them. She shivered and tried to control her voice. "I..." Was all she could muster out. "I don't get it Chole. What we have is good, isn't it?" He continued walking, she stood frozen in place. "I mean, after all he's done to you. What I've done for you... I love you Chloe." She mutters a silent I'm sorry and begins to weep. Falling to her knees, she begs for forgiveness.

Jake feels the blood rushing to his head. Flashes of light set him off balance and he can't tell if it's cars coming down the road or his imagination. She reaches out to him, crying out I'm sorry and please understand. He fights with himself not to turn to her and tell her to get away from him, to leave and never come back. He peers over his shoulder at her. The sad mess he had once fallen in love with, is now begging for his forgiveness. He finds the courage to face her, now kneeling on the ground in front of her. "Stop it Chloe." He says wiping tears from her eyes.

"I love you so much, please. Please Jake, forgive me." She wraps both arms around him. She smells of perfume and sweat. He reaches into his pocket for the ring. "I promise..." she whispers in his ear, stopping him. "I promise those were the last times."

Times.

The word plays over and over again in his mind. His arms fall dead at his sides, releasing the ring from his clutches, falling lost to the gravel and sand. He feels a rock in his left hand, tempting him to make a move. He grasps it tightly. "Time's Chloe?" He says through clenched teeth. She pulls away confused, eyeliner streaking her face. "I thought you knew?" She asked him. "How many times?" He growled at her, she swallowed hard. But before she could open her mouth, he swung the rock with all his might against her face, ripping open her cheek.

"HOW MANY TIMES CHLOE?!" He screamed in a jealous rage hitting her hard with the rock again. Now standing over her, Jake is exploding with new anger. She crawls the shore line crying out for help, tears mixing into her blood drenched face. "Answer me." He says calmly, watching her helpless on the gravel. She lets out another scream and he brings the rock down hard on her skull. She is silent, motionless. Jake doesn't register what he has done. He drops the rock at his side and kneels down beside her.

"How many times Chole?" He asks silently, tears streaming down his face. Little spots of blood stain his jacket and pants. Approaching the right side of her body, he reaches into her pocket for her car keys and rolls her into the water. The current is strong, it carries her out deeper until she is out of sight. He heads back to her car and starts the engine. Checking the rearview mirror, he sees her blood, splattered all over his face. He puts the car into reverse and follows the dark lit road ahead leaving her dead, floating down the river that separates the two state lines.

Dead. Between the lines.