Jack and Finn had a great time skiing. They kept sending me updates, which generally made me more happy than sad I wasn't there. Ellie came over, and we made brownies. They tasted like shit because Ellie accidentally used olive oil, but it was fine. Everyone finally came home on Thursday, so I had four days to spend with them. I hadn't seen Finn or Jack since they got back, but we'd texted. Ellie and I had agreed that it would probably be best if she broke up with Jack Friday. He'd have the weekend to get over it, with my help, and he'd be all ready for school on Monday. Ellie was going to meet up with him at Café com Leite, because that seemed like a good place to deliver bad news, on Friday morning. Also, Jack hated Café com Leite, so it wouldn't ruin a perfectly good food place with bad memories for him. Ellie was going to text me how everything went with Jack, so I could support him with whatever he needed. I didn't think he was going to get drunk again, but if he wanted to, I'd let him. It probably wouldn't happen... but there was a little part of me that wished it would. Maybe it would turn out how it had last time...

A notification on my phone interrupted my thoughts. It was a text from Ellie.

Im waiting at the cafe

Oh fuck

He just got here

Im gonna do it now

good luck and be nice

I hope I can still be his friend after

he usually forgives and forgets

he just might need a little time

Brb

Text u when its done

I felt awful for Jack, I really did. I think he really liked Ellie, despite their constant fights. I tried to facetime Finn to distract myself, but he didn't pick up. Half an hour went by before Ellie texted me again.

Its done

how'd it go

Honestly I can't tell

i'll talk to him in a little bit

Keep me updated

I went to my window and peered out. I could see Jack's house through a few trees. His bedroom light was off, meaning he wasn't home yet. It didn't take that long to drive to town, I couldn't help wondering where he was.

"Madison, can you get the door? Someone's knocking," my mom called from downstairs. I exited my room fairly quickly and ran down the hall to the door. I opened it to find Jack on my porch.

"Hey," I said casually, trying to pretend I didn't know what had just happened.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course," I grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

"Who is it?" my mom asked from the kitchen.

"It's just Jack, we're going to my room." We walked upstairs in silence. Not talking was so unlike Jack, I knew something was wrong. Well, that and the fact that I literally knew what was wrong. We sat on my bed, and Jack finally opened his mouth.

"Ellie." Was all he said.

"What happened?"

"She... We broke up." His voice cracked. I moved closer to him and let his head drop into my arms.

"I'm so sorry." I didn't know what else to say. I really should have prepared something.

"I should have seen this coming. I'm such a fucking idiot, Madison."

"No, Jack, you aren't. Ellie just wasn't the right person for you."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

"I liked her a lot."

"I know." I sort of pet his head, in the least weird and most comforting way possible.

"I don't know what I did wrong. I did everything I could to be a good boyfriend. I bought her whatever she wanted, I did whatever she wanted, I- I just don't get it," he broke off.

"Jack. Listen to me. It's not your fault. You and Ellie just weren't meant to be." He didn't respond, and sat up, putting his hands in his face.

"Are you... crying?" I asked tentatively.

"Yeah," he said, his voice muffled in his hands. I've only seen Jack cry 3 other times in my life. The first time was when his dog died when he was 5. The second time was when we graduated elementary school. He's very sentimental. The third time was when he broke his leg when we were out skating.

"I'm such an idiot," he sniffed.

"Ok, stay right here. I'm going to get some ice cream in town from Scoops, your favorite. It will be ok Jack, I promise." I got off my bed and practically sprinted down the hall.

"Wait you forgot your... phone," I heard Jack say from my room.

"Oh," I turned back and entered my room. Jack was looking at my phone, a blank expression on his face.

"What is this," he said. His voice had no emotion.

"What?"

"This text."

"What does say?"

"'Thanks for your help with Jack.' Oh, she just sent another one. 'Breaking up with him was a good idea.' What the fuck, Madison. What does this mean." He stood, beginning to get worked up.

"Jack, I can explain."

"You knew, didn't you. You knew she was going to break up with me. You fucking knew! And you didn't say anything! You didn't warn me!" He was yelling now, gripping my phone angrily.

"Jack, you're acting like a child- stop."

"You pretended you didn't know shit. But you fucking knew. You let her break up with me. You helped her. You know how much I care- how much I cared about her. And you didn't try to stop her."

"Jack, it's not like that, I swear-"

"Save it, Madison." He shoved my phone into my hands and stormed towards the door.

"Jack, wait please," I begged, tears springing to my eyes.

"Fuck you." He slammed my door shut. I ran to my window to see him get in his car and drive away angrily.

I laid on my bed and cried. I cried for hours. Never in my life had I seen Jack that mad. We'd fought before, sure, but never actually seen him angry at me. I didn't even know what I did wrong. Was it really that bad that I didn't warn him. That I helped his girlfriend break up with him? That I pretended I didn't know what happened? Now that I think about it, I guess it was sort of a stupid move. And I hurt Jack. The thought made me sick to my stomach. My first instinct was to call Finn, he could distract me. It went straight to voicemail. I called Ellie after.

"Hi," I whimpered when she answered the phone.

"Madison? Are you ok?" she asked, hearing the tears in my voice.

"Jack- he's mad- he knows I helped you-" I sputtered.

"It's ok. Don't worry, it will blow over. You know how he gets," she assured me.

"I've never seen him this mad," I wailed.

"He has the weekend to recover, remember? It will all be fine on Monday. I promise."

"Thanks."

"Anytime. If you need anything, call me," she said before she hung up. I cried for a little more, then fell asleep. I didn't even eat dinner.

-

authors note: sorry if this chapter is rushed or whatever, i'm on a school trip rn and i barley had any time to proofread this