Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding 1)

The silence that followed was unlike anything Lexi had ever sat through. She wasn't sure if Kate was going to lunge at her or break down in tears. She looked shell shocked for sure. That had to have been the last thing she had been expecting. The tension could have been cut with a spoon. Lexi wasn't sure if she should run now. Her heart was hammering in her chest with the anticipation of Kate's response.

"Why would you tell me something like that?" Kate finally asked just barely above a whisper.

"I had to let you know and Jack wasn't going to tell you."

"Why would you think I'd want to know something like that?"

"I just…thought you'd want the truth."

"I didn't," she said shaking her head forcefully from side to side. "I didn't want to know that."

Lexi just stared at her. She didn't want to know. She had crushed her for no reason. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Kate asked her eyes glaring at her. "For what? Fucking my boyfriend or for telling me that you f**ked my boyfriend."

"Uh…"

"Just…just don't answer that. I don't want to know. I don't want to hear any of it. I just want to forget you. Forget you ever existed. Please leave my house."

"Kate."

"No, I don't need any other information from you. Thank you. Have a nice day and a terrible life. Get the f**k out of my house," she said standing and pointing towards the door.

Lexi stood in complete shock at Kate's reaction. "Are you going to tell Jack that I told you?"

"No I'm not telling him anything. Now leave."

"Why are you so calm about all this?" Lexi couldn't help asking.

That question seemed to change everything about Kate. Lexi had never seen the girl anything but way too perky, but she looked damn well furious. "You think I didn't know that he f**ked you? God, I am not stupid, you f**king whore." It was Lexi's turn to look shell shocked. Kate had known all along, and she hadn't said anything. "I knew the first day that it happened."

"You did?" Lexi couldn't believe it. No one else had been out on the pier that day. No one else had known they were there. Kate certainly hadn't even been awake that night. "How did you find out?"

"I was there. I walked into his house, because I have a key that he gave me. He had his bedroom door open and there you two were on his bed." Lexi's mouth popped open. "I just loved Jack enough to see past that one incident."

"That wasn't the first time," Lexi admitted to Kate the information she had withheld from Clark.

"What?"

"That was about a month ago right?"

"That's what you were talking about isn't it? You were feeling guilty and you had to let me know about it. Well, f**k you, I already knew that it happened. I knew and could get over the fact that he was unfaithful that one time."

"No. You have it all wrong. The first time was at the beach house."

Kate turned and stared at her. "That was in May."

Lexi nodded watching the news dawn on Kate. "That's what I came here to tell you."

"No." Kate murmured falling back down onto the couch. "You guys have been sleeping together since May? Why is he with me then?" Lexi shrugged. She certainly of all people did not have an answer for that. "If you've been sleeping together since then, why are you just telling me now? Why are you telling me at all?"

"Clark found out, and Jack wasn't going to tell you. I thought it was right to let you know."

"I just never thought he would do this."

Lexi rolled her eyes. Of course, he would do this. Then again, he probably didn't reveal this side of himself too many people. Lexi had just happened to be on the wrong end of this scenario twice already.

"I mean, I'm a virgin."

"What?" Lexi squeaked. She steadied herself on the molding to the front entrance. "You're a what?"

"I just thought that if it was one time he would get it out of his system since we don't sleep together. We do everything else, but we don't have sex. I didn't think it was that big of deal, but this…this is different."

Lexi couldn't do anything more than just stare at her. She's a virgin. Jack had never mentioned that. Not once. The look a despair that passed over Kate seeped into Lexi. How had she done this? It was a question she couldn't help repeating to herself. She had slept with Jack and Kate hadn't. Jack and Kate had been together for years and never slept together. Lexi just couldn't process that information. Jack had no self-restraint. He was completely incapable of it around her. Just like she had no control around her. How was he able to go years without sleeping with Kate?

"Just get out," Kate said. "I can't stand looking at you. You took something that wasn't yours, and you don't even seem remorseful. If I ever set eyes on you again it will be too soon."

With that Lexi pulled the front door open and rushed out of the house to her car. She was so lost in what had just happened that she hadn't even noticed the very familiar Maxda 3 pulling into the driveway. She tried to dart into her car before he would notice her, but she wasn't quick enough. Jack hopped out of his car and sprinted to her side.

"What are you doing here?" he asked venomously.

"She is a virgin," was the only thing Lexi could get out at the sight of him.

"Oh God," he said running his hands through his hair. "What did you do?"

"She is a virgin."

"Lexi," he yelled grabbing her by the shoulders. "What did you do?"

Tears began to form in her eyes again as she looked up at the handsome face. "Why?"

"I came here to tell her."

"Why?"

"So we could be together."

"You didn't want to be with me," she said feeling her weight sinking in his grasp.

"Lexi, I've wanted to tell you for so long."

"That she's a virgin."

"No. That I love you."

Lexi's head snapped up. "You what?"

"You've known that for a long time. You say it to me all the time with your eyes. I came here to straighten things out with Kate. To make things right for us."

"Did you say you love me?"