No Matter What ~ Jackxpenn

Chapter 34 - Stay With Me

Jack POV

"What do you mean? What's going on?" I stammer, turning my full attention to Trevor, who was just starting to calm down. My heart immediately jumped to my throat; if there is anything wrong with Jenn.... I swear to god, Matt better watch out.

"Well, It's... It's kinda..." Trevor began, trying to gather his thoughts. He trailed off and scratched the back of his head, clearly not knowing how to explain it. 

"Trevor! What's happening?" I shouted, much louder than I expected. He was taken back by my shouting, and took a small step away from me. I sighed, and shook my head; mad at myself for my immature outburst. I bit my lip, struggling to keep composure with all the frantic thoughts spinning around in my head, then spoke, "I'm sorry," I muttered, "Just let me see her... Please.."

Trevor nodded, and headed upstairs to the guest bedroom with me not far behind. Confusion and fear ran through my entire body as he briefly stopped outside the door, allowing for me to hear the screams and shouts of what sounded like a horror movie inside the guest room. 

"She's been... She's been screaming.... I-I don't know what's going on," He admitted.

The two of us exchange nods, and Trevor pats me on the shoulder before leaving me alone in the hallway as he goes back downstairs to help clean up. I take a deep breath, and open the door. My eyes widen in a mix of shock and fear at what I see.

Jenn is sweating, and the sheets are all wound around her body with the comforter half on the floor. She keeps stirring over and over again, and once a while she will make a whimpering noise.

"Stop! Please!" Jenn screams once again, tangling her body more in the sheets.

I want to run and hug her, but in her state I know it would not be a good idea. Instead, I cautiously walk to the bedside, and reach out a hand gently to touch her shoulder.

"No! Please stop!" She screams, causing me to pull my hand back. I hate seeing her like this, she's in such a scared state. There are tears running down her face while tosses herself from side to side.

"Jenn," I whisper, "It's okay, I'm here," I say comfortingly and lightly shake her shoulder.

"Jenn! Jenn wake up!"

Immediately it seems, her eyes snap open and she sits up in panic. Jenn looks around and sees me; To my surprise, instead of rushing towards me and into my arms, she backs away with fear in her eyes.

"Hey, hey, Jenny. Come here, it's okay. I am here," I whisper softly, holding my arms out.

Suddenly, her eyes focus on me and she snaps out of her daze. Jenn whimpers slightly, and jumps into my arms, hugging my tightly. She rests her head on my shoulder, and I feel her body shaking lightly; she is crying into my chest. I rub her back lightly, letting my fingertips graze her back. I whisper against her hair, "It's okay baby, You're safe now," I reassure, before kissing her forehead.

She pulls back from me eventually, and looks at me with silent tears still running down her cheeks. I brush her bangs out of her face, slightly damp from sweating. Jenn looks down, "My...D-dad," she croaks.

"Your dad?" I ask. I don't understand. I have never heard Jenn talk her about her dad before. She nods, and pulls me to sit on the bed with her.

"Do you want to talk to me about it?" I offer. Jenn nods again, and takes a deep breath before starting:

"My father was... Well he just wasn't like other dads I had met. I could never really put my finger on it because I was so young... I thought that it was normal behaviour... Until I had been introduced her some of my friend's dads... They were kind and loving, but my dad was..." She croaked, "He used to drink Jack, like a lot.... My mother was practically raising me on her own... I would wake up in the middle of the night to yelling and shouting coming from the living room. My dad would come home drunk at midnight and he and my mother would get into screaming fights... I would watch in horror from the top of the stairs... Some days I would wake up and see that my mother had bruises; bruises she could not explain. I never knew the cause until my father would start hitting me as well.... He would say I wasn't good enough and tell me everything I would do wrong... One day, my dad had finally had enough, and he walked out on us in a drunken fit, never to be seen again...I just feel like it was my fault all along; I should have tried harder to keep the family together...." She trailed off.

Wow. I couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth. I never knew anything about her father, but I am almost glad I never met him, seeing how much damage he has caused to Jenn and her mother.

"What about the dream?" I whisper.

"Matt had took me to a strange building, and him and his friends would abuse me; in all ways possible," she mumbled, fighting back tears. Taking a breath, she continues, "Then, he came... My father... He tried to be nice and reach out to me... But I know he was lying.... I ran as fast as I could, but they kept coming after me... Eventually, I was safe in a closet, but the walls started to cave in around me...." Jenn trailed off.

"It was weird, Jack" She muttered.

"What was?" I wonder.

"I heard you... Your voice was calling my name as I thought I was going to be crushed... Then I woke up here... It was like you saved me or something..."

I nod, and pull her into me, hugging her tight. I kiss the top of her head, "I love you, Jenn. You'll always be safe with me, remember that."

"I love you, Jack," Jenn breathes, laying down on the bed. She motions for me to lay beside her, and I do, turning on my side so I'm facing her. "You're going to stay with me, right?" She says.

I nod, "Of course baby. I wouldn't dare leave you alone, especially on your birthday."

"Good," She says, cuddling into my chest as I wrap my arms around her. I kiss the top of her head, and gently stroke her right arm as she continues to talk about her past. She tells me about stories from when her dad and mom used to be together, and their family was happy, and even tells me the story of when she was ten and broke her arm from falling off her bike.

Soon, the silence in between her stories has become permanent, and I watch her chest slowly move up and down as she sleeps. I pull my phone out of my pocket, only to see the switch of the time from 11:59 to 12:00 midnight. "Happy birthday Jenny, I hope it was special. I love you," I whisper, and touch her lips to mine, making her smile in her sleep. 

Author's note: Hey hey! TGIF! Here's da chapter of the week :)