it's always been you (a jottie story)

Chapter 1: The Return to Rosewood

Lottie's POV:

I suddenly awoke in room 221 of the Ivy girls wings, and abruptly sat up in bed, my heart racing. I glanced over at the other side of the room, and saw Ellie's black hair draped over her pillow, snoring. I looked at my clock, 2am. "Lottie, you've GOT to stop having these nightmares," a voice in my head whispered to me. I'd dreamt that Haru had somehow gotten to Rosewood, and taken Jamie from me again. However, this wasn't that far from the truth. Yesterday, Jamie and I were called into Professor Devine's office, when I saw the last person I wanted to see. Haru. And the worst part was, Jamie didn't know yet. Jamie didn't know Haru was a part of Leviathan. It was killing me not to tell him, but I had to keep my promise to Sayuri. It was the least I could do.

My thoughts trailed back to Jamie, and how hurt he would be once he found out Haru's identity. I couldn't bear to think about him, being so vulnerable again, and feeling so lost. My mind moved back to that afternoon by the fountain, before Haru's arrival, before Professor Devine interrupting. Jamie and I were out on the stone bench, talking, when he stopped and stroked my hair, and stared at me with such warmth I felt I was going to fall. All I remember was I started to say something.

I have no idea what I was trying to say to him, but I knew in that moment I couldn't lose him again. I'd found my home in Ellie, but I couldn't live in it without Jamie.

All the moments we had together, how we danced at my debut ball, how he was constantly putting his life in danger for me when he should be protecting Ellie, smirking at me every time I was distracted, the way his arms felt so rigid but so right around me. My heart started to ache, the smile from my face started to fade. He was only a teenager, carrying such a heavy burden. What did that moment out by the fountain mean? Did it mean anything at all? Did he mean anything by it?

I lay back down in my bed, and hugged Mr Truffles to me for comfort. "Please Jamie, please just let me in. Let me help you," I thought to myself as I drifted off to sleep again.