Little Green Apples (Ivan×OC)

Chapter 7

Last Night (Jessica's PoV)

As Jessica sang "Annie's Song" by John Denver (her favorite song), she could sense Ivan's presence behind her, but was too absorbed in her work to pay him any mind. She knew they were comfortable enough around each other to not have to give each other constant attention.

Just as she reached the end of the song, she heard Ivan scurry off.

'Wonder what's gotten into him...,' she thought.

Suddenly, her phone started to ring. She checked the caller ID and saw that it was Tatianna.

'Maybe my parents are making progress,' she hoped.

"Hello, Tatianna! How are mom and dad?"

"Jessica, I have an update for you, but it's not a good one, I'm sad to say. They think your mom stopped taking her anti-seizure medication and went into cardiac arrest in her sleep and passed away. Shortly after, your dad apparently stopped taking his anti-rejection meds for his heart transplant and he's also gone. Your mom passed a few days ago but I didn't want to tell you so close to Christmas. Once your dad went though, I thought you should be informed. I'm terribly sorry. If there's anythi-"

Jessica dropped the phone in shock. She couldn't believe it. How could her parents so selfishly just leave her to fend for herself? Was she really that bad of a daughter that she wasn't worthy of them keeping themselves alive? Her mind was racing with questions.

She heard footsteps and knew it was Ivan. She turned to face him, her eyes bloodshot and her heeks stained with thick streams of tears.

"Jess? Jess, what's wrong?"

She was frozen to the spot as she tried to get words out. Giving up on explaining, she ran to him, clinging onto him for dear life as sobs wracked through her.

"I- I just got a call from Tatianna. Sh-she said my parents are both dead!", she choked out.

"I'm so sorry, Jess. Do they know what happened?"

"She said that my mom passed in her sleep and my dad just started skipping his medications and he just... let himself die," she sobbed.

She felt safe and cared for in his arms. She felt his large hand go to her temple and he stroked the back of head. They parted after she had gotten control of herself. She let out a shiver; she felt cold.

"Why don't you go to the library and I'll light us a fire?," he suggested.

"Okay," she said.

They made their way to the library in silence, aside from the occasional sniffle from Jessica. She snuck a few sideways glances at Ivan as they walked. She loved that he was so much taller than her; so masculine, and an air of protection about him.

They came to the double doors; Ivan went off to get an armload of wood, and Jessica turned the doorknobs. When she stepped foot into the room, it was cold and dark. Empty feeling.

Ivan soon returned and set to lighting up the fireplace. She sat on the blue loveseat in front of the fireplace with her knees up to her chest. Ivan threw a match on to the wood and took a seat beside her.

She stayed on her side, but she randomly had an urge to be close to him... Against him even. She scooted up next to him and laid her head on his chest, emotionally exhausted. She felt him slide his arm around her shoulders. She stared up at him.

'So... beautiful,' she thought as sleep overtook her. She barely caught him staring back at her, but he had a look of admiration on his face.

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