Two-sided

Chapter 38: loving fights and knowing

*Jc's POV*

I came and sat down next to her bed. Pain filled my chest as I saw the hurt that had hid itself between her teeth.

"How you doing bab--" I bit my tongue. "Um, how are you doing Nally?" Her smiled twitched. "I'm fine..." her tone changed.

"Nally?" I asked. "How are you, really." I insisted. "Well Jc, I was in a basement, hit with freezing water, chained and yanked almost to the point of injury, I was whipped, knocked out and almost dying. Now tell me how do you think I am?" The whole time she kept the same smile on her face.

"What's with the attitude?" I asked. She raised a brow. "Because! You can't see me just as me! You see me as this helpless thing! I saw it when you didn't call me 'babe' like you always do!" Her smile quivered.

"Because I was worried sick about you! Literally, I threw up thinking of the most unimaginable life without you!" I said with my voice unintentionally raised.

"You've lived your whole life without me! You have me now and you can't even spill out a word of home, like 'babe'" I stood up when she said that.

"It's different I didn't know you then! If I lost you now I wouldn't be able to live! And spilling out a word like babe isn't one I want to say right now when the person I love is close to dying! When I could lose you!" I was breathing heavily.

"Did you just..." She simply said. "what?" I asked "You said you loved me..." she uttered "I... I guess I did..." I said.

"Jc, you're right." she said trying to sit up "what?" I tried to help her sit. "I got it!" She said through her teeth. "I am close to dying. You could leave here today and this would be the last time you see me." I didn't know where she was going with this.

"So say it." She demanded. "Say what?" I asked. She gestured me to come closer. She grabbed my face and said "Tell me one more time..." She mumbled.

"I...I love you." I whispered. Her smile grew as it was watered by tears. "I love you too." She pressed her lips to mine as if she was leaving for a long time.

I was scared but kissed her harder and held her closer. The heart monitor sped up. "Okay, I gotta lay down..." She said with a bit of pain.

"My heart isn't strong enough to go on it's own just yet." she giggled painfully. I smiled and placed my hand her cheek.

I kissed her cheek and said "I love you baby." she held my wrist and I didn't wanna leave, but I had to...

I left the room sitting with my friends as Ryan asked questions about the place Danny kept Nally.

I blanked out thinking about what she said... "today could be the last day you see me."

"She kissed harder than usual..." I mumbled to myself. I bit my lip hoping it wasn't what I thought. Hoping it wasn't one of this things where you know it's your time... I shivered and decided to get my mind off it and went to pick up some good across the street.

"I really hope she's wrong..." I mumbled before leaving.