Damaged Together

Chapter Ten

READ AUTHORS NOTE AT END

Jesse’s POV:

Alyssia and I began talking while we continued to be wrapped in each other’s arms. She asked me about what I wanted to do when I got older, when I told her I wanted to be a teacher and returned the question she went silent for a moment.

“All I know is that I want to be happy. I want to move far away and never look back at this town. It’s terrible here and there are only two people worth remembering…” she looked at me with pain in her eyes, “Bri and you.” She whispered so quiet I almost couldn’t hear.

I held her a little tighter and kissed her lips. I wanted to take away the aching. I never wanted to see that pained expression on her face again. I just wanted to make her happy.

We ended the kiss and I saw tears in her eyes. “God, I just hate it here so much. I want to move and get married and have kids and have a future but when I look around me I feel so small. I feel like I can never do these things.” She let out a shaky breath while one tear escaped. I ran my thumb over the tear track and she leaned into my touch. “But when I am with you I feel hope. Maybe one day I’ll be able to do these things that I want. Be able to get married and have kids, and maybe just be happy.”

I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat. I realized that I don’t picture my future with anyone besides Alyssia. At only 16 years old I know who I am going to undoubtedly spend the rest of my life with.

“You will. I will do everything in my power to make sure you get the life you deserve.”

I leaned back into the side of the basket and brought her with me. She intertwined our legs together, wrapped her arms around me and laid her head on my chest. Warmness flowed through me. This girl. This perfect girl. She was mine.

I thought she had fallen asleep when I heard her talk, “After the accident I joined this support group. It was for high school students who have gone through hard times. There were kids with difficulties from abusive families to drug issues to a death in the family… and it helped me in a strange way. They have one for younger kids to and I think I want to volunteer there. The younger kids get a counselor who went through a similar situation they have been through that helps them get through the stuff they are going through. I think I want to be a counselor. I want to be there for a kid even though I didn’t have anyone.”

I knew she’d be amazing at it. “Do it then.”

She looked at me with a wide grin on her face, “I am going to!”

We began to talk about all the different places we want to go to around the world and all the things we wanted to see.

Alyssia’s POV:

“No,” I began to argue back, “Paris would be so much more fun!”

Jesse unwrapped our legs and stood up, I suddenly felt cold hit me.

We had been talking for over half an hour about the one place we want to go before we die. I said Paris.

“You’re just saying that cause you’d want to shop.” He said accusingly.

“Really Jess? That’s your argument? I don’t shop.” I laughed.

“Well, um, okay... Fine. You win." He rolled his eyes, "Paris would be more fun than Jamaica.”

I stood up and did a happy dance. “Yay. I got you to admit itttttt.”

He giggled at my dance. “Let’s go one day.” He said seriously.

I looked up at him, hoping he was saying what I thought he was.

He responded to my look, “Me and you. Let’s go to Paris together one day.”