Die In California

50

Devyn's POV:

"Shit! Oh, thank fuck! Oh my god. Fuck."
I was suddenly jolted away by a hand tightly grabbing my forearm, nails threatening to pierce through my skin. I felt like I had no awareness of time, of where I was, or what fucking day it was. In fact, I wasn't sure I was even in my own body. What the fuck had happened?

My chest was heaving as I subconsciously gasped for air, my heart pounding arrhythmically. I could feel sweat glistening across my body, and I knew that it wasn't the aftermath of the weed or sex from the night before. I was shaken up, but it seemed that I wasn't the only one.

"Oh my god, fuck, I'm so glad you're here. Oh thank God. Fuck me. Shit, you're here." I heard JP breathe as he practically dived on me. His body crushed mine as he wound his arms tightly around my waist, his head buried in the crook of my neck. I could feel his body lightly shaking under my unsteady hands, and his breath was uneven and deeper than usual - much like my own. He was just as shaken up as me, if not more.

"I'm right here. 'M not goin' anywhere." I whispered my promise, gently running a hand through his unruly hair. Out of nowhere, he then snapped his head up to look at me, his glistening hazel eyes (framed by his long, but damp, eyelashes) narrowed as he seemed to be inspecting my face. His hand shakily reached up to cup my cheek, his thumb ever so gently running across my cheekbone as he let out a deep sigh. It seemed that a weight was lifted off his shoulders.

When he'd put his mind to rest, he dropped his head back against my neck and let out a quiet sob, which racked through his body as I held him. I gently rubbed soothing circles against the bare skin of his back, promising that I was here, and that I wasn't hurt. I knew that he wouldn't hurt me, never, but I also knew that he'd still be beating himself up over it - which was proven by the light sniffles and the occasional hiccup coming from him. Damn, that dream had traumatised him.

"You're okay, my love. I've got you. Neither of us are leaving. None of that happened, and it will never happen." My voice wavered as I tried to reassure him, but I barely believed my words myself. I couldn't promise that neither of us are leaving, because he may eventually leave. Or maybe something like that will happen, and one of us will walk out on the other.
We just had to trust it never happened.

JP's shaking and trembling eventually calmed down after around twenty minutes of just holding each other, listening to each other's breath in the otherwise silent house. We were together, and that was all that mattered. "I- I don' wanna ask... but we-" JP quietly began, his breath catching in his throat - presumably at the thought of what such a simple question had caused.

I tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat, and deeply breathed to steady myself before answering. "-I know, my love. You don't have to say it." I whispered, running my nails against his scalp to try and soothe him. "We'll sort it out eventually. Things will be okay." If only we could believe my words.

"I'd never leave you. And I'd- I'd never hurt you, I promise." He whispered, his voice breaking towards the end. God, this man was killing me. I closed my eyes and held him closer to me, savouring the feel of his warm skin against mine, the almost steady rise and fall of his chest against mine, and his warm breath skimming across my neck. I don't ever not want to feel this.

"I'd never leave you, PJ, ever." I kissed the top of his head. "And I know you'll never hurt me." He shook his head in response, making me lightly chuckle; more often than not, he reminded me of a toddler.
"Never lettin' you go ever again." He squeezed me tighter, as if that was even possible.
"That's fine by me. Always."

JP and I spent another half hour in bed, just holding each other, before finally deciding to face the day. It was as if when we unravelled from each other's arms, our dreams would come true, and neither one of us would be there. But when we finally decided to drag ourselves downstairs, our hands still interlocked, still standing side-by-side, we knew that nothing would rip us apart. Not any time soon, at least.