Stockholm Syndrome

17. No Fighting, Just Love.

"She's waking up," I hear a stranger's voice speak. I open my eyes and turn my head only to feel a terrible pain in my neck. Ow. "Emily, oh my gosh," I see J speak with a band aid on his forehead. "What happened?" I try to sit up. "Don't sit up, you should stay laying down," the stranger talks again. I look around and notice that I'm in J's room. "You were in a car crash," he tells me. Oh yeah, now I remember, J and his stupid drunk ass got us into a car crash. "I think I got it from here, thanks DJ, I appreciate your help," J thanks the man named DJ and they shake hands. They talk for about 1 more minute and DJ leaves. "You were out for almost 2 days," J tells me. All I can say is 'oh'. "Listen, I'm sorry, I should have let you drive," he apologizes. I give him the look as if to say 'NO SHIT YOU SHOULD HAVE LET ME DRIVE WE COULD HAVE DIED YOU DUMB ASS!' but I keep myself quiet. "I know you're mad at me, but can you please have a normal conversation with me please?" He asks. "We nearly died, J," I state the obvious. "I know, but we're not dead now are we?" He tries to lighten the mood but it only makes me more upset. "I should have told Lexi it was me," I shake my head lightly because of how bad it hurt. I feel like I can't even move my whole body because of all the pain. "No you shouldn't have," his voice changes. "If I did, I wouldn't be laying here right now, everyone thinks I'm dead!" I raise my voice at him. "Then I'd be in jail!" He yells back at me. "Listen, you should feel lucky that my dude DJ was working that day and brought you here instead of the hospital because they would've found out your real name and you wouldn't be here with me!" He snaps. "I just want to go home!" I cover my face letting tears fall. I listen to him sigh and sit next to me. "I'm not letting you leave, you're mine," he tells me as he told me before. I don't speak. "You didn't break any bones," he changes the subject. I nod as if to say 'good', J nods as well. I close my eyes, I can feel where I have bruises, I don't even have to look. "Let's get you in the shower," J suggests. I shake my head because I am too tired and full of pain. "I'll help you, come on," he grabs my hand to help me up, I whimper softly because of the pain but I eventually get up. We walk inside the bathroom and J turns on the water. "Bath or shower?" He asks. I reply with shower. He turns on the shower head and lets the water warm up. J helps me take of all of my clothing and he does the same to himself, so I assume he is going to get in with me. I really don't mind when J gets in with me here and there because we've seen each other naked before. J helps me inside the shower, my arms and legs are so badly bruised that I don't even want to stand any longer. I stand under the warm water with J and it's very relaxing. I sigh and reach up to wash my hair but J puts my arms down. "I've got it," he insists. He grabs the shampoo and runs his fingers through my hair with it. Let me tell you... it's the most relaxing feeling ever. I notice myself becoming less and less mad at him the more he does something sweet... I hate it. I smile to myself.

Moments later we are out of the shower and laying in bed. J lies on his stomach and I'm on my side tracing over his tattoos, I feel like I haven't done that in forever. "I promise that I won't ever drink and drive again," he speaks with his low raspy voice. "Good," I kiss his neck. I get those feelings of butterflies again. I only get butterflies when something sweet happens, just like this. No fighting, yelling, no anything. This is the way I like it to be. We make eye contact when he turns his head to face me. He smiles. "How long have I been here with you?" I ask curiously. "3 months," he answers without hesitation. I nod and don't say anything more just to make sure that I don't ruin this moment. He kisses my nose. "Don't do that," I laugh and scrunch up my nose. He does it again and I laugh some more while he laughs with me. He lies me down onto my back and takes control, he leaves kisses all over my neck and all over my face just to be funny. The room is filled with silent giggles coming from the both of us. He's careful not to hurt me because of the accident, of course he is hurt too but he only has a few cuts here and there. We don't go any farther than just kissing because of my pain, but that's okay. After fooling around with kisses he lies down and pulls me close. He has his hands lightly around my waist and our faces are extremely close. We are being completely serious, "I love you," he whispers. "I love you too, J," I reply quietly. I watch a smile curve onto his face. "You confuse me sometimes," I admit. "How?" He asks. I shrug and kiss his cheek, "I don't know, you just do. But I like the confusion to be honest, it makes me learn a lot about you." I don't know if what I'm saying actually makes sense but I'm sure he gets it... maybe. "This is relaxing, y'know, when we're not actually fighting," he says. I nod in agreement with a yawn followed behind. "Sleepy, yeah?" He gives me a peck on the lips before saying goodnight. With that, we both end up falling asleep happily.

I wake up next to J staring at me. "Why do you always stare at me like that when I wake?" I ask sleepily. "I don't know, I just like watching you sleep so peacefully," he says quietly. I smile and cuddle into him as he kisses my forehead. "I can feel your heart beating," I whisper against his chest. "Can you?" He wonders. I nod and smile. "I can feel you smiling against me." I smile once again. We lay in silence for a while as he strokes my hair, I feel like I could just fall asleep in his arms all over again. "Are you feeling better? Y'know, from the accident." J asks. "Yeah," I nod, "the bruises still hurt but not as much as yesterday," I explain. "Good," he smiles and kisses my forehead. "J? Have you ever been in love?" I bite my bottom lip and look in his eyes, I've been wanting to ask this question but I never really found the right time. "I've loved before but I've never been IN love. Have you?" I shake my head no. "I think I'm starting to know what it feels like though," I add. All he lets out is an 'oh', I don't think he's very fond of the idea about being in love. "What about your past girlfriends?" I wonder. "Technically I only had one real relationship and I told you before, I don't know where she went, she just left," he reminds me "that's why I really never liked the idea of love." I kiss his cheek softly, "You don't have to worry with me, I'm not going anywhere," I assure him. "Yeah," he shrugs. "When's your birthday?" He asks out of nowhere. I reply with July 28th and ask for his. "Today." Are you serious!? It's his birthday and we're not even doing anything!? "Really? Then why are we laying here for? Let's go do something!" I laugh and get up. "I don't want to do anything, I never do," he groans. "Well this is what you get for telling me when your birthday is, we're doing something, it doesn't even have to be extremely fun," I get dressed into some decent clothes while he dresses in a white shirt and a pair of black jeans. "Let's go out for lunch, we've spent to long in bed," I giggle. Surprisingly he agrees with me.

"Are tacos your favorite?" I ask with a mouth full of a tacos sitting inside Taco Bell. "Yes," he laughs at me and wipes a bit of taco sauce off of my cheek. "I should make you tacos one day," I cover my mouth to prevent showing the food in my mouth. "You should also wait to talk until you have swallowed your food," he shakes his head and laughs slightly at me. "Sorry," I apologize after I have swallowed, I let a cheeky smile. "How's it feel to be 22?" I make conversation. "I feel old," he takes a sip of his soda. I giggle, I wonder if I'll feel old at 22, I'm just 4 years behind him. "What else do you want to do today?" I ask politely. He shrugs again for the second time today. "You don't want to do anything for your birthday? Let's go to the movies," I suggest. "Okay, I suppose we can do that," he agrees with me again today. "Yay!" I think I'm more excited than he is, I feel free today.

It's now 8:00 p.m. We watched two movies at the theater today and they were really good. We watched Insidious Chapter 3 and Jurassic World, they were definitely worth my time. "Did you have fun today?" I ask smiling at him while I put my jacket up. "Yeah, I did actually," he smiles back and puts his jacket up at well. "Good," I sit on the bed with my legs crossed while he sits in front of me. "Thanks for doing this for me today, you really didn't have to do shit," he tells me. "I don't mind, I had fun and so did you, we both needed it." Today was the most he's smiled in a whole day and quite honestly I loved it. I love when he smiles, I love him. "I love you," he puts a hand on my thigh. "I love you too," I exchange the words back and put a hand on his. He presses his lips against mine softly and so passionately. He gives me the worst, but best, butterflies ever. Our lips move in sync and our tongues finding their way to each other.

I never thought I would have fallen in love with someone who has kidnapped me.

I also never thought I would give him his final birthday present by the end of this night if you know where all the kissing lead to...

Author's Note: Don't forget to vote for chapters and leave comments, I love to know how you feel about this story(: