Them. | The Final Installment of the Him Series | Joe Jonas Fanfiction

Three.

I suppose three days without sleep could put anyone into a mentally incapable state. I hadn't noticed the difference when I was at home with the girls. I assume it just proves that they kept me going on a day-to-day basis when I was trying to do it all. How do I do that now? How do I keep myself going when I don't have them with me? I'm fighting for them, sure, but who says I'll even win and get to go back to them? Where is the proof that I'll hold them in my arms again? Where is it set in stone that I will be reunited with my girls?

My eyes are set on the laptop screen, despite my exhaustion, waiting for the results... waiting for a potential answer. Praying for it to be-

Nothing of what I need. Again.

I feel it. My heart drop into my stomach and my stomach drop to my feet. The now empty space filling up hot, heated with irritability, anger, and exhaustion. My fists clench before opening again to push the laptop from my lap, my legs lifting me from the bed as my hand grasp the lamp next to the bed, glass shattering as it slams against the floor. My breath accelerates, feeling a release of some sort of emotion for the first time in-

"Addie!"

My head turns in the direction, Stella staring at me with wide, fearful eyes. I look around the now trashed room.

How long was I smashing things?

I bring in a breath, my eyes darting around to find a multitude of glass, wood, porcelain, and more.

"Okay, we've got this. Stells why don't you take Addie to your room for a bit?"

"Hope... Dean... I'm-"

"Don't worry about it," Hope cuts me off, her eyes telling me she speaks her true feelings. "It's okay, Addie. Just, go work in Stell's room, we'll clean it up."

"But-"

"We need to talk," Stella mentions, grabbing my hand and pulling me into her room, setting me on the bed.

"What just happened, Addie?"

"I don't... I don't remember," I whisper, feeling my eyes darting side to side, focusing on the floor.

"Okay, how many days has it been since you slept?"

My mouth won't open to answer, my brain still unable to connect the dots between what just happened and what she's asking.

"Addie."

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I don't... I can't focus."

"Okay, listen," she sighs, licking her lips. "I know you don't want to hear this. I know you don't want to even consider it. But..."

My eyes raise to meet hers, my brows furrowing in confusion.

"I think we need help."

I shake my head, breaking the eye contact. "No."

"Addie," she starts. "Hear me out."

I huff out a breath before taking a deeper one, forcing myself to focus my eyes on hers.

"Jaclyn."

"No."

"Addie," she starts, giving me a look.

"I can't trust her."

"Addie, listen."

I sigh, closing my eyes.

"I understand your hesitation. I understand you don't feel like you can trust her. She hasn't been a part of anything since my dad died. The only connection she has now is the fact that she's dating Charles. She isn't involved in anything. She still doesn't even know you have a second daughter."