Valentine's Day

Chapter Twenty-Three

HELLO MY DARLINGS, I'm so sorry I haven't posted for so long, what with the Os and all SO....Yay! Actually this chapter is a little disappointing because it's more of a filler and about Juliet's thinking BUT, i needed this chapter so the next one can be a BLAST! so, I hope this can clear up some hanging stuff I left...er...hanging! Also, this is dedicated to Rachel! I'm so sorry I couldn't post sooner, and this is for you!!!!:)  

 I scrambled onto the flooring, waving the smoke away from my eyes as I tried to find Wes. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I cursed myself. I was insane, off my rocker, totally dumb, or just plain stupid to actually believe that he was fine. Oh my gosh, if he did anything to himself, I swear...

  I stopped, staring in disbelief as he dropped one burning photo after another into the metal dustbin, watching the edges curl and blacken like some spreading disease, if you could see disease spread. Softly, I walked over and sat down beside Wes on the floor, studying his face drawn tightly, his jaw clenched, his emerald eyes dark.

  "Wes?" I said cautiously.

  "I couldn't bear it. I couldn't bear the fact of looking at her again and knowing that she left me." He dropped another photo into the burning bin that seemed charred to a certain extent.

  "And burning them would help?"

  "It....soothes me. To know that something else is taking the pain for me." He whispered, his hands shaking.

  I shook my head at my stupidity. How could I have been so blind and oblivious to his pain? I was so self-absorbed  in my own stupid game that I neglected my best friend. I took his hand and held it tightly within my own.

  "Wes, I can take that pain for you. You don't have to suffer alone." I told him seriously. 

  The faintest glimmer of a smile crossed his face.

  "You don't believe in love enough. I'm not going to worsen this disease." He tossed another photo into the flames.

  I felt my heart clench as I watched Jodie's face turn into dust through the yellow flames, as if that could erase the love they had both shared.

  "Its not about me, Wes. You need to stop thinking about others! Honestly, I never knew someone who could cover up a broken heart for such a remarkable time." The thoughts fit in my mind as I said them out loud.

  Of course I was aware of it. I was always aware of things sensitive to the heart, but this time, my brain chose to ignore it, in its deep thought. Oh, for the love of all that's annoying, look who was the source of problem again? Gosh. Anyway, I needed to get Wes from his mope. I wouldn't be able to cure his heartbreak, but there must be something I can do.

  Wes needed someone who could relate to his pain, and to understand it. Who could?

  I watched more of the photos curl up, and suddenly, I just knew who Wes needed.

  "Come on," I nudged him, brushing a stray tear that trickled down his face, trying to ignore the overwhelming sadness that pulsed out of him. "Let's go."

  "Where?"

  "To meet a friend of mine."

  Tom was a man of many secrets. That was what I deduced with the time I've spent with him. No matter how friendly he was, I could tell that he had secrets stored within him like an overflowing barrel of wine, all different and hard to keep. The identity of Little Juliet's mother, his wife, how he was reduced to his state, his previous jobs...he avoided all my questions tactfully, and skillfully. Nevertheless, unlike the other people who hid things, he seemed...less of a threat. Like, he wasn't going to hurt me, or anyone. All he wanted was to take care of Juliet. At least that much, I was certain.