deep end, cm [ 1 ]

024. long sleepover

Jessica had stayed with Derek for a week before she ended up moving into Penelope's for a bit. Jessica felt guilty for crashing at their places, scolding herself for being too scared to be alone. She knew the Fisher King was dead and he couldn't get her, but being alone at her home just seemed too daunting.

Her apartment had been cleared the day after she moved in with Penelope, but she hadn't mentioned anything, scared Penelope might kick her out -- even if she knows she wouldn't.

The two are currently getting ready for the day, Penelope in the shower and Jessica is brushing her teeth.

The two are talking about anything that comes to mind, stopping when there's a knock on the door.

"Oh, can you get that?" Penelope asks. "It's probably the mailman. I ordered something last week."

"Yeah, sure." Jessica spits some toothpaste out before leaving. She continues to brush her teeth as she walks over to the door.

She undoes the chain lock before undoing the deadbolt and then the easy lock. Swinging the door open, she freezes at the person on the other side, tooth brush in her mouth.

"H-hi." Spencer quickly waves.

"Hi." Jessica greets, the word muffled. "Oh-- shit." She rushes into the kitchen, quickly spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing her mouth.

Spencer hesitates before stepping inside and shutting the door behind him, turning the small lock.

"What, uh... what are you doing here?" Jessica asks, walking over.

"I, um... I got back from Vegas late last night. I checked in on Elle who, she-- she's as okay as can be. Then I-I went to Morgan's, but he said you were here, so... so I came here. Which I-I realized I should've called first, I'm sorry. I-I don't mean to intrude. I just... I wanted to make sure you were okay. You know, the-- the occasional phone call just... just wasn't helping."

"It's sweet. That-- that's sweet." Jessica says with a small smile. "Thank you. I, um... I'm okay, I guess. You know... considering."

"Right." Spencer nods. "Is-- is your injury healing okay? No-- no infections or anything?"

"Uh, no. No, zero infections, no complications, totally normal." Jessica answers.

"How's your apartment?" Spencer asks.

"It, um... it's... you know..." Jessica shrugs, weakly smiling.

"I don't know, actually." Spencer argues, his gaze growing more concerned at her lack of answer.

"Okay, it..." Jessica sighs. She winces, walking over so she's only a few inches from him. "They don't know this, but my apartment was cleared, like, almost a week ago." She tells him, keeping her voice low so she doesn't risk Penelope hearing. "You know, cleared for my landlord to say that-- that we can return home. I just... I can't." She winces, looking down at her hands.

"You can't?" Spencer frowns.

"It's too nerve wracking. I can't... the idea of being alone makes me freeze. I-- I had a panic attack about it the other day. I wasn't even alone when I got shot, I wasn't even at my home when I got shot, but..."

She swallows down the lump in her throat, blinking her tears away.

"It was a really traumatic experience." Spencer says. "It's understandable that you're scared to be alone, with very little protection."

"Right." Jessica says. "I just... I feel guilty for crashing at their places, it-- it makes me feel so stupid."

"You're not." Spencer states. Jessica glances at him and weakly smiles.