Serena

22-Close proximity

Two hours had passed since Gemma and Jax arrived. In the room, I sat alone, staring at Jax's unconscious form. His steady breathing was the only sound breaking the silence. Gemma had left abruptly, called away by some urgent matter involving her parents. She hesitated, clearly torn about leaving Jax, but I assured her that I could handle things here.

It was nearing lunchtime, and with Martha having taken the day off, I found myself alone and responsible for preparing a meal. I got up and made my way to the kitchen, ready to cook something myself.

The kitchen was a welcome distraction from the weight of the situation in the other room. I opened the refrigerator, surveying its contents with a sense of purpose. There were some fresh vegetables, a bit of leftover chicken, and a carton of eggs. I decided on a simple stir-fry, something quick yet comforting.

As I chopped the vegetables, the rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board filled the silence, providing soothing counterpoint to my racing thoughts. I couldn't shake the image of Jax lying there, motionless, and the worry gnawed at me despite my reassurances to Gemma.

The sizzle of the chicken hitting the hot pan brought me back to the present. I focused on the task at hand, adding the vegetables and stirring the mixture with practiced ease. The familiar routine of cooking was a balm to my frayed nerves, grounding me in the here and now.

Once the stir-fry was ready, I dished out a portion for myself and sat down at the small kitchen table. The meal was simple, but it tasted good, and I felt a small sense of accomplishment. As I ate my thoughts drifted back to Jax. I wondered whether he would wake up and how he would feel. For now, all I could do was wait and hope that my presence was enough.

I finished my meal and tidied up the kitchen, the mundane tasks offering a brief respite from my anxious thoughts. With the dishes clean and put away, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the return to Jax's side.

As I entered the living room, a loud cough drew my attention to Jax. He was coughing uncontrollably, and I rushed to his side. Quickly, I poured him a glass of water, which he drank eagerly. Once he calmed down, he looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on me.

"How did I get here?" He asked in a low, strained voice, his words barely audible. He looked at me with a mixture of confusion and fatigue, his brow furrowed as if trying to piece together the fragments of his memory. Each syllable seemed to take great effort, and I could see the toll the ordeal had taken on him.

"Gemma brought you here." I said softly. "You were in a pretty bad shape when she arrived. We had to get you settled and make sure you were stable."

"Where is she?" He asked, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for any sign of her presence.

"She had to leave for a family emergency, but she was really worried about you."

"Hmm." He mumbled, trying to push himself up. I placed my hand gently on his chest, applying a bit of pressure to keep him from moving.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice firm yet concerned. "You need to rest for a bit longer." I added, emphasising the importance of staying still. "Your body needs time to recover, and getting up too soon could make things worse."

"I don't care." He said, his voice tinged with frustration as he brushed my hand away from his chest. Ignoring my attempts to keep him down, he pushed himself up with a determined effort, his movements unsteady but resolute.

I stepped in front of him, blocking his path and closing the distance until we were inches apart. I looked him directly in the eyes, my expression serious.

"You are hurt." I said, my frustrated clear in my voice. "You can't just get up and leave like this. You're in no condition to move around, and pushing yourself only risks making things worse."

"Why do you care?" He asked, stepping closer and narrowing his eyes. The intensity in his voice was matched by the resolve in his posture, as though challenging me to explain my concern.

"Because of Gemma." I said, my voice steady. "She'd be devastated if your condition worsened." While that was undoubtedly true, it wasn't the sole reason for my concern. As I spoke, an emotion I had been trying to suppress began to surface—fear. Fear of losing him.

From the very first moment I met him, I felt a pull towards him, which I had initially written off as curiosity. But now, I found myself grappling with something deeper and more unsettling, uncertain about what I truly felt or what it meant.

Jax continued to study me intently, his gaze piercing as if he was searching for some hidden truth in my eyes. I couldn't quite discern what he was looking for, but his expression suggested he was anticipating more from me.

It was as if he was waiting for me to reveal something I hadn't yet said. I quickly dismissed the thought, feeling a pang of uncertainty about what else I could possibly offer or explain.

"She doesn't need to worry." He said dismissively, his tone flat and indifferent. "I'm fine. It's not like anything serious happened."

His words were meant to downplay the situation, but they only served to underscore his unwillingness to acknowledge the seriousness of his condition.

"You were hurt pretty badly." I said, trying to keep my voice steady but unable to mask my frustration. "It's only natural for her to be worried. When someone we care about is in such condition, it's only right to be concerned."

"You care about me?" He said with a smirk, his tone implying a question even though it sounded more like a statement.

I was momentarily at loss of words. "What?"

"You mentioned that when someone we care about is in such condition, it's only right to be concerned." He pointed out, amusement lacing his voice.

"I was speaking in general terms." I said quickly, trying to deflect. "It's not about you." Even as I said it, my words felt unconvincing.

Before he could respond further, the door swung open, and Nate and Chase walked in. Their confusion shifted to visible anger as they took in the scene. It took me a moment to realise why, the close proximity between Jax and me.

"What is happening here?"

***
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