Raw [#Wattys2015]

Chapter 24

I focus my attention on keeping my gaze resolute. As difficult as it is, I refuse to back down on this and will not let my tendency to go weak at the knees every time he speaks passionately to me win this one.

"Rory," He says my name emphatically, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can't even believe you're entertaining this idea."

I grit my teeth and remain silent, keeping my focus on watching his irritatingly gorgeous face contort in irritation at my decision. We've argued about this and discussed, in detail, every possible solution available to us since leaving the police station. Does he think I want to do this?

James sits down on the edge of his bed and puts his face in his hands. The sounds of his exhaled breath pushing through the cracks of his fingers is the only sound in the room, making the air around us filled with tension and unstated emotion. He looks up at me with weary eyes, silently pleading with me to change my mind. It kills me to force him to go through this, but it's the only way. Despite my façade earlier, I can't imagine any type of existence without him so the unfortunate truth about this matter is that we don't have any choice but to face this.

I offer him a half smile, which probably looks more like a stubborn smirk to him, then lean against the dresser as I try to ignore the sadness that is rippling through me in response to his struggle. It's an impossible feeling to know that you're the cause of someone's turmoil, especially when you're in love with that someone.

"This isn't as easy as you think it is, Rory."

I nod, because I already know. Not only have I lived it, but this is probably the hundredth time he has mentioned it in the last few hours.

"What if something happens to you?" he asks, swallowing down his emotion and making his adams apple bob. "I mean, Ror, seriously think about all the things that could go wrong. What if something happens before the police arrive?"

"That's just a chance I'll have to take then, I guess." I mutter, finally breaking my silence. I loathe that I sound clipped and aggravated. There isn't any part of me that is aggravated at him, I'm overwhelmed at his amount of concern for me, but the situation has my anger boiling beneath the surface of my skin. I wish my emotions wouldn't take control over my ability to speak, because James doesn't deserve to deal with any additional stress.

"You don't have to do this."

I look away, not wanting him to see the fear radiating through my gaze. Letting him visualize my weakness will only make this worse. "I do, James."

"No!" he snaps. "You don't."

My head jerks back forward, "Yes I do! James, we've gone over this! He knows where my dad lives now. I don't care about how many lug nuts he removes from my car or whether he may bust out my window, but I will NOT let him hurt my dad or you or Maggie or anyone else I love! This has to end!"

He clenches his teeth as he looks at me with pained, caramel eyes. "Baby. You don't' have to be a hero."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not trying to be a freaking hero, James. This isn't marvel. I'm just trying to end this the only way I know how."

He groans, rubbing the back of his neck the way he always does when he is frustrated. "Why can't we just let the cops handle it?"

Leaning my chin against my chest, I study the chipped paint on my toe nails. "Because, James! You heard them, their hands are tied! He is a clever kind of asshole and found a way around the order. They can't prove that he is the person who left the threat. They can't prove that he removed the lug nut either. As far as they're concerned he hasn't technically violated the order, because he went to my dad's residence when I wasn't there and didn't sign the note. The restraining order is a 'no contact provision' but we can't prove that he was really the person that left the note or attempted contact. He will be violating the order as soon as I am within five hundred feet of him and then all of this will go away when the cops arrive. The combination of him violating his restraining order and the warrant out for his arrest should keep him out of our hair for a while."