Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 23~Turn The Page And Skip To The End

Jimmy's POV

When Abbie's week of punishment was up, I went up to her room to announce to her that she was no longer grounded. She hasn't talked to me or even barely looked at me since the day that I grounded her a week ago, since I yelled at her. I've never had to raise my voice at her like that, and I immediately felt bad afterward for doing so. But she wasn't listening to me, she was getting out of control and I did what Elise told me to do and laid down the law. But then she only told me she hated me and ran off, so really nothing was accomplished.

As I reached the top of the stairs and took the few steps down the hall to her room, I could hear the sound of her guitar, and I could hear her quietly singing as she played. I stopped and stood outside the door to listen, back behind the wall so she couldn't see me. Most likely she couldn't hear me coming up the stairs because when she plays, she gets lost in the music and she's oblivious to everything else.

"Can hold my breath only for a little while,

'Til reality starts sinking in.

Once again, I'm settling for second best,

Turn the pages, skip to the end to where I swore that I would try,

Since the last time I crossed that line, in the back of my mind,

I know,

It only hurts when your eyes are open,

Lies get tossed and truth is spoken.

It only hurts when that door gets opened,

Dreams are lost and hearts are broken..."

Not wanting to interrupt, I just stood there and listened to her. I knew that she'd probably rather I didn't listen if she knew I was here, but I couldn't seem to bring myself to walk away. So I just sat down outside her room there in the hall and listened to her continue the song.

"Miles away,

Promise from a burning bed,

Two worlds should never collide.

One word, would end it if you ever heard,

Tear the page out that reminds me,

When I swore that I'd be strong now the next time has come and gone,

Well maybe I'm wrong.

I know,

It only hurts when your eyes are open,

Lies get tossed and truth is spoken.

It only hurts when that door gets opened,

Dreams are lost and hearts are broken!

I know what you're feeling,

It's hard to believe in someone,

Someone who's not there!

I know that you're waiting,

'Cause love is worth saving,

But only for so long, so long, so long!"

I listened to her voice get stronger, instead of the quiet softness that she started out with, it now had an edge with a little bit of bite to it. The line, 'It's hard to believe in someone, someone who's not there' made a lump form and settle in my throat when she sang it because I knew who that was directed at.

"I swore that I would try, since the last time,

The last time.

It only hurts when your eyes are open,