Second Life (Book Two in the Awakening trilogy)

11: The Aftermath

2 months later...

JACOB

El hasn't really moved from the couch. She always has her hair up and wears sweatpants. I don't blame her. If we hadn't left, I would've killed him, it takes every ounce of will not to go back and rip him apart. El doesn't even sleep in the bedroom. She sleeps on the couch and I sleep in the recliner, sometimes I don't sleep at all. She's just so traumatized she can barely hold my hand, only when she's in desperate need for comfort. I swear that I'm killing that bastard when I get the chance.

"Jake?" Her voice snaps me out of thought .

"Yeah?" She pats the spot beside her and I slowly walk over and sit. She takes both my hands in hers and turns so that she is completely facing me.

"You know that I love you right?" She asks.

"Yeah, and I love you too."

Hesitation crosses her face before she does what I thought she'd never do again. Her lips crash onto mine. I kiss back, just not as hard. She pushes me down on the couch and pulls back.

"You're scared?" Confusion rides across her face.

"No, I thought you weren't ready, and I don't want to do anything that could trigger a memory."

She sits back and crosses her arms. So bites her lip and frowns. She goes to say something but stops. El looks up at the ceiling and back to me.

"Why would I kiss you if- why would I try to do anything if I was ready!?!" She says, clearly hurt.

"Elizabeth." My voice filled with regret.

"Just don't. Okay!?!" Her voice shakes.

"I'm sorry, El okay. I just don't want to see you hurt. Don't you get that I'm in love with you and nothing can change that."

El sighs and looks down. My hand reaches over and lightly touches her cheek. She spins around and our lips lock. El pins me to the couch and our lips stay locked. She takes my hands and push them down past her waist.

"El."

"Jake, I'm ready." She whispers.
**********************************************TimeGap********************One Week Time***************************
I wake up in bed with El on my chest. Her hair a mess, but a slight smile on her lips. El- she's changed. She's stronger, her hair changed color, her accent is stronger, she's always waiting for me to get home. Something weird is going on, I'm not gonna lie, I like that El's clingy, she's at least 10 times sexier when she's clingy. But she's not the El that I've known for almost a year.

ELIZABETH

My eyes flutter open. A small yawn slips my lips. I slowly make myself sit up and smile at Jake. He reaches up into my hair and pulls something out. My face contorts when I realize it's a feather from a pillow. I look on the floor and start laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"We were drunk- again."

"I wasn't, I remember all it."

"Jake, you drank half the bottle."

"El, you chugged it. Then we made out and one thing lead to another."