Bring Me Light [Editing]

Chapter 17 - Elena

I lay on my bed, staring at the darkened ceiling above my head. I turned my head to the clock. The blinking sign read 2:24 and I watched it until it read 2:25.

I replayed the events of yesterday in my head, and I know I screwed up. The words spilled from my mouth without me thinking, and only now do I know it.

The clock reads 2:26 and I can't fall asleep. The only thing in my head is Jackson...

Jackson.

Charming and kind, thoughtful and funny. How could I fall for a guy like that? But I fell anyway. His smile, his eyes, blue and sparkly. God Elena, your dreaming about his EYES now???

The clock sit atop my bedside table, ticking away the sanity in my head. 2:35.... 2:36....

I looked back up at the ceiling. I was so done with this feeling. I picked up my phone and decided to text Jackson, even if it was 2:41 in the morning. I began to scroll through my recent texts to find at the top the vague one I had sent this afternoon.

Elena: I just don't know anymore.

I opened up his contact and started typing a message when the three little dots showed up on his half of the screen.

I deleted what I had started to write, and waited for his message. Within a few moments, it came.

Jackson: You shouldn't be up so late. There's school tomorrow.

I stared at the message in shock. That was really all he had to say to me!? I quickly started typing a reply.

Elena: I could say the same for you. And by "tomorrow" you mean later today?

I smirked proudly to myself as he shot a text right back.

Jackson: Dont be a know-it-all. You knew what I meant. Now go to sleep, or I might just have to walk across the dark and scary alleyway to force your eyelids shut.

Elena: Dark and scary alleyway? I think I've found this superhero's kryptonite.

Jackson: So you think I'm a hero?

I stop and read the last few messages. Shoot. I forgot we were still on bad terms for a second there. My small smile immediately becomes a tight frown.

Elena: Why would you care?

There's a long pause before the dots come back up on the screen, and then a new message comes in.

Jackson: Just because I'm mad doesn't mean I dont care. Goodnight Elena.

I stare at the screen for a couple more minutes before finally shutting it off and placing my phone on the table beside me.

Recently, I've been thinking to myself how things would be if I hadn't ever met Jackson. Sure, I wouldn't have had to go through this mess, and sure, I wouldn't have had to break out of my comfort zone so much. But then if I hadn't met Jack, I'd still be holed up in my room, mourning Joy, not eating or sleeping, and in a depressed state.

Such a hard decision, I thought to myself, my eyes slowly drifting closed. Life without Jackson, what would I do? How would I react?

And right as my eyes fully closed shut, and I relaxed into the pillow, a final thought crossed my mind.

Just because I'm mad, doesn't mean I dont care.

Life without Jackson......screw that.

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Another short Elena chapter -- so sorry. Tell us your thoughts and ideas! We love to hear what you have to say about our story.

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WritingGeeks Team