A Broken Life

Chapter 16

"Alright, well I'm on my way out, I'll be back Monday, which is three days away in case you've forgotten." Thea grabs her purse, and her luggage. I mumble as I stuff a Toaster Strudel in my mouth, and change the T.V. channel. She just looks at me and sighs. She gathers her things, and grabs her keys, "Oh, and please, lay off on the whole hanging out with Tommie thing for a while please."

"Why?" I ask with my mouth partially full. Her face scrunches up, but then she decides to ignore my horrible manners.

"Well, I just don't want anybody to get the wrong ideas, and grow feelings and stuff. Besides! He's been eating all the food and I already have to struggle with a hungry you, so I just need to give the pantry a rest for a bit, ok? "

"Uh... ok..." I decide to wave it off and not argue with her. She gives me one last hug before she leaves, and heads out the door. Once she leaves I head straight for the pantry.

"She said to keep Tommie away from the pantry, she never said I couldn't visit." I smile evilly and scavenge for food. Before I can make up my mind on what to take someone knocks on my door.

I slowly walk towards the door knowing it's not Tommie because his parents took him out of town for the week. The knock comes again, and it now sounds familiar to me. My hand hovers over the doorknob, and before he can knock a third time, I swing the door open.

I look at him, and he's wearing a black t-shirt and ripped navy blue jeans. His hair is messy, and his eyes look tired. He runs his hand through his hair, and looks at me desperately.

"Hey-" I'm interrupted by his warm comforting arms embracing me in a hug. I instinctively hug him back and we stand there hugging each other like our lives depended on it.

It's his turn to mumble the words 'I've missed you' and we separate from our embrace. He closes the door, and we head to the right to sit in the living room.

We sit down, and he grabs my hands. "I can't do this anymore Elle. I tried acting like a jerk so it'd be easier for us to stay away, but it sucks. I meant what I said yesterday about loving you. Elle, I love you so much it hurts." He looks at me, then looks at the floor, as if he's trying to figure out what to say next. "I've cared for you for a long time, and... is it bad of me to say that I'm kinda glad you're pregnant, because I don't think I would've been able to have the guts to tell you how I feel right now if we hadn't have gone to that party." He rubs the back of his neck embarrassed of the way he stated that sentence.

"And I know you were probably pushing me away because you're afraid, but Elle you don't have to be afraid. I know, I'm sorry for letting you push me away, but it was so hard for me to do, and I promise you, I will never leave you again."

My heart melts, and my mind wonders if I'm just daydreaming, and that he's not even here right now. I pinch myself but nothing changes. My hormones kick in again, and tears start to fill my eyes. I hug him again and want to tell him that I understand, and I forgive him for fighting with me, and that I'm sorry for pushing him away, and that I.. I lov- but I can only whisper, "Jackson." And as if he knew exactly what I was trying to say, he pulls back then leans in to kiss me, and I let him. Sparks didn't fly like the storybooks tell you; no it was more like fireworks exploding. It was amazing and we pushed all of our emotions into that one long kiss.

We break apart, and only our foreheads touch. We sit there in the silence, and it's no longer suffocating, no it feels like it was the prefect moment. I never wanted it to end.

My phone buzzes, and we break apart so I can check it.

Tommie =) : Hey shorty! How's life treating you? I miss ya!

I turn to face Jackson to see that he also had a chance to read the text over my shoulder. He looks upset again, and I sigh.

I grab his face in my hands, "Jackson if this is going to work, then we'll need to talk about some things first."