The Sub

Chapter 33

Luke
Earlier that morning:

"I understand." I close my eyes and hang up the phone. Jacey is going to hate this.

"Hey baby, I have bad news..." I tell her coming into the living room. Her eyes meet mine and I know to continue. "We need to head out tonight. Dad needs me home for work. I'm so sorry. I know it's New Years Eve and we were going to the pier, I'm sorry."

She smiles and I'm shocked. "That's alright, we've had a great time. I'm sure we can come back sometime." She meets me at the middle of the room and her lips touch mine. I melt. This girl has me in the palm of her hand and I doubt she knows.

I'm willing to do anything to just see her smile and keep her in my arms. I've done so much wrong in my life, and even to her. I've hurt her and that is something I'll always regret. I will make up for it and we will stay together.

Forever.

---

"Everyone please begin boarding the 8:15 flight to Seattle." The voice comes out softly from the intercoms around the room.

Jacey begged me not to take the private jet, being as she hasn't ever flown internationally on a plane. She wants to experience it and I've decided not to deny her this simple request.

"Coming?" She asks me and I nod. She walks a few steps in front of me. We board the plane, going up to first class, I refuse to sit coach and possibly have some grubby boy around Jacey. She didn't argue, plus I believe she likes the privacy up in first class.

"It looks like we might be the only two up here." She says looking around the plane as we sit. I can't help but admire her childlike manner. She's changed since I first met her, and it's something I enjoy seeing. She's a story that never ends, and I'm so invested that I'll never stop reading.

"Possibly, since it's New Year's Eve." I tell her.

"I hate that these people have to work tonight. They should be home with their families." She sighs sitting back in her seat. Her hair falls in front of her face and she brushes it away, though a small piece comes back and she ignores it.

I could sit and admire her all evening. All my life, honestly. I hate that she's going to leave me in the spring for college, but I could always ask to be placed in the New York office; if she wants that. I want to be with her all the time, and she seems to pull away when I try. Then when I leave her alone, she assumes the worse.

"Baby, maybe you should sleep. It's going to be a long flight." I can tell she's tired, she doesn't sleep as well at night with her injury.

Her lips curl into a smile and I can't help but grin back at her. She is so beautiful. "Do you know how much I love it when you call me baby?" She rests her head against my shoulder and wraps her arms around mine.

"Do you know how much I love you?"

"Yes, and I love you," she tells me. I kiss her temple, her cheek, and then she meets my lips with hers. I move the arm rest between us up and pull her closer to me. God, I want her. I want her more now than I ever have. Knowing she loves me back changed everything.

I've get love before, and I've loved before; but nothing has ever felt this right. Nothing has ever felt this good. We stop kissing and she lays back against me.

Jacey is sleeping on my shoulder and I've never felt so content. This is perfect.

A loud siren blasts through the plane and I jump, waking Jacey.

No, this can't be happening.

---

You never think something will be your last. Your brain isn't wired to expect a day is your last day.

I can still hear her crying and screaming. I can almost feel her pain. I wish it could have been quick for her, I wish she didn't have to feel any pain.

It's fucked up when you have to wish for someone's death to have been fast, when you shouldn't have had to lose that person.

I wish it had been me.

Jacey had so much to live for. The world needed her beauty and compassion in it, and it was torn away because of a faulty plane. One, I shouldn't have agreed to let us take.

Now I've spent a month in the hospital and Jacey is dead.

Jacey is dead.