Arranged Love (Jelena)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Selena's POV

Christmas passed without any interference from Cole thankfully.

It was now New Year's Eve and we were back in New York at Jeremy's place for his annual New Year's party.

It was in full swing with New Year's being in less than three hours and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Jason was playing with some of Justin's cousins and Justin and I were socializing with some of his friends and their partners.

I would say wives but turns out Justin was the only one married except for one guy who was still on his honeymoon.

I excused myself to use the bathroom but on my way back down I heard someone...crying?

I stopped in front Jaxon's room where the sound seemed to be coming from and realized that he had been absent the entire time.

I knocked on the door and almost instantly his reply came.

"Go away!" He croaked in a broken voice.

I knew from experience that when someone said 'go away' they meant the exact opposite so I turned the doorknob and knew I was right when the door opened.

"I thought I said..." He trailed off when he saw me standing there.

My heart broke when I saw his puffy, bloodshot eyes and the tears running down his pale cheeks.

This was not the way a nineteen year old guy was supposed to be spending New Year's Eve.

"You shouldn't be here. Justin will be mad." He cleared his throat.

I rolled my eyes. "He'll get over it. What's wrong?" I asked taking a seat next to him and wrapping one arm around his broad shoulders.

He needed the comfort because almost immediately he sank into me but remained silent, his tears falling onto my skin.

"You can tell me Jaxon. It's okay." I cooed, gently rubbing my hand up and down his back.

"I don't - I don't want to live like this anymore. I want things to go back to the way they used to be. Before he hated me. You know, we weren't always like this. We used to be so close. He was the best brother I could have asked for. We used to do everything together even though he was five years older. He always had my back. Jaz used to get angry because he was always on my side. But then I fucked up and I lost my mom and my brother all at once. Dad never really cared much to begin with so I just gave him a reason not to care. Honestly the thought of ending it crosses my mind every now and again. I mean Dad wouldn't be bothered and Justin might even be relieved but I saw what it did to Jaz when Justin almost........I can't do that to her. But it's so hard Selena. I just...I just want my brother back." He cried and my heart clenched.

Pattie's death didn't just affect Justin like that, it affected Jaxon too but no one ever really cared enough to ask how he felt.

"But the guilt eats me alive. I'm the reason everything's like this. I broke the family apart. I'm the reason she's gone. I don't blame them for hating me. I should have died instead of her. Everyone would be better off without me."

"Jax, don't say that. Listen to me, your mom loved you that's why she got in that car after you. She wanted to protect you. Jaxon if something had happened to you, if you had been in her place it would have destroyed her. All a mother wants is to protect her child. I can assure you that if she had to, she'd do it all over again."

He opened his mouth to protest but before he could speak Justin stepped into the room.

"She's right. Mom never would have forgiven herself if something had happened to you."

Jaxon flew up.

"Justin I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me anymore. I want my brother back. Please. I'm sorry."

"Shh. Hey Jax it's okay. Come here." He said hugging him tightly.

"I'm the one that's sorry. You're my little brother. What happened was an accident. I was supposed to be there for you but I wasn't. I only thought about myself and how I felt. Not once did I think about you and for that I'm so sorry."

Jaxon wiped the tears away from his face. "God this is embarrassing. I can't believe I just cried in front you both."

And just like that everything was okay.

"Come on, let's go back down before we miss the entire party including the countdown." Justin said holding out his hand for me.

I took it with a smile on my face and we followed Jaxon down.

"Jax there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" A gorgeous blonde appeared the second his feet touched the floor.

"Well here I am." He smirked wrapping one arm around her shoulder and leading them away from us.

I wonder if that was his girlfriend. They looked nice together.

Justin led us outside away from the crowd and let go of my hand.

He stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist and I intertwined my hands with his as he rested his chin on my shoulder, dropping a kiss on the skin there.

"I love you." He murmured as I leaned back into him, closing my eyes.

"I love you too Justin. So much."

We stayed there, wrapped in each other's embrace for what felt like forever before we heard the countdown begin.

10.

Justin removed his arms from around my waist.

9.

He spun me around to face him.

8.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

7.

He held on to my hips.

6.

He leaned his forehead against mine.

5.

"Ready for the new year?"

4.

"You have no idea."

3.

"It'll be you, me and Jason against the world."

2.

"I wouldn't want it any other way.

1.

His lips touched mine as the cheers of everyone filled the night along with the fireworks.

"Happy New Year." I breathed against his lips.

"Happy New Year." He kissed me again. "Now let's go find our son."

I grinned. This was going to be a good year.

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This is a filler chapter.