Afterlight (Fanfiction) ✓

chapter forty-nine

Jay

     I woke up to the feeling of Chloe's body pressed against mine, her warmth sinking into my skin like a brand. My arms were wrapped around her, holding her close, as if letting go meant losing her forever. For a moment, I let myself believe that this was real—that things between us weren't completely shattered.

Her breath was steady, her chest rising and falling in a slow, peaceful rhythm. I watched her for a while, memorizing every detail—the way her hair curled against the pillow, the way her lips parted slightly as she slept. Having her here, in my arms, made something deep inside me ache. It was the kind of ache that came from loving someone too much, too recklessly, with no way to stop it.

Chloe was inside me like a sickness, something incurable. And I didn't even want to fight it. In fact, I needed it to survive even if it killed me.

Carefully, I untangled myself from her, forcing myself to move before I did something stupid like wake her up just to hear her voice. I slid out of bed, got dressed, and headed to the bathroom, running a hand over my face. I barely recognized the guy in the mirror anymore.

Nick had left out some extra toothbrushes, so I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and tried to shake off the weight pressing against my chest. Afterwards, I was heading upstairs, the faint smell of coffee and something frying in the air.

Nick was already up, leaning against the counter, cracking eggs into a pan. He barely looked up as I entered the kitchen.

"Morning," I muttered, grabbing some orange juice from the fridge and pouring myself a glass.

"Morning," Nick echoed, watching me over his shoulder. "So? You sort things out with the girl?"

I took a sip of my drink, shaking my head. "I don't know. She still seems cold... distant." I let out a frustrated breath, setting my glass down. "I don't even understand how I got here."

Nick smirked. "You do some stupid shit when you're in love."

"No kidding." I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. "I don't regret loving her, though. I'd go through everything over and over again, if it meant having her by my side."

Nick slid a plate toward me, sitting down across from me. "Then what's the problem?"

I picked up my fork, hesitating. "It's the things she makes me do," I admitted.

A sound from the hallway made me freeze. A second later, a door slammed shut.

Chloe.

I clenched my jaw. She'd heard us. Of course she had. Nick raised an eyebrow. "You should probably go after her."

I stood up and headed back toward the bedroom, my pulse hammering. The last thing I wanted was to push her further away. I knocked softly. No answer. I pushed the door open, stepping inside. She was sitting on the bed, staring out the window like she wasn't even in the room anymore.

"Princess?" My voice was quiet, careful.

She turned slowly, her eyes meeting mine. They were unreadable. Empty. "Nobody told you to come after me," she said, her voice flat. "Don't blame this on me. I didn't force you to do all those things you never wanted to do."

I swallowed hard. "I know. You're right. I do them because I love you. I'm sorry if you misunderstood."

"Whatever."

I took a step closer, desperate to reach her, to break down the wall she kept building between us. "Don't be like that, princess. Don't shut me out again. We had a good night—don't throw—"