Dark Paradise//J.M.

Memories

Chapter 20: Memories

"What do you mean this isn't the first time?" I asked.

"It's not the first time Jason's hit a girl. He snaps a lot, we know. That's how Jason is so when I saw you run into the bathroom, I knew that that's what it was." Cameron explained.

"You don't know that." I replied, defensively.

"Vanessa, you don't have to deny it. I know Jason. I know him more than you ever will and I know the things he's capable of." He told me.

"But you don't love him the way I do. You may know him as the Jason he's been all along but he's different with me." I argued.

He shrugged and began walking towards the air hockey table, "I'm just warning you. It seems like he's this super sweet guy and he's all shits and giggles for you but come on, lets be realistic. The world's most wanted criminal is suddenly captivated by a girl who's been held hostage for almost 3 years?"

"You're making it sound impossible. Like Jason is incapable to love." I rolled my eyes, standing in my place.

"Maybe because he is? Jason's never been shown love before. The guy barely even loves himself. He's filled with self hatred and insecurities, how in the hell would he be able to love another human being?" he questions me.

"I-I don't know but h-he loves me." I stutter, tears brimming my eyes.

"See, you're oblivious and in denial. I've seen it many times before and it never ends well. I'm telling you, once your family comes, leave. Get away from here. As fast as you ca-" He began saying until he was cut off.

"What the hell is going on down here?" Jacob interrupted.

"N-nothing Jacob." Cameron stuttered.

"Vanessa, go up stairs. Give us a minute." Jacob said, his jaw tense and his voice stern.

I left without a word, too scared to say anything.

Cameron's POV

"What the hell do you think you're doing you fucking idiot?!" He shouted in my face.

"I'm protecting her!"I shouted back.

"She's Jason's. Stop interfering." He told me.

"Why? You know how Jason is. She'll either end up dead or held hostage like all those other girls. He's no better than Alex or Derek." I spat.

His jaw tensed up even more and his eyes narrowed at me, " You don't think I know that you tiny minded fuck?! But do you not know how dangerous he is? If you fuck with him, he can do the worst possible things that come into his sick, twisted mind!"

"Jacob, I'd rather this girl live and maybe get her life back instead of her being Jason's interest whenever he feels like it." I told him, venom dripping with every word.

"You have no say in what Jason chooses to do whether it's if this girl dies or if he actually decides to love her." He replied.

Vanessa's POV

What did Cameron mean? I know it seems crazy to think that maybe the worlds most wanted man who kills innocent people for a living all of a sudden wants to feel compassion and love toward someone. Especially someone like me. It's not like I was always the girl guys were infatuated with. Yeah, I had friends and I was somewhat popular but I've never had someone be "in love" with me and out of all people, it's the Jason McCann. I guess you do have to be psycho to love me because what normal human being would fall in love with me?

"Vanessa...?" Jason questioned, waving his hand in my face.

"Huh?" I jumped a bit, snapping back into reality. I hadn't realized that I made my way back to where everyone was.

"What did Cameron say?" He asked.

"Oh uh, he just told me that Gabriel talked about wanting to speak to me about how he feels hopeless. He doesn't know that you're planning on adopting him so he's worrying about what's going to happen." I lied.

He nodded in understanding and made his way up the stairs. I didn't know whether or not he wanted me to follow until I realized he didn't look back to see if I was coming or not. I decided to explore the house a bit more.

I made my way towards the arcade room but took a turn in the opposite direction. It led to another hallways full of doors. I made my way towards the double doors all the way at the end of the corridor. I was a bit scared to open the doors, you never know what to expect when it comes to Jason.

After a few moments of pacing up and down the hall, I finally worked up the courage to just go for it. I pushed open the double doors, expecting something horrific... but it wasn't. It was the biggest library I've ever seen. Walls stacked with books and novels. Who would've thought?

I made my way to one of the tall stacked walls, dragging my hand along the hard spine books. I randomly selected one and pulled it out. They're not books... They're journals? They can't be books. Messy, barely literate, handwriting scribbled about the old dated yellowing pages. 

They're Jason's jour-

"What are you doing in here?" A voice said sternly behind me.

I jumped, snapping out of my thoughts.

I turned around quickly to notice it was Matthew,"N-nothing. I was just c-curious."

"You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat." He chuckled

I smiled half heartedly, not really up for jokes.

"Cameron told me." He shrugged.

"Told you what exactly?" I rolled my eyes and made my way to a leather seat in the room.

"About what Jason did to you. You know that it's not right for him to lay a ha-" he began but I cut him off.

"It's none of your business nor is it Cameron's. What happens between Jason and me stays between the two of us." I replied, my mood getting worse.

"I hate to say this but you don't know Jason the way you want to. You think you know him because he's painted and portrayed this beautiful picture of himself but you don't know the Jason we all know. We've been his punching bags for the past few years." He stated.

"Maybe he's changed." I replied.

"You're in denial. Anyone who thinks that maybe, just freaking maybe, Jason's changed is out of their mind. You haven't known him long enough. Want to know the truth? Look for the journal of Summer, 2008." He said and left.

I guess I'm going to find out what dirty secrets Jason's been hiding for the past 9 years...

Authors Note

Hello Lovely Readers💕

It's been a while. I say it every time I update and I'm genuinely sorry. A lot has been going on and I'm honestly overwhelmed. I hope you guys still like this book and my sad attempts at trying to make it good and bearable to read. Thank you guys for all the support and not giving up on me. It's really appreciative and I don't know what I would do without you guys.

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Love, ari