Player 99

Homecoming

AN: I realize that I have neglected this, and my other stories, and for that, I'm so sorry! I left you hanging and I'm sorry. I know how it feels. So, I hereby present you a new chapppie! Enjoy and please don't hate me! 

*Paige POV* 

Oh god. Everything hurt. My eyes, my throat, my lungs, my arms, legs, chest, god, everything. I was in pain and numb at the same time. How was that even possible? How was I alive? Why am I alive? I thought I ended it. My eyes fluttered open. Bright, florescent light made close them again. 

"I love you," a voice said. My heart sang. It was J.J! I felt a tear prick my eye, but I swallowed and willed it away as he took my hand and pressed it to his face. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault," he said, his voice low, broken, defeated. I forced myself to open my eyes again. The light hurt, but it was bareable now. I turned my head. J.J. was sitting there, my hand still against his face. "This is all my fault." He looked overcomed. 

His eyes were shut, bags hanging beneath them along with dark circles. He had a lot of scruff growing. His hair was a complete mess, like he hadn't brushed or fixed it in a while. He was wearing a hoodie and some jeans. Though he was big and broad, right now, he looked small and frail, like if you blew at him, he would shatter into dust and be blown away. It practially tore my heart out of my chest to see him like this, blaming himself for something that I willingly went back to and then did something to end it. If this was anyone's fault, it was mine for going back to Robert, something I will never do again, and then trying to kill myself. I guess he took up his promise and came back for me. 

"No," I croaked, my throat on fire with that one, single word. His eyes flashed open, exposing his baby blues. I smiled, knowing that I was probably an eyesore. His smile, his face, his eyes were drowned in relief. I patted my hand against his cheek. It took a lot, but when he turned his head into it, made it all worth it. He clasped it gently in his and pressed it to his lips. 

"Oh, god, Paige," he said, his voice cloaked in relief and joy. He leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead. "This is all my fault," he said, when he pulled away. I opened my mouth to argue but he pressed a finger to my lips, shushing me.

"It is. I never should have let you walk out my apartment. I never should have let them bully you into that god damned contract. I should have fought for you. I should have made you believe that I haven't given up on you, that I stopped loving you." He was nearly in tears now. I was close. I could feel the familiar heat in my cheeks, the sting in my eyes. "I never should have walked out of your apartment when you told me. I never should have done a lot of things, Paige, but if you let me, I plan on doing a lot of things, the things I should have done. Like taking your hand." He clasped mine and gently interwove our fingers together.

"Kissing you." He leaned in and kissed me softly on my lips.

"And telling you I love you." He leaned back, our hands still clasped together. He took a deep breath before he spoke again. My heart pounded the words I knew were coming. My heart rate machine picked up speed. 

"Paige, I love you so damn much." 

Those words pushed me over the edge. Tears of joy, of love, fell freely now. My throat burned with each one that fell and my lungs felt like they were going to become puddy at any moment. I loved him too, so much. I swallowed the lump in my throat and opened my mouth to tell him so. 

"Bro, that was so beautful," a voice said. I turned. Cushing was sitting there, hair a mess, scruff going too, in jeans and a t shirt, and tears running down his face. "That was so beautfiul!" He smiled, wiping some of his tears way. He looked at me, his eyes full of relief, love, joy, sadness, anger. They reflected J.J.'s emotions so clearly.