in the night | the weeknd

fifteen

Abel

"You okay, baby?" I ask Jasmine. She's been quiet ever since we got home two hours ago. I've tried to get her to speak, but she just mumbles or shrugs or nods in answer.

Jasmine is sitting cross-legged on the couch, staring at a particular spot. "She's dead because of me," she whispers.

"What?" I ask, wanting to know if I hear her right.

"She's dead because of me," Jasmine says louder.

I walk over to her and sit down beside her. I put my hand on her shoulder, but she shrugs me off. "Who's dead?" I question.

Jasmine looks at me with tearful eyes. "My mum," she answers quietly. "She died because of me. I'm a horrible person!"

I shake my head, feeling anger burning up inside up. "The only horrible person is your mum!" I spit. "She didn't believe you about Jamal!"

Jasmine looks at me, shaking her head. "But she's dead now," she tells me. "She committed suicide because of me. If I didn't run away, she'd still be alive." Jasmine rubs her temples, hissing under her breath.

I grab her face and make her look me in the eye. "If you didn't run away, you'd still be in that house," I say. "With that bastard. What happened to your mum is sad, but she made her own choice. It's not your fault."

Jasmine starts crying, her whole body shaking. "It is!" she sobs. "It is!"

I wrap my arms around her and she buries her head in my shoulder, crying. "It's not," I tell her softly, touching her hair.

"Everyone's dead because of me," Jasmine says. "My mum, Dre and now Jamal."

And they all deserved it, I think bitterly to myself. Especially Jamal. He deserved to burn.

"Maybe I should go to the police and confess," Jasmine murmurs, pulling away from me and looking at me.

I look at her like she's insane. My heart starts racing and my throat goes dry. "No," I whisper. "You can't leave me again. Please. I love you. I just got you back - you can't leave me."

Jasmine's bottom lip starts wobbling and she nods. "I love you, too, Abel," she replies. She kisses my cheek and wraps her arms around me.

"It's not you fault," I tell her. "You have to understand that."

Jasmine nods and pulls away from me, resting her forehead against mine. "I need a blunt," she mumbles to herself.

I nod and lean over to grab two from the draw as well as a lighter. I light it up for her and she takes it between her lips, sighing when she takes a long draw and breathes out.

We finish smoking our blunts in peace and Jasmine rests her head on my lap. She looks up at me through her long lashes, smiling. "I'm glad I have you, Abel," she whispers. "If I didn't have you, I'd probably be dead by now."

I squeeze my eyes shut. "Don't say that," I tell her, stroking her cheek.

Jasmine brushes her fingers over my lips. "But, it's true," she replies in a soft voice. "You saved me from that fire. I wouldn't be if it wasn't for you." She grabs my hand and kisses it. "You know, the whole time I was in that fire, all I could think about was you and how much I love you."

"Don't," I say, but she puts a finger to my lips.

"And I realised that I want to get married to you and have a family with you," she says.

My lips form into a small smile. "Really?" I ask and she nods.

"I love you, Abel Tesfaye," Jasmine says, getting up and straddling my lap. "Always have and always will."

I grin. "I love you, too," I tell her and pull her down to kiss her. At first, the kiss is so gentle and loving, but then it becomes more desperate on both our parts.

Jasmine grabs my jumper and lifts it up, pulling it off my body and I take off her top.

One hand rests on her back, while the other cradles her cheek as we continue to kiss passionately.

Jasmine starts fumbling around with my belt and zips down my jeans. Her hair falls in my face and I brush it away, holding it back with my hand, while the other runs up and down her back.

Jasmine pulls away, staring at me with so much love. "I need to shower," she announces and I nod, knowing that we have to stop. She gets up and pulls my hand. "Aren't you going to come with me?"

I smile and get up, walking with her to the bathroom. I try to ignore the throbbing in my boxers.

When we enter the bathroom, Jasmine turns towards me and crashes her lips against mine. She starts pulling down my jeans and I do the same with her.

I unclip the back of Jasmine's bra and she takes it off. She pulls down my boxers - causing my length to spring free - and eyes it down before kissing me again.

I pull down her underwear and she steps out of them, flicking them to the side.

Jasmine starts walking backwards towards the shower, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck as we continue to kiss.

We step into the shower and without breaking the kiss, I switch the shower on.

The warm water hits us, causing both our bodies to get wet. The glass shower walls start to steam up.

I push Jasmine lightly against the wall and start kissing at her neck, while my hands massage her breasts. She moans quietly into my ear and I smile against her neck.

My tongue trails down to her breasts and I start licking and sucking in particular spots. I peek up to find that Jasmine has her eyes closed and her lips parted a little. I connect our lips again, catching her off guard.

Jasmine wraps a leg around me and I pick her up, grabbing her other leg and putting it around me.

I grab my length and just when I'm about to enter her, I look into her eyes. "I love you," I whisper.

"I love you, too."