New and Improved (Jason McCann love story)

Chapter four

~New and Improved~ part four

Tori's point of view:

We walk deeper into the woods in silence and found a small lake. I sat under a big oak tree, I shut my eyes. Now wonder why he goings here, it's peaceful. I open my eyes and saw him sit next to me. Being here, he different. Its like he let go of the bad boy image and showed the real him. Is this the real him? He laid his head back against the tree before speaking again.

"I remember Justin coming in my room one night and told me we were going somewhere. But I didn't know the man were taking us. They took us to the house back there," he points past the oak tree, towards the way we came. So that's why that's old house is important to him.

My heart sunk hearing this story.

"If we didn't do what they say, we got beaten. Justin protected me from beatings they were going to give me. It got to the point where they just hit Justin. I remember hearing him screaming and yelling," a tear run down his cheek.

Deep in my heart, I started to fall. He's showing he's vulnerable side, something I know that is hard for him. I wipe the tear away, I expected him to smack my hand away, but he didn't.

"It's okay, Jason. I promise it's okay. You don't have to tell me anymore," I coo, cuffing his face in my hands. He's eyes were red and puffy from crying. He shook his head and pulls me into his lap. I totally didn't expect this. He buries his head in my shoulder as I rub his hair. After a few minutes, he breathing slows and the crying stops.

Every since I was taken, I prayed to escape. But now? I'm not so sure. He needs someone in his life. Someone who cares. Someone who loves him. Someone who will take his life in their hands. But it can't be me. I'm not the one for him. And I'm not sure if he's the one for me.

He shook his head. "I want to tell you." He pushes me gently off his lap and walks to the lake and splashes his face with the cool water. He sits beside me again and lays his head against the tree.

"One night," He continues. "When all the guys were asleep, he snuck us out. Before long, I guess the guys figured out that we escaped. We ran as fast as we could or as fast as he could drag me. They started shooting at us. Justin fid me behind a tree and told me to run when he said so. I didn't want to leave him. Justin was the only one who cared for me. Our parents didn't care what happened to us."

As he told the story, I started feeling tears coming.

"He told me to run, But I couldn't leave him. Not with them. I remember him cursing at me and I got scared and ran off. I know now he did it out of love and he cared. He just wanted me to get away. Even if it meant that he stayed. I ran back for him, to apologies for being to stupid and weak. But what I remember that most is seeing him being shot and killed in front of me."

I gasp, covering my hands over my mouth. I wrap my arms around his neck. He seemed shocked and hugs me back. All i wanted was to take his pain away. To heal his wounds.

What am I doing? This guy killed people, bombed places. I should ran in the woods and get away from him, like a normal person. But I'm not a normal person.

"It's okay. You have the right to feel the way you do. I wish I could help," I say, pulling away. He looks at me with a shocked expression.

"You care?" He asks.

"Yes, I care. Nobody should have to go through that."

He signs and mumbles something under his breath.

"What?" What did he say? He pulls me into his lap again and presses our foreheads together.

"You are different."