Please Stay.

Chapter 6

I finally stop crying after an hour, but I don't move from the position I am in, in fear when that Jackson will say something.

Miah slips down to my face and whispers, "You okay Rae?"

I clear my throat a little, "Yeah I'm okay. Just a lot of emotions and memories for one day."

He laughs a little, "You tired?"

"Honestly no. My adrenaline is still up enough."

"Well do you want to watch TV?"

I shake my head no and lay back on the bed.

Mrs.Stacey comes around the curtain about ten minutes later. "RaeLynn? Can I talk to you?"

"Yeah of course. I'm sorry about earlier."

"No no don't be. Jackson just told me what happened. I'm sorry things went the way they did for you two."

I can feel tears trying to brim my eyes. "Sometimes friendships end. There's nothing we can do about it. "

"Yeah but things certainly didn't have to end the way the way they did love."

"Things happen Stacey. What happened between us was a long time coming. He and I are two totally different people now than we were when we became friends. That's just the way things go"

"I understand. But I never raised my boy to be that way. You're a good girl. Someone he needs in his life. You don't deserve what he did to you."

"Maybe not. But honestly it's better things are this way. I wish they hadn't of ended the way they did but I can't change the past."

"I know. I just wish he still had your influence in his life."

I don't say anything but the curtain starts to draw back. Jackson struggles to get the curtain back so Stacey helps him. "RaeLynn. I'm truly sorry for what I did. I thought that having someone who was a good influence on me was holding me back. In all reality my real reason was because you always knew what to do, what to say, and didn't do what everyone else was doing. I just wanted you to do be like the rest of us, so you would fit in. But over time I just lost any sense of what it felt like to be myself so I screwed you over and left you. I'm sorry."

I bite back tears, "I accept your apology but don't think that this fixes things. I don't know that we can ever go back to the way we were before.  I don't think I can look at you the same way I use to."

He shakes his head, "I know. But you deserve that apology. You deserve more than that but I don't know what else I can do."

I nod my head at him. "I don't mean to be rude, but it's been a really long day. I think I'm going to try to get some sleep. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry hunny. Get your rest." Mrs. Stacey says.

I nod my head and Miah turns the light down. He walks over to the chair and sits down. "Do you think you're sleeping over there?"

"I mean yeah. Where else would I sleep?"

"You're my best friend. Just sleep in the bed with me. "

"What do you think the doctors would think about that?"

"Do I give a shit about what they think? No. It's almost 2 A.M. and you came out here just to make sure I'm okay. Get in the bed and get some rest."

"Okay okay. You are one feisty girl tonight."

I laugh and move over in the bed. He gets in the bed and pulls the covers over his legs. "Do you care if I lay up against your side?"

"Not at all."

I snuggle up against his side. "Thank you for coming out today. I don't know if I would have stayed so calm."

"You know I wouldn't leave you like that. You'd do the same for me."

We stare at each other for a second before I lay my head on his chest and drift off to sleep.