Ever After

Chapter 26: Strangers

I decided to go for a walk by myself later that day. I just needed to clear my head and I could tell by the way Jackie frowned that he didn't want me to go by myself and he knew that it wasn't a good sign. I know that he was sorry for snapping but this had been happening a lot lately.

He would have never treated me like that. Never in a million years. Maybe he's just tired of the same old same old. I frown at that bumping into someone. It's dusky outside and I hadn't realized how long I had been walking. "Sorry..." I whisper. They were a group of men and I didn't recognize them not one bit. "It's alright. Aren't you Mrs. Peters?" I nod contently looking up at the tall man.

He smirks. "Why'd a man like that leave someone so pretty to walk alone? I'll tell you what how about I buy you a drink." I shake my head stepping away from the man. "That's okay. I need to be heading home." He grabs my wrist. "Are you sure?" I yank on my wrist and his grip tightens pulling me flat against him. He places a hand on my back and I cringe softly.

"Cause I hate to see a pretty little thing like you walk away. Guys go ahead. I'll catch up." He says and I try forcefully to push him away as they leave. He pushes me to the side of the building blocking me in. He presses his lips to my neck. "Come on baby you know that a hard working man like that has no time to please you correctly." I try pulling my arms free and tears pool in my eyes. "Get away from me. Please..." He lifts my face. "You could have just come easily and it wouldn't have had to be this way." He makes his way down my body. "Stop!" I sob loudly and that's when I hear a familiar voice. "The lady said stop."

I look up to see Cody. The man smiles at him. "And who the hell are you?!" He steps up. "Listen either I can kick your ass or you can go have a good time with your friends you choose." The man grumps slapping my ass before whispering a short 'I'll see you around' before leaving. Cody rushes to me. "Mrs. Peters are you alright?" I sob softly wrapping my arms around him.

"Thank you." I whisper and he hugs me. "My apartment is right across the street please let me take you there so I can call Jackson." I'm sobbing to hard and I'm too lost to object so I just nod. He leads me to his apartment setting me down in a chair. I hear his mumbles as he explains everything to Jackson and I cry harder.

Eventually Jackson knocks harshly and Cody opens the door. "Where is she?!" I flinch at his tone but when we see each other it's a whole new story as I run to him sobbing as I wrap my arms around his neck. He wraps me in his arms shushing me softly. "Are you hurt?" I shake my head. "I tried Jackie...I didn't want him to..." He kisses me and every muscle in my body relaxes.

"Darling this is not you're fault. Do you hear me?" I huff. "Yeah it is. I had to go on that stupid walk." I scratch at my nails and there are already big chunks missing because of how distressed I was. "Baby stop..." He says taking my hands. "Come on baby girl look at me?" I do and he smiles. "How about we go home yeah? I can run you a bath and repaint your nails. Anything you like." I sniffle. "You aren't mad?" He pecks my nose. "I can't be mad at you for something that you had no control over." I smile. "Will you join me in this bath?" He rubs his nose against mine. "If that's what you want doll." I nod softly. "Take me home please." I whisper and he nods. "Sure thing love."

*

I hum sinking further into the tub. Jackson had dropped a bath bomb in right after he had gotten out. There was this silence between us. We didn't talk we just existed. Eventually I pull on my clothes on heading out. He's sitting on the bed playing on his phone. I step out silently and I hear him whisper. "Have you picked a color?" I glance at him funny. "For your nails love."

I swallow. "Oh no I haven't." He smiles. "Would you like me to pick?" I nod softly. I hold my stomach as he steps into the bathroom. It grumbles harshly. "Hungry?" I nod. "I ordered pizza. Come sit." I step over sitting softly next to him. He holds up the pale blue bottle of nail polish I know he loved so much.

It falls silent for a while as he paints. "I'm sorry love..." He says as he finishes the middle finger on my right hand. I glance up at him. "I was harsh this morning. I was rude for no reason and I'm sorry. You could have gotten hurt today because of it." I swallow. "Jackie what's got you so moody lately? One day I'm your queen and the next I'm gum on the bottom of your shoe." He huffs finishing my right hand.

"I'm worried doll. I'm holding you back from all the great things you could be. I know I take it out on you and I'm sorry. I just feel so shitty." I huff. "Jackie I'm not stuck. I want to be here I just need you to stop taking things out on me. It hurts Jackson more than anything you could understand. Sometimes I think your just bored of me. It's the same thing night after night." He stops painting lifting his head.

"That will never ever be true. I can and I will love you for the rest of my life. Not a day goes by that I regret having you or that I get sick of you. I love you. I'm so sorry I'm not the best. I want to start over. I want to show you that I don't need the money that I'd give everything to make sure it's you that I watch sleep soundly next to me first thing in the morning. You and those little girls are my world. I'd die for all of you."

I stare at him before letting my head fall. "You say that today Jackie but in a few days we will be having this same argument. Nothing changes." He kisses me gently. "I'm sorry baby. I don't know how to fix it." I bite my lip lightly out of anxiety. "Maybe we can't." I look down at my freshly painted nails. "I won't lose you..." He whispers. "I'm sorry that my stupid sad boring life has to trap you here but I need you." I sigh. "Maybe we just need a getaway like old times. Jackie I know my loves still there but every time you yell I feel like I'm breaking. You would never have yelled at me like that but now..." He cups my face.

"Times changed me but I know that I'm still in here Tea. I'm still that silly high school boy you met. You bring him out in me. I love you so much. Name a place. We'll go." I huff. "Prove to me he's still there." He smiles getting up. I watch him head over to the closet. He disappears into it and soon he comes back out with something in his hands. He sits. "Remember this?" He asks and I reach my hand out touching the leather jacket. I look up at him. "I kept it. Not just because I loved it but because it reminded me of you. For awhile it even smelled like you. I never wanted to let that go."

I smile reaching over carefully into my bedside table pulling out a box. I open it showing him the necklace he had gotten me with our names engraved. "I kept this too Jackie. It's a reminder of that night and maybe it was plain but it was a special night to me." I look up at him and he smiles. "You know I wear that watch you bought me every day. When people ask me and joke about it being cheap for someone like me I just simply state 'Someone special bought it for me'. It's a reminder of you and it helps me through the days sometimes." I smile too.

He leans forward connecting our lips and I smile into it. "Florida." I whisper and he smiles. "What?" I hum. "I wanna go to my grandpas farm in Florida. Come on we can really be ourselves there and he hasn't seen the kids at all." He smiles. "Okay sure. But we gotta make it through this first baby. I know it's gonna be bumpy but..."

I lay my head on his shoulder. "It's worth it." He kisses my head dropping the bottle of nail polish in the drawer moving his jacket so I don't get paint on it. "I love you." He whispers and I smile. "I love you too Jackie."

Enjoy!