My demons (book 1)

Heartbreak

"Aisha, can I have a word alone?"

Claire kissed her neck and let go of Aisha who momentarily forgot why she was being let go off. After a couple of seconds, the butterflies in her stomach slowed down enough for her to focus on the task at hand. "Sure, what's up?" she finally answered him, hoping her momentary incapability to form words went unnoticed.

"Walk with me," he requested and she followed him away from the house, along the path they had used to walk when they were still together. For Aisha, that seemed a lifetime away.

"Jay..." she sighed after silence became unbearable but he stopped her before she could continue.

"Don't. I get it, really. Look, you were the best thing that happened to me, but I was the worst thing that happened to you. I'm not asking you to come back to me or to forgive me or whatever, I just need your support," he said, his voice filled with ache he so desperately tried to hide from his face.

"Jay, I didn't stop caring about you. I don't hate you and I want you to stay alive. But I can't afford being in love with you. It hurts too much," she admitted quietly, gaze planted firmly on to the ground. She couldn't face the look on his face, the pain in his eyes she had caused.

"We have an eternity. I'll wait," he shrugged his shoulders with a shy smile that made her want to rip her intestines out. "But for now, I need to know who wants me dead."

Trying to ignore the guilt that had risen inside of her, she decided to only respond to the second part. "Caleb's twin sister, Jess."

"Oh so then its justified," he sighed, his voice holding a slight tremor.

"It's not, you aren't responsible for your demon's actions."

"Truth is...I really don't know what happened. It's not like you explain being taken over. I just black out and I remember nothing. Nothing. And I need your help," he said, desperation obvious in his voice, his eyes begging.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked at once, willing to do anything to make him feel better.

"Stay with me. Don't leave me alone so I can't hurt anyone. And if I get possessed or whatever, kill me."

"Jay..." she sighed.

"Promise."

"I'll do my best," she stuttered on her words. How could she possibly kill him after everything she had put him through?

"That's not enough. I need you to promise," he looked at her, forcing their eyes to meet. "Please, Aisha."

"Okay. I promise," she said, hoping he won't be able to tell she was lying. She supposed some promises just weren't meant to be kept.

"Thank you," he said and she nearly sighed in relief. They continued walking then, silence resting between them once again.

After a few minutes however, he spoke up again, trying desperately to appear nonchalant.

"So you and Claire, huh?"

"We are not together. But yeah, she makes me happy. And she is good for me you know?"

"Yes she is. Can I still hate her?"

"I think it's mutual anyway," she shrugged. As long as he wasn't too obvious about it, Claire wouldn't take it personal or do anything about it. So she decided not to worry about it for now.

Jay laughed and turned around to get back home. It was time to leave.

Shortly after they were all sitting in Claire's car, running away once again.

"Ai, you are running away for the third time now, you must really love this town," Lucas grinned, making Aisha chuckle.

"And it somehow always has something to do with me," Jay sighed, making Claire's face go dark for a moment.

"Yes, good job, well done," she deadpanned. Before things could escalate, Aisha squeezed her thigh gently, murmuring her name gently but warningly.

"We are here," Lucas interrupted before Jay had a chance to retort.

Claire parked the car by the cemetery as the town had been abandoned before cars were invented, thus the roads were questionable to say the least. As soon as they all exited it, Claire walked to Aisha, worry etched to her features. "Are you okay?" she asked and Aisha hugged her without thinking. Claire kissed her cheek before breaking their embrace. "Never better," Aisha smiled up at her before she started looking around. She could see the playground in the distance and even further away she figured that she was catching a glimpse of the house they will be staying in. She sighed, following Claire and others down the road.