JESSICA

|4|

Henry opened the door and led me inside. "You're back quicker than I expected." he said as we walked through the white halls to the living room.

"Well, he's eager to get names." I replied quickly and harshly, for a moment I forgot who I was talking to.

We sat down on his sofa and faced each other. He furrowed his eyebrows at me. "Is everything alright?" he asked calmly, his words smooth like velvet.

"I'm fine." I lied. This was no time for a heart to heart. "He wants to know the names of the people who killed his wife and brother."

"Straight down to business, okay." He ran his hands up and down his trouser legs. "Like I told you they were nothing to do with David's organisation. They were ordered without his knowledge." he explained again. I understood, but my patience was thin. Christopher had rattled me.

"Do you have their names?" I asked abruptly.

"I do."

"That's all I need." I grabbed my bag that had slid off my shoulder and stood up. I was ready to leave.

He matched my movements and stood up too, brushing his hand over my shoulder, he brought my fleeting attention to him. "We both know you can't go back that quickly, he'll be suspicious. Why don't you stay for dinner?" His doughy green eyes were a sparkling perfection that hypnotised me.

"Okay." I slid my teeth across my bottom teeth. "I'll stay." I dropped my bag and unbuttoned my grey coat.

"Perfect." he smiled gently.

I followed him into the kitchen and sat on a stool at the island. It looked like he was already half-way through making his dinner. He continued to chop some vegetables and put them in a pan. The aroma of hearty winter comfort food filled my lungs.

I felt his eyes glance up at me, but I kept my eyes on my hands as I scratched at the cuticles nervously. I felt sick, sick of the expectations, the memories, sick of the pain. I just wanted out. I don't just feel empty, I know I am. I've been stuffed with false promises and sweet nothings for years, when in reality all of them came down to nothing and I was beginning to realise that.

"You look beautiful tonight." he uttered, with what sounded like honesty ringing in his voice.

I tucked my curled hair behind my ear nervously. "You don't have to say that." I sighed.

"I'm being serious, curled hair, little black flowery dress. Were you on a date before you came here?"

I laughed to myself. "Barely, she doesn't even see me anymore."

"I didn't realise." he raised his eyebrows.

"That I'm into girls too?" I laughed at his awkwardness.

"That you're in a relationship."

"Oh." I tapped my hands on the counter top nervously. "I've been with her since," I paused, "since they found me, but it's not the same these days." I paused.

It was the truth. It wasn't the same anymore. I mean, I love her. At least, I did. She is complicated and messy. Being with her was everything when I had nothing, but now I can feel it stretching thin. In truth, I'd be happier leaving.

"In what way?" he asked curiously.

"I just don't want any of it anymore. I want to leave, but I can't."

I watched as he finished chopping and put the rest of the vegetables in the pan. He leaned onto his forearms. "Why not?" he asked.

I shrugged. "It's not an easy situation to get out of." I brushed off his question.

"Okay." he submitted. He stood back up and stirred the food as it simmered.

I pulled out my phone and replied to Kassie's message. I clicked my phone to lock and stared into the counter. I imagined the flecks in the quarts dancing together as the light shone on them. They looked so happy, blissfully dancing, unaware of the pain and suffering in the world.

"You're awfully quiet." he spoke as he poured the contents of the pan into a casserole dish and spooned the mash on top of it.

"I'm okay." I mumbled.

"Why don't you go pick out some music?" he offered me a welcome distraction.

I made my way back to his living room and run my finger along his vinyl. I flicked through them carefully, respecting each and every one. I made my choice and set it up on the record player.

He came up from behind me and spun me around. "Good choice."

"Well, it's your collection, I could hardly make a bad choice." I laughed awkwardly. He smiled at my terrible joke, probably just to be polite.

"We could be heroes, just for one day." I sang the lyrics to him.

"You're so cute." he laughed as he spun me around and caught me in his arms.

I watched as his beaming smile turned into a cold glare. He moved my chiffon sleeves that flowed loosely against my skin out of the way. Christopher's fingerprints were bruised into my skin.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked, his eyes now stone with seriousness. "Daisy, did he hurt you? Did that bastard hurt you?" At this point his hands were gently placed on my upper arms.

"I-I." I stuttered, but nothing that escaped my mouth was conclusive. I was a mess and my facade was beginning to slip with him.

He breathed out, took my hand in his and spun me around to the music, before gently pulling me in close. My body pressed against his, but I didn't pull away. There was something about his warmth that I longed for. "I can help you, like you're helping me. I can help you escape the toxic clutches that they have you in."

I rested one hand on his shoulder and the other on his torso. We slow danced together under the sparkling chandelier. I wanted nothing more than to believe him.

//A/N// Oh hey!
So what are your thoughts on the story so far? What do you think Jessica's/Daisy's real intentions are?

Thank you all for reading!