Beyond my Beating Heart

Chapter sixteen: answers

Play Innocence by Avril Lavigne for this (emotional) chapter.

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I continue to beam for nearly two minutes after Jett and I had finally made up. He abruptly begins to look into my eyes with a smile on his face. A sheer emotional state completely shown on his face, signaled by a few tears silently sliding down his cheek.

"You're so fucking strong, I hope you know that." He says with absolutely no denial or hesitation in his voice. I only smile back and shake my head lightly.

"No, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I reply, my voice slowly cracking before a drop of saltwater comes out of my eye and leisurely makes its way down my face.

"For what?" He replies, grabbing my hand and lightly squeezing it, his tone still just as delicate as it was in the moment before.

"J-just," I begin, taking a breath to hold back the tears, "it's just, I hate how I caused you pain. I mean, when you found me, you know, in that situation, it was probably pretty traumatizing, that... that sight."

He takes a deep breath before responding, "You make it seem like you broke me, and the only part that truly hurt, was not the sight, but the fact that someone as perfect and quirky as yourself would think you're worthless. Because to me, you're worth everything you think your not."

I take a moment to wipe away the tears and inhale shakily before laughing softly and quickly, "That was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me, but it was poetic as shit."

Jett cracks a small but genuine smile before grabbing my left hand and envelope it into his, "I'm not losing you again, you're the best friend I've ever had, and I was being a dumbass. I acted like that sick fuck you call Chris."

"Nah, he's way worse, but you have to do one thing for me." I say back.

"Name it."

"Can you grab the water off the counter over there, I'm thirsty as hell and my mouth is more dry than Lauren's weave."

He laughs, then goes and grabs the cup, and without shame, I gulp it all down in record speed, isn't there a game show I could win for doing this?

"So do you know when you're gonna be able to get out of here?" Jett asks casually.

"Not positive, but I think I'll be out of here by this weekend," I take a small pause before continuing, "speaking of, don't you have to be in school?"

"I'm taking the day off, I'd rather spend it with you."

"Not an option! You are going to school, I'll be here when you get back, you can't use me as your free for all to get out of class. Even though I'd probably do the same thing."

"Ugh, fiiiiiiiine, I guesssss." He says, mock pouting before giving my hand a final squeeze and walking out of my room, only to be stoped by someone else making their way in. I guess I'm popular today.

"Hey, I guess I'm back huh?" I switch my staring gaze from the door over to the side of my bed, to see my father standing there, looking worn out and stressed.

"You have some explaining to do, talk or leave. I'm not just gonna sit here and have you beat around the bush and make comments like nothing ever happened."

He sighs, sitting down in the chair next to my bed and buries his head deep in the palms of his hands, "I know, I'll explain everything, I promise, but this is a two way street here, I'm also gonna need a few answers."

"Hah!" I fake laugh sarcastically and dryly, "the audacity! I don't owe you anything, zilch, zero, nothing at all, because I, unlike you, never did anything wrong."