Wren's P. O. V.
"I'm so glad you're back." It was the next night and I felt ten times safer now that my dad was gone again. I started trying to forget about it, and focused on Jack. "I've missed you. I've missed this."
I was laying in bed and Jack rested his head on my chest. My fingers wrapped around his perfect curls and I knew it was putting him to sleep. I softly laughed when he started to snore. I guess my movement woke him up, because he slowly sat up.
"I was sleeping," he said groggily.
"Sorry babe, but I want you to be awake." He put his hands on both sides of me and hovered over me.
"Why? So we can do this?" He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.
I put both of my hands on his cheeks, keeping him close to me. He slipped his tongue into my mouth causing me to moan into the kiss. He put his hand on my hip and started sliding up my shirt. I tried to focus on Jack, but I couldn't get yesterday out of my head.
"Jack," I whispered, trying to get him to stop. He must've heard it differently because he started to slide my shirt up. "Jack, stop." I half cried.
"What? What's wrong?" He asked pulling away and moving off of me. We both sat up.
"I'm sorry," I dropped my head in my hands. "I just can't...not right now."
"I know, I should've thought about that. I'm sorry. I've just missed you so much," he said. I scooted closer to him and put my head on his chest. He held me close to him, caressing my face.
"I've missed you too, I'm sorry," I whispered.
"You shouldn't be sorry. I completely understand and I don't ever want you to feel pressure to do anything with me."
"I know. I love you and I want to do this. Maybe tomorrow?"
"Definitely," he said without hesitation. I laughed.
"I'm hungry," I said.
"You're always hungry late at night."
"You always get me food though, so I've gotten used to it," I laughed shrugging my shoulders.
"The guys went and got food earlier and brought some back. I'll go get some." I sat up with Jack then he left the room.
I fell back on the pillows an closed my eyes. They snapped right back open when the image of my dad on top of me popped up. I sat up, crossing my legs, and dropped my head in my hands. I felt tears form in my eyes, but I wasn't crying from anger. I was sad that my dad hadn't changed. Even though I was so against talking to him about it and fixing things, I had hoped that he had actually gotten help. I hoped that he wouldn't be the same man that he was eight years ago, but he was.
"Wren," Jack set the plates on his dresser and rushed over to me. He sat behind me and wrapped his arms around me. My shoulders starts to shake, even though I tried to control them.
"I just don't understand why he did that. Why did my mom's death make him want to do that to me?"
"I don't know Wren. Some people do things out of anger without thinking."
"I just wish he hadn't done it."
"I know babe." He kissed my head. He started playing with my hair, and I couldn't help but fall asleep.
***
"Wren, wake up. Wren!" Jack shook me awake. When I saw his face, I knew something was wrong.
"What? What happened?"
"It's Charlie." I pushed myself up and hurried to get ready.
"Where's Em?"
"At the hospital already. Let's go." I ran with him, pushing through the pain, getting into the car and on the road as quick as we could.
"Do you know what happened?" I asked.
"They were at a restaurant and some guy came in with a gun. He shot at Em, but Charlie jumped in front."
"Oh my gosh." The rest of the car ride was silent. I didn't want to think about how Em was feeling. She was probably blaming herself for this. She needs to now it wasn't her fault.
We arrived at the hospital and rushed inside, going straight to the front desk. When the lady told us he was still in surgery, I heard Em call my name from behind us. I rushed towards her and pulled her into a hug.
"It's my fault. It should be me in surgery not him," she cried.
"No, Em you didn't do anything. You couldn't have done anything."
"It was my idea to go to that restaurant. He just wanted to order in, but I convinced him to go out. It was my fault we were there at all."
"Em, it's okay." We sat down on one of the benches and I held her in my arms.
"Charlie Mason?" the nurse called. Em stood up, wiping her tears.
"Are you his family?"
"His parents are on a plane right now, I'm his fiancee."
"Fiancee?" I asked in utter shock.
"He proposed just before the shooter walked in," she wiped a few more tears.
"Congratulations on your engagement. Luckily our doctors were able to save him," the nurse said smiling. We all sighed in relief.
"Can I see him?" Em asked. The nurse nodded and led the three of us to his room.
"He should wake up in a minute," she said opening the door for us. Em rushed to his side, pulling up a chair. She took his hand and gently pressed it to her lips.
Jack and I sat on the couch and watched as Em's eyes lit up when Charlie woke up. I smiled, feeling the love between them.
"Congratulations by the way, although I don't remember giving you permission, Charles," I joked. They both laughed.
"With this situation, I've realized that you ever know what could happen. But I know that whatever happens I want you to be my wife. So as soon as I get out of here, let's buy you a pretty dress and just get married at the courthouse."
"I'd love to." They kissed and it made me feel happy. Em was smiling, but it slowly faltered. "I just wish mom would be there to see it."
"Hey, she'll be there. She's always watching over us," I told her. She smiled at me and nodded, wiping a single tear.
Visiting hours soon ended, so Jack and I left. We got home and went straight to our bed, passing the guys playing video games. I changed into one of Jack's shirts then crawled into bed with him.
He pulled me on top of him and rubbed my back as I rested my head in his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I kissed his chest every few minutes and softly laughed when his heart beat would quicken. I had finally fallen asleep, but was woken up by my phone ringing.
"Hello?" I said answering the phone. Jack had woken up, too. My throat tightened as I heard Em through the phone. "Okay." I hung up and looked at Jack.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"It's Charlie again."
*****
