Afterlight (Fanfiction) - EDITING ✓

chapter fifty-two

— Chloe Romano

The hot water prickled against my skin, steam filling the room as my mind faded into dullness, and everything became a foggy illusion. Strong arms with familiar tattoos wrapped around me, and my skin was covered in goosebumps within seconds. He definitely got more tattoos done the past few weeks, and I was dying to know what they meant. I bit my lip as Justin began leaving tiny kisses on my shoulders, so gently, so softly. My mind was in shreds, this man holding me in his arms, so passionately– he had saved me multiple times, and not just physically. How could someone like him, who claimed to love me endlessly, hurt me in the worst possible way? Was it just a trick? Nobody could fool someone like that. Make love to you, look into your eyes and tell you they'd die for you, but then shamelessly kill your own flesh and blood. No, no one could be that good at pretending, or acting.

Was Justin perhaps telling the truth?

Was I in denial?

Even Nathan told me to think about what happened, that perhaps I saw wrong because it all happened so fast, and I was hurt. After all, it all didn't make sense.

"Justin," I breathed out, signaling him to stop for a second. Turning around, I looked deeply into his hazel brown eyes. Perhaps I needed to give him a chance, and start moving on with my life.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his grip on me tightening, as if he was afraid I'd run away from him again.

But this time, I felt differently. After yesterday, talking about our future, him holding me in his arms as if he couldn't exist without me, I knew that this man was the love of my life– and if you loved someone, you had to trust them. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The wounds were still raw and tender, but it wasn't time I needed to heal my wounds as I've had to experience with my own parents, it was Justin who helped me grieve the way I needed to.

He was the key to my happiness.

"I believe you."

Taken back by what I've just said, he narrowed his eyebrows. "Believe me... what?"

"I believe that you are innocent."

Justin looked down at me, his eyes shadowing approval, his soft pink lips slightly parted from evident shock, not knowing what to do with that kind of information. Justin blinked repeatedly, mainly to keep the running water out of his eyes. I raised my eyebrow as he continued to stare at me in complete disbelief which caused me to chuckle.

"I love you, Justin." I took his face between my hands. "We have been through so much, and I guess the death of my last family member shocked me to every core. I felt like I had no one, and I needed someone to blame. But I'm slowly starting to realize, after coming here and seeing that those people downstairs are my family now, and I am not alone." I gulped, feeling the tears pinch back at my eyes as I thought of my dead brother. "And I know I'll always have you, and you'll always have my back. I know we are going to find proof, but not to prove your innocent– but to have proof of the real killer."

"Fuck, Chloe." Justin breathed, tears forming in his eyes. I've barely seen Justin cry, and if he did, it was always because of me. I made him vulnerable, and he had the same effect over me. "I love you so fucking much."

He tangled a hand in my hair and kissed me. His kisses started soft, running his hands up and down my back until they lingered lower and lower. My lips parted and I felt his tongue lick along the inside of my top lip, making me moan into the kiss.

"I have never loved anyone." Justin admitted between the kisses, "You're the only person I ever loved, and you're the only person I'll ever love."