The Remedy

Chapter 16

Clara POV
I was enjoying life. Until I picked up my phone. Thinking Aaron had called me, I pressed answer eagerly without hesitating. "Babe what took you so long? You said you'd call after basketball practice." I told him.

The line went silent. I could hear someone breathing, but no voice.

"Hello?" I asked, checking the caller ID. It was an unknown number. Creepy.

"Um I think you have the wrong number, have a good day." I said rushed. These things always freaked me out for some reason. Probably just some random person. Chill out.

Right as I was about to lower the phone to hang up, I heard a voice. A strangled voice. But a voice nonetheless.

"Wait, remember your promise."

Those few words and my whole world tipped. Freaking Jax Darron. I knew if I didn't hang up now everything would go downhill. And I would be left waiting for him to give an explanation he wasn't capable of. And my only hope of it all being a lie would become just a fantasy.

But for some reason I couldn't put down the phone yet. Despite everything, his voice brought it all back. The giddy feeling, the nerves, the feeling of being wanted... And the rage at him for screwing something amazing up. And what promise did he mean?

"What promise?" my voice was much, much steadier than I felt.

"That day we were locked in the classroom after school. I made you promise if I ever did anything, if you ever got so mad at me you didn't want to listen, you'd at least have to hear my explanation before never talking to me again. So please, just listen, before you cut me out of your life."

I couldn't speak. I didn't trust my voice not to give out, and he couldn't know how much he affected me. So I waited for him to talk. And he did.

"None of that crap was true. It kills me that you can't believe me... I used to be a terrible guy. But my life changed when I moved schools. When I realized how I didn't want my little sister to fall into the poisonous lifestyle I had. I did do drugs before I moved to your school. But I met you. And everything changed. I wanted to change. Something about your innocence made me want to change. Because from that moment I laid eyes on you, after picking up your books, I knew you were someone I couldn't go without knowing. And that turned into me falling. Falling hard."

I was stunned. All this, and I still didn't know how to respond. I tried, but every time I opened my mouth, a weird sound would come out but no words. Stop sounding like a walrus.

"You still there?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. Finally, got one word out. Not only was I having trouble pushing words out of my mouth, I didn't know what to say. I was torn.

How does one decide to choose to lead with their heart or head?

"You hurt me. I can honestly say you broke me, Jax. I put my trust in you, but maybe it was a mistake. I don't know how to believe you, without proof. Does that make me such a horrible person that I don't know if the ex druggie got back into his bad habits, or frankly never quit?" I sighed. "I liked you more than you might imagine. But I don't know what to believe. I want to believe you. I just don't know if I can... I'm sorry." A tear fell down my face as I spoke.

"Babe?"

"Don't call me babe, it just makes everything harder. Jax I can't trust you again. Not yet."

"I wasn't. You said babe when you answered the phone. Who is babe?"

I can't tell him. It's too much.

Silence. Then, "You're right. It does hurt, Clara. But anything is better than Aaron. Just tell me it's someone else."

I didn't answer. Seconds passed with more silence. I could envision him on the other line, his teeth clenched, his head spinning.

"Clara."

A wave of sadness hit me. We were destroying each other."I'm so sorry."

"I gotta go." he whispered scarcely. The clock in my room ticked, reminding me that time kept going as it seems my whole world had stopped.

He hung up on me.

I cried myself to sleep. What if he wasn't lying? What if I had just destroyed the best thing in my life?

Author's Note: Sorry to anyone who still reads this for the super long break. I might or might not have forgotten about the book. Anyways I'm back so make sure to comment and tell me your thoughts :)