The Photographer | Jyatt

|Chapter 25|

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JAEDEN

Later that day, Mom came with Millie to pick me up. Jack and Finn took Wyatt home so that Mom wouldn't say anything about him being with me.

The car ride was silent as Millie drove and Mom sat up front as I sat in the back, glancing solemnly out the window. Nobody said anything until we pulled into the driveway.

"We're home, honey" Mom smiled as she turned to face me.

I didn't even look at her, not even when she said my name again. I continued to grit my teeth and stare out the window.

"Jaeden, I-"

I didn't let her talk. I opened the car door and ran to the porch, letting myself in and running to my room. I closed my door and locked it before collapsing onto the bed.

Of course, a few moments later she came knocking on my door.

"Jaeden?" she said softly.

I ignored her and curled up on the bed.

"Honey, I'm sorry" she apologized, but I wasn't having any of it.

"No you're not!" I cried, and I could hear her mournful look as she sighed and shifted her feet. "You don't care! You don't care that Wyatt protects me and loves me and makes me happy! You don't care that he almost got hurt or killed twice just to protect me! You don't care that he's the best thing to ever happen to me!"

I started sobbing and she knocked again, lightly.

"I do care, honey" Mom cooed. "I really do care. I like Wyatt, I really do. He agrees that those bullies will come back and try to hurt you and him again, and he agrees that we have to keep you safe. If they weren't a problem...I would let you see Wyatt. But they are a problem, it's too dangerous to be around Wyatt now. I'm sorry, Jaeden. I'm so sorry"

And with that, she walked away. I let the tears come again as I squeezed my pillow. Deep down I knew that she was right, that she did like Wyatt and wanted him in my life, but right now that was dangerous.

But I don't care. Wherever he is is where I want to be. He needs protecting too. If I lose him, I lose everything too. I can't lose Wyatt.

I can't.

--

Clank

I woke up suddenly and rubbed my eyes. I turned them to the clock. Almost six in the afternoon.

Clank

I sat up and glanced at the window.

Clank clank

I furrowed my eyes and walked slowly to the window.

"Wyatt?" I whispered questioningly.

I pulled the window up and glanced around.

"Wyatt?" I repeated.