Ticking Time Trouble (PpgzxRrbz Kids) |Book 4|

Chapter 17 (Bast & Bentley)

Bast brushed her hair with her fingers but her eyes didn't leave Jian's face. Jian is sitting across from her. The fire crackled right between them. Bast finally had enough of her fingers getting stuck in the knots. Jian snorted.

"You still hate brushing your hair?" Jian asked.

Bast nodded.

"I can brush it for you. I still carry around a comb." Jian said.

Bast nodded, again.

Jian got up from his seat and sat behind Bast. He grabbed a piece of her hair and began to brush the ends. Every so often she hissed from the knots pulling at her roots. It took almost thirty minutes to brush out her long hair. Then Jian split the hair down the middle, tying off one side so he can french braid the other.

Bast didn't move. The heat from both the fire and Jian wrapped around her. She looked down, with her eyes, and stared at the large circle scar on her hand. Jian braid tight so the hairstyle could last longer than a ponytail. 

"How?" Bast asked.

Jian frowned, "To be honest, I don't know. All I can remember is having my neck snapped by Him. Then next thing you know the kid raised me from the dead and then having myself being controlled by Shadow." 

"So, you're really alive?"

"Yes. I'm really here, Bast."

"A part of me believes its a dream." 

"I know. But it's okay. I'm here now. I'm never leaving you again." 

Bast closed her eyes, "Why? Why did you take my place?"

"You think I could watch you die?" 

He finished the braid making Bast turned to face him. Bast glared at him with all her anger and frustration. Jian gave her a small smile.

"And you think that I could? Jian, I watched you died! I blamed myself for the entire year! How could you?" Bast asked.

She turned back around. Both teens are frowning. Jian started to braid the other side. He made it tight like the other. Once, Jian finished, Bast turned around to face him. Jian gave her a smile. She didn't return the smile. Jian reached out to touch her scar on her cheek.

Bast shuddered from underneath his warm touch. Jian didn't pull away his hand. Instead, he let his fingers run down to her chin and traced it down to her collar bone. Their eyes, lime green and brown, stared at each other. Jian's fingers twitched as his face turned red.

"I love you." Jian whispered. "Bast, I love you so much. I'm so sorry that I left you. I'm so sorry that I could never tell you until now. You're my other half, my best friend, my girl. I promise from this day on that I will do everything to protect you."

Bast shook her head, "I don't want you to die again. I rather have us fighting side by side again. Like we used too in fight class. Just me and you, shoulder to shoulder, back to back. Always having each other."

"I can do that." Jian said. "Living a life without you . . . I don't want to go through that."

"Then don't do something stupid!" Bast said as she punched his stomach.

He laughed, "I remember when you hated violence."

"That's before I had to fight for my life."

"You are so strong, you know that Bast?"

She snorted, "I didn't."

"You know, that's the first thing I noticed about you. I saw how strong you are even when you didn't want to fight. I could see it in your eyes. Now look at you. You have battle scars that make you look amazing! Hot, may I add."