Better ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 37: Wiped Clean

This smells so nice. I thought as I began to drift from the realm of dreams into consciousness. This smells really nice. I smiled to myself and burrowed deeper into the den I was snuggled in. The bed I was laying on felt so comfortable and soft, the mattress cradling my body just right. The comforter I was soundly hidden beneath was keeping me warm and secure, the material feeling soothing against my skin. It was all so nice and as I laid there, my eyelids draped shut, reality came crashing down.

I was not in my bed.

My eyes shot open and I nearly jumped out of the bed, yanking the blanket back. I was certainly not in my bed and definitely not in my room. The space I was in was an area I did not recognize. The walls were all painted a soft taupe with white woodwork, pictures of animals, flowers, still-life's, and different body parts all hung up on the wall parallel to the bed. A desk slightly cluttered by books and images was next to the door and at the foot of the bed. Two enormous windows were on both sides of the bed, pools of the morning haze drifting in through them as the curtains filtered the raw light. Unlike Kellen's room, that one was more lived in and personal.

My heart froze. Kellen...what he said...what he did. It all came back -every last bit of it. I almost felt like I would be sick. My stomach twisted and lunged at those thoughts. I was utterly disgusted by his actions. And, to be honest, I was almost afraid of him. I still had to figure out how to face him to deal with the pictures and then end it all. There was no way I wanted to wear the title as his girlfriend for another moment. No way in hell.

I began to collect myself and tried to get up when I noticed I was still wearing my dress. The beautiful white gown Alexandra had gotten me. Whoever had dragged me there had let me remain in it, but I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Did that mean nothing happened? I hoped so. I assumed so.

"Where the hell am I?" I muttered, pushing up off the bed.

Just then, the doorknob began to jiggle, grabbing my attention. I glanced over at it and watched in horror as the door began to open, terrified that it'd be Kellen. However, who I was greeted by instead was nothing but a miracle. Before me, dressed in a pair of dark washed jeans and a plain black T-shirt stood a barefoot Jean Kirstein. His hair was messy, and his eyes looked so tired.

"Hey," he said, gripping onto the doorknob. "You're up. How are you holding up?"

I shrugged, "Yeah...yeah I'm up. Won't lie, could be better."

"Yeah. What he pulled was...wrong," he nodded. He paused briefly before continuing, "You don't have to worry about him though."

I knitted my brows in curiosity. "I don't?"

He shoved his hands into his pockets and shook his head. "No. He...he won't be bothering you anymore."

Honestly, that was a relief. I didn't think I could face him again. After his true colors showed, I couldn't view him the same way. In my eyes, Kellen was a monster who preyed on women. He never cared about me...he never loved me. All he wanted was to get my walls down and use me. He was not who I thought he was. He was what Jean warned me of him to be.

I fidgeted with my fingers and dropped my stare to the floor, mumbling, "Ya know...you can say it."

I peeked up at him, the confusion visible in his eyes as he asked, "Say what?"

"Ya know," I murmured, "that you were right, and I was wrong...about him...about Kellen." I chewed on my lips. "Because you were."

A dash of surprise washed over him, a tint of guilt floating at the surface of his golden orbs. His features remained soft as his posture slouched. He most likely wasn't planning on me to say that. I never thought I would have to, but after the night before...I had to. In the end, it was true. Kellen was not who I thought he was, and Jean was right about that. He was right and I was wrong.