Star Struck

All Alone

Madeline POV:

Chris and I walked into Paris's room as soon as my friends left. Chris looked… somewhat nervous, and I can't blame him. Hopefully Jacob and Paris won't go ballistic.

When we got inside, I saw something that made my heart melt. Yet, it also made my heart tear a little. Jacob and Paris were snuggling up against each other, and holding hands. Their eyes were closed, and they took even breaths, which told me they were sleeping.

"Um… Jacob?" Chris asked, walking forward, and patting Jacob's shoulder a little. I could tell he was trying to avoid waking Paris up.

"Huh, what?" Jacob mumbled, opening his eyes. He caught sight of Chris and me and realised what position he was in with Paris, and blushed. I smiled at him, but at the same time, I had this feeling of longing.

"Can you maybe come out in the hallway for just one second?" I asked, keeping my voice at a whisper.

Jacob gave me a questioning glance, but took Paris's hand out of his and got out of the bed carefully, trying to not wake Paris up. She jostled a bit, mumbling something uncomprehendable.

Jacob smiled at her, and followed us outside into the hallway.

When we got out there, and closed the door, he looked at the two of us. "Alright, what's going on?"

"We all have to talk about this. Jesse Fields is in New York, and so is Austin Klein. The two girls that were with us, my friends, know about my secret. So does Mrs. Klein. After what happened earlier today… I have a really bad feeling that Jesse knows my secret too," I said, diving right into what everyone was thinking.

No need to sugar coat anything right now.

"So Jesse really is in New York, then?" Jacob asked, shaking his head. "I have to call the people on the case and tell them. They'll love this news. And that also means I'll have to be getting you out of New York as fast as I can."

I took a deep breath. Not what I was hoping for. "About that," I gave a small laugh. "I told my friends I would tell them everything at their apartment."

Jacob turned around, and took a deep breath. I could tell he was trying to keep his cool, but when he turned around I saw that on his face wasn't that much improvement.

"Why would you do that, Maddy? Do you know what kind of danger this puts you in? What it puts your friends in?" He asked, looking between Chris and me with that electric blue fire glare. I shuddered.

"Look, they figured out on their own, Shepherd. No need to yell at me. If you want someone to yell at, save it for Jesse. I know you've been hurting, and I want you to know that I have too. I've been having nightmares every night for the past year, terrified if Jesse will come after me. Hurt one of my friends. Do you know what that feels like?"

I completely lashed out this time. I was just so sick and tired of having people tell me that they know what it feels like, that they know what I'm going through. But they really don't.

"I'm sorry, Maddy. But right now, all I have in mind is your safety," Jacob said, his expression softening a bit.

"Right after I tell my friends the truth." I could see Jacob was going to say something, but I cut him off, "I owe them to tell them. I need to tell them, Jacob."

Jacob looked at Chris, who was nodding in agreement, having already seen how I talk to my friends, how I love them so much.

He pursed his lips and looked back at me. "I guess one night won't do too much."