Tell Me Why (A Jayy Von Monroe FanFic; BoTDF)

Chapter 26; "Talk To Me Babe."

'I can't believe we almost... Fuck. I shouldn't've pushed her.' I cranked the cold water, spinning the handle until it was freezing. I got in and shivered like hell. 'Poor girl... But... I can't help but wonder why it stopped. Or why it even happened at all. Were we okay again? ...'Are' we?' I sighed. 'I sound like a girl.' I shook out my head, flopping my wet hair in my face. 'Jeez...' Had it been possible to keep a boner while a scolding myself, it would've been killed by the cold stream of water that trickled off my mane, onto my stomach, and, well, down. I chuckled at the thought. 'Yes Jayy, you're a lion. Rawr.' I shook my head at myself. 'Dahvie's rubbing off on me,' I thought amusedly as I shivered again. 'Alright, that's enough.' I warmed up the water and, after a quick shower, I went back into my room, more than a little disappointed that Hunter wasn't still in there, even though she told me she wouldn't be.

I went downstairs to see her crying in Aussie's arms on the couch. "What happened angel?" I asked Hunter, shooting a concerned look at the guys. They just shook their heads worriedly. Aussie held her closer, whispering sweet things and trying to make her feel better. Dahvie caught my eye and, seeing my worried look, took my arm and led me back a ways so they wouldn't hear.

"She feels guilty. She said she thinks that she made you hate her this morning and that you were only nice to her because she cut herself."

"Why would she think that?" I'd been acting like a puppy around her for days! How couldn't she tell how much I wanted for us to be okay again?

"She's got a... voice."

"A voice?" I asked, sounding unintentionally irritated. I wasn't, just really frustrated.

Dahvie sighed. "I shouldn't be telling you this." He shook his head. "But you need to know. She's got a voice in her head. He's-" Another he. Maybe they were connected. "-really good at making her believe absolute bullshit. And even worse, he can make her suicidal if he says the wrong thing. It's why she cuts." Thought so.

"Oh God, the poor girl..."

"I don't know if she'll believe you over him of not, but it's worth a try. At this point, anything is."

I nodded and walked over where Aussie was holding Hunter. One of the guys got up for me, I didn't even notice who, I just knew I was grateful to get closer to Hunter so I could try and help her. I put my arms around her. "Shhh, baby I'm here. It's alright." She whimpered and nuzzled into me, abandoning Aussie completely. "Sorry Aus," I mouthed, resting my chin on her head so she could hide her face.

"You're fine," he mouthed back. "Just help her. ...She needs it."

Hunter nuzzled into me even more, taking the opportunity I'd given her. I took her upstairs to her room and rubbed her back. I laid her down on her bed and sat down with her. I pecked her cheek. "Alright, alright. Talk to me babe."

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice choked and raspy. "I really am."

"It's alright. I'm not mad at you." I pulled her gently closer, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Don't hate me... Please?" she begged.

"Never did honey. Still don't." I gave her short answers, not wanting to surround what I meant in other words. That's just extra words for my point to get lost in. I kissed her temple and squeezed her shoulders gently.

She leaned into me a little bit more, resting her hand on my chest. "I love you..." she said tentatively.

"I love you too sweetheart." I didn't even process the exchange. I didn't think about what she'd said. It felt right to say it, so I did. Back to basics. It didn't need to be as complicated as some people made it. As I did before.

>***_)(-)(-)(-)_(-)(-)(-)(_***<

Things got a better after that night. For a little while, we were okay. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a patchy fix at best and sometimes it still felt strained and awkward, but we were together. Hunter even seemed to start recovering, bit by bit, from Axel's death.

There was one setback. Hunter didn't say I love you anymore. And so, scared of pissing her off and losing her again, neither did I. But if that was the only price of having her back, just taking it slow, I was more than willing.

Everything was... okay. Until Montana...