Torn Apart (Jaele Fanfic)

Chapter 33

They fell asleep eventually.
It was now daylight already and Riele finally managed to get out of bed. Her bladder was full and she was grateful to close the bathroom door behind her.
She wanted to go earlier but Jace wouldn't let her go. He had his face buried in her neck and his body crushing her, and when she tried to get up he only held her tighter and mumbled "No, stay".
He slept like someone who was bone tired and she didn't want to disturb him.

She came out of the bathroom and went to check her notifications. She had received missed calls from her mother and sister and Mia.
She gathered her stuff and went back to the bathroom to finish her morning routine.

Jace was slowly waking. He groaned as the sunlight hit his eyes. He couldn't believe he was still in bed. Then he caught sight of his surroundings and remembered. He grinned happily.
"Must be why I slept so deep. I was in my baby's arms" he murmured.
He sat up against the headboard and switched on his phone. There were about 20 missed calls from his parents and siblings.

He sent a few text messages and E-mails. Then he called his mom knowing she would be freaking out.

"Morning mom" he said cheerily.
"Jace! What on earth..?"
"Nothing, mom,  just a little misunderstanding " he continued
coolly.
"Misunderstanding?!!  I get up this morning and before I even could wash my face, I get a call from Aunt Mary that her cousin Jenna called to say she saw on the news you're in jail. "

"What??!!!" Jace,s eyes nearly fell out of its sockets.
"Yes.. exactly"
"And you believed that?"
"Noo, you know how Aunt Mary can exaggerate..

When Riele came out if the bathroom again he was still busy on the phone.
He was standing with his back to her, one arm folded across his chest. She couldn't help but admire his toned body.

While she looked for her scarf she heard him suddenly yell.
"No, I'm not gonna go crazy and slash my wrists again.
She gasped  and he swiveled around, shocked to see her standing there.
"Mom, I have to go. Talk to you later."

Riele simply could not believe what she just had heard.
"Jace, I am sorry but did I just hear you say....you ...you... slashed.. your wrists.??
Her eyes flickered to his wrists.. she quickly moved towards him. He tried to evade her but she grabbed his arms and looked at his wrists... And saw the scars.
Riele felt feint.
Jace looked everywhere but at her.
A deep quiet settled over the room.
Riele quickly sat down on the bed before her legs gave in.
Jace was still standing, facing away from her, his body rigid. He kept his hands in his pockets.

"When?' she asked.
"After I came back from Milan."
She sighed ruefully.
"Why Jace, why would you do such a thing?"

"Riele, ..I...I didn't know ...how to handle my emotions. I was...I don't know...It was like...you didn't want to be with me... And I had nothing more to live for. I know it was stupid.. alright" he added softly.

"But.. but how come nobody called me...?? Your parents.. my mom... NOBODY called me..!!!"
She was almost shouting now, close to tears
"Why??!!"

"I didn't want you to know , Riele!!"
He felt his heart break at the expression on her face. Rie ...I couldn't live with myself knowing that I hurt you... and having you feel guilty over my stupidity." He tried to make her understand.

"Jace, did you ever consider that NOT knowing would hurt me more? What if you had died?? How would I have felt?? How would I have lived with myself, knowing that I wasn't there for you? It would have killed me, Jace. If somebody had called me, I would have been on the first plane home."

" You would have done that?
"Of course I would have. Don't you know how much you mean to me, how much I love you, Jace??" she asked incredulously

(Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think.
Are you surprised at what Jace did and do you understand a little bit why his mother acts like that ?
What do you think Riele is going through now?