Vapor

Chapter Seven

Hey guys... Other content is coming! I promise! I'm just so addicted to writing this story.... Sorry it's a bit dark. I'm almost finished with both imagines I have to post and I have chapter 10 on In Uncharted Waters coming out later too! I'm going to try to get some sleep though here soon!

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JJ's POV

I hated hearing her cry. I was laying on the couch pullout with Pope when her nightmares started. It rang through the house like a banshee's scream. I listened to Pope wake up and ask what was going on, but I didn't answer him. It didn't matter how tired I was at that moment, the only thing that mattered was her. I sprang to my feet and ran into her room.

She woke up as I sat down with her. She tried to get words out, but it was incohesive. She was crying too hard. I cupped her face in my hands and at that moment there was nothing more I wanted to do more than kiss her. I wanted to hold her and tell her that nothing would hurt her while I was by her side. I wiped away some of her tears and when she finally calmed down a little bit, I laid down with her, holding her tightly against my chest. She buried her face into my neck as I played with her hair. Her hot breath against my skin drove me crazy... I stared down at her as she laid in my arms. She looked so small, so beautiful. For a moment, I thought about how she was the only girl I wanted to hold in my arms for the rest of my life, and that terrified me.

"Why did you not want to be friends anymore?" she mumbled. She could barely keep her eyes open as she asked it. I felt that question pull at my heartstrings. I placed my lips to her forehead and gave the only answer I could at the moment.

"I don't know A," I muttered. "I'm sorry."

I did know though. I knew exactly why I had said that to her. All of these years I thought about why I had ghosted her like that and only one reason stood out. I loved her. I loved her so much that I didn't want to see her change. I didn't want to see us gradually drift away from each other so I didn't give us the option to do it. I couldn't watch my best friend change in front of my eyes.

Now as she slept soundly in my arms, my heart felt full. It was fulfilling and painstaking. I loved being by her side, but I felt so guilty as I did it. I made her go through the past few years on her own. I abandoned her for the second time. I wouldn't let myself do it a third time.

The light filtered through the blinds, causing me to groan. I turned and reached out to pull Addie back into my arms, but was met by empty sheets. My heart sped up as I frantically reached for her. My head shot up and I looked around, greeted by nothing, but the morning light blinding me. I got up and ran around the Chateau. I needed to find her. She wouldn't have just left like that without saying anything. I walked back into the guest room, searching for any sign of her. My eyes landed on the bedside table. A note lay on the table.

JJ,

I can't keep dragging you into my life. You left for a reason and I can't make you deal with my shit any longer. I'm sorry for just leaving like this, but if I stay by your side any longer, I'll just ruin everything. My memories keep flooding my head and it's uncontrollable. I'm remembering things I never did before and I have to explore them or I'll never forgive myself. I can't drag you back into this all over again. I'm tired of burdening you. Plus your actual friends need you more. Good luck finding the gold.

Love,

A

I felt my heart shatter into pieces as I read her note. I crumpled it up in my hand and threw it on the ground. How could she think she was a burden to me? Is that how I made her feel all these years? I felt a surge of desperation run through me as I bolted out of the Chateau. I remembered that her car was still at my house, so if I could beat her there I could make her understand that there was no getting rid of me this time. I climbed onto my bike and drove as quickly as I could. However, when I got home, she already was long gone.