SHE - HS

CHAPTER 13

buckle up cherries ;)

No, there is no way. He can't be here right now.

Stevie's barking was almost blowing my cover, but also a good distraction until I figured out what the hell my next move was. I paced my apartment thinking of my options. I could hide, but knowing him he won't stop until I open the door. I could just open the door and face him, but I knew mentally I couldn't. My whole body would give out. This was the man who hurt me so bad, I couldn't feel a thing.  I Still can't.

I need to get out of here.

I frantically start running around the apartment looking for my purse and my keys. I let Stevie keep barking so that he couldn't head my running around. Once I get everything I need I head for the door before remembering he was there.

"stupid" I quietly say to myself.He continues to knock as I start to think of other ways out. Then, my eyes go directly on the window.

The fire escape.

I run straight to the window and open it. The second I pull it up, it makes a loud squeak. I stop and pull it up as slow as I can, making as little noise as possible. I climb out of the window and quietly shut window. I was like I was 18 again, sneaking out of my house to go hang with River. Now, I'm sneaking out to get away from him.

I quickly and swiftly moved down the fire escape. Once I got to the bottom, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. I made the decision that I would just walk around LA until I felt it was safe enough to go back without seeing River. I could stop in a couple of shops, maybe go to the beach, there were many things I could do. I remembered there was a cute little pottery shop next to the building. I turn the corner and just as I remembered, it was right there. I walk inside and am instantly hit with a beautiful scent. It gave me flashbacks to my old room in Greenville. My Mom would always buy this candle for my room because she told me a good smelling room gives you a good mindset. I didn't believe it, but the candle smelt amazing. I can still remember it to this day.

Cashmere Vanilla.

My mom gave me a candle to bring to the apartment, but I don't want to burn it. I want to keep it for a special occasion. I want to save it for the right person. As I continue to look through the store, I hear a familiar voice come from the opposite side of me.

"Well, hello there" a british voice speaks to me making my head turn.

"Hi there" I say with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for a new vase actually and I heard this was a good place to find one." he tells me looking me up and down I send his a confused look. "Whats with the...?" he points to my outfit. I look down to see I'm wearing my oversized Scooby doo tie dye t shirt and some white pajama shirts with Birkenstocks.

Way to go, Rosie. How did you foget to change out of your pajamas?

"Um, just trying out a new fashion trend." I lie to him and he knows it too. "Follow me, I'll help you look." i grab his hand and bring him over to the vase section of the store. I picked up a plain white vase with ruffles on the top. "now, if you're boring you can pick this one, but we aren't very boring here are we?" i ask him and he shakes his head with a smirk in reply "that's what I thought." I set the vase down and grab another vase. This one was white but had blue and gray paint dripping from it. I turn to show him the vase but something behind him catches my eye.

It was River. He was looking in the store.

I quickly move the vase in front of my face and walk to the complete back of the store.

Please don't come in, please don't come in.

I grab Jack's hand and bring him with me.

"What are you doing?" he asks in complete confusion. I don't respond, I hide behind one of the keychain racks and keep my eye on River. It takes a minute for him to give up and walk to the next store. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in and hang my head.

"Hello?' jack says to me, "are you going to tell me who that was?"

I turn to him and look him in the eyes.

"Have you ever been to Beachwood cafe?" 

AT BEACHWOOD CAFE:

I give jack the whole rundown of what happened with River. In the middle of telling him the story I couldn't help but break down. I hated reliving that day, those years, the whole relationship. It truly hurt me. He grabbed my hand from the table with both his hands and help it tightly signaling to me it was okay. I finish telling the story and he thanked me for sharing with him. We got off topic and I eventually stopped crying. Jack is really good to me. I know I have only known two days but he helps me forget about a lot of things in life. We both finish our coffees and stand up to leave. Just as I stand up I am quickly pulled into Jack's chest. He was warm, welcoming.

"You're going to be okay. I promise, I will never hurt you." he tells me. He said it in such a truthful way, like he had been hurt too adn he knew what it felt like. I squeezed him tightly and he did the same. I knitted my eyes shut blocking the tears from leaving my eyes again. eventually, we let go and leave the store. He walked me back to my building and we talked the whole way back. We laughed the whole way and shared stories about our childhood. It was great. I had forgotten all about River, but I still needed to keep my eye out.

"Should I walk you up to your door?" he asked looking up at my building door.

"No I think I can manage. Thank you though." I tell him looking up at the door with him. We both look back at each other one more time. He opens his arms letting me in for one last hug. I laughed and walked into them hugging him back. We embraced for a couple seconds until i felt him pull his head back.I started to pull away as well but was restircked my his arms. He wasn't letting go. I look uo at his face to see his blue eyes memorizing my face. He went from my eyes to my nose, and ended on my lips.

I didn't hesitate to take my hands, grab a hold of his face and kiss him. He pulled me in closer at the waist and I could feel the smirk on his lips as we kissed. It was sweet, simple. It was nice, and to me, necessary. I pull away and look at his face again. His eyes were closed, but quickly opened widely. He smiled down at me as we laughed together. He kept his grip on me tightly as he picked me up and swung me in a circle with him. We continued to laugh together until he finally puts me down to let me walk to my door. I thank him again for the day and he smiles in return. Just as I step inside I hear him yell "I'll call you" I turn and smile at him before heading to my apartment.

I made sure to be extra careful coming up the stairs and going straight to my place. Thankfully, I wasn't bothered by anyone and I get into my apartment no problem. I decided to spend the rest of the day in my place. Suddenly I got a text on my phone. I look to see it is a number i didn't have saved. I open my phone to see what it was

'Did you make it in ok?' I read.

'umm yes but who is this' I text back quickly.

'Take a guess love.' I now knew who it was. I walk to the window and look down to see jack on his phone texting me from below. He looks up with a big grin and gives me a wave.

I waved back and walked to my couch. Stevie jumps up on the couch and sits next to me.

"Wanna watch Rick and Morty?" I ask stevie. She doesn't respond which I usually take as a yes. I turn it on and we sit there to watch together. As we watched I couldn't help but think to myself

Was Jack my something great?

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