{Rain - The Beatles}
SAME DAY AS CHAP 9, JEN'S POV
I shivered into him, squeezing him tighter. My head was buried in his warm chest, taking in his lovely natural scent. We'd both begun to cry, but not because of his story. Just because of life. Sometimes it's good just to let it out and cry. Give your heart a break from holding everything inside. I ran my hands through his dark hair, then tracing my fingers along his jawline, down his Adan's Apple to his collarbone. He takes my hand and holds it. I love how sweet and tenderly he touches me. I know you may think, what's up with you, Jen? Nothing, I promise you. I don't have feelings for David, nor does he have feelings for me. I just love being with him, because of how different he is from most people I know. He donates a huge proportion of his salary to numerous charities, is super caring and kind, and very humble. The average man I know is arrogant, filthy rich, and spoiled rotten. David is beyond normal (in a good way) when it comes to his personality.
He runs the pads of his thumbs across my hand gently, as he leans back to check the time on my clock.
"It's only 2:30!" He exclaims, cutting the silence.
I smile, pulling my legs off of his lap. I stand up, and stumble to the kitchen sink, wiping my eyes as if I'd just woken up. I rinse my hands under the cool water, when all of the sudden I feel two strong arms wrap around my waist from behind. I jump, but realize it's only David, so I relax into his arms. It must have taken him a hell of a lot of courage to do that. He's very shy, and he wouldn't do a gesture like this unless he was fully comfortable with me.
"What's wrong?" I ask, pondering.
He's very sensitive, and when he needs someone, he uses touch to express that. I think it's very sweet.
"More like what's wrong with you?" He replies, squeezing me tightly.
What? What does he mean?
"You seem...a bit off. I don't know what it is; I can't read women's emotions very well, but I know something is up with you." He announces, whispering in my right ear.
I sigh, before unwrapping his arms from my torso and leading him to my couch.
"It's just that... Valentine's Day is in two days, and I have nobody to spend it with. It'll be the first year since I was fourteen that I haven't had a Valentine. I guess I'm just feeling sad because all of my friends do, and they talk about their plans and it's just so-" I trail off, before I begin to lightly tear up.
David takes my hands into his.
"I've never had a Valentine before. I'd forgotten it was Valentine's day soon until you just mentioned it." He laughed.
I wipe my tears before dropping his hands.
"Yeah, well it's not like you care! You are used to being despised by women, and being a loner is your thing! You enjoy being alone all the time!" I snap, regretting it the second the words escaped my lips.
He clenches his fists, but remains calm.
"I do care. You think I like being alone all my life? Do you truly believe that I've never fallen in love is something I'm proud of? No, it haunts me everyday. I hate not knowing what it feels like to have another person love you. If I could choose my life, I wouldn't be alone." He says, his voice deeper and fiercer then I'd ever heard it before.
He was usually soft-spoken, his voice quiet and soothing, but it completely changed. I looked deeply into his chocolate brown eyes, trying to tell him I'm sorry without words. I watch as his ablaze eyes soften to the usual look. I truly believe you can tell everything from a man's eyes. Maybe not for a woman, but for men it's dead easy. I can see deep into his soul; his inner core, where he hides his intense vulnerability.
"You know I would never say anything on purpose to hurt you. It was just the heat of the moment, I'm sorry." I apologized, tilting his chin upwards, trying to meet his eyes. But all he did was glance at the ground, with his hands forced into his pockets.
"I'm terribly sorry for responding like that. I'm just..." He trails off, leaving his sentence mid-air.
I know he wants to let something out, a deep secret from the depths of his heart.
After a cold minute of silence, he speaks.
"I'm going to go. Is that okay?" He asks shyly, returning to his normal state.
I nod. I am sad to see him go so soon, but what can I do?
DAVID'S POINT OF VIEW
I wish I didn't say what I said to Jennifer earlier. It was so rude, and she didn't deserve it. She made a mistake, and regretted it immediately. I feel so bad.
I walk home, in my still damp coat and shoes in the rain. I don't really mind at all actually, I enjoy the rain. Especially the smell.
When I get home, I open my door, and walk inside, taking off my coat. I stumble into the bathroom and turn on the bath tap. As I wait for the water to rise to the top, I undress myself. I pull off my woolen sweater and shirt, and then I unbuckle my jeans, pulling them down. All I'm left in is my boxers. I pause before I slide those down to the ground as I step into the steaming water.
My left foot sinks into the deep warmth. Then my right. Next, I bend my knees and submerge into the silky water around me. Goosebumps race up my ams, making me shiver into the depths. The water slides up to my sternum (bone between stomach & chest), when I lay down. I close my eyes, and rest my head on the wall behind me. Stress, and tension slip down my shoulders as the steam rises from the water. The pain from digging up memories I'd tried so hard to forget melted away, leaving me alone in my own world of harmony. My mind is bleak, no thoughts come near. After ten minutes of peaceful and relaxing silence, I sit up. The water displaces to my stomach when I do so, as I bring my knees to my chest. I breath in deeply, my chest expanding and pushing against my knees.
Suddenly, I hear a knock at the bathroom door. Before the person opens it, I yell out, telling them I'm in the bath.
JENNIFER'S POV
I knock on his apartment door. Nobody comes, or at least yells out. That's odd. I'm sure he is home, so I turn the handle on the door. I slide the door open, and walk into his familiar home. It smells just like him, of redwoods, the great smell rain leaves behind, old vinyl records, and the warm smell of ancient books. That's the perfect combination, making up David. I walk into his little bedroom, to meet nothing. I turn to the kitchen, but no one. I see a crack of light from the bottom of the bathroom door. I step forward, deciding to knock before I enter. Knock knock. Nobody answers for a second until I hear his voice yell out.
"I'm in the bath." He announces.
I close my eyes before entering, until I hear the shower curtain being pulled across the bathtub so I know he's covered. I step over his clothes, and sit on his toilet looking across at the turquoise shower curtain. I smile when I pick up his sweatshirt, leaving his shirt, pants, and boxers on the floor.
"Umm, why are you sniffing my sweater?" He asks, hesitantly.
I blush bright red. Oops.
"I didn't know you could see me! I'm sorry, you just smell really nice." I reply nervously.
I can hear the water splash as he stands up, poking his head around the curtain.
"Can you pass my a towel please?" He asks kindly, smiling when I hand him the white towel.
Small drops of water drip down the curtain, as he wraps the towel around his waist. He slides the rungs of the fabric back, exposing his body. I've never seem him without his shirt on before. He's awfully adorable. He has nice, toned muscles, especially in his arms, chest, and his shoulders. He has a happy trail, but almost no chest hair. Little drops slide down his body, as he shakes his hands, trying to rid them of the water. His bathroom is very cramp, so when he steps out of the bath, he drips water on my lap.
"Oh! So sorry Jennifer!" He says, as he steps back.
I laugh, wiping away the water off of my jeans. He soon realizes he had left his underwear right in front of me, so he scoops up his clothes, while blushing a dark shade of red and rushing out the door. I giggle at his adorablness. In some ways, he's like a teen boy, in the sense that he's timid and shy, but much more intelligent. I stand up and walk out of the bathroom, when the door to his room shuts. After a minute, he comes out chuckling in a T-shirt and his green and blue-plaid boxer shorts.
"Well you already saw them in the bathroom, I might as well be able to be comfortable around you." He announces striding over to the couch, and plopping himself down. I giggle and blush at his cute boxers, as well as gawk at his lovely arms. The costume designers on the show always dress him in baggy sweaters, jackets, and layer clothes, making him appear much larger than in reality. He's much thinner and more muscular than you'd ever suspect from watching the show. Also, don't forget, the camera adds 10 pounds! (So how many cameras were actually on him, am I right?)
"So why'd you come over?" He asked, breaking my thoughts.
I ponder for a moment before answering.
"I guess I'm just worried about you. You left abruptly, without warning. Is something wrong? You know you can always tell me, David." I console, stepping closer to him. He glances down at his feet.
"I don't know. I just feel...odd. I can't tell what it is, but I just don't feel right." He answers, trying to explain how he feels.
I tilt my head to the side, before meeting eyes with a lost man. I've never seen him like this before. So confused, and alone in his own feelings, trying to discover his own secrets.
A/N Okay, so since I'm writing this ahead, I have a question that isn't really relative to this chapter or upcoming ones. Also, sorry this chap wasn't too long, I just don't have anytime to add to it. Thanks for commenting and voting! Btw, what does voting even really do?
Also, If I ever do an 'intimate scene', do you guys want me to just imply what they are doing or go into more detail?
YOU ARE READING
A Step Back (Jennifer. A + David. S)
Fanfiction"His eyes are watering, he looks so broken and vulnerable, but I understand now. All of those nights where he was so sweet and tender, saying things so nice, things even my past boyfriends had never said. All of those times where he'd savor each kis...
