Chasing Stars ✔️

24.

" 'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it.

No, I won't give up." Lyrics from "I won't give up" Jason Mraz

She

A light brush on my arm brought me up from sleep. It didn't startle me; I didn't think about the possibility of someone else being in the room. It was a comforting feeling, like the incorporeal presence of an angel watching over me.

My body shifted in that same direction, and only then an alarm sounded in my mind. I half jumped; my heart slammed against my chest. My voice was still not functioning when the urge to scream hit me. Thankfully, a reassuring voice whispered in my ear, "Shhh... It's me, It's me, baby."

"Jake", I exhaled, my hand touched my chest, "you scared me."

"I know baby, I'm so sorry." He kissed my hair, although I thought he was aiming for my forehead. The room was pitch black. I rubbed my eyes and blinked until Jakes's body became visible as a dark silhouette, which contours blended with the night.

"I didn't want to wake you up. I just needed to see you. I grabbed Brian's key."

"What time is it?"

"It's late". A new kiss landed in its intended spot this time, almost distracting me from the edge in Jake's voice.

I reached for my phone, feeling his big hand around my wrist. "You should just sleep, Alexa." I frowned, forgetting he couldn't see it. What was the point of coming to see me if was asleep? Gently setting my hand free, I touched the screen on my phone and unlocked it.

The image of the two of us, with La Rosa's ocean in the background, cast a bluish light around us. "You're right", I said, focusing on the time "It is late, why..." The phone dropped, screen side down, on my lap, taking away the little sparkle of light. "Jake..." I almost scream, my voice muffled from my hands covering my mouth.

"Oh, my God." I fumbled to light up the room.

"Alexa, it's nothing..."

The lamp blinded us momentarily. "It's just a black eye."

He was right, somehow between the shadows and the light from the phone it seemed worst. I had the illusion of seeing his entire face bruised, almost disfigured. It didn't seem like my Jake at all. But then, under the light, there he was, his usually handsome face and shockingly beautiful eyes, safe from a red half-circle around one of them, and a lump just above his eyebrow.

"What happened?" I felt the need to touch him where he was hurt, but decided against it in the last second, not wanting to cause him any more pain. Jake, however, caught my hand before I could drop it, crushing it against his cheek. The warmth of his lips grazed my palm, and I melted a little.

"Things got a little heated in the gym. I decided to jump into a real training session. Got a souvenir from it," he said, pointing to his eye.

"Some training", I murmured, battling to release myself from the sheets, "let me get you some ice."

"No, Alexa. There's no need for that. I already took care of it." I shifted my body, getting a better look at his face. "It's nothing baby, I had it way worst before. It will be gone in a few days."

"Ok, came here, then." I agreed.

He took his shoes off and got closer, covering both of us with the sheets. "Are you cold?" his eyes focused on the blanket folded by the foot of the bed.