When I met you.. ||(completed)||

Chapter 44

*Please read the author's note at the end*

I fell asleep in Beth's arms as she calmed me down, when I woke up it was already dark outside with everyone asleep in the room except for Ethan since I couldn't find him anywhere.

I walked outside to the balcony and found him sitting on a white chair, staring at the beautiful night sky.

"I see my habits are rubbing off on you" I said smiling.

Ethan was startled and whipped his head towards me, he sighed once he saw it was just me and no one else.

"I didn't mean to startle you" I whispered, feeling bad.

He laid back on the chair and looked at the sky once again, a sad expression on his face.

"Is there something bothering you?" I asked in concern.

"No....actually, yes" he replied, debating whether to tell me what's on his mind or not.

"What is it? You can tell me" I assured.

"I feel guilty, I'm the reason you're scared of water and swimming and all. I told you before and ill say it again, I bring you nothing but pain" he said, his voice sounding defeated and sad.

"What are you talking about?" I breathed out, my voice barely above a whisper, a sad smile on my face.

"Don't act like you don't know. If we never met each other, you'd still have your memories, you would be able to go to the beach with your friends, swim in the pool, not have to worry about Corey and Brandon, not have to put up with Beth and her temper, Matthew wouldn't go after you, you'd still be with your brother and he wouldn't have ever left or felt forced to date anyone or do anything he wasn't comfortable with for the sake of keeping you and your family safe. You'd be living your best life without me" he said in frustration and defeat.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I started at the lost broken man before me, he was blaming himself for all of my misfortunes, he had to live with the guilt for years and I didn't even know he existed until I moved to the old town, I was the one feeling bad not him.

"No, no, no. Stop it. Stop blaming yourself, none of this is your fault. Never did I ever regret meeting you and getting to know you. You're one of the best things that ever happened to me, the thought of you makes me smile and your attitude makes me laugh even if it's annoying most of the time. Your smile is contagious and your laugh is like music to my ears, hugging you is like embracing a cloud if I ever got to know what that felt like, you make me wanna love myself for everything I am and stand for. You are my pillar, my support, my happiness, my sadness and my pride. You make my heart race and my mind cloud, you show me what it's like to lost control over your thoughts and I can never fake my emotions near you, you read me like a book and I- I-"

I choked on my own words, my voice breaking and when I looked up I met Ethan's shocked expression.

"I never wanna hear you say you regret meeting me" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Before I could make another move, I felt strong arms wrap around me and Ethan buried his face into my neck, the faint sound of him sniffling reaching my ears.

I hugged him back tightly and cried into his shirt. I felt vulnerable but safe at the same time.

"Please don't leave me again, I know it's selfish to ask but please never leave me" he whispered.

"Don't worry, I won't be leaving you anytime soon" I said.

"Jay-bear?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Of course"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

"One hundred percent sure?"

"Yes I am, just say it you're making me nervous"

"I love you"

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I'm sorry for this chapter being short but I really wanted to end it on these three words. My heart was racing while writing this chapter, it tugged at my heart strings and I hope it does the same to you guys too.
I'm sure many people won't like me making them declare their love for each other in this way, maybe some of you think that a flashy big confession would be better (and I was thinking of doing that at one point) but making them feel vulnerable and pouring their hearts out to each other made me feel like this was the perfect scene to make them confess.
Words said in a moment of weakness hold so much power because we stop thinking, our brains turn off and our hearts hold the steering wheel. You can never lie during those moments and such honest, pure and true feelings should be expressed in this way not any other one.
I'm sorry for this long A/N but this is my favorite chapters of this book so I needed to say all of this.