It Started With A Concussion ✔️

Chapter 43

Jackson's POV

Walking into Emery's house wasn't how I imagined the end of my night to go. Neither was making out on the couch and watching a Fast and Furious marathon.

If you could even say we watched it. When I first clicked the channel, it was already partly into the second movie.

Even when the commercials weren't on, I kept dipping my head down and kissing her neck.

I couldn't help myself, but it's not a crime to get distracted. I've watched these movies plenty of times, no need for me to rewatch it now.

By the end of the second movie, her breaths had evened out and the flushed color on her face started to soften. I'm glad she was able to fall asleep with me, because it shows that she trusts me.

I know she tried pulling some shit at the party earlier. I saw everything that happened and knew she was only doing it to see if I would react. And I did, accordingly, when he got a little too close for both of our likings.

So now, here I am, with her in my arms, quietly letting her rest at her heart's desire. I turned the volume down on the TV, and the light allowed me to brush a few strands of hair behind her ear.

She's so beautiful. And I really mean that. I don't care if her hair's a mess, if she's dressed in a blue shirt and pink sweatpants that don't match, if she comes home soaked after a downpour, if she makes the dumbest jokes when she's a little drunk.

She's beautiful. But most importantly, she's enough.

She's enough for me to go a little crazy, to stay completely sane, to play like there's a celebrity in attendance when she's watching my game, to make me laugh, to keep me on my toes, to stay with me when I feel all alone, and to deal with my shit when the only thing I do is annoy her.

And the more time I spend with her, the more I realize she's all that I ever could've hoped for.

I know this is an exhausted rant I'm going on at half past midnight, but she's asleep in my arms. And the thought of her doing this with someone else makes me sick to my stomach.

I don't want her doing this with someone else. I want her to be doing it with me.

Sooner or later I'll have to ask her that question. And I'd rather sooner than later, definitely.

There's a blanket by my feet that I pull up and cover both of us with. I adjust my hands around her before settling down and drifting off like she has.

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Emery's POV

Blinking my eyes open had to be the weirdest feeling ever. A light was in front of me, and from what I could make out, it was the TV.

I couldn't see what was playing because the screen was all muggy, but one thing I noticed was that I couldn't hear it either.

When I tried sitting up, I couldn't move. That's when I noticed the figure in the corner, tall and sharp, clear unlike the blur the rest of my vision was. My heart sank when I realized who it was, who he was.

He stalked towards me and I swear there was ringing in my ears, so loud it made me nauseous. A flash of heat runs down my spine, my chest clenching as he stops right in front of me.

Tears prick at my eyes when he bends down and removes the arms holding me against the only person I feel safe with.

No no no no no no. This is not happening again.

He comes into view and I can see everything. His face, his eyes, his hair, everything. I remember it all even if I try not to.

He pulls me off the couch and I want to struggle. I want to fight back. But I attempt to scream. I scream at him to get off of me, I look behind me and scream at Jackson to get up.

As I'm dragged away I feel as if my heart has been ripped out and there's an empty hole in my chest. There's nothing left beating, my body is going numb, and I realize it's getting harder and harder to breathe.

I try to reach out to Jackson, who's still sleeping on the couch, and he's getting farther and farther away. It's not long before everything crumbles. This shattered reality has taken everything it possibly can out of me. And there's nothing left.

But I still try. I try one last time to say something as the ringing gets louder and my vision blurrier. "Jackson...please." I breathe weakly.

When I feel like the worst is about to come, that's when I snap out of it. I jerk awake, tangling in a blanket as I scramble off the couch. A gasp leaves my lips, but I instantly wince when I hit my elbow on the coffee table.

I still don't know what's going on. "Emery." My eyes are brimming with tears and my head is on a rampant swivel. "Emery." A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead as I kick the blanket off of me.

"Em!" My head snaps to the voice I finally pick up on. He gets off the couch and cups my face, concern evident in his eyes. "Hey...hey, you're okay. You're safe."

When I see him, I can't explain the relief I feel. My heart was on the verge of splitting open before I saw him, and now that I do, I don't hesitate to throw my arms around him.

I don't think I've squeezed someone this tight out of fear before. Knowing he's really here, that I've escaped my recurring terror, brings me to tears.

And I feel a tremendous amount of guilt and embarrassment for letting this happen in front of him. So much so that I start apologizing. "I'm sorry. It was just a nightmare, I'm sorry-"

"Emery, stop. You don't have to apologize...but can you tell me what happened?" He asks, worry lacing his voice.

I hesitate. "I told you it was a nightmare-"

"I know what you said Em. But that was way more than just being scared." He tells me. "So please, tell me what it was about."

His plea hits me right in the gut. I don't want to lie to him, but I don't want to tell him the full extent of it either, because he'd probably think I'm some crazy, psychotically ill girl.

"Look at me Emery," And I do. "You can either tell me now, or tell me in the morning." He informs me softly.

I sigh, letting my eyes drift to my fumbling hands. "It was the guy...from the uh-gas station. I swear this doesn't happen often." I downplay my situation. I had one last week. "And I'm getting over it, I swear."

He looks content, but not pleased by my answer. I hope he doesn't push his luck and if by a miracle, he doesn't. Instead, he asks me if I need anything, if there's anything he can do.

I deny the offer because the only thing I want is to be wrapped up in his arms. So, we lay back down on the couch, which still has our imprints from a few minutes ago, and he pulls the blanket over us.

This time, I lay facing him instead of away, my leg thrown on top of his. His hand soothes up and down my back when he says, "You know I got you, right?"

I look up at him and a stray tear slips out. He's quick to wipe it away though. "I know...I know you do." I answer him in a hoarse voice.

He plants a kiss on the crown of my head before hugging me closer, which receives no complaint from me.

As my body settles down and my mind starts to unscramble itself, I have three takeaways from this.

1. I'm glad he's here right now.

2. I'm pretty sure I love him.

And 3. He's an idiot if he doesn't know that.

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Tears. Ughhh I'm too attached to these two.

Life update: I've cried myself to sleep twice this week :))

Thoughts???