A Little Bit Of Joy | ✔

Chapter Forty Four : The Girl's Shock

Third Person's POV [Logan's POV]

Logan could feel the terror overwhelming him as he ran past the door and into the living room. Joy couldn't be gone now, she had months still left to live. She didn't even know that he loved her. This was soon, she couldn't be gone so soon. Tears were pricking Logan's eyes with each heavy step he took.

She had to be alive. She had to be alive to hear that he loved her. She had to be alive to be held, loved and kissed. She had to be alive some more time.

Logan's vision had turned obscure as he reached the living room. Through the tears that was welled up in his sea-coloured eyes, he could see the fragile, white shape of Joy by the coffee table. She was seated on the chair with a steaming mug in her hand.

Logan rubbed his eyes roughly, his thoughts a chaos- rioting in his mind. He was puzzled and he couldn't believe his eyes. Was Joy alright? Or was he imagining Joy to be alright?

As if sight could be mistaken and proved only by the sense of touch, Logan darted towards her, grabbed her hurriedly and crushed her to his chest. The mug of tea slipped from her fingers and hot tea spilled over Logan's sneakers. He could care less for Joy was indeed alright- alive.

The smell of tea and her warmth engulfed him. He hugged her tightly, but she was rigid with astonishment in his arms. Her arms were limp by her sides and Logan immediately released her.

"Are y-you fine Joy?" Like a madman, he ran his hands all over her body. Joy tried to push him away. "Are you hurt anywhere? Joy---"

"What on earth Logan? I was sipping tea and enjoying a quiet afternoon when you burst in like that. Thank God, no-one's home or everyone would have been shocked to death." Joy's eyes were wide with surprise as she tried to get away from him. That hurt and confused Logan even more. He slowly licked his dry lips.

"Are you alright Joy---"

"Are you alright Logan?" Joy interjected. "You're acting crazy right now and it's honestly scaring me."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Logan mumbled, took a step back and inhaled deeply. He was still perplexed. "Jamal told me . . . "

Suddenly, there was a sound of someone loudly and obnoxiously cackling with laughter and Logan and Joy both spun around.

"I tricked you, didn't I?" Jamal teased in between his laughter and Logan felt his entire demeanour shift. He was angry. Beyond angry.

"What did you do Jamie?" Joy asked wearily, expecting something stupid.

"This fucking jerk told me you-you died," Logan snapped, his chest heaving up and down. He balled his hands into fists, trying to contain his anger. The smug look on Jamal's face drove Logan to hold Jamal by his collar as he growled, "What kind of a-a filthy friend are you? You asshat, do you even realize what you said? Do you even fucking realize what I felt?"

Jamal tried to wrench free, but Logan didn't let go. "Chill out man, it was just a prank. I never told she died, I just said her name and y-you assumed! Besides, I didn't know you would freak out like a baby."

"Like a baby? Of course I would, you foolish bastard!" He shoved Jamal away who fell down with a loud thud. Logan towered over him. "Do you think this sick little prank was a shitty joke? Do you even understand---"

"Logan, come on. That's enough. You know how Jamie's like, he won't do it again. I promise." Joy softly pulled Logan by his arm, but Logan jerked his arm away from her touch.

"Listen to Blondie dude and peace out---"

"You shut up," Logan said flippantly to an unaffected Jamal and turned to Joy. "Why do you let this moron get away with-with this? He told me you died Joy, he fucking told me that. How could you just side with him?"

"I'm not siding with anyone, Logan. As for letting him get away with it, I'll be gone one day anyway. I'm okay with this because I like him making light of this situation. He lied to you now, but not completely. And I know he was a big jerk this time for scaring you like that. I'll be sure to lecture him later," Joy tried to explain, but Logan's eyebrows furrowed. He didn't like that idiot joking about Joy's death. "You should be okay too."

"I know right girl, he's completely overreacting. Like tone down the drama," Jamal said in a sassy tone and got up. He instantly bit his tongue, threw his hands up in the air- surrendering when Logan took a threatening step towards him. "Sorry dude. Blondie's right, I won't do it again."

"You dare not," Logan spat out, his nostrils flaring. "I still don't get why you keep him around."

Jamal whined from the corner, "Aw, my feelings are hurt."

"He's fun sometimes believe it or not," Joy said with a hint of humour and bent down to pick up the mug. "How was your date?"

"Nice," Logan replied flatly and Joy nodded.

"Cool." She placed the empty mug on the coffee table and winced. "My tea's wasted."

"Sorry, didn't mean to," Logan said half-heartedly. He didn't mean the apology either. It wasn't his fault, it was that twat's fault.

"No it's okay, were you that worried about me?"

Of course he was worried, he loved her. "He said you died Joy."

"I said I'm sorry," came Jamal's complaint who Joy and Logan both chose to ignore.

Joy clicked her tongue. "But why Logan? You have so many other things to worry about and my death is inevitable. I'm going to die, I have told you a million times. Was it because you weren't prepared to hear it?"

"Probably." Logan shrugged. The nagging voice in his brain was screaming otherwise, 'Because I love you Joy!'

"You have to get prepared. I-I might die sooner. Nobody knows. It's all in God's hands," Joy said almost casually and it frightened Logan. What if she was right? What if she died sooner and he never got to love her? What if God decided to take her away this very moment?

Suddenly, the nagging voice in his mind became too loud. Too loud, he couldn't handle.

"Are you okay Logan?" He heard Joy's voice- a faint, distant sound, but it felt like he couldn't actually hear her or see her. It felt like she was floating far away as the voice in his mind grew louder and louder. So loud, it felt like he was going to rip his head off. "Hey, Logan. Is something wrong?"

"Everything," Logan breathed and pulled Joy closer to him. The rational part of him was far away, the entire world was far away and even Jamal who was in the same room felt far away. Only Joy was close, at least she felt close. "Everything is wrong. Everything was wrong from the beginning. Only you-you seem right to me Joy, only you."

"Oh Romeo!" Jamal screeched, clutching his heart dramatically.

"What are you saying Logan?" Joy's forehead creased. Logan held her waist and gently stroked her cheeks. Her cheeks were soft and chubby almost like a healthy person's.

"I'm saying that I love you Joy," he whispered almost as if he couldn't believe either that he finally said those precious words. Joy's lips parted as Logan repeated, "I have fallen in love with you Joy."

"Oooh damn, I'm going to get some butter popcorn," Jamal commented and slyly exited the room.

Joy was frozen in Logan's arms so he reiterated- almost painfully, "I love you Joy, I always did." He brushed her hair back and waited for her to say something- anything, but she was dead quiet. "Joy, did you hear me? I-I love you."

"No! Th-This can't be t-true," Joy stammered suddenly as if he broke her reverie and he felt her slip away from his hold.

He felt his entire world slip away from his fingers.