Without You (Sequel (2018))

Lazy Afternoons

We'd practically had to stop Jeremy from going on a manhunt the following morning when we told the others about the break in. He almost smashed his fist through the granite countertop and sent a coffee cup crashing against the hard floor.

"Jeremy, we're going to get to the bottom of this! The last thing we need right now is to have you back in hospital again!" I attempt to calm him down, resting my hand lovingly on his shoulder.

"The little bastard obviously didn't learn his lesson the first time!" He heightens the volume in his angry voice.

I don't think I've ever seen him so angry before, his eyes are ablaze with rage.

"Man, just chill, we're all pissed but it's also important to be able to think clearly," Tyler reasons with surprising seriousness. "I think we can all agree that we're all going to watch out for each other. We'll be more prepared his time."

I nod gratefully, remembering that everyone in this room was in Cara's house the night that everything kicked off and the torture began.

"Well if it is Alex, I'm going to make prison seem like The Ritz," Jeremy seethes, only partially backing down.

"Then how are you any better than him, Jez?" I beg him, hoping to get rid of this angry version of my brother. "Plus, we don't know for sure what's going on or who's responsible!"

Tyler, Cara and Samantha all nod at me from standing across the kitchen. Jeremy and Eli don't look so convinced though. In fact, I can still see their anger brewing under the surface.

Exhaling loudly, I rub my eyes until they're sore and giving up, head back upstairs towards my room. I can feel Eli hot on my heels.

"So now I can't even enjoy my holiday because if I even leave the house then I'll just be looking over my shoulder the whole time," I sigh, sitting with a thump on my bed, my head back in my hands.

He doesn't respond but I can feel his presence stood in front of me. From beyond the darkness behind my eyelids, I hear rustling before two strong hands on my legs and I realise that he's crouching in front of me.

"Hey, what have we said a thousand times? We're not going to let them ruin your life," he reasons with his calming tone.

It's not long before I feel his warm hands pulling mine away from my face and onto his shoulders. I can't help but glide my arms over his shoulders and tightly around his neck as I pull myself closer into him.

"I just want this to all be over," I mutter into his thick mop of hair.

"And it will be," he breathes comfortingly, gently taking my face in his hands and stroking the hair away from my damp face. "Even if I have to make sure myself."

I smile back at his reassuring face before gently tracing his razor blade cheek bones with my fingertips. Leaning forward I flutter my lips against his and plant the smallest kiss, enjoying breathing in his presence. Almost instinctively, I grip the front of his shirt and pull him towards me, deepening the kiss as my desperation to have him close by intensifies. Eventually, his hands grip down on the bed by my sides and he moves so that he hovers on top of me and pulls us up the bed.

"Are you sure this is the best way to deal with all this?" He whispers huskily into my lips when my grip on the back of his neck tightens to press his body to mine.

"This is exactly how we need to deal with it," I reply, realising that it probably looks like I'm burying my head in the sand right now but I can't help it. Being close to him right now is the only thing not sending my head into a mad panic.

"Well, this is definitely one way we can still enjoy our vacation," he laughs back before trailing his kisses along my flushed cheeks and across my neck in an accumulation of nuzzles.