Jaylynn looked at the man sitting
across from her and wondered how they had gotten to this place. A
place where they had so much they wanted to say to each other, yet
neither could say anything. Where their hearts weren't free or
open enough to let them speak. How someone who had been her best
friend ended up being the one person she couldn't trust herself
around.
Shane was staring off into space and
Jaylynn wondered if his thoughts mirrored hers. And that's when it
happened. She began to cry. Tears filled her eyes and streamed
silently down her cheeks.
Shane glanced over at her and his
face echoed the alarm he felt when he saw the tears sliding down
her cheeks. "Are you okay?" he asked, despite the answer being
obvious.
Jaylynn nodded, not even bothering
to try and conceal her tears. After a moment's hesitation she
spoke. "H-How did this happen?" she asked. "What?" Shane asked,
confused.
Jaylynn motioned to the space
between them. "This. With us. We were so close. Good friends. Now
look at us." Jaylynn stammered, the tears falling even harder now.
Shane moved to close the space between them and placed a hand on
her knee.
"We're still friends. We've just hit
a rough patch." he told her. "No...no. We aren't. I messed our
friendship up. I'm a horrible friend. I'm-I'm sorry." Jaylynn
cried.
Shane instantly wrapped her in his
arms in a hug. He rubbed his hand over her hair as she laid her
head on his chest and cried. "Shhhh, it's ok. You'll be okay
babygirl." Shane coo'd and instantly felt her body tense up.
She pulled back from him. "What did
you say?" She asked. "I said it'll all be okay." Shane told her,
more than a bit confused.
Jaylynn's mind flashed back to the
memory of when she had woken up at the hospital just enough to
hear what was going on around her. The twang. The voice had told
her that "you'd be okay babygirl." The exact words Shane Helms had
just used a moment ago in the exact same twang. Shane was the
mystery savior.
Jaylynn was on her feet in an
instant. "It was you, wasn't it?" Jaylynn asked, beginning to pace
a few feet. "What are you talking about?" Shane asked, wondering
if Jaylynn was having a nervous breakdown.
"It was you. In the stairwell. I...I
remember Shane throwing me over his shoulder and I remember
fighting him as much as I could. Then someone stopped him...hit
him or something. I...I couldn't see the person who saved me. I
just heard their voice when they picked me up. Then I woke up
briefly in the hospital and the same voice told me that I'd be
okay. They used the name babygirl. The voice...I couldn't place
the voice. But now..I know it was you. You are the voice." Jaylynn
rattled, piecing her memory back together.
Shane silently watched her. "Yes...I
stopped Shane. I was there with you at the hospital." he admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Jaylynn asked, agitated
slightly.
"I thought you knew and were just
ignoring it. And besides, what would I have accomplished by
telling you that?" Shane asked. Jaylynn shrugged, finally stopping
her frantic pacing. "I could have thanked you." she said.
"You did, by not going back to that
bastard." Shane told her. "You saved me." Jaylynn said again.
Shane moved to stand in front of
her. "Yes. Because you needed me." he told her. "I need to be
alone." Jaylynn whispered, her thoughts jumbling up.
Shane nodded and Jaylynn followed
him to the door, not quite sure how she felt. He stepped outside
but then turned to look at her. "you know...if you want, I can be
the one to save you now." he told her.
Jaylynn turned watery eyes up at
him. "Shane, I don't need a Superhero. Just a friend." She
whispered before shutting the door.
END CHAPTER. NEW STORY COMING UP!