Undying Devotion Chapter 7
Laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, Erika realized she'd been there for quite a while, pondering her conversation with Justin, earlier that evening. She jumped at the sound of the phone ringing loudly on then nightstand.
Reaching over, she picked it up and said "Hello?"
"Hi." came the reply.
She recognized JC's voice right away.
"Oh, hey JC." she answered.
"Um...I was just wondering if you wanted to go out to eat with me?" he asked hesitantly.
"I don't know..." she began, but JC interjected quickly, "Erika, please, you've gotta get out of the house." Then he quietly added
"Besides, I miss you." His sad tone changed
Erika's mind, as she agreed, "Okay, babe, what time?"
"I'd pick you up in like 45 minutes!" JC excitedly informed her.
Erika was just finishing her makeup when she heard a knock at the door. As she opened it, they didn't say a word, but exchanged smiles. JC happily took her hand and led her to his jeep. Opening her door for her, he helped her up, and closed it. As he walked around to the driver's side, Erika couldn't help but feel lucky to have such a sensitive, sweet guy who loved her as much as she loved him.
"Here we GO!" he said, pulling out.
As the waitress left with their food orders, JC winked at Erika, taking a drink. She was grateful he hadn't brought up the way she'd been acting. They talked quietly, and had a pleasant time, although JC could tell she still was FAR from being her old, happy
self. It hurt to look at her pretty gray eyes, and not see that familiar sparkle, that he loved so much. But it was still the girl he loved, and he knew he had to help her get through this, and BE herself again. No matter how far she distanced herself from him, when she needed him most, and he needed HER most. Back at her house, JC walked Erika to her porch. Nervously, he gave her a soft goodnight kiss. The butterflies in his stomach made him feel like it was
their first date. Erika started to turn to the door, then whirled around to look into his eyes. She didn't want him to leave her alone, not yet.
They gazed at each other for a second, then JC whispered, "What is it?"
Erika sat down on the porch swing, and patted the spot next to her with her hand. At the cue, he took a seat next to her. They didn't talk, just sat next to each other, staring at the starry sky. The serenity of the moment ended suddenly, as he looked down just in time to see Erika shiver in the frosty air. He took off his jacket, and put it over her. Erika smiled at his sweet gesture.
"Erika..." JC started, "Do you realize how much I love you?"
She looked up at him, and answered, "I'm not sure, but I just hope it's half as much as I love you."
Neither of them knew what to say, and as Erika thought of just how much she DID love him, it brought tears to her eyes. Something she was beginning to get used to, although it was HARD to get accustomed to, considering what a happy person she'd been before...before all of
this. When he saw it, he squeezed her hand gently.
"I don't want to push you, but if you need to talk, or cry, or anything, I'm ALWAYS here for you."
"JC, PLEASE. Why don't you understand that I just CAN'T talk to you about this?" she said, nearly shouting.
His eyes narrowed, more in pain than anger, "Because I can't just accept that. I KNOW that you need to talk, you've got to. You've always come to me first, when you needed anything. Now you go to Justin before ME? Do you know how upset that makes me? I'd like to
think you trusted me enough to come to me with anything, and know that I'd be behind you."
"Just STOP!" she screamed, "I don't WANT to talk to you about it! I care about you, can't you see that?"
JC stood up, and said coldly, "How COULD I see that, when you act like a completely different person? Like a person who doesn't care about me AT ALL."
Then he turned away and walked to his jeep. As he started to open the door he heard her choking back her sobs, and wanted more than anything to hold her. He stopped, considering the urge, but decided against it, knowing she'd only push him away. He got in his jeep, and left.
[chapter 8]�[Undying Devotion]
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