Chapter 20

(written by Michelle)

Jess sat down on her bed later that night, her mind was reeling with all the news that Jade had told her. Brian was giving up his life with Leighanne so he could be with her, what did that mean?? Just when she thought she was over him, he goes and pulls something like that. Jess could feel her blood boil as she stood up to comb her hair. She couldn't be that much over him though, the news had excited her so much that she had to think about breathing otherwise she would stop. Jess thought back to the night of AJ's party when she had gotten drunk and Brian had been there to help her; would something had happened if Leighanne hadn't come into the room when she did??

Jess laid down but her mind was too full with thoughts of Brian and wondering if getting back together was the right thing for her or not that she walked out to the balcony to get some fresh air to clear her head. She looked down onto the grass below in time to see a shadowy figure retreat into her house, she knew instantly that it was Brian. Her breath caught in her throat as the thought of him sweeping her off her feet and into his arms once again made her head spin just as it had before. The sounds of him walking up the carpeted steps to her room didn't do anything to dissuade her anxiety. She knew all to well that he would come in and immediately find her out here on her balcony.

Jess tightened her grip on the hard steel, she didn't want to cave in right now, didn't want to love him, not now, not like this. Her bedroom door squeaked open and he came walking in, she could sense his every move. When he stepped out onto the balcony to join her she didn't turn around, she didn't acknowledge him, although she was painstakingly aware that he was there. "Jess?" he spoke to her, his words barely above a whisper now. She still didn't turn around, she was too afraid her knees would give out. She had waited for this moment, dreamed of it, but now that it was here she wasn't sure it was supposed to be like this.

"Jess?" he called again, the step he took closer to her creaked beneath his weight. She turned around slowly, tears flowing from her eyes. He moved to wipe them away, but she stopped him and turned away. "Yes, Brian?" she asked, hoping to reflect the coldness she had felt everytime she saw him and Leighanne together. He was taken back, she could tell, he was rethinking this whole thing. She looked into his eyes and could tell that he too had been crying, she could see the pain in his heart through his eyes.

He didn't say anything for the longest time and she didn't push him. "I need you," he finally spoke. He spoke as if those three words were to be the last words he ever spoke on this earth. Jess stared at him, she could feel all the passion in his words as they wrapped around her heart and regained the hold of her that they had let slip through before. She took a step toward him and let all of her hard feelings slip through her fingers as she raised her hand to his face and stroked it gently. He lay his face onto her hand, thankful she didn't slap him with it. He took her in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom where they slept in each other's arms the rest of the night--they didn't want to rush anything, they would have the rest of their lives to rush things.

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