Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Sixteen - “You’re special Muffin… I can feel it.”

"I'm sorry. Forgive me."

Jake is sat on the foot of my bed and I'm cross legged on the top, resting against my pillows. We've spent the last five minutes staring at each other silently until he finally apologised. I look up at him from under my lashes and he grins at me boyishly, looking apologetic.

"You confuse me Jake."

Jake shuffles closer to me, the smile from his face dropping.

"Emily look, I really didn't mean to walk out on you. I don't purposely set out to confuse the hell out of your feelings." He admits, running his hand through his hair. His expression turns serious and I nod slowly.

He’s afraid of something but I don't want to push him to tell me.

"I have a reason for why I'm so cold and distant at times but I can't tell you yet. I'm working on it Emily, I really am. I'm not very good at this whole apologising thing," he mumbles, confirming my suspicions.

My lips stretch out into a small smile. All of us have been hurt somehow and we all put up barriers, some more than others. It takes a strong character to be able to admit they've been hurt in the past and I admire Jake for that.

"I can't ask you to do anything other than work on it so we're cool," I reassure him. He gives me a small smile in return. I watch as he inches closer towards me, causing my breathing to swallow out.

"Thanks for being so understanding," he whispers, sending shivers down my spine. His arms wrap around me in an embrace and I return it, grateful for his apology.

"I'm actually a very understanding person." I say in response, earning a chuckle from Jake.

"Don't be so full of yourself Wentworth."

I know he's smirking and when he pulls back, his eyes flash with intensity as he looks through mine. It feels like he's searching every part of me and I blink, suddenly feeling insecure from his stare.

"Can I be truthful right now?" He murmurs, surprising me and resting his forehead against mine. I suck in a breath, forcing myself to breathe normally.

"Yes," I whisper, breath trembling. His gaze flickers between my eyes before dropping down to my lips.

"You are beautiful," he says suddenly, taking me by surprise. I suck in a deep breath, his words causing my stomach to break out fluttering with butterflies.

"You're not so bad yourself Melvin." I say quietly, my heart hammering against my chest. If I remain silent, he could probably hear it.

"You think so Wentworth?" He questions teasingly and instead of making fun of him, I decide to be truthful, once and for all.

"Yes, I do."

I take in his heart wrenching features, from his deep ocean blue eyes to his lips and sharp jawline. I feel Jake watch my every move from the way my shoulders rose and fell as I breathe to the scarlet blush staining my cheeks. He lightly takes hold of my chin, warmth spreading through my body.

"You're special Muffin. . . I can feel it." He whispers, leaning closer.

His kiss never starts soft, lips rough and urgent from the start almost as if he doesn't have the patience for tenderness. I resist at first, my body frozen in place from the surprise of having his lips on mine. The electricity that flows through me quickly becomes addicting and I melt into him, desperate for more. Our lips both move in perfect synchronisation, moulding against each other.

I lightly push on his chest to create some space, needing to come up for air before I pass out from the lack of oxygen. I don't realise how warm my cheeks have grown and Jake chuckles, his laughter a low rumble.

"You're seriously not blushing after the kiss you just gave me." Jake teases, his eyes shining brightly. I smack his chest playfully in response —

"Hey! You kissed me first." I defend myself. Jake quickly leans forward, surprising me by planting a quick peck on my lips.

"Yeah I did. Now I kissed you again." He smirks, fingers trailing up and down my bare arms. I roll my eyes playfully at his response before clutching a handful of his shirt in my fist and pulling him forward. This time I'm going to kiss him first. . .

And boy does it feel good.

*****

I turn the shower off and pause for a moment, closing my eyes. Lately everything around me has been moving at lightning speed so a taking a second or two to collect my thoughts makes me feel better. I step out of the shower and notice my phone screen flashing with numerous messages. I reach over and pick it up, reading the first message —

Where the hell are you Emily ? Mum

I quickly type out a response, my features scrunched up in frustration at the screen —

I've left home. Im not living with Trevor or you anymore. Bye Mum.

It's nice to regain control of my life after having it spin out of control for so long. I hope Mum understands that I'm doing this for myself and my safety. The next message is from an unknown number and I pause, a familiar feeling of dread washing over me.

You need a man to love you Emily, not a little boy.

I sigh heavily, feeling the pressure building up inside my head as a headache begins to brew.

Who are you? GO AWAY.

I hesitate before sending the text, uncertain whether I'm making the right decision. Should I completely ignore him or show him that I'm not scared? I send the text and don't expect his response to be almost immediate but it is.

It is not the right time. I will never go away. . . Not until you're mine.

I shudder at his words that are borderline psychotic stalker behaviour. I turn my phone off and push him to the back of my mind. No way do I need more hassle on top of everything else going on in my life.

I walk back to my room and change into my favourite pyjamas — pink with hearts all over them. Once I'm dressed I blow dry my hair and secure it into a high ponytail. I step into my fluffy bedtime slippers and head downstairs for a warm glass of milk to end my night.

I take the first sip when I feel warm arms wrap around my waist from behind. I jump a little before realising who it is. His scent wraps all around me and the tension in my body completely disappears. I sigh and relax against him, my lips tugging upwards into a smile.

"Hey beautiful," Jake murmurs down my ear. I bite back the smile and turn around, looking up into his blue eyes.

"I feel like you can't get enough of me lately Melvin." I smile sweetly at him. His eyes flash with amusement before raking down my body and back up again.

"I can't help it when you're covered in bright pink love hearts."

"Shut up, I'm comfortable." I laugh, my cheeks growing warm with embarrassment. He chuckles lightly before taking the glass of milk from my hand. I barely have a second to protest as he tilts it upwards, downing the liquid in one.

"Jake!" I whine in protest, shoving him lightly. He gives me an apologetic look, placing the empty glass back down onto the counter.

"Sorry Muffin. These bad boys don't feed themselves you know." He winks, flexing his right arm. The muscles in his bicep bulge instantly and I arch my brow, impressed. "Wow, that right up."

"It's not the only thing that shoots right up when you're around."

I splutter in shock and my mouth falls open as I stare wide eyed at Jake. He shrugs casually in response, his lips twitching upwards into a smirk. I watch him leave, his shoulders and back vibrating as he chuckles.

"You need Jesus!" I yell after him, reaching for the milk to heat another glassful. His laughter fills the air causing me to bite back my own smile.

A soft knock on my bedroom door causes me to jump up out of bed, my sleepy state slowly disappearing. My watch reads midnight and I frown, thinking everyone must be sleeping by now. I pull open the door and find Jake leaning against my door frame, fully dressed. He's wearing a plain white shirt underneath his black bomber jacket, finished off with black jeans. I can't help but bite down on my lower lip . . . How does he manage to look so good at midnight?

Right now, I resemble a potato. A potato in pyjama's.

"Erm, hi?" I smile, my heart fluttering inside my chest. His blue eyes are sparkling and a small smile plays on his lips. He lifts a finger to his lips, shushing me before entering my room. I take a step back and swallow, watching as he quietly shuts my bedroom door over before spinning around. As he turns, his intoxicating scent hits me and I physically swoon.

"Jake, it's midnight. Are you crazy?" I whisper.

"Not crazy, I want to take you somewhere." Jake replies, leaning back against my door with his hands stuffed inside his pockets. My eyebrows shoot up in surprise and I bite down on my lower lip. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise Muffin, get dressed." Jake instructs me, pushing his hand through the strands of his soft dark hair.

"You're taking me somewhere at midnight?" I ask him however I turn and head for my wardrobe, already choosing an outfit.

"Would you like me to leave you to sleep instead?"

I pick out a plain crop top and my grey jogging bottoms along with my converse before turning to respond.

"Not really, I don't get much sleep."

Jake pauses for a moment, studying me silently. "Neither do I," he murmurs softly before clearing his throat. I walk over with my clothes and hide behind the wardrobe door as I change.

"Turn around," I instruct him firmly.

"You're hidden behind the wardrobe door Emily, I can't see you at all," Jake chuckles. I roll my eyes —

"Just turn around, please?"

I hear him sigh before he shuffles and when I peek around the wardrobe door, he's facing the wall. I can't help but giggle at the sight of him.

"You look like a toddler who's been put into time out."

"Just hurry up and get dressed Muffin," Jake chuckles. I smile behind the door and quickly change, tossing my pyjamas onto the bed. When I step out, Jake turns around and holds his hand out towards me. Butterflies fill my stomach and I walk towards him, slipping my hand into his. The warmth of his touch causes a shiver to run up my spine and I blush, glancing down at the floor.

"Are you ready?" Jake asks quietly, his beautiful eyes shining in the dimly lit room. I nod my head, excitement filling me. Jake smiles in return and opens my bedroom door slowly, pulling me out with him. We both tip-toe across the landing before going downstairs. Jake heads for the front door immediately, clutching his car keys in his hand. I don't question his actions and instead follow him silently. My heart is hammering against my chest and I can feel the adrenaline running through my blood from the excitement.

We both step outside into the silent night, darkness engulfing us. I shiver slightly from the cold, goosebumps covering my arms and the back of my neck.

"Are you cold?" Jake asks quietly, directing me to his car. I shake my head, sliding into the passenger seat. He reluctantly slips his hand out of mine. I immediately miss the feeling of his skin but watch as he walks around the front of the car, sliding into the drivers seat. His car smells like a mixture of him and leather. He turns the key in the engine and it roars to life before settling back down into a soft purr.

I pull the seat belt over my body and secure it, noticing my hands are trembling. Silently Jake reaches over into the back before emerging with a red tartan blanket. He drapes it over me —

"Try and warm up, it's a long drive," he murmurs. I nod silently, tucking the blanket in around me tighter. I watch him as he confidently pulls out of the driveway before setting off down the road, heading for the other side of town. Curiosity manages to get the better of me.

"Can you give me a clue on where we're going?"

Jake shakes his head, turning to grin at me.

"I knew you'd ask me that. Patience Muffin."

"I'm not a patient person," I protest, glancing out the window as houses and parked cars whiz past us. The world is dark outside, dimly lit by street lamps every now and then.

"Tough, deal with it," Jake shoots back teasingly, keeping his eyes on the road.

"You're impossible sometimes, you know that?" I reply, my lips tugging upwards into a smile. Jake chuckles quietly, turning to head onto the motorway.

"Tell me about yourself Emily," Jake says, turning to give me a warm look. So different than the first time we met. I'm slightly taken aback by his question, unsure on how to answer.

"What do you want to know?" I ask him, pulling my knees into my chest. My body is beginning to warm up and I sink into the seat, getting comfortable.

"Everything," he says softly. I feel them again, butterflies. My throat dries out and silence settles upon us as I turn to look at him. He's focused on the road despite the traffic being non-existent at this time.

"My favourite colour is white and blush pink. I love waking up early before the rest of the world because the silence is comforting. I have a guilty pleasure of watching child cartoons when no-one else is around. My favourite food is extra cheese pizza, I'm not mad about putting some pineapple on there too."

"I agree with the pineapple on pizza." Jake smiles before motioning for me to continue.

"I love to help people. People who are struggling or vulnerable. I'm big on family despite not knowing mine very well. I always wished I had an older brother when I was younger. . ." I drift off, resting my chin on my knees.

"Why?"

"To protect me," I smile, turning my head to watch him drive. Jake Melvin is utterly beautiful . . . I'll never get tired of sitting and watching him. The way he moves, the way his jaw tenses when he's thinking or concentrating hard. Jake slowly nods, never taking his eyes off the road. It makes me feel safe knowing he's being careful.

"When did you stop?"

"When did I stop what?" I said quietly, my voice a low murmur.

"When did you stop wishing you had an older brother?" Jake repeats. I pause for a moment, thinking hard about his question.

"When Trevor started beating me. Before that I thought if I had an older brother, he'd stop Trevor from hitting my Mum. Once Trevor started to beat me up, I realised something. I realised no-one in this world could save me. My own mother couldn't save me and she shares my blood. Having a brother wouldn't make a difference if my own Mum can't save me from a monster. So I simply stopped wishing for an older brother, I didn't see the point."

"Do you still think that no-one can save you?" Jake asks softly, his hands gripping tightly onto the steering wheel. I smile at his question because I like the answer.

"No, I changed my mind."

"When?"

"When I met you," I murmur, closing my eyes. After that a silence falls upon us but it's a good silence. The movements of the car drift me off into a deep sleep and it's the first time in months, I feel well rested. The car eventually comes to a stop and I blink, my eyes adjusting as I begin to stir awake.

"Did you sleep well?" Jake asks me, killing the engine and glancing down at me. I nod, feeling a blush travel from my neck up to my cheeks. "Yes, thank you." I murmur, sitting up straight.

"Are we here?" I ask him and he nods, opening up his car door. He disappears into the darkness outside for a few seconds before my car door opened.

"Come on, hop out Muffin."

I undo my seat belt and wrap the blanket around my shoulders, taking Jake's hand as he helps me out the car. As soon I was stood up straight, I glanced around, frowning. We were surrounded by trees, in the woods. It was dark out here, no lights to guide us.

"Are we in the woods?" I ask him quietly, keeping a tight hold of his hand. I shiver slightly and Jake immediately wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.

"Yeah, I want to show you something. Don't be scared, I'm here." He whispers, his body pressed against mine. I shiver again from the tone of his voice, not from the cold.

"Come with me."

I nod and we both begin walking, leaves crunching underneath our feet. It feels like we're disturbing nature at night. Minutes pass whilst we weave through trees and bushes but I don't feel scared anymore, not with Jake by my side.

"This is my favourite place," Jake says quietly, breaking the silence between us. We slowly walk forward where the floor disappears and rocks surround us instead. I frown as I glance around and Jake takes a step forward, hopping onto the first rock. I mirror his action and his hand tightens in mine, squeezing it slightly.

"I don't want to fall," I murmur, wobbling unsteadily.

"You won't fall, I've got you."

I smile in the dark at his response and we continue to walk along several rocks until before I know it, it's all I can see surrounding me.

"Almost here," Jake whispers, his voice causing goosebumps to travel down my neck. I peer around in curiosity. A large hole in one of the rocky walls lays ahead of us.

"Are we going inside a cave?" I ask him. Jake nods his head, turning around to flash me a quick smile.

"Not just a cave, you'll see."

As soon as we enter, it's like nothing I could ever imagine. The cave entrance leads to a clearing where the ground is even and the rocks disappear. The walls are covered with intricate art, some of it glorified graffiti. I continue to study them in awe, stunned by its beauty.

"It's beautiful," I whisper, reaching out to trace over the pictures spray painted all over the walls. Carvings of initials and names are littered between the art and I read every one, a small smile on my lips. Behind me I feel Jake's presence, his body pressed against mine lightly.

"It gets better, tilt your head upwards," he breathes down my ear. I wrap the blanket around my shoulders and turn around, facing Jake. His face is lit up with a smile and when I I tilt my head back and look up, I realise why.

The cave has an open ceiling where the sky is dark and lit up with the most beautiful stars. I let out a small gasp, unable to tear my eyes away from the beauty of the sky.

"Amazing, right? I love to sit here when the sky is clear," Jake murmurs, dropping down onto the floor and lying on his back. I slowly nod and lie next to him, our heads almost touching. Moments of silence pass between us and I turn briefly, my heart thumping against my chest.

Jake is looking up at the sky, looking deep in thought. His arm suddenly reaches out, pulling me against him gently. I breathe in sharply, resting my head on his shoulder. It feels so natural being close to him. His body radiates heat and I feel myself relax against him, goosebumps travelling up and down my arms.

"Why do you come here?" I ask him softly, liking that I'm discovering who the real Jake Melvin is.

"When I'm angry at the world or myself I come here to remind myself that no matter what, life goes on. The sky and the drawings calm me down. I can sit here for hours just staring up at how beautiful it looks at night."

I listen carefully to him before reaching for his hand, locking my fingers into his.

"Thank you for showing me your favourite place," I whisper, both of us unable to tear our eyes off the beautifully lit sky. It feels special, almost as if the darkness knew he was going to bring me here tonight.

"You're welcome, it's just as beautiful as you." Jake murmurs, his voice low and sleepy. His words cause my heart to leap into my throat and I blink in surprise, butterflies exploding in my stomach.

"Thank you Jake.”