Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Warning: fluff filled chapter with a little twist at the end. Proceed with caution...

***

Jessie spent the rest of the day daydreaming. She kept on willing the night to come quickly so she could sleep and wake up the next day. Her excitement was so palpable that she spent most of the night squealing while imagining what was going to happen between Theo and herself on the road trip.

The next morning, she woke up bright and early, wishing to surprise Theo with breakfast. She got to it quickly after taking a shower, making eggs, bacon and coffee, with some toast.

By the time she was placing the last piece of bacon on one of the plates, Theo was entering the kitchen, looking freshly showered and shaved.

She smiled and blushed when she saw him. It was still oh-so weird and their relationship was still at that point where you felt comfortable enough to tell your most well-kept secrets to the other, but also nervous enough that meeting their eyes was a whole feat.

That was what was happening to Jessie at the moment. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. She muttered a small 'hey', met Theo's eyes for a fleeting moment, then turned away.

Theo smiled, finding it adorable that she was so excited that she could not meet his eyes. He walked towards her, lifted her head up gently, then kissed her softly.

This kiss felt different to Jessie. The other kisses they had shared were passionate and fast. This one was the complete opposite. There was still that passion, but Theo took his time exploring Jessie's mouth and she followed his lead.

After a few moments, Theo lifted his head from Jessie's and said, "Good morning," with a soft smile.

Jessie had to clear her throat before giving an answer. "Good morning. I made breakfast"

"You like me more than you let on", Theo teased.

"I might have poisoned it," Jessie responded with a small smile playing around her lips.

"Then you'll have to taste it first", he said then pulled her between his legs.

Jessie let out a small giggle. She couldn't help but smile around Theo.

"Can't", she said, smiling.

"Do you want me to force feed you?" Theo asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'd like to see you try" Jessie taunted, sticking her tongue out at him and rushing away from him.

Theo laughed but caught her easily then trapped her in between his body and the countertop.

"You'd love to see me try, huh?" Jessie just giggled, averting her eyes. It was hard for her to keep eye contact because sometimes she just got so nervous.

"Hey. Look at me" Theo said, lifting her face. She met his eyes. They were beautiful. It was not hard to get lost in them.

"The food is getting cold," Jessie said, trying to escape Theo's hold.

"Hey," Theo held her in place, forcing her to look at him. When she finally did, he smiled, pecked her lips then went to steal a piece of bacon from the plate.

Jessie slapped his hand lightly and wagged her forefinger at him.

"Uh uh. Let's take the plates to the dining room then we eat," she said, carrying some of the food to the dining table.

"But it looks so good," Theo said. Jessie though he was talking about the food until she turned and caught him staring at her ass.

She shook her head at him, let out a small giggle and blushed lightly. She set the food on the table then waited a few seconds for Theo to come with the coffee mugs, sugar and creamer.

When everything was on the table, they sat, looked at each other then burst into laughter. If you asked any of them why they were laughing, they wouldn't have been able to answer. Nothing was funny. And that was what was funny.

"This looks good," Theo said, breaking the silence.

"Thank you," Jessie answered quietly, blushing. She made her cup of coffee, adding four sugars and a lot of creamer.

"You're going to drink that?" Theo asked a shocked expression on his face.

"Yeah. How do you drink yours?" Jessie asked, perplexed.

Theo didn't bother answering. He put one sugar into his mug, stirred it a little then took a big sip.

Jessie scrunched her face up, then made a shoe of drinking her extra sweet coffee. After taking a sip, she let out a long purrlike sound, like a cat that just ate the canary.

She looked at Theo and smiled like she did not realize the effect that sound had on him, then started with her food.

Theo chuckled but kept his words to himself. Two could play that game.

***

"Theo, let's goo!" Jessie implored, stomping her little leg on the floor. It had been 30 minutes since she had gotten everything she needed ready and Theo was still dressing.

"I'm done. I'm done," he said, coming out of the room. Jessie rolled her eyes at him and followed him to the garage.

She wanted to be petty and get into the act before he could open it for her but unfortunately for her, he reached first. She tried to get in but before she could, he held her hand.

"Hey, don't be mad. Perfection takes time, you know" he tried to joke but Jessie wasn't having it.

"Come on, baby..." He tried again. Nothing. Jessie did not even crack a smile. He knew she wasn't even pissed or annoyed. She just wanted him to be cute with her.

"Honey bunch, cutie pie, schnookums," as soon as he said the last one, Jessie burst into laughter, making him smile.

"Knew you couldn't resist my charm long," Theo boasted teasingly, flicking her nose playfully.

Jessie muttered something then got into the car, all the while smiling.

"So, where are we going?", Jessie asked when they were already out of town.

"Wait and see", Theo responded cryptically, a small smile playing around his lips.

Jessie rolled her eyes playfully then turned in the radio. A SZA song was playing and Jessie sang along, ignoring Theo's shocked looks.

"What?" She asked with a shy smile, no longer able to ignore him.

"Nothing. You're just so beautiful" Jessie smiled and and muttered a small thanks.

Soon enough, they arrived in front of a decrepit building. Theo parked the car, got stuff out of the trunk, then held Jessie's hands and led her to the stairs.

Jessie followed mutely until they reached the rooftop. There she could not conceal her amazement.

"This is beautiful", she said awe. You could see the mountains from there and it was honestly so breathtaking.

"I used to come here all the time as a teenager. To think" Jessie nodded. She understood.

"I'm so honoured that you brought me here. I know how it feels to have a safe haven, special and untainted by anyone"

"Well, you are special. So I don't mind it being tainted by you", Theo replied with a genuine smile. Jessie smiled back, then stooda on her tiptoes and kissed him. Theo deepened the kiss and held her by the waist, giving her butt a small squeeze.

Jessie giggled into the kiss, then pulled back. Theo placed a small kiss on her nose then went ahead to get the blanket and spread it out.

They lay down and held hands. Both of them felt like they were reliving the teenage years they never got to experience. They were both scared of the depth of the feelings they had developed for each other in such a short period of time.

They stayed in silence for a while before Theo broke it.

"My dad was abusive" Jessie turned on her side to look at him.

"Nobody knew about it. He'd beat on everybody except for my little sister. She was his princess." Theo sneered the last part bitterly, his lips forming a pout.

Jessie stayed quiet,eaving him to talk. She knew that it still affected him and knee that he just wanted a listening ear. Nobody had ever wanted his side of the story.

"My mom always tried to protect us. She put up a whole charade for the whole to see. Everybody thought we were this perfect little family. Every time he was out of town, she'd take my sister and I on a road trip, to a festival, anywhere she could to help take our minds off what happened at home"

Theo took in a deep breath and Jessie squeezed his hand just to remind him she was there and she was listening.

Theo went on. "One evening, things took a horrible turn. He came back home before time. We were out. My mom, my sister and I. The pictures you saw in that photo booth were the last pictures I got to take with my sister"

Theo was getting choked up, so Jessie sat up and pulled his head into her laps, running her fingers through his hair.

"We got back and we were surprised to see him, sitting on the couch, legs crossed and a gun in his hand. As soon as we got in, he started shooting. He shot at my sister first, pointed the gun at me but my mother shielded me from the bullets.

"I c-cant ev-even remember what happened next. All I could see was m-my mom and s-sister laying on the floor, blood everywhere. I was ready to kill him, I swear. But he took that privilege from me. He had killed himself. The fucker had killed himself. Can you imagine that, Jess?"

Both of them were crying at this point in time. Jessie silently, trying her best to comfort Theo.

"I didn't want to live. I assure you that. I picked that gun up and shot myself in the head"

Jessie gasped. Theo always seemed so strong. It was disheartening to believe he had been through so much.

"Next thing i know, I wake up in a hospital, cameras shoved in my face and the doctors telling me unfeelingly that my mother and sister were dead"

Jessie knew the rest. She had been so caught up with the story, wondering how someone would willingly kill their family when people like her didn't even have anybody to call family.

"I'm so so sorry you had to go through that alone Theo. I'm so so sorry", Jessie said, knowing words could never be enough. She held Theo in her arms as he sobbed, even rocking him a couple of times.

"Better?" She asked when his sobs quietened down.

He nodded and gave her a small smile. She pressed a kiss to his nose and his hair, silently praying he was never hurt like that again.

***

"

I think I might love you already", Jessie confessed. They had left the building and were in the car on their way to adventures unknown as Theo put it.

"I think I might love you too", Theo replied and it was all it took for Jessie not to melt into a puddle of gloo. She turned on the radio to distract herself. Worst idea she had ever had.

A voice that was unmistakably Patrick's was answering an interviewer's questions.

"Mr. Briggs, how are you sure it's the so-called Best who kidnapped your fiancee?"

"Jessie's sister works at Betty's place. Late at night, he had the nerve to bring her there. Im just so angry at myself. I was so close to her all this while, but I couldn't do anything about it"

"Why did you take so long to report your fiancee's disappearance?"

"Cause I wasn't entirely sure about my suspicions. It's not the first time she's doing this. I just want her back. I just want my baby back" then he broke down crying.