Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Jessie felt like she had been walking for hours and she had eaten almost half of her junk food stash. She cursed her stupid self for forgetting to eat before leaving. It was like she had lost all of her common sense when she saw that asshole with another woman.

She saw a stump and decided to sit on it, as sweat was already dripping down her back. "I'm so fucking stupid", she muttered, pulling another packet of chips from the bag she had stuffed the food in.

After thinking, she put it back. She did not know how long she was going to be stuck out here so it was better she kept the food for later. After about half an hour resting, she stood up and continued her journey, trying not to wander too aimlessly.

†††

Theo was feeling frustrated. After about fifteen minutes trying to convince himself he did not care about what happened to Jessie, he found himself pulling a jacket on to go and look for her, wherever she was.

He did not know the fascination he had with her. She kept on invading his privacy, assuming she knew everything about him and she had broken his routine, but he still could not get her out of his mind. It was tiring.

He went out and locked the door after him and sighed. He was confused. He had never actually felt this strongly about another person and at the risk of sounding redundant, it scared him. It scared him so bad.

Theo pushed his thoughts away and started walking. He had no idea where Jessie could be and all he hoped was that she was alright. The woods were vast after all,  and anything could happen.

"Fuck", he muttered, kicked a small stone then kept walking, looking for any little clue she could have left, his hands in his pocket.

***

Jessie had long left the stump she had rested on, and though she had been trying as much as possible to have an image of the path back to Theo's house, she had found herself pitifully lost.

Het stash of junk food was finished as she had gotten so hungry because she had not eaten that morning before leaving.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. I'm so goddamned stupid. I can't do anything right", she said to herself, kicking at the stone in front of her. Unfortunately, she missed her aim and ended up on the ground, her ankle laying under her at an awkward angle.

It was not until she looked at it that the pain registered. If she had thought seeing Patrick with another woman hurt, she changed her mind. This was the worst imaginable pain she had felt in her entire life. And her life had not been rosy.

As Jessie was trying to straighten her leg, she did not notice until it was too late to do anything that a small rodent had dragged the last packet of chips that she had left.

She started laughing hysterically and soon the laughing turned in pitiful and heart wrenching sobs. And the funniest thing was, she did not even know why exactly she was crying. Heartbreak, pain, her own stupidity? She did not know.

***

Theo had been searching for Jessie for about an hour to no avail. He had managed to get his thoughts in order but that nagging feeling of worry was still there, very persistent.

He stopped suddenly when he heard hysterical laughter followed by some of the most pitiful sobs he had ever heard. Theo started into that direction. He was sure it was Jessie.

He started sprinting when the sobs got even louder and the sight he saw was one that caused a strange pang to go through his heart. Jessie was sitting on the ground, her face in her palms, and with each sob, her whole body heaved.

When he reached her, he held her gently by her shoulders. She flinched but turned back to look at him and his heart cracked at the sight of her. Her usually vibrant brown eyes were dull and red rimmed and it seemed her mouth was in a perpetual pout.

"Hey", he said, "stop crying, okay". Then he pulled her up gently and took her into his arms. He knew the way back home as he had lived here for a major part of his life.

Theo did not speak on the walk back, knowing Jessie was probably embarrassed he had seen her like that. He looked down at her and noticed that though her eyes were closed, she was still breathing steadily, so she was definitely not sleeping.

He looked at the tear tracks on her cheeks and sighed quietly, taking a silent vow to protect her in every way he could.

***

Jessie lay silently in Theo's arms. She was confused. Why did he come to get her? He could have left her to get lost and die of starvation or dehydration or whatever came first. But Jessie did not voice out any of her questions. Instead, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep until her exhaustion finally caught up to her.

Jessie woke up again when she was jostled. Theo was setting her on the bed, and looking around, she noticed that it was not the room she had grown accustomed to.

Theo noticed she was awake and asked softly, "Did I wake you up?"

Jessie ignored his question, stared at him then asked a question of her own. "Why- why did you bring me back here Theo? Why not just leave me? Good riddance right?"

He started at her in the same contemplative way she had stared at him and said, "Let me make some soup and bring it to you", then walked out.

Jessie sighed and leaned back against the pillows on the bed. She was not used to this- to someone taking care of her. It was usually the other way round. As she shifted again in bed, trying to get comfortable, Theo got in.

He walked towards the bed and sat at the very edge, trying not to make her uncomfortable. He took her ankle gently, placed it under a pillow and put a cold pack on it.

"We're going to have to go into town for you to get that checked out", he said and both of them tensed. Jessie started shaking her head but a warm hand placed on her leg stopped her.

She sighed, placed her hand on Theo's and said, " I'm really sorry Theo. I brought all these complications into your life"

Theo looked at her and said, "I would have had to face them sooner or later", stood up, then added, " Get some rest okay? And call me when the pack melts"

He got out and Jessie sighed again. They write both going to have to face their fears.