Jade

Heading to Chloe's place, I ran through the list of things I researched to assist Chloe in moving forward from this horrific tragedy. Although I know I must follow suit as I've been a bit of a mess, they have also become my family.

It's been difficult working my way through the loss, but I know this has affected Chloe the most, given they grew up together and she was all that was left of Chloe's family.

We all grieve in our own way, but releasing it, not holding it in, is the best way to move forward, even if it means to cry for weeks.

I stopped in front of their home, and a flashback of my last time here with Noah hit me. Since Shelly's death, I've kept him at arm's length. Getting close to anyone after Alex has proven to be complicated. It's even worse now after grieving the loss of such a close friend.

Why risk attachments when eventually it will end in death? What's the point of it all? Why risk it?

Axle appears in the doorway, escorting me inside.

We embrace exchanging pleasantries while I inquire about Chloe's state. "How is she?"

Shaking his head back and forth. "The same."

He moved forward, informing me what he could garner for our night.

"I prepared a savory board, chips and salsa, wine, fruity drinks, and some pastries for you two by the pool. It's an unusually cool night. The heaters are on outside, so you two should be warm as long as you don't wander beyond the pool. There are blankets laid out just in case. If you decide to go for a swim, the pool is heated."

Smiling, I approve of the setup. "Thank you so much, Axle. I'm hoping a little heart-to-heart and good company can help her on the road to recovery."

"As do I." He belted with conviction, reinforced by the severe look of his light grey eyes.

Axle disappears inside his home, leaving me to my own devices. I stroll to the lounge chairs, contemplating my life's choices. Dad leaving, my departure from home, Dane, falling in love with Alex, watching Alex die before me, escaping, to constantly looking over my shoulder.

Dane is dead now; I'm finally free, and yet I still feel as if he holds me within a tight grasp. I reach for my necklace, rubbing the pendant to soothe my nerves. Years of living in fear are nearly impossible to eliminate in just a few months.

Releasing a deep breath, I wonder what my next move should be. Do I proceed with Noah or just halt everything in its tracks before it blows up in my face?

"Jade?"

Her soft, almost inaudible voice triggers me to twist at the waist. I come face to face with a swollen, red-eyed Chloe.

"Chloe!" Strolling towards her, we embrace. Unwilling to release her, I sense her mild tremble and smothered soft sobs. My heart breaks for her. We all have had a hard life, but right now, she needs us more than ever.

I've been on my own for years; I've held people at a distance for a reason. I picked up and left whenever needed, changed names, and kept it moving. I have shut myself and my heart to avoid this very instance.

But now, for the first time in years, I have people I care for a lot. I have stability, friendship, and family. Losing Shelly has been rough, but I cannot imagine losing a sister. They were close as family, thick as thieves.

"Chloe, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." I attempt to let her know through all of this, I'm a constant in her life.

As her sobs emanate louder, she nods her head. We remained like this for about 20 minutes before she felt brave enough to face me.

"I'm sorry, Jade. I just–"

"Nonsense, Chloe. This is exactly why I'm here. We are going to have a purge."

Wiping her tear-stained face. "Purge?" Her voice cracked.

"Yes, a purge. We will release the feelings that we have been holding captive." I hold her hands in mine while staring into her beautiful brown, red puffy eyes.

"I feel like I have been purging non-stop. The sniveling hasn't ended. I wake and fall asleep, bawling my eyes out." Her voice goes in and out. She's been crying non-stop and her crackled voice proves it.

"Yes, but have you been releasing your true feelings?"

Chloe stares at me as if I uncovered a massive secret of hers.

"Come on. Axle prepared some goodies for us." We walked to the table, poured some drinks, and placed some goodies on a plate before relaxing in the lounge chairs.

I opened up first, hoping this would assist her in her purge. "I've cried more than I can remember in the last week and a half than I have since I was with Dane. It was a shock, and I feel a bit empty without her here."

I give a moment of silence, waiting for Chloe to chime in. The calmness was so loud my ears almost bled. I can actually feel her pain radiating off of her. Why does she hold it all in? Why is her go to one of withholding?

"Chloe. This only works if you talk to me, too." I attempt to get into her view.

"Jade, it's hard to express. I just–"

She cuddles in her blanket more, bringing it up to her chin and staring off into the horizon.

"Okay, so let's talk about something else. Anything else." I took a sip of my glass of sangria. "I have been distracting myself with work. It's been busy, and with Noah, I'm not sure we will make it."

Chloe sits up in her seat. "Why not?"

Releasing a massive sigh. "I just can't do it. I'm just too damaged to even think about a serious long-term relationship. It's, it's just not worth it."

"I've seen you two together, Jade. He looks at you with such admiration. And let's not forget how you get bashful in front of him."

"Stop, Chloe." I giggle, shaking my head back and forth.

"No, seriously, Jade. You deserve happiness. You've been through so much. If there is anyone one of us that deserves a happy ending, it's you."

"We both do Chloe. And this, that you're doing right here." I circle her current depressive state with my finger. "Shelly would be upset that you have allowed yourself to fall so far so fast."

"I just lost her, Jade! She was my sister! She would understand my grieving." Chloe shouted at me.

I get it. I understand why she's angry. "We all understand it, Chloe. But never leaving the bedroom, not eating. It's not healthy. And you know for a fact she would disapprove."

Chloe's eyes welled up as tears overflowed down her face, triggering me to jump from my chair onto hers. I hugged her with the hope that my embrace would give her comfort. "Let it out, Chlo. It's okay, girl. It's okay." My hands flew up and down her arms in comfort.

Her sobs enhanced. She raises her head to peer into my eyes. "That's what Shell called me."

Fuck! I couldn't help but cry along with her. I fucked up. I triggered her. We stood there until I felt a shift in Chloe's weight. She cried herself to sleep. I gently placed her on the back of her chair, covering her with the blanket, finding Axle, alerting him of her slumber.

He thanks me before I walk out. Given my history, I'm left pondering if Noah and I stand a chance.

Shelly would want me to pursue my happiness. This is for you, Shelly. Taking out my phone, I scroll to his number and press call.

Listening to the ringing sound caused my heart to race. His velvety voice fills my ear. "Hello."

Chloe

As soon as Jade walked away, my eyes peeled apart with blurred vision. Tears cannot help but overflow. The pain is overwhelming. I just crave an ending to this infinite cycle of suffering.

Rising from my seat, I stroll to the pool's edge, observing the water's serenity. Without a second thought, I leap off the edge into the warm, crystal-blue liquid.

Silence, tranquility. My eyes seal shut while the embrace of the water surrounding me grants me a sense of peacefulness. I allow myself to descend to the bottom of the pool. An air bubble escapes as my breath shortens. I'm unconcerned. The comfort in the darkness is soothing.

My chest commences to pang with a sting of pain when the feel of hands grasping my arm yanks me from the bottom of the pool.

"What the fuck, Chloe?"

Gasping for air, I peel my eyes apart, breathing deeply as I welcome air to fill my lungs.

"What the fuck were you doing?" His eyes are wide as saucers.

"Nothing, I just–" I attempt to explain but fall short of the words.

"You just what? Wanted to kill yourself?"

"No, no. I–" I cannot spew a fabrication.

"You what? Fuck, Chloe! I understand you're in pain, but losing you on top of everything else would be devastating. Do you have any idea how much you killing yourself would destroy me?"

Hearing those words stabbed my heart. "I – I just wanted to feel something other than pain."

"Come back to me, Chloe, please, baby. I need you back." He implored with pain etched in every syllable.

My chin met my chest. "I'm constantly in agony, Axle. I can't. I don't want it anymore. I need something else." My voice rasps as tears begin to flow once more.

"Baby, please." He cups my face. "I fucking love you more than you could ever imagine. I can't lose you." He pleads for my compliance.

Tears sprout from the edges of my eyes. "I just need to feel something else."

His worried light sky orbs dart back and forth between my waterlogged ones. "Axle."

Without words, he stares into my soul.

"Please, make me feel something else? I need to feel anything else except the consistency of my heart breaking." I implore to have him.

Unsure of how to proceed, his eye wildly concentrates on mine when his lips come crashing in a bruising kiss. The sensation of warmth filled my core. We sunk into the pool, connected in our kiss, continuing underwater. He deepens our kiss as we come back up for air.

Receding, he stares at me, gazing for confirmation that I crave this. I respond with an urgent kiss, informing him I require an alternative to anguish. This has been overwhelming and necessary for me to move on.

"Yes, Axle. Please, I need you. I need you to take away the pain. Please." I plead for his connection, which he graciously grants me.

At the edge of the pool, pulling at his pants, he removes my shirt, undressing each other to rush our emanate connection. Grasping handfuls of ample flesh from behind, he wraps my legs around his waist.

"Chloe, if you ever need me for this or anything, baby, please come to me. I will give you whatever you require to keep you here with me. Please." He whispers while our eyes remain linked.

I gaze into his sharp, hooded, slate eyes, giving a slight nod. That little movement granted me my salvation. Lining up with my core, he slid inside of me, triggering the sound of sheer pleasure mixed with agony to wail out into the atmosphere. Capturing my moans with his lips, his tongue glides in my mouth, accompanied by his hip movements increasing in pace.

My body brimmed with satisfaction as his rhythm increased, inducing the water around us to splash, creating aggressive waves to smash against the walls. I need this. I need him. He is the part I have been missing this whole time. He is my world if he only knew.

His moans entice me more. "I love you, Chloe. You're not allowed to go anywhere but remain with me." He expressed between thrusts.

"I love you, Axle. You mean more to me than you know." His drive became determined, and I relished every inch of him. Water splattered everywhere, mimicking our vigorous activities, evoking the pressure to build in my core.

"Cum for me, baby." His sultry voice entices my body to comply.

He's aware of how to get my physique to its pique. He has a radar for when I'm reaching my pinnacle. Wailing out in the ecstasy of our love, I burst from the overwhelming pressure of Axle's thrust. A tsunami of emotions surfaces as I liberate my sentiments.

"Fuck Chloe, you're killing." Axle throbs inside of me as his thrusts become more erratic while he grunts, biting on my shoulder.

Placing his forehead on my shoulder, he speaks. "I need you, Chloe." He stares into my eyes with an intensity that requires a response. "Please never do that again."

I nod my head. "Words, Luscious, words."

"I promise, Axle. I won't do this again." I state with conviction.

His lips find mine, tongues swirling, my head clouds as he works his magical tongue. "Let's go upstairs, Axle. I want you again."

Axle hops out of the pool, extending his hand to assist me. Axle grasps me by the waist, legs snaking around him, hooking at the ankles. Our lips connect, my hips rub shamelessly on his fully engorged length.

He growls at my devious actions. "You drive me insane, baby. Do you know that?"

Staring into his libidinous darkened orbs, I rise, adjusting his length to sink onto him. His eyes roll as I express my pleasure.

"Take us upstairs. Deliver me to ecstasy."

"As you wish." Our lips connect as we stroll through our home to our bedroom to continue my recovery. 

~~~~~~~~

Jade feels lost when it comes to Noah. Should she give him a fair chance? Or should she walk away because I'm the author? 🤣

Chloe has fallen again. This time she attempted to drown herself. 

Thoughts? Theories?

THANK YOU FOR READING! VOTE ~ COMMENT ~ SHARE

Follow me:

Instagram: AuthorMarieTerry

Snapchat/Tiktok: Marie_Terry_Author

Facebook/Twitter: Marie Terry Author

😘😘See you Soon!!!💙💙💋💋

© 2023 Marie Terry