JACE'S P.O.V.
I was grateful
I was grateful to Mel but, going home didn't ease anything. I even went to the gym but, boxing out all my energy didn't help either. They were vivid now. The memories I detested and wished to forgot came back in full force. I could remember everything as if I was re-living it again
His screams, his eyes, his body full of blood, everything. The cold water that was rushed down my body wasn't helping either. I dragged my hands through my hair. realizing that taking a cold bath wasn't helping either, I stepped out of the shower
Even though I wanted everything to stop, I refused to take the measures for it to stop. Taking the measures now means that I wouldn't be able to stop taking it. I didn't want to rely on something or someone
I can't bear it anyone
I picked up my phone and dialed the number I wanted
"Hey Alex"
"Jace, what happened? You and Mel rushed out of the room all of a sudden and..."
I don't have time for this
"Alex, I'm really sorry but, I can't talk right now. I just wanted you to tell me something
"Yeah, sure. What do you want to know?"
Thank you
"What is Mel's address?"
MEL'S P.O.V.
I was worried
No, to say I was worried would be an understatement but, I didn't know the right word to use
Is he okay? Is he doing anything bad? Dangerous? Should I call him? Should I go to his house? Am I exaggerating? Was he not like that because of what Jade said? What's happening to him? Where is he now? Has he reached home? Did he have an accident on his way home? Should I have taken him home myself?
These and other several questions were flashing through my mind as I paced round my living room
Calm down, Mel. I'm sure everything is okay. Calm down, I kept telling myself but still couldn't relax
What if he's in a critical condition? What if he needs help? What if he needs my help? What if he...
I was interrupted by my ringing of my door bell
*Who could it be? I didn't order anything? No way, could someone have come to tell me that something happened to Jace? Please, don't let that be the answer. Please, anything but that. Please, n...*
"Jace?" I asked confused at the person who was in front of my door
"Hi, Mel" he said with a forced smile
"What are you doing here?" I asked
"Nothing, just wondering if you were up for your suggestion?" he asked
"Which suggestion?" I asked back
"You know, hang out and talk? Or anything I want to do?"
He remembered
I smiled
"I thought you weren't up for it"
"Well, you never know" he shrugged his shoulders
"Hold on" I said and went back inside
I was already wearing a singlet and a pair of shorts so, I just added a floral jacket and a bag then I went back out to meet him
"Let's go" I told him and we started walking
"Are there any good place for eating around here?" he asked
"They are called restaurants and yes, there are"
"Yes, ma'am"
I glared at him. He laughed a sincere laugh and that made me smile
"Good evening, sir, ma. What would you like to eat?" the man who came to take our orders said
"We will have a low fat salmon pasta, thank you" I replied for the both of us
"Along with Chardonnay, please" Jace added
"If I ask you why you didn't ask for what I wanted, what would your reply be?" I asked him after the waiter left
"You didn't ask me for mine opinion either" he replied
"As expected" I said
Silence came. Not the comfortable one but, the anxious one? It was like I know but I also wanted to know why he came to me while he knows that I know but he either doesn't want to say it anymore or, he doesn't know how to. Few minutes later, from our drinks, our food was also served, at least we will be doing something now
*This silence is killing me*
"Do you usually come here?" Jace asked. Once again, he's the one to speak first
"Not every time. As you know, I'm a woman who like to do things herself"
"I know that very well" Jace mocked
"Ow!" he silently exclaimed when I kicked his shin
"Why did you do that?" he asked
I shrugged my shoulders with a smile
"You really are a chihuahua " he said and my smile immediately turned into a glare but, before I could kick his shin again, he took his leg away
There was silence again
We were walking back to my house now but, Jace hasn't said anything yet. I've wanted to bring it up first but, I wanted him to be the one since it was his matter
"Since when have you been staying here?" Jace asked
"Well, maybe when I was in college?" I answered
"Then, I guess you have been independent since"
"Well, you can say that" I bragged, he huffed
We hesitated when we entered my house
"Would you like something even though we just ate" I asked him
"Nah, I'm good. Well then, I guess we will see another day" he said
"Jace" I called stopping him, when he reached the front of the door. I left the counter and walked few feet towards him while he turned to me
"What is the real reason?" I asked him
"Real reason of what?" he feigned innocence
"The real reason you are here" I said going along with his act. If he wants to feign innocence, he can do what he wants. I will do what I want as well
"Do I have to have a reason to visit you? Wow Mel, and here I though we have gotten close enough to visit each other"
"And that is what I want to tell you, you just took the words out from my mouth. Please Jace, talk to me"
"I am"
I signed
"You didn't come just because you wanted to eat, right? You came for something else, right? What is it?"
"Mel ..."
"Jace" I stopped him
"Please. You keep saying that I might not mean what I say but, what if I do? You keep saying that you're alone and that you don't want to rely on anything or anybody and I'm saying that if at all you don't want to rely on me, you should at least try. Something is wrong"
"See you later"
"What Jade was talking about" I suddenly said aware that I was looking for trouble but, there was nothing else I could do
He stopped
"What does it have to do with you?" I asked him
He turned to look at me
"Nothing" he said with a tone of warning
You can keep that warning to yourself. I backed down that day but, I'm so not doing so today, I said to him in my mind
"Really? Then I wonder why you suddenly put on a red button switch"
He walked towards me
"Mel, for your sake, please just stop it"
"And for your sake, Jace, don't keep it in"
"I'm not keeping anything in"
I laughed
"Do I look like I was given birth to last year?"
"I wish" he replied under his breathe but, I heard him
"Well, wish for something else cause that wish is so not coming true"
"Even if something is wrong with me, why do you care?" he asked me
"Because I do"
Nobody said anything for a while
He signed and sat down
"I told you why I can't tell you anything. It..."
"One, I may not mean what I say. Two, it's may be dangerous for me. Very dangerous at that. And three, you don't want to rely on someone. Even though you might be hoping for you to be able to rely me, you don't want to. Why? Because, it would be really painful for you when I'm not there anymore"
"You remember" he said with a smile
"Yes, I do and I will tell you what I think of your reason. One, I mean what I say. I really mean it. I thought about it and I don't think I will forever dismiss you if you turn out to be a murderer- I may at a point but, surely, not forever"
He gave me a look
"I'm not a murderer"
"I kinda knew that"
"Kinda?" he asked
I smiled at him
"Two, it might be dangerous but, I know you will protect me. Even if you can't, I can protect myself. I mean, come on, I work in the CSI and for number three"
I stopped
"Jace, rely on me. I don't know how I can convince you but, I'm not leaving"
I meant every single word I said. Even if he turned out to be a murderer, we will figure it out with time, together
He passed his hands through his hair, signing. He stood up
"Let's go" he said
"Where to?" I asked also getting on my feet
"My house"