Posted by Shani And she remembered that when he sighed like that, he wanted to drop a subject. Yet, Chloe had rarely let Jax just drop a subject when something was important. So she ventured again, "Jax?" Jax turned around and looked at Chloe, a small smile on his lips. But his eyes told a different story. "Are you okay?" "You've asked me that...we've established that. I think we need to talk..." "Nothing to talk about." His voice lowered and he started for the bedroom. With an annoyed groan, Chloe followed. "I hate it when you walk away from me..." "Was I? Didn't mean to..." Jax sat down on the bed. "We were talking..." "No. We're not talking. We have nothing to discuss." "Obviously we do because..." "Chloe." Jax sighed again, but louder this time as his exasperation grew. "Can't we just...breathe? A lot happened today. Can't we just breathe?" Chloe dropped her eyes...she knew it was a bad idea. Had a feeling that if they didn't talk about whatever was bothering Jax, it would just grow silently in him; fester until something happened. Instinctively she knew she shouldn't drop this. So she looked up to try again, But as she looked into Jax's eyes, she just... Couldn't. He had obviously been so worried about her. And he was obviously so tired mentally from today's events. So much had happened today...Jax wanted to breathe. Chloe figured the least she could do was let him breathe. Jax watched as Chloe joined him on the bed. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before she broke eye contact to rest her head against his shoulder. Jax looked straight ahead, his mind still in a whirl. He took quiet breaths, attempting to rid his thoughts of Stefan...of Nikolas...of what Stefan must have meant to Chloe... Chloe reached down, taking Jax's hand, lacing their fingers. "Thank you for coming for me." "Of course I came for you, Chloe." Jax rested his head against hers. "I love you." He closed his eyes. "I love you, too." Jax's eyes shot open. "What?" He pulled away. "I..." Chloe blinked slowly as she found Jax's other hand cupping her chin. He lifted her face so their gaze met. "I love you, too." Chloe's heart couldn't help but soar as Jax smiled again, yet this time, his joy reached his eyes and they sparkled warmly into hers. "Again." he whispered quietly. "I love you, Jasper Jacks." Chloe promised, before brushing her lips across his. "I love you, too." Jax breathed, kissing her deeply. Chloe picked up the phone carefully, not saying anything. "Excuse me I'm..." "Hi Nikolas." Chloe sat up in the bed, wrapping the sheet around her as she leaned up against the headboard. "Is Jax available?" "Not right now." "Okay...just tell him that Emily will be coming. She will be here tomorrow evening. I wouldn't be surprised if Helena wasn't here by the next day, knowing her." "Yes...you do know her. Not to be disrespectful, but you would know. Is Helena capable of..." "Helena is capable of any and everything." Chloe closed her eyes, her fear growing. "I see." "Which is why I should thank you, I suppose." "Thank me?" "Jax wouldn't have helped if it wasn't for you. Not the way I went about this. I'm surprised you were even open to it...given what I did to you." "You were desperate Nikolas." "Stop being so understanding." Nikolas smiled. "I can see why Stefan was so eager to hang on to you. Only you could be so forgiving. And Lord knows he needed someone in his corner." "Stefan did a lot for me." Chloe knew that he did a lot to her as well. Lied, kept her in the dark. But..."He kept me safe. And did his best to make me happy." "Yes, well, I'm still sure that you're much more forgiving than need be. But I thank you anyway. I'll let you go." Nikolas hung up the phone, and after a second, Chloe followed suit. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to steady her nerves as her worry about Helena grew. "Jax?!" she called. "What?" Chloe gasped at Jax's low, quiet voice coming from the corner. She turned around to see him leaning up against the bathroom door, his arms folded as he stared at her. "You scared me!" Chloe chastised. "Nikolas called..." "Yeah. I know." Jax moved away from the door, Chloe's word's playing over and over in his head. 'Stefan did a lot for me.' 'He kept me safe' 'And did his best to make me happy' Jax's worries were cemented. Stefan was important to Chloe. So much so, that Jax was sure the only reason she wanted to help Nikolas was because he was Stefan's nephew. But, it all didn't matter...Chloe loved Jax now. And Jax had no right to be jealous...to be angry that Chloe felt such a bond with Stefan after all the years he deprived Jax...and everyone...of her presence. After lying to her, and keeping her in the dark...Jax had no right to be angry and jealous about Stefan. To wonder why Chloe was so damn attached to Stefan. And even though Chloe had Jax's entire heart now, given before he actually left Chloe to look for Brenda, Jax surely did not have the right to want to know if he was the only one in Chloe's heart, or whether he would be doomed to share a spot with Stefan for the rest of their days. Right? Right.... So he did his best to let all of that go as he merely stated "I take it that Emily is on her way?" Chloe watched as Jax headed to the closet. "Yes. He expects Helena will soon follow." There went those nagging instincts of hers. "Jax?" "Hm?" But before she could say anything else, he looked at her and added, "Are you hungry?" Chloe ran her fingers through her hair again. "Yes." she decided. "Why don't you order something while I shower?" "Sounds like a plan." Chloe nodded, and slowly got out of the bed. She went to the bath, turning and looking as Jax found the room service menu, scanning it quietly. At the click of the bathroom door, Jax tossed the menu back on the table, his jaw twitching in frustration as he just couldn't get Chloe and Stefan out of his mind. Shani
on 2/8/2005, 15:54:43
Chloe followed Jax into their hotel room and closed the door behind them. She spoke the first word between them by calling his name. She watched his shoulders move as he sighed quietly, a reminder of how upset he was.
The hotel room's phone rang, and Chloe moved over to Jax's now empty side of the bed. She could tell by the sound of the running water that he was still in the shower, so...
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