CHAPTER 2 *PROMISE ME SOMETHING*
Jay stood in front of the counter, shocked at what he had just heard.
He heard foot steps rush into the kitchen, as he saw the person he was gazing at just moments ago, thinking how life was so perfect, and now, was turned upside down.
"Jay… is everything… ok?" she asked, noticing the paleness in his face. He's knees buckled, as he found it hard to stand, and leaned on the counter for support.
Theresa noticed this, and helped him onto one of the couches, where tears started to form in his eyes.
Theresa, full of concern and worry, picked up he blanket and wrapped it around Jay's shivering body, both from the cold, fear and sadness in his heart.
"My… my mother is…. Dead…" he said, as the water works started to pour from his face.
Theresa stood, shocked, worried, sad, and concerned, like a truck had just ran her over.
"Oh Jay" she said, voice a bit queasy.
"I… I just can't… keep the people I love, safe." He said, in between whipping tears.
"Jay, that's not true, and you know it." Theresa said, placing a hand on his tense shoulders. She felt them relax, as the warmth of her hand touched his cold, bumpy skin.
"No, it's true, I couldn't keep you safe from Cronus, and… I nearly lost you… forever… and now my mum… is …. Gone" he said, balling into tears.
"Jay, there was nothing for you to do to help your mother, and it wasn't your fault that I was… captured." She said, comforting him as she whipped away his tears.
Jay looked into Theresa's comforting, green forest eyes, and felt like everything she said was true. But he couldn't help but feel guilty.
"Theresa" he said, grabbing her hand.
"Yes Jay?" she said, looking into his soft chocolate eyes.
"Promise me something." He said, not looking away.
"Anything" she said, not even blinking, for she was in a trance, in a maze, stuck in his beautiful eyes.
"Promise me, that you will never leave me, ever." He said.
"I promise." She said, gripping his hand.
"And I promise you, I will never let anything happen to you. Ever." He said, smiling at her. 'she's so beautiful' he said, as he remembered something in his pocket.
"Oh, here, I got this for you." He got out a pretty necklace, that engraved on the top was a 'T', exactly like the one on her necklace.
"omg, Jay, it's beautiful!" she said, admiring the necklace.
"And don't worry, there's nothing wrong wit this one, I had it specially made by Aphestas. " Jay said, wit ha giggle. Theresa giggled back, happy to see him giggle.
"Thank you." She said, as she hugged him. "Can you…?"
"Sure" eh said as he put it on her sleek neck. She pushed her hair to the side, as he clipped it on.
She turned around, and looked at him in the face. He was still upset and glum, as he twiddled his thumbs.
"Jay, please, you couldn't have done anything anyway" she said, placing her hand back.
He didn't move, and continued to twiddled his thumbs. She sighed.
"Jay, please, promise me to lighten up, it's not your fault."
He looked up at her pleading face. She hate it when he was sad and glum, and he hated her sadness because of his sadness.
"But…"
"Please Jay." She had pleading eyes.
"Fine" he said.
"Great" she said, as she snuggled into a hug.
"Awe, cute." Atlanta said.
"Mwah mwah!" Archie said, imitating a kiss.
"Ah, Atlanta! Archie!" Theresa said, blushing. "Didn't hear you guys wake up."
"Hello, good morning Atlanta, Archie. You know, I wouldn't talk if I were you. Did you guys have a nice sleep? Were you guys warm enough, cuddle bear 1 and cuddle bear 2?" Jay said, getting a bit peeved.
"What's up with him?" Archie said in an annoyed tone, his smiling laugh disappearing.
Theresa waved her hands in the air, mouthing "don't ask", but it was too late.
Jay began to cry more. He loved his mother, as much as he loved anyone. He missed her smile, her mother-ish lies, like he's mommy dot, he missed her lectures for leaving the Greek Mythology books around the house, he missed every little thing about her.
He ran out of the room and into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"Oh, great going 'Macho-man'" Theresa said, following Jay.
Archie stood there, stunned. "Did I say something wrong?" He asked.
There was a knock at the door.
"Go away Archie, I don't need you 'Macho-man' lectures right now!" he shouted, sinking his head into he pillow.
"Jay? Are you ok?" Someone said, as Jay later realized, it was not Archie, but a familiar woman's voice.
"T… Theresa, sorry I thought you were…"
"Archie, I know." Theresa said as she gracefully sat on the bed next to him. "Are you ok?"
"She was my mother, the one who tucked me in at night, the one who would tell me stories about Jason, the one who showed me the stars, and I never got to say goodbye" he said, tears filling his eyes.
"I know how you feel, hen my mother died, I was as hysteric as any rich girl was. People teased me at school, they never knew hoe it felt, to watch kids be picked up from the school by their mothers, instead of being forced to take the train every morning and night, get home, let yourself in, lock yourself in your room and cry yourself to sleep, while my dad was at work, eating doughnuts and running his… whatever he as running. See, I don't even know, because he never had the time for me, ever." Theresa poured her heart out, as tears lifted into her eyes, making them shimmer.
Jay stood, stunned, and never thought how much it hurt, until now.
"I'm… sorry Theresa, I never knew." He said, whipping her tears.
"Thanks, but as you grow older, it sort of… well… doesn't bother you that much. You learn that, everything in life happens for a reason. But anyway, you look like you need some sleep, you look awful, and you just woke up." Theresa said, giggling. Jay couldn't help but giggle with her, struggling to keep his eyes open. He let out a yawn.
"What did I deserve to have a great person like you" Jay asked, stroking her cheek.
"I love you too Jay," she said as she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Sweet dreams"
She left the room, taking graceful, silent steps as she strode out the door.
Jay lay on his soft, fluffy pillow, and felt his eye lids close, on their own, finding it hard to keep them open, expecting to have a sweet dream when he drifted off to dream land, but boy was he wrong.
