Chapter Twelve : Talk About Us

So after Jay and Emma spent time with his dad swapping stories they sunk back into the tree house. Emma plopped herself on the couch, Jay followed. He kept looking at Emma as she insecurely twirled her hair around her index finger. Jay scooted closer, "Talk, Nelson."

She seemed to jump three feet out of her skin before she looked at Jay, "About what?"

Jay shrugged, "Us."

She was taken back. "What about it?"

"I don't know." Jay avoided her eye nervously.

"Is there an us?" Emma questioned after she swallowed hard, she can just feel her face turn red. They sat in silence before Jay knew this was his shot and he was blowing it during the painful silence. He knew what he had to say, but it was hard and he couldn't even begin to explain it, she made him nervous, even when she looked at him with her bronze colored eyes. "Well?"

Jay stood up so that they were making eye contact. She opened her mouth before Jay said something. Finally he sighed, he was about to tell her something, a big something, everything that he's been bottling up for the past few months, and more importantly the realization over these past few days. He looked her square in the eyes before he gave her a signature Jay Hogart smirk, "Don't make me say it."

"Don't make you say what?" Emma asked angelically, she had no idea of the power she had over Jay. She would soon know that he has fallen for her. He just hoped to god he wasn't wasting his time or breath on a girl who was pretty fragile at heart than she had led on. Usually he would find himself a predator; the weak were often his prey. He simply would prey people with low confidence, people who showed a crack in their perfect shell and Emma had shown him that she was less than perfect. He had wondered how he could've ever seen it. The word he thinks is now. He's so much more worldly thanks to her. and he felt so stupid to think that she was prissy, perfect and the way she was by choice, but she was never ashamed of who she was. He liked that and he wouldn't have it any other way and he loved that sensitive side she brought out of him, and he brought out of her. When they'd sit and tell stories for hours and perfect Emma Nelson façade became somewhat of a fantasy, and she was seen by him as someone who was somewhat complicated. "Jay?"

"Emma I don't know how to say it."

"Okay, just tell me. I won't judge you. Nothing will leave this room, or upset me. I trust you, so trust me."

"This is so not like me to talk about things."

"What kind of things? "

"I don't usually talk about how I feel, a-about anything." Jay Hogarth doesn't stutter either but now apparently he does. "I don't usually talk this way. I don't usually talk to anyone. I'm no prince charming, and I don't claim to be. I'm not the kind of guy who take home to meet mommy and daddy, but you're the one girl who makes me want to change my ways because I like you. Not just in the we get each other, because don't get me wrong we do. We've been through a lot of shit separately on our own, we got drama, I know you're more than what meets the eye. You're not a nature freak even if you do have the tendencies, I only tease you and say things to you to get to you, I like your reaction, it's a turn on like you wont believe. I know you blush whenever I call you by your nickname, nobody will ever replace Greenpeace, and you will always be the only girl I'd give a nickname to so get used to it. "He said reminiscent but then looking at her in all honesty, she stood silently a smile was curving on her lips and it made his explanation worthwhile. "And I know you used to wish I'd call you Emma, and when I do I know you like it and yet you are a vegetarian and you have these beliefs, morals, ideals and I don't but you are the kind of girl that makes me want to give a damn, we couldn't be more different. I can't begin to tell you about how much fun I've had with you these past few days. Every time I try to place the moment in my head, I just can't even manage to think of words to say."

Emma was now wide-eyed. For once in her life everything that she had been thinking was being blurted out of his mouth. It was more than what she had ever thought to expect from Jay, she wanted him to like her but he just admitted so much. He was far from finished.

"You know in Wasega Beach yeah me saying I wanted to bury you and dig holes in the sand, it was just an excuse to touch you. I kissed you last night. I never thought in a million years I'd be saying this but, I love you Emma. I love you. You know what? I don't care if Cameron comes back or you don't love me too. That's okay, but being able to spend these past few days together has been the greatest times in a long time. I know for a fact I wont forget it. And if you don't feel the way that I do about you, tell me and don't take it the wrong way. I don't care if Sean comes back though, don't take that the wrong way either he's my best friend and he wouldn't like the way I feel about you if he only knew. I like you, I love you but you know for a fact he wouldn't like that at all. I just can't hide that, I needed to get this off my chest. Now please say something."

Emma didn't say a word; she clutched onto him and just simply kissed him, hard. His hands stroked her face as they both collapsed onto the couch. She pulled away to take a breath, looking at him as their faces combined as one again in a passionate kiss. Finally, she whispered, "Jay, I love you too."