No Love Here

Jill's POV

I groaned and stretched out on the floor as soon as I stepped inside.

"You okay, V?" Chris asked as he entered after me.

I shrugged. "My bruises ache still."

He frowned. "You want another hug?" he offered.

I nodded, sat up, and held my arms toward him. He smiled and knelt beside me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and mine went around his neck. I sighed, leaning against him. "You're like a big teddy bear..." He chuckled and kissed my cheek.

"You want Chopper over?" he asked. "I can go get him."

I nodded again. "Yeah. But hurry up. I wanna cuddle." He let me go and headed out the sliding door. He left it open and I heard him open his own. He called Chopper. Suddenly there was a puppy's face in mine, his nose sniffing the cut on my forehead. He licked my cheek and nuzzled his nose against my neck. He moved to the spot next to me. "Chopper, you're not the one I wanted to cuddle with..."

Chris laughed from his spot by the door. "Mind if I join you two?"

"I've got a spot open right here." I raised my arm on the side Chopper wasn't on.

Chris laid down next to me and I grabbed his hand. I hummed, thinking. I was lucky to have only gotten a few bruises and a cut. The car accident had left Becca with a gash on her collarbone. It had required stitches, which meant she had to use an arm sling to ensure she didn't move her arm too much. Ada had bruises on her legs, arms, and torso, plus a few cuts on her legs. Mimi had somehow managed only to get a bruise on her arm, which corresponded with a bruise I had. The crash had thrown us against each other. The ultrasound she had gotten had ensured my godson was uninjured. Other than Becca, there were no serious injuries.

I turned on my side and snuggled closer to Chris. "I don't wanna go back to school tomorrow."

"Then don't," he replied simply.

I huffed lightly. "I can't miss school though. That'll leave me a day behind in work. I need to keep up to date with my school work. If I don't, I'll fail and never get into a good college. And then I won't be able to have a job or a family and my life will just be hell and bleh."

He raised his eyebrows. "I think you can miss one day of school, Jill. That isn't going to happen."

"I'm going to school, Chris."

He chuckled. "Than what was the point of complaining you didn't want to go?"

"Because I don't want to! But I'm going to." I pressed my forehead to his chest. His fingers combed through my hair, a gentle touch that I enjoyed. I smiled and moved up to kiss him. My hand touched his cheek, pulling him deeper into it.

Of course that was when Ada walked in. Of course it was. Chris and I weren't allowed to kiss or be alone together. At least, that's how it felt. It was a first day with our relationship being out in the open and we had only had a few minutes of time alone together. We probably hadn't had more than an hour or so together all week. Maybe I was exaggerating a bit, but I wanted to spend time with my boyfriend.

I pulled away and sighed. "What is it, Ada?"

The asian woman looked down at the couple on the floor with a smirk. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?"

I groaned, rolling onto my back and nearly hitting Chopper. The poor puppy jumped before scrambling to give me puppy kisses all over my face. "Chopper, get off," I muttered, pushing the canine away.

"How's making out with Chopper?" Ada laughed.

I made a frustrated sound. "Why does everyone like to joke that I'm dating a dog?!"

"Well, you are dating Chris."

"Ada!"

"I joke, I joke!" She laughed again.

I turned my head to look at Chris. "I apologize for her." He grinned at me, a mischievous glint in his eye. I only found out what that meant when he licked my cheek. "Chris!" I exclaimed. Both Ada and Chris laughed, but I hit him lightly on the arm. "Whattya want, Ada?" I asked, frowning.

"I wanted to see if you and Chris here wanted to go on a double date tomorrow with Leon and I."

"Nuh-uh," I answered quickly.

"Why?"

"Because I have not had a decent moment alone with him all week. I'd like some time alone with him." I saw him smile out of the corner of my eye and I squeezed his hand.

Ada rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Well, another time then. And you'll find it hard to be alone enough. Because there's never enough time." Before she left, she called, "Don't forget about the dance on Saturday!"

Oh crap, I had forgotten. "We're spending tomorrow piecing your costume together," I informed him.

"What about yours?" he asked, rolling on his side to face me.

"Oh, I've got mine. Had it for a while."

He nodded and I gave him a soft smile. "We could continue what we were doing," I offered. He nodded. No sooner than our lips met did his phone rang. I sighed. "Answer it," I mumbled.

He frowned, nodded, and did so. "Hello?" Pause. "She's fine. Just a cut and a few bruises." As he talked, I cuddled back into his side. He wrapped an arm around me and played with my hair, pulling it back out of my face. "I can ask her." He pulled the phone away from his ear. "Claire wants to talk to you. That okay?"

I nodded and took the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi, Jill. I'm Claire, Chris's sister."

"I've heard a lot about you."

She made an amused sound. "Same here, just about you... Listen, Jill. I was wondering if I could have your number so I could text you. For two reasons really. To check in on my brother without him knowing and to get to know you."

"Sure." I gave her my number and she thanked me.

"How's Chris doing over there?" she asked.

"Pretty good, I'd say. Our teachers like him. And he fits in with the group I'm usually with. They like him too." I smiled and looked up at him. He was trying to act like he wasn't paying attention to the conversation.

"Good. Are you feeling okay? Chris told me about the car accident."

"Yeah, pretty okay. My bruises ache but that's it."

"I hope you feel better. I've gotta go though. Hand me back to Chris so I can say goodbye?"

"Of course. Bye!" I passed the phone to Chris and heard his parting with Claire.

"What was that about?" Chris asked, still playing with my hair.

I smirked and bumped my forehead on his. "She was checking in on you. And she wanted my number so we could get to know each other."

"Okay," he hummed.

I kissed him once more, though it wasn't as long as I had initially planned. I was tired and my body still ached. I broke the kiss and snuggled back against him. "You're warm," I murmured. He kissed my forehead and returned to combing his hands through my hair. I guess that's when I fell asleep.

I woke up in the morning in my room. My bruises throbbed even worse than the previous day. I did some stretches before hopping into the shower to loosen up. My head pounded and my cut stung. The day had a bleak outlook.

But it got better. Something about being able to hold Chris's hand as I walked to class made me happier.