Chapter Three
Fall Away-Twenty One Pilots
I don't wanna fall, fall away
I don't wanna fall, fall away
I'll keep the lights on in this place
'Cause I don't wanna fall, fall away
"Come on," Jesse said, pulling the corner of the comforter.
"Hummmpphh."
"What was that?" Jesse asked pulled the comforter even more.
"Would you stop?" She said, turning over to face her brother.
"It's two in the afternoon," her brother pointed out. He raised an eyebrow, "Do I need to call-"
She flung the rest of the covers off of her and sat up quickly. "No! No. Do not call that man. He'll just put me back on those damn anti-depressants. I'd rather feel-" she motioned around and to herself, "all this instead of being numb. No way. I'm…"
"Fine?" Jesse finished for her, clearly not believing that.
She let out a sigh and flopped back onto the pillows. "Just, don't Jesse. I'll move into the livin' room if you want," she suggested.
"No can do," Jesse said.
She watched as he went over to her dresser and opened a drawer, plucking out a pair of skinny jeans and chucking them at her.
"Hey!" she said as the denim hit her face. She sat up again, "what are you doin'?"
He tossed a burgundy t-shirt at her as he answered, "We're goin' to the diner. You want your cardigan?"
She let out a groan. "Seriously? Do I have to?"
"Yes. You haven't left this house in a week. I'll be back in five minutes and you better be ready to go," he finished and then shut the door.
When he came back she was pulling on her scuffed up green Converse. He bent down and started to tie one of them.
"What on God's green earth are you doin'?"
"What's it look like? I'm helpin' my baby sister."
"I'm twenty-four. And I can tie my own shoe laces." She slapped his hands away and finished tying them herself. "Geez I wish you'd stop treatin' me like I'm incapable."
"I don't-I just." He sighed as he stood up from where he'd been kneeling. "I just don't know how to help."
"You already help plenty." She stood up and wrapped her arms around his middle. "You take me to all of my doctor's appointments, you make sure I eat, you check on me when I'm sleepin'…"
"How did-"
"You're a Preacher, not a ninja."
Jesse laughed as he hugged her back before she let go. "I hate seein' you like this, unable to get out of bed. It worries me."
She sighed. "It worries me too. But I'm okay. Okay?"
"Okay. Come on, let's go. We can stop by the bookstore on the way back."
Her face lit up. "Really?"
"Of course."
At the diner Emily went ahead and brought them their usual. She was using her cornbread to sop up the last of her vegetable soup when Emily sat down in the booth next to her.
"How you doin'? she asked her. "Want some dessert? We've got a slice of apple pie left?"
"Can I get a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the same?"
Emily smiled. "Sure, on the house."
"Thanks," she smiled as Emily got up.
"You know. I think she likes you Jesse."
Jesse nearly choked on his water. "What? No."
"Mmhmm."
"No. We're just friends."
"What about movin' on? You know, from…"
"I don't want to talk about that."
"All right," she sighed.
~O.o~
Jesse watched her as she browsed through the latest books to come in. He loved taking her there. It made her happy, well, the books did. She'd smile when they entered the store and take her time and he knew when she found the ones she was going to get, he could always see it in her face.
"Thanks for making me go out tonight. I needed that," she said when they got home.
"You're welcome. Don't stay up too late readin'," he yelled after her as she went to her room. He went over to the fridge and got a beer. He was worried about her. She was pulling more and more into herself, re-reading books she'd already read half a dozen times, binge watched TV shows, and she didn't hang out with anyone her age. As he finished his beer he resolved to try and get her out of the house more. What he didn't know was that a certain vampire on his way to town would be the one to help her the most.