Runnin' With The Devil Chapter 23: Breathe, a degrassi fanfic

Chapter 23: Breathe

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face and I've
Never been this swept away

"Go talk to her, Man. You'll feel a lot better," Joey said, frowning at the limp and greasy French fry before throwing it back on his tray.

Snake sighed. "She won't talk to me."

Joey shook his head at his friend who was mooning over Spike as he watched her add highlights to an older woman's hair. "You two eventually have to work things out. My couch is getting a worn spot from you crying on it all night long."

Snake picked up a fry and threw it at Joey, who quickly ducked out of the line of fire with a chuckle. He quickly became serious again. "I knew back in high school that you two would be together someday. Don't let it end over something so incredibly stupid."

All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze
When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear
Is the beating of your heart

Alex felt the heat of his chest against her cheek and held her eyes closed tightly. How long had it been since he'd held her like this? Had he ever held her like this? Alex tried to remember a time when Jay had just held her…no sex…just cuddling. She didn't think it had ever happened before.

Jay sensed that Alex was awake. "Whatchya' thinkin'?" he asked quietly, as if he was trying not to break the stillness of the quiet morning.

Alex frowned, ashamed of herself for letting her thoughts roam into mushy territory. "I was just wondering if Emma's ok," she lied.

The disappointment in Jay's voice was evident as he mumbled "Oh." He sighed and gently nudged Alex over so he could stand up. "I'm going to hop in the shower and then go out looking for her again."

Alex started to get up. "I'll get dressed and come with you."

"No!" he snapped. Seeing Alex jump, he softened his tone. "I have a feeling she might be calling soon. Just…" he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn't spend the day trapped in his small car with Alex! "Just hang here in case she calls."

Alex nodded, secretly relieved that he'd made the suggestion. She climbed back under the covers, fighting off the wave of emptiness that filled her heart.

'Cause I can feel you breathe
It's washing over me
Suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch
The slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe
Just breathe

Spike felt warm tingles down her spine. She looked up from Mrs. Hannity's highlights and into the eyes of Snake, who was leaning down. "Oh!" she started, breathless from being startled. Her eyes suddenly flashed over with anger and she glared icily at him. "What do you want Arch?"

"Christine, I love you. I always loved you."

She shook her head violently, willing the tears not to come. "Love? Are you kidding me? Love doesn't make you run to the arms of another woman!"

Mrs. Hannity gave a small gasp. Spike realized that they were being overheard and took Snake by the arm. "This won't take but a minute, Agnes."

Mrs. Hannity nodded, but watched in disappointment as Spike drug Snake into the back room. As soon as she shut the door and flipped on the light, she spun around to face him. Her face was twisted in pain and anger. "How dare you come into my workplace and try to make a fool out of me!" she hissed with rage.

"I wasn't trying to do that!" he said sadly. "Christine, without you…I can't do anything right. I miss you, Sweetheart. Can't you see that?"

She shook her head violently. "No! What I see is a lonely old man trying to get back a sure thing!"

"No! Christine, listen to me. I moved in with Joey weeks ago. I miss you. I miss Jack. I miss Emma. Don't you get it? I miss our family!"

A tear trickled down Spike's face. "I miss us too," she sobbed as Snake pulled her against his chest. For the first time in a long time, Spike felt complete.

In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
I'm closer than I've ever felt before
And I know
And you know
There's no need for words right now

Jay shifted gears before taking a small sip of the hot coffee Alex had made for him while he was in the shower. A small smile traced his lips as he thought about the night before.

Exhausted from a day of searching for Emma, Alex and Jay had showered together to save time and water while washing away the day's grime. There was nothing sexual about the shower, but somehow it had seemed so sensual. Tingles ran down Jay's spine and his body tightened as he remembered Alex's soft hands washing his back. He took a deep breath and forced his body to relax. A glance at the speedometer told him he needed to slow down, and he eased off the gas pedal a bit so he could take the curve without squealing his tires.

He and Alex had always made sense. Even after everything he had put her through; the fiasco in the ravine with Emma and Amy; Alex had come back. Alex always came back. Why did she keep coming back?

'Because she loves you, you idiot,' his mind whispered. 'She loves you just as much as you love her.'

The realization hit him like a kick to the gut. He loved Alex Nunez, and here he was driving around the streets of Toronto while she was sitting at home alone, not knowing how he felt. A quick glance in his mirror showed that no traffic was behind him and he slammed on his breaks, shifted down, and spun the wheel like an expert. The result was a perfect one-eighty. When the car shuddered to a stop, he hit the accelerator, squealing tires again as he hurried back to Alex's house.

Snake slowly pulled away from Spike to catch his breath. "Does this mean we're going to work things out?" he asked hopefully.

Spike pushed her hair behind her ear. "I…I don't know. Archie, you hurt me so bad!"

Snake pulled her against him. "I know. I don't think I'll ever be able to apologize enough."

Spike shook her head. "No. You won't." She stared at him sternly and his head dropped in defeat. "And if you ever think of hurting me like that again, you'd better think again," she murmured softly before her lips touched his again.

Caught up in the touch
The slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe
Just breathe

Jay ran up the steps and hit the door, making it fly open. Alex jumped, startled, from the couch. "Jay! What the hell's the big idea? You scared me to death!"

Jay watched her for a moment before speaking. "You know what scares me?" Alex frowned and shook her head. "What scares me is the fact that we took a shower together, slept together last night…and not once did we have sex."

Alex felt the rage burning inside of her. "Oh, gee. So, what? Am I supposed to get naked so you can ravage me?"

He laughed and took a step closer to her. "You don't get it. We didn't have sex one time, and it didn't matter one damned bit. I still felt relaxed and comfortable with you."

She stared at him in confusion. "What are you getting at?"

"I felt comfortable because we weren't just going at it just to unwind. I felt comfortable because I was right where I needed to be in that moment. I was with you, Alex…I love…" He sighed and changed his words. "I love being with you just to be with you."

'I love you,' his mind whispered.

Alex sighed. He loved being with her…but he didn't love her. "I…I love being with you too."

'I love you, even if you don't love me,' her mind whispered as Jay pulled her against him and held her tightly.

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way

Lyrics to "Just Breathe" by Faith Hill