Chapter Twenty-Six

For the next few days after Ella's release from the hospital she was on bed rest and 24 hour watch. The Doctors hadn't been able to figure out what had triggered Ella's breakdown, and she wasn't helping by insisting that nothing out of the ordinary had happened. They didn't want to take any chances however so had informed her father to keep a close eye on her which he had been doing.

At first he hadn't wanted any of her friends to visit, stating that she needed rest and relaxation. Ella had quickly informed him however that she would not find not being able to see her friends as very relaxing. In the end they had compromised, Ella was to stay in bed, but her friends were allowed to visit for as long as she wanted.

"Your friend Jeremy's here," her father informed her on the Sunday afternoon as he entered the room with Jeremy close behind him. Marcus hovered for a few moments before turning toward the door again.

"I'll just be leaving this open," he stated, pointing at the door before exiting the room.

As soon as her father was gone Ella's face lit up in a beatific smile, Jeremy was smiling too as he sat on the edge of her bed. He wasted no time in taking Ella's hand causing her to become instantly relaxed, having him there was better than spending a week in a spa.

"You look a lot better," Jeremy smiled. "Happier."

"I am happy, extremely happy; in fact I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am in this moment right now. I feel as if I'm going to burst," Ella explained with a small laugh.

"Well I like it, you should definitely smile like that more often."

"With you around I can pretty much guarantee I'll be smiling," Ella blushed and looked away from Jeremy. "Oh god, is that the corniest thing you've ever heard."

"A little," Jeremy laughed. "But I liked it."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence then, just enjoying the peace and each other's company. Their fingers stayed interlocked between them, Jeremy was rubbing gentle circles on the back of Ella's hand with his thumb. Every touch was like an electric jolt straight through Ella's body.

"So," Jeremy spoke a few moments later, breaking the silence. "Have you heard from Jamie?"

"Yes," Ella nodded. She had to give Jeremy credit, his face was completely impassive, but his emotions gave him away. Ella felt a wave of jealously roll off of him and couldn't help but smile.

"What did he say?"

"Well I told him that I was sorry about our date, that I hadn't been feeling very well and you took me home," Ella explained. "And he asked if I wanted to try again this Friday."

Jeremy's jealously increased and Ella felt her head swim slightly. "What was your answer?" he asked through almost clenched teeth.

"I said thank you, but that I had to be honest and the truth was that I was completely and utterly crazy about Jeremy Gilbert."

Jeremy tried to hide his smile, but failed miserably. Not wanting Ella to see how happy her words made him, even though he knew she could probably feel his joy, he looked away from her. His gaze fell on the guitar in the corner of her room; he had noticed it on the only other occasion he had been in Ella's room.

"Do you play?" he asked, pointing to the guitar with his free hand.

Ella followed his gaze. "Yeah, a little. It was my mom's; she would sing me to sleep when I was little…before she died. I learned to play so that I would have something to remind me of her."

"Will you play something for me?" Jeremy asked his voice soft. His gaze was warm as he looked at her, waiting for an answer.

Ella blushed slightly and shook her head. "I've never played in front of anyone before, I don't think I can."

"Could you try? Please? For me?"

"That's really unfair Jer," Ella exclaimed, but she was laughing. "How am I supposed to say no when you look at me like that?"

"Your not," he laughed. "That's the point!"

"All right," Ella finally sighed. She let go of Jeremy's hand and climbed out of bed so that she could retrieve the guitar. It had been a while since she had played it and after sitting in the chair she spent a few moments tuning it slightly. "What do you want me to play?"

Jeremy shrugged. "Musician's choice."

Ella sat silently for a few moments, there was one song that she really liked that seemed fitting for them, but she was worried it would be a little too corny. Jeremy remained seated on the bed, facing Ella. He was quiet and patient while she worked through her internal dilemma. Eventually she decided that there wasn't really much to lose, Jeremy had already seen her have a mental breakdown, how bad could a poor song choice be?

"You promise you won't laugh?" she asked, readjusting the guitar on her knee so that she was more comfortable.

"I promise."

He looked so sweet and sincere that Ella could only believe him. After a few more moments of silence, Ella took a deep breath and began to play. The intro lasted for a few seconds and then it came time to sing. Ella had a brief moment of panic before the words began falling from her mouth.

"I don't know, but I think I may be fallin' for you,

droppin' so quickly maybe I should keep this to myself,

Wait till I know you better.

I am tryin' not to tell you,

But I want to, I'm scared of what you'll say.

So I'm hiding, what I'm feelin',

But I'm tired of holdin this inside my head.

I've been spending all my time just thinkin' bout ya,

I don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you.

I've been waitin' all my life

And now I've found ya,

I don't know what to do,

I think I'm fallin' for you

I'm fallin' for you."

The whole while she had been playing, Ella had focussed on the guitar in her hand. She knew that if she had looked at Jeremy she would have panicked and stopped playing. Now that she was finished she still didn't want to look at him. She had never felt so vulnerable in her entire life.

Ella sat frozen on the chair, unable to move, barely able to breathe as she waited for Jeremy to say something…anything. Instead he didn't speak, he got to his feet and walked over to stand in front of Ella. He took the guitar from her hands and placed it carefully on the floor before pulling her to her feet.

Still Ella couldn't look at him, she stared at the hollow of his throat just above the collar of his shirt. Jeremy waited for a few seconds but when she still didn't look at him he hooked his thumb and index finger and tilted her chin back until their eyes met.

What she saw there took Ella's breath away and she felt herself get lost in the warmth of his gaze, because what she had seen was the most incredible thing in the world.

It was overwhelming, incredible, undeniable…love.

TBC…

A/N: I do not own the song lyrics displayed in this chapter. The are the work of Colbie Caliat.