(Your POV)

"Oh, this is just too good." I said laughing.

Jeff eyed me nervously, his pale face brightening red at what he just said. I toyed with my (h/l), (h/c) hair and smiled mischievously at him. His black eyes caught my (e/c) ones for a brief second before he looked back down, blushing furiously.

"You think I love you?" I asked, still dumbfounded by the fact that he said that.

Jeff nodded sheepishly, unwilling to meet my eyes. I mean, I like Jeff. I really do, he's the only person I've been able to talk openly to, but love?

"Love is a strong word Jeff. But I really do like you, if that's what you wanted to hear." I said smiling sympathetically at him.

He smiled sweetly at me before a small voice rose up from behind us.

"Ooh, what kind of like? Like, you're my friend. Or I love you like?" Sally asked from behind Jeff.

Jeff immediately turned around and was about to say something before I put my hand on his lips and spoke for him.

"Like, I like him because he's sweet and he's one of my best friends." I replied with a smile.

Sally smiled widely at Jeff before breaking out into the most adorable laugh I've ever heard.

"Ouch. Friendzoned!" She said punching Jeff on the arm lightly.

I smiled at her and told her to go play with Jane because Jeff and I were having a serious conversation. I removed my hand from Jeff's mouth and turned back around to look at him. I raised my eyebrow quizzically and placed my hands on my hips.

"Now, where is it that you got this idea of love?" I asked tilting my head but never breaking eye contact with his never closing eyes.

"Well, you said it just before you nearly died. I swear (y/n)! I'm not making this up!" He said absent-mindedly popping his fingers.

I suddenly remembered everything. It was like a flash, but I remembered it all. The immense pain, looking up at Jeff who was crying, his tears crashing onto my face. And one small detail that bothered me so. The red-haired girl...Riley. I looked back up at Jeff, suddenly aware of the fact that he was only in a muscle tee and that his muscles were very visible. I turned away as I felt my cheeks redden. Then, I turned back, my entire demeanor changing into something much more serious.

"Jeff, can I ask you something?" I asked, this time being the one unwilling to meet the other person's eyes.

"Of course, anything." He said, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Who is Riley?" I asked cautiously.

(Jeff's POV)

My heart dropped deep into my stomach when (y/n) asked about Riley. I couldn't find it in me to tell her who she was. It's not that I thought that I would start sobbing like a child that is lost in a store. It's just that I care too much about (y/n) and I don't want her to think that she is a mere replacement. Because she's not. She's more than that.

"An ex," was all I could think of at the moment.

"An ex? That's all? I mean, I saw you two fight, and something caught my eye. Unlike your other enemies, you didn't attack her. Just, until she called you a coward, that is." (Y/n) said trying to get a better look at my face.

I looked down nervously at my shoes, now realizing that they were dirty and I needed to clean them.

"She died, I couldn't protect her. Now, I feel as though I need to protect you." I said looking back up at (y/n).

"A replacement? That's all?" She asked, hurt flashed through her beautiful features and tears rimmed her big (e/c) eyes.

"No, I mean. Nothing happened between Riley and I. It's just, the guilty though still burns at the back of my mind. I care about you more than anything. I care about you with every inch of my soul. And that is not something that I can say about Riley." I said, surprised at how actually serious I was.

Looking at (y/n), it all became clear to me now. There was nothing, and I mean nothing, between Riley and I. It was just the fact that I could not protect her that ate me away. It's (y/n) that I really love.

(Your POV)

My chest tightened when Jeff said that he cared about me. And here I was, incorrectly thinking that I was nothing more than a replacement for Riley. The way he said everything, made me actually believe him. And he cares about me. No one has told me that since my mother died.

"Hey," Jeff whispered, dragging me out of my thoughts, "Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?" He asked, his eyes worried.

I suddenly became aware of the fact that I was crying and sniffling like a child. I wiped away some stray tears with the sleeve of Jeff's jacket, suddenly feeling the weight of it on my body. It was warm, and it smelled like Jeff. It smelled like wood and ink, for some strange reason.

"No, it wasn't you. It's just, I just," I said as my breaths started to become shaky and I began to cry again.

I threw my arms around Jeff's neck and began to sob into his chest. I heard him gasp in surprise, but he soon hugged back.

"It's just that, no one has told me that they care about me since the day my mother died. I'm the luckiest girl alive, to have someone like you!" I breathed into his chest.

(Jeff's POV)

We stood there for a while. Just hugging. It was silent, except for (y/n)'s sobs and sniffles. I wrapped my arms harder around her fragile figure and wished that I could freeze this moment, right here right now. The world is a much brighter place with (y/n) in it. And I don't remember feeling this way around Riley.

"You should get some rest," I whispered into her ear.

(Y/n) nodded and I led her to the bed. She lied down and closed her eyes. A few shaky breaths later, she was asleep. I found myself smiling at how at peace she looked and I walked out of the room.

(Your POV, dreaming)

I woke up in a white space. There was nothing, let alone anyone, around me. Just vast whiteness. I whirled around a few times, looking for something to walk towards. That's when I began to walk aimlessly through the whiteness, no specific destination in mind. It was cold in there, and I became aware of the fact that I was not wearing Jeff's sweater. I frantically began to look for it. I needed him, and if not him, I needed something that was part of him. As I began to look for it, something, or someone began to emerge from a puddle of blood that was not there before.

"Riley," I breathed as the figure was done coming out of the puddle, which soon disappeared under her feet.

Her long red hair fell down onto her waist. She was beautiful, far more gorgeous than me, I believe. With her long legs and curvy body, she could have been a super model. Something about her caught my eye, and sent anger coursing through my veins. She was wearing Jeff's sweater.

"How did you get Jeff's sweater from me?" I asked through gritted teeth, hoping to control my anger.

She smiled evilly and took a few steps toward me, "I've always had it, it's always been mine. Just. Like. Jeff." She hissed coldly.

I frowned, as she came over to me and ran her long fingers down my jaw.

"You really are something special aren't you?" She asked studying my face. "You're beautiful darling, I can see why Jeff is attracted to you so much." She said in a grim tone. "Too bad Jeff's mine, his heart will always belong to me."

"That's not true!" I suddenly shrieked.

Riley jumped, I surprised her. As I regained my composure, I narrowed my eyes at her. I caught some movement behind her and she smiled coldly at me. Jeff came out from behind her, his eyes seemed distant and emotionless. As my eyes looked down, I noticed that they were holding hands. My heart dropped deep into my stomach faster than a stone.

"See? He loves me. And only me." She said lifting their hands, showing me the unnecessary proof.

Jeff nodded slowly, as if he were a drone. Riley's drone.

"I will punish you for being so foolish," Riley said making Jeff disappear with a snap of her manicured fingers. Then, we were in a desert. Nothing more than a barren wasteland. Riley was gone, but her voice and presence still lingered.

You will remain asleep until you make it to the end of the desert. Until then, you will not wake up. And when you do wake up, if you wake up that is, I will have come back and regained Jeff's heart. Until then darling, au revoir...

I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make you wait this long, but I've had a messed up week! Anyway, here's then next chapter. Also, I need ideas for a new "x Reader." I know that one day this one will draw to an end and I want to keep you guys attention. Sooo, leave a suggestion in the comments or PM me! Again I'm so sorry and I will continue this when I have 97 reviews. I love you guys and I'm so sorry! Go forth and conquer~