I just want to say all of guys rock!
She went about her months, in a daze. She missed Jon, missed talking to him, missed kissing, missed his laugh and his jokes. She just missed him. Her days passed too slow, she went to school and did her homework and maybe ate if she thought about it. Her night seemed to never stop. She tossed and turned in whole time unless she was in his bed, then she could get sleep not much but more.
Jon was living in a small apartment with some friends he met at HWA. Hanna had told her that much. She could see he seemed fine better than she was in fact. She felt like a mess where he was just regular Jon but more filled out with longer hair.
"Mom? I'm home." She called as she walked into her house.
"Hi Snowie." Came the familiar voice.
Matt? What the hell? Had her mother lost her mind? "What the fuck?" she muttered.
"Hi hun. Will you come here a minute?" Hope called from the kitchen.
She walked into the kitchen there was no way she could face this she thought. "What is he doing here?"
"I'm moving back in." He informed her.
"Matt explained what really happened. And we've talked we're going to give it another go."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" She yelled. "I'm not dealing with this right now."
She ran to her room and grabbed her gym bag. She ran out of her house and down the street. She stopped by Horror St. she had nowhere to go she didn't want to go to Hanna's or Janie's house. They would only annoy her. She began to walk around the city. She found herself at Jon's apartment. Nobody was home so she set on the steps.
"Snowie?" She heard that familiar raspy drawl.
Snow lifted her head and tried to shake the cold off. "You're going to think I'm an idiot."
He unlocked the door. "You? Never. Come in before you become hypothermic or something."
She walked into the warm house and shivered. She'd expected beer cans and trash everywhere but it was clean for the most part. She followed him to the kitchen and sat at the table watching him put water in a coffee maker.
"So why were you freezing to death on my front steps?" He said setting beside her.
"Matt is moving back in." She said through chattering teeth. When he just looked at her she continued. "I left and somehow ended up here. And before you ask, Hanna brought some things over the other day and I was with her. So that's how I knew where you live."
"I wasn't going to ask that." He informed her. "Speaking of Hanna why didn't you go there?"
"Because I would have to have explain everything. And I can't. I don't want to stay with…stay here. I just…"
"You're not going back there. So I guess you'll stay here." He said putting hot cocoa in two cups.
"Jon." She couldn't tell him that she physically couldn't be around him, it hurt too much still. The only class they had together was an hour to cruel torture to her heart and lungs.
"Come on." He walked out of the kitchen. "After you warm up we'll go get you things."
"Jon, I can't." She couldn't get the words out.
"Can't what go back? Then I will."
"No I can't stay with you." The words were a mere whisper.
He set the cups down on his dresser and turned toward her. He didn't say anything just took her into his arms and held her. She felt tears fall from her eyes, she didn't know if she was crying because she missed him or because he didn't hate her.
"I know what you mean, Snow White." He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Come on."
He led her to his bed. Once she was settled under the blanket he held her against him like he needed her to breathe. She felt the cold rush out of her. These last three months had been a hell she never wanted to go through again. From the way he held on to her she could say the same for him. She rested her head on his chest listening to his heart, oh how she hadn't realized you could miss a simple sound so much.
"I'm sorry." She whispered before she fell asleep.
Jon laid there with Snowie in his arms feeling her breath against him. He missed her so much, the pain was worse than when he'd get the shit beat out of him in the ring. That was his only escape, wrestling. The night he'd left her house he'd gone to Cody's and stayed there for a few weeks until he had some money saved up then he and a few of the younger guys not much older than him had rented this house. He'd been working nonstop when he wasn't in school or asleep, hell who was he kidding he ate, slept, and drank wrestling and sleeping with the random ring rat, it kept his mind away from his dark angel. He looked at the clock it was time for him to get ready to go.
"Snow White?" When she didn't stir he moved her as quietly as he could to the other side of the bed. He didn't worry when she curled into a ball. Jon got his things together. "Snowie?"
"Please tell me I'm not dreaming." She had heard his voice in her head so many times it was hard to believe she was actually with him now.
He chuckled. "No Baby. But you're going with me and then we'll go get your things." He'd decided she'd go back there over his dead body and then some. She was staying with him whether he had to kidnap or tie her up, he didn't care.
She stretched and looked around. "Oh god. I forgot where I even was."
"It happens. You hungry?"
She dressed in her track pants and Jon threw her one of his sweat shirts. She thought she was going to die when his scent reached her nose. Tortured again, she thought. She threw the oversized shirt over her head and pushed up the sleeves. After he made sure she had a coat on, which annoyed her to no end, they headed to the arena.
"Three months and you still drive like a crazed man." She joked. It amazed her how they could fall right back into their old routine.
"It's not that bad."
"That was a red li…oh look another…nope there it goes too."
"I've missed you, Snow White." He confessed.
"I've missed you, too."
They were quiet the rest of the way. Once there Jon took her back to meet his friends. After the show he drove to her house, she argued the whole way. She wouldn't win she knew that much but she couldn't help but argue.
"Snowie! We are getting your things and you are coming with me. That's final. You mom might not get it but I do and I'll be damned if you are staying one night with that dumbfuck in the same house."
"Jon…"
"No I'm not listening. If you don't want to go in then I will."
"Ugh!" She said and as soon as he stopped she jumped out. "You drive me nuts."
"Someone has too." He grumbled following her.
The house was quiet when they walked in. She walked to her room even quieter. Her mom's bed room door was open and the bed made. Nobody was home. Good they could get in and out without dealing with drama. She might have argued with Jon but she knew he was right. Hope didn't, couldn't see who Matt really was. And while she loved her mother dearly she could stand witness to the madness any longer.
Jon had carried most of her bags to his truck. "Ready?"
She looked around and grabbed the picture they had taken on her twelfth birthday at HWA and stuffed in her back pack. She ran her hands through her hair. He came to stand beside her and wrapped her in his strong arms. She let out a breath.
"Ready."
She had written Hope a note explaining why she left and that she loved her. They were walking out when Matt pulled up. He got out of his truck, drunk as a skunk. Not now, she thought and held on to Jon's arm. Not that she could stop him even if she wanted too.
"I thought you got rid of the trash, Snowie." He slurred.
"I did too. But you came back." She spat the words at him. Jon stayed quiet but she could feel the muscles in his arm tensing. "Whatever. I'm leaving."
"The hell you are." Matt grabbed her when she stepped away from Jon to get in the truck.
"Let me go." She swung hard and connected with his jaw.
It only pissed him off he threw his own punch and she braced herself for the impact, it never came. Jon had caught his fist in his open hand. Matt let her go and tried to break free. Jon held tight.
"Go get in the truck, Snow." Jon said calmly.
"Jon? No let's just go. Please?"
"Get in the truck." He didn't look at her but she heard the rage in his voice and did as he said.
"Boy you're biting off more than you can chew." Matt spat.
"Yeah, see I don't think so." He threw his first punch. "I think this has been a long time coming."
Snowie set in the warm cab watching Jon beat the holy hell out of daddy dearest. She was conflicted she wanted to stop him but she wanted to cheer him on at the same time. She jumped out when Jon was hitting him over and over and Matt just laid there.
"Jon that's enough! Stop!" She touched his arm and he stopped.
He picked the man up by the collar. "If you ever come near her again, I won't stop." He threw him to the ground.
Snowie set beside him in the truck in his driveway. They hadn't talked on the ride over, he was too mad and she knew when to give him space. They set in the cap until the cold seeped in. He looked at her and ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
"Let's go in. Jack just moved out so you can have his room."
"Oh. Okay, cool." Did she sound a little disappointed?
"I know this doesn't mean we're back together, Snow." He missed the disappointment.
He helped carry her things to her new room. He winced as a strap caught on his knuckles. He looked down at his hands, they were bruising and bleeding some. He'd have to wear tape for a few days to cover the bruises but he healed quickly.
There were some guys hanging in the living room a few she'd met earlier. "Guys this is Snowie she's gonna stay in Jack's old room. He didn't wait for approval it was just a fact and nobody dared buck him on it.
"A girl living here and you're not moving her into your room. Who wants to bet that isn't going to last long?"
"Shut up, Mark." Jon yelled as he led Snowie down the hall. "My room is across the hall and the bathroom is two doors down. Suzie the cleaning lady comes in once a week."
"So that's why it's clean." She thought out loud.
"Hey I can clean, but why deprive some poor person of a job?"
"You so didn't go there." She laughed.
"Yeah I did."
She walked into the room thank god the cleaning lady had just been there but it still smelled awful. "Can I borrow your truck?"
"Sure. Why?"
"It must be a guy thing. It stinks in here."
He only laughed and tossed her the keys. "You do have your license right?"
"Would it matter?"
"Not really." He joked.
"Yes I do." She picked up her wallet and walked to the door.
"Hey girl." A big guy stepped between her and the door.
"I have a name. It's Snowie."
"Fine. How old are you?"
Jon stepped in front of her. "She's sixteen and you can go fuck yourself." Snowie just stood there. What the hell was that? To Jon said, "He's an ass and thinks every girl should suck his dick."
"Um…no thank you." She stepped around Jon. "What did you get me into, Jonathan?"
"Nothing I swear he's only here because he's Mark's brother. His wife kicks him out every couple of months. He'll go home in a few hours at the most, tomorrow's Halloween so he won't miss it for his kids."
She stopped in the cold. "Tomorrow's Halloween?"
"Yep. Also known as your birthday."
"Oh. I'll be back."
She started the truck and laughed. Not only had she gone from missing Jon so much she didn't even know what day it was to living with him all in one day. Boy talk about a turnabout! She drove to the store and shopped I record time. Wasn't that hard she had little money. She drove back to Jon's house thinking it was weird to be living with him again. And had that Mark guy say something about him sleeping with girls, as in a lot? She tried to tell herself she didn't care, they weren't together, and it shouldn't matter. But it did had she been moping around while he'd been living it up?
She walked to his room and knocked on the door. "Yeah? It's unlocked."
"Here's your keys."
"What's wrong?" of course he knew.
"Nothing. Why?" She attempted casual.
"Bull." He stood up. "I know you too well for that to work. What's wrong? One of those morons say something?"
"Actually you're the only other person here. But nothing is wrong." She turned and went to her room before he could say anything. She tried to close the door but he caught it. "Jon." She whined. "Fine. I just figured out that while I've been missing you and going crazy that you've been living the high life."
He laughed harshly. "The high life? Snow if those other guys hadn't decided I had a good idea I'd be living in my truck. What the hell is the high life, to you?"
"I meant the girls, Jon." She spun around.
"The ring rats? Yea I've slept with a few." When she gave him a disagreeing look he said, "Fine a little more than a few. But it's because I wasn't moving on." He shut his mouth.
"No?"
"No." He ran a hand through his long hair. "I was trying to forget or waste the time until it stopped hurting. If I wasn't wrestling I was screwing some rat, okay?"
She just looked at him. "Jon."
"Don't Snow. It doesn't matter. Not really anyways."
"Jon it matters. I never meant to hurt either one of us. I swear. I just wanted you back."
He looked at her as if she'd grown two heads. They didn't say anything else when Eddie walked past them. Jon stepped into the room and closed the door. She set on the bed and patted the spot beside her. Hoping he would take her up on the offer.
"Okay I didn't let you explain, please continue." He said setting on the edge of the bed.
"I meant you had changed so much it scared me. You were doing that stupid drug ring thing just to prove you could and it did something to you. Even Hanna noticed the change. I thought…I don't know…I think I thought that if I broke up with you, you'd snap out of it or something."
"I didn't know. I guess I didn't notice anything I was too caught up in the moment." He reached for her stroking he knuckles along her jawline. "I'm sorry Snow."
"Jon don't be sorry now, just say you're you again or at least a closer version."
"I'm back to me I think." He started to lean into her and stopped himself. "Well…uh…I guess I'll let you unpack."
She stayed in her room for the rest of the night, cleaning and putting her things away. She wondered if her mom had found the note yet and what she thought if she had. She heard girls laughing in other parts of the house, rats no doubt. She giggled, did they know they were nicknamed after a filthy animal? She would hate to be called a rat. She sighed looking in the mirror speaking of rats she looked like one now. She grabbed her toiletries bag and her bath robe and headed to the bathroom. She locked the door behind her and turned on the water.
She did her thing and went back to her room. It was now thirty minutes past midnight officially Halloween and her birthday. Snowie looked in the mirror again she didn't look any older than she had before, she had always wondered why people said she would age each year when she barely changed at all. Oh well maybe someday she'd understand. She heard Jon laugh and had to smile. A fist rapped on her door.
"Who is it?" She called slipping into pants and a shirt.
"Me." Why did she have to ask? She had thought that he had sounded close.
She unlocked the door and opened it. She had honestly expected to see him standing there with one of the girls she'd heard. He was alone standing at her door with only a pair of jeans on and a plate of food and a coke in his hands. God when had he gotten so damn sexy? It wasn't fair, she thought. How was she supposed to live with him, be the friend, and not want to fuck him? No fair was right.
"He comes baring gifts." She said sarcastically and stepped out of the way.
"Don't I always take care you?" He said in that raspy drawl. Not helping, she thought. "Here."