"Knock, knock!" Finn yelled.
He closed the door behind him, kicked off his sneakers, and walked into the house. Damian wasn't home but he had asked Finn to come over and stay the weekend with his girlfriend Jessalyn.
"Jessalyn?" Finn called.
He spotted the back door open and left his backpack on the floor before walking towards it. He stopped in the open door and watched her sit on a garden chair with a cup of coffee. Her shoulder long, toffee blonde hair with the soft waves in it looked perfect.
"Hello," he said.
She jumped startled and nearly spilled her coffee. She turned her head and settled her amber eyes on him.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Damn, I thought you'd be happy to see me," he said.
"I am," she smiled. "I'm just surprised you're here. I thought you knew Damian was gone for the weekend."
"He told me to come stay with you," he furrowed his brows. "I thought you knew."
"Of course he did," she said.
She sighed and stood up.
"Well, how about a cup of coffee then?" She asked.
She walked past him and he followed behind. They entered the kitchen where she poured a cup of coffee for him and handed it to him.
"Why am I here?" He asked. "He didn't tell you but you must know why."
"You do too," she said.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" He asked.
"Do you want the details of what I went through?" She asked.
"I'm just asking how you're feeling," he said.
She had been through hell half a year ago. She had been the random target of a kidnapping. She had been gone for three weeks before she was found and rescued. A stroke of luck, they said. The kidnapper forgot to lock the door to the room he kept her in, and she snuck out of it and found his cell phone to call for help. Since then Damian made sure to always be there or have someone look after her.
"I wish I could give you an honest answer," she shrugged. "Technically I'm good. I was looking forward to this weekend alone but of course he didn't listen once again. I'm never allowed to be alone anymore."
"I can leave if you want me to," he said.
"He's gonna call many times to make sure we're together," she said.
"How about I lock myself away in a room and you can do whatever you like? When he calls, I can pretend you're in the shower if you aren't home at the given time," he said.
"No, he'll know. You gotta stay. It's just for the weekend anyway," she said.
She finished her cup of coffee and put the cup in the dishwasher.
"So let's have some fun," he said. "What do you wanna do?"
Her eyes lit up and it was clear there was something on her mind. Whatever it was, he was game.
"There's a fun fair in town," she said.
He grinned, finished his coffee in two large sips, and placed the cup in the dishwasher too.
"White or pink cotton candy?" He asked.
"Pink," she broke out in a grin. "Are we really going?"
"Of course we're going. Get in my car," he said. "And let's mute our phones. He can yell at us later for not picking up."
They got out in his car and drove to the fun fair. Her entire face was lit up with joy as they walked among the many people and things to do.
"Have I ever told you that my favorite fun fair ride is Terminator?" She asked.
He followed her gaze and saw the ride further ahead.
"I've never been on it. Is it scary?" He asked.
"You jump from the turnbuckle constantly. You'll survive this ride just fine. I'll hold your hand if you need me to," she said.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him down to the ride. She paid for both of them and they got on. The ride started and he listened to her squeal in joy. He enjoyed it too. It was a fun ride but it was even better hearing her so happy. It felt like it was over way too soon but her eyes sparkled like he hadn't seen in a long time. He didn't want the fun to be over yet when she seemed this happy.
"Cotton candy," he reminded her.
He walked over to buy one for them each. They continued through the fair, talking and eating, enjoying everything around them.
"People are taking pictures of us," he said.
"You're famous," she said.
"So are you," he sighed. "Are you okay? Do you want to leave?"
"If you ask me one more time if I'm okay, I'm gonna kiss you so we both will have a hard time explaining those pictures once they reach social medias and Damian sees them," she said.
"Damn, Jessalyn!" He chuckled. "Okay, what do you wanna do next? Another ride or maybe eat a hotdog?"
"Let's just go for a walk," she said.
They left the fair and the many people behind and walked down to the ocean nearby. They walked in the sand and watched as the sun slowly started to set.
"I don't recall the last time I was out this late," she said.
"I understand," he said.
"I don't think you do," she looked at him. "Damian won't let me. He's so fucking scared I'll get kidnapped again that he won't allow me to do anything anymore. I can't breathe inside those walls, Finn. I'm hurting and he refuses to acknowledge that he's the one hurting me. He keeps shutting me down everytime I try to talk to him about it. I don't know what to do anymore."
"He's scared to lose you," he said.
"This isn't about him. It's about me. I was the one who went through it and I'm the one who should get to decide what I wanna do. He would never have taken me to this fun fair. When he hears you took me here, he's gonna be so pissed at you. I tricked you into taking me but I'm not one bit sorry and I won't apologize," she said.
She smirked at him and he smirked back. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I would refuse an apology anyway," he said. "Maybe I can talk to him."
"You're welcome to try but nothing will come of it. You know how stubborn he can be," she said.
She stopped walking and stared out at the ocean.
"Wanna go swimming?" She asked.
"Right now?" He asked.
She kicked off her ballerinas and pulled her dress over her head. He watched her in that white set of lace underwear. A bra and a thong. She laughed at him and ran out in the ocean. She dove under and came up again.
"It's amazing. Come join me," she said.
He undressed to his briefs and ran out in the ocean as well. He dove under and in between her legs. He stood up with her on his shoulders, hearing her laugh like she didn't have a care in the world. He couldn't remember the last time he had heard her laugh like this. It suddenly became clear how withdrawn and closed she had become since that dark time half a year ago. He just thought she had a hard time moving on from it but in reality it was Damian keeping her in that dark place.
"Don't drop me," she said.
"Oh, I'm dropping you," he laughed.
He threw himself backwards and they both went under the water. They came back up and laughed at each other.
"Thank you," she said.
"For dropping you?" He asked.
"For allowing me to live," she said. "It's starting to get cold. We better go back in."
His smile dropped and he felt sad hearing how she had to be allowed to live. She didn't see it since she was already moving towards shore again. He followed behind and managed to find his smile again when they reached their clothes.
"This has been the most amazing evening," she said.
"Should we stop somewhere for some takeout?" He asked.
"Oh my god, yes! I'm starving," she said. "I know the perfect Indian place we can stop by."