Let Me Be Your Saving Grace (Continued)

[Alivia]

Jace could see it. Even before she turned around to look at him, he could feel it. He could feel tension in the air between them, the way it always was right before she'd have a breakdown. His body tensed, his smile vanished. Every thought escaped his mind, and all he could focus on was Olivia, and if she'd be alright. What happened? Did Jeremy hurt her? No. No one would dare hurt Olivia. Who could hurt such a sweet, innocent, beautiful girl like Olivia? His jaw tightened slightly. He was going to beat the shit out of Jeremy if he ever laid a hand on her. Or anyone else. She was all he had. He wouldn't let her be hurt anymore. He didn't want to see her heartbroken. It hurt him just as much as it hurt her, even if she didn't know it.


Letting go of the anger and frustration he felt towards every guy that's ever broken her heart, he turned his eyes back to her as she turned around. On her face was a small, tired smile. It didn't match with her watery eyes. It was fake. His heart sank immediately, and looking into her eyes, he tried to figure out what to do. He didn't know how to help her. He had never been in her shoes, so what did he know? He felt his throat tighten with sadness. She swallowed, and averted her eyes away from his. It felt like a stab to his heart. Jace didn't want to see her like this. In pain. Barely hanging on. It truly broke his heart. And after answering his question, she made contact with his eyes. And then she lost it. She held on to him tightly, her tears staining his shirt. All he could do was hold her.


The last thing that was on his mind was everyone around him. School, homework, work. None of it really mattered. Olivia was hurting. That was what mattered right now. She needed to be comforted. And he did his best. He held her, stroked her hair the way he had always done when she was upset. It overwhelmed him with memories of middle school, and their freshman year. Before everything got complicated and full of heart break. Before they both grew up too fast. Jace closed his eyes, his breathing soft and even. He could feel her body relax in his arms, and he could feel his body relax, too. Everything about her seemed to make him calm. He smiled, though he knew they both were on the verge of tears.


Before he knew it, he was slowly pulling away from her. As much as he didn't want to, he knew he ought to. Didn't want to give gossip material to the audience, now did he? He knew she already had enough of that in her life. Didn't need to make it worse for Olivia. Jace looked into her eyes once again, searching for something. His mouth opened, but nothing came about. He didn't know what to say. What could comfort her at this point? He closed his mouth, and just looked at her. It was something they both did if there was nothing else to say; it was their own language. They didn't need words to express thoughts or emotions. They only needed to look into each other's eyes, and just let silence pour in.


"I'm sorry," his voice cracked slightly. His eyes were on the ground, his shoulders slumped downwards. He looked back up. "I'm sorry I'm not enough for you, and I'm sorry I can't help you. God, you have no idea how much it hurts me to see you like this. I just wish I could be a better friend for you, but I'm just... useless. I don't know how to fix you or me or anyone else."

 

[Psychedelia]

Olivia reluctantly pulled away from Jace as he pulled away from her. She knew he bell would ring very soon and she was sure he knew that as well. Her first instinct now was to grab Jace by the hand and flee the building for the day but she had a feeling that wouldn't be possible. Jace focused equally hard on his schoolwork as he did on his family because that was his way out as well as his family's. Olivia on the other hand had left many times before and could do it at anytime without a worry other than about Jace. She would never force him to go with her but she was definitely going to leave for today before she burst into tears and she would give him the option to come if he would like.


Olivia turned her gaze to the floor as Jace's did and they stayed silent for a moment. As he spoke, Olivia felt her heart begin to ache. Her eyes shot up from the floor to his face. She tried to make eye contact with him as he trained his eyes hard on the floor. Frustrated and sad at the same time, Olivia took in another sharp breath and stepped closer to him again. Placing her hand delicately on his chin, she tilted Jace's head upwards and stared straight into his eyes. Searching for something before she began her rant, Olivia kept her eyes locked on his eyes but now removed her hand and placed it at her side.


"Jace... It's not your fault. Did you hear that? It's. Not. Your. Fault. The only people at fault here are Jeremy and I. I dated an ass and he spread stupid, ridiculous, totally false rumors... You.. You did nothing; bad anyways. The only thing you did do was stay by my side through this whether you knew it or not. You're right though, you aren't enough for me... You're more than enough. You're my best friend and my only friend and I love you!" Olivia faltered for a second after her last words came out but she quickly recovered and continued on. "You are the only person I need in my life aside from my mother but still above her, honestly. There was nothing either of us could have done to prevent that idiot from spreading lies and there's nothing we can do to get rid of the lies now. But, I still have you and you still have me and that's all that matters. So, quit beating yourself about this situation and remember that I'm here and I always will be because you're my favorite person in the entire world, okay?"


Ending her rant with a soft sigh, Olivia kept her gaze on Jace then shook her head. Turning her eyes down for a second and glancing back up, a smile now on her face. Olivia took a deep breath and glanced around the slowly clearing hall. It seemed as though a few groups had wandered by significantly slower and maybe even stopped to listen in but she didn't care. Olivia, still smiling, turned her eyes back to Jace. She already felt loads better than before and, of course, it was thanks to Jace. Olivia couldn't help but think back to what she had said and smile more because she had successfully made herself feel better without boys, booze, or tears and, in the process, managed to find things out about herself she didn't even know before now.

 

[Psychedelia]

Are we still continuing this?