Chapter 55

"Wakey, wakey, wakey, wakey," I heard Jess say over and over in a sing-song voice. Today was the day Jess's book was being released and that meant that today she had a book signing to attend. Said book signing just happened to be on a weekend which meant that I got to tag along. I wanted to go, believe me. But the whole getting up early thing on a weekend was not ideal to me.

"How are you such a ray of fucking sunshine first thing in the morning?" I groaned as I turned back over, burying my face in my pillow. Jess took that as an opportunity to climb on top of me and attach her lips to the side of my neck.

"C'mon, get up! It's a big day," she said, attempting to shake me awake.

I turned over slightly and glanced at the clock. Well shit it was only seven in the morning. We didn't even need to be there until one in the afternoon.

"Why did you wake me up so early?" I complained. "Especially since you kept me up late last night," I reminded her.

"Because I wanted to cuddle and also I made you breakfast," she said simply before planting a soft kiss on my lips.

"You could have cuddled me while I was asleep," I said as Jess got herself comfortable on top of me, her head tucked under my neck and her arms around my waist. My arms automatically went around her shoulders as she sighed.

"I wanted to talk to you too," she said.

"What about?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing important. I just want to hear your voice," she mumbled. Well, damn she could sure make me feel guilty about being annoyed with her.

"I love you," I sighed, not really knowing what else I could say.

"Why do you love me?" she asked suddenly. Well, I wasn't expecting that at all.

"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly. You know those types of questions that sort of felt like a trap? Like if you say the wrong thing you were going to piss someone off? That's how I felt right now.

"You know what I mean," Jess said, lifting herself up on her forearms so that she could look down at me. "I want to know why you love me. What made you fall in love with me?"

"If I answer then you have to answer the same question," I said.

"Fine," she said, rolling off of me to lay down at my side, her head tucked between my shoulder and neck. I took a deep breath as I recalled the night we met.

"Do you remember when I was waitressing your table at the restaurant?" I asked her.

"Yeah and I caught you staring at me like a million times," she laughed.

"Well, I thought you were gorgeous. That's beside the point though," I told her. "So you remember that guy slipping that drug into your drink and all that. Well, obviously you didn't see it but you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I remember you running over to the table when he walked away. I thought you were crazy," she said, chuckling a bit at the end.

"Yeah well that's the thing. I don't know if I would have done that had it been anyone else. I just felt this overwhelming urge that I should protect you. I didn't plan on ever getting close to anyone while I lived here but I guess it just happened. I don't know if it's too cliché to say I loved you from the beginning but it feels like it," I said honestly.

"I feel like that too sometimes," Jess said quietly. "I felt like I could trust you from the moment you said you didn't know my name. Which is weird anyway because I hardly knew you."

"I guess it was meant to be," I sighed before turning over to kiss her one more time. "So what did you say earlier about making me breakfast?"

"Great way to end a meaningful conversation, Elena," she said as she got out of bed. "But yes, I did make you breakfast."

"I love you," I reminded her as I got out of bed and walked with her out of the room.

"Yeah, yeah I love you too," she laughed.

********************************************

Jess and I were now on our way to this huge book signing that she was so excited about. I could probably understand how she was feeling to be honest. She's been off work for five months now and I know she's missed seeing her fans. I mean, she was practically bouncing in her seat on the way there. I'm sure her driver was struggling to keep a straight face as I attempted to get her to stop acting like a child.

"Jess, you're going to end up hurting yourself if you don't stop bouncing around," I laughed.

"I'm just so excited," she said as she finally stilled herself and leaned against my shoulder. "I'm surprised my fans haven't forgotten about me."

"How could they ever forget you?" I chuckled.

Just as she was about to question the double meaning behind my words we suddenly pulled up to the sidewalk, barricaded to block the screaming fans that were waiting for Jess.

"Are you walking in with me?" she asked, suddenly sounding nervous.

"I will if you need me too," I told her as I gripped her hand tightly. She nodded and a few seconds later the door was opened, increasing the amount of noise from the endless screaming. We didn't have time to stop for people but Jess made sure to wave and smile at everyone as we walked. We were led into this massive building where everyone would eventually be able to walk in and line up to meet Jess. There was a long table at the end where I assume Jess would be sitting while she signed her books for everyone.

My assumption was correct as security led Jess over to the table where a single chair was pulled up. Jess was looking quite fidgety as she sat down

"Why are you so nervous?" I asked her quietly as security took their places at different parts of the building.

"I don't know," she answered. "I guess it's just been a while. Maybe I'm having culture shock from sitting at home so long," she joked.

"It'll be okay. I'll stay right here with you the whole time," I smiled in an attempt to reassure her.

I bent down to kiss her lips briefly, just as the doors were suddenly opened. Surprisingly, everyone was fairly calm. Well, as calm as you can be at a book signing from your favorite artist I suppose. I stood a few feet behind Jess, closer to the security guards positioned behind her, and watched as she interacted with her fans. It was nice to see all the people that were still supporting her after so long. Most of her fanbase, I noticed consisted of younger women, mostly teenagers. I overheard a lot of them telling Jess about how her music had saved them and how inspiring she was. It made me smile myself and I could only imagine how amazing it made Jess feel.

Everything was going great until I happened to glance up at the crowd and noticed something I recognized. Light blonde hair, tied up tightly into a bun, making its way through the crowd. I stiffened as I suddenly felt my heart racing at the site. I couldn't be sure if I was actually seeing what I thought I was seeing and so I decided I need to go look myself. I walked over to Jess and bent low so that I could speak quietly in her ear.

"Hey, Jess I'll be straight back okay?"

"Yeah, everything all right?" she asked, glancing back at me. I simply nodded and kissed her on the cheek before heading off into the crowd.

The crowd was a bit more sparse since everything started, so I didn't have a whole lot of trouble pushing my way through. However, as hard as I looked I could not find who I was looking for. I wasn't sure if I could feel relieved or even more on edge but I was definitely not okay.

Just as I was about to call it a loss and head back to Jess, that's when I spotted her again. Tamra. There was no doubt, I could see her clearly from across the room and what's even more terrifying, I could very clearly see the black, shiny object she was very slowly uncovering. However, she wasn't after me. She hadn't even seen me. She was walking very swiftly toward Jess and panic filled my entire body as I realized what she was about it do.

I didn't have time to think. All I could do was react as I pushed people out of the way and sprint toward Jess who was completely oblivious as to what was going on. I couldn't even think. The only thing running through my mind was protect Jess, protect Jess. Over and over those words played in my mind.

I was within ten feet of Jess when I glanced over and saw Tamra raise the metal weapon and point it directly at her. I screamed Jess's name as I thought for a moment that I was too late. I heard the weapon go off just as I reached Jess and shoved her out of the way. Relief took over as it became clear that she had not been hit but the sudden, excruciating pain in my shoulder is what told me that.

The entire room went silent and I was vaguely aware of the security guards tackling Tamra to the ground. I thought I heard something about the police being called but for now I was focused on Jess who was now trying to hold me up, but to no avail. I felt myself sink slowly to the ground but Jess's arms stayed tightly around me as she sunk down to the floor with me.

"Elena?!" I heard Jess scream my name desperately. "Elena, please."

I clung to Jess as hard as I could as I felt my body become cold and numb. I knew what was happening, I just didn't want it to happen right now, not right this second.

"I love you," I heard myself say weakly. My eyelids were becoming heavy but I willed myself to stay awake for as long as possible.

"Don't say it like that. Elena don't you dare let go of me," Jess said furiously through her tears. "You're going to be fine. Please, I love you, Elena," she cried.

I wanted so badly to do as she asked but I knew I wasn't fine. My thoughts were becoming cloudy now but I knew exactly what I had done and why I did it. Protecting Jess was my entire reason for living and I've done it. It was just meant to be that way. I held onto Jess as tightly as I could for as long as I could. I kept her in my sights up until those last moments and I made sure that the last thing I'd ever see was her beautiful face.

I didn't want to let go, but sometimes you have to.