Tangled Love

"Emily? It's me, Jake."

Jake.

I blink away my blurred vision and begin to make sense of my surroundings. I'm lying on a double bed, the sheets crisp white and soft. The walls are painted a baby blue shade, the furnishings white to match the rest of the decor.

"Jake?" I say turning towards him, my voice shaking. I watch as he sighs heavily, his gaze dropping to the floor to avoid making eye contact with me.

Embarrassment fills my body and I sit up, stepping off the bed to leave the room.

"I have to go," I mumble, my mind disorientated and confused. My legs buckle underneath me weakly and I close my eyes, getting ready to meet the floor. Jake's hand flies out, circling around my waist. He guides me so I'm stuck between his legs, one on either side. I sigh and push on them in an attempt to be free but they don't move an inch.

"Stop struggling Emily, turn around."

His voice is quiet, smooth.

I turn around, my head hung low which caused my hair to fall over my face. I like it, it acts like a curtain to protect me. . . I think Jake knows my secret. Nobody else ever suspected a thing besides from Jake. I figured it out by the way he treats me, gentle and caring. He treats me this way because he knows my secret and he feels sorry for me.

The girl who's beaten by her stepdad.

hovering

flinch," he whispers. I stop breathing from his words, my heart beating wildly against my chest. He slowly tilts my chin up until I'm looking directly

and dangerous as the first time I'd seen him in the classroom. His thumb strokes my jaw and I sigh, completely content with the slightest bit of affection. Jake

me." I mutter, my cheeks flaming up in embarrassment. My heart

a cute, lopsided smile. I feel my heart somersault and I open my mouth to

push back away from his legs, building up the courage to let him know what's really on my mind. I walk around the room, stretching my legs as I examine it, my way of buying myself some time.

Jake says suddenly, pushing himself off the bed and walking towards

what?" I ask innocently, my back hitting against the wall. Jake's eyes land directly

bite your lip like that."

"Sorry, it's a thing I do when

Jake silently walks towards me, closing the space between us. His hand reaches up and

want to ask me?" Jake whispers, placing a hand on the walls on either side of me. He leans down so his face hovers in front of mine, inches away. I'm knocked back by his sudden question and I simply

stutter, cursing myself silently. Whenever I'm around Jake, I lose the

mine and my lips. As he speaks, his warm breath fans my face and I swear, my legs actually buckle underneath

won't bother you,"

response. I let out a small squeak at his

move Emily.

shot up in amusement, blue eyes twinkling at me. I pull my lower lip into my mouth, biting down on it hard due to

"Stop Emily."