"There was blood...a lot of blood..." Jack breathed. He continued turning his hands back and forth like there was blood on his hands now.

            I walked up to him, taking his hands gently in mine. His hands were shaking and I was barely able to calm him, "What else do you remember, Jack?"

            His eyes drifted away from mine, looking everywhere but at me. His breathing slowly became rapid until he was almost hyperventilating. His face twisted in horror, as if he was probably reliving that night and everything that happened. "Jack, what happened?"

            He shook his hands and stepped away from me, "No."

            "No what?"

            "I can't...tell you. I can't..."

            I gripped his forearms, almost letting my fingernails dig into his skin, "You need to tell someone. Let me help you this time."

            His brown eyes rested on my face and he stepped back away from me again, "I remember all the blood and someone else. Everything...it's still blurry but it's coming back to me. I don't know how I lost all that time..." He gripped his hair like he was attempting to pull it out. "I remember going out to a bar with some friends, a scream, and a lot of blood." He turned away from me and started pacing his room, "There was so much blood." He stopped, and dropped down on the edge of his bed.

            Jack put his face in his hands and let out a long breath.

            I kneeled in front of him, crossing my arms over his legs so I could look up at him, "You need to tell them. Tell them everything you know."

            He lifted his head and started shaking his head, "No, I can't. They won't let me."

            "They?"

            "My parents."

            "This could help—"

            "I know." He said softly, "My mom and dad both told me if I even remember anything, not to tell." He paused, "It's not clear anyway. I still don't know if it was me. The blood...it wasn't mine. I remember that. And there was a gun, but I don't know if I was holding it."

            I stood up from the floor and sat down next to him on his bed, "The other suspects, did you know them?"

            Jack looked at me, almost confused, "I have no idea who they are. I've never seen them before a day in my life."

            "They could've been at the bar with you."

            "I guess..." He turned away and put his head in his hands again, "I still don't know if I did it, Juliet. I couldn't have. I wouldn't have. I also know I didn't leave the house that day with a gun. I don't even have one and neither do my parents. Where would I have gotten one?" It was more of a question to himself than to me.

            I scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around his back, "Did something trigger this? Like did you see something that could've triggered your memories?"

            He loosely pointed to the bathroom, "I cut myself shaving and the sight of blood must have because that's all I remember from that night. It's not enough to help me at all."

            "Maybe there's a way to trigger something else. We can get your memories back and you can get out of this."

            He dropped his hands and looked at me with hopeful eyes, "How can I? I don't remember what I did—" He stopped and looked over my shoulder, "I do remember I wasn't alone, but I couldn't tell you who it was. I don't remember the friends I went out with." He looked down at his lap and let out a soft sigh, "I was drinking...but my lawyer's trying to hide that. It wasn't even that much. Definitely not enough to lose a few hours." His eyes turned from hopeful to sad when he looked at me again, "I don't even know who the man was, Juliet. I have no motive to kill anyone."

            I rested my chin on his shoulder when he turned away, "We'll figure it out. You'll get out of this whether you did it or not, Jack."

            An easy smile rested on his lips, "You have too much hope for me."

            "There's no such thing." I nuzzled my face against his neck and took a deep breath. I could stay here all day.

            Jack's arm went around my shoulders and he held me close. We sat in silence, holding each other like we didn't want to let go.

            I didn't know his situation was this bad. I didn't know he had blank spots and can't even remember which friends he went out with. I wondered what caused the blank spots because he says he didn't drink enough to completely black out. He'd be stupid to even drink that much.

            Someone he was with did something.

            Maybe hit him in the head or slipped something into his drink.

            He didn't say anything about a head injury and I was too afraid to ask. I was thankful he told me that much. I'm glad he trusted me enough to finally tell me and now maybe I can help somehow. If he forgets, I'll be here to remember. "We'll figure it out."

            "We'll figure it out?"

            I moved away from his neck and smiled at him, "It's what friends do."

            Jack laughed, "We don't do things friends would do."    

            My cheeks burned from blushing, "True. But I am here to help, remember?"

            He bobbed his head, "And tonight's the last night."

            I didn't want to think about that. I was happy and sad about it. I lose the excuse to come over here, but when I do come over we don't have to worry about working. It's not like anyone knows. His mom thinks Jack put an end to it and my grandparents don't know.

            I don't even want to think about what they would do. Especially my grandma. "We should probably get started and get the work out of the way. Do you think you'll pass?" I stood up and moved to his desk.

            "I think so." Jack took his seat next to me and started pulling out the last bit of work that needed to be done. Two worksheets for Chemistry and two for French. These should hopefully be a breeze.

            We started working almost immediately. He mainly did all the work on the French worksheets. I only had to help him with a few things. He had more difficulty with Chemistry but we made it through those worksheets. It took longer than expected, but at least they're done.

            I made flash cards, hoping to help him a bit more. And it did, I think. He seemed to really catch on to French, not sure how well he'll do with Chemistry. I know he'll pass, I guess I shouldn't worry too much. I think I'll worry about him no matter what.

            By the time we finished prep, it was almost one in the morning. I wasn't tired or ready to go home. It was storming outside which gave me less motivation to move. I was afraid to leave Jack alone like this. I thought maybe he'd have another episode and remember something. I want to be here for him when he does. I don't want him to be alone in this.

            We curled under his blanket while the storm played out in the background. Every time lighting struck, it only illuminated the room for a second. The loud thunder made me jump every few seconds and Jack would laugh. As long as he was laughing about something.

            I walked my fingers across his bare abdomen and up his chest. I lightly brushed my palm over his collarbone and wrapped my fingers around the side of his neck. When Jack let out a groan, I knew I was doing something right. He snatched my hand from his neck and brought my palm to his lips.

            I threw one of my legs over his, now half my body resting on top of him. His lips were hot on my wrist, making their way down my arm slowly. I pressed my forehead against his temple and sucked in a breath. He wasn't making this easy on me at all. "Jack." I whispered, almost choking on a moan. He didn't stop after dropping my arm.

            He used his freed hand to flip me on my back and hover over me within a second. He wasted no time connecting our lips in a heated frenzy. "I need you." I gasped against his lips. He kissed me harder, our lips working in sync again. Jack hissed when he pulled away, leaning his forehead against mine.

            "Don't say that." He used a hand for support, using his free one to trace my face with the tips of his fingers.

            I dropped my legs to his sides, letting one hook around his hip. I pushed him towards me again. I cupped his cheek, tracing my thumb against his bottom lip. "Jack." I repeated in a whisper.

            "Not now."

            "Why? You don't—"

            "I do." He let out another groan, "You have no idea how bad, but it won't be like this."

            "It's perfect." I said softly, dragging my finger across his jaw. "I want it to be you."

            He shook his head, "Not like this, Juliet."

            "Have you thought about it?" I blurted. Okay, maybe that wasn't the best question, but I was curious. He's had to of thought about it at least once.

            Jack laughed nervously, "Um, maybe. But I'm not going to pressure you, that's not what I'm doing—"

            "Jack." I interrupted, "I don't want anyone else." I spoke slowly, watching his eyes scan over my face. I waited for his reaction, but got nothing. "After everything's that's happened...I guess I thought you felt the same. I guess I was wrong—"

            "Shhh." His eyes bore into mine again, "We should still think about what my mom said and not get too attached."

            Tears stung my eyes but I wasn't about to cry right now, "It's a little too late for that one, don't you think?" I flattened my hands against his chest, pushing him off until he fell on the other side of the bed. I got up quickly, slipped on my shoes, and ran out of his room.

            It seems I'm always running out of his room.

            Jack was behind me a couple of feet, but I had a head start. He was calling my name. I didn't stop and threw open the front door and ran into the rain. All I had to do was reach the white line. Rain poured down on me the moment I stepped on the lawn. I was at least a foot from the white line and I felt Jack's fingers tug on my arm and draw me back.

            He pulled me against his chest from behind, "Stop running from me." His bottom lip dragged against the top of my ear.

            I closed my eyes and fell against him, "I'm running for a reason!" I called over the storm, "I need to get away from you."

            Jack's arm tightened around my waist, "Come back inside." His lips were still by my ear.

            My breathing picked up without warning. I couldn't think straight when he was this close, "Stop—"

            "You knew this, Juliet. You knew we shouldn't have—"

            "You started this." I grounded, "You kissed me. What did you expect to happen?"

            Rain pelted us, soaking us to our skin. Hair was falling in my eyes, but I had no will to move it. Jack's touch keeps me still. His arm still tight around my waist to keep me against him. His mouth so close to my ear, I couldn't form a sentence.

            "I didn't expect to feel this way. How was I supposed to know what was going to happen?"

            I don't know if I should be insulted or not. I didn't know if he didn't want to feel this way about me because of who I am. The girl next door he would torment when he was bored. I was nothing to him. And now, he didn't even know what to do about what he was feeling. "You're scared of losing me, right?" He asked.

            I nodded against him.

            "It works both ways. If something happens to me and I have to leave you, I couldn't do it. I don't want to get attached because not only would I be hurting you, I would be hurting myself. And that's something I couldn't do. I don't want to hurt you, Juliet."

            I wanted to cry even more because he was right. We shouldn't be doing this. It was stupid to get involved with Jack knowing what could happen. That we could be split up for a very long time or indefinitely.

            Jack's breath was hot on my neck, "Believe me," His lips pressed against my skin, "I would pay attention to every part of your body if things were different."

            If Jack didn't have a hold on my waist, I would've fallen. Everything he's saying isn't making this easier. I won't think about losing him that way, because I won't. I told him I would help him and I'm going to stick to it.

            I rolled my head back against his shoulder and his hand clasped around my chin, "I won't let this get in the way."

            There were too many things that could get in the way. There are too many things that are already in the way and we shouldn't ignore them. But right now I wanted to say the hell with everything. I wanted Jack in ways it was hard to explain.

            Jack's mouth was on mine before I could think anymore. His lips singed every thought in my mind except the one revolving around his lips and how I couldn't get enough of them. Jack slowly turned me around, careful not to break the kiss. I placed my hands on his sides while his slid up my shoulders and gripped my face. Everything felt like it was on fire.

            As I pulled back, Jack laughed. It was a small laugh, but it confused me. "What?"

            "Kissing in the rain." He pointed to the sky, "Romantic enough?"

            I shared his laugh and threw my arms around his neck, "It might have been if there wasn't lightning."

            He laughed again and started pushing hair out of my face, "Come back inside." He tugged on my hips, "Spend the night with me and don't worry about anything."

            Instead of answering, I grabbed his hand and lead him back to his house. We walked in, finally sheltered from the raging storm. When we got inside, I stood on my toes and kissed him quick, "I shouldn't be mad. I understand about all of it. I guess it just sucked to hear you say it out loud."

            "I wish things were different. I really wish things were different."

            "I do too."

            Jack stepped away and started leading me upstairs; "Let's get you out of those wet clothes." Jack glanced behind at me and grinned, "Still have a dirty mind."

            I couldn't help but smile. Jack's need to turn everything into a dirty joke used to annoy me. Now it just seemed normal.

            We made it back to his room and he went straight to his dresser. He pulled out a shirt and held it out to me, "This is number four."   

            I snatched the shirt from him and grinned up at him, "I like having your clothes in my room." It was weird, maybe. But it's the only thing I have to feel close to him when I can't be.

            Yes, weird.

            Jack turned around long enough to let me slip out of my wet clothes and change into his t-shirt. I took out my ponytail to fix it because strands of golden brown hair escaped while outside in the rain. I turned back around as Jack pulled on a pair of sweat pants.

            Even coming in from the rain he still looked like he stepped out of an ad for a men's cologne. His hair has gotten a bit longer since I started tutoring him. I think Jack has always had his hair cut a tad short. I never had the chance to actually appreciate how attractive he is.

            And I take this time, of all times, to stop and appreciate him.

            A slow smirk makes its way to his lips and I knew he caught me staring. He walked up to me and took my hand, "I knew you couldn't help it."

            My face flamed up because I knew he was right.

            We got back into bed and huddled together. I rested my head on his shoulder and one of my legs found a place between his. I curled against his side and pressed my face against his neck. We were tangled together and nothing felt as right. I didn't want to lose Jack. Not over what happened to him and not over his parents or my grandparents.

            And for once, I wanted to wake up next to him without thinking about anyone but us.

—————-

I know I said I would do a chapter in Jack's pov, and I'm still going to! Not the next chapter, but chapter 20 I'll try!

I decided to be nice and not leave you guys on a cliffhanger and give you a lot of Jack and Juliet, hahaha.

Hope you liked the chapter! :)

Song: Always Attract by You Me At Six