•Dedicated to≈ happierplaces
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"Silence is quiet. It comforts us as we sit or stand around it. That's why it's sometimes the answer."

-Kamoyrocks
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Jace's POV

"What are your plans for Christmas break?" I ask the love of my life. "Is your dad coming?" I visibly see her stiffen under my hold and I frown.

We're in my room watching Miraculous Ladybug. I love the show so much its unbelievable. But despite all that has happen last week, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with my girl. No matter how hard I tried to cheer her up.

"No." She says softly. "He's not coming." I hear the way her voice breaks and my heart aches for my baby. I'm gonna take her out this Christmas if its the last thing I ever do.

"I'm so sorry June. I wish he could come." I press my lips to her forehead.

"Yeah me too." She sighs. "Do yuh want to go for breakfast now?"

"Yeah, I'm starving." I wink at her, making her get the meaning of what I said.

When she blushes, my heart skips a beat. She's the cutest thing I've ever seen. She may not be perfect, but to me, she's my version of perfection.

I don't know what I did to deserve her, but I'm glad she is in my life, and without her, there is no me.

Julia's POV

Spending the week with Jace alone and his family was exactly what I needed. I prayed to God on the Sunday and I was feeling much better.

Its better to cast all your burdens unto the Lord, because he cares for us.

Sometimes you just have to stop worrying, wondering and doubting. Have faith that things will work out. It may not be how you planned, but just how they're meant to be.

My mind was clear and I just had to accept the fact that everything that happens in your life is for a good reason.

"Hey, are you okay?" I look at Jace beside me.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I smile at him.

"Okay class, the project is due first thing when you guys get back from Christmas break." Mrs. Fry Tenders says. "And I don't want any excuse like 'Oh I totally stocked up on fruit cake'." We all laugh as she leaves the room. Everyone is out and I'm the last one.

Just as I'm about to leave the room, an arm grabs me.

"Hey Lia." Gabe smiles at me.

"Hi Gabe." I plaster on a fake smile.

"Why didn't you text me?" He walks closer to me and I take a step back.

"Uh, my phone.. Isn't working." Just then my phone rings. I mentally curse in my head.

"Seems like its working pretty great to me." He steps another step closer and I take one back.

"Look Gabe, your nice and all but.."

"I always liked you Lia." I gasp when my back hits the wall. He has me cornered. He doesn't like me, he only wants to have his way with me, to hurt me.

"Gabe, I love Jace." I say, my chest moving rapidly, heaving up and down.

"No you don't. Your just with him out of pity. You'll never be as good I Bianca was. He'll eventually go back to her."

"No he won't." I say confidently.

"Did he tell you what Bianca did? He still thinks about her. Dreams of her. Imagines that your her. Its better to go out with me than him Lia." He emphasizes the dreadful nickname.

"Get away from mi yuh bastard." I spit.

"Why? Are you afraid of me? People like you will always be afraid of people like us. Nigga." I gasp when he leans in, as if he's going to kiss me.

"I thought I told you to leave her alone Gabe." A deep voice vibrates through the room.

My eyes flicker towards the figure standing before the doorframe. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding.

Jace...

"I heard. But your not my father so, I disobeyed you." He shrugs. And I gulp when I see Jace's eyes grow darker.

"Last time I'm telling you Gabe." He slowly takes off his jacket and throws it across the room. "Leave my girl alone."

Gabe then pushes his frame away from me. "Or else what? Huh Jace? Mr. Big shot? You think just because your the most popular guy in the school means you can do anything?" He pulls up his sleeve.

"No. But I believe I'm capable of doing the most dangerous things when it comes to anyone touching my girl." Jace growls and in a flash, he's on top of Gabe, punching him repeatedly.

It takes me a while to register what's going on in front of me. But when I do, I scream.

"J-Jace stop!" I run to him and try to pry him away from a bloody face Gabe. He's going all karate on him.

"Jace!" I'm sobbing for some reason I don't know.

"What's going on in her-" Mr. Froglegs stops, noticing the scene in front of him. Then it all follows as more teachers start to fill in the room taking Jace to the principal's office and Gabe to the hospital.

And I'm being carried away by Alexander, he tries to calm me down by whispering reassuring words in my ears but my heart and mind is at war.

And they won't be able to finish this war without knowing I'd Jace is okay.

Jace's POV

I enter the mansion and I'm greeted with my family staring at me. Worried faces but just a disappointed look from my dad.

"Dad, you have to understand why I did it." I plead.

"Its okay son." He sighs. "But you have to be more careful. You could've gotten suspended." He walks up to me and hugs me tightly.

"I spoke to the principal. Mr. Douglas said that he wants Julia to explain briefly what happen in that classroom first thing January morning. He wants to see if he should expel Gabe or not." I sigh in relief.

"Thanks Dad." I hug him tighter.

"Your welcome. Just don't let this happen again. Are you okay?" He rubs my back, letting go of me.

"Yes dad, I'm fine." He nods and walks away.

"Oh honey." My mom throws her small frame in my arms and I hug her. "Are you okay?" I nod.

"I'm fine mom. I just want to see Julia. I'm so tired already." I smile and she offers a weak smile before heading off to the room my dad went in.

My siblings walk to me, each asking if I'm okay or if I am batman hint Malachi and Tyler.

I search around the place for Julia. I know she's here, she's probably mad at me. I need to see her to make sure that she's okay.

The fact that I left the class before her to get cornered by that freak has me feeling discouraged. I can't believe I was so selfish, leaving her in the class like that.

I should have waited on her. Then maybe, just maybe non of this would have happened. This is all my fault. I've failed her.

She could've gotten raped or harassed by that son of a bee-yatch.

The image of Gabe putting his filthy hands on my girl makes my blood boil.

No one touches my June...

I need to find her. I head in the one place I thought she would be. When I don't find her in the gym, I frown. Where is she?

Did she come home?

I start to have a mini panic attack as I search the huge house. I almost walk by the garden room if it weren't for the small frame I spot sitting against the benches.

I slightly knock on the door as I walk towards her. Still not noticing my presence, I place my hand on her shoulder. When she lifts her head up to look at me, my heart drops.

She's crying.

"June why are you crying-" I almost fall when she hugs me. I sit down on the bench with her in my lap.

"Your here." She whispers in my neck. "I thought yuh were in jail or got suspended." I chuckle at her as I pull away, just to see her face. She's all I need right now.

"It didn't get in trouble. Apparently, this isn't the first time that Gabe has done something like this before. That's why he suddenly came back to this school. He was expelled for rape." I grit my teeth.

"R-Rape?" She says shocked. And just by the tears in her eyes, I know what she's thinking.

"He would never touch you June. Over my dead body. I would never let him or anyone hurt you. I promise you that. I'll protect you." I say in a serious tone. She caresses my jaw and I sigh.

"Let's stop talking about it now. Remember when I asked you what you were doing for Christmas break?" She nods at me and smiles when there's a glint of mischief in my eyes.

"Well, since you are going to follow me wherever I go for the rest of my life. I talked to mom and she said you can travel with us to my grandmother's house. We go every year." I stroke her hair and chuckle softly when she looks like a dog getting pet.

"Where are we going?" I kiss her forehead and smile widely at her.

"Paris."