"No, no, no," Ember murmured, hiding her face in her hands. Honestly, I was confued. I had no idea what Alex had done to make her like this, but I didn't like it. "You are not breaking up with me here. Not where we got together, Jack!"


"Whoa," I smiled, reaching my arms out to grab her shoulders and steady her, mostly so she'd stop freaking out. Fuck, she looked almost as shitty as I did. "You think I'm breaking up with you?"


"Well.. Aren't you? Isn't that why you didn't want to hang out yesterday?"


"You're fucking crazy," I snorted, watching her body relax to my smile. "I thouth you were going to break up with me. I didn't want to hang out because I didn't want it to happen. Plus, I wasn't okay. It wouldn't have been right to keep dragging you down when there's nowhere else to go."


"Oh." Ember blinked a few times before she smiled. She couldn't see Alex behind her, but he had the biggest grin on his face and he had both of his thumbs up, basking in his glory. I rolled my eyes and pulled Ember into a hug. Her scent was intoxicating. "I've missed you."


"Not as much as I've missed you. I wish you were still at home."


"Me too," sigh sighed, pressing her weight into me. Then, she let out a gasp and perked up, staring straight into my eyes. "How'd it go? What did they say?"


"Can we.. ?"


Ember nodded her head and followed me outside, Alex trailing behind her by my own request. He knew I wanted him to be there when I gave her the news, just in case she didn't feel the same way about me anymore. Naturally, he told me I was being ridiculous by thinking everyone was going to bail on me, but I couldn't help it.


We sat down by the front door, watching people pass us by, some coming and going from the shop. She held tightly to my hand while Alex awkwardly stood a few feet away from us. I'd already told him everything there was to tell, no need for him to listen in.


"So, uh, the results came back. I'm not that bad, they said. But that doesn't mean I'm not that good, either. My therapist thinks if I continue to talk someone it'll help me out a lot. Plus, uh,"


I paused to avert my gaze and scratch the back of my head. This was so fucking embarrassing. "


I'm on meds now. I am apparently bi-polar, so I'm on this crap called Geodon Oral. She said it should help me out a lot and in not time I'll be back to normal, so long as I remember all of the things she taught me today to keep myself under control."


Ember sat there for a moment, without saying a word. From the corner of my eye, I could see her staring at me with a soft smile on her lips. Oh God, was this the part where she ran away from me? She must think I'm a freak. Her boyfriend is on crazy pills and is technically insane, according to the text books. Fuck.


"I am so proud of you, baby," Ember broke the silence. Her finger hooked my chin and spun my head so I had to face her. "I told you we'd get through this."


"Are - Are you sure you still want to be with me?"


"How many times do we have to go over this? You couldn't get rid of me even if you tried."


"I fucking love you."


"I-"
I cut her off with my lips.


It felt so good, so right, to kiss her again after we'd been apart. Even if it was just for a few days. I was getting better, which meant we were going to get better, regardless of who didn't want us to. She wrapped her arms around my neck and smiled to the kiss, my hands went straight for her hips. I could have kissed her all day, had it not been for Alex screaming a 'woo!' and clapping his hands.


"I fucking told you that you'd be happy if you came with me!"


"Shut it, Gaskarth," Ember giggled, leaning her forehead against mine. "I feel like we should celebrate this."


"Let's get pizza and go back to my place!" Alex beamed, nodding his head like a child. "You guys can cuddle and shit. I'm really only in this for the pizza now."


"Can I pick the movie?"


"Are you asking if we can watch Home Alone?"


"Totally."


"Hm," Alex pursed his lips, grinning. "Sure."


Alex literally skipped by to his car as I helped Ember up. She started to walk with Alex, but I stopped her by wrapping my arms around her. I just wanted to hold her, to hold onto this moment of hope. Maybe my future wasn't so dark. Maybe I wasn't such a fuck-up. Maybe there's a reason a girl like her can love a guy like me.


"I love you, baby."


"I love you more, Jack."

Notes

FUCKING AWE.