| "Rooftop Feelings" Lying in her bed, Jane tossed and turned unable to fall asleep. Her window was unlatched and ready and waiting for John to make his appearance. but he hadn't. Jane hadn't seen or heard from John in about 2 days, and whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was worried. More than she understood herself to be able to worry about someone. Taking in a deep breath, Jane sat up in her bed and stared at her window. She told him to stay away and for once, when she didn't want him to, he listened. "What's the use," Jane said, now stepping out of her bed, grabbing her robe and tightly wrapping it around herself. Taking in another deep breath she started to her bedroom door, and slowly opened it, hoping not to wake the sleeping Nikki down the hall. Carefully and quietly, Jane began down the hall and to the front door. Opening it, she peered behind her one last time to make sure Nikki was still asleep. and at last, she crept down the steps and out to the quiet, dark city streets of New York. Jane stopped for a moment in the middle of the street and breathed in the cold, fall air. She didn't know why she was even outside at this time of the night. but her heart told her to go. She felt it inside of her bones, she needed to see him. She needed reassurance that he was all right, that she hadn't lost him. or his love. Walking down the street more, Jane stared up at the rooftops of the buildings near her apartment, trying to see if she could make out any faint shadow or appearance of a man. But there was no sign of anyone. Besides, who would be out at this time of night? It was almost nearing 3am at this point, what was she thinking? Jane stopped for a moment again and peered down a dark alley. Slowly, she turned towards it, hesitant, knowing how late it was and that anyone could be out. But John would protect her. John.. "John. John, where are you? I know you're out here..", Jane called out in a soft tone, but no one responded. Nothing moved, no one crept, everything was silent around her. She was beginning to think she finally lost her nerve. Walking down the alley some more, she made out the image of a ladder on the side of the building. Walking up to it and with taking a deep breath, Jane grabbed ahold and began climbing. What she was climbing to, or who even, she had no idea. But she was trusting her heart. As she neared the top of the roof, she pulled herself up and stood, staring out into the clear open skies of New York. She could hear the silent echoes of cars and cats in the distance, but no sound of what she was searching for. "I can't lose you. not now. Now after all we've been thr-" "Jane." a soft voice called from behind her, yet she wasn't afraid. More relieved if anything. Slowly turning around, the figure of a man came towards her and she smiled and breathed a breath of relief. "John, you're all right!" she almost screamed rushing towards him. She had to stop herself from throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight, wanting to never let go. But she kept her cool - she had to, it was the way she was. John slowly reached out and grabbed her hand, "Come with me," he almost said in a whisper. Jane took his hand and followed him to the other side of the roof. And slowly, John leaped down onto a smaller roof below, turned, and looked towards Jane still above him. "Come down." "John, I can't possibly make that jump," she pleaded with him as a small smile crept across her face. And before she could blink again, John was standing next to her with his arm around her waist. "Hold on," John said with a small smirk as he scooped Jane in his arms and jumped to the below roof. As he tried to pull away, Jane grabbed tighter to him. "John." she slowly said, now pulling away but still holding onto the lose shirt that hung to his muscular body. "Where are you taking me?" she let out with a small laugh following. Knowing that he'd never hurt her, she was still weary. She knew how they both felt about each other, she knew how he felt about her, and she was afraid to allow her feelings to be shown so soon after Michael's death. John didn't answer, he only grabbed onto her hand again and made her follow him to the end of the roof, where he then laid on his back and stared up at the sky. Jane, still standing, peered down at him, unknowing of what to do, herself. But without further thought, she laid down next to him and stared up into the sky. "Beautiful. isn't it?" Jane said following with a sigh. "Like you," John replied and with sitting up, he bent over Jane, staring down into her eyes. into her heart. into the soul she allowed him to secretly see. Reaching up, Jane ran her fingers through his hair. He was beautiful, she thought. And as if knowing what Jane was thinking, John smiled and rubbed his face against her hand. "John. I was so afraid I had lost you. I know I told you to stay at your aunts, and that's the right thing to do. but." she was forced to stop as John had now moved his fingers across her lips. "I'd never leave you, Jane," he answered, knowing what she was already beginning to explain. Jane smiled as a small tear that shone in the moonlight trickled down her cheek. These were happy tears, yet she couldn't understand what was making her cry. Maybe it was the feelings she knew she could finally let go of, maybe it was this moment she was sharing with him, she didn't know - but it felt wonderful. Smiling, as John wiped away her tear, she sat up, pushing him with her as she blinked away the rest of the tears wanting to reveal themselves. And for the first time, Jane wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. John had no response, he didn't know what to do. And with pulling away Jane laughed at herself and the expression John now had on his face. "A hug," she said. "It's a way to show feelings, John," and without explaining more, Jane wrapped her arms around him one more time, and for the first time, John Clayton wrapped his arms around Jane, hugging someone. "A hug." he softly said to himself, as Jane laid her head onto his shoulder. And with laying down again, the two stared up into the stars, falling into the chill of the night. falling into they love they both shared for one another. ~Katie |