Shattered Girl (Emmy)

Chapter 126 I don't know how long I was asleep before my nightmare started, I was trapped in total darkness again-footsteps getting closer. I would try and run. And just when I thought I would get away. The chain around my ankle would tighten. And I would fall to the ground. I cried out for someone to help me. But no one ever came-only the footsteps in the darkness. When something touched My arm, I screamed, flailing my arms. Trying to fight off whatever was coming for me. Voices that I recognized began to penetrate my nightmare. The twins sounded like they were close by, but it was too dark. To see anything. Other voices joined theirs. And I knew the other guys were looking for me, too. I cawake with a startled cry. I blinked tears from my eyes, with light streaming through the partially closed bathroom door. I could see. Jake was in front of his hand clutching my shoulder, and worry was etched deep in his features. When I glanced up. I saw the rest of the guys clustered around my bed, Josh still hadcuddled against his chest. And he was maaring into my ear that I was safe and everything was okay.

Patrick, Drew, and Mike were all sitting at the foot of my bed. Their hands reached out, resting on my legs. They each, in turn, repeated what Josh was telling me, reassuringI was safe. It had just been a nightmare, and they would not let anything hurt me. I gave them each a watery smile before attempting to Speak "I'm sorry I woke everyone." I croaked and then stopped to clear my throat. Before I could say anything else, Patrick interrupted me.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, love. We're all here for you." The rest of the guys were quick. To reassure me. Drew stood and disappeared out my bedroom door. I was returning with a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator. I sat up, resting against the headboard. And took the offered bottle after several sips. I handed the bottle back to Drew and thanked him for his thoughtfulness.

"What tis it?" I asked curiously, noting that the room had just barely started to lighten.

"It's almost 6 a.m.," Mike told me, running his fingers through his hair. "Do you think you can go back to sleep? Or are you ready to start the day?" he asked, squeezing my leg.

"I don't think I'm going to be able to fall back asleep, but I'm not ready to get up yet, either. I want you all to go back to bed, though. It's too early in the morning to be up." They all started to argue, but I held my hand up, and they all quieted immediately. I told them I didn't want all of us to feel like zombies today, I promise I will try to go back to sleep. But if I can't, I will at least lay here and rest. I also promised that if I need anything, I will let you know.

The guys nodded in agreement. Patrick, Drew, and Mike each took turns givinga kiss before heading back to their bedrooms. I snuggled back down into bed, and the twins wrapped themselves around me. After several minutes of lying quietly, I knew I wasn't going to be able to fall asleep, and I moved my head to see Jake still awake and watching me. When I made eye contact with him, he whispered quietly.

"Would you liketo find something light on TV so that at least if you can't sleep, you can lay here and rest?" he asked me.

"That actually sounds like a really good idea." Thank you, Jake, I told him, propping myself up a little so I could kiss him. He gently returned my kiss, smiling against my lips.

"I love you, sweetheart," he whispered quietly.

"I love you too," I said, reaching my hand out and gently placing it against his cheek. Jake's smile widened, and he kissed my palm before rolling to look for the remote. After a few minutes of searching, he found a rerun of a show I enjoyed. "Are you happy with this, sweetheart? He asked.

"Yep. "I whispered. This is one of the shows I can watch repeatedly and never get bored. Leaving the remote where I could easily reach it if I changed my mind. He pulledclose to him so I could lay my head on his chest. Josh had already fallen asleep but was pressed againstso tightly it was like he had glued himself to my back as I lay between the twins.A sense of peace and safety washed cover me, and I could finally relax. The soothing sound of Jake's slow and steady heartbeat helpedrelax, and within minutes, I had drifted off to sleep again.

The smell of coffee and bacon pulledout of sleep later in the morning. My stomach let out an embarrassingly loud rumble, and josh, still wrapped around my back, chuckled.

but I wanted to stay in here with

"You hungry, baby girl?" he asked before leaning overand kissing my cheek. "The others have been up for a while but Fw you in case you needed anything," he told me. I nudged him back a little so I could roll over and face him. "Thank you, Josh, that's sweet," I told him.

He assured me," Anything for you, baby girl." Smiling up at him, I pulled him down for a kiss, but we got lost in each other when he deepened the kiss. A knock on the bedroom door finally pulled us apart "Yeah," Joke grumbled kwargs, Mike called through the dose. Ahe stomach let out another loud, rumbling protest, and Josh chuckled.

"These by out on a mile," he told his busthet betone thing the overs back and standing. He held his hand out to me. He helpedof gingone last boss, he bike on Bags together. He letout of the bedroom and into the kitchen, where the guys had pagkat salgs vast, and, of course, colice. X