The Inheritance Games Chapter Rewrites

If I Let Go (Ch. 71 of THL)

Summary: Set during the second roof scene at Country Day in The Hawthorne Legacy with Avery being comforted by Jameson after a traumatic conversation with her grandmother. A lot of fluff and comfort.

Jameson came up beside me. He put his hands on my shoulders. For a second, I thought he might force my eyes to his, but he didn't. He walked me over to the edge of the roof. The very edge, close enough that Oren called out, but in response, all Jameson did was spread my arms to each side, until his and mine were both held out in a T. "Close your eyes," he whispered. "Breathe."

If that little b**** hadn't run-

I closed my eyes. I breathed. I felt him breathing. The wind picked up. After a few moments, I let my arms drop and shook them out, getting rid of the slight soreness. I looked up and saw Jameson's eyes focused on me, a question in them that he didn't dare ask aloud. My hands knit and twisted together as I gave him a tight-lipped smile. I'm fine, I'm not broken. Don't look at me like that, like I'm the glass ballerina.

Then, for a second, I was back in the hot tub, drowning in his intensity. Seeing his crooked, devastating smile and mischief flashing in his dark green eyes against the night sky. But I blinked and I was again on the edge of the roof, staring at him before my hands were moving of their own accord, drifting up his back while I held him tight. I was on tiptoes, nuzzling my nose into his warm, broad shoulder as I gazed down at the campus, spreading wide before me. He stood still, except for wrapping one hand around my waist loosely, and I focused on his breathing, the pang of his slow heartbeat in his chest. None of us said a word, not even Oren or Xander.

It might have been impulsiveness or me still being disoriented, yet I turned my head and pressed my lips to his cool cheek. His breath hitched and his body turned rigidly frozen, more so than before. Although, it didn't last long when he leaned close to my ear, his soft warm breath caressing it as he whispered, "What was that for, Heiress?"

My hands tightened against his shoulder blades, shaking my head and pressing my face into his school vest. I heard him let out a quiet sigh and my eyes shut again, welcoming the dark. An eternity seemed to pass before I opened them again and lifted my face, letting my gaze drift to the sky, watching the clouds roll to the west. "Thank you," I said, just loud enough for him to hear, for Jameson's ears alone. For grounding me, for distracting me, for helping me let...go. But I didn't say that. I didn't have to; he already knew, he heard me even wordlessly. His other arm also made its way to my waist and his hold was reassuringly firm. Unexpectedly, I felt his breath again but at my neck this time and then, a tender kiss. I trailed my hand to his hair and softly fisted a handful, keeping him there. For a moment, there was no one there but me and him. For a moment, I felt whole again. I felt free.

We broke apart, facing the rest but I focused on Jameson. And then I told them everything.

As I spoke, I heard familiar words ringing through my head. Max's words. Close your eyes. Picture yourself standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The wind is whipping in your hair. The sun is setting. You long, body and soul, for one thing. One person. You hear footsteps behind you. You turn. Who's there?

Green eyes looked at me solemnly, intensely. I stared back.