Note: Do not read. This book is being thoroughly edited very slowly. I will release a new update when I've finished and begin writing again.
Chapter One
Jake was beautiful.
He was ruggedly handsome with blue eyes as crystal clear as the ocean. He was the type of person that wore his emotions in his eyes and his heart on his sleeve.
The kindest energy radiated from him. He was an old soul, a gentleman and the love of my life.
"Happy Birthday Beautiful" he whispered as his breath blew across my neck reducing me to a shivering mess.
I whispered his name and quickly collected myself to turn and embrace him.
He smiled his million-dollar smile and pulled me closer to him, our bodies completely pressed together, his heat was radiating through my body. I smiled to myself, fully content in this moment being in his arms.
They felt like a sanctuary; happy and safe.
"Come on birthday girl, I want to take you somewhere," Jake mumbled against my neck before leaving my embrace and reaching for my hand.
He began to turn in the direction of the car and stepped quickly, dragging me along with him.
I didn't get a chance to speak as Jake barged through the people standing in the town square, some shooting us murderous glares others muttering under their breath, sounding vaguely like, "damn kids".
I followed after him in complete confusion as to where we could be going.
My mind started to ponder the possibilities; though there weren't a lot of options. We lived in the Hunter Valley. Despite it's name it was surprisingly a beautiful and tranquil place.
Mountains stretched as far as the eye could reach, they were often frosted with a rich white layer of snow adding to the serenity.
Thinking of the snow caused me to shiver. The movement made Jake pause for a minute. "You okay Little Bear?"
I grinned at his nickname for me. This was Jake. He was kind and compassionate. He didn't have to pretend to care. He truly minded if you were cold or something was on your mind. He was that guy. The sweet one, the boy next door with a heart of gold.
"I'm fine," I replied honestly, "though I'd be better if you told me where we're going!"
His eyes twinkled with mischief before he winked at me. "Trust me Bear, I know you love this place."
I rolled my eyes and shoved him playfully, he bumped his hip against mine and I did it back while we walked towards his beat up old Honda.
Jake clicked the button on his keys to unlock the car. I bumped his hip with mine and snatched the keys from his hand.
"Shotgun Driving!" I yelled louder than necessary and ran to the driver side door, flicking the faulty lock on the passenger side door for Jake to scramble in.
He sat down with a huff and glared at me. "You don't even know where we're going Layla, gosh your stubborn sometimes." He rolled his eyes as he spoke.
I giggled at his obvious annoyance and nodded to him. "You wouldn't have me any other way Jake Baker," I said with honestly.
His annoyance faded away and a soft smile graced him face. Leaning across the console he pressed a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. "Your right," he said in agreeable, his voice was barely above a whisper.
He looked into my eyes, a thousand emotions were swirling through them. Happiness, fear, desire and the most predominate; love.
He reached over and pulled me to him, settling his lips against mine. I almost moaned at the sensation. It felt like home.
I kissed him ferociously with every amount of love, passion and strength I could. This boy meant the world to me. He was my earth, water, fire and air; all the elements I needed to survive.
He pulled away from me reluctantly breathing harshly and rubbed his thumb against my cheek. The simplest gesture made my cheeks turn a light pink as I finally opened my eyes to look at him.
"I'm crazy in love with you Layla Jade Reed," he whispered, his eyes showing his full sincerity in his words.
I winked at him and say back in my seat cranking the car. "Right back at you Mr. Baker, I suppose I'll keep you," I replied with amusement.
He laughed at my remark, but he wasn't annoyed. He knew I loved him. I loved him since I was four years old and he pulled my pigtails then tattled on me when I punched him.
We just knew we loved each other, we didn't say it every day, or make tremendous displays of affection in public. But it wasn't hard for anyone to see it in our eyes.
It was there, shining bright every-time we met each other's eyes or heard the others name. It was a strong and beautiful love.
"Start driving, I'll give you directions." Jake's voice startled me out of my train of thought, I put the car in drive and indicated left to merge onto the main road.
"Okay turn left on Williams then take the third right," he instructed. I nodded my head and drove in silence following his directions. The radio was playing 'Tonight' by Fm Static, I smiled at the lyrics and began humming along.
I glanced at Jake and noticed him smiling, I raised my eyebrow in a quizzical look.
"I'm just, happy" He answered without me even needing to ask, like he was reading my mind.
"Me too," I replied honestly, my smile was now perfectly mirroring his. I reached over the centre-console and took his hand in mine.
"This song is kinda beautiful," he commented on the fm static song finishing up. "If anything ever happened to me I'd want you to listen to this song to remember me."
I rolled my eyes. Jake was an extremely fit and healthy seventeen year old. Being a star footballer and on the track team, He wasn't going anywhere for a very long time but it was sort of adorable how he always thought of things that would make me happy even after he was gone.
"I will," I promised, "But I'd expect you to do the same."
"I promise," he said, "Though we're not going anywhere yet, I'm not nearly ready to let you go. I'll need a long time to prove exactly how much you mean to me."
I turned my eyes off the road quickly to look at him. His eyes penetrate mine and I knew he meant every single word.
The sound of Screeching tyres made me drag my eyes back to the road, they widened in panic as I saw a black dodge barreling towards us, fish tailing along the road out of control.
I slammed on the breaks and tried to pull my hand from Jake's to jerk the steering wheel and save him from the impact.
He clutched my hand tightly, the dodge getting closer and closer to the inevitable impact. Looking at Jake, his eyes full of fear but on top of it there is love, shining brighter than ever.
I brace myself for what's coming. I tense my body in a pathetic attempt to ward off the pain that's bound to come.
With lightening speed Jake reaches across with his right arm and pushes against the steering wheel, the car slowly turning on an angle.
Headlights are illuminating the inside of the car from behind Jake as the car approaches rapidly.
"I love you, little Bear." He whispers.
I don't have time to do anything. To push the steering wheel back, to swerve, or even tell Jake I love him too: that I always will.
These moments that feel like eternity in reality were about 15 seconds.
My whole world changed in those 15 seconds.
The sound of metal colliding and shattering glass filled my ears. I could vaguely hear the sound of a car horn as the honda was pushed along the road. My head smacked against the side of the car with such force everything slowly faded to black.
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I woke with a a wheezing cough. My seatbelt was digging into my diaphragm making it hard to breathe. I blinked a few times to clear my mind and take in my surroundings.
Something warm and wet ran down my cheek and I had a faint metallic taste in my mouth.
Curious, I raised my hand to wipe my face and look at it what it was. Ruby red blood covered my hand and I frantically wiped it off, feeling sick to my stomach.
Jake. God, the scrash, the tyres, the glass.
I looked over at Jake to make sure he was okay. His chest was slowly rising up and down indicating his shallow breathing. I sighed in relief and reached out to him.
"Jake," I nudged him, "Jake, open your eyes."
I reached out and lightly tapped his cheek a few times. His eyes fluttered open in panic.
"Layla, oh god, are you okay." I smiled and reached for his hand.
"I'm fine honestly," I looked at the blood covering his stomach and found metal from the door frame protruding out just above his ribs.
My eyes widened and I fought to hold in a gasp of panic. I didn't want to alarm Jake incase he might try to move and make it worse.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, my voice almost breaking with every word.
"I'm perfect," he replied, "as long as I'm with you, I'm perfect. Just a little bit cold."
His body was slightly shaking now, you could tell he was struggling to keep his eyes open as they opened and shut continuously.
"Hey, look at me Jake, just look at me and you'll be okay. Tell me a story."
Jake smiled a weak smile and nodded lamely. He grasped my hand and turned his head to look into my eyes.
"Once upon a time it was a beautiful princesses birthday," he began to tell the story of all 'Prince Charming' had planned for his princesses birthday. From star gazing to chasing each other through his uncles flower fields like we did as kids.
I smiled at him and asked the most obvious question in the world, "so, what happened next?"
He looked at me with sad eyes, his breathing was now so faint as he shook profusely.
".... He loved her until he died."
His hand loosened around mine, his breathing slow and fading.
I refused to take my eyes off of him, numbness began taking over my body as the life left his eyes.