168 LYRIC ButaminutepassedandJarisdidntattackme.No.Heremainedcompletelystill.Andovertime,Inoticedhewasgettingcalmer,thejerksnothappeningtoooftenanymore.
Iwethisbackwithmytears.Itwasdifficultimaginingwhathemustbegoingthrough.Gods,IreallyhopedIwashelping.
Ilosttrackoftime.Mytearsslowed.Hisjerkscompletelystopped.Everythingbecomeso peacefulthatdarknessconsumedmeafamiliarkindofdarknessIdidntunderstanduntilIwokeupinthemorning.
Somethinghadchanged.MyfacewasntagainstJarisbackanymore.
Iopenedmyeyesandwasstunnedtoseehimfacingme,hisarmsholdingmetohischest.
Ilookedupathisfaceandtherewerehiseyes,staringdeeplyatme.Hewasawake! Alpha!Igaspedandtriedtositup,buthisholdonmewasfirm.
Mybrowsfurrowed.Itriedtomoveawayfromhimagain,buthewouldntletme.Hekeptwatchingmewiththiscalmexpressionlikeheenjoyedwatchingmestruggle.
IthoughtItoldyouIlikeditwhenyoucalledmebymyname,hespokecalmly.
Acertainlightnessfilledmyheart.
MyJariswasback!Hewasntintormentanymore.
AAreyoufine?Therewasasmallcrackinmyvoice.
Hesimplygaveanod.
Oh,gods.Iwantedtoburymyfaceinhischestandcry.
IcouldntbelieveIactuallysleptoff.
Jarisreleasedhisholdonme,buthisarmsremained aroundmemybackspecifically.
Sayit,hespokeinhushedtones.Myname.
MyEYESgleamedinsurprise.Ididnt know whatwasmoreheartmeltingthefactthathe wasaskingmetocallhimbyhisname,orthefactthathewouldntstopstaringrightinto myeyes,likehewasworriedIdvanishifhelookedawayforonesecond.

Jaris,Iwhispered,myheartperformingawaltz,swirlingwithexcitementbeneathmyskin.
Thehintofasmileflickeredpasthisfaceashishandcametomyhair,playingwithmystrands.Ididntquitehearyou.IthinkIheardMavisorsomething.
Ilaughed.No,IsaidJaris.
Hmm.Heraisedhisbrows.Muchbetter.
Ifinallysatup,buttherewasstillsomebodycontactbetweenus.
InoticedErickaintheroom,sittingandwatchingus.Thescowlonherfacewashardtomiss.
Butreally,howreyoufeeling?IlookedbackatJaris.Hewasallthatmatteredtomeinthatmoment.
Ifeelbetter.
Itworked,then.IwasabletoSiphonthepainaway.Butsomethingtoldme itwasonlytemporary.
Youmustbehungry,Ihurriedtomyfeet.Illgetyousomethingtoeat.Doyouhaveanythinginmind? Heshookhishead.
IwassureIdbeabletocomeupwithsomethinghedlike.
Igotbusyinthekitchen,decidingtomakegritsgrizzly..Itwasagoodthingthehouseseemedtohaveeverythinginstock.
IwasntsurprisedwhenErickacamein.
Howdidyoudoit?Hervoicewas clipped.
Dowhat?IdidntlookatherbutfocusedonthevegetablesIwasdicing.
Jarisfellasleepassoonasyoucuddledhim.Thatwasstrange.Verystrange.
Ishrugged.Arentyouhappyithappened? Ofcourse,Iwanthimtobebetter.Itsthewholepointofbeinghere.Butwhathappened…itdidntseemnatural.
Ikeptmute.

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Imtalkingtoyou!Whatdidyoudo? 1/3 168 Istoppeddicingandlookedather.Look,Imactuallysurprisedbywhathappened.Imean,Iwashurtbyhissufferingand feltheneededsomeonetoholdhim.Lookedlikethatwaswhatheactuallyneeded.
So,youretellingmeasimplecuddledidsomethingpotent herbswere unabletodo? IshruggedasIresumeddicing.Youjustsaidityourself.
Though,unsatisfied,sheletmebe.Inlessthananhour,Ihadhismealreadyandservedthemonthedining.
Hecantcometothetabletoeat,Lyric.Youneedtotakeittohim,ErickarolledhereyeslikeIwasstupid.
No.Iwant himtoeathere.
IignoredtheconfusedlookshepassedtomeandwentovertomeetJariswhohadbeenquietlywatchingthescene.
Wherearethekeystothechains?IturnedtoEricka.
Lyric.ItwasJaris.Whatreyoudoing? IIwantedyoutoeatonthetable.
Hecantdothat,ErickaintrudedbeforeJariscould.Thosechainscantcomeoff,Lyric.
Whydontyoujusttrustme?IkeptmyeyesonJaris.Itllbefine, Ipromise.
TherewasnowayIcouldwatchhim feedthiswaylikeananimal.Hedeservedbetterthanthis.
Somethingaboutthewayheheldmystaresimmeredmyheart,meltingitlikebutteronahotskillet.Icouldseeitinhiseyesthewillingnesstotrust me.
Giveherthekeys.Thoughhiseyesremainedonme,IknewhewastalkingtoEricka.
Jaris,comeon.Thisisamistake- Dontworry,Ericka.Illbefine.
Myheartburstwithpride.Healsowantedtodothisfor me.
Grudgingly,Erickabroughtthekeystome.
Illbeoutside,shespatandwalkedout.
JARIS Iknewthiswasstupid.

Thewholepointofcomingherewastokeepmechainedtoensurethatnoonegothurt.Yet,therewassomethingaboutLyricthatmademefeelsocertainIcouldneverhurther.
WhenIrealizedshewashereyesterday,Idtriedsohardto controlmyurges.Andthatmomentwhenshecuddledme,itwasthemostpeacefulIdfeltinyears.
Itbroughtaninstantcalmtomysoul,tamedmybeastandmademefeelsosafearoundher.
Itwasstill amystery.Howshetookallthepainandtorment away.
Andnow,IlethertakemychainsoffcauseIwassureIdbefinewithherbymyside.
Mylimbscomplainedloudlyassoonasthechainscameoff.Shecameclosertohelpmeup-likeIneededit.
Imsureyoulllikethis,shesaidas sheledmetothedining.
IdidntthinkIdhavetheappetitetoeat beforenow,butknowingLyricpreparedthis,Icouldntthinkofanythingbetter.
Isatquietlyandstartedeating.
Doyoulikeit?Shestudied my facefor my reaction.
Isimplygave anod.
Despitehowhelpfulshedbeen,Istillgetsadthatshewasdraggedintothis.
Thankyou,Lyric,Imutteredawhilelater.Youdidnthavetobehere.
Imliterallyyour mate.Sherolledhereyes.Whatdoyouthinkmyresponsibilityis? Ilaughedattheirony.
Itmightjustbeacontract,Jaris,butitsstillmyresponsibilitytocareforyou.
IsmiledasIlookedather.Youcalledmyname.Youremember.
Thetipofhernoseturnedpink.ItalwaysremindedmeofXylonwheneverhegiggled.
169