Chapter 20: Your Face It Haunts, My Once Pleasant Dreams

"Uh hey, um I'm Cameron, you must be Keira. I saw you at the beach and oh my god what happened to you? Are you OK?" the blond came closer to look.

Keira stepped back. She was the one that said she was going to get rid of her and now she's acting like she cares. What the fuck is that shit? "Nothing, Justin is not home. Did you want something?"

"Actually I was looking for you. I know what you probably may think of me but let me tell you I'm not that person," she seemed sincere.

"OK, well he'll be here any second, I should probably go." she almost shut the door when --

"Um, you wanna go somewhere? Like get some coffee or something? My treat."

Keira shook her head. Unsure of why she was being nice to her. Growing up with fakeness, she learned how to read people, "I don't know."

"I'm so sorry for what you heard on the phone. We were just joking around. I made a mistake with him and uh well anyway I know that we're friends now so there's nothing between us. I mean you're pretty much all he talks about."

Keira gave a thin smile, not really caring. Justin should be home soon. "Um, I have to go."

She watched her pull a card from her purse, write something down quickly, and than hold it out to her, "Here, you can reach me here and we can hang out or something."

She stared at the card and took it slowly, "O-ok, see ya."

"Take care," she turned around and went to her car.

Keira sighed and looked at the card with the number on it and closed the door. She walked over to the couch, threw the card on the coffee table falling down on the couch shutting her eyes. She heard the doorbell rang and bit her lip as she dragged herself up toward the door. Once again, she opened it, barely awake her blue eyes pierced the eyes of the green ones who caused the purple around her eye.

She watched in fear as she brought a kitchen knife upward and harshly stabbed her in the eye pulling it out fast. Keira yelped in terror as a blood spat from the corner of the eye. She collapsed on the floor and screamed out for Justin.

"Oh get up you slut. You'll be dead in a few seconds. You won't need the other one either," she punctured the other eye and Keira screamed with what energy she had left.

Her sight was torn and all that was there was black. She kept screaming until a gentle voice came to her ear and whispered her name. She couldn't open her eyes they were out but she was still alive and breathing. Strange. She heard the voice again. This time, more urgent. Backs of fingers were brushed against her cheek and her eyes oddly opened up and looked into Justin's. She was shaking and her body felt surreal.

"Hey," he reached out to touch her but she shyed away quickly.

He didn't understand. He tried again and she snapped her eyes shut. She covered her eyes and breathed hard. "I can't see! I -- I can't see!"

Justin placed the bag he carried inside on the coffee table and knelt down next to the couch, "Sweetheart, its alright. Its me, I won't hurt you. Move you hands, please."

She shook head, "I'm blind."

"Baby, I don't understand. What happened?" he put his hand on her knee.

She didn't answer, only made a small scared noise. She sunk further into the couch, shaking all over. She screamed and tried to get up but she felt arms circle around her body. Her eyes were still closed. She didn't know what to do. He was squeezing her really tight now she though she was going to pop.

"Its OK. No one will hurt you. Please open your eyes baby," he whispered softly.

His hold was too strong to breakaway from and she knew she was stuck. She returned the hug 10 times as much as he did. She was so scared. This was the most afraid she's ever been. Her mom, she found her. Her eyes were... stabbed. Couldn't see anything. It felt so real. It really did. The look in her eyes before she penetrated her vision was purely evil. She grabbed onto his shoulders and cried her last ounce of strength with deep breathes within. She was heaving. It hurt to breathe now. Words were misplaced. Thoughts were lost and thrown about. The world was strewn into anonymity. She could die at this moment if he pulled away. If he pulled away, all will be dark. Love will vanish forever. She felt she was going to pop if he squeezed any harder. She knew she was stuck. The way he cared made her cry harder than she already is. She gripped his shoulders tightly and buried her face in his neck, tears spouting still and falling down his shirt.

She slowly pushed him away, gulping down a tiny bit a fear. She looked up and opened her swollen eyes locking to his. "I'm dead."

He shook his head hugging her body and kissed her temple tenderly, "No, you are not. You are safe and I will take care of you. What happened? Did you have a bad dream?"

Keira sniffed and rubbed her nose, "I was alone, I--I was h--here a--alone. I died alone."

"Baby, shoo, its OK. It was just a dream. I would never leave you alone. Come here," he motioned for her to lay on him.

She kept her head down as her body laid itself on his. Her hand calmly rested on his chest. She felt him kiss the top of her head and pull her closer. She closed her eyes as their breathing collided in ecstatic harmony. As soon as she felt herself going back to sleep to woke up right before. If she fell asleep again she would see her mom's eyes again.

She needed to do something to keep herself awake. "Justin?"

She heard him wet his lips with his tongue, "Hmm?"

"I don't wanna live in fear anymore." It was the understatement of all understatements.

He breathed out, his stomach pilled upward as he did so, "I know. I'll here. Right here whenever you need me. If I have to, I'll fight for you."

She picked up her head and bit her lip, "Why are you perfect?"

He smirked, "For the only the reason that you're letting me in life. We're both not perfect I can vouch for that. I know in my heart we're perfect for each other. Hey, wanna go see a movie?"

She frowned, "I don't anything to wear literally."

"I'll get you some stuff. Let's go."

When he tried to get up, she pushed him down, "I'm not ready yet. Give me 5 more minutes on the Justin pillow, please?"

He laughed, "Damn, you drive a hard bargain. Of course. We can go when you're ready."

She snuggled up his left arm and shivered a little. He sat up a little to grab a blanket and wrap their bodies up.

"Justin?"

"Yeah?"

"Sing to me."

He smiled, "What's your request."

"Anything."

"Oh, here's a good one. OK, here we go."

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by
If you smile through your fears and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see a light come shining through

If you just, light up your face with gladness
Hide ever trace of sadness
Although a tear maybe ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
Soon you'll find that life is still worth while
If you just smile...

He heard even breathing and looked down, "You asleep?"

He smirked and closed his eyes too.

A minute of silence passed. Keira couldn't hold it in. She smiled and opened her eyes.

"That was the worst Chaplin impression I ever heard," she said deadpan than giggled.

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