fixed my caps lock key.

Chapter Forty

Your brain was a puddle. You were locked in Jason's room, and it had definitely been an hour by now. You wondered how long it would take before someone began looking for you—you wondered how long it would take before someone came knocking on Jason's door to ask him where you were.

It was no secret that Jason liked to horde you to himself.

You could probably cause a ruckus and get people to you faster, but you didn't want to. Eventually, they'd find you, and right now you felt like a shell. You'd rather wait. It didn't feel so awful to have Jason's arms around you, anyway. Despite how dubious his morals were, there was no doubt that he cared for you deeply. In your broken state of mind, you'd accept this affection.

Your mind shifted to Quince. You loved him above all the others, but you also knew your heart was split among them. You did like them all, after all. You weren't sure if you'd say you adored them as much as they clearly adored you, but you'd be happy if you could all be happy together. It might be okay to receive this overload of affection if they could all stop fighting over it.

That's what you told yourself anyway.

As if he could read your thoughts, Jason pulled your back closer to his chest and kissed gently where your shoulder met your neck. "I like that you're here," he said softly.

You wanted to respond, but how?

"I wish we could stay in here forever," he laughed softly, holding you even tighter. "I adore you, I love you, I never want to be without you."

"Jason..."

"I'm telling the truth. I love you—I love you forever. I'll love you like a doorknob loves a door, like rain loves the ocean like flower petals love the wind. I think I could explain it a thousand ways and still not be done telling you."

"I don't know what to say," you offered weakly.

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Just stay with me."

"I'll... I'll stop looking for Don. I can't stay in here forever, but I'll promise to stop looking."

He closed his eyes and let himself savor being so close to you. Your skin, your hair, the way you smelled—the way you fit in his arms perfectly. He wanted to squeeze you so tightly that it crushed your lungs. He wanted to take care of you and to love you and for you to love him. "Thank you," he whispered earnestly. "Can we stay like this a little longer?

"Okay," you responded quietly. You doubted he'd accept a refusal anyway.

By some stroke of fate, just as you uttered your agreement, a harsh knocking came to the door. You were both silent in response.

The knocking paused for a few moments before returning, even louder and angrier than before. It was Ryo. "Jason! I know you're in there, you piece of shit! Open this damn door or I swear to god I'll—"

"You'll what?" Jason yelled back, sitting up slowly and loosening his grip on you.

"Open the fucking door!"

Jason turned to you and spoke quietly, "Go stand by the wall so he doesn't see you. He'll get pretty upset if he knows you're here." You nodded your head—he was right. You did as you were told.

Jason tried not to melt at your obedience, but it was difficult. You were so good for him. You were such a good girl.

Jason opened the door just a crack and glared at the intruder. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I know for a goddam fact you know where she is, and you're going to tell me before I lose my shit right here and now," Ryo proclaimed angrily, pupils tiny with rage and his fists trembling at his sides.

"Who?" Jason responded dumbly.

"(y/n) dumbass! Where the fuck is she?!" Ryo all but yelled.

"I'm not her keeper," Jason responded coldly, slowly beginning to shut the door. Ryo retaliated by shoving the door with all of his weight and anger. Jason almost tumbled all the way onto the ground while the door swung hard enough to knock on the wall. Your wide-eyed trembling form stood against the wall as you stared at the pair.

Ryo saw you.

Ryo looked directly at you, his glare becoming bewildered before becoming angrier. "What kind of sick pervert are you? You're dis-fucking-gusting! Did you seriously lock (y/n) in here because you're a spoiled brat who wants to keep her all to yourself?" Oddly enough, this was the angriest you had ever seen Ryo. You didn't even know how to react—you weren't even processing the scene in front of you.

"So what if I did? She seems to like me enough to stay with me even without a lock," Jason replied smugly, taking a step towards you and slipping his hand onto your waist. You flinched at the sudden contact but didn't pull away.

Ryo's angry growl became a shout as he yanked you away from Jason and pulled you a few steps back. Jason made moves to snatch you back, but Ryo was angrier and had far more adrenaline pumping in his veins.

Ryo had lifted you into his arms and ran a good bit down the hallway before Jason's shouts even reached your ears.

You still couldn't process what was happening other than the fact that Ryo was very angry and very strong.

He made it to a sitting room and set you on the couch gently as if he thought he'd break you. Jason had clearly given up and not wanted to cause another physical altercation (yet...) Ryo kneeled in front of you and looked into your vacant eyes. He looked so sad, you observed. His hand sat softly on yours.

He seemed so concerned for you. Was Ryo secretly nice this whole time? Did he actually harbor nice feelings for you rather than just selfish ones? You let your mind wander a little. Did it matter if he did?

"(y/n)?"

"Yes?"

"Are you alright?" Were tears forming in his eyes? "I knew Jason was a creep, but I didn't know he'd stoop so low." Was he crying? Did he really feel so strongly?

"I'm alright... I think he was just scared. I was scared, too," you spoke slowly as if you were trying to understand the words yourself.

"He shouldn't—he can't treat you like that. I hate him, (y/n). Honestly, I'd rather you be with me, but I'd prefer you to choose anyone in this house over him," Ryo spoke about the other man like his name was poison.

"Why?" you furrowed your brows. "I know you two don't get along, but Jason isn't a bad person. He's just... a little bit wrong sometimes. He makes mistakes."

"No, a mistake is dropping a vase. A mistake is accidentally hurting someone's feelings when you didn't mean to you. A mistake isn't locking someone in your room because you're a self-entitled freak," Ryo shook his head.

"How did you know I was in there?"

"I just guessed at first. Jason steals you away a lot, and I don't think I'm the only one getting sick of it. When I heard him unlock two locks on his door and move a chair, I knew something more fucked up was happening," Ryo said darkly, the tears that fell earlier completely gone from his countenance. "God, I didn't even know you were in there, I just knew he knew where you were." He faltered, his voice cracking, and his eyes stinging once again.

He wanted to wrap you in his arms and whisper that he'll keep you safe, but he also knew that that probably wouldn't be helpful to your mental state right now. What was even happening to him? It was deeply unlike him to consider such things.

He loved you so much that his arms hurt just aching to be around you. He tried to be satisfied with just his hand on yours.

"Are you okay, (y/n)? Did he do anything terrible? Did he hurt you?" Ryo said, his expression full of hurt and worry. You were growing concerned for him.

"I'm fine, Ryo," you reassured. "I'm really okay. He was going to let me out... It's all okay." You offered him a smile but that just hurt him more. If you really thought that was all okay, then Jason had already gone too far with his manipulations. Didn't you know you deserved better?

"Can I say something worrying, or would you like me to say it later when things have calmed down?" Ryo asked quietly.

You leaned towards Ryo and hugged him with your arms around his neck. He seemed like he needed it. He froze at the contact and momentarily forgot to breathe. He loved you he loved you he loved you.

You pulled back, "You can say it now."

"I love you. I've told you that already, and you've probably heard that from everyone else in this hell hole... But I love you. I don't know what's wrong with me—I love you so much and I can't stand watching assholes like Jason hurt you. I want to hold you and honestly, my desires are probably just as selfish as his. That doesn't give me the right to lock you in my fucking room," Ryo spat out the last bit. "I hate that he did that to you."

"It's...okay," you said slowly again. "I'm coming to terms with everyone feeling this way. It's okay if you act a little selfishly."

Ryo felt his sanity cracking. How could he make you understand? "It's not okay, (y/n). You know it's not."

"I know," you agreed softly. "But I love you all, too. That's the issue."

Ryo leaned forward and kissed you. He was crying. He loved you and you deserved better. You were surprised for a moment, but you kissed him back.

-

FUCK MY CAPS LOCK KEY IS STUCK AGAIN. I'M NOT TRYING TO YELL AT YOU GUYS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME. THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS STORY IS ALMOST OVER ANYWAYS... PLEASE COMMENT IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE BEFORE THIS COMES TO A CLOSE. I FIGURE I HAVE 3-4 CHAPTERS LEFT.... THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT EVEN AFTER THIS AWFUL HIATUS.

ALSO THIS IS PROBABLY RIDDLED WITH TYPOSE. AS I SAID I HAVE WORK IN TWENTY MINUTES I GOTTA GO