I Need You

4 years later Age 7

"Jess... Jess..."

I woke up to Stan shaking me.

"Stan? W-wait... Why are you here.. Oh my god...your nose and lip are bleeding!!!" I yelled out. 

"Jess I need you now... please..."

"What happened?!" 

Suddenly I hear yelling and things breaking next door. I hear Shelly yelling in the other room. I assumed she was the one smashing things around too.

"Jess.. I don't know what to do..." he cried out.

He said him tearing up hiding his face. 

"My sister is beating the shit out of me... I...don't know what to do..."

I felt rage building up but I knew I had to say the right things to not make this any worse. 

"Do you need a place to stay? You know my parents wouldn't mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea Stan I'm sure.. Are you parents sleeping?"

"Yeah... And I'm...afraid to tell them anyway.."

"Stan you have to tell them!"

"I can't she will kill me!" He yelled getting more and more scared. 

"Okay fine. I'll tell them myself, she won't kick my ass, she loves me too much."

I see Stan tear up badly still hiding his face.

"Thank you so much Jess."

I teared up myself hugging him really tight.

I hate seeing him like this. 

Stan's POV

She's hugging me..... I can smell her hair. It smells so nice...GAH... Why do I have to have the biggest crush on my childhood best friend??

"Jess.. Will your parents really let me stay?"

I let go of Jess knowing it was probably for the best.

"Yeah I'll go ask them but you should know they love you Stan. They really care for you I know  they will help you tomorrow."

"Thank you so much Jess..."

"Your welcome Stan come on...your staying in here tonight."

"Wait, are you sure?" I asked feeling my heart flutter. 

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Jess's POV

I grabbed Stan's hand taking him to my bed.

"I'll be back Stan just... get comfortable, okay?"

"Yeah."

I go downstairs and see my parents watching TV.

"Hey mom and dad, can Stan spend the night?"

"What why?!"

"Shelly is beating him up. He's in my room with a bloody nose and busted lip." I bluntly announced.

"What?!" My mom yelled getting up quickly.

"Come on Jess, I'll get your room ready for him to sleep in. Can you clean him up?"

"Yes, thank you so much mom!" I said entirely grateful.

We get in my room and I see Stan sitting on my bed holding his nose with his arm.

I grabbed some tissues while my mom went to my closet grabbing pillows and blankets.

I sit next to Stan.

"Stan I want you to let go of your nose, okay?"

He nodded pulling his arm away.

"Okay, put this in your nose."

He grabbed the tissue stuffing them in his nose.

I grabbed another tissue wiping his arm.

"Leave those in your nose for a second while I do this."

I slowly tap his lip with a new tissue.

"You okay?" I asked looking in his eyes seeing him look away quickly.

"Stan it's going to be okay..." I said feeling my heart ache slightly seeing him so nervous. 

"Jess... What am I going to do? .... Idon'tknowwhattodo...." He started talking faster and hyperventilating.

"Whoa, whoa, Stan... Calm down!" I said calmly he would calm down. 

"Jess....I...I can't...deal with her. I'm so scared.." He started crying hiding his face again.

"Stan... We will handle it, don't you worry." Said my mom. 

"Here sweetie. I have the floor set up with several blankets and pillows."

"Thank you so much." He said crying more in his hands.

I teared up myself. Seeing him like this killed me. I grabbed his hand.

"Stan.. It's okay.. Come on..sit down..."

I guided him toward the floor. When we were both sat on the ground I went up to his face. 

"Here... let me take these Stan."

I pulled the tissues out of his nose.

"Hey sweetie. Let me take that." my mom cut in. 

My mom took the tissue throwing them in a plastic bag and walking out of the room.

"Okay Jess.. Take care of him we will talk to his parents tomorrow, okay?"

"Thank you mom."

When she walked out of the room she closed my door.

I felt his arms wrap around me from behind hugging me really tight.

"Thank you so much Jess..." I hear him sobbing I could feel my shoulder getting really wet.

"Oh my god Stan.." I choked up feeling my heart ache in so much pain. I broke down in tears feeling my heart shattering by the second.

I turn around and hug him back so tightly.

I started stroking his hair feeling him shaking badly.

"Shhhhh....shhhhhhh..... It's okay... Everything will be okay." I said closing my eyes. 

I hear him snivel.

I look up in his eyes still hugging. His eyes were blood shot and his cheeks full of tears.

"Stan.... We will stop her crazy behavior toward her....I promise?"

"Thank you Jess.. I don't know what I'd do without you... she...terrifies the shit out of me.. I'm.. so scared." he cried out. 

"Stan... I'll protect you, okay?" I said softly but sternly. 

We both backed away from the hug looking at eachother. I wiped his tears from his face.

"You promise?" He asked holding up his pinky.

I choked up feeling more tears fall off my cheek as I intertwined my pinky with his and nodded.

"I cross my heart and hope to die." I said putting my other hand over my heart. 

When our pinkies released we both hugged each other so tight not daring to let.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Jess." he breathed out.

"Good thing I'll always be here Stan."

"Good your not aloud to leave."

"I won't, I promise."

"Okay kids, going to bed." my mom hollered in the hall. 

"Okay mom!"

I look over at the door letting go of Stan seeing the door open slightly. I see my dad stick his head out. 

"Love you Stan. I hope you know your always welcome here bud." He said. 

My mom showed her face. 

"Yeah sweetie, whenever you need us we are always here for you."

"Thank you so much." I hear him choke up.

"Sweet dreams you two."

They turned off the lights closing the door. 

"Okay Stan, let's go to bed. I know you must be tired."

"Yeah, I guess.."

"You okay?"

"Uhh yeah.. I just... am so worked up.."

"I'm...sorry Stan.."

"I...I can't calm down Jess.." I hear him cry out more.

"Stan.. Here.. Let me try something."

I get closer to him from behind. 

"Okay Stan.. Breath in and out....in...and out." With each 'in' and 'out', I slowly and softly rubbed his back with my fingers.

I hear him breath out long and hard.

"How does this feel?"

"Amazing.." He breathed out.

I smiled and continued.

"How about this..?"

I put my hand on his head taking off his hat.

"What are you doing?"

"Relaxing you Stan."

I ran my hand on his back stroking his hair so softly.

I hear him breath out more.

I smiled really big feeling my heart warm up. 

"Now, I want you to close your eyes and lay on your side."

"Okay." He breathed out not opposing.

I feel him lay on the blankets and pillow. I slowly lay behind him still running my fingers through on his back and hair.

I hear him breath out loud causing me to smile again. 

After awhile I hear him stop breathing out loud.

"Stan are you awake?" I whispered.

He didn't respond.

Good..He's finally asleep. He need to rest. I'm so happy I could relax him. I still can't believe Shelly. How could she hurt him. He's so amazing he deserves to be smothered in kindness. I'll be sure to do that myself. 

"Sweet dreams Stan."

I closed my eyes leaning over toward him placing a kiss on his cheek.

Stans pov

Everything is so relaxed...my head is so clear.. My heart is beating so slow...

"Stan you awake?" I hear her voice in such a soothing tone.

I was so relaxed I couldn't speak.

I slowly breath out then I felt my heart accelerate when I hear, "Sweet dreams Stan." Then I feel lips on my cheek.

I felt my eyes shoot open and breath hitch.

I slowly turn around seeing her get up. I wanted to grab her hand but... I stopped my hand balling it into a fist knowing I shouldn't make a move.

I see her go on her bed laying down. 

"See you in the morning Stan." she whispered.

"See you in the morning Jess.." I whisper.

I fell asleep smiling curling up in the blankets. 

I feel so safe with her.. I can't imagine my life without her in it. I hope I never have to experience that. I don't know what I would do...