Over the next few days it was safe to say that Van's relationship with Jake was getting better. Jake was determined and patient. If there was anything she loved about him it was his resilience and ability to focus and get what he wants.
Van also loved his warm smile, his strength and his ability to love no matter what. She felt giddy with his courting, like she had the first time he asked her out.
Van pressed the phone against her ear and smiled a good natured smile like she never had in a while. Her heart almost on the verge of exploding with joy and happiness and everything that was good.
"Look out the balcony, I have a surprise for you." Jake told her and when Van looked out she saw him standing outside the gate holding out a banner that read: I love you Vanessa Wilkins Montenegro.
Van still wasn't used to being referred to as a Montenegro but she was certain she would get used to it pretty soon. After her father’s death Van thought that she and her brother were all that's left but now she has a family.
"That is so lame." She told him but she was still smiling.
"Would you have liked it better with fireworks?"
"I don't know, maybe if you'd come riding on a horse then I might be able to accommodate you."
"Then it's done. Next time, i'll come riding a horse fully armoured with breast plates and all like a good old-fashioned knight to ride with you into the sunset."
Van laughed.
He waited downstairs while she got dressed and joined him a few minutes later.
" So where are we going? " She asked once they settled in the car.
"You'll see. You're gonna love it." He simply said.
And she'd loved it, every single moment of it. They ate hotdogs from one of the stands on the streets and had ice cream.
Then they took a took stroll in the park and that's when it happened. It was so fast that Van didn't have time to think or react. This guy she'd never seen nor met before appeared suddenly coming up to Jake out of nowhere yelling, "you bastard, you'll pay for what you did to my sister!"
The world stopped then when the guy thrust out his hand, Van gasped and yelled Jake’s name just as the knife plunged into his side. The almost melted ice cream slid out of her hand as Jake went down on his knees clutching the knife at his side. She couldn't see past the tears blinding her eyes or think through the blood roaring in her head. The guy had taken off then and Van was screaming for Jake to be alright, screaming for someone to help them. Jake clutched at his side groaning in pain, Van pressed her palms down on his to put pressure on the wound before help would come.
Please, please, please.
There was blood everywhere that Van felt sick. Fear, raw gut wrenching fear Van had never felt before sliced through her
She was praying fervently, sobbing violently and relentless in getting help. No, she wouldn't lose him like this, it cannot end like this! Not when she was just on the verge of giving their love another chance.
Van hated hospitals. Especially when it reminded her of her dad's condition, and how much he suffered before his passing. Hospitals are filled with gloom and despair. People die in hospitals and she couldn't shake up the thought that Jake might die just like her father.
No, she had to believe that nothing would happen to Jake, that he wouldn’t share the same fate as her father because she didn't think she had it in her to survive another tragedy.
Jake’s friends; Christian, Dave and Max, were all there including Rella her best friend and her husband Stefan Diamond who's also Jake's friend. They'd arrived a few hours ago and were as worried and afraid as she was but they were trying to make her feel better instead. Rella had held her hands through out the waiting period while Jake was being operated on and Van had cried on her shoulders voicing out her fear.
Her grandfather had called to hear how Jake was doing after Jake was transferred to the recovery room some time later–the surgery had gone extremely well much to Van's relief. The old man had realised his mistake and he'd apologised for it. That night two weeks ago Van had found him in the study shedding tears over her mother's photo, he'd told Van how sorry he was and she'd forgiven him.
Watching Jake laugh with his friends, Van felt a tightness in her chest. All she could see was him lying on the ground, a knife plunged to his side, and his blood everywhere–Van had never seen so much in one place before–she shuddered involuntarily.
"What is on your mind?"
Van snapped out of her gruesome thoughts as Jake covered her hand with his. "You must be disappointed that I made it out alive right? Well i've come back to collect on my promise."
Van punched him hard on the shoulder huffing madly and stood up to leave but held her hand.
"Hey, why are you so mad I was only joking."
Van’s eyes misted as she turned to face him, her lips wobbling. "Do you have any idea how scared i've been for the past few hours, not knowing whether you were going to make it or not. I could have lost you today and you're making a joke out of it."
Jake's eyes softened. He pulled her close until she sat on the edge of the bed, tears licked from her eyes unbidden and he wiped them off with his finger.
"I'm sorry love, I didn’t mean to mock you."
"I was so scared..." She choked on her words.
"I know. But i'm fine now darling please don't cry, I hate to see tears in your eyes." Jake kissed her knuckles.
"I love you." Van confessed. Jake smiled and caressed her face with his knuckles.
"I know. I love you too, so damn much." he kissed her then, slow and sweet as they lose themselves in other's embrace.
They sprang apart when someone cleared their throat loudly. Van’s face heated as she realised that they have an audience. She made to leave the bed but Jake wouldn’t let her.
"Get a room please." Max said making a gagging sound.
"An actual room." Christian supplied and they all laughed. The four friends took turns greeting Jake and slapping him on the back as they made more jokes that had Van blushing to the roots of her hair.
"You guys please stop teasing my friend." Rella walked in just then. "It's good to see you alive Jake." She said.
"If I wasn't, i'm sure your friend here would’ve dragged me out of hell itself." Jake offered.
Van punched him again and he gave a grunt of pain then he smiled and mouthed; I love you. She loved him too is never letting him go.