Page 54 of The Quiet
“Jackson,” Ella said, looking back at him. His eyes skipped from the book to her face as if he were oblivious to his own presence.
“I can’t focus with you moving around like that.”
He eased down into the nearest chair, visibly uncomfortable. Ella turned back to her book, wincing as she heard him stand. He approached, bent down behind her, and settled into a position that she imagined he found more comfortable. She startled as his arms looped around her and his chin settled into the nook of her neck.
She tried to avoid appearing too tense, for Jackson had moved so naturally she still managed to get the sense that this wasn’t unusual to him. She didn’t want him pacing around, and so here he was, wrapped around her neck like a snake as if her previous scolding had been an invitation. At least now he was completely still.
He released a heavy sigh, Ella feeling the full weight of his body settling over her as she still stared at her book with no hope of learning anything from it.
She sensed his grief as if it mirrored the weight of his body, sinking into her own, and stirring that same lingering sadness in the pit of her stomach. Without words she knew that he missed his team, reaching out for some semblance of them in her closeness. The sentiment stirred her own so deeply, she found herself both convinced and unnerved that she was feeling both his feelings and her own.
“Jackson,” she said after a moment.
“Hmm?” he replied as if he were falling asleep.
“Why don’t we both go for a walk in the morning?” she said, Jackson releasing her as she eased up.
“Alright,” he said, glancing outside as if measuring time until sunrise.
“I’m going to get some rest, and then I’ll take you on a walk,” she said, stretching as she stood up.
“You say it like I’m a dog.” He followed as she left the study and headed for her room.
“I think you’d be amazed at how much you have in common,” she replied.
“What do you mean by that?” he said as she turned into her room and shut the door, stopping him short behind her.
“You act like you lived in a pack,” she said, hearing him lean up against the door, still seemingly oblivious to her point.
“I don’t like this place, Ella,” he replied flatly a moment before she opened the door. Jackson was slouched against the opposite wall just enough that their eyes met by the candlelight.
She looked back at her room and sighed. “Come in,” she said, moving away from the door.
He leaned forward, peering into the room as if someone was waiting for him inside.
“How are you suddenly the timid one?” she asked as he stepped into her room, inspecting every closet and window. “I’ll show you around tomorrow. It’s like a dream, honestly. It’s the dream the ROSE fought for I thought.”
“It’s not timidity,” Jackson replied, but didn’t offer his own answer.
He inspected the door as she closed it. There were no locks, and he didn’t seem to like that one bit, scanning the room for a loose piece of furniture as if he wanted to barricade the door.
Placing the candle on her nightstand, Ella crawled into bed, nearly wincing as he flopped down on the ground beside her, facing the door. She peered over the side of the bed.
“Jackson, there are blankets and cushions all around you.”
He grunted with disinterest and she rolled her eyes, blowing out the candle before staring up at the ceiling. She exhaled, trying to ignore his presence as she allowed her heavy eyelids to drift closed.
Jackson rolled over on the floor next to her, his gear and belts loud against the hardwood flooring. A few minutes later, he shifted again, and then again.
Ella groaned aloud, whipping up and looking over at him in the darkness. Her arm twinged with the abrupt movement, but she was too annoyed and tired to care.
“Jackson,” she said, unable to hide the irritation in her voice.
He looked up at her past his shoulder and from his position on the floor he really did remind her of a dog.
“Just sleep up here,” she said, and he paused for a moment before hoisting himself up.
“You’re not wearing all of that,” she chastised as he prepared to climb on the bed in full gear. He removed the utility belt and hisjacket, Ella nodding at his boots before he peeled those off as well.
