Unseen Love Ch.7 / The End

Chapter 7

The next morning, the gentle sun peaked in through Jackson’s deep red curtains, just enough to wake the boy. Just as he groaned and slowly opened his eyes, his alarm clock went off. Jackson hit the button to silence the obnoxious beeping. Once the room had grown silent again, Jackson sighed and smiled, putting his glasses on. He was still in disbelief of the events from that previous night with Valentine.

It was the single most thrilling experience of his young life and he felt his heart give a jump. Practically skipping into the bathroom, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He couldn’t wait to see Valentine at school and tell his friends just how happy he was to be with him and maybe even tell them the details of their date.

He raced to get his teeth and hair brushed and his clothes thrown on and ran out into the kitchen to grab a quick bite.

As he rushed into the kitchen, he quickly threw some toaster pastries in the toaster and waited for them to spring back up.

“Morning, mom.” Jackson said in a chipper tone as he searched the refrigerator for something to drink. Sydney turned around from her coffee pot and looked at him in puzzlement. She chuckled.

“Morning, hon.” She replied. “You’re in a good mood today.” She pointed out. Finding the carton of orange juice, his mom pulled out a glass for her son.

“Well, last night was just…it was fun.” He explained taking the glass and pouring himself the beverage. Sydney cocked her eyebrow immediately suspicious, but decided against saying anything. Seeing the radiant glow from Jackson’s face told her everything she needed to know. She just smiled.

“Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying your time with Valentine, but just please promise you’ll be safe around him.” She said in a typical worried mother tone. Jackson chuckled and rolled his eyes.

“I know mom.” He replied just as his pastries popped up. In a flash, he snatched them and took a rather large bite out of one. “Let’s get going, mom!” Jackson said flinging his messenger bag over his shoulder, heading for the garage. Sydney laughed.

“What’s the rush?” she asked.

“I want to meet up with Valentine! He’s always at school early!” Jackson said already out the door. Sdyney quickly transferred her coffee from her mug to a travel cup and snatched her keys.

__

Once Jackson arrived at school, he leapt out of the car, waving his mother goodbye, and waited on the steps of the school to wait for his boyfriend. Time ticked by and more and more students began showing up, but still no sign of the vampire. Jackson’s smile slowly began to fade as he grew more anxious and worried. He checked his watch, two minutes until first bell. It wasn’t like Valentine not to be there by then, so he decided to wait a little longer.

“Hey, Jackson!” Frankie called, waving as she quickly approached. Jackson put on the best smile he could muster.

“Oh, hey, Frankie.” He replied.

“Class is starting soon, don’t you want to head inside?” she asked, chipper as always.

“Um, I was actually waiting for Valentine.” He explained. “You didn’t see him in the parking lot by any chance did you?” he asked. She gave a shrug and gave him a sympathetic smile.

“No, I’m afraid not, but, but don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll show up. Maybe he had a dentist appointment or something.” She said optimistically. Maybe he DID have an appointment, but he would’ve told Jackson…wouldn’t he? Jackson decided to text him. Jackson smiled.

“You’re right, Frankie. Maybe he just forgot to mention it.” Jackson replied.

“I bet you’ll get a message from him any second now or…or maybe after first period.” She said walking up the steps and through the double doors. Just then the first bell rang. “Come on. Walk to class with me.” She said. Jackson looked back out to the empty driveway up to the school. He really couldn’t afford to be late for first period, so he followed Frankie inside.

As he settled into his seat, he pulled out his icoffin and sent Valentine a text,

‘U coming to skool 2day?’ he texted and put his phone in his pocket awaiting his reply. Period one ended and no word and his phone indicated that Valentine hadn’t seen it yet either. As the students filed out the classroom to the next period, Jackson sent another text,

‘hey did u get my txt?’

As he walked through the hall, he saw his friends gathered around laughing about something and decided he’d ask one of them.

“And so I was like, ‘those shoes do NOT go with that purse’ and she said-“ Draculaura was saying before Jackson ran up.

“Hey, have any of you guys seen Valentine by any chance? Clawd, I know you have first period with him.” Jackson asked looking to the large wolfman. Clawd shrugged.

“Sorry, Jackson. He wasn’t in class today. You think he’s sick?” Clawd asked looking to Draculaura. Draculaura shook her head.

“Vampires don’t really get sick. Since our bodies are always healing at a fast speed, we’re immune to diseases…except for maybe vampire pox, but I was sure Val already had that like five hundred years ago…” Draculaura shrugged. “He could just be playing hooky. You know how he is.” She said. Jackson shook his head.

“He’d be answering my texts.” He replied.

“He didn’t steal your heart did he, mate?” Lagoona piped up. Jackson shook his head and blushed with a grin. He let out a chuckle.

“Well…not really.” Jackson replied coyly. The girls giggled as the next bell rang.

“Save us the deats for lunch, kay? We can’t wait to hear all about your night with Valentine!” Clawdeen said in a sing-song tone as they all headed off to their own classes. Jackson smiled, but glanced back down at his phone. Still nothing.

He sent text after text with no reply. During fifth period he even snuck into the bathroom and called Valentine’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Hey.” Said the all too familiar voice.

“Valentine! I’ve been so worried! I-“

“Sorry I couldn’t answer the phone, but if you leave a message, I’ll be sure to romance you as soon as I can….And Jackson…I love you…I’ll miss you.” Jackson was stunned and confused by Valentine’s answering machine and was immediately scared. The tone sounded for Jackson to speak.

“Valentine, what…where are you? And what do you mean you’ll miss me? What’s going on? Please call me back…I love you.” Jackson said, hanging up with a heavy heart. Jackson shuffled back out the bathroom door and turned a corner to see Bram talking with another vampire. They were talking and it looked as if Bram was sharing his clawculus notes. Then it hit him. If anyone knew where Valentine was, it was Bram. “Bram!” Jackson called. Bram’s smile vanished from his face as he saw he called for him. He looked back to his vampire bluddy.

“Just be sure to give me back those notes after you finish copying them in the Library. I still need them for class for the test next week.” Bram said.

“Thanks, man. I owe you!” he called as the vampire flitted off with the paper in the direction of the library.

“Shouldn’t you be in class, normie?” Bram asked, his gaze on his as sharp as a knife.

“Well yeah…but what about you?” Jackson asked.

“Study Howl. Blake needed to borrow my notes to study. But that’s not why you called for me is it?” he asked.

“Do you know where Valentine is? His answering machine on his phone-“

“It’s over…Jackson.” Bram said sternly. “Don’t bother.” He replied. At that Jackson’s chest tightened. Jackson looked at him with a feeling of anger and hurt.

“What do you mean it’s over? Where is he?” he asked. Bram shook his head.

“Jackson…let it go.” Bram said beginning to walk away. Jackson clenched his fist. “Just understand your relationship is over and done with.” He said calmly. Jackson grit his teeth, heat burning inside him. “He’s gone.” Something snapped in Jackson as he chucked his heavy biteology textbook at the back of Bram’s head with a loud thunk and the book slammed to the floor.

The vampire froze and slowly turned back, his red eyes glowing, his blue veins under his skin becoming more vibrant. Jackson didn’t shift.

“Tell me! Where. Is. HE?!” Jackson screamed. Bram was on him in an instant, pinning him against the nearest locker. Their eyes locked. The vampire’s eyes were wide and piercing. He was panting and his teeth appeared almost longer and sharper.

“I don’t know.” He hissed. “Let it alone.” He growled, releasing the terrified boy. Jackson was shaking as he was let free. Bram took a deep breath and gathered his composure. “I’m sorry, but I do not care for books being whipped at the back of my head…As for Valentine, I honestly don’t know where he went. I went to his mansion earlier this morning to find everything cleaned out and empty. Even his mother and her belongings disappeared with him.” Jackson hung his head.

“But…but I…” Jackson choked, holding back warm tears. Bram began to walk away. Jackson slowly fell to his knees and collapsed, letting the tears roll down and left small wet droplet marks on his grey skinny pants. Bram turned around and looked at the heartbroken boy. Bram sighed and went back to him. He got down on one knee and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“Jackson…I’m sorry. I…it’s just the rules.” He said. Jackson sniffled and looked up at him, eyes puffy and red.

“What do you mean?” he asked. Bram let out a nose sigh.

Bram stood up. “I’m sorry, Jackson, but it’s vampire code. I can’t give you that information.” Jackson’s heart sank even further. Bram turned to his locker and pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with a scarlet ribbon.

“I shouldn’t be doing this, but…Valentine wanted me to give this to you.” He said, patting his shoulder and said nothing more, walking away towards the Study Howl classroom.

Once Jackson was alone, he carefully removed the ribbon and opened the packaging. Much to his surprise, it was Valentine’s black wool peacoat he had worn the night before. Jackson hugged it tight to his chest and inhaled the faint rose sent of the material. Off to his right, he heard a soft ruffle noise. He looked to see a small card, Jackson’s name scrolled on it in red almost glimmering ink. He picked it up carefully and opened it to read the writing.

“My dearest Jackson,
It pains me to be writing this, but by the time you read this, I’ll be long gone. I assure you I’m not dead and I did this for your own protection. I’m sorry I can’t tell you where I am, but I’ll contact you when the time is right. Stay strong and know that as long as you wear the jacket, I’ll be there to protect you. Don’t try looking for me. I’ll come back from you.

Love always,
Valentine

P.S. Leave me messages on my phone.”

Salty tears continued to roll down Jackson’s face as he read and re-read the letter. When he could take it no longer, he folded up the letter and put it in his pocket. He picked up the coat and threw it over his shoulders, hugging it tightly over him. He thought back on everything they had been through.

--- "Valentine, wait!" he called catching up the vampire who had made no attempt to look over his shoulder or stop for him. "I don't get you. You're incredibly clingy to me yesterday and insisting on driving me, but now you're all broody and don't seem to care."

Valentine stopped dead in his tracks and looked at him straight in the eye.
"I made a promise not to bug you didn't I? I'll drive you to school this week, but I figured I'll leave you alone at school." He replied coldly. Jackson's mouth was slightly agape. Valentine continued walking inside. "Besides, it's not like you are I were going to hang out anyway."

"But I want-" Jackson blushed and Valentine stopped. "…to hang out with you." Jackson finished.

--- "I was wonderin' if you wanted to maybe go to the Maul after school. We can go to the Coffin Bean and maybe catch "The Zombie Artist". I hear it's the latest silent film since the thirties". Valentine offered. Jackson quirked his eyebrow.

"This sounds strangely like a date…"

"No. No." Valentine defended. "It'll just be a friend thing. Trust me. I'm not into you like that." He teased. Jackson paused.

"But you had kissed m-" he sighed. He didn't feel like bringing up what had happened yesterday.

--- He quickly leaned in and captured Jackson's soft, full lips.

Jackson let out a muffled gasp, but couldn't find the strength to pull away from the vampire's tight hold he had on him. Eventually, Jackson shut his eyes and let it happen.

--- The clock chimed 2 am at Jackson's dark and empty house. Jackson slept on the couch in his living room, the blue light from the television illuminating the room. All of a sudden, there was a gentle tapping on the window. Jackson stirred and looked around through his tired eyes when he heard it again. He straightened his crooked glasses still on his face and sat up to raise the blinds.

He peeked out and his eyes met with a pair of lightly glowing pink eyes. Jackson jumped in surprise, but knew who it was as Valentine waved from outside the window. Jackson slid the window open and allowed the vampire inside.

"Valentine? What are you doing here?" Jackson asked, still sleepy.

"Just needed to come see you." Valentine replied sounding a bit distressed. Jackson cocked his head and offered him a seat on the couch, which the vampire graciously accepted.

"What's wrong, Valentine?" Jackson asked.

"Jackson…I need to uh…" Valentine started. "Jackson you…" he sighed. "I…" he sighed again. "You know when…you want to say something, but you just…you just can't?" Valentine asked.

"Valentine what-" At that second Valentine grabbed Jackson's shirt collar in his hands and pulled him forward for their lips to collide. Jackson's eyes were wide, but slowly closed. A slight smile came to his face and he kissed the vampire back. They slowly pulled away and just gazed in each other's eyes for a moment before Jackson let out a chuckle and blushed.

"I think that covers it, right?" Valentine asked, trying hard not to blush as well. Jackson nodded, but then shook his head.

"I don't know…" Jackson replied with a smile and leaned into Valentine for another kiss taking Valentine by surprise. Jackson pulled away. "Is…is that all you wanted to tell me?" Jackson asked. Valentine bit his lip.

"That's all, darlin'. So…mind if I take off my coat?" Valentine asked already starting to remove his blazer, discarding it to the floor. Jackson chuckled and pulled Valentine closer to him so the vampire was on top of him and his hands started going for the vampire's shirt buttons. Valentine smirked as Jackson helped him shimmy off his ruffle shirt as Valentine helped Jackson pull his sweater vest over his head and started unbuttoning the boy's yellow shirt.

Valentine and Jackson met for another kiss passionately as Valentine straddled over top of Jackson on the couch. Once they got the opportunity to pull away, he went for the remote for the tv, but the vampire stopped him.

"Leave it on, darlin'." Valentine gave a sly smirk. "I want to be able to look into your eyes." He said, Jackson's bright blue eyes glistened and they met with another deep kiss.

--- Manny Taur delivered all hell as he delivered punches and kicks and smashed Jackson wanting to ultimately destroy him before Valentine overpowered the raging bull.

“V-Valentine?" Jackson sputtered.

"Yeah Jackson?" Valentine replied worriedly. Jackson looked up at him.

"I'm sorry." Jackson whispered, tears and blood rolling down his face. "I'm sorry for what I said." He cried. Valentine shook his head, his eyes welling up.

"No. No it's not your fault, darlin'. It's not your fault." Valentine whispered back. "I never should've…" he voice trailed off as his hand gently brushed the side of Jackson's bruised and battered face. Jackson coughed, a bit of blood spattering out onto his chin. Valentine pulled out his handkerchief and cleaned him right up. "Jackson…I'm so sorry I couldn't get here fast enough. Toralei…" he shook his head. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be here for you."

"You're here now…" Jackson choked out. Valentine bit his bottom lip and blood tears escaped his eyes. A few drops landed on Jackson’s shirt.

"Jackson…" Valentine whispered brushing Jackson's wet hair to the side. They paused as Valentine pulled Jackson's head gently to his chest.

"V-Valentine…" Jackson choked coughing up more blood. "I…I love you." He gasped out.

"I love you so much, Jackson." He sobbed. "I love you." He kissed the top of his head and rested his head on his.

--- There was a warm enveloping light as Jackson was in surgery. As Jackson moved closer and closer into the light, a young man looking almost familiar somehow appeared before him.

“Jackson.” The young man said stopping Jackson from going any further, “turn back around.” He instructed in an old English accent. “Go back and love him…Love him until the day you die and forever after that. He needs you.” He smiled. Just then, everything went black, for a moment or two before he heard Valentine and awoke to see him sitting beside him in a hospital bed.

--- "Valentine?" Jackson asked meekly.

"Hm?"

"What you said…before…that you loved me…" he paused. Valentine smiled and shook his head as he gently leaned in and kissed Jackson softly on the lips. He pulled back and sat back down.

"I meant it, darlin'." He replied. "And I always will."

Jackson blushed and looked away as the vampire chuckled.

"But really Jackson," he started. Jackson looked back at him "if I had lost you today…I don't know what I would've done. You mean so much to me. You're kind, caring, loving, loyal, cute," Jackson smiled shaking his head "and you don't give yourself enough credit when it comes to confidence." He added. Jackson shook his head again.

"I'm none of those things." He replied.

"Yes, you are! You're all that and so much more! You're…you're smart, playful, and uh…if you don't mind me saying I like that spark of yours when we were on your couch yesterday night." Valentine winked. Jackson's smile disappeared and his face went blank and turned red. The vampire laughed, eventually Jackson laughed along with him. Their laughter died down. "Mostly, I'm just glad that you're okay. I thought I was going to lose you."

--- “I promise, I’ll love you…until I die.” Valentine said. ---

Jackson’s flashbacks ended, but those words continued to echo through his mind. He smiled and let out another sob. He trusted Valentine would come back, but until then...the vampire’s love would be unseen.

…

EPILOGUE

Days seemed to fly by and Jackson never let Valentine escape his mind. When Holt found out Valentine disappeared, he couldn’t help but feel bad about how he acted towards them and eventually apologized, to which Jackson happily forgave him. Everyday since his lover vanished, Jackson wore the coat or had it nearby, refusing to keep it out of his sight. Whenever it was on his shoulders, he could almost feel Valentine’s embrace, protecting him from any outside force.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. It was suddenly fall and Jackson was slowly losing hope and slowly began forgetting to wear the coat when he went to school. Soon problems started at school as time crept closer to Halloween, it was monster versus normie with Jackson and Holt slapped in the middle. Thankfully the mess was resolved and Jackson found someone he thought he could hang out with for awhile, Claire.

It was a blustery November as the two strolled hand in hand through the park. Finally, they stopped to rest at a bench and started talking. Jackson pulled the black wool peacoat tight around him as the breeze picked up.

“So, Jackson. I’ve been ranting and raving about my ex-boyfriends and probably boring you half to death.” The goth joked. Jackson chuckled.

“No, no. It was all very interesting. I especially liked your story about…which boyfriend was it? That rodeo clown?” he asked not being able to hold back a laugh.

“Hey! If it weren’t for Checkers, I probably would’ve been mauled by that bull!” she defended although not sounding very serious and laughing right along with Jackson. “So, like I was saying, I’ve been going off on these guys all day. Tell me about some of your ex’s.”

Jackson’s face dropped, but a slow smile came back to his face as he rubbed the warm wool fabric of his sleeve, the wind blowing up a slight scent of roses.

“Well…I’ve only really been with one other person before…” he began. “I guess it’s best I start at the very beginning…I was running late to class when I first met him.”