"What's going on?" She asked using her mom voice and a fake smile.

Jack rolled on his back and stood up. I was about to, but remembered I was only in Jack's shirt. So I pulled the blanket over myself. "We didn't do anything—"

"I can't tell." She glanced at me and back to Jack. "Do her grandparents know?" She hissed in a whisper. Probably didn't think I could hear her.

            Jack shook his head while rubbing the back of his neck, "And they can't. She's been helping a lot—"

            "Jack." She snapped, "You cannot afford this right now."

            Did she forget I was right here?

            She walked out of the open bedroom door and Jack followed without a look back. I heard them walk down stairs and I was left alone. I could make a run for it, I doubt they would notice until they came back upstairs. And that's when I decided I would make my move.

            I left my dress hanging over Jack's chair and tip toed out of his bedroom door. As I started walking down the stairs, their voices became clearer. "—What were you thinking, Jack? You can't—"

            "I already know." He snapped.

            A sigh sounded from his mom, "This can't continue, you know that, right?

            Jack was quiet and a lump formed in my throat.

            Not only do my grandparents want me to stay away from Jack, now his parents want him to stay away from me. The thought made a lump form in my throat. I couldn't lose Jack now. I don't think I can stand something else drastic happening right now.

            I didn't listen anymore. I couldn't. If Jack exploded and defended me or agreed with his mom. I couldn't stay to listen. I quietly opened the front door and slipped out undetected. I crossed my arms tight across my chest and ran to my house. I took in consideration that Jack's shirt barely covered my butt. There wasn't anyone out yet, thank god.

            The second the front door clicked when it came together, I ran up stairs and into my room. I closed the door and immediately stripped out of Jack's shirt. I located a soft blue sundress in my closet and pulled it on. I tied my hair into a messy knot and washed my face of last night's makeup.

            I didn't look too much like myself. The bags under my eyes were noticeable from crying too much last night. I got enough sleep for once, but I was still tired. It was hard not to think about what happened last night. It didn't feel real. All of it felt like a bad dream.

            Except Jack and James comforting me.

            I didn't need Will.

            When I felt ready, I walked down stairs to join everyone for breakfast. No one seemed to notice I was gone or the fact that I just got home. I poured myself a cup of coffee and slipped into the seat next to James. "Good to see you up." My grandma beamed.

            I just nodded and took a sip of my coffee.

            "So, who was the secret admirer?" She reached over and placed a hand over my free one.

            I looked around the table and everyone was looking at me except James. Because he already knew and witnessed it all firsthand. I thought about lying to her and telling her it was Michael and not my father. But the look of hope on her face tore my lie decision in half and I told her the truth, "It was Will." I said softly, putting my coffee mug back to my lips.

            "Will? Will who?"

            I put my cup down and looked at her with watery eyes, "Grandma."

            And her eyes widened, "Are you serious? Your dad?"

            I nodded again because I was afraid I would start crying again.           

            She leaned towards me and wrapped her arms around me quickly, "I'm so sorry, Honey. I can't imagine..." She trailed off.

            I wrapped an arm around her in return and used my free hand to swipe away any stray tears. She pulled away from me, but not completely back in her chair, "Tell me about it?"

            I hesitated, not sure where to start. So I started from the beginning. I told her about the car that showed up and the letter I received when I arrived. I told her everything about that night, excluding Jack of course. But I told her everything. I almost thought she was going to cry, but she hugged me again instead. She continued to apologize for something that wasn't her fault, "You're the one that's been there, Grandma. You have nothing to be sorry for." My voice started shaking as I squeezed her.

            The last thing I wanted was for my grandma to blame herself. None of this is her fault; I don't know why she would even think like that. Her and my grandpa both were the only people I had when he left. He's the one that needs to do the apologizing.

            And I feel selfish for not giving him a chance. But he doesn't even deserve it.

            Neither my Grandma nor Grandpa brought it up again. My grandpa sent a sad smile from across the table. He never liked my dad. When my mom met my dad in high school, he never wanted them to be together. When they ran off and eloped after they graduated, he couldn't do anything about it.

            He still didn't approve, but he lived with it.

            And when my dad gave me up, it was the last strike for my Grandpa. He didn't say I told you so. He hated that he was right about him because he didn't want to be. I've heard him talk about him before and it was never good things. He stopped when he realized I knew what he was saying.    

            My grandparents got up and went outside to work in the garden. James handed Meredith his keys after she gave me an awkward hug while she stood and I sat. And that left James and I together. We didn't get a chance to talk last night because I was with Jack. And James was there for the worst of it.

            I felt his hand on my wrist and I turned towards him, "You're okay?"

            "For now, I think."

            He moved his hand to my back and started rubbing soothing circles over my exposed skin, "Don't think about him. You're better off."

            I smiled the best I could and leaned my head against his shoulder, "Thank you."

Days have gone by and Jack hasn't talked to me and I haven't talked to him. He hasn't attempted to call and I haven't either. He keeps his curtains closed now so I haven't seen him either. I guess he did what his mom told him and stayed away from me. It wasn't easy to sit around and not text or call him.

            I just got home from work after working a late shift on this Thursday night. I was exhausted. I haven't been sleeping again. This time is worse than before. The combination of my dad and Jack's rejection isn't helping my situation. My dad hasn't contacted me again and I was happy about that. But I wasn't happy about Jack not reaching out to me.

            As soon as I turned my bedroom light on and dropped my keys on the table, my phone came to life in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. I guess I spoke too soon about Jack. I answered, but not too quickly, "Hello—"

            "I need to see you." He rushed.

            "I'll see you tomorrow night—"

            "Parent's left this morning. Let yourself in." And he hung up.

            I pulled my phone away from my ear and looked down at it. What just happened? I was too tired to process it.

            My work clothes came off and I slipped into something more comfortable. A pair of pajama shorts and a t-shirt. My hair stayed in a ponytail and I made my way over to Jack's. I didn't bother knocking and let myself in like he requested. I walked up stairs, feeling the weight of everything all at once. I was more tired than I thought right now.

            But I made it up the stairs without dropping.

            Jack's door was already opened. He stood in the middle of his room, looking down at his phone. I knocked on the doorframe and he looked in my direction. I took a step in his room and met him halfway. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I kept my hands to my sides. "Are we talking again?"

            "You heard—"

            "She's right though."

            Jack shook his head and placed his hands on my shoulders, "No, she's not. She's far from right. Her intentions...they're meant to help you, not me." Jack's brows drew together as he dropped his hands from me, "She is right about my being bad for you. But..." He trailed off, putting his fingers against his temples.

            I took a step forward this time, "But what?"

            Jack looked at me and dismissed me with the wave of his hand, "Nothing. Never mind." He turned so I was looking at his back. His fingers ran through his hair, tightening at the ends.

            "Jack." I grounded. "You agree that you're bad for me? I need you to talk to me—"

            "I've been selfish." He dropped his hands but he didn't turn to look at me, "I am bad for you, but you're good for me."

            "What's so bad about that?" I moved closer to him until I was almost against his back. "You're not as bad as you think." I slowly snaked my arms around his waist from behind. "And I'm not as good as you think." I said in a low voice. I tightened my arms around him and he sighed.

            We stood like that for a moment. A moment too long. Finally he placed his hands over my arms and squeezed them gently. "I've been selfish my whole life." He said softly. "I won't be selfish when it comes to you."

            I pressed my forehead against his back and squeezed my eyes closed. I wanted to believe what he was saying was a good thing. By his tone I'm thinking it's actually bad. "I won't lose you because of this." I splayed my hands over his abdomen, slipping one hand up and over his heart. I felt his heart thump erratically against my hand and he sucked in a shaky breath.

            His hand rested on top of my hand above his heart. He curled his fingers around my hand slowly and pulled me from behind him. He cupped my face and moved his lips to mine. They worked against his in sync. It was almost sloppy. It was aggressive and needy.

            Passionate.

            I pulled back and looked up at him, "If you won't be selfish, I will." And I stood on my toes to reconnect our lips. We fought back and forth for non-existent dominance. Jack leaned into me and I felt his hands on the backs of my upper thighs. He lifted me with ease and I wrapped my legs around his hips. I wound my arms around his neck and held on to him.

            He lowered himself on his bed, bringing me with him. My hands moved to either side of his face to support my weight as I straddled his lap. When I felt like I couldn't breathe, I pulled back. My pant was out of sync with his as we tried catching our breath. If I didn't stop now, I don't think I could. "I should probably get home. My grandma has been checking on me every night since..." I knew I didn't have to explain.

            Jack put his hands on my hips, his thumbs peeking under my shirt, "Have you talked to him?"

            I shook my head, "I don't plan on it either."

            Jack smiled up at me and freed a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, "I'd kick his ass if I could."

            I laughed for the first time today, "Keep thinking like that and I'll probably let you." I tilted my head, scanning his face, "Sure I'm good for you?"

            Jack laughed again and brought my lips down to his again, "Maybe too good."

            "If I don't leave now, I never will."

            Jack smiled against my lips and I knew he didn't have any intentions on letting me go that moment. And in that moment, I really didn't care.

Unfortunately, I woke up in my bed alone. I stole another one of Jack's shirts before I left last night. It may seem crazy, but his scent was enough to help me sleep a bit more. I wasn't fully rested, but it was enough for me to get out of bed and call Lindy. She would probably be here any minute.

            There was a knock on my door and James peeked his head in the door before walking inside. I smiled at him and he returned it, "You're okay today." He stated, but it felt like a question.

            "Not fully, but I will be. I'm much better today."

            James walked in further and sat down on the edge of my bed, "Let me guess...Jack?"

            "Partly Jack and partly myself."

            "It's good to see your smile after a week. What ever happened between you two, I'm glad you worked it out."

            I never did tell James what happened that morning. I didn't tell him we were caught and I blamed everything on my dad. A majority of it was my dad coming back into my life and Jack's mom just put the cherry on the cake. So much happened in the span of that day, I didn't even want to talk about it.

            I may have lost my mom and dad, but I wasn't about to lose Jack. I hope I made that clear to him last night and most of all, I hope he felt the same. Everything with Jack happened so fast. In the span of two months all of this happened. The one summer before my last year in high school had to be a pretty hectic one.

            "Me too."

            James stayed and talked to me until Lindy got here. And then he left with Meredith because their parents were back in town for the weekend. James didn't want to leave and I don't think Meredith did either. I think they're used to not having their parents around so much. They haven't been around since the divorce.

            Lindy and I stayed huddled in my room, the curtains closed, and the lights off. I don't know how many episodes of The Walking Dead we got through, but it was enough because the sky was drenched in darkness and spotted with stars. It was almost time to go to Jack's.

            Tonight's the last night I have to help him and he takes his exams next Monday and Tuesday. I was nervous for him, over something as simple as a few exams. I didn't want to think about his trial that was in about a month. More or less, give or take.

            He still doesn't talk to me about it. He doesn't say anything that happened that night and he doesn't talk about Paxton. As far as I know, Paxton doesn't even come around anymore. I'm sure I'm wrong though. I don't care enough about Paxton to ask about him. I do know he hurt Jack and he's a stalker. If I saw him, I'd probably give him a piece of my mind.

            I wanted to know more about the case because it was eating away at me. But I've tried doing research and I basically get the same article. The same story that runs on all the news stations and that's published in all the newspapers. If I wanted to know more, I would have to go straight to the source.

            Jack.

            The problem with Jack is that he won't tell me anything. It's for my own good, I know, but I'm not the only one with a curious mind wondering exactly what happened. I know Jack says he doesn't remember anything, but why's he a suspect? Why was in that area? There are things he can remember. He just doesn't remember if he was the one to actually pull the trigger.

            Lindy's loud yawn pulled me out of my repeating thoughts. The credits for the episode displayed on my TV. We made it through the first season and part of the second. "I guess I'm going to go." She stood and stretched out her arms, "Have fun tonight and do something I would do."

            I'm sure I already have.

            "Goodnight, Lindy." I put my hands over my reddening cheeks.

            She smirked and waved before leaving.

            I didn't bother changing into anything else and left to go next door. I always looked both ways in case the neighbors were watching. Not only is it bad for me, it's bad for Jack because of our nosy neighbors. I didn't knock or ring the doorbell and used the key he had hid behind one of their potted plants. I found it and unlocked the door.

            I walked up the stairs and walked down the long hallway to Jack's room. When I made it to his open doorway, I stopped abruptly. Jack stood in the middle of his room, hands open in front of him as he looked down at them. He clenched his hands into fists and looked up at me.

            "What's wrong?" I asked, slowly making my way towards him.

            He looked back down at his clenched hands. He unclenched and clenched them back until his knuckles turned white. "I...I remember..."

            "Remember?"

            "What happened that night...I remember..."

—————————————

This ship isn't sinking today! I hope you guys liked this chapter, I wrote it while in the car yesterday, lol. Not sure when I'll update again, my break ends tomorrow (Crying on the inside). But I'll do my best!

Song: Stay The Night (Acoustic) by Zedd FT. Hayley Williams (My number one)