-Juliet-

"You're actually going?" James's voice carried into my room as he stepped inside.

I stood in front of my mirror, examining the outfit I had picked to have dinner over at the McKinnon's. I picked a simple white sundress. I didn't want to over do it and I didn't want to show up in a t-shirt and jeans. It was nice of Marie to invite me, I don't want to look like I haven't showered in a week.

"Yeah, why not?" I stepped away from my mirror and walked up to James, "What are your plans tonight?"

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug, "The last season of Breaking Bad was put on Netflix and it's calling my name." A boyish grin slid on his lips.

"Oh, tempting." I walked out of my room, "If you want, we can start it when I get back." I reached the bottom of the stairs and turned around to face him.

He eyed me warily, "This is up for negotiation."

"I'll buy you lunch tomorrow."

"You drive a hard bargain my friend." He rubbed his chin in a mocking manner, "Make it pizza and we have a deal."

I thrust my hand in his direction, "We have a deal."

He smiled and shook my hand.

I walked over to Jack's with a fuzzy feeling in my stomach. I've never actually had dinner with his parents. I've had lunch with Marie when I used to help her with her garden, but I've only met his dad maybe five times since I've lived here. He's always been nothing but nice, so I'm trying not to be too nervous.

I took a deep breath and exhaled as I pressed the doorbell.

The door opened a few seconds later and I was relieved to see Jack on the other side. He smiled and quickly stepped outside while closing the door behind him. He gripped my face in his hands and pressed a kiss to my lips. He stepped away and left me in a small daze, "What was that for?"

"It'll have to hold me over for two hours." He grinned.

"Well I'm starving. Let me in."

He kissed me again quickly and opened the door back up. I followed Jack inside and closed the door behind me. We ventured through the house until we made our way into the dining room. Marie had just put a plate of food on the table when she noticed me.

She smiled widely and walked over to me. She pulled me into an unexpected hug, "So glad you could finally make it." She stepped back and gestured to the chair next to where Jack sat. "Go ahead and dig in."

Jack Sr. was sitting at the head of the table of course, "Good to have you over, Juliet." He smiled in my direction.

The resemblance between him and Jack was uncanny. They would never have to question that one. "Thank you for having me."

We all filled our plates and began eating. Jack was unusually quiet next to me. But why would he talk to me, right? As far as his dad knows we barely know each other. As for his mom...well...

"How's Paideia treating you?" Jack Sr. asked.

"Uh, great. I love it there."

"I'm sure the work load is crazy." Maria piped.

I nodded then shrugged, "It can be sometimes. But it keeps me busy."

"I'm sure you stay busy with all the school work and working at the diner. Not sure how you find time for anything." Marie let out a laugh.

I nodded in agreement, "I like to stay busy."

Jack Sr. pointed his fork in Jack's direction, "Jack got accepted into Paideia during his freshman year. Didn't want to go though."

I looked at Jack, but he wasn't looking at me. I forced a smile, "That's interesting."

"Yeah, crazy." Marie said and took a sip of her wine, "I think it definitely would've kept him out of trouble."

A muscle in Jack's jaw twitched and I placed a hand on his thigh, "Plenty of kids at Paideia get in trouble, trust me." I felt Jack's hand slide over mine, "A kid last year was caught with some sort of drug in his locker. He got expelled and failed the year."

Marie looked surprised, "I had no idea."

That's because I just made it up.

"It just wasn't for me." Jack finally spoke.

And that was the end of that conversation. They didn't speak about school anymore and no talk about Jack's current situation was brought up. We talked about books and the new movie his dad is working on. We stuck to the subject of entertainment throughout the rest of the meal.

Marie served dessert shortly after and we continued the light conversation. After dessert, I volunteered to help her clean up the mess. Jack went off with his dad somewhere but sent a worried look in my direction before he walked off.

"I'll wash, you dry." Marie plucked a dishrag from the drawer and handed it to me. I'm pretty sure the smile hasn't left her face since I got here.

And that made me even more nervous.

She washed the first dish and handed it to me to dry. She washed three dishes before she finally spoke, "So, Juliet." She handed me the dish. I already knew what was coming, "Do you care about my son?"

"Of course." I replied with no hesitation.

"How much?"

"A lot." I dried the next dish, "Why do ask?"

She turned the water off and turned to me and now my heart was in the pit of my stomach, "I would do anything for Jack, he's my son. I want nothing more than for him to be happy."

I had no idea where she was going with this, "I do too, Mrs. McKinnon."

"I know about you and Jack still being together."

I was waiting for her to attack me or even yell at me, but she didn't. She looked at me like she was studying me. Probably waiting for me to run. "I-I'm sorry-"

"Why are you sorry?" She turned the water back on and started back on the dishes, "Back when I met Jack's dad, I was in the same situation. Jack's dad was just like him. Always getting into trouble. I was the girl that would rather read a good book than go to a party. But one night, my best friend dragged me to one of those parties and that's where I met him." She smiled a little, "It was like a shock woke me up. We spent so much time together after that and we decided it would be a good idea to introduce him to my parents." Her smile fell into a slight frown, "They hated him, Juliet. They wouldn't let me see him after that so of course, I had to sneak out and see him. I couldn't just let him go." And she smiled again, "And now look at us. I still love him the way I did back in high school."

I'm definitely shocked. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked softly.

She handed me the last dish and turned the water off, "I don't want to keep you guys apart because I've seen what happens. I want what's best for Jack and I know he really does love you-"

"What?" My heart hammered against my chest, "How-when-he told you that?"

"No, I can see it." She said quickly, "I won't keep you guys apart, Juliet."

He did tell her that and now she's trying to cover it up, "Really?"

She nodded, "Just don't hurt him. Please. He's been through enough-"

"I'd never hurt him."

She pulled me into another unexpected hug. I hesitantly hugged her back and she squeezed me gently, "Thank you." She whispered.

I smiled a little and stepped away from her. "Do you mind if I go talk to him?"

"Go ahead. And the door stays opened."

I let out a small laugh, "The door stays opened."

I walked out of the kitchen and once I rounded the corner and out of view, I took off up stairs to find Jack. I found him in his room. He sat on the edge of his bed with his face in his hands, "Don't think too hard." I teased and stepped into his room.

His head snapped up and he was on his feet in a second, "You shouldn't be up here-"

"No, I should be." I walked up to him until we were only inches apart, "With you is exactly where I should be."

"My mom will flip if she knows you're up here."

I wrapped my arms around his torso and smiled up at him, "She knows exactly where I am. And she doesn't care."

"What?" He cupped my face in his hands, "She doesn't care we're together?"

I shook my head, "She told me how she met your dad. Sounded oddly familiar." I grinned, "She wants you to be happy. And you make me so unbelievably happy."

His mouth collapsed on mine and I smiled against his lips. He kissed me tenderly, something that was a tad different. He tasted sweet like chocolate. Probably from the dessert Maria had made.

But he always tasted sweet to me.

He pulled away and his thumb lingered close to my bottom lip, "One down, and one to go."

"My grandparents will take more convincing for sure. But I don't care. Of course I care about what they think, just not about you. They don't know you the way I do. I told you, I won't let this get in the way."

His lips tugged into a smile when he kissed me again.

"Are we still on for tomorrow night?" I mumbled against his lips.

"We are." He kissed me a few more times and let me go.

"I'll see you tomorrow night then." I gave him a small wave as I walked backwards, "Sleep well, Jack." As much as I didn't want to leave, I had to.

I made sure to tell Marie and Jack Sr. bye and thank them for dinner. I made it home and finally took the time to process exactly what had just happened. Maria was okay with Jack and I. And if she's okay with it, I'm sure his dad is okay with us being together as well.

It was a giant weight lifted off of my shoulders.

I walked up to my room and changed out of my dress and into some pajamas. I started walking to James's room, but Meredith's giggle stopped me. I slowly walked towards her room and stopped in inch away from the door. I leaned in closer and heard her laugh again.

"Stop it." She managed between giggles.

"I can't help it." Paxton spoke.

No. I thought James talked to her about him.

I knocked on the door and the laughing stopped. I heard her hiss a curse word and a loud thump. I knocked again and seconds later the door swung open. Meredith stood in the door way and I looked over her shoulder and Paxton stood in the middle of the room, "What's up?"

"What's he doing here?" I whispered to her but kept my eyes on Paxton.

He smirked.

"We're just hanging out. We aren't doing anything."

"Does your brother know?"

"It's none of his business what I do."

"Meredith."

"Goodnight, Juliet."

Paxton waved as Meredith closed the door.

What the hell was Paxton trying to do? He's now in my house and I'm way over the point of being freaked out. I made it to James's room and knocked on the door quickly. James opened up before I could even retract my hand from the door. I pushed him inside and closed the door behind me.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Do you know who's here right now?"

He lifted an eyebrow, "My sister?"

"Yeah, and Paxton's with her. I thought you talked to her about him."

"I did!" He yelled, "She just laughed and said of course I would try to keep her away from him. And then she said I was just like dad. It didn't get through to her."

"Get him out of here!"

James stormed out of the room and I followed behind him. He didn't even knock on the door, he just opened it. "James!" Meredith screeched and got out of the bed. Paxton was standing already, wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

James pointed at Paxton, "You need to leave. Now."

"James!" Meredith said again, "What are you doing?"

"He needs to leave, Mere!"

"Why do I need to leave?" Paxton asked casually.

I grabbed the back of James's shirt because the look on his face was not good.

"Get out before I call the cops." James pointed Paxton to the door.

Paxton leaned over to kiss Meredith but James stopped them, "Don't you dare touch her. Get the hell out of here."

He mumbled something to Meredith and walked out without a look or a word in our direction. I kept my eyes on Meredith. She was glaring at her brother while tears rolled down her cheeks. I felt horrible. But Paxton's bad news and I won't let her get hurt. And I know James won't stand by and watch Paxton hurt her either.

The front door slammed shut and it made me jump.

James looked up at his sister and his expression softened, "I'm sorry-"

"No." She grounded, "You don't get to apologize." She swiped the tears away from her eyes.

James took a step towards her, "Mere, I'm just trying to protect you. I told you what he's done and who he is."

"I don't believe you."

"It's true." I said before James could speak, "He's bad news, Meredith. Jack's told me some things about him before. He's no good at all. James just wants to protect you. Don't get mad at him."

She crossed her arms over her chest and stood straighter, "You're really with Jack? Not my brother?"

"I'm sorry we lied to you."

"I just want to be left alone." She dropped down on her bed and bowed her head.

I tugged on James's hand, but he didn't budge. He wanted to say something to Meredith. I tugged on his hand again and he finally let me pull him out of the room. I brought him back to his room. I didn't say anything yet. I wasn't really sure what to say to him exactly. I know nothing I say will make the situation better. I don't' think there's really anything you could say to make this situation better.

James lowered himself to the foot of his bed and put his head in his hands. I lingered close to him, not sure what else to do. I sat down next to him, closer to the corner of the bed. "She won't be mad at you forever."

He lifted his head and stared at the open door, "You don't know my sister."

"You're protecting her. She'll realize that."

"I hope so."

Work the next day was a complete drag. It was slow and I was worried all day about Jack. He had an appointment with his lawyer sometime today and he said he was going to tell them about his memories. His dad gave him the green light to tell his lawyer. I just hope it helps. He hasn't called and I've tried texting him but got no reply.

I was in a hurry to clock out when my shift was over. I checked my phone one more time to check for messages before getting in the car and heading home. A car was still missing in the driveway of the McKinnon house and I knew they weren't home yet. That made me nervous. They've been gone at least five hours. I wonder if that's how long they usually last. Or maybe Jack remembered everything.

The only person home was James, which was odd. His car was in the driveway, but Meredith was nowhere to be found. I walked through the family room and James lifted himself out of the pool. I opened up the sliding glass door and walked back out into the summer heat. "Hey, where's Meredith?"

He ruffled his hand through his wet locks, "I took her home."

"She let you take her home? And you didn't stay with her?"

James grabbed the towel that rested on one of the loungers and started drying himself off, "She's leaving with my mom tonight to go back to New York for the rest of the summer. I didn't want to go." He draped the towel over his shoulders and looked at me. The sun highlighted his eyes, almost making them glow.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

He just smiled, "At least I know she won't be around him."

"Yeah, I guess so. And thank you for staying."

"Want to go grab some dinner real quick?"

"Sure, but I need to shower. This kid decided it would be funny and throw a pancake at me. Not just a piece, but a whole damn pancake loaded with syrup." I wrinkled my nose, "I'll probably smell like maple syrup for two weeks."

James leaned forward, a little to close, and sniffed my neck, "You smell sweet."

I quickly stepped back, "I'm just gonna go shower. I'll meet you in a few minutes." And I ran inside.

What the hell was that?

That wasn't exactly friendly. I mean, yeah, it was friendly all right.

Shut up, Juliet. It's nothing.

I checked my phone once more before getting into the shower and going to pick up dinner with James.

We decided on Chinese food and more episodes of Breaking Bad. We did have an entire season to finish, which probably won't be hard. It was an easy show to marathon.

We were in the middle of an episode when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I dropped my fork and hurried to pluck my phone from my pocket.

It was a text from Jack that read, "Come outside."

"Pause it. I'll be back." I scrambled up from the floor and took off out the front door. I saw Jack standing behind the white line in the famous black and white suit I loved a little too much.

He looked worried and that made me slow down. Oh no.

What happened next made my heart almost stop completely.

Jack lifted the line of white string and stepped under it.

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I didn't even realize how far into the book I really was until this chapter lol. It'll be ending in the next few chapters sadly. :( And there will not be a sequel. Or at least there's no absolute plans for one. I think this story works great as a standalone book.

I hate asking for votes, but since I entered this book in the watty awards, I'm gonna ask for votes, haha. I would love you guys forever if you voted, I seriously appreciate it so much already. So thank you so much! :)

And please comment as well? I like knowing what you guys think! :)