"What are you doing—"

Jack put a finger to his lips and shushed me.

I listened but heard nothing. I took a hesitant step toward him. "The beeping. Why isn't your bracelet going off?"

He lifted his foot and pointed to his ankle, "It's gone."

"It's gone? What do you mean it's gone?"

He closed the distance between us, "I mean it's gone. No more ankle monitor."

I could cry because of how happy I suddenly felt, "Are you serious? Does that mean it's over?"

He lifted his hands and caressed my face between his palms, "I wish it was over, but there's still a lot that needs to be done. The best part is I'm not the main suspect anymore." He smiled widely, "There was a witness that came forward and that helped so much. They said there were two other people, not just one. Two. And they're not the guys that's been flaunted all over the news."

"So you're officially off house arrest?" I asked with a hopeful tone.

His smile fell a little when he shook his head, "Not yet. My officer will show up unannounced about once a week, maybe more. But I can come to you now." He smiled again, "Everything is going to work out. I'll be back to my life soon without any problems. And I can be with you."

I didn't think and just jumped in his arms. I wrapped myself around him and his arms tightened around my waist, "I can't even explain how happy I am right now." I whispered, "I told you this would work out."

He laughed lightly, "I know."

I moved my head back so I was face to face with him. He moved his hands down to get a firm grip on my thighs, "Is that why it took so long today?"

He bobbed his head, "The witness showed up late, but I didn't even know they were showing up at all. I didn't even know there was one. And on top of that, I had to go through a bunch of hoops when it came to getting that stupid monitor off. At first they weren't going to take it off, but my lawyer convinced the judge with a very thought out letter." He grinned. "I think I made quite the convincing case, too."

I smiled to match his, "Good. All of this is so good." I lowered my face down to his and kissed him like I wanted to the moment I saw him. Standing in the yard and on the verge of making out wasn't exactly a good idea. I pulled back and nuzzled my face against the side of his neck. I snaked my arms around his neck a little tighter.

"I decided to make a change of plans tonight." Jack stated.

"What would that be?" I muttered against his neck.

"We're going for a drive."

I lifted my head up to face him again and my eyebrows knitted together in confusion, "A drive? Is that a good idea?"

"It'll be around midnight or a little after. Believe me, no one will show up tonight and my parents will be asleep."

I unraveled myself from around him and placed my feet back on the ground, "Where are we driving to exactly?"

"Where it all happened. I want to retrace my steps kind of. Maybe something will come to me. Maybe all of it will come back to me."

"It sounds like a good and bad idea. But I'll help you."

"It'll be fine, trust me."

"I do."

"I'll meet you out here around midnight."

"See you at midnight."

He pecked my lips and walked back to his house.

Things are finally turning around for him and I couldn't be happier. The situation still isn't ideal, but it's better than it was before. Way better than before. He still can't leave his house, but now he doesn't have the annoying ankle monitor to keep in caged in his house. I guess that is the point of house arrest.

I made it back inside and joined James again. I leaned against the couch beside him and he looked over at me, "Everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah. Everything's good." I smiled.

"Jack okay?"

"Yeah, he just got home. We're going to hang out later."

James just nodded and turned his attention back to the TV.

During an episode, James got a phone call from one of his friends about a major party apparently. Of course he wouldn't pass up the opportunity. We stood in his room and I kept him company while he got ready. Which only involved changing his shirt and fixing his hair, "Sure you don't want to go? It'll be fun."

"Call me boring." I laughed nervously.

"You're not boring." He pulled his jacket on and walked up to me, "You'll be okay while I'm gone?"

"I'll be fine." I'll be with Jack anyway. "Have fun."

He smiled, "Well call me if anything happens and I'll be back as soon as I can. Be safe."

He patted my shoulder and left the room. I stood there in the middle of his room until I heard the front door close. I ran back down stairs and found my phone on the coffee table. I found Jack's contact and called him. He answered on the fourth ring after I almost thought he wouldn't answer at all. "Busy right now?" I asked.

"Never for you."

"Then come over, no one's home."

He was quiet for a moment, "Um, my parents aren't in bed yet. As soon as they go, I'll be over."

"Just come in. I'll be in my room and I know you know where that's at."

His laugh echoed through the phone, "I do. I'll see you in a few minutes."

After I hung up, I went back upstairs.

I stopped in front of my mirror to check my reflection. Eh, good enough. As long as my hair isn't everywhere, I'm good. And just as I tucked a few strands behind my ear, the doorbell rang. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

I made my way down the stairs for the millionth time and opened the door, "I told you to just come in—" I stopped the second I noticed it wasn't Jack standing in the doorway, it was my dad, "What are you doing here?"

"I know. I'm sorry for just showing up." He held his hands up in defense and took a step back, "I was worried because you haven't answered my calls and you didn't give me an answer about California."

Him showing up like this definitely wasn't the weirdest thing that's happened to me this week, "Oh, sorry." I murmured and opened the door wider, "Want to come in?" Trying this whole new road called recovery.

"Sure." He smiled and stepped inside. "Thank you for not slamming the door in my face."

"I think that's behind us now."

I led him into the kitchen and gestured towards the breakfast table. It was a little odd having him in this house again. It was weird having him here at all. He's my dad that I haven't seen in so many years and now he just pops back up like he never left. Especially at this hour. "Coffee or tea?" I offered.

"Coffee, please. Can't go a day without it."

"Now I know where I get it from." I joked while preparing the pot for fresh coffee. While I waited for it to finish, I sat down with him. "I haven't been able to function without a cup of coffee since I started high school."

"I was the same. I still tell people not to ask me questions before my first cup. Your mother is the reason for my coffee habit."

Ah, so both of them were caffeine fanatics, "Doesn't surprise me."

The coffee machine beeped and I stood to fill our cups. He took his the same way I did, no sugar or cream. He sipped on his quietly and I decided to ask the question I've been dying to, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

I sat my cup down and tried to think of a way to word this without sounding rude, "Did you ever marry again?"

He sat his cup down, but kept his hands wrapped around it, "I did about six years ago." He smiled sadly.

I swallowed the giant lump in my throat and blinked back tears, "Did you ever have anymore kids?"

He shook his head, "There was no way I would have any kids knowing about you, Juliet. I wouldn't do that to you."

It wasn't exactly relieving, but it was just a tad, "What about your wife? Doesn't she want kids?"

"She already has two kids from her previous marriage. She told me on our first date she doesn't want any more kids. I waited a few dates to mention you. It was hard to talk about you knowing I couldn't see you."

"You could've seen me—"

"It wasn't the right time."

Part of me understood and then the other part of me wanted to kick him out of my house because he felt like a complete stranger, "Well what are her kids like?"

"The oldest is Samantha, she just finished her first year of college. Very smart, but she never really liked me much. Then her son Jamie just graduated high school in the spring. He definitely likes me more than his sister does. He's interning this summer at the company at work at. Over all good kids."

It looks like he had a new family, he didn't need me now, "They seem great." It was hard to hide the visible disappointment. What did I expect?

"Have you decided about California yet?"

With all that's going on right now, I never even thought about it, "Not yet. When do you leave?"

"I'm only here for a couple more weeks."

"I'll give you your answer before then."

He smiled and took a sip of his coffee.

I heard the front door open and I stood quickly.

"Is someone here?" He asked.

"One second." I hurried out of the kitchen before he could ask any more questions. Jack was closing the door when I ran up to him, "Whose car is that in the driveway?" He asked.

"My dad's here."

Jack's eyes widened, "He's here now? Like right now right now?"

I nodded and grabbed his hands, "I'm sorry, he just stopped by. He shouldn't be here long, I promise." I started pulling him towards the kitchen but he stopped abruptly. "What?"

"You want me to meet him?"

"Why not?"

I dropped one hand and carried him through the house holding the other. When we entered the kitchen, Will stood up from the table. I glanced between the two and noted the height difference. Jack was maybe taller by a few inches. And my dad looked surprised to see a boy next to me, "Who's this?" He held his hand out in Jack's direction.

"Jack." He answered and shook my dad's hand with his free one.

"Oh, the boyfriend." Will grinned and dropped his hand, "It's good to finally meet you, Jack. I'm Will."

"I guess that would be me unless Juliet has other boyfriends she hasn't told me about." Jack cracked a joke so easily, sometimes it amazed me how calm he can actually be.

Will laughed, "She's only mentioned a Jack."

Jack dropped my hand and wrapped his arm tight around my shoulders, "We have that settled then." Jack kept a joking tone, "I can come back if you're busy—"

"No." Will answered, "It's okay, I have to head out anyway." And then he looked at me, "I hope your grandparents know about this."

"He's keeping me company until James gets back."

"James?"

I nodded, "He's a friend staying for the summer." Not that I need to explain anything to him, "Jack's the only guy I need in my life right now—and not like that—I'm just gonna stop talking now."

Will chuckled a little, "I get it. Well you two have a good night and I hope to hear from you soon, Juliet."

I nodded my head as Will shook Jack's hand again. He walked around us and left us alone. Finally.

Jack and I stood in the kitchen, a little confused. I did need to give Will an answer about California, but it's honestly the least of my worries right now. Jack's in my kitchen right now. And that's about all I could focus on right now.

"I can't believe you're actually standing here...even though you're still not supposed to."

He dropped his arm from around my shoulders and stood in front of me, "What they won't know won't hurt." The corner of his lips perked into a crooked smirk.

I placed my hands on his hips and balled his shirt into my fists, "I guess I have to get used to you being here."

"I know a place where we can start."

"Oh?"

"But before I get the grand tour, I guess we should get this over with."

I was nervous about this little trip. There were several reasons why and too many things that could go wrong. But I want to help Jack, but I also don't want to get him in any more trouble. I'm going to try and take his word for it. "Okay. Let's go."

I grabbed my keys from the side table by the door as we walked out. I got into the drivers side and Jack got into the passenger side. I feel like I've stepped into a different view of reality. Jack's sitting next to me. As much as I would love to bask in the fact that he's next to me, I remembered where we were going. We were going to try and uncover some of Jack's lost memories.

That's another part I'm worried about. Only god knows what he can remember or what he will remember. It could be more damaging than we think. But it's also going to prove that he's innocent.

Jack pointed out the turns to take until we reached the bar he was at. We got out of the car and Jack pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up. "Do you know how sketchy that looks?" I mumbled to him as he opened the bar door.

"Bars like this provide for the sketchy."

I stepped inside the stuffy bar and was immediately thrown back by the smell of mixed liquors, cigarette smoke, and I think sweat also lingered in the mix. I followed Jack through the maze of tables and groups. No one stopped him or even talked to him as he navigated.

He stopped in front of a table and brushed his fingers over the worn out and marked up wood. "This was the table we sat at." He pulled a chair out and sat down and I mocked his actions.

"Won't they ask questions?" I looked around us and no one was even looking in our direction. There were people crowded about almost every inch of the bar. The popular part seemed to be the other side by the pool tables. Shouts rang through out when someone made a shot.

"They don't ask questions in a place like this."

I finished looking around and looked at Jack, "Kind of scary, don't you think?"

"They're actually really nice. They seem scary because of all the tattoos and piercings, but they're some of the coolest guys I've ever met."

"You know some of them?"

Jack nodded, "I've come here a lot. But I don't remember seeing any of them that night." He dropped his head in his hands, "I don't remember anything. There's no trigger here."

I placed a hand over his shoulder, "Give it a few minutes. Just close your eyes. Breathe, take in the scents, and the noises."

I lowered my head to Jack's shoulder and whispered to him. I heard him take a deep breath and then I went quiet. I rubbed his back soothingly in the hopes that maybe it'll help calm and ease him.

We stayed like this for a few minutes until Jack sat up straight and opened his eyes. He stared straight ahead and sighed, "Nothing."

My shoulders slumped, "Should we stay a little longer?"

"Let's go to the diner."

Not sure how much of a good idea that is. But I complied and followed Jack back out of the bar. We got back into the car and made our way to the diner. They should be closing in about half an hour, it's not even eleven yet. I'm glad Madison wasn't working tonight because you would be able to taste the awkward.

There were a few drunk people in the diner and a group of those people happened to be Michael and his football buddies.

Great.

"Juliet!" I heard Michael shout.

Jack's head snapped in his direction, "Is that Michael?"

"Just go sit down, I'll take care of him."

"I'm not leaving you alone with him—"

"Jack." I snapped, "I don't want to start anything, just go sit down and I'll come to you in a minute."

He looked at Michael and then retreated to the opposite side of the diner and sat down. I walked over to Michael's table and one of his friends whistled. I didn't know who it was, but I sent a glare in that general direction before looking down at Michael, "What do you want, Michael?" I said evenly.

"I haven't seen you all summer. Where've you been hiding?"

"Anywhere you haven't been if you can't tell." For the love of dogs, please take a hint.

"I've tried calling you, but you didn't answer—"

"I'm not interested. Leave it alone. I have a boyfriend, I'm not looking for anyone else."

Michael leaned back and looked around me, "That him?" He pointed and looked back up at me.

"Yeah, so leave me alone. Go find another girl you can disappoint."

His smile finally fell.

I didn't say anything else and just walked away. Definitely the wrong time to be dealing with Michael. It's funny how this Michael mess is nothing compared to anything else I have going on.

I slid into the booth across from Jack and he lifted his head. "What'd he want?"

"To be annoying."

I still don't know why I had a crush on him for so long. I never saw him for the person he actually was. Which was a complete tool.

Jack put his head back in his hands and breathed, "I remember a little more of the conversation." He balled his hands into fists over his eyes, "You were only a few tables down, I heard your laugh...I was sitting here and Paxton was across from me. He said something about a hot waitress." He dropped his hands and blinked his eyes when he looked up at me, "He was talking about you. And that's when his language got a bit...colorful to be put it nicely."

The heat rose up to my cheeks, coating them with a blush, "I already want to punch him in his—"

"Get in line."

"Remember anything else? Like why you came here?"

He leaned back further and lightly shook his head, "I do remember taking a cab here, but that's it. Paxton and I didn't really talk about anything that stood out other than you."

"Wow, I feel flattered." I said dryly.

Jack slid out of the booth and offered me his hand. I slid out as well and intertwined our fingers. Michael was watching us as we made our way out of the diner. I was heading for the car but Jack started pulling me in the opposite direction. He pushed the hood off of his head once we made it to the sidewalk.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"I just want to go for a walk with you." He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

We walked pretty far from the diner. Not sure exactly how far, but we've been walking for over an hour and we're pretty far into town. The streets where quiet and buildings were dark. Nothing at all going on around us. It almost felt post-apocalyptic.

Jack suddenly stopped in front of a dark alley and it jerked me to a stop. He dropped my hand and stepped further into the darkness, "Jack—"

And then he dropped to his knees in a puddle of water and leaned forward on his elbows with his head in hands.

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I wanted this chapter to be super intense but it didn't work out that way, lol. But I hope you guys enjoyed it! And Jack is on his way to freedom. Also the next chapter will be a major one so get excited (Totally kidding but it will be major)

And pleaaaaasee vote? And comment? :)))))

Love you all bunches! :)