-Jack-

My dad was on his phone calling the lawyer before I got another word out. He spoke quickly, stumbling over his words. I've never seen my dad...flustered. He's always been quick, but he's never lost his words before. Especially being a producer, he's usually quick and smooth with his words.

My mom gripped my forearm while she kept an eye on Dad. Once he hung up and placed his phone on the table and leaned towards me, "He's on his way so wait to say anything until he gets here."

I nodded.

"Do you want any breakfast while we wait?" Mom asked.

"Uh, no. I can't even think about food right now."

We sat at the breakfast table and everyone was basically on edge. My mom was bouncing her leg continuously and my dad was fidgeting while reading the newspaper. When the doorbell rang, but my mom was the first to jump up and go to the door. Seconds later, she walked back into the kitchen with my lawyer, John, in tow. He sat in the seat my mom just vacated and she sat across the table.

John pulled out a tape recorder and a note pad from his briefcase and laid it out all on the table, "You haven't said anything, right?" He asked.

"No, nothing to them." My heart skipped a beat.

"Good." He reached for the recorder and clicked in one of the buttons, "I want you to start from the beginning. From the time you got up to the time you remember last."

I rubbed my hands together nervously and swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. I sat up straighter and cleared my mind of any previous events and started my story, "I woke up late for school that morning. I was stressed over the upcoming exams and about colleges. All the normal teenage stuff. I went to school like I usually do. Go through all the classes like normal. My friends, Matt and Ethan, noticed my sudden...drift. I couldn't focus on anything and I couldn't get anything done.

It was Friday night and they wanted to do something to get my mind off of things. We went to The Iron Boot, which is like the only bar we've ever been to. I had a beer, just one. And they were talking about me getting a tutor to help me pass my exams. I started getting a headache and wasn't feeling well, so I left." I paused for a few moments while he wrote some things down.

He made the gesture for me to continue.

"I was in a cab on my way home when I got a phone call from Paxton." Saying his name made me feel better and worse at the same time, "We met up at Teresa's diner. He said he just wanted to talk and hang out because we haven't talked in awhile. It wasn't until after I left again, I got another phone call from him. It was a frantic one."

After fifteen more minutes of truth telling, I was finished. I made sure not to leave out a single detail. I waited five minutes after I finished, searching my brain in case I may have missed anything important.

"This is a solid case, Jack." John smiled a little, "I'm going to call the lab down at forensics to get the gun out evidence and test it for more fingerprints. Since they were only looking for yours, it wasn't hard. But if your story adds up, there has to be something."

"How long will that take?" Dad asked.

John stood up and started collecting his things, "I'll call as soon as I get any information. For now, Jack," He turned to me, "Stay in the house and don't talk to anyone. Not even your friends."

"Got it."

After John left, I stayed around and talked to my parent's before they went off to work. My mom insisted on staying with me, but I told her I would be fine. I'm about to sleep the day away.

Before I ventured upstairs, I checked all the locks on the doors to make sure everything was secure. I'm going to be paranoid for the next forty-eight hours.

I made into my room and plopped down on my bed. I tucked myself under the blanket and closed my eyes. It was the first time I actually wanted to sleep. It was probably the easiest I've ever fallen asleep.

I woke up hours later to the sound of my mom downstairs cooking only god knows what. It did smell good so it can't be too bad. I reached over to my bedside table and grabbed my phone. I had a message from Juliet telling me she missed me already. Instead of messaging back, I called her. "Hello, Trouble." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Does that mean you're my sidekick?"

"Clearly." She laughed, "How's everything going?"

I told her as much as I could because John did tell me not to talk to anyone. But I told Juliet everything before I was told not to. I guess it wasn't a good idea, but she had to know, "I should know more soon."

"That's great. Paxton and Jeremy will get what they deserve."

"I hope so."

"You won't have to worry about them much longer, Jack. It's all going to work out and I can't wait."

It brought a smile to my lips, "And after this is over, I'm going to have school to worry about."

"You do have a pretty great tutor, so you shouldn't have a problem with school anymore."

"She's really distracting though..."

"Don't get me started on distractions, McKinnon."

I laughed and sat up in bed, "It's true, you're nothing but distracting."

"You know how to make a girl feel special, don't you?"

Even though she couldn't see it, I grinned. More to myself than anything, "It's my job to make you feel special." I teased, "Speaking of feeling special...how are you feeling today?"

"Actually, I'm good. My only problem is that I miss you."

"Can you get away tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you under our tree at midnight."

"Perfect. See you at midnight."

Once we hung up, I got out of bed. I opened my door and the smell of my mom's cooking enveloped me. It was a rarity that she ever cooked. She only ever cooked on special occasions or if she was just in a really good mood.

I hope it's both.

My dad locked himself in his office after dinner and left my mom and me alone. I helped her clean up for the first time in I don't even know how long. It'll also help pass the time until Midnight so I can see Juliet.

She went upstairs, but asked me a million times if I was okay before she actually left. I sat on the couch and flipped through channels. I finally got annoyed and just left it on whatever channel it landed on. My dad soon emerged from his office.

"Did John call?"

He shook his head, "He messaged me and said he'll be in contact tomorrow."

"Does this mean they're going to move up the trial?"

"It could mean there won't even be a trial if your story matches up. We know you didn't do it. And that witness said he saw two people. It matches up, Jack. Don't worry, we're taking care of this."

"Thank you."

He sent me a smile before retreating up the steps.

Midnight couldn't come fast enough. It was almost midnight when I made my way through the back door. I walked around the pool and across the lawn to the tree. I stood under it, waiting for Juliet. Soon, I heard the latch of the fence and it opened. Juliet stepped through the closed the latch behind her.

She had a blanket rolled under her arm, but she managed to stand on her toes and kiss me quick. I helped her spread out the blanket and we sat down. I rested my back against the tree and Juliet moved between my legs and pressed her back against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close.

I leaned down close to her ear and kissed her cheek, "This could all be over in a matter of days."

"I'm so happy for you, Jack."

I smiled and kissed her cheek again.

The next day came around slowly. My parent's didn't go to work and they spent the day pacing the living room and the kitchen while I watched. I was nervous, yes, but they seem a little more on edge than I was. Just watching them was making me more nervous and I didn't think that was possible.

We all jumped when the phone buzzed on the living room coffee table. My dad jumped at the chance and answered it, putting it on speaker so we could hear everything. "John, you're on speaker." My dad spoke.

"Good, good. I have a lot to talk about." He paused and I heard shuffling of paper, "I got the results back from one of the detectives working in homicide and they did find two other finger prints. One was only a partial, but it wasn't yours. He wasn't too smart about cleaning it thoroughly clearly." More shuffling of paper, "What really stuck out was that it wasn't your finger print on the trigger, it was Jeremy's."

"What does this mean?" My dad asked.

My heart was beating so fast and my chest tightened.

"I'm taking everything over to the court house now. And there's now a warrant for Jeremy's arrest."

My mom started crying first off. And I wanted to also, but I didn't.

"That's great news." My dad announced, his smile so big it was hurting my face.

"I'll call you in a couple of hours with official news."

"Thank you, John."

My dad hung up the phone and my mom attacked me with a hug I wasn't expected. She sobbed on my shoulder and squeezed me tighter. My dad eventually joined in on the hug, pulling us both in. It was weird, in an awesome kind of way.

The biggest thing of my life just happened and I didn't know what to do about it. I wanted to cry, I wanted to laugh at the idiocy, and I wanted to put my face in a pillow and scream because I couldn't express the happiness I felt.

It's almost over completely. And in a good way.

My dad was the first to pull away and then my mom slowly. She wiped her eyes and I looked up at my dad, "I'm sorry for the shit I've put you guys through these past few years. You haven't done anything to deserve the way I've been treating you and I'm so sorry."

I glanced between them and my mom started to cry again "You're not a bad kid, Jack." He said, "You just make bad decisions. Believe me, I've been there."

It reminded me of what Juliet said, "I'm going to make better decisions now. I want to be a better person for you guys and for Juliet."

My dad's brows furrowed together, "Juliet?"

"Mom never told you?"

He shook his head, "But she's lucky to have you."

"I'm not too sure about that, but I'm lucky I have her. And I'm very lucky I have you guys also. I wouldn't have made it through this without you guys."

"We would do anything for you, Jack, you know that. We love you and Anna more than anything in this world."

I wasn't going to cry, no, stop it. "Thank you, Dad." I looked at my mom and she was wiping her eyes again, "And you, too. I'm seriously lucky to have you for my mom and dad."

I stood up and gave my dad a proper hug. I haven't hugged my dad since I was starting middle school. Maybe even before then. I guess it was long overdue. My mom stood also and I gave her another hug. My mom was small compared to my dad and me so it was a little bit hard to hug her standing. She's about the same height as Juliet, maybe a little taller.

"I'm going to go see Juliet." I whispered to her, "I'll be back before you go to bed."

She took a step back and joined my dad. She nodded and smiled.

I ran out of the house and over to Juliet's. I rang the doorbell and knocked on the door quickly. I ran a hand through my hair as my heart rate picked up speed. The door opened and Juliet looked surprised, "Jack, what-"

I gripped her face and kissed her. She walked me in the house, her lips still attached to mine. I kicked the door shut and pulled away, "It's over."

"Over?"

"They found the finger prints on the gun. And Jeremy's fingerprint is the one on the trigger, not mine. They're arresting him today."

I watched the tears well up in her eyes, "You're free?"

"I am."

A tear rolled down her cheek and I swiped it away with my thumb. She stood on her toes and brought my lips back down to hers, "I'm so happy for you." She breathed against my lips.

Our lips connected for a split second before she led me upstairs. Once we stepped in her room, she closed the door with her foot and we were connected again. She kissed me effortlessly as she backed me towards her bed. She pulled away when the backs of my legs hit the bed, "Do you know when it'll all be official?"

"Hopefully tomorrow. I mean, they're already after the guy. I don't think it gets anymore official than that." I laughed lightly.

She smiled and kissed me again, "True."

I brought my hands up to her face and wiped away more of her tears, "No more crying."

"It's happy crying."

"Do I get to happy cry, too?" I joked.

"You can do whatever you want now...with boundaries, of course."

I laughed again and switched our positions. I brought my lips to hers and slowly lowered her towards the bed. I hovered over her, supporting my weight on both of my hands, "I saved myself."

She hooked a leg around my hip and drew me in closer, "You did."

"I couldn't have done it without you or my parents." I dropped my voice down to a whisper, "I owe you so much for everything you've done for me."

She lifted a hand to my face, tracing my jaw with her finger, "Well you did let me spend the night when I was locked out. I think we're pretty even." The corner of her mouth perked into a small crooked smirk, but it slowly faded, "I'd do it again." She wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, "I'd do anything for you, Jack."

"Sure about that?"

"More than anything."

We became a mess of tangled limbs and clothes in an attempt to get closer. Everything felt like it was on fire. Being close to Juliet makes everything feel like that and it's not a bad thing. I love the feeling. I love the feeling of her soft skin and her soft lips. The dip of her waist and the arch in her back.

Neither one of us is perfect, but that's what makes us perfect together.

I didn't remember falling asleep until someone was knocking on Juliet's door. I opened my eyes and heard Juliet groan next to me. "Who is it?" She called out.

"Uh, James? The only person staying here?"

Juliet shot up and gathered the sheet against her body, "Shit." She hissed quietly and started searching for her clothes. I jumped out of bed and got dressed as quickly as I could without it looking suspicious. The door being locked is suspicious enough. "Hold on!" She slipped her shorts on as I finished getting dressed.

I walked to her bathroom and ruffled my fingers through my hair and Juliet went in after me. She put her hair into a ponytail and went to the door. She opened it and James lifted himself off the wall across the hall, "Oh, didn't know you were here." James forced a smile when he looked over Juliet's shoulder.

"We were watching a movie and fell asleep." Juliet cleared.

James tilted his head, scanning Juliet, "Is that what they're calling it these days?"

"Uh, I gotta go." I piped and looked down at Juliet, "I'll call you tomorrow." I pecked her lips and walked between them. That was a bunch of awkward that I wasn't prepared for. But at least it was James and not her grandparents.

I walked back to my house with a smile on my face. I actually felt like smiling. Everything was going my way. Not in a selfish way, but I needed something to happen so I didn't just give up completely. And everything that's happened today is definitely telling me not to give up.

I wouldn't dream of it now.

As I made it up the sidewalk to my house, someone was leaning against the wall beside the door. I stopped and the guy stood up straighter. "I was wondering when you'd finally make it home."

I know that voice.

He came closer until he was standing under the porch light.

Jeremy. "What are you doing here?" I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified.

"Why do you think? There's a massive amount of cops looking for me because you don't know how to keep your mouth shut. Paxton told me you didn't remember anything. He's next."

It happened so fast.

All I could see were white spots and then nothing at all.

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I've done a very bad thing, friends. And I'm sorry. I know you're probably confused, but you'll know in the next chapter! I'm aiming for two or three more chapters plus an epilogue. No sequel, I'm sorry. :(

This was barely edited (Barely is the keyword here) I just wanted to get it posted lol.

Pleaaaasee vote and comment? :) Love you guys!

Song: My Demons by Starset