Extra - Chapter 16: Jack's POV
-Jack-
My temples were throbbing again.
After the meeting today and after getting back from Juliet's, I went straight to my room and locked myself in. My dad locked himself in his office again, my mom...I don't know. She doesn't do much when she's alone in the house. On rare occasions she'll sit and read, which is funny considering her occupation.
I wanted to write now, but my mind wasn't going to let me.
My mind was swimming with useless information from today. Absolutely nothing to help my case. All I wanted to do was remember.
Why couldn't I just remember?
This whole situation was so frustrating I either wanted to cry or throw my fist through a wall. Maybe punch a wall and then cry.
Most of my theories were so far fetched I started laughing.
There was one where I even considered sleepwalking. But then ruled that out because I woke up in the hospital with a head injury. The memories come in flashes and broken voices. There's nothing I could make out.
Maybe if I slept I'd be able to remember something. Dream about that night and let it come to me. But I knew that probably wasn't going to happen either. So instead, I got up and sat at my desk. I pulled out Juliet's notes and some of my worksheets to study some.
Anything's a distraction at this point.
Never thought I'd use studying as a distraction.
After I completed a worksheet, there was a knock on my door. "Yeah?" I called out without looking up from my paper.
The door opened and I saw my mom from the corner of my eye. "We're going out for a bit. Will you be okay?"
"No, but it's not like you guys care."
"Jack," She grounded. "We're doing everything we can-"
"I know," I said quickly. "I'll be fine. It's not like I can go anywhere."
"Call us if you need anything."
As she started to leave, I called her back, "Mom."
She popped her head back into the crack of the door.
"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I'm just...stressed out. And worried."
"I know, Honey. We are too. And we're going to do anything we can to get you out of this, Jack. I can promise you that."
I nodded and gave her a small smile. "Thank you. Have fun tonight."
She left with slight reluctance and closed my door. I didn't mean to take it out on her. I'm just so out of it lately, I don't even know who I am anymore. Or who I was before all of this.
I never wanted to lose myself and I did.
In the worst way.
My concentration has officially been lost. I rose from my desk and walked to my messy bookcase. It really needed to be organized. Books were piled on the shelves, some spines were facing the wrong way, and some were actually on the verge of falling off. And looking down, there was also a small stack of books that have fallen off.
I ran a hand roughly through my hair and sighed before randomly plucking a mystery novel from my shelf. My mom had an endless supply of mystery novels. And where she works, she always gets free ones before they're released. The amount of mystery novels I've read in the past few years is astounding.
The amount I've read since I've been on house arrest is even more astounding.
Being on house arrest is not as great as some people think. Well, if they really think house arrest is great they've lost their marbles. It's not like a vacation. It's like being locked in a cage. Okay, maybe the first few days aren't bad. It's nice to catch up on sleep or read as much as possible.
But I rarely sleep, so I'm still missing that part.
I've binge watched a show on Netflix within the span of a week and even re-watched all the Star Wars movies.
That was basically how my first week went. Netflix, too much junk food, back-to-back mystery novels, and I was alone.
Completely alone.
For the most part, I liked to be alone. But trapped in a house that's so quiet you could hear your footsteps can be surprisingly loud. Too loud.
I'm glad I have Juliet's company. Not one of my friends-so called-have even tried calling or coming by. I guess it's understandable but damn, not even a text message. I'd never turn my back on my friends no matter what happened.
I don't think I've ever been so mentally exhausted. It's something sleep couldn't even fix. I'm just so...tired.
Every time I close my eyes I see blood.
A lot of blood. And it's not mine. I see it on my hands and puddled on black asphalt. Sometimes I wake up and smell the coppery scent of fresh blood.
Nothing is coming back to me and it's so unbelievably frustrating.
Also something bugging the hell out of me was Juliet going out tonight to meet this mystery person. And not only is she going, but she's going with James. Honestly, did he really have to go? It frustrates me.
It's not fair.
Jealousy is ugly.
And I just wanted to be with her tonight. The loneliness is overwhelming. It was a tight suffocating blanket and I couldn't do anything about it. The constriction in my chest when I think about it only tightens and it feels like my lungs can't fill with enough air.
As I was walking back to my bed, the doorbell rang.
Irritation clawed at my skin and I walked down the stairs. Then the banging started and the bell rang again. I already knew who it was without even opening the door.
I flung the door open and Paxton was leaning against the panel with a grin on his face. "Good, you're home."
"So funny I forgot to laugh," I said dully. "What do you want?"
He shrugged a shoulder. "Just want to hang out. I notice you don't have any company."
I snorted. "No, Juliet isn't here and neither are my parents. But you knew that already, didn't you?"
His grin turned crooked. "Of course." He stepped around me to get inside
"Did I say you could come in?"
"Why so bitter, Jack?" He turned around, his grin still tugging at his lips.
"Bitter would be an understatement," I mumbled and rubbed the throbbing space between my brows. "What are you doing here? My parents will be home soon."
"They just left," He informed me. "So no they won't."
"You're in my house, Asshole."
"On house arrest, need I remind you."
I bit my lower lip, almost to the point of breaking the skin. "How could I forget? Maybe it's the lawyer visits or the fact I can't go more than a hundred feet from my house."
Paxton continued smiling at me. "Sucks to be you then."
My anger pulled me under and I shoved Paxton against the wall. He groaned and came back at me, but I caught his forearms and pushed him back against it. I used my forearm, pressing it against his throat so he stayed in place. He was seething. "Are you going to kill me too, Jack?"
I pressed my forearm harder against his throat. "I didn't kill him," I hissed. "If I could remember anything, I wouldn't be having this problem."
"Maybe..." He tried breathing but it got caught in his throat.
I eased up a little so he could talk.
"Maybe you blocked it out because you don't remember. You have it in you to kill someone-"
I pressed further so his voice cut off. "The hell I do." I stepped back and Paxton fell to the ground.
He held onto his throat and took in a deep breath. "Sure about that?"
No, I wasn't. "I'd never kill anyone."
"Now I'm not so sure about that. I mean you are a suspect for a reason."
"You have three seconds to get out of my house-"
"Or what?" Paxton staggered to his feet and walked up to me. "You'll call the cops, Jack? All they'll do his take your ass back to jail where you'll rot in a cell until your trial. Which won't even declare that you're innocent."
"Why do you want to see me fall so badly?"
"What makes you think that?" He said sarcastically. "You'll get what you deserve and I can't wait to stand by and watch it." He walked around me and opened the front door. "Take care."
He slammed the door behind him on his way out.
I fisted my hair and wanted to pull it out. My anger hasn't subsided and my heart was racing and I felt like I was on the verge of hyperventilating. I walked back upstairs and fell back on my bed. With a hand over my chest, I closed my eyes and attempted to gain control of my breathing.
* * *
I woke up to car doors slamming loudly next door.
I climbed out of bed and walked to my window to peer out. James was holding Juliet in his arms and I automatically knew something was wrong. Why not? Today just keeps surprising me.
So I took off down the stairs and out of the front door. I didn't hesitate to duck under the white string and the beeping of my bracelet started echoing loudly through out the neighborhood. It was a piercing noise, but the closer I got, the more muffled the beeping became.
"Juliet?" I placed my hands on her arm. "Are you okay?" I rushed and looked up at James. "What's wrong with her?"
James looked terrified.
Juliet's head snapped in my direction and she blinked. "Jack!" She exploded and squirmed out of James's arms. "What are you doing? Are you insane?" She put her hands on my chest and pushed me, but I barely moved an inch.
I cupped her face between my hands, ignoring the loud beeping of my monitor. "What happened, Juliet?"
"Get back over the line you idiot!"
I still didn't move.
"Jack, I will-"
"I need you to tell me what's wrong. Are you hurt-"
"And I need you to get back over there before you get in trouble!" She tried pushing me again, but I wrapped my hands around her wrists. "I'm fine, Jack. Just tired. Now let go and get your ass back over the damn line!" She shoved me once more and I tumbled over the white line.
Sprawled on the grass, the beeping stopped and the light turned green.
She ducked under the line and stood over me. "Are you stupid?" She yelled, completely ignoring the fact the neighbors are probably listening to everything. If they didn't hear my monitor, they definitely heard her. "What were you thinking?"
I finally stood and took a step closer. "I thought you were hurt. I thought something happened-"
"I'm not hurt, Jack. I am not worth getting in trouble over." She hiccupped.
I watched James slowly come up behind her. "Juliet." He placed a hand over her shoulder and I looked at him.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "I'm fine. Thank you for being there tonight."
His lips curved a little. "Will you be okay?"
Juliet nodded. "Yeah. I'm just going to go to Jack's for a bit."
James squeezed her shoulder and looked up to meet my gaze. "Take care of her."
His words kind of put me in a daze and all I could do was nod. He sent me a nod back and turned to leave.
I bent down and hooked an arm under her legs and wrapped one around her back to lift her up. She didn't need to be carried, but I wanted to. I wanted her close.
I quietly carried her inside the house and up the stairs to my room. Then I sat her down on my bed so I could get her something to wear. Once I found a t-shirt, I brought it to her and I turned my back to her so she could change.
A few seconds later, she spoke, "It was him-" She stopped abruptly.
I turned back around and took long strides until I reached her. "Paxton?"
She shook her head and tears cascaded onto her cheeks. "My dad. I-It was my dad."
I immediately took her back into my arms and secured her against my chest. "I knew something was wrong," I whispered against her hair. "I'm sorry, Juliet."
She cried into her arms against my chest and I held her tighter. "I can't forgive him," She choked out. "I can't forgive him and forget everything he's done."
"It's okay. It's going to be okay." I brushed my palm down the back of her hair. "You don't need him. You're perfectly fine without him."
Juliet leaned her head back and looked up at me. I cupped her face, letting my thumbs flutter over her cheeks in quick motions to catch stray tears. "What gave him the right to even ask me though? I just...it's too much to ask." She took in a deep, shaky breath and exhaled slowly.
She pressed her forehead against my chest and breathed in and out. She stayed like that for a few passing seconds until my phone started ringing.
I let Juliet go long enough to pick my phone up from the bedside table. My lawyers name popped up on the screen. "It's my lawyer," I informed before answering it quickly.
"Jack," He breathed. "Are you home?"
"Yeah, I'm home."
John sighed. "Good. The police station notified me before they took off to your house."
Weird. "Well you can tell them."
"What were you thinking going over the line? Do you want to go back to jail? There's only so much I can do, Jack."
I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. "No, I'm not that stupid."
"I know," He grumbled. "I'll need you to come in with your parents Monday morning. I'll call them first thing in the morning."
I dropped my hand and opened my eyes again. "Okay, well, I'll see you Monday. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Jack. Stay out of trouble."
I almost laughed and hung up the phone.
"Are you in trouble?" Juliet's small voice spoke.
"I don't think it's possible for me to get into anymore trouble." No, it was definitely possible. Whatever trouble it may be, it'll find me.
"Can I stay with you tonight?"
A smile curved my lips. "Of course."
Juliet walked to the other side of the bed and I stood on my side. But before I climbed in, I pulled my shirt off my body and dumped it on the floor and turned out the bathroom light. I got into bed and Juliet turned on her side to face me.
Timidly, I wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her in until there was nothing between us. She gently placed a hand on the side of my neck and I could feel her breath light on my lips. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I think I will be," She answered.
"And I'll be here."
"Thank you." She nudged her face against my neck and breathed. "And what you did tonight...it was really stupid."
I couldn't help the chuckle that tumbled out. "Just write a list."
"I won't be alive that long," She quipped.
I laughed against and only squeezed her delicately. "I made it back over the line in time. My lawyer was contacted and I have to meet with him and my officers on Monday. My parent's won't like it, but they don't like anything I do." It's sad how serious that last statement actually is. "I'll be fine, so don't worry about me. Me being in trouble is absolutely nothing new."
And it's sad how true that statement is too.
"You must have a good lawyer," She teased.
"Or I'm actually that charming."
She raised her head, tilting it back and looked up at me. "There are people that are actually immune to that charm."
Even in the dark, I did my best to caress her cheek as my thumb brushed her skin. "You weren't."
Her lips barely touched mine. "Obviously." She braced a hand on the back of my head and pressed our lips together. "Thank you," She whispered against my lips.
"For what?"
"Getting in trouble for me."
My lips fought a smile that took over anyway. I kissed her again until she pulled back. "But if you do something that idiotic again, I'll cuff you myself."
My cheeks burned from the comment because I totally took it the wrong way, as always. "You make it sound appealing."
She laughed and kissed me more before resuming her previous position.
We huddled and tangled together. It would be impossible to pull her any closer. I bent my head to leave a kiss on her temple before telling her goodnight and falling asleep.
* * *
I woke to her fingers in my hair and my head resting under her chin.
She kissed the top of my head and I couldn't help but smile.
I exhaled over her skin and settled.
Then someone cleared their throat and I stilled, my eyes popping open.
I already knew who it was.
I untangled myself from her and we both looked to the end of my bed where my mom was patiently waiting with her hands behind her back.
Shit.
We were in trouble.
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This was requested, hahaha. I actually had this written about a week after I posted the Extras thing but I wasn't happy with it because it felt rushed. I edited it today and I like it more now. I'm gonna go through the comments on the extras part and see what else is requested lol.
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