On the ride back home, we didn't want to let go of each others hands. Our fingers intertwined as I rested against him and we both stared out the van's window at the coast. Periodically, he would kiss my forehead. Everyone else except Sammy of course, was asleep. He was jamming to his music and in his own world.

"I never asked you where you're going for college," I said to Jack.

His chest practically sunk beneath me as he sighed. "I'm going all the way to Eastern Michigan."

I knew he could sense my mood change. Michigan is timezones away & of course I wasn't happy about it. To be fair, I expected this from everyone except Matt. He's going to a college only 30 minutes away to be in their theatre program. This is a part of life after high school. Everyone leaves. And if they stay, they drift apart anyway. I didn't want to drift apart from anyone.

Jack squeezed my hand a little tighter. "This won't change anything, only distance."

"Yeah until you find the next girl who is a little more amazing than me," I joked.

"And how is that possible when you're at the top of the amazing list?" He scrunched his nose at me, knowing that what he just said was cheesy. But I loved it.

. . .

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Cheer Girl!"

 I turn around in my booth to find Mister Cameron Dallas leaning against the front counter.

"I dated one of your teammates and you still don't remember my name," I respond.

"I remember it, Lauren. I remember everything," he smiles. "What have you been up to?"

"Just working and enjoying summer."

"Oh yeah? Are you still with Chase the Acemaster?"

"No. We've parted ways." I start wiping the counter that's already clean, making him take a bit of a step backwards.

"Ah, then how's the single life treating you?"

"It was okay until I stopped being single," I grinned.

"Who's the lucky guy?" His smile toned down a bit.

"I'll give you a hint," I lean in. "He works in this park."

"Ha ha, very f--"

Cameron pauses just as he looks to his right. I lean out the pay window to see that he's looking at Jack. Those two did not seem happy to see each other.

"Uh...meet my boyfriend," I announced.

"Gilinsky," Cameron scoffed. "You're dating this guy? This piece of shit?"

Jack shakes his head. "You really don't wanna do this, Dallas. I'm telling you right fuckin' now."

"That's funny. You should've said that line to Emilia that one time, or the second or third, probably the fourth," Cameron snapped back.

"Really dude? That was over a year ago!"

"Tell me, Lauren. Did Jack wait for you to break up with Chase before he fooled around with you?" Cameron asked.

Jack looked at me as I pieced it together. I remember the stories about Emilia's infidelity toward Cameron but had no idea it was with Jack.

"Did you know that he still talks to Emilia? That's right Jack, I know all about your little text messages, your heart-to-hearts including the one from last week. She showed me," Cameron continued. "He likes talking to other guys' girlfriends; does it for the thrill to see if he can get them. I'm shocked he's still friends with Wilkinson after taking his girl a few years back. Gemma, was it?"

Jack's hands began to curl into fists and I felt a numbness take over my body. I stared at the ground not saying a word.

"Lauren, it's not what you think. Don't listen t-"

"Jack," I interrupted him. "Please go before you get into a fight. And Cam, leave before you cause more trouble. I have to start cleaning before Nash gets here."

"Lauren-" 

I give Jack the evil side-eye and he eventually surrenders, going back in the direction he came from. Cameron mockingly waves to both of us as he walks in the opposite direction.

Maybe I rushed into things with Jack. I'm still very vulnerable to heartbreak and I wasn't fully healed from Chase's antics before I got with Jack. And he still talks with Emilia? She is super gorgeous! How can I compete with a girl that belongs on America's Next Top Model? Super long black hair, perfect nose, plump naturally pink lips, tall & slim. She always smelled like expensive perfume. She's one of those girls that constantly play & flip their hair just because it's there. Perhaps I was overreacting. Perhaps my trust in the male species was still on the mend. Either way, I wasn't too happy about it.

I was pretty much silent when it came time to close. Nash was taking notice and was giving me weird looks here and there.

"Is everything alright," Nash asked me as he piled the boxes of chips onto the cart.

"Yeah, just thinking, that's all. A lot on my mind," I nearly whispered.

"About Jack?"

"What gave it away?"

"I saw you two come out of the same room Thursday morning. Kind of just put two and two together," Nash explained. "You guys together or something?"

"I guess so. I hope so. I just heard a bit of news."

"He cheated?"

"No, but I really don't want to talk about it," I sighed.

"Okay, but you can talk to me whenever you're ready." Nash pats me on the shoulder.

We finish packing up and head to Base. There, of course, I see Chase moving some boxes. He looks at me and his eyebrows furrow.

"You good?" Chase asks.

All I do is nod my head and go to the office to turn in my cash.

As I walked out, Jack was waiting for me with his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Emilia," he said in a melancholy tone.

"Why would you have to," I shrug and move past him.

He grabs hold of my wrist and pulls me back. "Please. You can't just walk off without getting the other side of the story."

"Well, can you tell me that side tomorrow? I'm really exhausted," I groaned.

"Are you kidding me right now? It's not like I fuck her, Lauren. Let's just go somewhere and talk," he pleaded.

"I'm going home, Jack! I just want a shower and my bed. I'll have a better mindset tomorrow." I yank my arm out of his grasp and speed-walk to my car. He walks after me.

"Lauren, please! I love you!"

I stop dead in my tracks but I didn't feel the way I should. I slowly turn around and glare at him. He has a worried look and I wondered if he just said that to make me stay or not.

"Tell Emilia that when you have your next heart-to-heart." I continued to my car but this time he wasn't following me.

. . .

It was hard to fall asleep that night. I felt so uneasy like a part of me was taken and stomped on. I figured out that because of the pain Chase caused - how I still haven't let it go, it's been resting in the back of my mind, lurking. Silently reminding me that every guy I come into contact with is capable of breaking my heart.

The clock hits 2:15 AM and I finally fall asleep. Of course, all good things must come to an end. At 2:35, my cell phone rings, startling me out of my sleep. I didn't recognize the number but I answered anyway.

"Hello," I groaned.

"Lauren? It's Jack."

"Johnson?"

"Yeah, sorry." The frantic tone of his voice began to worry me.

"What is it?"

"It's Gilinsky. He got into an accident and he's banged up pretty bad," Johnson's voice shook.

My body began to shake as much as his voice. Not my Jack.

"Is he going to be okay?" I gulped.

"We don't know. We were in the car a-a-and a car came out of nowhere in the intersection. It hit his side and Sammy, Sammy broke his arm. I-I got lucky with a couple bruises but there w-was blood and Jack wouldn't open his eyes. H-he's been in there for like an hour, Lauren," he stuttered in shock.

I was stunned. I had to be having a nightmare, I even pinched my leg to check. The tears began pouring from my eyes and I was trembling, trying not to drop the phone.

"Okay, umm," I stammered. "Which hospital are you at?"

"Miss," I hear Johnson ask someone. "What's the name of this hospital?...Okay thanks. Lauren, we're at Mercy Haven Hospital, the ER. Shit, there's Sammy," Johnson sighs with relief.

"I'm on my way, just hold on. If they let you see Jack before I get there, tell him I'm on my way, please," I trembled.