I got up slowly and quietly walked towards the garage door, leaving the room. Zack and Rian were to busy trying to unroll some cables to notice me.

As I walked to the front of the house, I could smell cigarette smoke.

“Come here.” Jack’s voice.

I turned around to see Jack sitting on a playground swing, blowing smoke from his cigarette.

“I didn’t know you smoke.” I said, without moving.

“Does it bother you?” He gave me serious look.

“No.” I answered, still without moving.

After a while staring at eachother, Jack broke the silence.

“Aren’t you sweating under this sweater?” He chuckled. “It’s hot as hell today.”

“No, I’m fine.” I said, finally moving closer and sitting on the swing next to him.

Truth is, I was sweating, quite a lot, but I had my reasons not to take it off. He took one last drag of his cigarette and then threw it away, taking a deep breath.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, he seemed nervous.

“Nothing is wrong.” He laughed. “I just thought you might be feeling unconfortable with them, just ignore them ok? I just like to…”

“Don’t worry.” I interrupted him. “I wasn’t unconfortable.” I smiled and we went silent again. “Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked.

“Nothing important I guess…” It looked like he didn’t know what to say. “So… tell me about you… did you left behind any girlfriends back in Essex?” He laughed nervously, looking at his feet.

“GirlfriendS?” I laughed back. “Nah… I know it’s weird to say that, but girls annoy me.”

“It’s not weird to say that.” He smiled. “Girls annoy me too, I guess that’s the reason why my father hates me…” I looked at him, so he would keep talking. “When I was your age, he caught me kissing a guy in front our house.” He laughed. “Man… I still have some scars from that day.” He stopped talking.

“What do you mean scars? Memories?” I asked.

He moved away and slowly lifted his shirt, showing a huge scar on his ribs.

“Let’s just say he kicked me a little bit too hard that day.” He smiled, covering his scar again.

What the fuck? The guy almost killed his son only because he was gay?

“Why are you telling me all of this stuff?” I asked, looking at him with a confused look.

It looked like he just stopped to think for a moment.

“Honestly? I have no idea.” He laughed. “I don’t know… I mean… you said girls annoyed you, so I felt like it wouldn’t be weird telling you this… and I feel like I can trust you, or I feel like you should know that… I don’t know… I’m confused.” He laughed again.

“You can trust me ok?” I smiled, putting one hand on his shoulder.

“I wish you could trust me too.” He said, softly grabbing my wrist.

I quickly pulled my hand from his shoulder and put it on my lap, staring at my hands.

“Let’s just say I’m not the happiest guy on earth.” I said, forcing a smile.

“Have you guys finished this conversation of yours?” Zack came out of nowhere almost giving me a heart attack. “Jack, we have some stuff to do before you dissapear again.”

“Fuck you Zack.” Jack laughed. “Just wait here okay?” He whispered to me.

I whispered him an “Okay” and just sat there, waiting for him.

---

After some minutes waiting he finally came out of the garage.

“I’m sorry it took me so long.” He said with his head down, he looked like a child.

“It’s ok.” I said, chuckling a bit. “I should go home now, I don’t want to get my host family worried.”

“I’ll take you home.” He said, walking towards the street. “It’s late, I don’t want you to be kidnapped by anyone but me.” He laughed.

“It’s only 4pm.” I laughed, gazing at him. “It’s not even dark.”

“Shut up and let’s go kid.” He said pulling my hand.

The walk home was fun, we mostly talked about Jack’s band and his friends. Rian was the only one with a girlfriend, her name was Cassadee, and she had an amazing voice. Jack laughed while he told me about Zack, he said that guy didn’t know what to do about his life and he had quit school at the age of sixteen. He also said he was the guy his father caught him kissing when he was fifteen, but they saw a relationship between them was never gonna work, so since that day they were just great friends.

“It’s here.” I said, walking towards the porch.

“Ok… it was fun… today… I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” He said, staring at the ground.

“So… do you want to come in?” I smiled, pretending I had not heard what he said.

“Are you sure?” He said, smiling at me.

“It’s ok, you can have dinner with us, Rose is gonna love you.” I laughed, opening the door.

Me and Jack entered the house, Rose and Charlie were sitting on the couch watching TV and we sat on the couch next to them. I introduced Jack to them and as I expected. Rose loved him.

---

Rose prepared dinner while we talked to Charlie about football , music and many random stuff. When dinner was ready – spaghetti – we all ate, talked and laughed a lot. Jack, who looked really sad the whole day, was now having fun like a child with his friends.

I sat on the couch with Charlie while Jack helped Rose with the dishes in the kitchen. Me and Charlie never talked much.

“You and this guy seem to be pretty close, for how long have you known him?” Charlie asked, breaking the awkward silence between us.

“Uh…” Now that I stopped to think, I realized I had just met Jack. “I don’t know… two days I guess.” I laughed.

“I guess I should get going now Mrs. Rose, it was really nice to meet you.” Jack and Rose were already in the hall.

“ALEX, COME HERE DEAR.” Man, that woman screamed.

“Comin’.” I said, walking towards the hall, leaving Charlie alone in the room with a funny look on his face.

“So Jack…” Rose started talking before I could say anything. “I was wondering if you would like to spend the night here.” She smiled, staring at me right away.

“Well…” He laughed at my “what the fuck” face. “Only if Alex agrees.” He said, turning his eyes back to Rose.

“Of course he does.” Rose chuckled.

Nice one Rose.