Me Without You

“Alex?” My throat was aching form the amount I had cried last night. I had fallen asleep on him last night after Jack hadn’t come home. I knew it hurt Alex to listen to me cry out for Jack every five minutes, but he stayed. He stayed and he brought me tea. The room was empty and I climbed out of bed and adjusted my sweats on my hips from where they had skewed during the night. I checked the time on my phone and groaned at how late I slept in. Alex must have left, it was nearly noon. I had missed my run, damn it. If I missed the time for my run, the run I took almost every day, I could never find the motivation to actually go. “Ah, shit.” I mumbled as I slipped out of my sweats and pulled my running gear on, throwing my hair into a high ponytail. Exercise was my worst nightmare, but I liked having a relatively flat stomach, and by god, if I was going to blow up into a balloon from this kid, I was going to look good for as long as I could. I plugged my headphones into my phone and slid it into the strap that sat around my arm. I pulled my running shoes on and took the stairs two at a time, knowing that if I found the slightest distraction I wouldn’t go. Olivia barked at me and I considered clipping on her lead and taking her with me, but I highly doubted that her little legs could keep up, and I was not going to be one of those people that carried their dogs half the walk. I locked the house and slid the key Jack had given me down the side of my camo sports bra. I pressed play on my Iphone and smiled as Green Day came through my headphones. Green Day was good running music, steady beat, catchy lyrics. I took off down the road, hoping to god I found my way back okay, I hadn’t been to Towson in a while and Jack lived on the opposite side of town than we all used to. This was unfamiliar territory and I was terrible with directions. I decided to turn off and take a run through the park. I passed multiple people with dogs and I swear to god I recognise that chick from high school. Do people ever leave this town? I must have run two and a half miles before I realised I was lost. I had no idea how to get back to Jacks. Okay, this was bad. I slowed down to a walk and tried to gather my bearings. I took my headphones out and smiled as I spotted an old coffee shop I used to go to with Zack. Bingo. I went inside and ordered a small latte while I tried to ring Jack. No answer. I tried three more times and he still didn’t pick up. Nothing from Alex, nothing from Rian, nothing from Zack. I sat down with my coffee and flipped my phone over in my hands. Where were they all? Jack not picking up wasn’t entirely unexpected. I had literally pushed him out of his own house kicking and screaming last night, he had every reason to be upset with me. But the other? Maybe they were Team Jacking it and were showing some act of solidarity by not picking up. I downed my coffee and took back to the streets. I gathered my bearings, even after being away for five years, I had lived in Towson most of my life, I could find my way around. I turned the corner and headed down Alex’s old street, praying to god that Isobel and Peter still lived there. I knocked timidly at the door, hoping to god a familiar face answered.
“Jasey?” Isobel beamed as she cracked the door open.
“Hey, Iz.” I smiled and followed her inside. She invited me to sit down on the couch with her but I refused. The last thing I wanted was to get my sweat on her furniture.
“So, what brings you here darling? Alex told us you were back.” I nodded and realised that he may have told them everything about our situation.
“Well, Jack moved over to the side of town I’m not too familiar with and I am completely lost.” I laughed, fixing my hair awkwardly. “But I found my way to the café and then recognised your street so I prayed you were home and was wondering if you could point me in the direction of Jack’s?” Isobel laughed and asked why I didn’t just use google maps. “I don’t have unlimited data and I went on a twitter spree the other day, drained it all.” I shrugged. And honestly, I didn't know his address.
“Well, you are clever, aren’t you?” She laughed and wrote down the directions on a piece of paper after I had refused her multiple offers to drive me back. “Are you sure you don’t want a ride? It’s no trouble.” I shook my head and gave her a quick hug goodbye before taking back to the warm summer air. I eventually found myself on Jack’s street and arrived to find the door still locked. He still wasn’t home. I let myself back in and greeted the very excited Olivia. I stretched before jumping in the shower and cleaning myself off, I hated feeling dirty. I threw my hair in a towel and pulled on a pair of denim shorts and my favourite blue lace tank top.
“Where’s your dad at?” I asked Olivia as I walked into the kitchen. I was hungry and craving smoothies. I grabbed a bunch of fruit out of Jack’s fridge while I tried to call him again.
“This is… Jack sucks dick! Rian, you total prick, fuck off. This is Jack Barakat and I don’t want to talk to you. Leave a message so I can have the sound of your voice recorded forever.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Jack’s voice mail. It was so typical how he’d keep it even though Rian had yelled half-way through it.
“Jack? Where are you? I’m sorry about last night, I was pissed off. Where are you? Please call me. I love you.” I sighed as I hung up the phone and placed it on the bench. I poured the pineapple, apple, banana, strawberries, and blueberries into the blended and dolloped a huge spoon of Greek yogurt in while dialling Alex.
“Jasey?”

Notes

So I have a tonne of homework due tomorrow but I decided to procrastinate and write for you instead!
Please comment and let me know our thoughts! I do listen and your opinion could entirely influence the way this story sways... ;)

I love you all for reading!
xx