“Hey dude.” Jack greets me at his door with a big smile.

“Hey.” I smile back at him, actually feeling it. I needed an escape and Jack offered one so here I am.

“Come meet my mom.” He grinned throwing an arm around my shoulder, pulling me inside.

I’m not huge about meeting the parents considering I have only done that once and it was years ago. Not many parents think I’m what you like to call, “socially acceptable” due to my strange taste of clothing.

A woman with light brown hair and big brown eyes comes padding out of the kitchen. She smiles as soon as she sees me. “You must be Emma! I’m so happy to meet you. Jacky here couldn’t stop talking about you since he got home.” She throws her arms around me in a giant embrace. I hug her back, a little taken a back, but relieved.

I crack up and look at him. He’s blushing really hard. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you Ms. Barakat. I hope you don’t mind the last minute plans.”

“No not at all sweetie. I’m just glad Jack has someone to talk to! I know this move has been hard on him.” She walks over to Jack and gives him a quick hug. “Go on to Jack’s room you two. Are you going to be staying for dinner?”

“Oh no, don’t worry about it please. I’ll be out of your hair in an hour or two.” I answer quickly, not wanting to be a burden.

“Nonsense. You are staying for dinner and that’s final!” She grins at me, rubbing my back.

I smile back at her and thank her as Jack drags me back to his room. He closes the door behind us and we sit on the floor facing each other.

“So. Jacky.” I grin at him.

“Fuck you Emma.” He grumbles.

“What was that you said earlier? ‘Is that an order?’” I fire back at him, feeling fiesty.

He cracks up and flips me the bird. I smile at him. “Sorry I came on such short notice. It’s been a long ass day.” I sigh looking at my hands.

“No worries. Do you want to talk about it?” Jack offers up, clearly excited to have me here.

I open my mouth to, but quickly stop myself. I’m still not sure if I can trust Jack. “Nah. Not now.”

He nods understandingly and gestures to my guitar. “Can I see it?”

I hand him my guitar and he immediately takes it out of the case, and starts strumming a familiar tune.

“She said let’s change our luck, this night is all we’ve got.” I sing softly with my eyes closed as Jack strums one of my favorite We the Kings songs, Skyway Avenue.

On the chorus, we sing together. “Cause if you jump, I will jump too. We will fall together.”

We finish the song and I sit there with my eyes closed, enjoying the sound of the fading chord. I open them to find Jack staring at me.

“What?” I ask him, realizing what I just did. Awkward.

“You have an amazing fucking voice.” He says incredulously, shaking his head. “I never saw that coming.”

I laugh and try to change the subject. I always feel uncomfortable when people try to compliment me. “Let me see my guitar?”

He hands it to me and I begin to strum Knives and Pens by Black Veil Brides softly. Not many people know, but the acoustic version really makes the song sound beautiful.

I strum quietly, and decide not to sing this one. Jack listens intently, paying close attention to my strumming patterns. I lose myself in the music shortly after beginning, thinking of the lyrics in my head. I imagine every time I would sing this song to myself, and the time I learned to play this song. It took me about 30 minutes to get the chords down, and from then on, I didn’t stop playing it. I mastered the song by the end of that night. I have a talent for guitar; I just don’t know what to do with it really.

The last chord echo’s in Jack’s quiet room and yet again, Jack is staring at me.

“You got to stop the staring if you want to be friends.” I half-joke with him.

He snaps out of his trance. “Sorry. I’ve just never heard a girl play so well. I can just feel the passion radiating off of your body.”

I blush and look down at the guitar. “I don’t know. There’s just something about playing. It takes me out of wherever I am, and sticks me in the song. I really listen to the lyrics and figure out their meanings, instead of enjoying the catchy beat. When I listen to music, it’s like nothing can hurt me. And when I play music? No one can touch me. I’m invincible.”

Jack smiles at me crookedly. “You are something else Emma.”

“Back at you Barakat.” I grin. “So what do you want to do?”

“Not sure. You are the first friend I’ve had over since I’ve moved here. I really don’t care what we do. I’m just stoked to actually have company.” He replies shrugging his shoulders indifferently.

“Let’s watch a movie or something.” I suggest.

He nods and stands up. He helps me up and we walk over to his closet. He opens it up and there before me are endless DVD’s.

“Holy shit.” I mumble.

“I didn’t have much of a life. Still don’t really.” He chuckles, a little embarrassed. “Pick whatever, I love them all.”

I browse through the DVD’s for what feels like hours. Finally, I pick Treasure Planet. I turn to him. “Is this good?”

“Good? It’s my favorite Disney movie ever. It’s also the most underrated movie of this century.” Jack laughs, snatching it out of my hand. “Let’s go.”

I follow him back out to the living room and we pop the movie in. Jack and I sit side by side on the couch, but not touching. I tried to make sure of that. I don’t want a boyfriend or anything. I barely want a friend. It’s just nice to have someone take me out of reality.

The movie starts and Jack’s mom comes up from behind us. “Ok before you two get into the movie I want to know. Do you want popcorn and a late dinner or do you want just dinner?”

“Dinner pleeeease.” Jack chimes in looking at his mom with puppy eyes.

“Emma are you ok with that?” She asks me.

“Sure.” I smile at her. “Thank you.”

“No trouble at all sweetie.” She saunters back into the kitchen.

“You have a really sweet mom.” I tell Jack, jealous.

“She is pretty awesome. She is my whole world to be totally honest. I love my mom more than life. She is the only one that has been there for me constantly. I would do anything for her.” Jack says seriously. “Maybe I’ll get to meet your mom one day.”

“Let’s hope not.” I mumble.

“What?” He asks confused.

“Nothing, let’s just watch the movie.” I throw him a fake smile.

We watch in silence and my mind races. All I can think of is how lucky Jack is to have such a sweet mom. I can’t remember the last time I was comfortable enough to bring a friend home. She’s always messed up or just a bitch to people. I like my mom in the mornings. That’s about it. Jack gets to like his mom all day. I wonder what that’s like…My thoughts were interrupted by the smell of spaghetti wafting through the living room. Immediately, my stomach grumbles. Jack laughs and pats it. I wince in pain from the cuts, and when Sasha punched me. Jack stops laughing and looks at me concerned.

“Are you ok?”

I give him another fake smile. “For sure. Just hurt for some reason. Must be too hungry.”

He smiles politely, but I think he knows I’m lying. He turns back and watches the movie.

It’s not like I don’t want to tell Jack. I do. I just don’t think he can handle the truth. He seems to have everything so well put together. He has a loving mom, a great attitude, and not to mention cute. I just can’t see him understanding my drunken parents, not to mention my cutting. And if I told him about the bullying, he wouldn’t let me out of his sight. He would follow me around everywhere I went, and let’s face it, I don’t need more people staring at me.

I glance over at Jack who’s looking at the TV screen, but not watching. I know something is on his mind too.

I wish there were a way this friendship thing could work. I just don’t see it happening.

Notes

Thanks for the support and patience everyone! I have the next chapter written already, but I'm going to make you all wait because I'm an evil sonofabitch. Enjoy the chapter!
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