~Alex's POV~

I woke up to an empty tent, there was no sign of Jack. I sat up, my eyes trying to adjust to the light, to find a note by my feet.

My moms in trouble, I'm so sorry I had to leave you. Call me when you get this.
Jay x

I kept having to read the note over and over to get it straight in my mind. Joyce was in trouble? How? Why? I pulled the covers back and searched frantically for my phone. I turned it on and checked the time. It was 3pm, still Tuesday. Great, my sleeping pattern was now fucked. I found Jack's name on the contacts and rung him immediately.

"Alex?" Jack had picked up straight away.

"Jack, what's happened? Is your mom okay?"

"No. We don't know what's happened to her. I'm in the hospital now. They're operating on her. They could contact me because her phone was in her pocket. They tried to call John but no one answered. He was the last person she was with, Lex. I'm scared." I could hear sobs from the other end of the line.

"Jay, calm down. Do you want me to come to the hospital?" I was panicking now. I wasn't very close to Joyce, but she still felt like the mother figure I never really had.

"Yes please. Will you be able to pack up the stuff and take it back to yours?" His voice was quiet, and it sounded like he was trying holding back tears.

"Yeah, that's fine. I'll be there as soon as I can. I love you."

"I love you too." After that, I hung up, trying to pack our things up as quickly as I could.

It was a good job the sun was still out, or in would have been totally fucked. I didn't know where I was, all I knew was that I was in some kind of forest. Once I had everything in the backpack, I slung it onto my shoulders and started walking. The trees were packed tightly together, and I couldn't find a path. Why did Jack choose to come camping in the middle of nowhere?



My legs were growing tired and I felt like I had been walking in circles for the past hour. Everything looked the same, and I was actually quite scared. I had always been scared of places like this. Not places like forests, exactly; just places where I was totally helpless and on my own. I loved being on my own, I was one of those people that didn't mind their own company, but i didn't like this.

I had felt like giving up, I was literally going nowhere, but then I thought of Jack. He must be going through hell right now, and I need to be with him. I pushed myself further, and after I had walked about another 200 meters, I came across a small path. I followed it until I reached a clearing, where lots of cars were parked. I made my way over to the other side of the clearing, and I reached a road. It was a road I recognised: Thames Street. God, was i that stupid? All this time, we had been camping in Baltimore Forest Park? This was literally a few blocks away from my house, and I didn't even know it! I mentally slapped myself for not knowing where I was, and started walking the familiar path to my house.




"Jack." I had made my way to the hospital after visiting my house to have a quick shower and drop our things off, and then I had gotten a cab to the hospital. I was now in the waiting room, after being guided there by a nurse. Jack's head snapped up at my words, and he stood up and made his way towards me, engulfing me in a big hug.

"Oh my god, Alex! Where were you?" His voice sounded concerned.

"I'm sorry, Jay. Why didn't you tell me we were only in Baltimore Forest Park? I got lost, I was walking around for at least an hour, but then I found the road. I'm sorry, I tried to be quick, I.." Jack shut me up by placing his lips on mine for a short kiss.

"Oh, Alex, I'm so sorry, I never thought."

"How's Joyce?" I asked. Jack pulled away from me and sat down, gesturing for me to take the seat next to him.

"It's not good, Lex." Silent tears started to trickle down his cheeks, and I wiped them away. "They found her, lying outside John's apartment building. They think she fell from the 1st floor. She hit her head real bad, but they managed to stop all the internal bleeding. She hasn't woke up yet. The doctors think she's in a c-coma." By now, Jack had totally broke down, and I pulled him into my arms and let him sob into my chest.

"Jack, I'm sorry. It will be okay. Joyce is strong, she'll pull through." I rocked him gently, whispering to him and trying to calm him down until we were interrupted about half an hour later.

"Excuse me, visiting hours are over, I'm afraid you're going to have to leave now." A short woman with a disgusted expression spoke, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Okay, we're going now." I replied as she walked away. "Jay, we have to go home. Joyce will be okay, I'll look after you." I gently nudged Jack, who still had his face buried in my chest.

"O-okay." Was all he said, and I stood up and walked to the exit, Jack not once letting go of me. I rung a taxi and it arrived shortly after.

"Do you want to make a pillow fort when we get in? We could put some adventure time on and I'll make you some of my special pancakes?" I spoke with a gentle voice, my thumbs rubbing circles on his thigh whilst we sat in the back of the cab.

"Yes please. Anything that will take my mind of things." Jack let out a forced smile, and we sat in silence for the rest of the journey home.

Once we arrived at my house, I paid the driver and walked up to my door, my fingers intertwined with Jack's. I pulled out my key and went to unlock the door. Strange, I thought I had locked both locks, but the bottom one was unlocked. I must be imagining things. I stepped inside and took Jack to the living room. He had stopped crying now, but his eyes were all red and puffy. As we walked into the room, I saw 2 people sitting on the couch, and stopped dead in my tracks.

It was mum and dad.

"Hello, Alexander."

Notes

Ooh, I bet you weren't expecting that ;) I feel upset that I've hurt Joyce though :( what do you think has happened to her? Why do you think Alex's mum and dad have came back?

Thankyou for for all the support guys, I'm really happy with all the feedback and stuff I've gotten with it, ily all <3

Ellie x