A Story to Tell Your Friends

I had made it through the next couple of weeks without a hitch. My parents’ stay had been unreasonably uneventful. I’d seen Jack out in town when I was out with them on Tuesday, but I’d quickly shoved them inside a store to avoid him. Thankfully, he didn’t see us, or at least didn’t say anything about it if he had. He and I had been texting while he’d been gone, something both of the girls were unusually quiet about. I’d had no questions about he and I since mentioning it to them and the only time it had been mentioned was when Tammy asked who I was speaking to so much. After I said Jack once, she didn’t ask again. I didn’t know whether it was out of annoyance or not, but I was thankful she hadn’t voiced her opinion. Tammy still didn’t know what had happened on my birthday, and I planned on keeping it that way. She’d only feel guilty. My parents had asked if I had any male friends they should be aware of, but Tammy and I had both told them I’d met no one during my time here, which thankfully they’d accepted without question.
I’d only spoken to Alex once or twice since that morning. He’d admitted he was a little pissed at me, but reassured me he understood what I was going through. The only other time we’d spoken was when he’d text to see how I was a week ago. We chatted for a little bit, but I couldn’t help but feel he knew something I didn’t, just like when I spoke to Lisa, which is why she and I no longer spoke about Jack. Or at least, that was the reason I never brought him up.
It was currently Thursday, two days before the Blink concert and I was at work, puzzling out the last event date on a string of promotional signings for a band. I was having trouble trying to find the most appropriate venue that was still available.
I bet you’re not even excited to see me. I bet you’re just going to jump Mark’s bones. :/
I feel like we haven’t met: hi, I’m Clara, and Mark Hoppus is my one true love.
I snorted into my phone, thankful I was the last one in the office. Jack had been texting me non-stop for the last couple of days and I couldn’t begin to explain just how thankful I was that I had unlimited texts included in my plan.
I can’t help but think Geralt and Billie Joe are real pissed right now.
Billie has Adrienne, we’re just each other’s bit on the side. And Geralt understands, we’re fairly open. ;)
I always feel so weirded out that you’re talking like this about guys I tour with.
You’ve been mocking my love of Mark for 2 months now.
I meant Billie Joe. That’s weird af.
You toured with Green Day?
Years ago, yeah. Didn’t you know?
Again: hi, I’m Clara, and I barely know anything your band did after 2010.
Who was your one true All Time Low love as a horny teenager?
Alex.
Ouch.
What? He’s such a babe.
Lisa will murder you for that.
It’s cool, she gets me.
I put my phone down and glared at the plan in front of me, trying my best to ignore Jack, who was doing nothing but distracting me. I saw my phone light up again from the corner of my eye and tried to ignore it. If I wanted to be home before midnight, I had to get some work done. Twenty minutes later, I finally had somewhere temporarily placed in my final slot and was making a reminder in my planner to call the venue in the morning, when my phone began to buzz on the desk. I groaned, snatching it up and answering the call.
“Hello?” I asked. I heard loud music in the background and relaxed a little, recognising the tune playing as Blink 182.
“I thought you’d had a heart attack,” Jack laughed through the phone. “Why didn’t you text me back?”
“Are you ignoring Blink to call me?”
“… yes?”
“You do know how to make a girl feel special,” I laughed.
“Shut up. You still haven’t replied to me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been working.”
“You’re still at the office? Clara, it’s 9 o’clock. Go home.” My stomach flipped at the concern in his voice. It was adorable that he cared enough say anything.
“Sorry, dad, I didn’t realise I had a curfew.”
“You know what I mean.”
“It’s fine, I’m taking an hour back tomorrow so I can leave early and chill out before I see you on Saturday.”
“You really haven’t seen my text, have you?”
“What text?”
“I was asking if you wanted backstage passes for tomorrow’s show.” My jaw dropped slightly at his words and I blinked a couple of times at my screen, trying to make sure I’d heard him right. “Clara? Are you having a stroke?”
“What? No. Sorry. What?” I heard Jack laugh quickly at my response.
“You’re worse than Alex. Do you want them or not?”
“Why is this a question? You know the answer.”
“I’ll leave the passes on the door. Be there at five.”
“You’re my new best friend.”
“’New’? I’m offended. I thought I was always your best friend.”
“You were a close second to Tammy. You’ve now just forever won my affections from her.”
“Bring her along. I’ll leave two on the door for you.”
“I think she’s going out with Chris tomorrow.”
“If I know anything about Tammy, I know she’s not passing up a chance to see us play live.”
“Okay, okay. That’s true. I’ll tell her later.”
“And are you going home now?”
“Yes,” I groaned, finishing my memo for the morning. “I’m logging off now. Go and enjoy your night, Jack, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, cutie pie.” I went to chastise Jack for using a pet name, but he ended the call and I groaned again. That boy was going to be the death of me.
“Don’t murder me,” I started when I flung myself down on the sofa next to Tammy.
“I’ll try. Where were you?” She replied, not turning her eyes from the TV show playing in front of her. She was sat eating her dinner from a bowl on her lap and barely paying me any attention. As predicted, she was a lot calmer about being in the apartment by herself now that she’d finally settled in and it was good to know I could go out without her texting me freaking out.
“Work. I’m having a nightmare finishing this promo plan.”
“Fun. Why would I murder you over that?”
“Jack called me.”
“So? You’ve been texting him again for like 3 weeks. I imagined you would have called each other at some point.”
“He kind of wants to give me and you a backstage pass for tomorrow’s show.” I cringed slightly as I said it, waiting for her to react.
“You mean he wants to introduce you to Mark Hoppus? Good luck, Jack.” I furrowed my brows at her nonchalant response. It wasn’t what I was expecting. I was anticipating some sort of lecture or excited freak out.
“So… are you coming?” I asked, still waiting for a reaction.
“Sure. Chris bailed on me for tomorrow anyway,” she shrugged. She still hadn’t turned her eyes from the TV and I rolled my eyes. It was like drawing blood from a stone.
“You’re a lot less excited than I thought you would be.”
“Clara, we’re friends with my favourite band now and we were going to see them on Saturday anyway. Forgive me for not freaking out. You’re the one obsessed with the band we haven’t met.” She finally turned from the TV and smirked at me, making me relax finally. I was starting to become concerned that maybe she hated Jack and that’s why she never spoke to me about him anymore.
“I guess…”
“Don’t give me that. You’ve been obsessed with this band for thirteen years.” I grinned meekly, glad she was finally speaking to me properly. “Besides, if my sources are to be believed, Jack is freaking out like he’s introducing you to his parents. It’s going to be a weird night.”
“Jack’s freaking out?” Jack had seemed so calm on the phone that I hadn’t imagined this to be a big deal for him. I mean, I know he was going to be a little worried I’d flip out and embarrass myself (and therefore him), but I didn’t think it was a nervous kind of deal.
“These are his idols, Clara, just like they’re yours. I don’t imagine he’s taking it lightly.” I nodded slightly, now worrying I was going to seriously embarrass myself and make Jack hate me. He’d lived up to what I’d expected of him and kept in touch the entire time he’d been gone. It was almost like it had been before and I was finally starting to trust him again, I didn’t want to scare him off again now, not when everything was starting to fit into place.
“Wait. What sources?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her suspiciously. I had an inkling it was either Lisa or Alex, but I couldn’t be sure.
“You know I mean Lisa. She said Jack’s been freaking out at her and Alex. She’s getting calls at midnight from Jack asking her what her opinion is on basically everything. She’s started turning her phone on silent to sleep fully.” I laughed, imagining just how annoyed Lisa would be at Jack by now. “It’s cute, though. He’s trying his best to impress you and he wants everyone to like you, so he’s running around like a teenager trying to arrange everything.”
“He’s adorable,” I replied, grinning widely.
“Look,” Tammy started, putting her bowl on the coffee table and finally turning to face me fully. “I know you’re saying you’re not trying this again with Jack, and I can tell you’re worried what I think about him, but this isn’t about me. I’m still angry, sure, but don’t think I didn’t see you crying every fucking day he was gone, Clara. You might think you’re subtle, but you’re really not. In fact, you’re less subtle that Lisa is.” I smiled weakly, realising just how stupid I’d been thinking Tammy hadn’t known just how miserable I’d been. I’d tried to hide some things from her, but she’d clearly seen through everything. You don’t go through 10 years of friendship and not know a person inside out. “You’re finally starting to seem happy again, ever since you started talking again. I want you to be careful, I don’t want you getting hurt again, but more than that: I want you to be happy, and if Jack makes you happy, then I’ll learn to forgive him, I’m sure.”
I pulled Tammy in, hugging her tightly. I’d been so wrapped up in wondering what she’d thought of him since everything happened, I was just glad she was willing to give him another chance.
“Thank you. I really think it might be something this time, you know?” I said, pulling away from her. “I tried to stay angry at him. You should have seen how many one word texts he got that first week, but, I don’t know, I just…”
“It’s Jack, Clara. I’ve never seen you get so close to one person so quickly. If he stops being an idiot, you two will be perfect for each other.”
“Let’s just hope he feels the same.”

Notes

I love Jack in this chapter, but I'm more excited because I adore the next chapter.
But it's Christmas Eve, so we may have a miracle and I might update twice tonight. We'll see.
Merry Christmas, guys! Have a brilliant next few days. <3