Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

56. Old Meets New

He had wanted to know what made her happy and what made her upset, so that he could help bring her out of her darker moods. He wanted to know why she wanted to be a teacher and why she accepted Lynne's offer to step up as relieving principal. Over time, the desire to break through her defences because he could turned into a desire to get to know all about her because he wanted to. Because Jack wanted to know who or what had caused her to become so feisty – this, he was certain, was an act. That Kylie was genuinely a kind and wonderful person, but because of something in her past, she presented this fiery persona to stop herself feeling so exposed and vulnerable.

Now he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that all his theories were right. She had been hurt and left terrified that it would happen again, so Kylie buried herself in her work and burnt anyone who tried to get close to her. It was only when Jack kept coming back after each burn and never changing the way he treated her, that she realised not everyone was out to hurt her. But still, she kept those walls up. Even now, she shied away from being completely vulnerable with him. There was one last wall still to come down and Kylie didn't know if she would ever be able to let it down, even for Jack.

Jack rolled over again, now that Wog and his random hook up were finished and closed his eyes yet again ...

Sunday 7th Jul 7:43 AM

"Fuck me I feel like shit ..." Jack groaned, leaning hard into the wall after throwing up in the toilet bowl. He rubbed his face with both hands, squeezing his eyes shut, listening to the throbbing in his head.

Wog was sprawled over the lounge Jack had slept on and was sipping on the world's strongest black coffee and laughing sluggishly at Jack.

"Well you did have a choice last night you know ..." Wog slurred in between deep gulps of coffee. Jack stumbled into the kitchen to make himself a coffee too and sneered at Wog.

"Fuck you mate," Jack groaned and rolling his eyes (and regretting it instantly too) when Wog laughed at him in response.

"What'd I say? Huh? You could've picked up any one of them sheilas –"

Jack shook his head, making his way over to the lounge with his coffee.

"– yeah, yeah, yeah – I know – Karen or nobody –"

"– fuck's sake – Kylie! Though, I should be impressed, least you remembered her name starts with a K." Jack quipped, dropping into the lounge opposite Wog, his coffee in his hand and resting his feet on Wog's glass top coffee table.

"Aw yeah – but look mate, I'm happy for you. All those dud roots or bad fits or whatever and you've scored this sheila." Wog said slowly. He took another deep gulp of coffee and continued.

"I mean, Hendo's pissed cause the Lone Ranger's gone and bailed but it's not like he really needs help pulling the birds, right?" Wog said and together with Jack, laughed.

"He'll survive ... maybe ... Kylie's gotta meet him yet ..." Jack said before surrendering himself to his coffee.

While Jack started to feel a little bit better, Wog ushered the bleary eyed and tousled–haired woman from his apartment, closing the door in her face.

"Hey mate, can I use your phone? Mine's dead – I wanna ring Kylz –"

Wog tossed his phone to Jack, it landed against his hip on the lounge, so he opened up the keypad and typed in Kylie's number, waiting for her to answer.

"Hello?"

"Morning Wombat,"

"Jack?! Are you ok? Why aren't you ringing on your phone –"