Chapter 19
Kaylyn’s POV
I looked at Jack for a moment before crushing him with a hug. He awkwardly patted my back as I squeezed the life out of him.
I was just really in need of a hug.
A few moments later I pulled back and sniffed.
“I’m sorry to barge in, but I kind of need a place to stay,” I admitted in a quiet voice.
“You’re welcome here,” Jack said with soft, sincere eyes. I gave him a small smile before grabbing my backpack from the porch. Jack closed the front door once I was in the foyer. I started to walk upstairs, when I heard something come from the living room that made me freeze.
“What was that?” I asked, looking at Jack suspiciously. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“It was-”
“Jack,” an annoying, extremely high pitched voice whined. A woman appeared in the archway, then walked over to where Jack was standing.
She had dull black hair, and what looked to me like grey eyes, though I wasn’t entirely sure. Her features were sharp, making her pretty, but not exactly drop-dead gorgeous.
“Kaylyn, this is Melissa, my costar,” Jack said, waving his hand in between the two of us. I narrowed my eyes at Melissa. Who did she think she was?
I finally realized something was off when I looked back to Jack. His hair was a lot messier than usual, faint pink smudges ran down his face and neck, not to mention his shirt was slightly unbuttoned.
He hadn’t been. . . . I couldn’t even bring myself to say the word. . . . Cheating?
No. I trusted him. He couldn’t have cheated on me. I mean, there wasn’t even a real relationship; so technically it didn’t matter if he was being ‘faithful’ to me.
It was all just a lie anyways.
I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair, snapping myself back to reality.
“Look, can I stay here tonight? I’ll leave in the morning, I just need to sort everything out,” I said. I was exhausted, what with everything that had happened to me.
But I did not want to add being cheated on to the list.
“You can stay as long as you need to,” Jack said as he took a step toward the stairs. I held up a hand to signal for him to stay where he was.
“I’ll be in your room,” I mumbled, then trudged up the rest of the stairs. If I had said that I was going to one of the spare bedrooms, he would’ve insisted that I sleep in his bed anyways. He always wanted the best for me, it seemed.
Once I reached the extravagant bedroom, I felt some sort of relief. It was odd, but I almost felt relief from the fact that Jack had moved on. That he didn’t really love me, that I had just imagined the way he looked at me as if I was the only girl in the world.
Because that way I wouldn’t have to hurt him.
I grabbed my toothbrush and pajamas, heading to the bathroom. Once I was ready for bed, I slumped into the confines of the soft mattress. The memory foam wrapped around my body, comforting me and keeping me safe.
I heard the bedroom door open quietly, then soft footsteps and the edge of my bed being dipped down slightly. I pretended that I was already asleep, hoping he would just go away.
“Kaylyn?” When I didn’t answer, he stayed. “Kaylyn. . . . I know you’re sleeping, but there’s something I need to tell you. Something you need to know. First of all, I’d never, ever cheat on you. That is something you can be sure of.
“Second, I. . . . I love you.” My heart wrenched into knots as I heard the words come out of his mouth. Was he freaking serious?! It’d been, what, three weeks since we’d met? He hardly knew me!
“I hate to see you in any kind of pain. If you would just let me help,
I’d make you feel better. But stubborn as you are, you won’t.” He took another deep breath. “I’m in love with you, and I don’t know how long I have been. Maybe since the start, maybe since Saturday. I don’t know. But one thing I do know is that I’m not giving up. I will make you mine, and I will make you fall in love with me. You will love me. I don’t give up challenges.”
I heard him get up and leave the room, all the while my heart pounding so loud and fast that I could hear it in my ears.
Was he serious?
+ + +
I woke up the next morning feeling different. Like I didn’t know my purpose in life.
I got dressed in denim shorts and a light purple tank top. My eyes were still slightly red so I had to try to use a little concealer to cover it up. I brushed my hair out, making it virtually straight, then finally left the comfort of Jack’s room.
I slowly went down the stairs, which I’d never noticed before were made out of thick glass, and tried to be as quiet as possible. If Jack was still home, I didn’t want to run into him.
I headed towards the kitchen, but froze when I heard a voice just as I reached the archway.
“Okay. Bye,” Jack said. He sat at the breakfast table with his back to me, so he didn’t know of my presence. He ran a hand over his face then gripped his hands in his hair.
“Why did I have to screw up?” he asked himself. I felt as though I was intruding on his privacy, and I was about to turn around when my stomach growled loudly. Jack, startled, jumped out of his seat which caused the chair to fall to the floor. The metal clattered against marble, the sound echoing throughout the room.
I stood frozen, waiting for Jack to say something.
“I didn’t know you were there,” he said bashfully as he bent down and picked up the chair. He righted it as I bit the corner of my bottom lip, unsure as to what to do. “Um, I was just on the phone with my agent, he got the movie deal for me. . . .”
“That’s great! Congratulations!” I exclaimed. I jumped at the opportunity to make it less awkward.
“Yeah, I guess,” he said. “Um, if you want breakfast, there’s some cereal in the pantry. I’d make something for you, but I have to get going for-”
“It’s okay, go,” I insisted. He smiled a little at me, snatched his keys off the table, and went out the garage door. I sighed and collapsed in the chair Jack had fallen out of.
I rested my elbows on the table and held my head in my hands for a while, just thinking. What was I supposed to do until I would go to college in the fall? I was staying with my fake boyfriend, my best friend was in a different continent, and both my parents were out of the equation. Or at least my mom was for the time being.
I went for some fresh air in the backyard and noticed a small structure that I hadn’t seen before. It almost resembled a separate garage, but not quite. I walked over to it, but the door was locked.
Reaching my arm up, I found a key that was resting on top of the doorframe. I turned it in the lock and opened the door. My nostrils filled with the smell of mahogany and leather, two luxurious things.
I hesitantly stepped in, not sure what the room was. Then I saw it. Shelves and shelves of books wrapped around the walls, with a few chairs and reading lamps scattered around. The room had to be at least three times the size of my own room, but at the same time it seemed almost smaller and crowded with the massive amount of books.
I walked forward and ran the back of my hand across the spines of some of the books. The soft sound of my fingernails hitting the material echoed quietly, the only sound in the room.
Walking around, I looked at as many book titles as I could. I stopped in my tracks when I saw my favorite book of all time: 1984 by George Orwell. I slipped it out of its place and brushed my hand over the hard cover. It was a first edition, the exact one I had always wanted. I smiled to myself and went to one of the leather arm chairs, settling in comfortably.
Turning on a floor lamp next to me, I carefully opened the book. I gasped when I saw it was signed by the author. It read, “My dearest Alyson, I hope you find this book enjoyable. Your good friend, Eric Blair.”
The wheels in my head started turning, giving me countless questions. Who was Alyson? Why did he sign it with his real name instead of his pen name? How were they friends? How did they even know each other?
I brushed it off for the time being and started to reread the book for about the hundredth time. However, I planned on asking Jack my questions when he got back. He same explaining to do; and not just about the book.
+ + +
Jack’s POV
I parked in the garage and held my head in my hands. I was not ready to see Kaylyn. I’d even stayed longer at the set to make sure I had my lines memorized.
After a few moments, I got out of the car. I had to face her sooner or later; might as well be sooner to get it over with. I loved her, and I did not want her to be angry with me.
I grabbed the bag of Chinese food from the passenger seat and got out. After I’d walked inside and set my keys and the food on the counter, I gulped down a glass of water to brace myself. I put the glass in the sink and walked into the foyer.
“Kaylyn! I brought dinner!” I called. I went back to the kitchen and waited a few minutes. When she didn’t come downstairs, I called for her again. Still no answer. I searched through all the rooms, yet didn’t find her. Where could she have gone? Then I remembered.
I went to my library through the backyard. Sure enough, the door was unlocked. I opened it and walked in, then spotted Kaylyn asleep in my favorite chair. I went to her and took the book out of her hands, just glancing at it long enough to notice it was my favorite book, then took her into my arms.
Once I’d carried her into the house and tucked her into my bed, I went back to the kitchen. I opened up one of the Chinese cartons and a pair of chopsticks, then sat at the table.
Dinner for one.
+ + +
Kaylyn’s POV
My eyes slowly creaked open, but quickly closed. The curtains were open and blinded me, in turn making me curl into a ball under the covers. I had just found the perfect spot - warm and comfortable, just where I was when I’d slept - when the bedroom door opened.
“Wake up, we have things to do today,” Jack said as he tore the covers off of me. I whimpered and crawled to the foot of the bed to retrieve the one thing that had kept me warm, but Jack held them away from my reach.
“I’m tired, I wanna sleep,” I moaned as I gave him a puppy dog face.
“Nope, not going to work this time,” he stated confidently. I just vaguely remembered that I was supposed to be angry with him, but that didn’t really register in my sleep-hazy mind.
“What is so much more important than sleep?” I questioned as I sat up in the bed and crossed my arms.
“We’re going to be a couple in public. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, the whole nine yards. And of course we’ll find other things to do.”
“Right,” I said slowly, trying to understand why I couldn’t just sleep. “In that case, good night.” I threw myself back towards the pillow and hugged it as I closed my eyes. A moment later I was picked up, causing me to flail around and look at my offender.
“What is wrong with you?!” I cried. “What part of ‘sleep’ do you not comprehend?!”
“All of it,” he replied with a smirk. I rolled my eyes as he set me on my feet. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.
“I’m still tired,” I stated.
“Want some coffee?” he asked innocently. I rolled my eyes again and dropped my arms.
“When are we leaving?” I questioned.
“In about thirty minutes, get dressed,” he said then turned and walked out of the room.
“I do want that coffee!” I called out to him. I knew he was smiling as he went down the stairs. I closed the bedroom door and picked up my backpack. After digging around, I finally came up with some fancy jeans and a red long sleeve v neck.
I quickly got ready, then pulled on my beaten up converse. My phone started buzzing from a call, but suddenly stopped. I found it in the bedside table, though I soon realized it was dead. Lovely.
Walking out into the hallway, I tried to remember which room Jack was sleeping in. I picked a random door that was open and knocked on it.
“Jack?” I called. A moment later he emerged from the bathroom, zipping up his jeans. However, he was shirtless. My eyes trailed down to his abs and I suddenly lost my train of thought.
“I. . .uh. . .um. . .I. . .phone charger,” I stuttered. Jack smirked and walked out of the room past me. I turned around and followed him back into the bedroom I was staying in and watched as he took a phone charger out of the dresser. He tossed it to me, when I skillfully caught it. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” he said. “We’ll leave in ten minutes. Coffee’s downstairs. You can stare at my abs later, if you really want.” I blushed like mad as he left, embarrassed that he’d caught me. I went down the stairs to the kitchen, the source of an aroma of coffee beans and vanilla.
I found a conveinent outlet just above the counter and plugged in my phone, then poured myself some caffeine pick-me-up. Once my phone had enough juice to turn on, I went to my notifications. AJ had been the one to call me; I suddenly became worried.
Dialing my brother’s cell phone number, I held the phone to my ear. He answered after three rings.
“He-”
“AJ! What’s wrong?!” I frantically asked.
“Oh, Kaylyn,” he said casually. “Nothing’s wrong, Madelyn just wanted to talk to you.”
“Why? Is she okay?” I questioned, scared something bad had happened to my baby sister.
“Yes and no. . .” he trailed off. My heart picked up pace and it felt as though my throat closed up. “She broke her arm, but she hasn’t complained about the pain.”
“She broke her arm?! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!” I cried. I looked down at my own wrist, which was still wrapped up.
“I called you dozens of times yesterday but you never picked up,” he said. I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. I had been in the library all day while my phone was in my room.
“I’m sorry about that. . .how did it happen?”
“Well mom’s been pretty angry since you left, so I took Maddie to the park yesterday for a few hours. She fell off the swings, but she tried to protect herself and ended up breaking her arm. I took her to the urgent care center, and she’s supposed to get a cast today. Mom’s still freaking out.”
I exhaled sharply in frustration at myself. “I wish I was there.”
“You can’t come back, mom will not take that easy, she’ll probably somehow blame you for the thing with dad. You know how she gets when she’s upset.”
“Yeah, I know,” I sighed. “Call me if you need anything or something else happens.”
“Okay,” he said. “And before you go, Madelyn still wants to talk to you.”
“Put her on,” I said. A few moments later, I heard AJ talking to my little sister then rustling as the phone was moved.
“Kaylyn?” Maddie asked. I smiled as I heard her voice.
“Hey, Mads,” I said, calling her by a nickname I hadn’t used in a few years. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, my arm hurts a little though,” she admitted.
“Ask AJ and he can give you some medicine. What color are you getting for your cast?” I didn’t want to have a solemn conversation with her; I wanted to keep it lighthearted as best as I could.
“Pink!” she said happily. “Are you coming home today?”
“Not yet, but I will as soon as I can, okay?”
“Okay,” she replied sadly.
“I promise,” I said confidently.
“I love you, KayKay,” she said. I smiled.
“I love you, too, Mads,” I said.
“Bye,” she said. There was some rustling on the other line again.
“Kaylyn? Are you still there?” AJ asked.
“Yeah,” I said.
“I’ll tell you when you can come home. Stay safe.”
“I will,” I said.
“Oh, and don’t forget, if you hold hands with boys you’ll get pregnant. They have cooties.” I laughed. Typical AJ.
“Of course,” I said, smiling again. “Bye.” After I hung up I took a sip off my forgotten coffee. Oh, the joys of life.
“You okay?”
I jumped at Jack’s voice, then turned around. He was wearing a shirt - unfortunately - and standing in the archway with his eyebrows furrowed together.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said. I set my phone on the counter so it could charge for a little while longer and took my coffee mug with me to sit at the table. Jack paused for a moment then sat across from me.
“Are you almost ready to go?” he asked. I nodded and took another sip of my coffee. My thoughts trailed around for a while until I remembered something I was supposed to ask.
“Who’s Alyson?” I questioned.
“What?” Jack asked, taken aback.
“It was in a book of yours. Who is Alyson?” I repeated.
“That’s my grandmother. . .” he trailed off, looking really confused.
“She knew George Orwell?”
“Well, they were old friends when he was alive, she lived in England,” he said. I chuckled.
“That makes sense,” I said. “So are your parents from England, or did your grandma move here?”
“Um. . .my mom was born and raised there,” he said. "My dad was, um, English, too." It seemed like he was uncomfortable, but I didn’t know why. He put his hands on the table and nervously wrung them together.
“Do I ever get to meet your parents?” I asked curiously and took another sip. Jack looked away from me, and I sensed something was wrong.
“You can’t. They’re dead,” he said bluntly. My breath caught in my throat.
“What?” I asked in a quiet voice. “How?” Jack met my eyes, and his were filled with pain.
“When I was five, my mother died of cancer.” I gasped. “My dad fell into a depression, and it was as if he’d died along with her. He couldn’t take the pain. A year after her death, he killed himself. I was raised by my aunt, who might as well be my mother.”
I took his hands in mine and really looked at him.
“If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here,” I said.
“It happened years ago, I’m fine now,” he said sharply with a straight face as he pulled his hands away. “Now, are you ready to go?”
**********
Author's Note: I'm so sorry for not uploading in like two and a half weeks, I've been crazy busy and today is the first day in the past month that I haven't had to do anything. I finally finished writing this chapter, and I think it should be longer than usual.
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