Chapter 6: CHAPTER VI
6:10 PM
"Hey, Jay! Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.” The man with the leather jacket smiles, raising his glass.
"Just wanted to have some fun." Jack smiles back.
"You sure know where to look for it!" The man laughs, putting an arm around Jack’s shoulder and ordering two more drinks.
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9:35 PM
Jack doesn't know where he is. He knows he's drunk, he can tell from the familiar dizziness on his head. He probably just had sex, too. His body hurts and he smells of sweat and he can hear someone breathing right beside him. He takes in a long breath, head starting to hurt.
He gets up and rubs his eyes, reaching the walls to find his way to the bathroom - if there is one. Eventually he finds it. He groans when he turns the light on and washes his face as his eyes adjust to the sudden brightness. He stares at himself through the mirror.
Something doesn't feel right. Jack doesn't feel good, or pleased, or satisfied, or anything he usually feels after a night like the one he apparently just had. He just feels empty. And the thought of a certain someone is still present on his mind. All of this was useless.
He gets back to the bedroom and lies back on the stranger's bed, deciding that if he sleeps maybe he'll feel better.
His phone starts ringing.
"Turn that shit off." The half-naked man on the bed mutters, not bothering to open his eyes. Jack hurries and finds his phone.
It’s Theo.
He groans and tries to read the messages without it giving him a headache.
《Jack > Theo》
》Jack
》Where the fuck is my car?
《 Hey Teddyyyy
》 Teddy my ass.
》Where are you?
《 I just borrowed it for a while
》 ???
》It’s not a pen you idiot it’s a fucking car!!!
》I swear I’m so done dealing with your shit!
《 Oh c’mon, your house isn’t that far from the new kid’s
》 Vince
》 His name is Vince
》And you better give back my car in five minutes
《 I can’t get there in five lmao
《 But I’ll be there soon.
Jack sighs. He already pissed off his friend, there's no use in trying to fix things now. He sees the time on his phone, it's almost ten already. He lies back down. Tomorrow he'll give the car back.
"Gonna spend the night, babe?" He feels the man getting closer.
The stranger starts hugging him from behind, leaving messy kisses on his ear and neck.
"Yeah. If that's okay." He tries to stay still.
"Yeah." The man turns him over and starts kissing him, wanting more.
Jack closes his eyes and decides it's better to get it over with.
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When the man is done, Jack turns away and closes his eyes again, feeling too tired to move, ignoring the urge to get away from there.
Then he hears his phone ringing.
He lets out a heavy sigh when he sees Theo's name on the screen for the second time that night.
He turns to his side and accepts the call, trying to keep his voice low.
“Jack, I need the car right now.”
“I’m sleeping.” He whines.
“Jack, I’m serious I don’t care where you are just hurry here, please.” At Theo’s serious tone, Jack opens his eyes, feeling awake.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Mrs. Taylor just called me and said Vince had another coughing fit. He fainted. She asked me to take them to the ER-“ Theo’s voice is shaking.
“I’m on my way.”
Jack hangs up and gets up, kicking the blankets out. He hears the man complaining about something but he can't focus on what he's saying. He puts on his jeans and a shirt that he finds on the floor and runs out of the room.
He is shaking, not sure if it's from the cold wind hitting his face. He texts Theo saying he should wait for him on Vince's house, cause he's heading there
He remembers his promise - He will be there when Vince wakes up.
|||
They get to the hospital and Vince is immediately taken to a room with an oxygen tank. He's still passed out but he looks like he's sleeping.
Jack feels like he's the one who can't breathe.
The doctor who admitted him enters the waiting room and Mrs. Taylor gets up. Theo and Jack sit beside each other anxiously waiting for him to say something.
"He's stable. He will wake up in a couple of hours." The man speaks. All three sigh in unison, relieved.
"Though I need to say, Mrs. Taylor, we should start considering keeping him on the hospital. You said his attacks are getting more frequent now and here we have the equipment to use when it happens, which can prevent him from passing out."
Mrs. Taylor just nods, unable to answer between her sobs. Theo gets up and hugs her.
"C-Can I wait for him to wake up? In his room?" Jack asks out of nowhere.
The doctor stares at him up and down, probably noticing what a mess he was.
"Why don't you go home? Take a shower. He'll probably be awake when you come b-"
"No!" Jack interrupts him. "Sorry. No. Please, let me stay. I promise to leave as soon as he wakes up. Just, please." Jack pleads anxiously.
The doctor sighs, but nods. "Room 107."
Jack nods, thankful, and hurries through the corridors until he finds the right room.
He enters.
Vince is laying there, oxygen mask on his face. He looks so weak.
He feels his heart shattering. He doesn't understand why he feels so attached, so protective over a boy he barely met.
It's as if they're connected somehow, in a way Jack has never felt before. He sits beside Vince's bed, not taking his eyes away. He focuses on how his eyelashes are long, resting on his now pale cheeks. How his hair falls on his forehead, almost covering his eyebrows.
Every single detail is somehow beautiful in Jack's eyes. He stares at his fingers, and can't help but reach out to them. They're cold. He holds them, his thumb caressing the other's hand.
"I'm here, Vin." He whispers, the new nickname falling easily out of his mouth as he stares at their hands.
"Jack?" He hears a voice, small and muffled due to the mask. Vince is awake.
"Hey..." He says softly, getting closer to the other's face.
Vince is smiling. "Thank you."
Jack swallows the lump growing on his throat. "For what?"
"Keeping your promise."
"Of course, Vin." He smiles, chest suddenly filled with warmth, washing away all the fear that came with watching the other on this hospital bed.
Vince still looks tired, barely able to keep his eyes open, small smile still rested on his face.
Jack passes a hand through the other's hair, so delicately the other can barely feel it.
"You should rest, Vin."
"You should too." Vince struggles his words out, breathing heavily in between them. "Y’look tired."
"I will." Jack assures him. "Now, try to sleep a little bit more, okay?"
Vince nods weakly and closes his eyes, still smiling, and Jack can't help but lean in to kiss his forehead.
His heart skips a beat.
He notices a purple mark across the other's neck.
He feels dizzy. Has Vince tried to...? No. Can't be. He sits back down and holds his hand again.
Jack waits until he's sure Vince is asleep and carefully lets go of his hand, gently placing it on the mattress. He gets up and walks on his tiptoes towards the door on the corner of the room.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone