Lost in the Middle

Furious Temper

1 am and Jack is startled from his dreams by someone shouting. He sits up and looks around the room it is pitch black but with the crack in the curtains he can just about make out Nikki tossing and turning on the sofa bed. "No... n-no!" She calls out in her sleep fighting with the bedsheets again.

Jack swings his legs over the edge of the single bed and sits watching her, for a sixteen-year-old she seems to carry so much stress on her face, he thought that maybe it's her Dad but at least now she's safe with him.

Getting up off the bed he steps across the room and sits down on the side of the bed. He'd never done this before but his young mind was telling him to go and be by her side, Jack sits down on the side of the bed and just like he had seen his father do to his mother when she lost her sister, his aunt Maureen, he gently placed his hand on her side and smiles. "Nikki... hey... Nikki, it's okay" Jack says softly.

Mirroring his father's actions all eleven years ago when both his parents lost their siblings in the same bomb explosion, the troubles of Ireland were still fresh in his mind, military on the streets, shouting and loud explosions in the near distance. Both Jack and Nikki in their own way were both damaged individuals, "Nikki it's okay you're safe" he speaks watching her face screw up in her sleep.

She jolts awake suddenly and looks up at Jack with fear in her eyes in the darkness she couldn't tell who was looming over her or even recognize her surroundings, "Hey it's okay!" Jack smiles.
Nikki makes out the shape of Jack and his voice for a brief second she questioned why she was here until she remembered, She relaxes back into the pillow and feels Jack take hold of her clammy hand. "Better?" He asks and she nods without saying a word.
Jack smirks at her before getting back up off her bed and walking across the room to his and allowing her to go back to sleep.

The following morning Nikki wakes later than Jack and bolts upright in the bed regretting staying there the night, she fully knew her Dad would be angry with her once she got home but she had to face the music now as she has school tomorrow and would be requiring her uniform to attend.
She clambers out the sofa bed and quickly changes while Jack isn't in the room she quickly packs her things and pulls on her converse trainers before dashing out of the room and colliding with Jack as she leaves. "Ahh you're awake, Da want's to know if you want some breakfast, full English? or should I say full Irish..." Jack chuckles attempting to joke with Nikki.
"Look thank you for having me, I need to go... I shouldn't have stayed..." Nikki responds stepping past him but Jack grabs her arm stopping her from moving.

"Calm down have some breakfast before you go. I'm sure Da would be happy to drop you home," Jack smiles as he follows her downstairs where Conor pops his head around the kitchen door to see the two teenagers coming down.

"Breakfast in five... will you be joining us? Plenty to go round..." Conor smiles greeting Nikki.
Nikki freezes it sure did smell nice maybe half an hour wouldn't hurt give her time for her Dad to leave for the bookies again. "Erm... if that's fine Mr. Hodgson," Nikki smiles as she glances at Jack who has a grin slapped across his smug face.
"Please Nikki, we have been through this it's Conor," He smiles watching the teenagers and Jack touching her back as they walk towards the kitchen.

Nikki feels Jack's hand touch the small of her back and her mind drifts back to him pinning her down last night, although she had been somewhat sexually active with boys in the past she had never felt how she did about Jack holding her down ever before, it was sending her body wild she actually liked it and wanted him to kiss her before they pulled away from each other.
She wanted Jack to touch her, kiss her and hold her body her whole body erupted into goosebumps as he walked with his hand on her back, he sure was a true gentleman.

She is guided to the breakfast table by Jack when Ryan comes running through to the kitchen and looking at Jack and Nikki, "Jack's got a girlfriend!" Ryan sings teasing his older brother.
"She's not my girlfriend... she a female friend!" Jack huffs sitting himself down beside Nikki as Conor brings over the plates full of food for the teenagers.
"Nikki... Jack is always saying your name, he's always moaning your name. Dad, why does Jack moan Nikki's name?" Ryan asks looking to his father for answers.

Conor looks between his sons and notices Jack flushing red looking down at the table, "Erm... We will talk about it when you're older Son... now why don't you grab the brown sauce and ketchup," Conor smiles glancing at the two older teenagers noticing Nikki also flushing realizing what Jack has been doing while thinking about her.

"Nikki?" Ryan asks carrying the sauces to the table and sitting beside her at the round table.
"Yeah?" Nikki responds.
"Jack loves you... he wants to marry you and have your babies," He giggles cheekily.
"Ryan!" Conor warns sensing the two getting awkward at the table.
"He wants to have lots and lots of babies with you, he was messing with his willy..." Ryan giggles.

Jack slams his hands down on the table and stands abrupting causing the table occupants to jolt slightly, "Will you give it a fucking break you weasel!" Jack yells.
"Jack! sit down and shut up, we will have none of that language at my table... Ryan time out now!" Conor yells at his sons pointing in the direction of the hallway Ryan.

Nikki sits there awkwardly eating her breakfast she had never seen Jack so furious before, she places her hand on top of his and smiles, "ignore him he's only a baby," She smiles.
"He's not a baby, he should know better I'm sorry Nik" Jack sighs looking at her hand on his as she gently strokes her thumb across his hand.

Conor couldn't help but watch as he eats, the pair sharing these subtle moments together, were they really made for each other, even at such a young age? He couldn't help but admire them and he could picture them together in the future, Conor definitely approved of Nikki and hoped Jack would ask her out.