The Hostage Diaries (ON HOLD) (2013)

The Hostage Diaries (ON HOLD)

Thanks to the lovely @starlightt for the beautiful cover.

I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my face, it was nice just lying here in silence. I folded one hand over my stomach, the other one laced with Jack's, and smiled.

His large, calloused hand surrounded my small, soft one with warmth. It was moments like these that made life bearable. Especially when dad was being a prick, as usual.

I sighed. "I wish we didn't have to hide, to come all the way out here just to be alone."

Jack chuckled beside me an I turned my was to see him lying with his free hand behind his head. He looked at me, smiled and nodded.

"I know." He played with my fingers and looked back up at the sky. "I hair wish you daddy's stop calling me a truck driving hooligan."

I smiled. "Actually, I think he's settled on 'Texas born, fame boy vigilante' for now."

Jack chuckled again. I watched as his blonde curls shifted with the breeze. He caught me staring and smiled, that goofy grin that I loved. I smiled back, blushing a little, and just stared into his gorgeous big brown eyes. God I loved him, wow, that sounded a little forward. I mean, I'm seventeen.

"Hello? Earth to Maddy!" Jack waved a hand in front of my face.

I chuckled and swatted it away. "I'm here. I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Life, us, stuff....the usual."

He nodded and stood up, brushing himself up before offering me a hand. I took it and let him pull me up easily, I'd almost forgotten how strong he was. You had to be to work for my father, the picky old grouch that he was. I pushed a stray strand of long dark hair behind my ear and hopped up onto the front of Jack's truck.

It was a beat up old thing, once a deep cherry red and now faded to a shadow of it's former glory. I liked it, it was reliable and comfy and the radio blasted country music constantly. Jack wouldn't let me touch the radio. This truck was his pride and joy, he'd fixed it up himself. I was never all that great with cars.

I smiled as Jack stood beside me and leaned my head on his shoulder. His arm instinctively slid around my waist and he pulled me closer. I liked being with Jack, he didn't treat me any different than anyone else and I liked that. I liked being normal. No responsibilities or rules. Just me and my boyfriend, free to do as we pleased.

We watched the sun set and I sighed against Jack's shirt. It was red and black plaid with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his favorite. He'd work it open over a white t-shirt and thrown on a pair of jeans. The usual. I was dressed similarly today, casual. I'd chosen a pale blue sweater, skinny jeans and some white converse.

It was nice not to have to dress up, to have to look good all the time and be perfect. I didn't have to act happy every minute and appear flawless. I could just let my hair down, literally, and just be me.

I liked not having expectations weighing down on my shoulders or stern looks directed at me when I don't act like the perfect little princess. This was where I really wanted to be. Somewhere I could be who I am without having to worry about what people thought of me.

"Jack?" I muttered.

He looked down at me. "Yeah?"

"We should get home. Dad'll kill me if I'm late for the stupid dinner he's having tonight."

Jack chuckled. "You're having dinner with the president Mads, why is that such a pain in the behind?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hmm...let me think. Dad is going to make me dress up like a whore, cake makeup all over until I've covered up all of my 'flaws' which basically means until he doesn't recognize me anymore and expect me to act like some polite little girl. And then he's going to try and set me up with the president's son even though he knows I'm already dating you."