Mrs All American ❅ Luke Hemmings

Flights

Chapter 31 - Flights

On the next day, my mother allowed me to skip school for two days to check out this university in New York. She said I had good enough grades and that she'd tell my teacher why I wasn't at school. I was elated. Partly because I'd get to see my old friend again and partly because Jack decided to screw his duties (again) and tag along with me. We would fly to Los Angeles first, shift planes and then proceed to New York. It was all planned out. The only thing I felt reluctant about was not telling Ashton and his band mates. It felt like lying to them, even though I wasn't; I was just not telling them. Mom decided it was best for everyone if they didn't know. Still, it felt wrong, I used to tell Ash everything.

"Ready to go?" Jack asked for the billionth time since he woke me up at 2:30 a.m.

I stifled a yawn and nodded solemnly, "Ready." I mumbled, rubbing my eyes as I pulled my roller suitcase after me.

We did all the passport-and-tickets-relating things and was in the plane in no time. For me, it all went by in a flash, seeing as I was still half asleep. My phone struck 5 a.m when the plane took off into the clear night sky. Jack was watching a movie, I had one of his earphone's in my ear. I tried to normally watch it with him but I just couldn't pay attention to the movie, so, I settled on resting my head on his shoulder, just listening to him laugh and giggle to the jokes in the comedy he was watching. I smiled slightly at the sound of his giggles, then my mind drifted elsewhere . . .

I thought about what he told me when I invited him inside my house. 'Why do you do this to me?' What did he mean? Did he– not to sound like a preschooler but– did he . . . Like me, like me?
He couldn't . . . I mean, he's my best friend. Boys and girls can be friends without having any romantic feelings, right? I mean, that's what I thought . . .

It makes sense, though. He was my first kiss, and we seemed to sometimes 'accidentally' connect our lips when we were in New York together. That's probably not a normal thing people do in friendships. Friends don't kiss friends.

"Rose? You okay?" He asked, snapping me back to reality.

"Huh? Yeah. I'm fine. Why?" I smiled confusedly.

"You were frowning," He responded and glanced back at the mini screen.

"Oh, I was?"

"Yep," Jack fixated his eyes at one point on the screen. "Are you okay?" He asked again.

I bit my lip. "Yeah," I whispered. "I'm okay,"

"You're so not okay," He scoffed, turning back to me. "What's bothering you?" His sassy tone shifted to one of concern.

I shrugged it off. "It's nothing,"

"Oh, don't give me that shit, Rose," Jack frowned. "I'm sick of it. Just tell me the fucking truth,"

I shifted uneasily. "I, um . . ."

"Spit it out," He urged.

"I just . . ."

"Rose!"

"I was contemplating whether or not you like me more than a friend!" I said quickly.

Jack went completely silent, his eyes darted back to the movie. "I have to finish watching this." He stated.

"Jack, do you?"

"I don't fucking know," He snapped, glaring at me now. For once, he looked so angry and depressed and vulnerable and confused, at the same time. "I don't know so please, leave me the fuck alone." Jack pulled out his phone, plugged in his own earphones to it and started to listen to music, completely ignoring me.