In the moment

Celebrations

Jacks mood was off ever since they left for the pub. He was hardly speaking, although Soph had asked him many questions about the surrounding area trying to find out more about his life, he really wasn't giving anything away.

They pulled up into the car park jack parents pulling in shortly after. Jack exits the car heading straight to the boot to retrieve maes pram. 'We'll meet you inside' his dad pats him on the back and then heads inside with his mum. Soph walks round to the boot to help him.

'Are you sure everything's okay jack?' She takes his hand to stop him fidgeting with the pram.

'Yeah I'm fine, just tired yknow, been a long drive' he looks over sophs shoulder at a man approaching them 'alright bro!' He shouts before giving him a hug 'Soph this is my brother kevan, kevan this is Soph'

'Nice to meet you Soph!' He shakes her hand before turning back to jack 'im sorry man, I tried to stop her but this is the only place she could get'

The words sealed the deal for Soph that something was definitely going on. She pretended to rummage in the nappy bag as if she wasn't listening. 'Nah fuck it, is what it is isn't it, let just get it over with'

Kevan helped them inside pushing the pram as jack carried mae proudly. 'Congratulations!' a whole room of people shouted as they entered. There must at least be 60-70 people, Soph looked around the room for any familiar faces but she couldn't spot any. Jack put his arm around Sophs waist protectively as he lead her to a table. 'You wanna drink bab?' He says with maes hands trying to grab his lips

'Fresh orange and lemonade would be amazing babe'  she requests as he heads to the bar. With jack gone Karen starts introducing her to some of the party guests, she felt like she needed a notepad and pen because she couldn't really take it all in. Her eyes were on jack talking to an older women behind the bar who was tickling mae under the chin and smiling away at jack before kissing him on the cheek. 'I'm just going to the toilet' Soph whispers to Karen who nods in reply.

She stands at the sink in the bathroom staring in the mirror. What was going on, what was the big secret? It was making her feel sick. She hears the someone in a cubicle and she quickly pulls her self together and washes her hands. 'Are you okay Soph?' Jacks sister exits the cubicle and joins her at the sink.

'Actually no. But Kiera, could you help me clear something up?' She watches her reflection through the mirror

'Of course what's up?' She says fixing her hair before searching her bag for her lipgloss.

'Ever since your mum mentioned here at the house, jacks been in a mood. He won't tell me anything, he's just acting like everything's fine when it's clearly not. It's not me is it? Is he hiding something?' She confides

Kiera puts her lipgloss back in her bag. 'Oh erm' she looks up at Soph 'okay if i tell you, you can't tell jack it came from me?' She licks her bottom lip in the same way jack does when he's nervous

'Promise' she nods in agreement

Kiera takes a deep breath and faces Soph 'this pub belongs to his ex girlfriend's parents. She isn't here, mom made me check socials, she's in London. But yeah jacks probably just mad about that. He'll be okay' she smiles at Soph and rubs the top of her arm 'he loves you yknow, he don't shut up about yas when I call him. I can never get a word in' she laughs at the thought.

Soph brings her in for a hug 'thank you!' She says before letting go 'I'm also going to need your help remembering everyone's names because I can't keep up'

They're both laughing, Soph fixes her self in the mirror, Kiera watching her in awe 'sure follow me' she says before they both head back to the party
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It was now 8pm, half the party had gone but everyone that was left was pretty drunk. Soph was rocking mae in her pram as she fell asleep, feeling pretty worn out herself. She watches jack with his friends as they catched up. Kiera was right when she did listen in to a few of his conversations he didn't shut up about her and mae and how excited he is to meet the baby. There was very little talk of the tragedy they faced with the loss of their second twin. Although when it was mentioned Soph actually felt okay about it, it was nice in a way to remember the baby and not act like it never happened.

'You alright bab? Ya look shattered, you wanna head home?' He asked as he cuddled her, his breath stinking of lager.

She holds his face in her hands  'it's okay I can take the car, you stay and catch up with your friends, you don't get to do it often.' She kisses him, all his mates start cheering like drunken teenagers 'just don't drink to much, you're back in training monday'

'Promise!' He gives her a cheeky grin as she rubs her fingers over the crinkles near his eyes 'I won't be long though, I'm knackered myself'

'Can I come with you Soph?' Kiera asks

Jacks looks at Soph and then to Kiera, 'she's going to mine ki not moms'

'Can I not at least keep you company until jacks back? I can show you around the house and help you out' she directly asks Soph, ignore jack

Soph agrees before jack helps her to the car with mae 'I love you bab' he kisses her deeply through the window of the car.
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11pm and Soph was settled on the sofa watching a film with Kiera. She'd been aimlessly flicking through social media trying to get any update on jack. She didn't want to ask him when he was coming home like a bunny boiler.

'I'm gonna head up and stay in the spare room' she says to Soph 'I'm sure he won't be long now though' she smiles at her knowing she was waiting for him to return home.

20 minutes later Soph had fallen asleep on the sofa, never getting to see the end of the film.
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'Hello stranger' jack heard the familiar voice behind him before feeling her nails through his T-shirt as she touches him.

'Ay up Sara' he says emotionlessly hoping she'd just fuck off

'Don't sound too please to see me!' She scoffs 'I heard you were celebrating' she looks at the balloons around the room 'yknow I could have got you a deal on some better decorations than this'

'I don't want ya fucking ballon arches Sara' he growls before turning back to his friends.

'Still want me though' she shouts at him as she walks off