Jack and Isla

TWELVE

Isla sat in the diner enjoying a tea with Sarah after having just dropped Bradley off at the wood yard, so he could go and talk to Jack. She must admit she felt quite nervous and apprehensive about how it would go. What if Jack had been scared off and was having second thoughts? What if Bradley actually had an issue with Jack?

Sarah was laughing about Nate when he came in yesterday, "You know it's a good job Bradley was there to be honest Isla, Nate fights like a girl so he wouldn't have stood a chance. Jack was always the one who had to get him out of fights when they were younger."

"No offence to your husband, but I can see that happening." They were both laughing and giggling when Isla looked out the window, the car opposite catching her eye. She thought this looked like the same car from the night of the dance, but this time she thought the person inside was watching her. 

Her skin prickled like she was being watched, except not like she was used to. She was used the way her skin would heat and goosebumps would rise when she knew Jack was watching her and she often find herself revelling under his gaze. But this was different. Her gut churned in a way that had not in months and the prickles on her skin felt like small scratches similar to what she imagined thousands of minute paper cuts would feel like, making her feel on edge and uneasy. 

For a moment she considered the worst case scenario. That maybe the nightmare that was her old life had caught up to her and that Stu had found them. But it had been months and that was not Stu's car. Surely, if it was Stu, he would not sit there and watch her as she laughed and smiled with other people. He never held back before, even in public, at letting her know he was not happy with her socialising with people, so why would he now. 

She shuffled slightly to see if she could see who this person was, but then her view was blocked by Nate pulling up. When he moved out the way and she had got a better view, the car had gone. The sound of Nate's voice quickly shook the thought with Nate sitting next to her on the stools.

"Isla, I am sorry about yesterday."

"Nate, it's ok," she smiled at him, then winked at Sarah, "Your secret is safe with me and I mean if you need Bradley to come and defend you when Jack is not around that's fine." She bit her lip to stop herself laughing.

"Ouch and to think I had a gift for you in the car." Nate laughed.

"Oooh a gift." She started to make her way to leave, Nate getting up with her, saying their goodbyes to Sarah, "It is ok though Nate, I'm glad you were with him."

They went out together and in the back of his car he got out a box for her. She jumped with delight when she saw it was the shower head they had ordered ages ago for her. She chuckled with delight as something so simple made her happy and she couldn't wait to have a proper shower instead of a bath all the time.

-x-

Jack poured Bradley an orange juice as he sat at the bar in the kitchen in Jack's apartment. Jack's heart went out to the lad, when he was at the door looking a bit embarrassed about the whole thing from last night. Nate had filled Jack in on the way back home yesterday and Jack wondered how hard Isla had been on him.

The thought of her standing her ground yesterday thrilled Jack a little and seeing her showing her fiery side, did ashamedly send blood rushing elsewhere when he thought back to it, but at the same time, he hoped that she understood why he did it.

"Jack, I'm sorry." Bradley blurted out after a couple of minutes silence. 

"Bradley, it's ok."

"No Jack, I mean it, I'm sorry and I'm not just here because my mum suggested it." Bradley got up and started pacing, "I'm here because I do have a lot of respect for you and I know that Freddie does too and we know you've done a lot for this family..."