glitch | jack hughes

Chapter 45

Josephine

I take a deep breath in, feeling around the bed for Jack, but I feel nothing. I open my eyes to find myself alone in bed, missing the warmth he brings. I sit up in his bed, rubbing my eyes, looking for some shoes to put on. I walk down the steps, turning the corner to see the entire Hughes family sitting at the dinner table. As they turn their heads to look at me I know they see right through me. 

Jack gets up from the table, but it's too early in the morning to not flinch so a heartbroken expression flashes through his eyes. He reaches an arm out for me to take and gives me a sad smile. "Hey, wanted to let you sleep in a bit," He says gently, kissing my cheek once I'm closer to him. He offers me his chair, playing with my hair as he stands behind me.

I look around at everyone at the table, every single one of them is wearing the saddest look on their face. "So, Jack told you," I swallow all my emotions down, trying to keep my voice from breaking. Jack's finger trail up and down my jaw, trying his best to soothe the anxiety he knows is building up in my body. "Yeah, sweetheart," Ellen answers, getting up to wrap her arms around me. 

Everyone at the table takes their turn, wrapping me up in a hug, Luke taking it the worst. "Luke, I'm okay," I try reassuring him, trying to wrap myself up in my arms, but he shakes his head. "Josie, you flinch at any movement, that monster is hurting you and none of us were there to stop it," I get up from my chair to hug him and he wraps his arms around me tightly.

"I just don't know what I'd do if we lost you. You know, I've always wanted a sister,  I don't want to lose her now that I just got her," He shakes in my arms being too scared to think about it. I let go of him, sitting sideways on Jack's lap as I tell them what's been going on. By the end of us, the pain in my chest gives me a headache. I rub my head, unsure of how to go about this now that I told someone. 

"I'm just not sure how to stop him, without hurting anyone," I relax against Jack's chest, as he trails his fingers up and down my arms accidentally pressing on one of my hidden bruises. I wince, pulling my arm close to me, and wishing the pain in my arm would stop. Jack looks at me, then at my arm unsure of what he did. I wipe the makeup off my arm to show my big bruise which is probably from getting thrown against the door. 

Jack rubs his eyes, as everyone winces just by looking at it. "It's not as bad as it looks, I haven't been eating well so I bruise easily." I try to justify his unjustifiable action. And I don't know why. "Jo, don't make excuses for him," Luke says gently, as Quinn rubs his face with his hands. 

 After several beats of silence, Ellen asks if turning in whatever evidence I have is something I'm interested in. The boys look at me, pleading with me just with their blue eyes. I look at them before saying, "Y-yeah, that sounds good," even though I'm really scared to. 

Everything bad that could happen floods through all the positivity that could come from turning my evidence of harassment, stalking, and assault in. I try hiding the way my chest is heaving dramatically with the big sweater I'm in but I know Jack can feel it. He presses a kiss to my temple before excusing us from the table. 

Once he closes the door behind us, I throw his sweater off my body feeling trapped. I feel the need to get out of my body but Jack knows my warning signs so he walks in front of me, pressing my hands onto his chest. "Take it out on me," He says, causing me to snap my head up to look at him. I shake my head before pacing around the room.

"I'm scared, Jack, I leave tomorrow and he's going to hurt me," I start panicking, I feel like I can't breathe, I press my hands to my chest as if they'll go through my body and help my lungs. Jack reaches out for me, and once I take his hand he pulls me into him. I grip the back of his neck, holding him close to me as if he'd slip away. "I'll be there, he won't hurt you," He kisses my head.