J.A.C.I.E.'s World (All Time Low Fanfiction | Jack Barakat)

Chapter 13

I arrived at the venue on a few hours of sleep and only a small backpack with belongings. It was only in the taxi from the airport to the venue that I realised I had no way of actually getting inside. I didn't have a backstage pass and nobody knew I was coming. There were so many gaps in my plan. I was just extremely lucky that Jeff picked up my call and told me that somebody would be waiting for me even though they were all extremely busy.

And that's how I managed to enter. The venue employee left me as soon as I stepped inside and was given my backstage pass. I had to find my own way around the hallways and rooms. It made it all so much more daunting.

My heart was racing and my hands were clammy as I walked closer and closer towards my destination. I had no idea what I was going to find. Would he look the same way I felt? Was his life unaffected? Did he just go on with his day like nothing had happened? Was I just going to interrupt everything good?

It felt like I was walking for miles, navigating through the corridors. I was an intruder in a familiar yet so foreign world.

Eventually, I found an all too familiar arrow. I nearly passed out knowing that the rest of my future depended on this moment. I almost turned around and left at that point. But I also couldn't do that to myself. I needed to see him.

I turned into the dimly lit room and found Jack all by himself. There he was, in the flesh, sitting on a worn-out couch. He hadn't noticed me yet and was scrolling through his phone. It felt so surreal, as if I had fallen asleep at my desk the night before and this was all just a dream. I didn't know how to act.

Luckily, he finally noticed my figure in the doorway and looked up.

"Jacie?" My name escaped his lips, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

I nodded as he stood up, and rushed towards him. We collided in a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me as if he intended to never let me go. The familiar warmth of his body engulfed me, making me feel safe once again. I buried my face in his shoulder as tears started to slip down my cheeks slowly. I didn't want to get his shirt wet, but neither of us dared to let go yet, afraid to know what would happen if we did.

We simply stood there, wrapped in each other's arms. It was a silent understanding, an unspoken apology.

It was somebody else who got us to break out of our little world.

"Huh, Jacie? I barely recognised you with–" Alex had entered the room, not having expected me to be there. I left Jack's embrace and turned around to face him, quickly wiping away the tears that had fallen with the back of my hand. His face fell. "Oh... I'll leave you guys alone..."

As Alex made a swift exit, closing the door behind himself, I turned my attention back to Jack. His eyes were fixated on me, a mixture of surprise and confusion hidden in their depths. I sniffled a little, my attempt at drying my face was a waste as more tears continued to escape.

"Jacie..." he sighed, his voice mirroring the blend of emotion in his eyes.

He brought me close again, wrapping his arms around me even tighter than before. I couldn't hold it back anymore and started sobbing into him. All the emotions I had felt over the past month started coming out: the confusing feeling of being lost, the regret of every night out, the confusion behind forgotten memories, and the pain from the last few days.

Jack just held me as I continued to cry. It was as though he knew I needed this release. His hand gently stroked my back, giving me the comfort and support I needed. Eventually, my sobs started to subside as my body started to relax. I felt emotionally drained, but strangely relieved. A whole weight had been lifted off my chest.