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

Chapter 19

Jack and I didn't stay in LA for long after he came back from tour. We had been discussing visiting my mom for a while and eventually bit the bullet before he had even gone on tour. A lot had happened since then, but the plans were still the same. So, just mere days after he had finished unpacking, we packed our bags again to spend a week in Missouri.

Late March painted the landscape with soft greens as Jack and I drove from the airport to my mom's ranch. It was a long drive in a rental, but the scenic route was actually quite a welcoming sight coming from the busy streets of LA. The only thing that held me back from truly enjoying it was the fact that we were visiting my mom. Who knew how that was going to pan out.

Eventually, we turned onto the gravel road that led us to the sprawling ranch. There were fenced in fields to the left and right of us, a couple of horses grazing nearby. It was the perfect place for my mom; away from everybody, free to be herself without any judgements. It almost seemed too calm out here for her, but I knew what the inside of the house was like.

"Remember," I said as Jack parked the car next to my mom's girlfriend's truck, "my mom can be... quirky. Throw away all expectations you have of this trip."

Jack grinned at me as he pulled the keys out of the ignition, stopping the music we had on. "Don't worry, I can handle it."

We stepped out of the car and I started to feel more and more uneasy. At least the cold air kept me level headed. Jack grabbed the shared suitcase from the back and locked the car. There was nothing else to do to help me stall. Not that it would have mattered, the screen door already opened and hit the wall with a loud bang.

"Jacie! Darling! You made it!" my mom exclaimed as she ran out of the house. Her hair was a vibrant red now and she was wearing a tie-dye dress despite the weather not being suited for it.

"Of course I made it!" I chuckled politely as she threw her arms around me. She was hugging me tighter than I was able to reciprocate.

She eventually let me go and stared at Jack. "And who's this handsome fella?"

"This is Jack," I frowned, glancing in his direction, "you've literally met him before."

"Have I?" She looked him up and down as if trying to remember any kind of detail.

"Yes, when I was interning on his tour."

"You slapped my ass and danced with me on stage," Jack added, trying to jog her memory.

She clapped her hands together and winked. "Ah! Jacie's favourite friend."

Before I could tell her to watch herself, she was already ushering us into the house. I shared a look with Jack and took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm. Although I didn't keep great contact with my mom, I had told her about Jack and I had told her that we were married now. She didn't really seem fazed by it all.

"Jacie!" Another voice said as soon as I stepped inside.

I saw the shorter woman with short black hair just inside the living room and was the one to hug her tightly. "Fran!"

"You must be Jack." She held out her hand for Jack to shake after we parted ways. "Next time I'd like to meet your husband before you marry him."

Jack shook her hand and laughed softly. "Well, there won't be a next time."

My mom had been listening in and snuck into the conversation. "Husband, you say? Why, Jacie, you never told me you eloped! When was the wedding?"

"I did tell you," I responded, slightly annoyed at the confirmation that she really hadn't been listening when I told her. "During the summer, in Vegas."