glitch | jack hughes (rewritten)

chapter 56

josephine lee

We're back in Michigan! It feels so good to be back in a peaceful setting after being in hectic New York City. The entirety of my time there was finishing my album, rehearsing for SNL and my show in Madison Square Garden, and then performing both for myself and for Niall's concert in New York. It was fun and so worth it but I was exhausted after the trip. 

The whole flight back to Michigan was spent sleeping on Jack's shoulder. He threw his hoodie on and dozed off with his head on top of mine. I remember waking up and having a really sore neck after the flight but didn't complain about it because I was just excited to come back to Jack's lake house. 

Once I got settled in my days felt easy, my shoulders felt lighter, and I felt happy to get my last few weeks of bliss before going on tour with Taylor. The next few weeks consist of sleeping, reading, cooking, movie nights, and a few outings. Today is one of those outings. Today is the Sunny Days festival where Inhaler will be performing. 

Just as everyone suspected Theo left the house around five in the morning. I say suspected because he's been so stressed that he didn't say anything. He likes to act like a hot shot, confident rockstar but he is a ball of anxiety and worry. Just like someone else I know. I sent him a quick message, wishing him luck but he didn't respond. 

"Do you think he's alright?" Jack asks, eating a sandwich he just made in some red swim trucks that match my triangle bikini. I shrug my shoulders not wanting to speak for Theo but also not wanting to worry Jack. My boyfriend lets out a deep breath like he has been holding it in for a minute. 

Jack fishes his phone from his pocket and starts dialing Theo's number. He holds it to his ear listening to the ringing and just as I'm about to tell Jack he's not going to answer my brother picks up. Jack takes his phone call outside and starts talking to my brother with a smile on his face. 

I look down at my phone and notice the lack of texts back but ignore it. At least he's talking to someone. I take a bite out of Jack's sandwich and wash it down with his water, waiting for him to come back inside so he can tell me what Theo said. 

He opens and closes the door, dropping his phone back into his front pocket looking a bit more at ease. "He's alright, stressed but alright. One of their guitars got taken I'm not sure how but it's gone so he had to leave early in the morning to pick up a new one." Jack informs me making me wonder if it was Bobby, Josh, or Theo's guitar. 

I decide to not ponder about it since the boys have already worked things out and instead make sure everything we need is in our beach bag. Sunscreen, a towel, fruit, water, and some extra clothes for later. "Perfect, we're packed. We should probably get going soon so we can get a good spot." I tell Jack, shouting this out to everyone else in the house who won't be leaving until later. 

Jack agrees and starts cleaning up the counter, chugging his glass of water after he finishes his lunch. I tug some jean shorts and cowboy boots on and wait for Jack at the bottom of the stairs while he grabs his car keys and one of my baseball caps. I scream a loud goodbye and head out the door with my boyfriend, driving to the beach where the festival is. 

Since I don't want to drive Jack does and I just have to tell him where to go. I give him a few minutes in between all directions so we don't take the wrong exit like all of the other times when I'm telling him where to go. Jack hates being late and I hate making him upset. Easy as that. 

Once we park in the beach parking lot Jack kisses me on the forehead congratulating me on giving proper directions. I chuckle into his side and start looking for a band of five boys. It takes me a while to find at least one of them and the one I find first is Alex. My least favorite, the one I don't claim, the one who doesn't respect my relationship in the slightest.