glitch | jack hughes (rewritten)

chapter 61

disclaimer: emetophobia

josephine lee

"Josie, Josie. Wake up. I'm right here." Jack says, gently rocking my upper body from side to side to wake me from the nightmare I was stuck in. I shoot up, holding a hand to my chest as I breathe in deep and ragged breaths. Tears fall out the sides of my eyes as two protective arms wrap around my middle to pull me backward into a hard chest.

Nausea consumes me the minute I start to feel restricted from moving. Without thinking of my surroundings, I try jumping out of bed and accidentally knee Jack in the stomach. An 'Oof' leaves his lips as I make my way to the porcelain toilet bowl. I empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. 

I try to think about my dream and what caused such panic, but I don't remember a single detail of it. With my eyes pinched shut and low groans leaving my mouth every time I get a tiny break in between puking my guts out, I don't even notice the comforting hands on my shoulder, swooping my long hair out of the way.

Once I'm no longer puking, Jack flushes everything away and loosely braids my hair. He asked me to teach him a month ago, and his skills are still a work in progress. "What do you need? I'll do anything." he says, pressing his lips to my freckled back. I lean into his chest and sniffle, asking him to help me get up. 

He does what I ask and hands me my toothbrush with toothpaste already on it. I squeeze his forearm in a silent thank you and hold onto the counter as I brush the horrible taste out of my mouth, replacing it with something mintier. "What's going on?" Jack asks, genuine concern lacing his words. 

"I'm not sure. I know I had a nightmare but can't remember anything about it." I say, feeling helpless and weak. He holds my cold, trembling body in his arms, acting as an anchor for me. I place my head on his chest, listening to his breathing and heartbeat to ground myself after the poor start of my morning. 

This might sound absolutely insane, but I'm pretty good at detecting when there's a camera on me, and right now, I feel like someone is watching me. The thought causes my heart to start racing again as I subtly look around to make sure the curtains are blocking any view of me right now. 

I'm not fucking crazy something is wrong, and it might be all the times my address has gotten leaked that has me feeling a little unsettled. I don't even want to bring this concern up to Jack because I can see the way he looks at me when I tell him the fucking aura of my home is off. 

As I pull back from Jack's arms, his alarm for practice goes off, and my panic consumes me once again. He walks to his nightstand and turns off the alarm before walking towards the restroom to start getting ready. I look around to busy myself and notice a hungry-looking Weenie waiting for her breakfast. 

He barks at me to get my attention before running in between my legs as I make my way to his bowls to fill them with his puppy food and some water. He doesn't waste a single second in devouring his breakfast. I smile down at his tiny tail wagging before walking back into my bedroom, where Jack is now grabbing his things.  

"Alright, baby, I'm leaving for practice." Jack says with his keys in his hand. The sight of him looking so ready to leave makes me sick, and without giving my body permission to show him my panic, I start pleading with him to let me come with him. "I won't be gone for long, hon." he tells me, cradling my cheek in his rough hands. 

"Please, let me come with you. Please." I beg Jack, looking at him through desperate eyes. I can't be here alone right now. Jack looks at me with a worried expression, and without arguing with me, he simply nods his head. "Yeah, baby, let's get you in the car." he says, wiping my tears before squatting to the ground to grab his hoodie and pull it over my body.