Echoing J.A.C.I.E. (All Time Low Fanfiction | Jack Barakat)

Chapter 24

We pulled up to the all too familiar house. It was a Saturday evening, and Jack and I were visiting my dad for dinner. Whenever both of us were home we tried to come over every other week. Although I'd been spending more time than usual there, it was something we still tried to keep up. Especially when my dad came to us with the idea to come over.

"Let's see what my dad's got for us this time." I rubbed my hands together in anticipation while Jack turned off the engine.

He chuckled at me, the lights in the car turning on when the keys were taken out of the ignition. "Wanna make it a bet?"

"We could..." I smirked mischievously. "What's your guess?"

"Well, he made salmon last time, so something other than that."

"And his lasagna is too fancy for a simple dinner..."

Jack frowned as he thought of what other options there were. I also wracked my brain, trying to think of what other things my dad cooked over the years as well as what he liked to repeat. It was a pretty hard challenge.

"I claim anything pasta-based!" I quickly blurted out before Jack could suggest something.

He looked at me with his mouth agape, annoyed with my choice. "Well, then I'm claiming anything not pasta-based."

"But that's unfair!" I gasped. He was basically covering most of the meals.

"You're the one who started it."

He got out of the car, making me pout with a huff and exit the passenger side as well. We walked to the front door together, Jack handing me the car keys since I was going to be our designated driver. I rang the doorbell, waiting for somebody to open up on the other side.

My dad greeted us at the door with his usual warmth.

"Come in, come in," he stepped aside and gestured for us to enter. "Ben's not here, he's at a sleepover. So it's just the three of us today."

As we stepped inside, part of me was a little upset that Ben wasn't here. I obviously loved seeing my little brother, but it would have also been nice to see Jack light up a little. Ben just ignited this spark in him. Maybe it was the child-like innocence or wanting to make Ben smile, but Jack got along so well with him and always had so much fun no matter what Ben roped him into.

Jack and I went through the usual routine of kicking our shoes off before entering the living room. The table was already set, the familiar scent of my dad's cooking wafting through the air.

"So, what's on the menu today?" I casually asked as I approached the table, hoping to find out whether Jack or I won our wager.

"Well," my dad rushed back into the kitchen, taking a pot off the cooktop, "I've made some Tuscan ravioli and got some cake for dessert."

I smiled, realising that my pasta-based claim had won. Jack groaned beside me, making my dad frown.

Before he thought Jack wouldn't enjoy the meal, I quickly clarified teasingly, "looks like I got the victory tonight."

"But the odds were in my favour," Jack pouted.

"What's going on?" my dad chuckled, pulling something out of the oven and pouring the contents of the pot on top of it.

"We made a bet," I said, wrapping an arm around Jack's waist and pulling myself close. "I said anything with pasta, and Jack got all the other dishes in existence."

With all the contents of the pot now in the dish, we settled around the dinner table. My dad was at the head while Jack and I were sitting on either side of him. The dish in the middle looked so appetising, and my stomach growled in anticipation. I shot Jack a triumphant grin, still basking in my victory.