The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 17: Jackie Returns

Stepping out on the porch feels like you're walking the plank. Isaac is the rugged pirate pushing you out to the rickety bearings. The truck pulled up on the driveway is your ocean; and inside are the sharks.

Alex has yet to turn up. Neither has Nathan. Surely, the two of them are locked in their new bedroom, skipping this wonderful reunion. You will have to thank Nate later for keeping Alex away during this.

Cole is the first to get out, after seeming to be leaning over and speaking with his passenger. Your stomach roils from the spike of anxiety.

Trembling fingers dangle from your hands, the occasional fidgeting of your thumb is the only indication you still have control of them.

Benny and Parker are too young to understand anything happening. They race up and greet their brother. The dirty blonde happily kneels down, face contorting in reaction to pain. You believe it to be from his knee.

"What was it like running away?!" Benny exclaims, grabbing at his shirt while Parker hugs Cole's side. An unfamiliar sound comes from the boy, one foreign since his accident. He's laughing.

"I didn't run away, Benny. I just went to bring Jackie home." He says effortlessly. It's strange to see him so happy and content. Like he has no worries in the world. Something you believed you'd never see from him again.

"Jackie!" Parker cries out. The name makes you look to the truck, finding a girl with long, raven black hair standing beside the front of the truck.

Jackie.

It takes seeing her in person now to connect with your brain that she is a real person. Not just some name of some imaginary girl the boys were bickering over. She's so pretty. If you didn't know about all the problems of late, you would take her for a non-problematic girl. That's hilarious.

Guilt gnaws at your stomach's turmoil further. This poor girl lost all of her family in one fell swoop. She was thrust into a living situation she had no experience with, and then ended up in a love triangle with two of the most stubborn-headed boys on Earth.

Jackie has indirectly caused you to hate her - all just because she existed. What kind of person are you to hate her for just living her life? She probably didn't even know anything about you or that you existed.

"Parker!" The girl calls out in return, throwing her arms open wide while dropping to her knees. The young Walter closes the gap in seconds, her arms scooping around Jackie's neck. She returns the gesture with her own arms going around the small girl's back. It's a hug that looks so loving and warm that your heart aches watching it. You had to admit, you and Parker were never close. You just naturally got along with the older Walters'. It pains you to see someone else take the attention of them from you.

"¡Beinvenida a casa, Jackie!" Isaac calls. He took his place beside his brother who is happily waving. She looks over, a smile as far as her lips permitted on her face. Her tears glimmer in the sunlight.

"Gracias." She sniffles, having yet to let go of Parker. Cole instructs for Jordan to assist with retrieving Jackie's luggage's. Without much thought, you make your way down the steps and forward.

"I can help." You offer. This apparently calls for all eyes to be trained on you. It's uncomfortable, having fourteen sets of eyes watching your every movement. The overthinking takes hold and you have to remind yourself that nobody is judging you. Probably.

Was your black leggings and well-fitted blue blouse appropriate to wear out for this? Was there a customary outfit to wear when welcoming your best friend's ex-girlfriend back home?

Stop overthinking.

"Are you sure?" Cole asks. "I don't want you to hurt your ankle more."

Someone told him about your accident. It's safe to say it wasn't Alex. Probably Katherine? George?