Ever After

Grown Up

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I'll be the first to admit that this story has flaws... there are a lot of plot holes, typos, and I think I call Mark Hawaiian twice... additionally, this story was written a long, long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away), but, mistakes aside, I hope that you enjoy the story! (The next A/N is the original one from the start of the story - just adding this as a forewarning!)

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Hello! Thank you so much for checking in on this story - it means the world to me. You don't have to read it if you don't like it (and you can definitely tell me if you don't!), but if you do like it, then here's a thank-you in advance!

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This chapter is in Jack's perspective.

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Putting on a hoodie for the first time in the year was like accepting defeat. Mother Nature often tends to strike Ireland with her tears later on into the year, and it wouldn't shock me to find that she would later on today. It was as if she were watching over us, her eyes ready to play at our every thought, much like my mother, who eyed me expectantly as I pulled my sweater up and over my head, encasing myself in its warmth.

"What do you want, mum?" I muttered, kicking my feet into my shoes.

She smiled humbly, coming over to wrap her arms about my neck, making me moan in agony. She did this every fuckin' year; although I am now in the twelfth grade, surprisingly capable of making it through the eleventh with C's and D's, she still manages to embarrass me with the entire "they grow up so fast" speech. I was stunned at how determined she was to make me feel anxious and nervous on the first day of school, completely ignoring our agreement we've gone over all summer, an agreement where she isn't allowed to make me nervous on the first day of school, let alone right before I get out the door. She'd already managed to impress me, despite my best efforts.

"Oh, Jack, baby," she whispered in my ear, her arms lovingly rubbing down my shoulders, "you're so grown up now. Where do the times go?"

I sighed. "Apparently the same place our agreement goes, out through the fuckin' window."

"Jack! You promised you would stop with the swearing."

"Mom, I'm eighteen," I whined, turning to face her. She had the same expression she did every year, nervousness, excitement, and pride all rolled into one. "If I'm old enough to move out, I'm old enough to swear."

"Not under my roof!" she snapped. "Now, do you have everythin' you need? Your books? Pencils? Backpack?"

She looked at my shoulders, one occupied by the backpack strap, the other vacant. She sighed, signalling that it was probably best I strap on the other handle, for she always feared that I would look slouchy and too laid-back for today's standards on students. Forcefully, I brought up the strap, rolling my eyes as I did, another bad decision on my behalf. I was sure that the minute I walked out the front door, this backpack would be brushed off of my shoulder, along with all of the fucks I give about high school.

As she widened her mouth back to her pleasant smile, my sister bounded down the stairs, her feet loud and obnoxious against the wooden cabin's floor, something that our mother always nagged at her about. She was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, miles away from her knees, another negativity that our mum would surely scold. I felt sorry for the beat-down she was destined for.

"Nice outfit," mum said, "but where's the rest of it?"

Laughing sarcastically, my sister patted me on the back (or, rather, backpack), my chest leaping out at the sudden impact. I chuckled it off, gazing longingly at my mum as I always did. It was my way of reassuring her, of silently telling her that yes, I will be careful, and that yes, I will look both ways before I cross the street. She smiled in response, my sister now putting in her two cents of the conversation.

"Ready to go, Jack?" she insisted, nodding her head towards the door.

"Yep. You'll be okay without me, right, mum?"

"Of course not," mum replied, tears already swelling in her eyes. No wonder I was always so emotional. "I can't believe that my last baby is goin' off to college next year..."

My sister kicked on her flip-flops, placing her hand on the doorknob. "Mum, don't sweat it. You've got an entire year left, and it's not like Jack's ever goin' to go off to college anyway!"

"Har-de har har," I mocked, stepping out and onto the porch through the door my sister had opened for me.

"I love you, Jack!" mum cried out, a tissue already in her hand, not nearly ready enough for the waterfall that was about to drench it in salty tears. "Take care, and tell me all about it when you come home, okay?"

"I will, I will! Get off m'back, mum!"

I saw her wave goodbye as my sister shut the door, leading me into her new Volkswagen Beetle. Although jealous of how lucky she was to receive such a wonderful birthday present, I couldn't stop myself from noticing how loving she acted towards the inanimate object, keeping it clean, spotless, and full of gas every second of the day. She turned the key into the lock, revving up the engine, beaming rays of sunlight in my direction as the car started up, the air conditioning flying in through the vents, although it was unneeded with the outside winter air.

"Are you excited?" she asked.

I clicked my teeth. "Just drive the car."

"I'm serious! Are you excited?"

"No," I spat, "now drive the car."

She sighed. "I can't understand how men can be so grumpy on such important occasions. This is the first day of yer last year at Redwood High! Don't you want it to be memorable?"

"Maybe if you drive the car I can explain how easy it is not to look forward to a day like today."

She pressed her foot gently against the gas pedal, easing the car out of the driveway. "Why don't you learn to drive a car instead of having to walk every day? You're just lucky I visited from college fer the weekend."

"Lucky? To be honest, I'd call myself unlucky at this rate. We'll be at Redwood tomorrow if 'ya keep goin' like this!"

"At least I drive a car!" my sister barked, shutting me up only for a moment. "Where are you getting your coffee from today?"

"How did you know I get coffee every mornin'?"

"Mum told me," she said. "I thought it'd be a bit of a special back-to-school present if I let you buy it from a coffee shop. Where're we goin'?"

"Coffee House," I muttered, embarrassed to be sharing such confidential business with my own sister. As much of my best friend as she was, it was odd letting her know one of my dumbest secrets, a.k.a the fact that I loved to dine on professional coffee every morning on my way to school.

She snickered, making me even more self-deprecated. "Coffee House? That place is fuckin' expensive! How many times have you even had their coffee?"

"Once," I said firmly. "The best damn coffee I've ever had."

"Black, I'm assuming," she said, raising an eyebrow in my direction. I nodded.

Within five minutes, she'd pulled up into the parking lot, watching me unbuckle my seatbelt with the same burning fire in her eyes as our mother. It was something that seemed as if she were proud of me, inspired by the fact that her adorable little brother, the person who has been her best friend for so many years, has come to be this big.

Surprisingly, instinct told me to smile in response, as my actual mind kicked in, telling me to just open the door and step out into the parking lot. The morning sun just barely kissed my skin through the cracks in the clouds as I stepped up and over the curb, placing my hand on the doorknob to the Coffee House, letting the scent of coffee beans, hipsters, and vanilla tickle my nose hairs, causing me to crumple up the twenty euros in my balled-up fist.

The entire event was breathtaking, or seemingly so, until the unbelievable happened, one of the most tragic events that could ever occur on the first day of school.

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Thank you so much for reading! This is actually supposed to be a backup while I work on other stories - you know, in case I don't have time to publish a new chapter of Hotel Management today... I hope you guys don't mind! I love you all to bits. Thanks so much!

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