No Strings Attached ; j.g

t h i r t y - f i v e

"Jack," I asked as we cuddled. "What if my parents moved? What if my older brother is moved out?"

"I'm sure they're still there, and I'm sure you'll see him. Don't worry, babe." He plays with my hair.

-

"Bye mom, bye dad," Jack hugs them. "Thanks for letting us stay."

"Anytime! Bring her again," Jack's dad smiles at me.

"Thank you guys," I smiled and hugged them.

"So, you're heading to your parents, now?" his mom asks.

"Yep," I sigh. "Hope all goes well, we'll let you know."

"Well I hope so too, we both do," she smiles and hugs us one last time, then we were on our way.

The plane ride didn't last too long, and when we landed, memories flooded my mind. My childhood wasn't too bad. We got a taxi and I told them the address that I'd always kept in the back of my head.

We stood before my parents house with our suitcases. I looked to Jack with watered eyes. "Jack, what are we gonna do if they don't want to see me?" I ask worried.

"Alexis, calm down," he tucked my hair behind my ear and lifted my chin with his finger. "C'mon." He took my hand and led me to the front door. He knocked three times and we waited.

The door suddenly opened and before me stood my tall, younger brother Jake.

His gaze met mine and his jaw dropped. "ALEXIS!" he picked me up and spun me around. "W-w- dad! Dad come here! Come in," Jake welcomed. I saw my dad and an unfamiliar woman walk into the room. My dads jaw dropped as well.

"Alexis-" he choked out. He hugged me and a tear slipped down his face. "Kids!" he called. I saw my three sisters pile into the room as well. All of them stared at me in shock.

"Alexis!" all my sisters yelled and hugged me.

"Give her some space, here come sit down," he told me and Jack.

We walked to the living room and sat down. "Dad, siblings, this is Jack, my boyfriend."

"Where have you been?" my dad asked and I felt Jack's hand tighten around mine.

"Um, remember my boyfriend that you didn't approve of? He took me to North Carolina," I said quickly. "He hit me, I left, I had no idea how to get home. I just explored, pretty much," I tried explaining as bluntly as possible, with little details. I explained everything, eventually.  I looked around the room, "where's mom?"

"Uh- honey," he said and everyone looked at the floor. "She died 2 years ago," my dad finished.

I felt my heart drop and before I knew it, I was sobbing into Jack's shoulder. He rubbed my back and tried soothing me as best as possible.

Had I really been gone that long? I missed my moms last years. I was a shitty kid, I didn't deserve a welcoming family.

"W-what?" I cried.

"In 2014, she died of cancer, sweetie."

"Who the hell is that!" I pointed to the woman.

"I remarried," he answered.

"You remarried? When your FIRST WIFE FUCKING DIED?" What the hell was wrong with him. What was wrong with me.

"Alexis!" Jack pulled my back into his arms. "Calm down."

I felt everyone's eyes burning on me. This was a mistake, a huge mistake. "I'm leaving," I stood up and pulled Jack along with me. "This was a mistake, I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"Don't leave!" Jake begged. "We missed you, mom even left a note when she got real sick, just for you. We never opened it."

"What? Where is it?" I turned around and looked at Jake. He hurried to grab the note from a drawer.

"H-here," he handed it to me and I sat down on Jack's lap to read it.

Alexis,

      I don't know how to start this. I can already feel the hot tears coming. In case you're ever found, or you ever come back, this note is for you. My third youngest baby, my baby girl. I don't know where you've gone, or why. I hope we didn't do anything to hurt you, baby. I've missed you since you went missing. I thought I did something wrong until Nate came back and told us you left him. I didn't believe him for one second, the little pussy needed his ass beat. Your father is in denial, he doesn't think you were pulled away from us. Anyways, my time has come. My sickness has increased, and it hurts to know that I can't properly say goodbye. I will miss you, and I'll be watching you explore the world from heaven. I know that's what you're doing now, I knew ever since you were little, that you'd be an explorer. But don't think for one minute that I didn't love you. You were probably my favorite actually, so bubbly. Sh, don't tell the others. Do me a favor, if you read this, don't stop traveling. Not for anybody. Do what YOU want with YOUR life. Don't let any of us stop you either. Just stay in touch with Jake, he's been miserable ever since you disappeared.

Keep your father in check too, don't let him fool around with too many girls. Make him pick one special lady.

      I love you, Angel. xx - momma Ren