DIE ➳ JACK JOHNSON

XXV. THROUGH THE NIGHT

chapter twenty five - july 27

Jack was standing in a room, full of people - sweaty, sweaty people - who were dancing their assess off. He was in a room with loud music and tight spaces, and he couldn't help but feel out of place. This used to be his life - hell, he used to be the life of the party. He used to be one of those really sweaty people, drinking, and having fun. But for some reason, he felt like he didn't belong. Like everything he had ever known was something so strange to him.

He felt uncomfortable being here when Alaska was at his home sick. He felt like he should be there beside her, and not here trying to party his life away - all his problems away.

He kept on telling himself that this wasn't how it's supposed to be, that this won't help. He kept on questioning himself on what's the point of even being here. He kept on fighting with himself, because he just knew this night will just end in horrible flames.

He knew he could just turn right around, and walk out of here like this never even happened. He knew he could have stopped it before it was too late, but he didn't. He didn't, and that's just a mystery saved for later. All that matters is that he didn't.

Nate threw an arm around Jack's shoulder. "What are you doing here? Slumping?" Nate questioned loudly over the pumping music. "No one's allowed to look sad at my party! C'mon man! Let loose!"

"This is wrong. It feels wrong," he said, shaking his head.

Nate patted him on the back. "Man, you need to stop worrying. Nothing's wrong. You're just out partying. There's nothing wrong with that." He handed him a beer, and said, "Just drink, and forget all about it."

Jack stared at the bottle of beer, debating whether or not he should take the offer. Moments later he mumbled a quiet, "Fuck it," before grabbing the beer out of Nate's grasp and chugging down about half of it already in one single go. 

"That's the Jack Johnson I know," Nate cheered.

He drank and drank, and before long, thoughts of Alaska slipped from his mind. And it felt good. For the longest time, he actually felt great and free. He couldn't feel the stress anymore, or have the thousands of questions running through his mind. 

It felt amazing to be back to the person he was once. It was like a moment of realization for him, like putting on a pair of old shoes, and realizing how amazing it had felt in the first place. He almost felt like he was at home. 

He went to the tub to grab another bottle of beer when he noticed a girl eyeing him from the corner of his eye. He slyly looked towards her direction, and put a smirk on his face. He knew instantly that he got her reeled in. He proceeded to grab the beer and pop the bottle, before taking a sip. He moved to the dance floor, and just move. He honestly didn't know what he was doing at this point. He was way too out of it.

All of a sudden, he felt someone wrap their arms around his neck. He opened his eyes to be met with the girl from earlier. Instead of pushing her away, he shot her another smirk, and placed his hands on her hips.

"That's a bold move," he said in a low voice. "Got to hand it to you."

"I'm the type of girl who knows who she wants, and right now, that's you," she said seductively, biting her lip.

He chuckled. "Going right at it, huh?"

She moved her hips against him. "Why wait?" she questioned, leaning closer to him. 

"Teasing is more fun, isn't it?" he asked her, pinching the skin near her hipbones.

She smiled up at him, then bit her lip. "Well, if you want to play it that way, that's fine with me." She turned around so that her butt was against his crotch. She kneeled down, making sure to stick her butt out, before ascending back up. She moved her hips from side to side, making sure to rub against him. She pulled him down closer by tugging on his neck. She then blew lightly into his face, before being bold enough to grab a hold of him.