Always Awake

Chapter 10

"Jack! What are you doing here!" I cried, hands clasping over my mouth. "I came to see you" I could hear the heartbreak in his voice. Zak was completely confused.

"Bo-yfriend?" Zak said awkwardly. "No no! Of course not!" I gave him a friendly nudge and walked up to see Jack. Jack's heart shattered after I said that.

"I better go serve a few smoothies" Zak said smoothly, whipping off to the shack.

"Jack, I'm so sorry, nothing happened, I promise" I said apologetically. "Forget it" he said bluntly, leaving. "No Jack please! I swear nothing happened he just served me a few smoothies" I called after him. "Forget about it Ellie!" He demanded.

I regretted ever talking to Zak now. I liked Jack, I was sure of it. I watched him as he left, his muscular back stared back at me, filling me with guilt.

I looked at the sand that squeaked beneath my feet. "Can I cheer you up with an apple and raspberry smoothie" He called, I felt the sorrow in his voice. "No it's okay" I shrugged. I sat down on the heated sand. Hunched in a ball, hugging my knees.

Another one down, well done Ellie! Your an absolute machine at hurting people that care about you! I thought. I really don't get why he would like me. Maybe it's for the best that he left. Ugh.

A berry coloured juice appeared in front of my eyes, twinkling with star-shaped ice, along with a cute banana-yellow umbrella spiking out of the magnificent drink.

I smiled woefully, he sat beside me, more like I let him- I shouldn't have though. "You shouldn't be here" I grumbled. "What are you going to do about it?" He said sarcastically, he stretched his arms up as if he was tired. His arm was round me, ew. "Zak stop!" I said shaking his arm off me. "I'm sorry?" His voice was still sarcastic. Another thing we have in common. "I don't like you, like that anyway" I said slowly.

"Ellie, I don't like you like that, this is just me, I am a flirty kinda guy"

"Oh...another one" I mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Doesn't matter!"

"So you gonna drink your smoothie or what"

The taste of apples and berries, exploded in my mouth like fireworks. "Thanks".
"Are you always this miserable?" Zak joked.
"Pretty much!"
"Sarcastic too" he smiled.

I spent the whole day at the beach hanging out with Zak. It still felt wrong, even though we had made sure that there was nothing between us. But I still felt bad about Jack, I hardly even fought for us. I really like Jack, I have never had feelings so strong for someone before. I know he really cares about me, somewhere behind all that fake 'bad act' or whatever. We need to be together.

Zak and I are extremely similar - it's beginning to scare me a bit. I could never date a guy like him, we have too much in common almost. I like someone who is different, it gives me more to learn about them. Whereas Jack and I, well I don't really know, we are not really similar though.

I stayed with Zak and helped him close down the shack. It was getting dark, the night sky was so beautiful. Darkness descended like a shutter. Stars filled the night sky, making unusual pictures in the sky.

I walked with Zak back to his caravan. "I should get home" I said. "Yeah...Ellie! I'll see you soon yeah?" He called. I smiled.

The spine-chilling cold woke me up, and reminded me of all the bad stuff: friends, home, Jack. I could hardly go home, when I basically left already. It wasn't like I could stay at Jasmine's house for a few days either, which I would normally do if things got difficult at home.

I didn't know where to go, so I just walked ahead. I realised Jack's house was coming up soon. I stopped dead in my tracks next to his drive.

A long gravel drive weaved its way up to the freshly white painted mansion that he called a house. The drive was lined with pretty flowers like roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, and other interesting flowers. Next to that a long lush green lawn stretched out far, with the odd apple tree. In front of the giant mansion, there was a large fountain spraying cold water, that lit up beautifully at night.

Before I knew it, I noticed I was half way up his drive. I felt like some kind of zombie, like my instincts controlled my every move. I felt like it was a rule not to step on the grass, which tempted me even more. I walked along the soft grass, the air was perfume-sweet, I breathed in that faint smell of fallen apples and scarlet roses.

I felt like I was climbing a mountain, as I ventured up the stairs to his front door. There was a massive gold doorbell, that looked very satisfying to press, oh and it was. Jack answered the door. "Ellie? What are you doing here?" He questioned, Jack was in a hoodie surprisingly. Jack looked very tense and nervous. "I came to see you and apologise, please let me in to explain" I pleaded. He held the door open for me, very chivalrous.

Jack's house looked even more spectacular from the inside, everything seemed so pristine and perfect, very unlike his life or his old life anyway. A grand staircase spiralled high up to the next floor, a burgundy carpet was on top, and a good railing lined it.

"Your house is insane!" I breathed. "It's my step parents of course" He said.

Jack showed me around each room, I swear I saw around 6 different maids. Running around in a hurry, with trolleys of food or clean towels. I felt like I was in a hotel.

Jack showed me to his room, it was completely different to all the other rooms in the house. He had definitely made it his own. The walls were a dark slate blue, he had a double bed and a whole bookcase of CDs and old records.

"You're really into music huh?" I said reading through a few of the artists: The Beetles, Oasis, Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys etc. He shrugged.

"Jack, I'm sorry, you have no idea how much of a flirt Zak is. But he is just like that, with all girls. I promise there is no feelings between us"

"Really?"

Really! -" I walked towards him on the spinny chair. "- I like you, just you" I whispered. He grinned, and pulled me onto his lap. Nothing was ever awkward around Jack anymore. He started laughing and kissing me on the head, face and neck. "Stop! It tickles!" I laughed trying to escape his grasp. His strong arms, were wrapped around my waist protectively-holding me hostage.

"Bad Jack!" I said in a baby-ish voice. Anyone would call us cringey fucks if they saw us right now. But we seriously couldn't care.

I swiveled on his lap to face him, "I'm sorry about this morning, we never kissed, promise" I said quietly. "Promise you never will?" He even held out his pinky finger. "Promise".