Travel (A Jack and Finn Harries Fanfiction)

Chapter Eleven

             I can hear Jack’s heart beating. My head rests against his chest and his arm is wrapped around me, holding our bodies close. I keep my eyes closed and listen to the soothing noises all around us. Jack is singing a soft, sweet melody that I don’t recognize. His voice has trapped me in a sleepy, calm trance.

            The singing slowly dies down and I can hear the waves more clearly. I wonder if he’s getting tired, too.

            “I know what happened between you and Finn,” he whispers.

            My eyes stretch wide open in shock. Did he really just say those words? Maybe I dozed off and imagined it. I keep as quiet and still as possible, waiting for something else to happen.

            “Ashley?”                                    

            I clench my jaw and push myself away from him. He moves with me until we’re sitting on the grass, staring directly at each other. I try to read his emotions but it’s very difficult. His eyes are kind and seemingly forgiving, but his words sounded forced and full of rage.

            “You… know what happened?” I sound so pathetic.

            Jack nods his head quickly, “He told me everything.”

            “Everything?”

            “When he saw you half naked in the morning… the date… and then what happened after the date…” his eyes are burning through me, “Everything.”

            My heart is going insane, and I feel like the biggest bitch in the world. I’ve been leading both of them on for the past couple of days, not caring about either of their feelings. That doesn’t sound like me at all. I know that people are supposed to be a little more easy-going while on vacation… but this is just slutty.

            “I’m so sorry, Jack. I feel just awful about everything. You and Finn are both just so handsome and charming and nice. I don’t know what has gotten into me. Please believe me when I tell you that I’m not normally like this.”

            “Babe, it’s fine,” he smiles brightly and leans in, “I’ll admit that when he told me this morning, I was a bit peeved. But then I cooled down and decided that it was my turn to take you out on something like a date.”

            He leans in to plant another kiss on my lips, but I pull away. He isn’t mad? I would be absolutely furious to find out my sibling and love interest have screwed and kissed behind my back, not mentioning anything to me at all. Guilt is quickly replaced by an enraged confusion.

            “My turn? What do you mean it was your turn?” I spit out.

            He stumbles over his words at first and looks away from me, trying to think back on what he said exactly.

            I continue, “Did you take me on a date because you thought it would get you some action? Just like with Finn?”

            “Well if you follow the pattern…” Jack starts to chuckle in a joking matter.

            I jump to my feet in anger. I can’t believe he just said that. My chest starts to tighten and a lump grows in the back of my throat.

            “You asshole!” I shout, “You were just using me!”

            Jack scrambles to his feet while a tear escapes down my cheek.

            “What? No!”

            I ignore his pleading, “I can’t believe I’m so stupid! I forgot that Finn decided to come clean about everything.”

            “You kissed me first! And you kissed Finn first! Don’t act like you’re such a victim.”

            I take a step back away from him, “So that makes it okay to use me for some cheap action?”

            I brush past him and speed walk back into the sand. My eyes are becoming hot and the lump in my throat is getting bigger and bigger. I can hear Jack’s voice behind me. Tears spill from my glossy eyes and I’m having trouble breathing. I felt so close to Jack, and now I just feel used. This whole night, he was only smiling because he knew he was going to get back at Finn. He had to prove that he could get some action too, if he just took me out on a date.

            I’m moving faster towards the car. I just want to go home and curl up under my sheets. My vision becomes blurry as I’m crossing the road. Something catches my foot and I lunge forward. I catch a quick glimpse of the pavement before my skull smacks against it and everything goes black.