The Closer You Look... (Now You See Me, Jack Wilder fanfic)

Chapter 21 ~ My Choices

We had been home a few weeks, the flat looks awesome now we've fully decorated it.  I had taken up the offer to use Arts garage and play around with my car.

It was a warm Friday afternoon and I had picked up my keys to leave when Jack grabbed my wrist.

"Can I come?" He asked with a cute pouty face.

"Sure" I smiled. How can I say no to that face. His eyes lit up at my response.

I got out the tools I need and Jack just hovered around watching me.

"You just gonna stand there and watch? Or are you gonna help me out?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"I help as much as I can, but whatever the hell you are doing looks complicated" he stated and handed me a screwdriver.

I was extremely focused on putting a tiny clip back in place when Jack scares me.  He ran is freezing cold hands over the bit of exposed skin on my back from where I was leaning over the engine bay.

I jolted upright and dropped the clip.

"Jack!"

"Oh I'm sorry, let me fix that for you" he tried to reach under the car and find the clip.

"Move" I said and shoved him out of the way. He stumbled back a bit and grabbed the counter for support. I found the clip and went back to fixing the car.

"Nix can I ask you something?"

"Sure"

He took a deep breath.

"I know you've been sneaking out at night and I'm gonna guess you're racing"

I put the wrench I was using down, wiped my hands on a cloth and placed them on the edge of the engine bay.

"It's not sneaking out, none of you can tell me not to. I'm choosing to leave at that time" I said slowly, desperately trying not to get angry.

"Okay. But you've still been racing. You really think I didn't notice you missing in bed, and the dents on your car that you have to keep fixing?"

"So what if I'm racing? It doesn't affect the job in any way" I knew I was lying, it was dangerous for me to be racing in case any of Andy's friends recognised me, but I wasn't going to tell Jack that.

"It's dangerous, what if you got yourself killed?! It's not like you need the money anymore" he raised his voice and I lost all sense of calm.

"what's it to you if I go and get myself killed doing what I love. And I'm not doing it for the money! Racing is a part of me, just as much as magic is. It's a stress relief, a way to be myself and have a bit of fun. Driving fast, the speed is my idea of freedom, nobody is going to change that" I snapped and threw the dirty cloth that I had been clutching on the floor.

"Niki I just don't want you to get hurt. What if you end up putting yourself in hospital if you crash..." He started

"What if? Who cares" I screamed at him. I closed the bonnet of the car and jumped in, speeding off to an abandoned parking lot where many of my recent races have been held. It was empty so I drove the usual route. I put my foot down hard on the gas and shifted through the gears. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

It was probably Jack asking where I was.

I didn't mean to get mad at him, he was only looking out for me. But I'm not used to having someone be nice to me or anyone watching my back. And sneaking out?! I'm not a kid anymore, yes I am a teenager but they aren't my parents. It felt unnatural to have someone worry about me.

I slowed and stopped the car near the exit and took my, now silenced, phone out of my pocket. I had been driving for about an hour so had an accumulation of missed calls and texts.

5 missed calls from Jack, 3 from Merritt and 2 from Henley. A text from Danny

Don't do anything stupid please :)

Thanks Danny.

There was a text from Merritt

Hey Twinkle, Jack told me what happened and he's driving me crazy. Keeps saying he's sorry and that he's stupid. Let me know you're safe?

And a text from Jack

Nix I'm so sorry. I was completely out of order. Please call me so I can explain?xx

I replied to Danny first:
I'm not dead :)

And then Merritt:
Hey, I'm okay. Just went for a drive. Ice cream in the usual place?

He replied immediately saying he would meet me in 10.

"Jack said he went all adult/parent on you"

"Yeah, basically told me not to race because it's too dangerous"

"He's sorry. He feels like an idiot, maybe you should just hear him out?" I nodded and went back to eating my ice cream. It was white chocolate flavoured, my favourite.

We were about to leave when I got another text.

It was a photo of me parked by the car park exit on my phone, probably when I was reading the texts.

Hey princess, nice to see you still have that lovely car. Where's your little boyfriend huh? Do you miss me babe? I miss you so much, I'll be back soon to take what's mine xxx

I handed my phone to Merritt

"Oh shit, this is more of a problem than I thought it would be. What exactly does he want now? I gave them back all the money I owed and you didn't take anything from them, did you?" He asked

"No, they just want me. And I may have keyed his car during my escape" I smiled sweetly and Merritt laughed.

"That's my girl"

We went back to the flat after I dropped my car off in a secure location.

Before I could even get all the way up the stairs I was greeted by Jack. He was sitting on the stairs that led up to our floor. Merritt walked past and into the flat and I took a seat next to Jack. He was looking down at his feet. I felt really bad for the way I reacted.

"I'm sorry" he mumbled.

"I'm sorry too" I whispered back, this caused him to lift his head and look at me.

"Nix, I went about that whole conversation the wrong way. It came out all wrong. I didn't mean to sound like I was telling you what to, I was just worried. And kinda upset that you didn't just tell me. I woke up one night and you weren't there, I got so scared and when I couldn't find you in the flat and your car was gone I didn't know what to think" he told me

I reached over and took hold of one of his hands.

"I should have told you. I'm just not used to having people care or worry about me. I flipped out at you and I really shouldn't have. I'm worried I'm getting too attached to you. To all of the horsemen but you especially. I don't want to find myself relying on you when I've only had myself to rely on for so long". I explained

"I'm not going anywhere" he leant forward to kiss the top of my head, then pulled me to his chest.

He fanned out a deck of cards and told me to pick one, I took one from the pile and instead of a number and suit like I expected it had an address.

"You said a while ago you'd take me racing, so I found us a race" he said.

*****

Ooh Niki and Jacks first argument :(

But more racing :)

But nasty Andy :(