Trust Your Instincts

-12- Unexplainable Emotions

 Their hug lasted a long time, but not long enough to be awkward or uncomfortable. After he felt that it had gone on long enough, Jack broke the embrace, looking into Mark's eyes for a couple of seconds before stepping back and suggesting that they walk home together, which they did. The eye contact unsettled him a little. He didn't know why, he couldn't even describe the odd sensation he was feeling. 

 Perhaps he was still conscious being around Mark. Everything that this school had put him through had shown him, if nothing else, that there are very few people on this planet that you can trust fully. The majority will betray you in one way or another, the worst kind get so close to you, and rip it all away in an instant. Everything you had, gone as if it was nothing. Jack was the first to admit that he had trust issues, but he had reasons, and he had experience. He just hoped that trusting Mark wasn't a mistake, but considering what had happened between them up until this point, he doubted it was. 

 The walk home was, for once, shorter than Mark would've liked, there wasn't a second of silence between them as they headed towards his house on the mild breezy afternoon. They spoke about nothing in particular, or rather, Mark chattered enthusiastically about things that Jack only half-managed to keep up with, and Jack nodded on occasion, smiling whenever Mark stared at him hopefully. For some reason he didn't get irritated once at Mark's voice, which seemed to never pause and take a breath. Normally he didn't like people who wouldn't shut up, but the glimmer of innocence and optimism in Mark's eyes made him feel less like his usual self, less grumpy. 

 When they got to Mark's house, Jack smiled widely and waved goodbye, thanking Mark one last time for accepting his apologies. Mark wanted to invite him in, but he was scared that he might seem too eager for their friendship to work. He decided that it had advanced far enough for one day and waved back, climbing the few steps to his front door. He tried the handle, assuming that his dad would be home already, and stepped into the house.

 He almost skipped to the kitchen, he was genuinely happy for the first time, there was no voice nagging in the back of his mind, telling him that someone at school hated him. He had no enemies and lots of good friends. His first week of school was almost too good to have hoped for. When he left the kitchen, he walked over to the couch where his dad was sitting,watching reruns of Family Feud and drinking what looked like his fourth bottle of beer. At 5:30? That's early, even for him! Mark thought to himself.

 He greeted his dad as nonchalantly as he could, and received a side glance as a reply. Realising he wasn't as important as 'Jacqui from Philly' he decided it was time to take his leave and lock himself in his room like he usually did, but before he could make it half way up the stairs, his dad had called on him, making sure to pause the episode of Family Feud before shifting in his seat. 

 "Mark," he called softly. Mark smiled to himself, at least his dad was happy when he got tipsy. "I've been asked to go to Connecticut for a few days at the end of the week, just on a business trip, it should only be for the weekend, maybe Monday too. Am I okay to leave you in the house yourself until I get back?" 

 Mark's eyes lit up, sparkling with the excitement of what he was planning to do as soon as his dad mentioned the words 'business trip'. He tried his best to play it cool, nodding and assuring his dad that he could heat up frozen pizza in an oven. When he got to his room, however, he couldn't hide his smile, allowing it to spread across his face. He had never hosted a house party before, his mother would never leave him for longer than 4 hours, but he was adamant that he would have a party this weekend. For once he might be the cool guy at school. He figured Will or Isaac would be the best bets for knowing how to organise a party, and after a little deliberation, he had made up his mind, and frantically looked through his contacts, stopping on Will's number. He hit call.

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A/N I'm back again with a new chapter!!

So this is only a filler chapter really, to introduce the idea of the party and let you know where Jack and Mark are at with their whole situation, but I hope it was entertaining all the same!!!

I've got a vague idea of what will happen at this party, so I hope you stay tuned!

And if you lovely people decide to do so... I'll see you in the next A/N! :D