ex - j.g

ten;

isabelle;

my sister, alexandra, and i are now parentless. and i hate to say it, but i can't deny it.

jack's mom was so understanding, but after i stayed at her house for one night, i felt way too guilty. mrs. gilinsky and my mom were best friends. always were, and they probably always would've been. they bonded over jack and i, they bonded over our friendship and the other boys too.

that's how jack and i met - through our parents, specifically our moms. but being that jack is a year older than i am, we never really clicked until high school. before, it was more of, "oh you're at my house all the time. want to play a game?" type of thing, not really a meaningful friendship.

"isabelle?" my sister calls me from the kitchen.

"yeah?" i answer her from the living room.

"jack's mom wants us to go there for a few minutes. she said she has something for you." alexandra tells me, walking into the room with her bag and phone, "i'll drop you off, maybe come in for a few minutes, then i'm going to do run some errands."

i nod, as she grabs her keys and we head out.

> >

"jack? sammy? johnson? nate? what're... what are you guys doing in omaha?" i ask, shocked that they're here.

"my mom called me last night. you shouldn't be that clueless to the fact that, one.. our moms were best friends. two, you went to my mom. and three, all of us were close with your mom?" jack says to me like i'm an idiot.

i shook my head, "i wasn't, or i'm not, clueless. i just didn't think you guys would come all that way for this."

my eyes began to tear up, and i knew that they knew that. jack quickly embraced me. it made me feel so much better. i don't know what's going on with me, too. i have been so happy knowing jack is back in my life.

but i can't like jack. he used to be one of my best friends. and he is nate, my ex's, best friend.

"it'll be okay, isabelle." he whispers into my ear.

i hug him a little tighter as a sign of thank you.

we let go of each other and tears began to develop in my eyes again.

johnson took the hint to get the other guys out of the room for a few minutes, leaving just jack and i.

jack grabbed my hand and brought me to the couch. we sat down and he looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

"do you need anything? do you want me to stay here with you? or is alexandra with you?" he asks.

"alex is here, but she's too busy with her new boyfriend. i don't even know where she went now?" i question her presence, when i know i came in here with her, "and you realize that i'm at your house, right? you don't have to stay here with me, jack." i softly chuckle.

"i mean in omaha, isabelle. i don't need to go back to la. and plus, the guys will understand." he tells me.

i shake my head, "jack, you have a life outside of omaha. you don't have to stay here. we just reunited again, too, you can't let me being upset keep you here. especially when we reconnected and you have a life back in la."

he sighs, "listen to me, izz. just because we rekindled our friendship, doesn't mean i've lost memory of our old one. if this was us before, i would've done the same as i am right now. just now, we have are adults who deal with life. but i can put it on hold. i would do anything for you.. especially in a time like this."

my eyes began to tear up more. just hearing jack's words made me cry, but also made me so.. so happy and thankful.

"jack." i sigh, "thank you. but really, you don't–"

he cuts me off and says, "i know i don't have to, isabelle. but i want to."

i smile and hug him.