The Taste Of Rebound Love

Part 12

Jack didn't like taking this fight out on Felix's front lawn, but he didn't want Mark or Felix to start exchanging blows instead of words.  Besides, Felix had a large fence surrounding his house... it wouldn't keep the noise out... or stop Felix from watching them through the glass walls of his house, but it was the best he could do.  Wrapping his arms around his chest to steady himself, Jack stopped in the center for the lawn and refused to look at Mark.  He wanted to say so much, but his throat was closing up on him.  It had been months... he was happy.  Why did seeing Mark like this bring every painful feeling back?  Mark started by hesitantly asking him in a soft voice.  "Is it true? Have you had your phone for the last few weeks"?  Jack lowered his head to stare at his feet as he kicked at a small rock on the ground.  His voice shaky but honest as he answered.  "Ya. I few months actually".  Mark's tone raised a little in volume and Jack could hear the slight pain in his voice when he shot back.  "A few months? I've been trying to get ahold of you forever! You can't trust Felix! He'll delete-".  Jack cut him off short, turning to look at Mark as he snapped back.  "But I can trust you?! Felix didn't delete anything! I read through it all...".  Jack's voice softened and he turned back to stare at his feet as he finished off.  "I just couldn't answer".

Mark took a step closer to Jack, asking seriously.  "Jack, has he been trying to-".  Jack cut him off again, snapping back defensively.  "Will you stop! Felix hasn't forced me to do anything! I couldn't answer because I didn't know what to tell you. What did you think was going to happen? You'd show up here and I'd race into your arms like nothing ever happened"?  Mark lowered his gaze to watch Jack's hands hug himself tighter.  Shaking his head, he didn't answer.  Allowing Jack to face him and tell him in a quivering voice.  "You hurt me! I was your friend! And you shut me out like I didn't mean anything to you! You didn't even have the balls to tell me what I did wrong! Now you show up claiming you broke up with your girl because of me? You say your sorry... but how can I forgive you for all that you've done"?  Mark raised his gaze to meet Jack's, but it seemed to much for Jack.  Mark watched Jack turn away with tears running down his face.  His silent tears ripping out Mark's heart.  Trying to fight back his own tears, he choked out to Jack's back.  "I'm not asking you to forgive me, Jack. What I did was wrong, but I don't know any other way. I deal with my emotions better when I'm alone. Hell, I've been hiding for so long that your kiss at Pax brought out the best and worst of me. Truth is that I never shut you out... I just got stuck between chasing you or salvaging my relationship with Amy.  I didn't want to make a choice because I didn't want to hurt either of you... but I made it far worse".

Jack swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled his long sleeves over his fingers to wipe away his tears.  Sniffling, Jack asked over his shoulder.  "So what? You're going to chase after me now? Use me until you grow tired and find someone else"?  Jack thought about storming off now.  He was running on fumes and if Mark kept this up... he wasn't sure what his fragile heart would do.  Warm hands cupped his shoulders and Jack jumped in surprise, listening to Mark tell him comfortingly.  "I don't expect you to believe me...but I won't do that to you. I can't explain what you do to me in words. I care so deeply for you. I love you, Jack".  Jack felt his heart skip and he clenched his jaw.  He couldn't let his heart do this!  He couldn't let Mark win him over this easily!  He couldn't just let him say that and believe those words were true.  Pulling away from Mark's reach, Jack settled for sounding mad as he told Mark sharply.  "You're right. I don't believe you. It's going to take more than words to convince me that you care".  There. Jack had managed to say it.  He didn't have anything more to say to Mark.  Turning to head for the house, Jack tried to make a quick exit, but Mark grabbed him arm.  Jack stopped and the little voice in his mind told him that he could easily yank his arm away.  Mark was barely holding it.  Yet, Jack's body wasn't responding.  Instead of pulling away, he turned to look at Mark.  Jack could see it coming... but he didn't want to move.  His fucking heart wanted this too fucking much. 

Jack felt Mark's warm hand touch his tear stained cheek and closed his eyes.  He had dreamed about Mark's touch... Felix had tried to imitate Mark's touch... but nothing was like the real thing.  Jack's heart started pounding in his ears.  He couldn't feel the chill in the December air or even feel the ground beneath him.  He was lost to Mark's warmth and as their lips touched, the world went silent.  He couldn't even hear his own beating heart... it was as if it had stopped beating altogether.  Jack couldn't stop himself from kissing him back.  His heart had burned and ached for this moment.  The moment however appeared to fly by so fast, leaving Jack's head spinning.  Softly Mark whispered inches from his throbbing lips.  "That was the kiss I should have given you that day".  The fog in Jack's mind started to clear up like someone flicked on the back-up switch to his brain.  Blinking away the fuzzy feelings, Jack's hand flew up and swatted Mark hard across the face.  He regretted doing it... but it was like a delayed reaction.  When his body rebooted, it just started from the moment Mark grabbed him.  Jack tried to say something, but decided to just turn and run.  Yanking open the front door, Jack heard Mark tell him casually.  "I'll see you at the charity livestream".  Jack didn't look Mark's way.  He just nodded and entered into the house heading right for the guest room. 

Mark rubbed his cheek and shot a glance through the glass side of Felix's house.  Felix was standing with his arms crossed watching him from the corner of the room.  Mark had a feeling that Felix would be watching them.  Felix stared back at him with a cold expression.  He clearly wasn't happy with him.  Taking a deep breath, Mark simply turned to leave.  He didn't want to start a fight with Felix... but from the look on his face, Felix wasn't going to let Jack go without a fight.  To Be Continued...