"Why did you bring Jess?" Jack asked as he stood beside Corey while he collected more drinks.
Glimpsing up at a drunk Jack, Corey wasn't exactly sure where he was going with this. He could see anger in his eyes yet also noticed how casual he was trying to keep this conversation.
"Because you didn't invite her." He teased while shoving Jack's side and trying to lighten the atmosphere but it did not work.
"I didn't invite her because of all this shit." Jack threw his arm out around the room, trying to signal to the mess of everyone here.
Firstly, Aaron had just taken Sophie to bed after she had consumed one too many glasses and was now having to clear up after her. Secondly, the rest of their housemates were trying to come up with every single drinking game they could think of and sending everyone crazy. Then to top it all off, there were strangers that they had not even invited strolling around the house ruining every piece of furniture in their way.
"Didn't you think she would enjoy herself?"
"No." He replied simply while Corey nodded his head.
He wasn't sure what else to say to Jack because he wasn't aware of the thoughts running through his mind. It was not obvious how he felt about Jess and what he really wanted from her so Corey had decided to not step back. He truly wanted to get to know her and while he had the chance, he wasn't going to let it slide.
"Well it's a good party man. We're both having fun." Corey said while placing a hand on Jack's shoulder. He was trying to be friendly and ease any tension however, in Jack's drunken and angered state, he reacted in a way no one would have expected.
Grabbing hold of Corey's arm, Jack yanked it from his body and shoved him back up against one of the walls. Scrunching up the material of his shirt in his fist, Jack persisted to move closer until they were both face to face in the most threatening way.
"Don't fucking touch me." He bit and you could see the darkness in his eyes as his chest began rising and falling at a crazy pace.
"Woah, calm the hell down, man." Corey pushed him from his body causing Jack to stumble back. The alcohol had fully taken it's toll and not only was he acting ridiculously, he was also unable to control his own feet. "What is wrong with you?"
"You. You're pissing me off."
"You've had way too many, Lawrence. You need to sit down outside or something."
While Corey was trying to calm Jack down, he was having none of it. Whether it was the alcohol, his anger or both it was not clear but he looked as though he was on the verge of losing it.
"I'm fine." He bit
"I don't think you are. What are you so pissed at me for?"
Jack didn't say in anything in return as he was trying so hard to tame his raging body from reacting. His mind was an absolute mess and he wasn't sure how to cope with it. He'd never been good at dealing with his feelings or even understanding them, so this situation was no making things easy for him.
He thought by having this party, it would have been a good way for him to just forget about everything happening around him. He wanted to use it as a numbing treatment to any emotions that were pounding through his body however, it had completely back fired on him instead.
"Is it because I brought Jess? Because I didn't even think you were serious about her? You're never serious about anyone..." Corey began, desperately trying to get some type of verbal response from his friend. "...and she's a nice girl man. You can't fuck with her, she's too good for that."
There were still no words spoken by Jack but instead, his body did the talking as his fist suddenly collided with the side of Corey's face. It was clear he had not been expecting it, as his head turned at the impact before he looked back at Jack completely dazed.
"What the fuck?"
"Do you want to shove it in my face one more time?" Jack challenged in reference to Jess and the fact that she was here with Corey.
He hadn't intended to cause trouble between the two of them but it was obvious that's exactly what had happened. Jack was drunk but he was more angry than anything and that was the only thing that was able to explain his actions right now.
"Look, I'm sorry if..." Corey began a genuine apology however, Jack cut him off before he could finish and kick-started a fight once again.
Aaron had very quickly caught on with what was happening and immediately rushed over to their sides, trying to pull Jack from Corey. Every punch that was thrown was done with so much hatred and it was as though Jack was completely lost in his own mind. He was almost unrecognisable to Jess as she watched on in shock at the scenes playing out before her.
This night had started out fun yet it had very quickly spiralled out of control and Aaron was truly the only one aware of what had Jack in such a state.
"Hey, calm the fuck down Lawrence." Aaron ordered as he pulled him from Corey and forced him over to sit on the sofa.
With his hands either side of Jack's face, he tried to claim his focus solely on himself and although it took time, he succeeded eventually.
"This isn't helping anything, alright man? Just relax."
As Jack tried to tame his breathing and knock himself out of the destructive mind-set he had just found himself in, his eyes met Jess'. She glanced away the moment he caught her looking yet he continued to watch her. His body was rising and falling in exhaustion, yet as he watched Jess, he was instantly filled with a sense of calmness. While the whole room had been misted with darkness, she was the only bit of light he saw and it provided his messed up mind with a sense of ease.
He had reacted in a way his own self didn't recognise yet it had been caused by something so much deeper and so much more painful than what it appeared to be on the surface.
He'd let his emotions get the better of him and it was in this moment that he realised he needed some help. He couldn't continue to go on the way he was. He couldn't block out every bit of pain and sadness he felt on a daily basis. He had to learn how to deal with the loss and feelings that he worked daily to suppress. But instead, he continued to bury them so deep down that he would never have to feel them again.

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FanfictionAaron Harris is a fighter. He lives, breathes and consumes his life with fighting at the forefront, not showing any fear to the danger that follows behind. His girlfriend Sophie Carter promised herself that she would never go near that sport again...