Broken Locks

Promises

I woke up unusually early this morning on my own, to the smell of fresh coffee and what smells like waffles. After I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I shuffle into the kitchen in my sleep shirt and leggings, and sit down on a stool, pinning my hair up in a bun, checking out the food Jack was making. 

I look up, watching Jack, how he moves with such grace and strength, but after last night I also see his frailty, how easily he could break. I know better now that Jack has gone through a lot, and he feels like he has no one to turn to, that he's strong cause he has to be, otherwise he'll shatter and not be able to pick up the pieces.

I'm staring at Jack full on when he turns around to face me causing my heart to trip all over itself. 

"Morning Vee." He doesn't even attempt a smile, but his words actually seem somewhat kind.

"Oh, morning. You finally decided to make some food instead of leaving me to do it myself?" 

He gives a small smile, we've made progress but he doesn't completely trust me yet. "Yeah, I figured you were tired after-" He clears his throat. "last night. Ready for school today?"

My eyes widen. "Shoot! It's Monday?!" I scramble off the stool quickly almost falling off of it in the process. 

Running full speed I go to Jack's room my socks sliding on the laminate wood floors. Throwing open my closet I'm greeted by .... the clothes we bought yesterday. "I can't just change my style all of a sudden! People will know something is up," I eye my duffle bag on the floor. "You know what? Screw it. I will keep a change of clothes in the car, I'm wearing my old clothes to school whether he likes it or not!" I growl. 

I throw on a plain semi-fitted emerald T-shirt and black jeans, I figured it was 'dark enough' for Jack's approval, and I still get my way. I leave my hair in a bun and walk out of the room barefoot and barefaced - except the little bit of mascara and eyeliner.

Jack looks up from his almost empty plate as I sit across from him at the island. "Those are not the clothes we bought yesterday, Vee." He sighs. 

"Let's not fight it, the clothes are dark, and it's 'work' appropriate. I tried for a compromise, be lucky I didn't blatantly wear my bright pink shirt, cause that's still an option you know." I grab my fork and take a bite of the waffles. "Oh my heavens, these are so good."

"Thanks, for the compromise and the compliment, I won't fight it since you tried.Oh, that reminds me, Tyler dropped off your car and work boots early this morning."

I swallow another bite of my waffles. "You said the boots had a un-traceable print or something like that, how do you do that? Or more concerning is why?"

He brings my boots over and flips them over so you could see the rubber soles of the boot. The soles were smooth except tiny ridges in them that you almost can't see. "When police go over the evidence of the crime committed they can usually tell what shoes you were wearing by the print in dust or dirt, they use that, the size to check stores that sell that shoe for someone who fits the profile of the suspect. It's just a precautionary measure we like to take." He pauses to see if I'm understanding what he's saying before continuing. "Tyler has a specialist who does this sort of thing. He simply makes his own soles and removes the original replacing it with the one he made."

I've finished my waffle by now and take a drink of coffee. "Okay, I think I get it." I'm silent for a short while then ask quietly. "Is there really a chance we'll get caught?" 

Jack sets my boots down and closes the gap between us pulling me into a gentle hug, my hands between my body and my face buried in his shirt. "I know how scary that thought can be, I still think you shouldn't have been dragged into this, but we won't get caught if I can help it. I'll train you the best I can, I won't let that happen."

"Okay. I'll work harder, I promise, I'll even compromise more if that helps." My voice is muffled but he understands my response and backs up so I can see his face.

"If you're making an attempt to be less of a brat," He smirks teasingly. "then I'll promise to be less of a jerk, we need to work together if we are gonna pull this off." 

I smile. "Deal?"

"Deal." He picks my boots up again. "So they'll be about a size bigger just to throw off the investigators, stuffing some socks in the toe will help with the sizing." 

I nod and grab a handful of socks stuffing them into the toe of the boots before slipping my feet into them. I lace my boots up and tie the laces. 

"How do they feel?"

I scrunch my nose. "Um, well, different in a weird way compared to what I usually wear."

Jack shrugs. "That's expected, it'll take a while to get used to them. You ready to head out?"

I get up and grab my backpack from the closet. "Yup, do I take my car?"

"You can ride with me, it'll be easier, and I promise I won't drive like a maniac."

"Alright, only cause you promised."

♔ ♕ ♚ ♛♔ ♕ ♚ ♛♔ ♕ ♚ ♛

The End....

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Signing off for the last time,

Julia Cooper