Group Chat

47

"When we were walking to the restaurant, I thought I saw them but I kind of pushed it to the back of my mind thinking I'm stupid."

"That's why you were holding my hand like you were."

"And then all the shouting it made me feel sick because Jack, I felt trapped. It felt like I was at one of the parties he would drag me to. So I ran to the bathroom and cried and cried and then Aspen came along. She hit me so I ran out and ran into him." I reminisced.

"What was he saying to you princess?" Jack grabbed my hand.

"I-I can't remember. I know he said something about would Jack mind if I brought you home with me." And that's when I remembered, "and then he grabbed me and he felt me in the places he shouldn't and he was so close to me and he was breathing all over me and-"

"Lauren, Lauren, deep breaths." Jack comforted me.

My heart was beating a million miles per hour.

I jumped into Jack's arms. There, I calmed down a bit and felt safer in many ways.

"Lauren," He lifted my head up to meet his wonderful blue eyes, "We need to go to the police."

Those words. The words that scare me the most. The words I know I should follow but get scared of.

"I-I want to. But I can't."

"Why? He can get locked away. Away from you. Away from us." Jack loudly said.

"Jack I can't! He'll get me! He'll come straight after me like he's just done!" I screamed.

"Lauren! You're not making sense! You've got me. He'll be locked up for ages."

"It's him. You never know what he's going to do next. I really want to go to the police but it's you Jack. I want to keep you and everyone else safe!"

"I never said you didn't but it's not going to end if you don't go to them. It's going to carry on forever."

"I never wanted this Jack! I wanted to be happy, with you."

"So do I Lauren, but please, listen to me." He grabbed my face lightly, "You. Need. To. Tell. The. Police."

This is hard. I'm crying hysterically and Jack looks like he's about to cry too. He doesn't want it to be like this. He doesn't want me to be this upset and most of all, he wants it all to end.

Maybe I'm holding him back from having the life he wants. He could do so much better than me and I'm just piling stress on him.

"O-Okay, I will."

"Good and remember, I love you."

"No you don't Jack. You need someone better. I'm putting all of this on your shoulders. You don't need me. I'm a mess. I should just go. Maybe I should hand myself into Marcus." I rambled, my breathing getting heavy once again.

"I can't believe you're saying this." He shook his head disapprovingly.

"It's true. Jack I love you way more than I should." I pulled away from his embrace.

I don't know what is happening to me. There's a thousand thoughts running through my mind and I feel like I'm contradicting every new thought.

I'm thinking how lucky I am to have Jack and how much I thank him for what he did in the restaurant but then I'm thinking he can do better than me. He doesn't need my worries.

"Just shut up. You sound so stupid. Why the fuck would I want anyone other than you? Why would you even think there's someone better than you? You're an amazing woman that's incredibly strong. There's no one I want more than you Lauren." Jack pulled me back.

"Are you sure?" I looked up to his eyes doubting myself.

He lightly laughed, "I'm sure Lauren-Leigh."

"I love you Jack Maynard." I smiled for the first time in two hours.

"I love you too." Jack moved closer and kissed me gently.

He broke apart slowly, "There's no one I'd rather be with."