Trauma

Part 31 "Stardust"

"We are almost here," Jack said as he slowly drove into his neighborhood. 

"You hear that bud? We are almost here!" I said, tapping Rex's nose lightly. Since we figured we would soon arrive at Jack's place, I let him out of his cage. He was sound asleep now, and I found myself playing with his paw. It was just so damn adorable. The jelly was so soft.

"This neighborhood never changes." Jack mused, finally parking the car in his dad's garage. We took out our, and Rex's, stuff out of the car and carried it to the front door.

"Hmm...Isn't he home?" Jack muttered to himself as he rang the doorbell again, after the initial third time.

Nothing.

"Maybe he is out?" I asked. Rex barked as he waggled his tail in my arms.

"Maybe," Jack said as he lifted the doormat. 

"Aha! I knew it. The old man and his habits." Jack grinned as he fished out the key. "He shouldn't really do this though. Too dangerous." Jack said, frowning as he unlocked the door.

"Umm..Should we let ourselves in? Your dad is going to freak out if he finds the door unlocked." I hesitated.

"Relax. We'll call him right after we carry our stuff in." Jack said, gesturing to the pile.

I shrugged. It was his house anyway. 

We soon went upstairs, and Jack peeked inside the spare bedroom which was right next to his room. 

"Woah. It looks way clean for a spare bedroom." I said, taking a look around.

"Dad must have cleaned it. Jokes on him though. You are staying with me in my room." Jack said as he started to carry the stuff to his old bedroom. I followed him, blushing a little with Rex tagging along behind me.

"So. This is how young Jack decorated his room, huh?" I said, chuckling.

"Yup," Jack replied, blushing. His bedroom wall was covered with posters of The Pussycat Dolls.

"The Pussycat Dolls?" I said, looking up at the ceiling. There were posters up there too.

"What can I say? They were my celebrity crush." Jack said, standing next to me, staring up at the posters too.

"Wow. Now I have The Pussycat Dolls for competition? This kinda reminds me of their song 'Don't Cha' " I said, laughing.

"What competition?" Jack said, tugging me to his bed. I was soon sitting on his lap, kissing him deeply with my arms draped around his neck. Things started to heat up a little when we heard a noise.

"Ehem."

Jack and I were apart as quick as lightning. Now we were both blushing tomato red, while Mr. Altman was grinning at us.

"Dad! You don't interrupt a couple making out!" Jack said, quickly getting over the surprise.

Mr.Altman snorted. "I was scared out of my mind to find the front door unlocked. I almost called the cops on you two. You said you'll arrive at 3 in the afternoon! I hear a strange sound upstairs and I find myself looking you two making out. You should have at least closed the door, son." 

"Ugh...Now you are embarrassing me in front of my girlfriend." Jack said, rolling his eyes at his dad.

"Nice to meet you, Lizzie! I've heard so many things about you!" Mr.Altman exclaimed as he hugged me.

"Only the good things, I hope. Nice to meet you too, Mr. Altman." I said as I hugged back. Mr.Altman was just like Santa Claus. A bit of a beer belly, huggable.

"Oh just call me Tim." Mr. Altman, I mean, Tim, said.

"Oh, I almost forgot. You haven't seen this booger yet!" Jack said, grinning widely as he indicated to Rex who was now in his arms.

"He looks just like Shelly! You never told me you got a pup before!" Tim exclaimed as he took Rex from Jack's arms.

"I just got him today. Lizzie gave him as a Christmas present." Jack said, smiling wide.

"Well, I hope you take good care of this little guy," Tim said, looking at Rex with adoring eyes.

"I got something for you too, Tim," I said as I rummaged through my bag. I soon held out a wrapped gift to him.

"You didn't need to get me anything, Hon. I'm just glad that you guys came all the way here to spend Christmas with me." Tim said, giving me an eye-crinkling smile.

"Jack helped me pick this out. He thought you will love it." I mentioned as Tim opened his gift.

"Dave Brubeck's Album. You remembered." Tim said to Jack, tears in his eyes.

"How could I not? You and Mum used to dance to his music right in the middle of the living room like I wasn't there, rolling my eyes." Jack said in a joking tone, giving a smile.

"Those were the days. His mum used to love the song 'Stardust' best." Tim said as he stared at the album.

"You know what? I'll go put this in the machine and play it. I missed listening to this." Tim said, giving us a smile. He hurriedly went downstairs, living us alone once again.

"So..I wager he doesn't hate it?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"We nailed it," Jack said, smiling.

Just then, the beautiful melody of Jazz filled the house, with Tim humming to every part.

"Kids! I left you guys alone just for a minute! I really hope you guys aren't doing what I found you guys doing before!! Come downstairs and help me with dinner!" Tim yelled from downstairs, laughing.

"Dad!! We were just chatting!" Jack yelled back, his cheeks flushing once again.

"Well, you shouldn't be! What are you, a rock?!" Tim retorted, and in turn, made me blush.

Great. Now it will seem as if we were really doing something when it didn't really happen.

"God, He is so embarrassing," Jack muttered as he held out a hand for me to hold.

"We better go downstairs before he keeps on throwing comments." Jack chuckled as he led me downstairs, with 'Stardust' playing in the background.