Chasing Rainbows // Zach Herron

Chapter 5

"Where is Jack?" Christina said beginning to grow anxious from the long wait we had. "You said he only had to get milk from the store." She said throwing his fists on the table. "We have news to tell you guys, can someone just call Jack?" She continued to rant.

"Yeah I will" Corbyn said standing up. He got up and excused himself as he took out his phone, dialing Jacks number. "Hello?" Corbyn said a little harshly into his microphone. "Hey, Corbyn. What's up?" Jack said sounding- as always it seems- bubbly. "Jack are you drunk?" Corbyn asked rubbing his eyes. "No, not yet at least" Jack said as his worried friend pictured him at a bar downing drinks mixed with vodka or whiskey.

"You need to come home, bud. I'm going to go pick you up, what bar are you at?" Corbyn said as he rushed into the kitchen grabbing his car keys, mouthing to the boys that he'll explain later. "Uh geico" Jack said. Corbyn nodded his head before realizing Jack couldn't see it. Corbyn walked back into the kitchen grabbing Jonah by the arm pulling him out of the house telling him to sit in the passenger seat.

"Stay there, don't move Jack." Corbyn said strictly through the phone. Corbyn hung up, starting his car while his eyes travelled over to Jonah. "What's going on?" Jonah asked. "Jack, he's at a bar. He drove there so you're going to drive his car back home. Okay?" Corbyn said started to drive to the bar. "Ugh, he promised he wouldn't do this anymore" Jonah said looking out the window while punching his thigh.

Corbyn turned up the radio to his truck and 'M.I.A' by his own band started to play. Jonah laughed and rolled his eyes. "Throwback to the days when life was easy. Us being crazy teens. Well you guys." Jonah said. "Yeah, when we were all happy." Corbyn said whispering the last part. "Not all of us were Corbyn. Our music now is just eh. We use to try to make everyone happy and now our music is sad. I know for a fact Jack wasn't happy at all, not because he was in a band but just because he wasn't at a good place." Jonah said and started trail off. "And I guess he still isn't".

"None of us saw the signs, Jonah. Why do you still blame yourself for his mistakes?" Corbyn asked his older - not that much older - friend. After Bella tried to commit suicide six years ago, Jack tried to after their Invitation tour. Jonah only blames himself for it because Jack began to grow closer to Jonah and Jonah was harder to attempt to say goodbye too.

Flashback

All five boys were suppose to go out to eat together, jack said he didn't feel good and asked their manger if he could stay back. He of course said yes, not wanting to get the rest of them sick. Jack took that opportunity to drown his sorrows in the strong Russian vodka their manager drinks.

Jack didn't care if he was caught or yelled at. He just wanted to leave this world, he chugged down the bottle - all of it to be exact - and drunkly let himself hurt himself physically and mentally. When the boys got back from the dinner, Daniel went into the tour bus looking for Jack since he wasn't in his hotel room. No one has ever heard Daniel scream the way he did. It was piercing and terrifying. Soon enough a worker from the hotel came in, scarred at the sight they saw.

"Go quickly, get David or one of the other why don't we boys. Please hurry" Daniel screamed to the top of his lungs. Seeing the horrific sight in front of him made him cry. Cry that he didn't see this coming. Daniel picked up Jacks limp body and put pressure to the deep cuts that consumed his friends arm letting the dark red blood leak onto his clothes. Daniel was crying. He could carry jack, due to his lack of muscle, but hoped Jonah would come on the bus. Daniel held Jack in his arm and that was the sight the boys saw. They didn't notice the condition Jack was in until Zach walked closer. Zach screamed for his life, crying. Zach rushed out of the bus and started to throw up the contents in his stomach.

Corbyn was screaming for Zach to come back and call 911. Once Zach did, he came onto the bus and watched how Corbyn, Jonah, and Daniel were trying to get him up and do whatever they can to wake him up.

*end*

Ever since that day, Jack drank more and more. The boys were surprised when he started going to therapy because it showed he wanted the help. Each boy was effected in some type of way from his attempt. Zach didn't talk or even eat. He was finally over seeing Bella in the way she was, to see his best friend that way. Zach wouldn't sleep because he'd have nightmares about Jacks limp body.

Daniel wouldn't let Jack out of his sight, no matter what. Even if it was just to his room. Daniel would accompanied Jack everywhere. He was worried if his sick friend would try a move like that again.

Jonah tried to show his appreciation for Jack. He didn't want Jack to feel sad, worthless, useless, or anything else that he was feeling. Jonah tried being there for Jack no matter what the case was. Even if it was Jack trying to have sex with some random girl - what he normally did since his big breakup with the girl he was in love with- he'd try to support Jack even if it was wrong.

Corbyn had months of therapy. Corbyn couldn't leave his house without being in fear of knowing his best friend was still trying to hurt himself. He was sad because after Christina and him decided to move out that he couldn't check on Jack as much as he use too.

Corbyn and Jonah reached the bar as they both hurriedly got out of the truck and rushed in. Jack was sitting there with his head down and an empty glass - which they knew wasn't his first glass - in front of him. "Jack" Corbyn said but saying it more as of a question. Jack raised his head for the two boys seeing blood run down his forehead and a slightly black bruise consuming their friends eye. "What happened to you?" Jonah asked kneeling down next to his best friend.

"A guy tried touching a girl the wrong way, even after she said no. I went up to the guy and told him to fuck off. He continued to do it. I didn't know how to make it stop so I punched him right in the nose. Then we got into a fist fight and I drove the girl home and then came here." Jack said grunting in pain. Both Corbyn and Jonah got a hold of each of Jacks arms. Helping him up and putting him in Corbyn's truck. Jonah, getting in Jacks truck.

"Weren't you getting help?" Corbyn asked Jack. "I tried, I just couldn't." Jack said looking at his blonde friend. "Thank you by the way." He continued to say. "Anytime Jack. But this can't keep happening. Not after you hear mine and Christina's news" Corbyn replied pulling in the 4/5 members house.

Corbyn helped Jack in the house even if Jack reassured Corbyn that he was sober enough to walk on his own. Corbyn pushed Jack down in a chair at the table. All of the boys, including Christina, were still there. "Ready for the news?" Corbyn said with excitement. Each boy eagerly nodded. "We're having a baby" both Christina and Corbyn yelled. Each boy got up congratulating them and hugging them. Christina quickly cleaned up Jacks face and then hugged him, not wanting him to get blood on her favorite shirt.

An:
You guys got to see a part of Jack in this chapter. Anyways, Merry Christmas !! I hope you guys got what you wanted ! And I hope this day is filled with family joy.