Going Home ⚭ book II b.c.l.s ⚭ Hayes Grier

23

My eyes lit up as I saw Lauren walk into the restaurant. "Hey!" She waved, I returned the gesture, smiling. "So, I feel like we should talk about your party."

"Yes, It's been a long three days since then," I teased. "For real, I'm all ears."

"First and foremost, I am so sorry for drinking and saying what I said. It was just inappropriate, you know?" I nodded. "About Jack, those 'things' aren't really important-"

I took a sip of my water, smiling. "Can you tell me what you know?" She pursed her lips, nodding.

"Obviously, I don't know how much is true, but I've just heard stuff about his relationship with Madison," Lauren continued while I raised my eyebrows. "People have said that its was, like, mentally abusive on both parts, that he could be physical... I don't know. He used to drink, I know that."

I could feel my face flush, taking another sip of water. "I mean, I really didn't want to tell you because I don't know how much is true." "Yeah, yeah, it's all good."

"He isn't like that with me at all," I thought about it for a while. "But we've alone been 'together' for, like, a week."

"I think it'll be okay. Now, what are we getting to eat?" She smiled.

-

I sat in my bed, playing with my fingers. Eventually, I called Jack. It rang twice before he picked up. "Hey," I smiled, faintly. "What are you up to?"

"Not much, talking to a real cute girl on the phone," I smiled. "What about you?"

"I wanted to come over, if that's okay." "Yeah! I'll go unlock the door and stuff."

-

I shut the door behind me and walked up to his room. "Hey," I smiled, laying next to him. Jack quickly wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head.  "I just wanted to talk about something."

I could hear his heart beat rise. I don't even know how to bring something like this up. "So, I was talking to a friend of mine and she said she heard something's that she didn't know if they were true."

"I just want you to be honest, was you're relationship with Madison toxic. Like, abusive." Jack looked at me and paused. "Yeah."

I wasn't expecting that answer. "I mean, no, we didn't hit each other, but she really fucked me up. Like, she would just scream and scream and try to get me to say something back. As soon as I did, she would record it and send it to her friends and stuff."

"Damn." I said, lying back down.

"I wouldn't do that to you." He frowned, looking at me. I nodded, running my fingers through his hair.