Why Don't We? // Jack Avery fanfiction

nervous

It's a few days later and Jack is walking me home from school, which has become a habit now days. We are talking and having a good time, as usual, but this time, as we are walking, we run into Madeleine. She is on the other side of the road with her "possey" of girls. As much as I hate to admit it, she looks stunning. I look over to see Jack avoiding looking at her. She waves toward us, and sends a fake smile our way. From across the road, she shouts out, "it was a shame you didn't show up to my party, Emily. Oh wait, you probably didn't even know about it because you weren't invited." She starts to laugh, and it sounds high pitch, and stuck up, like a pig's snort. "You would think that I would have heard about it through other people who were invited. I guess it just wasn't worth talking about." I say, and continue walking. Jack follows slightly behind me. "Oh, if she were a guy, I swear to you, I would beat her ass." I take Jack's hand in my own and calm him down, assuring him that I've learned how to handle Madeleine by now. "Oh hey, so, tonight I have to do something, and I was wondering if you would come along?" Jack says, while swinging our arms. "Yeah, sure, I don't have much studying. I guess I'll just tell my parents." I say, while pulling out my phone and texting them.

As we pass my house I quickly drop my heavy backpack off, and explain to my parents that I'll be spending time with Jack. "Okay kiddo, be safe." My dad says, as I run back out the door to see Jack. "I will! Love you guys!" I shout back. "Ready?" Jack asks me. I nod in response, and we continue walking to his house, getting into his car right away. "So, where are we going?" I ask, bringing my knees up to my chin. "To give Isla her skateboard." He replies, putting the car in reverse. "Jack! I'm meeting your family? Looking like this?!" I practically screech. "You look good!" He says, putting a hand on my thigh. "Don't worry Emily, they will love you. And technically, you aren't meeting the whole family.. just mom and Isla." I feel myself start to panic. Jack loves his mom and sister so much; he talks about them all the time. If they don't like me, it could ruin everything. I feel tears begin to well up in my eyes. "Jack.. what if they don't like me?" I say, feeling my nervousness grow. "Emily, they will love you. I know they will. It's hard not to." Jack lays a hand gently on my thigh. It almost sounds like he was saying he loves me.. he didn't exactly say it, but that's what it sounded like. I would like to hope that he is falling for me as much as I'm falling for him.

After quite a lengthy drive, we arrive at Jack's family home. It's a cute, rundown little house that looks very homey from the outside. Despite the welcome mat that lays on their front doorstep, I'm still extremely weary of entering Jack's real home. "Wait.." I say, as Jack reaches his hand up to knock on the door. "Yeah?" He asks, tilting his head to the side slightly. "I'm nervous." I say quickly. He takes my small hand in his own, and knocks on the door. "We're here!" He shouts through the mail slot.

"JACK!!!!" I hear, practically being screamed, as the pounding footsteps of a very small person run down the hall. It must be.. Before I know it, the door is opening, and a small blonde girl is jumping up into Jack's arms. "Jack, I've missed you so much!" She says loudly, snuggling into his shoulder. He props her up, and rubs her back. "I've missed you too. So much! I may have even bought you a present. Maybe." The girl, who I'm assuming is Isla pulls away from Jack's hug so she can look him in the eye. "A present?" She asks, eyes wide. He nods, and puts her down. "But first, this is Emily." Jack says, introducing me. Isla suddenly becomes quiet, and shyly takes a step behind Jack's leg. "Hi Emily" she says, smiling shyly. She gestures for me to come close to her so she can whisper something, and I do so. "You're really pretty, and I hear Jack really likes you." She says, quietly enough that Jack can't here. I lean down even lower to get on her level. "Well Isla, I think that you're absolutely beautiful." She begins to giggle, and hugs Jack again. She yanks on Jack's pants gesturing for him to lean down. "I like her, Jacky!" I can hear her excitedly whisper. So far, things have gone well, but I haven't even stepped into his house yet, or met his mom.

"Isla? Oh! Jack, and you must be Emily!" Says Jack's mother, whose name I'm yet to learn. She leans in and gives Jack and I both a massive hug. I think she and mom would get along. "It's so nice to meet you guys" I say smiling, looking at Jack's mom and then at Isla. "Well, you're welcome here any time sweetheart." Says Jack's mom, as she leads us all inside the house, and out of the doorway. "Thank you, Ms. Stanford. That's so kind of you." I say. She quickly corrects me, and says, "Oh please. Call me Kristin!" I smile and nod my head. The further we get into their house, the more I feel at home. The warm wooden panels, and the stone fireplace, the big cushioned couches, that just look so comfortable.. it all just looks so welcoming. I have a warm, comfortable. feeling in my chest.

Jack and I sit down on the larger of the two sofas, with Isla sitting on Jack's lap. His mom sits on the reclining chair next to us. "I'm so glad to finally meet you Emily, Jack tells me all about you. You sound like such a wonderful girl." She smiles, and reaches over to pat me on the back. My fears all begin to fade away as I realise how kind Jack's family is.

After hours of talking, it begins to get dark out. The sky's turned into a faded pink and purple sunset. "I hate to say it, but I think we better start getting back. I'm not good at driving in the dark for a long time." Jack says, as he pulls himself up off the couch; helping me up after. "No, Jack, don't go!! I never see you anymore!" Isla shouts, tears instantly streaming down her face. Jack tries to calm her down by giving her a hug, but she pulls away and runs into her room. My heart breaks for the little girl who wants nothing more than to be with her big brother. I can't imagine only seeing my family every month or so, especially at such a young age, when family is so important. "She may be like this for awhile, you should probably just go, it's getting late. I don't want to keep you." Kristin says. Jack nods, and agrees. He begins walking toward the front hall. "Wait, can I try to talk to her?" I ask, looking toward the room that Isla ran into. Kristin looks toward the room also. "Okay, but don't feel discouraged if you can't get her to come out. None of us can when shes like this. Can't blame her though. She really loves Jack." I nod, and make my way to the room, the sobs coming from within slowly are getting louder. I turn the handle to find the door unlocked, as I enter the room, my ears are pinched with a loud wailing sound. "Go away! I'm not going to see you for another month anyway!" Isla yells into her pillow. I make my way to her bed and sit on it, putting a hand on her back and gently rubbing it. "Hey Isla, it's Emily." Isla slowly turns around, and rubs the tears from her eyes, realizing that it's not Jack whose with her. "I just wanted to tell you how much Jack loves you. You're the light of his life Isla. I know that it must be so hard for you when he's away, but I promise you, he's think about you all the time. He really loves you girly. You're all that he talks about. He says 'I have the most beautiful sister. And one day, when shes older, I need to make sure that any bad guys will stay away from her.' Thats what says. Because he cares so much about you. So, I know you miss him, but I promise you he misses you just as much. And hes out there right now feeling sad that he can't say goodbye." Isla watches me with wide eyes as I speak. "He says that about me?" She asks, wiping away a big tear. "Mmhmm." I say, nodding my head. "Now, how about instead of going out there and saying goodbye, you brush your teeth and get in your pyjamas, and I'll get Jack to come in and put you to bed. How does that sound?" I ask. "Okay!" Isla says, without a hint of sadness in her voice. She hops out of bed and rushes toward the bathroom. As shes on her way to the bathroom, she turns around and gives me a quick hug before rushing back to the bathroom. I can't help to feel a rush of happiness fall over me.