Why be the judge? (Septiplier)

Chapter 32

JACKS POV

I study until I hear Mark's Mum call us for dinner. When I walk into the dining room, I smell and see the most amazing food ever. On my plate, piled up on mashed potato is five chicken wings covered in a spice and marinated.

"This smells pretty great." I say as I sit, mouth drooling.

"Always the first to compliment." She smiles.

When I look up from my delicious looking plate in front of me, it is to the sound of something hitting the wall. I see Mark standing there with red, puffy eyes. He walks over to take a seat next to me, and when he does and look at him full of worry. He smile and looks down at his plate.

"This looks good, Mum. What is it?" he asks carelessly, ending with a sniffle.

"It's Honey Soy Garlic marinated chicken." She smiles.

We begin to eat, the entire time it is in silence. The only being the clinking of metal against metal. I feel awkward, as if I have been left out of something completely. By the time I've finished eating, Mark has left the room and his parents are talking quietly on the other side of the table. I stand and collect everyone's plates before I could be stopped.

"Oh, Jack, you don't have to wash up. Go have some fun." Mrs. Fiscbach fusses.

"It's alright, Mark doesn't seem to be in a great mood, so I'll probably shower and go to bed after this." I smile.

"I don't blame him for being like this," She sighs," ever since Mark was little his Dad has been sick. They thought he would be fine for a few more years when he went to the doctors a few months ago. But when he went today they said he only has a few months at most. It kills Mark to see his idol like this, most of the time though he hides it from everyone. So it is something that he is acting like this around you. Especially if his dad isn't around much longer; he needs someone other than me too trust."

"Oh,- I-I'm sorry."I say quietly, having complete understanding now why the table was in silence. I dry up the last dish and put it away.

"Thank you for the help, Jack."

"No problems, I don't mind a bit of cleaning." I turn to go to my room and grab some clothes when I hear what she says next.

"Mark is really lucky to have someone like you in his life, Jack. Thank you. If I

ever... leave, please take care of him for me."

I look her in the eye as I say, "I promise."

I shower and change into the set of pants and shirt I wore the night before. I walk into my room and sit at the table where I have all my homework and study guides set up. I really felt I need to do well at the HSC exams, I feel as if I have something to prove to my fuck ass Dad and everyone who didn't like me for being different. I delve deep into the world of mathematics. The numbers and formulas racing through my head as I take it all in, solving them are easy. Everything in maths has a pattern I learnt. If you can find the pattern, you can solve the problem.

"Jack." A firm voice calls. I jump in my seat and look to see Marks Dad.

"Sorry. I got lost in my homework." I say quickly.

"Are you alright to stay up late if me and Marks mum go to bed now?" he asks.

"Yeah, sure. I'll probably go to bed soon anyway." I say as I quickly look down to check the time on my phone. 10:43 it reads. He walks out of the room and I turn back to my homework, deciding to pack it up. Slowly but surely I slide all my books into my bag and lay it next to the door. I quickly brush my teeth and go to the toilet before going back to my room. But I pause at the door, remembering that I need to see Mark. I walk quietly down the hall to his room, the edges of his door noticeable by the rim of light coming off it.

MARKS POV

I look at the photo I hold in front of me. It's a picture of me, my brother and my Dad. We were standing there soaked and smiling crazily at the camera. I smile to myself as I remember what happened that day.

Mum had told us to go and wash the car, and we were, until Dad had 'accidently' wet us with the hose. We were both mad at him for wetting us, so I had grabbed a sponge from the bucket and threw it at him. That was the start of our world war 3. Sponges were flying and the hose was set to jet mode. In the end, we had ended up cleaner than the car.

My smile starts to waver as tears prick my eyes. I look up to the ceiling to try and stop myself. I jump a little as I see the door slowly open out the corner of my eye. It pushes open a little more before I realise it's Jack. I put on a gentle, tight lipped smile, in hope he doesn't notice how red my eyes are.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Yeah," is all I manage to choke out trying to sound as normal as possible.

"Well I was going to go to bed, but I can see your lying." He walks over and sits on my bed and wraps his warm arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder. "He's okay for now and that's what matters."

"But what if he's not okay tomorrow?" I whisper, I can't even hold back the tears anymore. My head rests against his shoulder and I start sobbing. Jack says nothing for few minutes, waiting for me to calm down, rubbing his hand along my back, like my mum used to.

"Well tomorrow isn't here yet," he says when I calm down. He pulls away from me and gives me a smile.

"I'm gonna go to bed now, ok. If you need to talk to someone just wake me up." He says, planting a gentle kiss on my lips, before walking out and shutting the door behind him. I look at the time on my phone. 11:18. I decide I should try and get some sleep. I turn of the light and lie there.

Time skip- about 3 hours later

I feel like a child after having a nightmare doing this. With my phone torch, I open my door as quietly as possible. I tiptoe down the hallway until across a closed door. Although it is reasonably cold inside, my face is hot with embarrassment. But I open the door and close it behind me gently, trying not to wake him. In the corner of the room, I see a hunched over figure on the far side of the bed. I slowly walk over, careful not to make a sound. When I reach the bed I slowly pull the covers back, just enough he wouldn't feel the cold. I slide in carefully and pull the covers back over, but just as I do he rolls over, his sleepy eyes looking at me.

"Thought you would sooner or later." He whispers.

"Are you calling me a chicken? And sorry. I didn't want to wake you." I whisper back.

"Yes I did and you suck at lying," he giggles, yet it sounds like a croak.

"I couldn't sleep." I say as shift to get comfortable. I put my arm over him.

"No shit. But I understand," He says, tucking his small frame up against me.

"I can go back to my room if you want."

"Just try to go to sleep." And with that he falls back to sleep and I do, eventually.