I Don't Date Stupid ✓

33: "Own Little World."

School is starting soon. With less than a week left to go before our final semester at Manhattan High, we all thought it was a good idea to spend time together. The choice location this time? Blake and Scarlett's house, purely because their house is way bigger than mine and Damon's and their parents are out.

I'll be honest with you. I'm nervous. Joe's visit rattled me more than I'd care to admit and I just feel the need to talk to Jack about it, you know? Since telling him he's been my confidante, of sorts, on all things relating to it. Where I would once keep everything bottled inside, I can now tell someone. It's done fucking wonders on my mental health let me tell you that. Maybe all those people at group therapy telling me to open up and share the pain were onto something...

But facing Joe again was something I didn't ever think I would have to do. Nothing can prepare you for coming face to face with your rapist, especially in a situation like that. Where they come to your house, your home. They infiltrate the walls you thought were safe and they violate everything you keep private. Parallels, huh?

I've been acting weird since the incident, Damon's noticed and all I want is to talk to Jack about it. I don't want to tell him over the phone, that's too impersonal. And I know if I tell Jack about it and he's not able to be there for me he's going to freak and drop everything; which, as sweet as it is, isn't helping either of us.

My anticipation to see him only builds as Damon drives us to the Hunters'. We pull slowly into the drive after a quiet car journey, the only noise being the generic radio station that played over the speakers.

As soon as the car stops, I all but leap out of my seat to get to the door. I knock three times, leaving me waiting for a few beats before the door swings open to reveal Scarlett. "Hey, KT!" She screams.

"Hi, girl!" I say at a lower volume than her, embracing Scarlett in a hug. "Is Jack here already?"

"Because fuck the rest of us, right?" Blake says, appearing behind his twin.

"I know you're jealous, Blakey. But I haven't seen him in days," I tease.

"Jack's here," Scarlett finally answers me, effectively ignoring Blake. "They're all in the living room."

That's all I needed, I rush through her house in search of my boyfriend, faintly hearing Damon greeting our friends behind me.

"Juliet!" Jack exclaims as I appear in the doorway. He hops out of his seat and takes a couple of long strides to meet me. He wraps his arms around me, my hands around his neck as he gives me a lingering peck.

"I missed you, Romeo," I say softly, letting my forefinger trace his jaw. He grabs my hand, grinning, and leads me to where he was sitting before.

I hear someone sigh to my right after I've sat down. "I'd hate to see what you two are like alone, fucking hell."

I roll my eyes and prepare to reply to my 'best friend' but someone cuts me off. "It's bad, Jesse. I've walked in on them enough times," Damon says shooting me a playful glare.

"Hey! We only had sex for the first time like a week ago," Jack defends, immediately sending my jaw to the floor. I hit his chest lightly in clear protest that I didn't want this information publicised.

Safe to say this brought mixed reactions from our friends.

Damon was shouting about his adversity to our being intimate in the first place. Scarlett and Roxy were shocked that I hadn't bedded him sooner, while Blake and Jesse were mock-congratulating Jack on finally 'getting some'.

"It's not that weird guys," I tell everyone once the room has quietened down a bit. "We've both got rather extensive histories in that area, so we wanted to make sure to each other that this wasn't just a fling. But that's all we're saying about this while my brother is in the room."