The Exception// Jack Avery [1]

CHAPTER 11 [numb]

JACKS POV

I end up running home, I never wanted to hurt Grace and by her mum finding out about me and her being in contact, being friends, or whatever we are, I might just have done that. I should've said no when she asked me to come in, I can't think straight when I'm with her. But, it's only been nearly a month since we started talking again and i dont remember what I was like without her. Yes, I was a fuck boy before her who didn't care about girls feelings and only gave them attention because I wanted something but the past month with her has changed how I am. But we can't be, becuase being together is dangerous, she could loose more of her famiy than she already has and my family is the only thing I have. I've got nothing else.

I walk up to my door and my phone starts to ring. I see it says Daniel on the screen, I answer, despite how I'm feeling, "hey" I say, "hey dude, wanna come out for a bit tonight with me and the guys" he asks, "I can't tonight" I say, "why, are you with Grace again" he says, loosing all of the exictment out of his voice, "I just can't come out tonight" I say, "you really need to sort your life out man, since Grace has jumped in it, you don't hang with us anymore" he says, "are you serious, you're the one who asked her out on a date" I say, "yeah, and she fucked my head up because she has feelings for you" he says, and I can feel my heart ache, "no she doesn't okay" I say raising my voice, "don't come out with us tonight, me and the guys all agree that you need to sort yourself out, you're not the Jack you used to be and we miss that Jack, the one who was always up for a party, now its like youre fucking married" he says, I can feel my anger going up, "all the guys like her, it's just you who cant handle me and her being with each other" I say, "no it's all of us Jack, and if you wanna choose her over us, then you can forget about hanging out with us" he says, this time my anger has gone and I can feel tears forming in my eyes, "what are you saying" I say, "I'm saying you either sort yourself out and come party with us and get some girls, or leave us for Grace, because this isn't you" he says, "what's not me" I say, "this, you'd love to grab any girl just because you felt like it and you're Jack fucking Avery, any girl would get naked at the snap of your fingers" he says, "what do you say" he says after pausing, "no" I say hanging up the call and sitting down on my porch, letting only a few tears spill from my eyes.

I only have my family now, my friends can't handle the way I'm being and miss the dickhead version of me. I'm offically alone. And I don't care about any of it. I need my space. From the guys. From school. Even from Grace. And I don't care about anything that's gonna happen in the time being. I just need my space.

GRACES POV

I've cried too much today that I think I might have ran out of tears. I'm not crying. I feel numb. I'm disappointed my entire family, and I'm never going to be able to see Jack again since my mother has caged me in this house. I don't feel anything. I'ts just like when my dad died. I didn't cry, I didn't shout or anything. I was silent. And I sat in that hospital waiting room, frozen. My brother in one of the rooms trying to get better, and my dad in another, gone. It was the worst day of my life and I didn't feel anything. I haven't cried once because of my dad since he died. Only slightly teary eyes remembering good or even bad memories. But not once, did I let myself cry.

I hear a knock at my door, "come in" I say, not too loud, but not so quiet that I couldn't hear it myself. "Grace?" Elliott says, "yeah" I say turning round to peer over my shoulder to the door way, "mummy says your not going school tomorrow" he says, "okay Elliott" I say, "what wrong with mummy?" he asks, "nothing Elliott, she's fine, "are you?" he asks, "I'm fine" I say, "okay, I'm going to play with my toys" he says, "okay" I say, "close the door behind you please" I say as he walks out, stopping to do what I said, to close the door behind him.

I think even Elliott can tell. I feel nothing right now. I'm just numb.