Crashing. (A JSE×reader fanfic)

Home.

  August 17th, 11:22 p.m.

  Nearly ten hours after boarding, the plane finally touches down. Jack squirms eagerly in his seat, not so much with excitement, but more desperation. His legs had stiffened within the first two hours of sitting so still for the flight.

  As of recent years, hes rarely found himself sitting for more than the duration of a movie without getting restless as hell. He supposes that's the work of a certain someone he'd preferably not think of right now.

  The voice over the intercom gave directions for departing, but Jack couldnt care less to listen, after all, he's heard it plenty of times in his life. He stands from his seat, shimmying himself into the crowded line of impatient people, and makes his way out into the chilled Irish air.

  He inhales slowly taking in the familiar scent of wet greenery all about. He almost missed the rain, living in the mostly arid hell of LA. He tries not to let himself think back to home... well, he supposes its not home anymore. He stiffens himself, making his way inside.

  He walks in, scanning the bustling crowd of bodies for a familiar face. His eyes stop on the shit eating grin of his old friend James. He closed the gap between the two, eyeing his friend before tossing welcomed arms around one another.

"Good ta be seein ya." James says after they'd released one another, his accent much thicker than Jack's. Jack nods in response, trying to offer his friend a genuine smile.

  James has known Jack since primary school. The two really clicked when it came to gaming out and playing nonsensical games outside. Even after Jack moved, the two remained in close contact through their secondary and college years. They often times caught one another for a beer, taking the time to catch up over missed events. Its a shame that Jack let so much time pass without seeing his friend.

"Its good to see you, too." Jack returns, pursing his lips together in a forced smile. Jack slaps a hand onto Jack's shoulder, shaking him slightly.

"Lets be getting on, Lad, we got some things ta be discussin'." James winks at his friend, heading toward the luggage carosel to pick out Jack's lone suit case. Jack follows close hebind on his heels.

  The two stand side by side, watching the unfamiliar luggage pass by them one at a time. A silence falls between the two, urging Jack to break it out of habit for making Her feel better.

"Thanks again for letting me stay. I didnt really know if you'd get my message as fast as I needed. Sorry its a bit on short notice." Jack says, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets to avoid habitually reaching over for her hand.

"Eh, be no issue. When I read you was buyin' the ticket as you typed, I half debated on leavin' yer ass stranded though." James smirks evily at Jack, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You're an awful friend." Jack says in faux betrayl. James laughs heartedly beside him

"Best be careful who yer talkin tah! You be stayin in my hobble till ya make it out on yer own again." James says as if planning Jack's murder as he wiggles his brows.

"Dont give me that look, you know what it does to me." Jack says, leaning in to make his friend as uncomfortable as possible. James pushes him away with a chuckle.

"Dont be gettin' fruity on me! You know I'm in a committed relationship with Brandon!" James jests, wiggling his ringless ring finger in Jack's face.

"Best be tellin' Brandon that Jackaboy is in town now." Jack replies, wiggling his own eyebrows as he takes hold of his suitcase as it passes in front of them. James chuckles, leading Jack away from the carosel and out into the chilly night air.

  Jack allows himself to be lead over to James' old pick up. He can hardly believe he still has it after all these years. Jack smirks to himself, remembering the times the two of you would cruise around the town, listening to James' dad's cassets and finding a spot to park and drink till they passed out. What a wild bunch they pretended to be in those days.

  James hops into the driver side, bot needing to invite Jack to leap in on the other side. He twists his back, tossing his luggage into the small back compartment of the cab. The strap themselves in and James begins to make his way home.

  An ear ringing silence tugs at Jack through most of the trip. The radio barely works in these areas of the road, so theres not much use in listening to mind numbing static. Jack begins to shift restlessly in his seat. She would never let this kind of silence settle... his mind betrays him as he catches himself remembering her icebreaker methods.

  Sometimes she'd crack some silly joke, or sometimes she'd ask the group or person if they'd ever heard of some theory or study she'd been fascinated in lately. It was always intoxicating to watch her talk about things that she enjoyed. AI, space, psychology, anatomy, animals. He could listen to her talk for hours when that light sparked behind her eyes. It didnt matter if the subject typically bored the hell out him, when she described it, it was like unlocking the secrets of the universe. No matter what she spoke about, it always sounded like an adventure.

  Sometimes she'd open up with music, maybe by humming a song and waiting for others to join in, or asking if they'd heard her newest artist discovery. It was so cute when she would manage to get a room full of people singing Queen or John Denver. When Jack's Ocean Man meme spread like wild fire, that was her go to.

  She seemed to love updating everyone in what Jack has been up to lately. He'd always act embaressed when she'd praise him in public, but in honesty, he enjoyed that she liked what he did. It felt important to him that she was proud of him, and he did his best to do that.

  He tears his mind away from the nostalgia and the pit forming in his center. He turns toward his friend who focuses off somewhere in the distance as he contines to drive in the uncomfortable silence like it doesnt effect him.

  Hell it probably doesnt effect him at all. Not like her. Not like Jack, or Mark, or even sometimes Bell, who knew just as well as the rest of the crew just how anxious it makes everyone. Jack always appreciated that Bell sought to keep the crew on track and emotionally balanced. Often times when all of you were out and about, causing unnoticed havoc through the streets in the name of enetertainment, Bell was the one to help Mark crawl out of his shell of introvercy. She was also the one to keep (Y/N) in a good mood for hours on end. It seems that in her eyes Bell could do no possible harm.

  He huffs, gritting his teeth and his traitorous thoughts that nag at him every small given chance. All hes done so far is think about her and how much he misses her, and the ache is making him feel sick to his stomach.

  He nudges James in the driver seat gaining his attention briefly before his eyes remeet the road, he grunts a "Hm?" In response.

"Wanna go get shitfaced and catch up for a bit?" Jack says, forcing a wide uncomfortable grin. Turthfully, Jack would more enjoy a hard blow to the head to knock him out a few days, more than he'd enjoy going to a bar. But he desperately needs a mind number, and thats what alcohol is good for. A single chuckle falls out of James as he glances Jack's way.

"Always be up fer a pint er two. But we best be getting ya settled in first a bit." James replies, seeming to appreciate Jack's enthusiasm. Jack swallows back his qualms and  emotions, opting instead to look out the window at the pitch black night. Having to wait all night and day for a drink? It will be along night then.