Drowning - Jachary Havery

Chapter Six

[then]

"Remind me again why I'm meeting your parents, well your Dad already?" Jack quipped as he trailed behind Zach.

"Well, for starters you've already met him-"

"Ok, you keep saying that but I have no idea who he is other than the fact he works at the same university I attend," Jack responded. He still was getting used to having conversations with Zach and Dee but now he's being forced into making conversation with anyone and everyone associated with the younger boy. It didn't make any sense to him either how meeting Zach's dad was so important, they weren't a thing. The more Jack thought about it the more awkward he felt, the more he wanted to turn around and walk home but unfortunately Jack was hopeless with directions and realised there was no going back, at least not without someone's guidance. 

Jacks nerves began to show as he gnawed at his fingernails, trying to suppress the quiver in his hands. It was hard enough for the boy to interact with just one or two people but this was a whole dinner, whole multiple hours where he had to not only make conversation but more than likely be a main topic of conversation and that was something he hated entirely; talking about himself. He'd never been comfortable doing it, not even when he submitted his essay for his university scholarship. He also didn't understand how people could talk so openly about themselves, Zach was one of those people, they were polar opposites. Zach spoke so much about himself that Jack now knew he was adopted because his biological parents had passed in a gruesome crash that he somehow survived as a baby. The curly haired lad felt for the boy, but still, it bewildered him as to how someone with such a tragic story could be so happy. His own story wasn't that bad and he was the most miserable person he knew. He guessed that was the difference between them though, Zach's heart seems to be one that heals with time but Jack's only breaks that little bit more each day that passes by. 

"Look, you'll be fine once you realise who he is. I already know you love him," Zach trailed off as they finally made it the front door.

"Zach is that you?" a female voice shouted. If Jack didn't know better he'd have thought it was Zach's mom, but he did know better. 

"Hey Ro, where are you? Jack's here!" Zach shouted back, sending Jack into panic mode. He was expecting dinner with Zach's parents and that was daunting enough but now this Ro girl was involved too. Jack wondered if Zach realised just how anxious he was in situations like this, because if he did then it was rather obvious that he didn't care. 

"Ro?" Jack hissed under his breath, questioning just exactly what Zach was leading him into. 

"My sister, well, adoptive sister but same same," he chuckled as a short girl with the most beautiful tanned complexion and black cascading hair came bounding around the corner. She leaped on top of Zach, knocking him to the ground as they both laughed hysterically.

"Ro, this is Jack, Jack this is Ro," Zach managed to squeeze out between chuckles.

"I'm so glad I made it home in time to meet you, I've been on the road with my fiancé for months but I had to come home immediately when I learned that Zachy here was bringing his first boy home," she gently nudged the younger boy with her elbow causing his cheeks to flush an even deeper shade of red than their natural state. 

"Is Corbyn here too?" Zach asked, Jacks mouth turning dry as he realised this was a full family meal. He was no longer walking into a casual parental interrogation but rather a fully fledged family beat down. Jack was more than certain that they'd know his social security number by the end of the night. Great... exactly what I needed right now...