Survival

Chapter 34

(One Week Later)

March has finally arrived. And Jack is currently on his way to his Rapunzel's tonight with the rest of the group.

"Bye, mom and dad!"

"Wait, Jack," his mom calls out, stepping out of the kitchen.

Jack halts by the threshold, "What is it?"

His mom scans him head to toe before answering, "Sit down, please."

"Mom, I'm meeting the guys. Can we talk about this later?"

Then his dad takes a step at his mom's side as he emerges from the kitchen as well, "Listen to your mom, Jack."

Jack glances at his parents and sighs. He walks towards the spacious living room and sits on the couch.

His parents take the opposite seat. His mom then leans forward, her brown eyes softening, and gently asks, "Is everything okay with you, honey?"

"What?" He asks confused.

His mom continues, "You've been different lately. You have been acting distant. Is everything okay?"

Jack only huffs a laugh. "I'm fine. Promise. School is just a lot of work."

His mom didn't look convinced. She's always been good at identifying the root of the problem. So it came of no surprise when she looks at him in a way that says she knows he's lying.

"What happened to the girl you were seeing. You never invited her to dinner," his dad asks.

Jack looks at him and shakes his head. "Is that what this is about? You think I'm acting different because of a girl?"

"We're worried, Jack."

Jack leans back against the couch and breathes, "We're not a thing anymore. It's fine. It didn't work out. That's it."

His dad raises a brow, but he nods his head.
Jack's mom can use some more convincing.

"Can I go now?"

They both nod their head, deciding not to push their son in something he's not ready to discuss.

Jack stands up and heads back to the front door.

"Be back by eleven!" His dad orders.

"Okay!" He assures them as Jack heads out the door.

He gets in his car and drives off.

He's tried for the past week to forget Elsa. He hasn't seen her at all. There hasn't been a whiff of her. It's like she disappeared.

Jack doesn't like to think about it too much because thinking about Elsa always leaves him feeling sour.

With a heavy heart, he focuses on the drive.

***•***•****

Jack arrived at Rapunzel's an hour ago. Everyone else was already there. To kill time as they waited for the pizza to arrive, they decided to play truth or dare.

Of course, none of them picked dare.

"Jack, truth or dare!"

He rolls his eyes and laughs, "Truth."

"If you had to date either Merida or Rapunzel, who would you date?"

Both girls, at the same time, wrinkle their nose in disgust and say, "Gross."

At the same moment, Rapunzel's dog comes running in and licks everyone's face. The girls, who are sitting on the floor, chuckle.

"I'd rather date the dog," Jack jokes.