Roadtrip Oneshots

Rack, Silence

Jack

I'd never been a big talker, even as a child. Opting to staying silent, and opting to listen. There were days where I stayed quiet for days on end, yet there were days when I spoke a lot. There wasn't really a pattern to it, but it happened; there was no telling when the 'silence' would surface.

Nothing significant happened for this to be a thing, but by this point I had accepted it. I'd accepted that I just fell silent sometimes.

The boys had found out back when I was on trial, years ago...

***

"Wake up!"

I blearily opened my eyes, yawning loudly. I hadn't realised I could be so exhausted after doing absolutely nothing.

I didn't turn around though, content with hearing Mikey, Brook, Andy, and Rye talk amongst each other, a daily occurrence. I mean, there was five of us in one small room, so you kind of had to talk to them at some point.

As I listened to them talk, giggle, laugh, sing, I stared at that one spot on the wall next to my bed. Mikey had thrown something at it, his intention being to hit me, but I had ducked; instead the thing he had thrown had gouged a tiny dent in it. I don't even remember what it was that he had thrown, but I always looked back on it and laughed.

But I stared at that dent, lips curling up into a smile as I remembered the rage in Mikey's eyes. Followed immediately by laughter.

"Jack, we're thinking of heading into Westfield today... are you in?"

I don't remember who it was that asked, but either way it didn't matter. I wasn't going to reply anyway. They carried on speaking to me, trying to talk to me, but I still didn't reply. I get in these moods sometimes, or mindsets, where I just don't feel like talking at all.

But after a while they thought I'd just fallen back asleep, because, it's me, and someone shook my shoulder.

I pretended to wake up slowly, turned around, stretched, yawned. I looked up to see Andy staring at me. I rubbed my eyes, another wave of tiredness washing over me. I could feel its weight dragging me down.

"Are you alright?" Andy asked. It had been him that had 'woken' me up. I nodded, smiling up at him.

"Okay." And then Andy disappeared to do something, I had no idea what.

I stood up slowly, made my bed in the process, retrieved a few things from my bag beneath my bed.

"Jack? Do you think this outfit's alright for today?" Brooklyn asked, and proceeded to pose numerous times. I smiled. I gave him a thumbs up before I headed into the bathroom.

I was in and out in five minutes, my hair still damp when I walked back into the room. I put my few things back in my bag, and then pulled my suitcase out, chose an outfit. I frowned as I look from one shirt to another.

Mikey was right next to me, so I poked him gently to get his attention; I hated hurting people. Mikey turned, question on his eyes, so I held out the two shirts and hoped he understood what I was trying to say.

He looked at me curiously, confused. "The green one Jack, it'll go with the jeans." He finally said.

I smiled at him thanks, nodded my head, pulled it on. I packed away the small amount of mess I'd made, and I felt eyes on me the whole time. I looked over my shoulder to see Mikey staring at me; his face was unreadable.

I frowned, but turned back around. Even if I wanted to say something I couldn't.

We left pretty soon after that, and I still hadn't said a word. Again, I was happy enough to listen. I walked behind them, smiling at their interactions.