"not just anybody" jack anderson x reader

"i need you"

I just want my best friend to be safe
and god forbid not get lung cancer
I wonder where he got the pack of cigarettes from
maybe from a school mate?
who knows...

*bell rings*
"class dismissed"
I look at the clock
{12:30}
lunch time. cool
-
I walk to the cafeteria thinking about how I'm
going to avoid bringing the cigarette situation up,
or should I avoid it?
I don't know.
I can't screw up what I have with jack at this point, right?

I see jack sitting alone at our table
I walk up and take the seat sitting across from him
as I sit down he doesn't look up-
he just stares at his food

"what's for lun-"
I get cut off mid sentence

"I threw them away"
jack mumbles under his breath
still not making eye contact

you stare at him processing the words
coming from his lips

"you mean you threw your lunch away?"
you chuckle trying to lighten the situation
(it never works)

he looks up at you and proceeds to roll his eyes
"never mind"
he stands up from the table and
takes his trash over to the bin while exiting the
cafeteria

you let out a loud sigh while
getting up from the table to follow him
"jack, wait! let's talk about this!"
you speak up so he can hear you down the hall

he turns around to face you
"talk about what? my fucking relapse?
yeah... let's not."
he says with annoyance

"why are you so upset over this?
i'm not mad at you."

he places his hand on his forehead
"because, y/n, i don't want you thinking i'm less
of a person than you already think I am.
okay?
i know i said i'd quit, and i did.
but i got handed a pack yesterday and i
couldn't bring myself to pass it up.
but they're gone now, i got rid of them.
just promise me this won't change the way
you think of me. please just trust me."
he finishes with a worried look on his face

you stand there thinking of what to say,
it wasn't like i was mad at jack, i just
didn't understand why he didn't want me knowing
about the cigarettes,
he knows he can trust me with anything.

"jack, i want you to know that a
stupid pack of cigarettes won't
change the way i think of you."

he looks up at me

"i want you to know that i love you,
i'll always love you no matter what.
even with your mistakes and your flaws.
i just want you to be safe. i can't lose you"
you say to reassure him.

he takes a few steps towards you and rests
his hands on your shoulders and locks your eyes with his.
"y/n, i'm not going anywhere.
i couldn't ever leave you.
i need you."
he pulls you into his chest and hugs you tightly.

i always feel so secure in his arms,
his warmth and the way his shirts always
have the smell of lemons and lavender existing on them.
you smile softly as he presses his lips against your forehead and tucks a few strands of hair behind your ear.

"let's skip the rest of the school day, shall we...?"
he says as he releases his arms from around your back and inter winds your hand with his.
you both walk out of the school leaving your books and papers behind because everything that you need is already in the palm of your hand.