Carnations for Emily

Chapter 6: Charm

Jack walked into Cole's Coffee Shop late at night again.
In his hand he was holding something close to his heart.

"Ah, you're back." Cole exclaimed.
"Hey Cole."
"Hmm? Whatcha got there?"
Cole noticed the object in Jack's hand.
When Jack sat down at the counter he laid down the object he was holding.
It was a charm.
A star shaped charm on a chain, made by hand.
"It's something Emily gave me.
Before I left." Jack said
"You don't say?"
"She said it was her lucky charm.
That no matter what I'll always be her favorite star."
"I see...
Sounds like she shared the same feelings you had for her." Cole said.
Jack's face turned red at the thought then shook his head.
"Hah, not likely.
I wasn't her type." Jack scoffed.

Soon after saying that memories of their life before now flashed through Jack's head.

Blissful at first.

When they were kids...
"You'll take me with you when you go. Right?
Promise me!"

In junior high...
"You guys look like you'd be a cute couple"

"Hahah, that's crazy, we're just friends."

"...Yeah, just friends..."

Which quickly turned dark...

High school...
"Jack... I..."

"What's happening to me?"

"You have to get help."

"...You promised me..."

"...If you can't take me, then take this..."

"Please..."

"Jack."
"Huh?!" Jack was pulled back to reality from his memories by Cole's voice.
"You seemed to be lost in thought for a minute there."
Cole went to the back to the kitchen and came back with a glass of warm tea.
"Here, you look a little shaken."
"T-thanks, sorry my memories tend to trap me in my head sometimes." Jack mentioned.
"Sounds kinda scary.
You don't seem like such a bad kid though.
What could you have possibly done?" Cole asked.

While Jack is no older then twenty two he's hurt some people in his high school years.
Ranging from broken promises to actually putting people in the hospital.
Even when he got to New York, it took some time before he got to where he is now.
He got caught up with a bad group he'd rather not think about right now.

Jack shook his head.
"I think I can save those stories for another day."
He smiled weakly.
"That's alright.
You clearly have some demons inside though."
"You don't know the half of it" Jack thought.
"Jackie." Jokers voice ringed in his head as a chill ran down his spine.

Cole spoke once again to keep Jack's attention.
"So that girl gave you this charm huh?"
Jack straightened up so he could speak clearly.
"Yes, she made it herself.
I caught her messing with it one day in Junior High.
Though at the time it wasn't finished.
Whenever I saw her working on it I'd ask what it was but she'd always tell me it was just a little project." Jack said.
"Well it's quite beautiful.
She must've spent a lot of time on it." Cole said as he picked up the charm and dangled it slightly above the counter.

It was a blue star shaped charm with a red carnation shaped crystal in the center of it.
The star was made out of metal while the carnation felt like it was made out of glass, like how marbles are made.
Though it looks rougher then when Emily first gave it to him, Jack has tried to keep it in good condition.
As for the chain, it's also red but with smaller charms on it.
Taking a closer look, the charms are little carnation, rose, and star shapes.
Emily had thought of all sorts of things for this.

A memory passed through Jacks mind once more.

Around the age of twelve.

"Hey Jack?" Emily asked.
"Yeah?"
"You know Carnations are my favorite flower right?"
"Yep.
I found that out when we went to town together one day after school.
There were some planted at the park and you wanted one."
Jack said.
"Right, well I was wondering.
What's your favorite flower?" Emily asked.
"Hmm..."
Jack thought to himself for a moment when he found his answer, he turned and looked at Emily with a small smile.
"I think roses are my favorite.
I-I know that's a pretty girly thing to say."
Jack blushed a little in embarrassment.
Emily just grabbed his hand.
"No, not at all. I think it's nice.
Roses are romantic."
Emily blushed alongside Jack and continued to hold his hand.
"I like you Jack." Emily said.
"What? W-well.
I like you too Emily." Jack laughed.
And as soon as the memory came, it ended just as fast.