Next to You ☼ Jack Avery

fifty four

it's easter so my dad is having family over tonight and he's invited Jack and I to come

Jack was at the studio and I was getting ready

I was wearing Jeans with a belt and a black long sleeve, I looked at myself in the mirror a little longer and gave myself a weird look

I brushed it off and walked to my closet and grabbed a plain black hoodie and put it on, I sat on my bed and I heard my door open and Jack walked up the stairs

he smiled at me and leaned into kiss me as he got closer

he crawled over me and I kissed him again but then slipped out from underneath him and he laid down on his back

"when are we leaving?" he asked

I was looking in the mirror again

"hello?" he said again and I snapped out of it "yeah um like 10 minutes"

"what're you doing?"

"nothing just making sure I look okay" I said faintly and he walked over and wrapped his arms around me from behind and leaned his head on my shoulder

"stop judging yourself"

"I just look weird right now"

"you look beautiful right now I don't know why you're overthinking this"

I leaned into him and sighed as he squeezed me tightly and then let go "now let's go"

•••
I pulled up and he got out of the car before me, I grabbed my phone and stuff and got out, as we walked to the door he kept looking back at me

"are you nervous?"

he was quiet and he nodded

"why?" I smiled and he turned to me "calm me down please i'm mentally freaking out"

"hey just breathe, you've met some of them before, my dad is gonna be here, so is Lia and Tonia and Tyson, then it's just my aunt and uncle, their kids, and then my two close family friends with their kids, it's gonna be okay, they're gonna love you because I already do"

he let a breathe out "you're right I love you"

"I love you more" I said

"no that's not a possibility"

"we're gonna be that couple?" I asked and he laughed and nodded as I knocked on the door

"we are that couple" he said as my dad opened the door and we both stepped in, he hugged me and started talking to Jack

Tonia hugged me then Jack

"where's Tyson?"

just as I asked that I saw him come running, I lifted him up and covered his face in kisses, he laughed and then reached for Jack

"who's here right now?" Jack asked as he held Tyson close to him

"Aunt Tammy Uncle Roger, their kids Rose who is 13 and Mia who is 15 and then our family friends, there is Mike and he has no kids and then Wendy and Jake with their daughter who is 7 i think and Lia"

"Lia" I yelled out and she walked forward and I could see her showing a little bit, I rushed toward her and hugged her tightly

we walked in and Jack started meeting everyone, I saw his nerves just float away

I walked over to him, my dad, and my aunt Tammy

"i've heard a lot about you" Tammy smiled and Jack looked at my dad "you've really been bragging about me Franke" he said to my dad they both laughed and I smiled at him

we started getting food and he grabbed my arm and I looked toward him, he was breathing shakily and it started becoming short breathes

"i'm gonna have a panic attack" 

I tried to act calm so I wouldn't stress him out, I set my stuff down and grabbed his hand and we walked upstairs to the bathroom

he almost passed out walking up the stairs but we made it in time

I helped calm him down and it only lasted like 5 minutes which is better then the last time

"it's okay, just breathe"

I rubbed his back and he calmed down

"thank you" he said quietly

I texted Lia

to Lia
hey, Jack had a panic attack, just show dad this and if anyone asks just say Jack had to call his manager and it involved me

from Lia
is he okay?

to Lia
yeah we're gonna come back down now

Jack stood up and ran his hand over his face

"okay?"

he nodded "yeah"

•••