Winter Jackets

Chapter 9 - The Explanation

A/N: Sorry I haven't posted in so long! My summer break started last Friday and I just decided to take the week off from my laptop, and completely forgot about posting!

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!

As soon she reached home, she slammed the door shut and stormed to the dining room, where her family was sitting and eating. They all looked up as she glared at Jack.

Ok, ok, she knew she shouldn't be so angry at Jack, but after he left the bus for home, it dawned on her that so much had changed since he left for the army, so much had happened. And him walking back into her life after supposedly being dead was NOT going to fix anything at all! And that printed note! How was he alive?! Why did he not tell his family? Or, at least, his sister who had been suffering for five years from a syndrome caused by grief! For him! That had to justify her anger at him.

Anyway, back to the storming:

Jack opened his mouth to speak, or maybe laugh at her, but she got there first; 'Where have you been during the past five years?! And how are you alive? And why do you think you can just SAUNTER INTO MY LIFE AND SAY THAT YOU MISSED ME?!'

Jack just sighed. Wow, he can't even shout back? Lisa thought angrily. She needed to have a good fight, after not being anything but grieved for so many years!

'I think I owe you an explanation-' 'You think?!' Lisa interrupted, and he looked at her, sadly, before saying 'Okay, I know I owe you a very thorough explanation... let's go to your room...' and he walked to her room, with Lisa storming behind him. Once they were inside Lisa's room and seated, Jack on her bed, hunched forwards, chin resting on his hands, and Lisa sitting on her rotating desk chair, arms folded across her chest, one leg on top of the other, looking at Jack somewhat icily.

'So,' began Jack, 'as you know, when I went away five years ago, it was to work for the Red Cross, and then joined the army. .' Lisa remained silent, although she had something to say. 'But you knew this already. So-'

'No I didn't.'

'Sorry?'

'I didn't know what you did.'

'But... the letter... I explained...' Jack was clearly lost now, and Lisa found it to be quite amusing. Get a grip, Lisa.

Suddenly, Jack's face turned hard. 'Mom. I told her, you were always smarter, why can't she...' and the rest were lost as he muttered. Lisa looked on with cold expectancy.

However, on the inside, she was glowing at being called 'the smartest' by Jack... no, she had to stay angry at him... but he...

Jack interrupted her thoughts. Again, he began with 'So...'