Orphan (A Jack Gilinsky Fanfic)

13. Homecoming

KATHRYN'S POV

The lake looks peaceful as the families of geese lounge lazily in the warm, salty water, occasionally sticking their beaks into the liquid when they spot movement beneath the surface. The sky is a serene auburn tint; Mr. Howard is always punctual to bring me home safely before sundown. I tip-toe barefoot across the grass under the evening sky, clutching onto the straps of the five-inch cream heels I had forced myself into hours earlier. I'm not exactly sure why I feel like I'm sneaking back into my parents' old home after a wild night of reckless teenage shenanigans, but I hold my breath as I creep towards the guest house door anyways.

Merely a few paces away from the entrance into safety, the front door of the Gilinsky's palace swings open. My body betraying my better judgment and acting upon instinct, I shriek and jump in surprise as I turn towards the origin of the noise with wide eyes, though I know exactly who to expect. Meeting his eyes, I take in Jack frowning at me under his disheveled hair; he'd clearly been running his hand through it all day, and I catch myself thinking idly about how lovely his dark locks feel.

I blink at him impassively, emptying my head of the unwanted thoughts ignited from the sight of him. His brooding structure paces towards me, his eyebrows furrowed into a deep V while he does a full body inspection of me as if he was expecting to see a missing arm. I catch my breath as he stops his course in front of me, his eyes searching mine with concern. "You didn't call me to pick you up." He speaks softly, his delicate, raspy voice defying his otherwise assertive stance.

I pause, eyeing Jack carefully before crossing my arms across my chest, my obnoxious heels dangling from my wrists as I speak. "Mr. Howard bought me a taxi." I catch Jack's frown deepen as I turn away and continue my interrupted voyage to the guest house.

"Well...well you should've called, Kathryn." Jack says to my back, following me up the steps onto the beautiful white bridge. Ignoring his presence hovering behind me, I push the guest house's key into the lock and turn. "I was worried." He breathes.

Grasping onto the silver knob, I pause. My eyebrows furrow slightly at the disappointment and subtle relief laced within his words and it's unsettling. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't hesitate to snap at him or her with some condescending remark about individualism and independence -- but with Jack, I've lost all sense of diction. My hand motionless on the handle, I lick my lips and turn sideways to glance at him, soaking in the sincerity of his expression and feeling a sudden tinge of unwarranted guilt seep through me. Turning away from him, I blink hard and twist the handle, revealing the lonely, unlit guest house.

"It's what I usually do." I mumble, dropping my heels to the floor carelessly. I stumble up the stairs, picking at the bobby pins holding my hair up in its delicate fashion.

"What do you mean?" I hear Jack question me hesitantly, presumably contemplating whether it would be a good idea to follow me.

I roll my eyes as I hear him tiptoe after my retreating body, fully aware I'm facing away from him while I untangle and tossle my long locks. "Tonight wasn't my first dinner with Mr. Howard." I mumble, wishing I hadn't said anything as soon as the words leave my lips. Staring uncomfortably through the window into the lavender sky, I bite my lip as I catch Jack's reflection, his gaze to my back and his expression blank. He's resolutely silent as he leans against the doorframe of my room.

I gulp, inhaling a deep breath as I turn my head over my shoulder, my voice cracking and stuttering as I speak. "C-Come help with the zipper, please?" I say pathetically in a half-whisper, my eyes frantically searching his.

His eyes flick to my exposed shoulders and smooth torso squeezed into the cream dress he had chosen merely hours earlier. He licks his lips apprehensively, his gaze locking with mine briefly before he saunters over, his chest rising as he takes a deep breath.