this is the start | gilinsky

Chapter Thirteen

    "What the fuck?" I grumble as I listen to my phone go off for the third time in less than two minutes. I haven't gotten any messages or calls since I first got to Omaha. I'm not used to my phone making noises. Sitting up in bed I throw my hand out of my sheets and feel around the floor for the source of the sound. When I find what I'm looking for I pick it up and stare at the screen. 

Jack Gilinsky - New Message (2)

Sammy Wilkinson - New Message

    I unlock my phone in anticipation and click on Jack's name first. 

Hey, are you alright? Should I come over? 10:04am

I'm guessing that you're still asleep. I'll talk to you later. 10:30am

   My heart is pounding ridiculously fast and I have to take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. It surprises me that Jack was worried and it sort of makes me feel good to know he cares. Pushing away my feelings for Jack, I click on Sammy's message.

Why the hell are you still sleeping? 10:50am

    Laughing to myself, I look at the time on my phone. I reads 11:31am. I stand up out of bed and click back to Jack's messages, wanting to reply.

Thanks for checking on me, I'm awake now...if you wanna come over?

    I warily press send and hope I didn't sound too desperate. Walking over to my closet, I push it open and start to pick out some clothes while I click back on Sam's messages. 

Because I was tired, leave me alone

    It only takes me a couple of seconds to pick out a t-shirt and shorts, the same amount of time it takes Sam to respond.

Can I come over?

    I scratch at my head wondering what I should do. Should I just let both him and Jack come? If both of them end up coming, I'm sure Johnson would tag along as well. The truth is, I just wanna spend some alone time with Jack. I feel like it'll help me figure out my feelings toward him. I need answers from myself that I can't get alone. 

Not right now, maybe later. I respond quickly before locking my phone.

    I make my way to the downstairs bathroom and get ready as fast as I can. When I'm out of the shower and fresh breathed, I check my phone to see if Jack has replied. He hasn't, but Sammy has. I sigh and throw on my clothes and run up back to my room. 

    I haven't seen Dad, so I assume that he's out walking Violet. Laying down on my bed I unlock my phone and click on Sammy's messages. It feels so foreign to be by myself; for the past two days I've been surrounded by activity. 

Define later.

I don't know...like 2ish?

When's Gilinsky going over?

Who said he was coming 

I already know he is...

Right nowish

Do you like him?

     "Shit." I breathe out. The question I don't even really know the answer to. Before I can think of a way to respond, there's a loud knock at the door. It feels like all the wind has been knocked out of me. Slowly, I make my way down the stairs and look through the peephole of the front door. It's Gilinsky. 

    "Open up, Mar." I hear him chuckle. I cringe at myself for being such a dummy and I swing open the door. 

    "Hey..." I greet him. He nods his head and gives me a smile before shutting the door behind him. "Is John home?" It feels surreal him calling Dad by his first name, but I act like it doesn't phase me.

    "No," I shake my head, "I think he's out walking Violet." 

    "I love that dog." Jack tells me. 

    "Me too, she's a riot." I agree. We stand at the door for a few more seconds in silence. I hate silence, even if it's not awkward I find a way to make it awkward. I need noise around me to focus on things and not freak myself out. "So uh, what's up?" 

    "Nothing really, I just wanted to know if you were alright, you left my house pretty fast," He says "You forgot this, I know you told Molly and Laura not to wash it, but they did anyway." He hands me my t-shirt and gives me a sheepish smile.

   "It's fine, thank you." I place the t-shirt on the bottom step and sit next to it. 

    "I know Leigh can be a pain, I'm sorry if she made you feel weird." Jack starts to rub the back of his neck. It seems like it's something he does when he's uncomfortable. I don't want to make Jack feel uncomfortable. 

    "Don't sweat it, she wasn't being a pain." I tell him. Although she sort of was, but not for the reason he thinks. Jack shrugs as he takes a seat next to me on the staircase. I clear my throat and try to act like his presence isn't affecting me. 

    "You're good friends with Mallory though, right?" He questions. I nod my head in response. "That's good..." I feel like this conversation isn't going anywhere. I'm such a boring person.

    "Sorry I'm weird." Is all I can think of saying, and I wish I didn't because how stupid does that even sound? Sorry I'm weird. Dammit, Marley, are you kidding me?

    "I like weird." Jack laughs beside me.

    My throat closes. Just then my phone goes off. I pull it from my pocket to see a text from Johnson. Well aren't I popular today.

Sam and I are on our way to your place.

    I furrow my eyebrows and hold in a sigh. I told Sam not to come until later. Then again, it's sort of a good thing they're coming now because I don't know how much longer I can handle being alone with Jack. If I'm going to figure out how I really feel about him, I'm going to need to be more focused then how I am right now. I need a wake up call.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Chapter fourteen is coming soon, if you have any advice or suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments. I really appreciate your feedback, don't forget to vote if you want to, much love -gilinskyshigh