My Better Half

Chapter 6- Subtext

Jack Third Person POV

The following morning, Jack awoke not to his alarm like he normally would, but to Josh whining at him for some help. So much for sleeping in.

Jack and Josh didn't have school on Thursdays, so Jack was feeling pretty robbed of some well-deserved sleep. He willed himself out of bed and trudged over to Josh and immediately winced.

Jack, quickly covering his nose: "Dude. You absolutely reek."

Josh, dazed: "What- what year is it?"

Jack, sighing: "Jesus, just go take a shower, I'll get some food ready."

Josh, scrambling off the sofa: "Ugh, fine, but stop yelling, my head hurts."

Jack: "Christ man, you need to learn to take it easy while drinking. I'm basically whispering"

Josh slinked off to the bathroom and Jack headed to the kitchen, ready to make a hearty, greasy breakfast which had cured many a hangover, especially Josh's. A little espresso couldn't hurt either.

As he flipped the pancakes, he wondered what he and Josh could do the rest of the day. Jack knew that Josh's head wouldn't appreciate him practising the drums, and Josh probably wouldn't be able to do much in his state. Maybe they could just watch a film and have a lazy morning. Still, he would feel bad being so unproductive all day, so maybe they could go out for lunch and he could practice his music in the afternoon before work.

Just as he was plating up breakfast, Josh came up to the table and slumped down in the chair, wearing Jack's old clothes he kept stored specifically for his hungover mates. Jack slid over a plate and a mug.

Jack: "Here. Eat."

Josh, with his mouth full: "mmmm... God, this is delicious! You ever consider just giving up school and being a housewife?"

Jack, rolling his eyes: "haha, hilarious."

Josh, shovelling food into his mouth: "Nah man, I'd 100% marry you for these pancakes."

Jack, in a sweet voice: "Awww, you're forgetting something about me. I have standards."

Josh, laughing: "Ach, piss off, man."

They ate the rest of their breakfast, laughing about the night before. Josh seemed more and more embarrassed, so of course, Jack kept going.

Jack, prodding Josh with his elbow: "So, when's the wedding? Can I be the best man?"

Josh: "Oh God, I can't believe I was about to say that. But you know what...?"

Jack: "What?"

Josh, rubbing the back of his neck: "I might not love her yet, but I do really like her actually. I know you wouldn't get it, you're such a grumpy git."

Jack: "No, I'm happy for you, really, I am. I never see you like this. It's just her friend..."

Josh, without missing a beat: "Oh shut up, you obviously have a crush."

Jack: "Not this again."

Josh, smirking: "But you do though. It's literally just a fact. I could see it written all over your face even when I was drunk out of my mind."

Jack opted to ignore him, and he realised he hadn't checked his phone all morning. Huh, he had a text from Maria. He opened it, and almost spat out the sip of coffee he just took.

"Love"?? Jesus, and he thought Rachel and Josh were moving fast. Was it a joke? Was she just being casual? But she was so formal all the time with him, that couldn't be right. It must be some sort of mistake. Well, the text said she was safe, at least there's that. He tried to ignore the warm, tight feeling in his chest. He was just relieved she was safe like any decent person would be. That's all. Right. Right....?

He didn't have time for this, Josh had already picked out a film and was calling him over to watch it. And they'd have to plan where to go for lunch. Plopping down on the sofa, Jack decided to drop a humorous text to show that if it was a joke, that's how he took it.

Jack's text back: Oh ur safe, that's good. "love"? woowww, tell me how u really feel, huh, Maria? ;)

Maria Third Person POV

Beep beep beep....beep beep bee- CRASH

"F** THIS SHITTY ALARM, F**ING SON OF A-"

The morning at Maria's cosy little apartment started with a lot of cussing in place of the usual six beeps of the alarm clock that Maria was used to waking up to. Maria sprung up from the sofa at the sound of the loud crash and yelling from her room and rushed inside to find Rachel rubbing her eyes, irritated and still cursing at the alarm clock.

Maria, worriedly and helping her friend get up from the floor: "Wh- what happened?!? Why are you on the floor?? Are you okay?"

Rachel, all moody and grumpy: "That.....that stupid alarm clock.....it scared the shit outta me, and I fell out of the bed cause of it."

Maria, huffing: "Well, excuse me, your highness, I should have known waking up in the morning is not your thing."

Maria spoke with a chuckle, which seemed to calm Rachel down a bit, she smiled and played along saying

"Well, your queen is thirsty and wants some water. Also, the honey cheerios that you have in the back of your cupboard for breakfast!"

Maria, raising one of her eyebrows and laughing: "Well, well, looks like nothing gets past her majesty, huh? Well, does she remember her getting all touchy-feely with a guy she only met once at the club last night?"

Maria teased her friend, as she got up and threw a pair of trousers and a crop top from her wardrobe to Rachel. Rachel flushed at Maria's comment, stomped out of the bedroom, and went to the bathroom without any response to freshen up and change.

Maria giggled to herself, as she went out of the room to the kitchen. But before she could go there, Mr Ginger got to her, rubbing and wrapping himself around Maria's legs.

Maria, picking up the cat: "Aww, is my kitty hungry? Let's get you your breakfast, okay?"

As Maria went to get Mr Ginger's food, she found her phone lying there too, still dead. After getting Ginger his breakfast and preparing two bowls of cereal for her and Rachel, she put her phone on charge.

After a while of chatting about last night and laughing about it while eating breakfast together, Maria spoke: "I'm not in the mood to go to university today, let's skive off, there aren't any important classes today anyway. Besides, the state you're in, I bet all the lectures will go over your head even if we do go."

Rachel, pouting: "Heyyy!! Don't say that... But yeah, I agree with the idea of ditching, I need some more sleep too. Wake me up at 12 when it's actually morning for me, okay, love?" she said with a yawn.

Maria responded with a quick scoff and a nod. As Maria finished cleaning up the dishes she remembered about the text. She went up to her phone, which had finished charging. But as she opened her texts, blood started rushing to her cheeks, her ears burned up, and she could feel herself internally screaming. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. But it didn't help. At all.

In her mind: Okay......This was all my fault......but HOW CAN I BE SUCH AN IDIOT?!?! And "love"? Are you kidding me? He noticed that?!?! Gosh......I wish I could just curl up and die.....why didn't Sal tell me!??! What should I do, what should I do??!?

As Maria was panicking, her hand accidentally slipped, and she blocked Jack's number instead of saving it. She could unblock him, but his phone would still show that she had blocked him first and then unblocked him... No... Maria couldn't do that, it would be rubbing salt on the wound, and she was too embarrassed to respond right now anyway. Damn... she knew it was a misunderstanding on both sides, but she was still a bit mad at Jack, as he teased her for it. She would just keep his number blocked for now and figure the rest out later.