Loyal Always

Chapter 20, Camp time Blues

(Peter's POV)

"Peter!"

I look up in surprise to find an out of breath Jack standing in the tent opening, his eyes puffy and red like he had been crying, his face desperate, like all he needs right now is to be heard.

Standing up, I walk up to him, placing my hand on his warm and still wet face, "What's wrong Jack?" I don't know what it was that I maybe said or did but I am absolutely confused and surprised when Jack falls into my chest, knocking us both to the ground where his fist ball up my shirt in his hands while tears trickle from his eyes. 

And I will never forget the pain on his face, or the fear in his eyes as he says tearfully, "you have to leave me!"

There is silence, none of us move, and neither of us speak, but now is exactly the time for words, so then why can't my mouth move to speak the words I want to say the most?

I open my mouth, but no words come out, 'why? Why couldn't I say anything?!' Jack's words kept reverberating in my mind on repeat, "You have to leave me!" Why would he say that? I couldn't, NO! I wouldn't leave him! NOT EVER!

"Please," he begs, "you can't stay just because I want you too. You can't make life decisions based on what I want!"

It dawned on me now that he was talking about the College scholarship I had received.

"Jackson." I finally say, my arms circling around him to pull him down on me, our foreheads touching, "I'm not leaving you. And that's not because that's what you want, but because that's what I want. Sure, I like Basketball, but to me it's just a hobby, something that I like to do, it's no where near as important to me as you are Jack." His tears fall freely on my face now, but I don't wipe them away, I want to feel his pain, because if I don't then I can't heal it, I can't take away that fear if I don't know where it comes from.

Jack is always so confident, he's always known who he is, now it's my turn.

My hand reaches up to run through his hair, gripping it lightly as I pull him closer to me, "I know what I want Jack, and it's always going to be you."

He moves his head to sob into my neck, "I thought...I thought...I thought I was going to lose you. I was so afraid and I didn't know what t...To do about it." He sobs harder now, "I...I di...Didn't know h...how to talk to you about it!"

"Shhh," I whisper gently in his ear, closing my eyes while I gracefully plant a kiss on his head, "it's okay Jack. I'm not going anywhere, you're not going to lose me, not today, not tomorrow, not ever."

"You can't promise that!" Sobs wrack his body and he lets out a strangled cough.

"Calm down now or you're going to make yourself sick. Maybe I can't promise that, but I can damn sure try my hardest to ensure that I am always with you." I pull his face up to kiss him sweetly on the lips, snotty tear stained mess and all. "I love you Jackson, don't ever forget that." I whisper quietly into his lips, "Don't ever let your fear lead you astray again. And don't you ever forget these next words that come from my lips. I will be Loyal to you Always! That, I can promise with absolute certainty."

He dries his eyes and blows his nose on his shirt before tackling me in a kiss that he deepens instantly, and I smile against his lips, opening my mouth when he bites my bottom lip.

(Jacklyn POV)

Done with standing in one spot, I let the breeze pull me forward, it seems like we all had a lot on our minds, we were all a little blue for the future to come, and we were all in turmoil over it. Perhaps this camping trip is just what we all need to get away from our thoughts and just be together.