With You // J.G

Chapter 24

Gabrielle's POV

The next day we get in the car with our suitcases and everything. As we pass a mall within the first minutes of the ride, I come to the realization that I don't have a bathing suit. As if he read my mind, Jack asked if we could stop at the mall. Katherine and David stay in the car while Jack and I walk in.

"What a-are w-we doing h-here?" I ask as he pulls me into the mall, holding my hand.

"We're going on a shopping spree." Jack grins widely. I giggle a bit.

"I-I have en-nough," I laugh.

"Yeah yeah," Jack says annoyingly while walking into Hollister. He walks into the girls' side.

"Pick something out," he says while looking around the dark room, full of girl clothes. I try hard not to laugh. I guess I'll just get a bathing suit. I have everything else I need, I'm pretty sure. I wander over to the small selection of bathing suits and pick out a Strappy Halter swim top with matching bottoms. The pattern is white exotic flowers on a black background. I try looking for something that isn't a bikini because I don't want anyone seeing the scars that both my parents and I have made on my skin. I'll just wear a t-shirt over it.

Someone sneaks up behind me and wraps their arms around my stomach. I instantly blush and then turn to see Jack's face less than a centimeter away from mine. I peck his lips and then he asks if I'm done. I nod.

We stand in the line to pay and then Jack slides his card and then we're out of Hollister. I can't really stand the smell of that store. It also makes me feel claustrophobic.

"Have you had any black outs or head aches lately?" Jack asks, trying to make conversation. I totally forgot about those. I guess I haven't. I shake my head.

"That's so great!" Jack says before he hugs me. We begin to walk out of the mall, hand in hand.
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It's weird that I haven't had a black out or head ache. I usually can't even go a month without having at least 2. I guess being with Jack was a good decision.

When we arrive at the lakehouse, my jaw drops. The house isn't as big as the Gilinsky's house but it's a close second. When we walk in the door, everything seems to be wooden. It's beautiful, really. The window at the back of the house has a breathtaking view of the lake. Jack shows me to the room I'll be staying in. I like this room even more than the guest room at their house in Omaha. There's a view of the lake out of one of the windows. There's a big mirror on the wall with a queen-sized bed in the corner. There are so many tiny knick-knacks in the room. Like a tiny wooden owl on the bed-side table, a few candles and a mahogany brown clock. There's even a fireplace in the room. I think I'm going to like this.

"Do you wanna go in the lake?" Jack asks with one foot out the door.

"I h-have to get un-npacked."

"You can unpack after we go in the lake," Jack says while smirking. I agree and then tell him to let me change. I pull out the bathing suite I got a few hours ago and then slip it on. I slowly walk over to the mirror with my eyes closed. When I force my eyes open, I immediately regret it. For what I see in the mirror is not who I remember I was. Or at least who I remember I wanted to be.

In this moment, all the confidence and integrity I believed I had, flushed out of my body.

The person I wanted to be was this happy, care-free, clean girl. I wanted to be perfectly imperfect. I wanted to be able to accept my many flaws but focus on the good things. That girl that isn't popular but isn't the most hated person on the planet.

It's sad, because I've become the complete opposite. Scars covering almost every inch of my body, imperfectly miserable, most hated person. I'm just that irrelevant, unknown girl with abused parents and nothing. My hair falls in my face and I notice the knot that I'll never be able to get out. I'm that knot; all tangled, messy and it's never going to get better.

Once I stop staring at myself and my horrific body, I search my bag for a long t-shirt to cover my thighs. Jack already knows about my wrists so I shouldn't have to worry about them very much. Once again, I pull over the yellow t-shirt Jack gave me a few months ago. The shirt ends just above my knees. Perfect.

I walk out to the doc leading out to the lake. Jack is sitting--shirtless--on the edge. I try stepping on the doc quietly but it makes a creaking noice the second I touch it. Jack turns around look a bit alarmed but then relaxes when he realizes that it's me. Jack scrambles to his feet and then grabs my hand.

"Why are you wearing that? Didn't you buy a new bathing suit?" Jack asks. I nod but don't say a word. My face turns red and all I want to do is hide.

"Are you okay?" Jack asks while placing his hands on my cheeks. I try to nod and smile but it doesn't turn out very well.

"C'mon, you don't need this," Jack says while pinching the neck of the shirt and wiggling it. I take a small step back from him.

"Y-you don't get it-t. I d-do need it." How will he respond to all the scars on my body? What if Katherine and David come out and see?

"You're perfect, your scars are perfect, your body is perfect. Everything about you is perfect. How long will it take you to realize it?" Jack slightly yells. I take a deep breath and pull the shirt over my head. A slight breeze sends a shiver down my spine. Jack stares at my stomach and thighs. He's obviously seeing all of the scars.

"I'm gonna p-put this back o-on now." I say, lifting the shirt up over my head again. My motion is cancelled because Jack stops me.

"You're just as perfect," he says leaning down to me. We kiss for a few seconds before my hands make contact with his chest. He falls into the lake and I begin to die of laughter. His head bobs back up and then he laughs. Jack tries to act mad but he can't seem to hold back the laughter. He disappears under the water and then shows up right at my feet and then grabs my ankle. I try to wriggle free but he ends up making me lose all of my blance and I fall into the lake with a big splash.

"Jack!" I yell when I stand up.

"Whoops!" It's a good thing we're in a part of the lake where we can stand. I've never had the time to learn how to swim.

Just as I'm thanking God for shallow waters, Jack decides to swim out to a deep part of the lake. I shake my head and then back up a bit.

"Do you not know how to swim?" Jack asks from where he is. I slowly nod, instantly feeling embarassed.

"C'mere, I'll show you."

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~ Yayyyy they're at the lake house and some really really cute things are about to happened😂💕 Don't forget to check out bballgurl26 and all her fanfics! Theyre soooo amazing and obsessive literally😍 Please vote and comment if you want more! Ily all😘