AN: Hello everybody, this is my new story and I hope you all enjoy. Reviews would be great. Not sure if this is going to stay a oneshot or continue with more chapters. Let me know what you think.
Obligatory Disclaimer: Aaron is mine, the rest are not.
Summary: Jack never made it home for Ma's funeral.
Anywho, on to the show.
Exposure, Chapter 1:
He could feel the music penetrating his pores and diffuse into a million particles, radiating throughout his entire being. It decimated his defenses as his body began to sway to the beat and his fingers pulled knowingly at the taunt fibers. Stepping confidently up to the microphone he parted his lips and allowed the swelling notes to purge from his throat and engulf the mic, face splitting into a grin as the crowd bellowed and cheered.
He lived for this feeling. The freedom, the bliss, the ability to just be. To be surrounded by people and to feel alone at the same time. To lose himself completely in the lyrics and to have every sense enhanced to the point of feeling nothing and everything and loving every minute of it. He would never get enough of being on stage, he was addicted, the lyrics were his drug of choice, the audience his high. He was completely and helplessly addicted.
Drinking in the energy pouring from the crowd he was unprepared for the sudden hand on his shoulder, startled he jumped, the sound cutting off quickly from the microphone. He could faintly hear the booing of the angered crowd as he turned towards the body next to him, it was Aaron, his roommate and best friend. The solemn look on Aaron's face and the way his eyes held fast chilled him to the bone.
"What's wrong?," he questioned, voice wavering.
"Jack, it's Evelyn."
He couldn't breathe, couldn't think through the sudden thickness in the air. His mind shifted to autopilot as Aaron led him quickly from the stage, the angered crowd a mere afterthought now as the haze in his mind grew, masking the confusion that had held it only moments ago. He was numb to the cold air that hit him as he was led to Aaron's car, numb to the gentle embrace and the whispered condolences before he slid into the seat, numb to the heat that wafted from the vents as they sped through the streets. He sat listlessly, attempting to decipher between Aaron's explanations and his own reeling assumptions, catching only bits and pieces of each.
"…Jerry called…grocery store…no leads, but…Evelyn wanted…Detective Green…Bobby tried…funeral tomorrow…reach Angel…red-eye tickets…couldn't find…make it…okay now…late…"
Jack squeezed his eyelids shut, the words not making any sense. He was getting a headache. Rubbing his temples he tried to dull the throbbing, tried to understand the words. Too many words. He wanted Evelyn. He wanted to go to sleep. He heard the familiar dinging, could feel the red lights penetrate the lids before he even opened his eyes. He felt the anger radiating from the drivers side as he watched the striped poles began to descend.
"I wanna go home," he moaned painfully as the words righted themselves.
The strength of the pull threw him forcefully back against the seat. Aaron's slew of curses were drowned by the tortuous scream, sickening crunch fade into black.
A/N: Please review and let me know if you'd like me to continue.