Chapter Twenty: See You Again by Charlie Puth

A/N: I'm struggling with one element of this story: time. Since the story started in 2020, and I want time to pass, it'll technically be in the future. Maybe I'll just get rid of the year component of this, and just write the story as if it's all present day. Anyway, enjoy the story!

It was September of the following year. Jack and Rose had spent the entire summer together, and they were doing better than ever.

The three other girls in Rose and Helga's room had moved out, and now Helga and Rose had the room to themselves. This really meant that every night, Jack and Helga would switch rooms after Thomas and Molly checked on everyone. The couples would get to sleep together, just like they wanted.

Molly checked in, and then Jack snuck down the fire escape, into Rose's room. Rose smiled and ran over to him, jumping into his arms. "Hi," she whispered, kissing him softly.

"Hi," he whispered back, holding her in his arms. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, and Jack could feel her exhale against him.

She sat down on the bed, pulling Jack down next to her. "I have to talk to you about something," said Rose.

"Okay," said Jack.

"I got a letter from my dad's attorney today," Rose began. "It turns out, the apartment we were living in when we moved to New York… my dad bought that in my name, and I still own it."

"Really?" Jack asked.

Rose nodded. "I had absolutely no idea," she said. "But it's right near here, and it's beautiful."

"So what options do you have?" Jack asked.

"My dad made it so I can take it when I turn eighteen," said Rose. "Alternatively, I can sell it. But I can't do anything until I turn eighteen, or become a legal adult."

Jack nodded. "You want to keep it, don't you?"

Rose smiled and nodded. "I do," she whispered. "It's a beautiful apartment, and there's something to be said about not having to look for an apartment when we get out of here."

"That sounds great," said Jack. He lay down, and Rose lay down next to him, putting her head on his chest.

Jack wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head. "Can we play the future game?" Rose asked.

Jack smiled. "Sure," he said. "Well, we'll live in that apartment."

"And we'll get to spend every night together, just like we do now," said Rose.

"Yep," said Jack. "And we won't have to whisper every night."

"And I'll be able to cook you dinner," said Rose. "You know I used to cook all the time."

"Really?" Jack asked.

Rose nodded. "My dad used to work late, so I used to do cheer, do homework, and then make dinner. I'm very good at it."

Jack smiled. "I love you."

"I love you," Rose whispered back, and they kissed lovingly. "You know, you're going to turn eighteen before I do."

"I know," said Jack. "It's only a month, though."

"Yeah," said Rose, and they cuddled for a few minutes. "On a separate note, I'm going to have to go away for a while."

"What? Where?" Jack asked.

"Cheer competition," said Rose. "It's in Connecticut, and I'll be gone for about a week."

"I want to come," said Jack.

Rose took his hand. "I want you to come too, but no one on the team has any tickets," she said. "It's televised, so you'll still get to watch."

"But I'll miss you," Jack whispered.

Rose kissed him. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," she whispered. "Besides, you should see the uniforms."

"You have it?" Jack asked.

Rose nodded. "You wanna see it?"

"Obviously," said Jack, and Rose stood up.

"Close your eyes," she said.

Jack frowned. "I don't want to," he said quietly.

Rose picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "Whatever, it's nothing you haven't seen before." She took off her shirt and shorts and was standing in a bra and underwear.

"Here's my question," said Jack. "Girls wear bikinis, which is basically a bra and underwear, but they act like a bra and underwear is like… naked."

Rose shrugged. "I don't know. It just feels different." She put on the uniform. It was a black crop top, with a small, fringed skirt. "What do you think?"

"I think… never in my life did I think I'd be dating a hot cheerleader," said Jack.

Rose smiled. She changed back into her pajamas and lay down next to him. "Oh, come on. With your looks, girls must have been knocking down your door."

"Except I was an asshole before, remember?" Jack asked.

"You just didn't have me around to call you out on your crap," said Rose.

"What would I do without you?" Jack asked, looking at her lovingly.

"What would I do without you?" Rose asked.

•••

Jack walked Rose to the gym a few days later. "I'm going to miss you," said Rose, wrapping her arms around him.

"I'm going to miss you too," said Jack. "But we'll text, and FaceTime, and that part will suck, but cheer is going to be great."

"Yeah, it'll suck but it'll be great," said Rose with a smile.

Jack kissed her. "I love you," he whispered. "And I'll see you in seven days."

"Seven days," said Rose, and she kissed him again, lovingly and passionately.

"Hey, Rose!" Emily yelled, interrupting them. "Stop making out with your boyfriend and get on the bus."

Rose laughed. "Guess I better be going."

"Go, I love you," said Jack. He kissed her again, and she got on the bus. She waved at him through the window as the bus started driving away. As soon as they left, he texted her.

J: I miss you already.

R: I miss you too.

Jack walked back to the group home and sat on a bench outside. He just missed Rose so much. Finally, he saw a face he recognized. "Ivy?"

"Hey, Jack," said Ivy.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jack asked.

"I'm sorry about what I did in eighth grade," said Ivy. "It was a mistake. It was wrong."

"It's fine, Ivy," said Jack. "I'm with someone else now."

"I know," said Ivy. "But clearly Rose doesn't care about you." Jack wasn't entertaining the idea that Rose didn't care about him. He knew she did, and although he didn't know what Ivy was trying to do, he knew she was wrong.

She leaned in and kissed him. Jack pushed her off right away. "What the hell are you doing? I told you, I have a girlfriend."

Ivy sat down next to him. "I thought you might want to see this," she said as she sat down next to him, showing him something on her phone.

Jack didn't take her phone, but he glanced at the picture. It was Rose, and it looked like she was about to kiss another guy. "Either this is edited, or this is old. There's no way that's recent."

Ivy was taken aback. Jack had more trust in his girl than she and Cal had anticipated. Jack looked up at her with a mocking smile, since he knew she was lying.

•••

Rose had finally arrived at the hotel in Connecticut. She and Emily went into their room, and the first thing Rose did was call Jack. "Hey, babe," she said with a smile.

"Hey," said Jack. "Are you at the hotel?"

"Yeah, we arrived a few minutes ago," said Rose. "How are things back in NYC?"

"Dull without you," said Jack.

"I miss you," Rose said quietly. "I wish you were here with me."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," said Jack, reminding her that she had once told him that.

"Shut up," Rose laughed, and Jack laughed too.

"Oh, I miss you," said Jack.

"I miss you too," said Rose.

There was a knock at the door. "Girls, time for practice!"

"I have to go," said Rose. "I love you."

"Love you too," said Jack. "Bye."

They hung up, and Emily looked at Rose and laughed. "Just out of interest, how much time a day do you spend telling each other to hang up?"

"Ha ha," said Rose, as she gathered her things. Everyone could make their jokes. No one understood how Jack and Rose felt about each other.