Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Revenge, I Just Love It

A/N So it's been like 3 years since I updated which is terrible, I know. I really want to thank everyone who followed the story and posted comments each chapter. It really meant a lot to have that support. I'm not sure what happened, I got really busy and then I just completely stopped writing. Revenge is still my favourite show though, and recently I started rewatching it, which made me want to revisit this Revenge fanfic page. There are still so many good stories on here, and I'm glad to see that there are still some new ones people are writing. I'm not too sure if anyone is still interested in this story but I had fun getting back into writing, and I thought I might as well post it. I still have lots of ideas for this story so I am planning on continuing it. However, I cannot promise how consistent my updates will be.

Anyway, here's chapter 11.

Jack laid down tiredly on his bed, his mind a fluttering mess of thoughts as he tried to calm them by focusing on the sound of running water coming from the bathroom two doors down.

Amanda was taking a shower now. She hadn't said much of anything since stepping into the Stowaway. But when he had gotten up from their booth to make his bed for her, Amanda had insisted upon showering before sleeping; drunkenly muttering that she had to feel clean. So he had grabbed her a clean towel, a shirt, and a pair of his pyjama pants for her to change into. She'd been in there a long while now, Jack suddenly thought, sitting up on his bed in worry. Walking to the bathroom, he tentatively knocked on the door, and then knocked again much firmer. 'Amanda', he called out, "Are you alright in there?".

He waited silently to hear something back from her, but all he heard was the rushing sound of water. "Amanda?" he called again this time louder.

"Jack"

Hearing her voice, he let out a breath of relief as he faintly heard the words "I'm fine" above the sound of the running water slowing.

A short while later, his bedroom door creaked open as Amanda stepped into his room. Jack had slowly started to drift off but his eyes had snapped back open catching her silhouette in the doorframe. As he turned on his bedside lamp, the low light cast a contrary image of Amanda than he was used to seeing. He couldn't really explain it. She just looked so fragile standing there in his own clothes that hung loosely from her frame; beautiful in any light, but fragile in this one as her jaded brown eyes caught his, making him feel unnerved. Trying to ignore it, he climbed out of his bed and gestured for her to get in. He was going to crash on the couch tonight.

"Jack" her voice was but a whisper but it cut across the room instantly.

"Yes?", he replied tentatively, turning back around to look at her, with his hand still on the doorknob. Amanda sat up on the bed she had just climbed onto and shook her head slowly, her blonde hair which she'd put up in a messy bun falling down loosely around her shoulders. "I'm not….", breathing in deeply, seeming to struggle with the words, Amanda paused before murmuring, "I'm not really fine Jack".

Jack's chest tightened at her words, and, "I'm sorry" fluttered across his lips but never quite manifested to sound. It just didn't sound right. Instead, silence slowly filled the room in his indecisiveness of what to do or say. Hearing the sheets ruffle, as she slid back down into his covers, darkness soon enveloped the room from the bedside lamp which she had switched off.

Dropping his hand from the doorknob, Jack silently walked towards the bed and climbed into the covers close beside her. There was an inch between them maybe, but it felt like much less to Jack. He could feel her right beside him, hear her breathing, smell a scent that belonged to him against her skin. "Whatever you need Amanda, I'm right here. Always".

Amanda's eyes glistened in the dark at his words, and she swallowed down the heavy lump that had been building up in her throat as she shifted in the bed so she was facing him. She watched him in the dark, silently listening to the sound of his breathing. His presence a bigger comfort than he'd ever know. She didn't know how long she'd laid there for, but when his breathing finally began to level out and she was sure he was asleep, she gently shifted closer towards him, resting her head against his chest.

She could feel his heartbeat against hers, strong and fast, and steady, unlike everything else in her life. It was a weird sensation being this close to him, and yet she felt an almost deja vu -like feeling sweep over her, as though they'd been here before, right here. The familiarity was almost unsettling, it causing her heart to race as she slowly began to fall asleep.

It was Amanda who awoke in the morning first. The sun was peeking through the blinds, shining a soft light on his bedroom. It was calling to her. She always loved the early morning, when the sun had just risen, and the air outside was still a little nippy, and the world most importantly was still quiet. It gave her time to think, to feel, to take a deep breath and focus her thoughts.

She didn't know what to think. She was lying in bed next to Jack Porter. She had woken up against his chest. It had felt comfortable, and she had felt safe, but now she just felt strange. It's funny how last night shrouded in the darkness and overwhelmed by her emotions she hadn't felt anything but relief when he had initiated contact with her. Had anyone else tried to comfort her as he did, she would have adamantly protested, but somehow Jack could slip right through all her barriers. It was strange. This was close, this was really close for friends. Friends don't sleep in each other's beds she thought to herself as she stared at him still blissfully sleeping.

Slowly moving her body so she was sitting upright now, Amanda sighed in confusion, as Jack stirred in his sleep at the shifting of positions. A part of herself wanted to lie back down right next to him, feel his warmth and forget her troubles, pretend she felt as at peace as he looked right now. But that was wishful thinking. She did feel much better than last night, and she did owe much of that to Jack, but it was dangerous to think he was some magical being who could make her troubles disappear. They weren't kids anymore, he could make her happy, but he wasn't her happiness, she needed to find that on her own. He was just a friend...just a teenage boy she thought as she slipped out of the bed.

"Good Morning", Jack said tentatively as he walked down the stairs to see Amanda trying to make what looked like pancakes on the stove.

He had woken up in the morning feeling very well-rested. Amanda Clarke had been so close to him last night, and it had just felt right, it fit. He hadn't slipped in the bed with her last night with any intentions to try anything with her, and he hadn't. He had purely wanted to comfort her and at the time that was the best he knew how. He wasn't always the best with words, especially with Amanda, who always held so much in that he often didn't know what she needed to hear. But last night, the intimacy he felt with her could not be faked, they were best friends but it also felt like there could be more. He wasn't a little boy anymore, he wanted to step up and be there for her always, he wanted to make her smile, and kiss her, and love her. He had been struggling with his feelings for her since she came back to the Hamptons, he could never figure out if his love for her was as a best friend or if there was something more between them. Last night with her body resting against his, he had figured it out, he felt more between them. Still, despite how he felt, he wasn't sure how Amanda felt, and if she was even in the right state of mind to open up to him romantically. What was her mood, even this morning?

"Sleep well?" he asked politely.

Nodding her head, Amanda turned to face him, a faint blush on her cheeks as she looked him in his eyes and thought about them having shared a bed last night. "Thanks for being there for me Jack" she murmured with a faint smile, "it meant a lot".

Jack nodded his head in reply, and touched her arm, restraining himself from pulling her in for a hug, "Of course, I…."

"I made pancakes", Amanda blurted out, interrupting him, as she transferred the last pancake from the pan to the plate. She wasn't ready for any sentimental words from him at the moment, last night was as much touchy-feely as she could handle for a while. She knew what he was going to say anyway. That he would always be there for her, and she knew that already.

"Let's eat," she said with a smile, as she handed him the plate, and walked to the fridge to grab the maple syrup. "I hope they aren't too shitty," she said with a laugh, "I did try my best Jack".

"Amanda, will you tell me what happened last night now?" Jack asked hesitantly, as he put the tv on mute, and placed the remote between them on the couch. They had finished breakfast a while ago and had just been sitting on the couch flicking through channels on TV. They had settled on cartoons. As childish as it sounded at 16, it felt so nice, and he felt so at ease, sensing that she felt so at ease. He'd find himself stealing glances at her, and seeing glimpses of the little girl he had become friends with many years ago. He almost didn't want to mention last night and pull her emotions back down to a low place, but he knew if he didn't breach the topic, she never would, and talking felt necessary.

Amanda sighed quietly, she knew this was coming but still, she didn't want to talk about it. That would mean she would have to think about it, and she was trying to forget the memory of Tyler's hands grabbing greedily at her body. "I was just drunk Jack," she said defensively. "It happens".

"So why didn't Daniel take you home?... Why was he apologizing over the phone," Jack further questioned, "What aren't you telling me?".

Amanda shook her head, frustrated. She knew she owed Jack an explanation and yet it was hard to say, she felt so stupid, "I got too drunk" she finally exasperated, her eyes fixated on the tv to avoid looking at him. "I got drunk, and this guy on the football team approached me and started talking to me, and I don't even like the guy. I knew he was horrible. But I was drunk, and my head was pounding and I felt dizzy and he grabbed my hand to dance with me, and I let him. I didn't want to dance though so we ended up talking instead, I don't even remember what about but he was actually being decent, and I remember thinking maybe he wasn't so bad. But I was so stupid Jack…..he lead me upstairs to the bedroom, he said the music was too loud downstairs."

Jack felt a knot in his stomach, as he listened to her, he thought he knew where this was going and it made him feel sick. "What did he do?" he questioned hotly.

Amanda looked up at Jack and saw anger in his blue eyes, anger like she had seen in Daniel's. She hadn't even said it yet, and his eyes were still burning. She hated seeing his eyes like that. They were supposed to be calm and gentle like the ocean waves, not tumultuous like the ocean in a storm. "Daniel came," she murmured quietly, skipping the part where Tyler had touched her, "before anything serious happened. He stopped it".

Jack nodded his head slowly, feeling only a small wave of relief wash over him. He knew she was hiding something; he knew something had happened first, he just didn't know how bad. Was it pushing her boundaries if he asked? Was it insincere to push her to tell him every detail? Did he need to know?

"He touched you?" he questioned quietly, wincing as he said it.

Amanda nodded her head, "a little….I tried telling him no, and to push him off, but he was so much stronger….I", her voice cracked as she broke her gaze from him, "I felt helpless Jack, and I hate hate hate feeling like that. I'm so stupid, I put myself in that position to be taken advantage of".

"No you're not Amanda" Jack replied firmly, "it wasn't your fault, he's a fucking pig, he'll get what's coming to him, and if he doesn't, I'll…...tell me who he is, I'll…"

"Jack, you'll what?" Amanda said with an exasperated sigh, "that's not who you are, and I like that about you".

"I can be" Jack retorted strongly, "I can be the guy that defends you". Like Daniel, he couldn't help thinking. Daniel stopped it, he saved her and probably gave that guy what he deserved.

"I don't need protection Jack, I just need good friends like you".

"But," he murmured, as he took a deep breath, trying to find some courage.

Her brown eyes were looking into his blue ones so sincerely, and he felt a pang in his chest as he stared at her. "What if I don't want to be?"

Watching her face scrunch up in confusion, her eyebrows raised in apprehension, Jack grabbed Amanda's hands in his. "I….", his heart was pounding and he didn't know how to say it, how to tell her how he felt, how much she really meant to him. "You just mean more to me".

"Jack", his name fell out of her lips but Amanda didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to feel. She was never good at sorting out her true emotions. She hid so much, even she didn't always know what was real. There was no doubt that she loved him, but what kind of love she just didn't know.

"Can I kiss you?", he asked gently, trying to hide the urgency and vulnerability in his voice. He'd been thinking about this way too much. He'd dreamt about it the night before. He wanted her.

Amanda felt her breath hitch in her throat as she forced herself to hold his earnest gaze. It felt wrong to pierce her eyes away from his even if he was making her nervous. She hadn't been expecting this, she felt off-balance now, but somehow it didn't feel so bad.

Nodding her head ever so slightly, Amanda looked at him nervously as he inched closer towards her, closing the gap between them on the couch. Her eyes fluttered shut as he placed one gentle kiss on her lips first, as if priming her, before she parted her lips for him and felt his tongue slip in and his lips press more ardently against her own.

Trying to restrain his excitement Jack kissed her gently and slowly, he wanted to savour her, every part of her. Her lips were soft and her kisses sweet, like the maple syrup from the morning pancakes still lingered in her mouth. He wanted to get used to this but for now he couldn't get carried away, so deepening the kiss just once more before tentatively pulling his lips away from her, the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile as he gently lifted his hand up to stroke her cheek.

Amanda smiled shyly back at him, she'd never been kissed like that before. Never with so much care. The very few guys she had kissed in the past had all just shoved their tongues down her throat, and kissed her until she had to force a breath in between, knocking the wind out of her in a way that made her feel used and then numb. But even with kissing, Jack had made her feel safe. He….

Her thoughts being interrupted by loud knocking coming from the front door, she looked towards Jack expectantly, as if to say, are you going to get that?

Jack sighed frustratingly as he begrudgingly stood up from the couch and walked to the door. There had been such a tender moment after the kiss where they were both still so close physically, but far away in their private thoughts, neither knowing what to say but feeling content in the silence. He had liked that. He just liked being close to her.

"You look like shit", Jack practically grumbled, upon opening the door and seeing Daniel Grayson standing there. He was in a crisp polo shirt and jeans, with his shiny tesla parked behind him. The perfect poster boy for the other side of town where the 1 percenters resided. Still, he had a nasty fresh-looking bruise on his upper left cheek and cut on his lower lip, which gave away how rough last night must have been. He could only guess who gave it to him, and only hope that Daniel had dished it back to the guy ten times harder.

"I'm completely sober now," Daniel replied, purposely ignoring Jack's dig, "and I need to see Emily, make sure she's okay".

"She's fine," Jack replied defensively. Daniel was the last person he wanted to see right now. He always got in the way between him and Amanda and it got under his skin. "I took care of her. How could you take her to a random house party and not look out for her?"

Daniel shook his head furiously, affronted by the accusation. Jack always tried to get under his skin and make him seem like such a horrible person. "I know I fucked up. You don't need to tell me, you weren't fucking there Jack, you didn't see it. I messed up, but in that moment I was so mad, and I just couldn't let him get away with it."

Jack sighed deeply, as much as he didn't like Daniel, he couldn't blame him for wanting to beat the shit out of the guy, "does he at least look much worse than you" he challenged.

Daniel nodded his head, a smirk creeping onto his face, "I took care of him, he's in the hospital with a broken nose. He won't bother her again".

"Good", Jack said firmly, matching Daniel's smile for the briefest of seconds before turning his head to see Amanda walking up behind him towards the front door. He knew he should probably go back inside and give them space, but he only backed away a little as she greeted Daniel.

"How are you," Daniel questioned tentatively. Last time he had seen her was in that room against the wall with her top half unbuttoned and Tyler's hands on her. She looked fine now though. He'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him a little how comfortable she looked in Jack's clothes which hung baggily on her frame. But he was glad she looked well-rested and calm. He didn't know what he was expecting. In his head he had imagined the worst; her in tears and angry, and giving him the cold shoulder.

She gave him a faint smile, "I'm fine Daniel, you look worse" she muttered, her eyes landing on his bruise with concern she tried to mask.

Daniel shrugged, and shook his head, " I don't even feel it" he lied. "Anyway, I brought you a change of clothes", he murmured, shoving the plastic bag with her clothes into her hand, "I thought you might need them...and if you're ready to go back to yours, I can take you and maybe we can talk. I owe you an apology".

Amanda nodded her head, it probably was time to leave Jack's. Get back to real life, where sleep, pancakes for breakfast, and cartoons in the early afternoon were not the norm. Let alone kisses.

"You don't have to leave right away, if you're not ready, Amanda, stay as long as you want" Jack interrupted purposely. He wanted her to stay.

Amanda turned to look at Jack, and flashed him a soft smile, "Thanks' Jack, but I should probably be going. I'm just going to change first".

If anything now was a good time to leave. She had kissed her best friend and now she was left confused. How were they supposed to talk and hang out normally. This was new territory and her head was kind of spinning. It was times like these she wished she had a girl friend to talk to but all she had was Jack and Daniel.

"I'll wait in the car", Daniel replied, feeling relieved she wasn't brushing him off.

"I should have been there for you Emily, last night, when I found you in the room. I should have grabbed you and gotten you out of there. I realize that now. But at the time I was just so mad I couldn't think clearly", Daniel admitted, as he stared out towards the ocean. They were sitting on the wooden bench overlooking the sea behind Grayson Manor. The private beach which it seemed only she and him frequently used.

"I'm not mad at you", Emily replied simply. The truth was that she did wish Daniel had the hindsight to remove her from that situation instead of instinctively choosing to fight Tyler. But she wasn't used to anyone caring as much as he did. So she couldn't really be mad. His anger in that moment had felt so real, like it was a reflection of her own anger, which was something new to her, "You found me, and you defended me, and Tyler needed to be fucking hurt for what he did".

"Trust me, he was. He won't bother you again. I made that clear to him!" Daniel said steadily, turning his head, to look into her eyes. "He better not even look at you at school or there will be a problem".

"Fuck", Amanda groaned, the mention of school, making her stomach twist in discomfort. She wasn't usually one to get caught in school drama, or care about what others thought about her. But the cloud of security and obscurity behind Emily Thorne had been a welcome reprieve from the negativity and flashlight she was used to with her real name. She had gotten kind of used to it, and besides, the last thing she wanted was a whole school knowing she was nearly raped at the party. That was private, and something she was trying to forget. She didn't need their stares or pity. She refused to be seen as a victim. "Do they know? What's the rumour going around?"

"It doesn't matter," Daniel said dismissively, " it's stupid."

"Just, tell me!", Amanda demanded, "and don't sugarcoat it, I can take it".

Daniel sighed deeply in protest but finally muttered, "Okay, well, first of all, they think we have a secret thing".

Side-eying Amanda, to gauge her reaction to that admission, he watched her lips pull up into a smirk as if she found it funny, "What on top of my college boyfriend?" she joked.

Daniel just shook his head, as he tentatively added, "and they think you hooked up with Tyler at the party, and I caught you two and got mad, and beat the shit out of him".

"So basically, everyone thinks that I'm a slut, you're jealous, and Tyler's innocent and just got lucky with me", she summarized, feeling her blood begin boil. She could never be the innocent one. She always had to be guilty of something.

Daniel nodded his head slowly "Basically," he conceded. "But, It'll blow over within a week when something new…."

"I don't care", Amanda interrupted angrily, taking a deep breath to try and calm herself, "He gets away with it….they always get away with it!"

"They who?"

"I don't know", she muttered, thinking about all the people through her life who had used her and hurt her, "rotten fucking people".

"Report him Emily, I'll vouch for you. We'll get him expelled from Collins Prep at the least"

Amanda sighed irritably, Daniel was still so fucking naive. They were such different people. He grew up in a world, where he was constantly validated. She grew up in the real world, where the truth didn't matter if you didn't have power or privilege. "No one would believe me Daniel, I was at a party underage drinking. I was asking for it".

'Emily…"

'Anyway, I can't have people in my business; it's risky." Let alone private she thought to herself.

'I'm so sorry Emily", Daniel murmured sincerely, "Are you really okay? I wasn't there for you last night but I'm here for you now".

"I'm fine Daniel" she replied hotly, how many times was he going to ask her.

"I never should have left you alone at the party, I should have looked out for you".

"I didn't need a babysitter Daniel"

"I know, but still…" he protested.

"Still, what?" Amanda challenged, "You were fucking drunk too, what could you have done? I just should have been more careful, drunk less, avoided him the minute he started talking to me".

"It's not your fault, Emily! It's Tyler's fucking fault".

"I know! You think I don't know that," she shouted defensively. She knew she wasn't to blame, and yet she still hated herself for what happened; for how vulnerable she had been. She hated that those minutes Tyler was touching her; overpowering her will, she shut her eyes and gave up. If Daniel hadn't found her, she would have lost even more of herself...the last of her innocence and that terrified her. She had needed him, and that scared her too because she was so used to being on her own.

"Thank you though" she murmured so quietly under her breath that he almost didn't hear.

"Of course" Daniel replied steadily, placing his hand firmly on top of hers. He half expected her to slide her hand away from his, but Amanda allowed it this time. It didn't feel so bad to her; just a friendly touch, a gesture of reassurance. "I want to be there for you always... I wasn't last night, I put my anger above you. That was wrong. I just…", pausing, Daniel waited. What he needed to say was important and he wanted her full attention. He wanted her eyes on his.

Finally, after what felt to him like minutes of silence, Amanda, took the hint and turned her gaze towards him expectantly. He could almost see the question in her eyes before it formed on her lips, "Well what then?" she would say half piercingly.

"I just couldn't handle the thought of him trying to force himself on you. I don't want anybody touching you, Emily", Daniel said fiercely, holding her gaze firmly. He saw something in her dark brown eyes as the words left his lips. He just couldn't accurately pinpoint what it was; pain from the reminder of what happened, gratitude for his protectiveness, anger at his protectiveness, or surprise.

Feeling her breath catch in her throat at his admission, she probed him further, feeling heat rise to her cheeks as she asked. "Without my permission?"

Daniel shook his head, as he took a deep breath, "honestly, at all!"

He just wanted her to himself. Part of the rumour was right. There was something between them. There had to be or why else did he feel so strongly for her. Even if Emily and Tyler had been consensual, he still would have been enraged. Daniel had tried to ignore his feelings, explain them away, sweep them under the rug. But if last night had taught him anything, it was that Emily was his kryptonite. That he cared about her way more than was appropriate as friends, especially new friends.

Averting her eyes down towards the sand, Amanda swore internally, feeling an unfamiliar sense of panic rise up in her chest. "You're selfish", she finally said slowly, as she forced herself to look back into his eyes. She could see it, desire in them, and it scared her. His eyes were deep and brown like hers, and she couldn't help wondering if it was a reflection; like his anger had been last night. What if desire was what he so clearly saw in her eyes right now?

"I know", Daniel replied steadily, as his body began to inch closer and closer to hers. His lips were on hers before she could register. But naturally she felt her eyelids flutter shut and her mouth open to give him access as his lips pressed confidently against hers. She could feel his fervent desire, it lighting something deep in the pit of her stomach as she allowed herself to get lost in it. Deepening the kiss, Daniel raked his fingers through Amanda's thick blonde hair, marvelling how sweet and supple her lips were.

It was overwhelming, his lips on hers, his chest against hers. They hadn't even hugged before. What was this? All these feelings, she couldn't take it anymore. Parting her lips from his, Amanda hastily pushed Daniel away, before she stood up from the bench to put a little distance between him.

She saw confusion flash through his eyes, but before he could say anything, she quickly said, "Can you take me back now, Daniel?".

He nodded his head slowly, "Of course", "I…" . Daniel was internally kicking himself. He truly was selfish. How could he just kiss her and invade her boundaries like that? A guy had literally tried to force his lips on her last night, and he thought it would be okay for him to try.

"Let's not" she interrupted, sensing an apology or explanation about to float off his lips. She didn't have room right now to process it though. She didn't know whether she liked it, she didn't know whether to be mad. She didn't know when her tender lips would stop tingling, or why she was comparing his kisses to Jack's, "I'm tired".

"The bar is closed!" Jack shouted through the front door, hoping the loud knocking would stop. It didn't. Do people not read the signs, he thought irritatedly, as he grudgingly opened the door.

"Mr. Ross" Jack questioned with confusion, upon seeing the lanky blond on the doorstep holding a small wooden box. "The bars closed, my dad's away at the moment".

"I actually came to speak to you Jack, about your new friend working here."

"Amanda", Jack said cautiously.

"Yes Amanda Clarke," Nolan replied confidently, his blue eyes staring at Jack's intently to gauge his reaction, he had figured it was best to just come out and say it straight.

Jack stammered, caught off guard "umm…. She left the Hampton's years ago. I haven't seen her".

Nolan just shook his head, "You need to get better at lying Jack. I know she returned recently. I tried to speak to her but she wasn't receptive".

"What do you want from her?" Jack questioned defensively, sending an accusatory glare towards Nolan. "She's gone through a lot, I won't let you expose her and ruin this for her".

"I'm trying to help her," Nolan sighed. First, Amanda, now Jack, with all the dirty glares. It was starting to hurt. He had just been living his best life when she had popped up on his radar out of nowhere. He couldn't leave her freefalling in the hands of the Grayson's. He had made a promise to David, and duty was calling. "Do I look like a bad guy here? She's mixed in with the Grayson's and that's bad. She needs to know the truth".

The wheel's in Jack's head were spinning, what business did a billionaire have with Amanda Clarke? How did he know who she was? "The Grayson's? What Truth?" he questioned cautiously.

Nolan handed the infinity box to Jack, "The answers are all in here Jack, I tried giving it to Amanda, but she wouldn't take it. Inside are letters her father wrote to her from the prison. They tell the truth about what happened."

Jack looked at the box observing the beautifully carved double infinity symbol on the front. The box was lighter than he expected in his hands, but he could feel the weight of what the contents inside would bring to light. It made him feel apprehensive, this was personal, David's Clarke's unspoken last words to his daughter, "This feels private, like I shouldn't know about this until she tells me. She needs to see this. I can't open it", he replied hesitantly, trying to push back the deep curiosity taking root in his mind.

"I tried giving it to her, but I'm a stranger to her. She quickly became angry and refused to believe me. She's scared and I don't blame her. I won't pretend I know what Amanda's been through but I can imagine just how challenging it must have been for her. Since the day her father was accused, all she has heard was what a terrifying man her father was, and now out of nowhere some person she doesn't know is trying to flip the narrative. I don't know if this is right Jack, but I think the best way to get through to her is if someone she trusts tells her. You two are childhood friends, and clearly you care about her deeply. It's time she knew the truth. David Clarke was innocent!"

Jack could feel his heart beating fast as the words registered in his head. Amanda's father was innocent. He had always had a hard time believing Mr. Clarke was guilty. As kids, Mr. Clarke had been such a fun-loving and kind man who adored his daughter. The idea that he was behind such a heinous terrorist crime was always difficult to accept.

Still, Jack remembered how Amanda had reacted on the boat when he had tried to mention her father and his thoughts regarding his innocence. Her whole disposition had hardened with anger as she adamantly denied any belief that her father was good. She did need to learn the truth, it was too sad for her to believe anything else.

"Okay", Jack said firmly, opening the door wider, and motioning for Nolan to come in. "My brother's out at the moment, so you can come inside and we'll talk."

Nolan Ross smiled genuinely at Jack, as he stepped inside the Porter, "You might need a drink for this".

Jack shook his head in half disbelief and half amusement, "I'm 16!".

"Oh right", Nolan replied with a laugh, "I don't often deal with young people. You'll be good practice".

Jack shook his head again, as he placed the infinity box on the bar table, and they sat down on the stools beside it. How was this guy supposed to help Amanda? "So, tell me everything?".

A/N I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Two kisses in one day, Amanda definitely needs some girls to talk it out with. Things are heating up between Amanda and Jack, and Amanda and Daniel. Both boys are trying to step up. Who are you rooting for? And what will happen when Amanda finds out the truth?

Thanks so much for reading!