Hi everybody. It has been a long few years. I'm sorry I stepped away from this story. I have come back though after a stressful few life events and am ready to complete it! Let m know what you think of this chapter please :)
Chapter 16
The memories blurred quickly together until they stopped suddenly. I was now sixtern, looking longinly into the pond that Jack and I had made our home. The autumn leaves were beginning to fall off the trees in a beautiful array of oranges and reds. I knelt down onto my knees and slowly set the fallen leaves on top of the water. What was he going to say? I was turning seventeen soon and he was already eighteen. I'd known the truth for a while, but how should I express it to him. What if he doesn't understand, or worse...what if he doesn't feel the same.
I smiled as I remembered the awkward conversation I'd had in the kitchen with Jack's mother. We were preparing dinner for the evening when she abruptly sat me down at the table. Pippa was out playing waiting for Jack and Mr. Overland to return, meaning the house was quiet for a change.
"Sara," she said as she lightly clasped my hand on the table, "I know you've had...certain feelings. And I want you to know that we all approve."
"What do you mean?"
"You and Jack. You love him." My eyes widened. How did she know?
"Uh...I-"
"It's very obvious dear. I just want you to know that he may feel the same way. Now I may be an old woman now," she started pushing her graying hair behind her ear, "but I suggest coming to terms with it sooner rather than later. Tell him." And with that she continued to make dinner while I sat flustered at the table.
I had asked Jack earlier today to meet me here before sunset. The sun was slowly beginning to dip down through the trees, making me worry. Had he forgotten?
"BOO!" I screamed as my fist collided with the fleshy object behind me, which happened to be Jack's face.
"OW!" Jack yelled cluthing the left side of his face.
"Shit! Jack I'm so sorry! Why did you scare me?!" I quickly stood and cupped his face in my hands. He chuckled.
"It was so fun as a kid. I couldn't resist doing it again. I'm okay."
"Good." We both knew he was going to have a bruise. He didn't need to say anything, he just looked at me and waited to hear why I called him here.
"Jack...there is something I need to tell you," and before he could say anything I began to ramble nervously, "I've felt this was for a while and I know you won't understand but i need to tell you the truth-"
"Sara slow do-"
"I love you." Those words hung in the air as he stared down at me in shock. Tears filled my eyes as I continued, "And I know you don't feel the same, but I just had to tell you and face my feelings. I'm sorry."
We locked eyes for a long time, then he surprised me by grabbing my face and crashing his lips into mine. He was kissing me. Jackson Overland was kissing me. We kissed until I pulled away, out of breath.
"What was that?" I asked as he brought his arms down to my waist.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting to here those words?" He smirked and my heart melted. He bent down to kiss me again as the sun set around us and the memory began to fade away.
A few flashes were seen of us laughing with our parents, Pippin hugging me tight, excited that we "finally did it," and Jack and I holding hands in town. A few weeks had past as the memory settled to show us at the small lake once again.
It was an extremely hot autumn day, and my head was on Jack's chest as we played sprawled out on the ground.
"I have an idea," I said looking up at his sweat glazed forehead.
"What?" I smirked as I stood up, beckoning for him to join me. I then began to take off my shirt.
"What are you doing?" Jack stated in awe as I undressed to almost nothing. He sheepishly tried not to stare at my bare chest.
"What? We did it all the time as kids." I then jumped into the cool, refreshing water. I came up and moved my darkened, wet hair out of my face. I winked at him as he stared at me with wide eyes. But then he smirked.
"You're being bold today." I flushed red as he stripped down to just his underwear. He returned a wink toward my direction as he took a running start into the water. With a yell, he entered with a large splash.
We laughed as he came up and splashed me lightly in the face. We played as we did when we were kids, until he snuck up underneath me and grabbed my legs. He hoisted me up to wrap my legs around his hips.
"I guess you win." I smiled as he leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"I always do." We looked at each other, and we knew the connection we had. We truly loved each other. We leaned towards each other, our lips just grazing when it happened.
"Well look who it is." I squealed as Jack quickly dropped me and turned to cover me from Ben's wondering eyes. I quickly tried to cover my chest and sank down into the water.
"You creep! What are you doing here." Jack growled as he stared Ben down. I couldn't help but agree with Jack's anger as I felt my chest also begin to tighten in frustration.
"Coming to see a friend. I see she's busy." He said looking past Jack and at me. He walked closer to the edge of the water as he gazed at my body. The water was clearer than I would have liked.
"This is our place." Jack said shifting his body in front of me once more.
"It doesn't have your name on it."
"And we arent friends." I stated letting my voice be heard in the middle of this uncomfortable situation.
"I heard you guys are getting married."
"Glad to know your ears work. So that means you can hear me as I say to leave now." Jack said beginning to meet Ben near the bank.
"Sara. You must know this is a mistake." I slowly followed behind Jack wanting nothing more than to put my clothes on once more.
"Don't speak to her." Jack said fully out of the water. He was about half an inch taller than Ben, but he wasn't able to intimidate. I shuffled toward my clothes, keeping my chest covered as I go, slightly admiring Jack's body as I went. His lean frame was all muscle, and it was hard to not take notice as I tiptoed to the tree where we had left my clothes. I gasped when I saw they weren't there.
"Need these?" Ben asked pointing to my clothes near where he was standing. I flushed and Jack's fists clenched even harder.
"You need to leave." Jack muttered in a voice so low that I barely heard.
"I will. Once I give the lady her clothes back." He then quickly brushed past Jack and came just a foot a way from me. Jack started to come towards us with a glare in his eye, but I nodded my head. I didn't want a scene or anyone to get hurt.
"Set them down." I said trying to not show my obvious discomfort.
"No. Take them." I frowned at him. He was a creep. I quickly went to grab the bundle of cloth in his hand before he saw too much. Before I reached out however, his other hand grasped my left wrist and yanked me toward his chest.
Before I could blink he was thrown away from me by Jack. I quickly covered myself with the clothes that had fallen from Ben's hand. I looked up and saw Jack punching Ben as he laid on his back, trying to catch his breath. He hit again, and again, and again.
"Jack stop!" I screamed feeling tears roll down my cheeks. Jack stopped, his fist still hovering in the air. He turned to look at me, and his gaze softened. Ben wasn't worth it. Jack got up and walked towards me and embraced me. His arms engulfed me as I saw Ben's bloodly face on the ground. Ben slowly sat up and stared at Jack.
"Stay away from her." Jack said as I finished putting on my clothes. He then grabbed his and drug me back towards home as fast as he could. I dared not look back.
The memory shifted as we all sat at the dinner table. The first snow had fallen and Jack was eager to go ice skating. We were going to get married in the spring, so I was more eager for the snow to melt than anything.
"Sara?' Pippin looked up at me with big eyes.
"Yes?" I smirked down at her. Her nine-year old frame was still slight, and she still had her large doe eyes.
"Jack said he was going to take me ice skating tomorrow, but at your guy's secret place. Can I go? I've always wanted to go there!" Everyone smirked at me as I looked at her with fake seriousness.
"Hmmm," Pippin nervously began to play with her hands that were in her lap, "Of course." She smiled so wide that all her teeth were showing and hugged me tighter than ever before. A chorus of thank yous followed along with it. I laughed as Jack mouthed a thank you to me as well.
As dinner was finished, Jack approached me and kissed me on the cheek.
"Thank you. You just made her day." I smiled back and hugged him.
"Anything for my little sister."
The memories faded in and out quickly. I felt sadness and anger. I saw something move toward me in the snow. I screamed as my head began to scream in pain. So much pain. Then nothing.
