Chapter 3
Jack had been having a good day. He hadn't heard from Gabe today, but he was sure that was because of the vigorous touring rehearsals.
" Come on stupid, press the button!" Fiona exclaimed, looking at Jack. Jack broke out of his trance, looking at his friends. Carey sighed, grinning as he pressed the 'L' button on the elevator, and the doors closed.
" So what should we do today? Swim? Go to the beach? The mall?" Kat asked her friends.
" DEFINITELY NOT THE MALL." Jack and Carey exclaimed, and the two girls laughed.
" Aww you know you love the mall Jack." Fiona teased.
" Haha, no."
" You love picking out cute little sweater sets with Gabe... what does she call you? Her little Jacky Pooh??" Fiona teased, walking off the elevator. Jack blushed in protest, then laughed with the rest of his friends. He stopped laughing however, when he heard his sister shout: " ANNIE!! What are you doing here? Where's everyone else?"
" Hey guys." Annie smiled weakly. " I um... I have to talk to Jack for a minute." She said quietly and Jack felt his heart drop.
" Ok, we'll see you guys outside." Fiona shrugged, giving Annie an encouraging pat on the back. " Go for it." She whispered. Annie sighed, shaking her head.
" Hi Jack…" Annie said quietly, and Jack's heart sank, hearing the girl sniffle. " I... I don't know how to say this..."
" Oh no."
" Jack I'm sorry…"
" What- What happened?"
" There was a fire… she was trapped… they couldn't get to her in time to save her…"
" She's…"
" Yeah… Jack I don't know how you knew, but… you were right."
" I don't know how I was right either… Oh god… She's… Oh my god…"
" Jack, I'm sorry…" Annie said quietly, biting her lip.
" I should've stayed… I should have made her come with me…"
" Jack, it's not your fault..."
" When's the funeral? Can we go?"
" Yeah... I already talked to Molly, and we sort of figured you'd want to be there... so well, I had my manager book us all tickets back... but we've got to go now. Molly's telling the others now, everything's packed."
" Thanks Annie." Jack said quietly, looking down. He felt a few tears fall down his cheeks, and Annie pulled him into a hug.
" It'll be ok Jack... everything will be ok." She whispered, leading the way to the tour bus. The two boarded the tour bus, and Ned began to drive. Fiona stood up, wiping the tears from her eyes and hugging her brother.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
" Jack? Baby? Are you ok?" Molly asked, knocking softly on her son's door. She walked into the room, seeing her son sitting, starring at a picture of Gabe.
" Mom…" Jack whispered, standing up and hugging his mother. Molly looked at her son, who was now sobbing on her shoulder. " She's dead..."
" Oh baby, I'm so sorry…" Molly whispered, hugging her son tightly. " I'm so, so, sorry…"
" They couldn't save her… I couldn't save her…"
" Baby, this isn't your fault." Molly said quietly, hugging him.
" Then whose is it?" Jack cried.
" We cant control these things baby. The important thing is that she had so many people who loved and cared for her… and that's all someone could ask for."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Two Weeks Later *-*-*-*-*-*
'Dear Journal,
Gabe died. Yep, she's dead. Gone, never coming back. And I cant believe it. The love of my life, just snatched away right before my eyes. She looked beautiful though, dressed in her prom dress. I almost died right there, seeing her in that dress... so many memories, I couldn't bare it. I just sat there, staring for most of the funeral. Fi and Kat wept, Clu flew in, helped Carey support the girls. Annie though... she's changed. I would have thought she would be right next to Kat and Fi, crying her eyes out, yet she sat there with me, comforting me, not crying once. I almost laughed in quite a few faces, because of the crap they were feeding me. 'She's in a better place.' Where? THIS is the better place! Why do people ALWAYS tell you that the deceased are in a better fucking place? If they're in such a great fricken place, then I guess we must be in Hell. But journal, you'll be proud to know I didn't bite anyone's head off- I let Annie do that. She told quite a few people to shut up and leave me alone, and I couldn't believe that. After that funeral, I couldn't bare my old lifestyle- the happy colors my room once held, the bright clothes, etc. I got a whole new wardrobe, new everything. I even got a new lifestyle- partying the whole night. Oh, yeah... gotta go... my rides here...
~Jack'
*-*-*-*
" Jack, honey where have you been?" Molly asked, looking at her eldest child. Jack barely acknowledged his mother, making his way up the stairs towards his room. " JACK." Molly shouted.
" WHAT?" Jack shouted back, turning to look at his mother. " What do you want from my life?"
" Jack, it's two in the morning. You're just getting home. You didn't call, you didn't tell me you were going out, I thought you were kidnapped or lying dead on the side of the road!!" Molly exclaimed, tears in her eyes. " Jack… what's wrong with you? You've never acted this way… why- what changed you?"
" Since when do I have to announce to the world where I'm going? In case you've forgotten, I'm eighteen mom."
" In case you've forgotten, you still live under my god damn roof!" Molly shouted. Jack rolled his eyes and continued his way to his room. " Did I say we were finished talking?"
" You call that talking? Wow lady… you need help."
" Jack Phillips. What has gotten into you? I'm your mother! You don't talk like that to me, or anyone else!" Molly shouted, taking the stairs two by two until she was close to her son.
" Kiss my-" Jack sneered, but was cut off by his mother's slap. Jack stood there for a few seconds, his eyes glistening with tears and his cheek burning, until he finally reached up to touch the tender cheek. " Bitch." He growled, running to his room. Molly stood there, tears falling down her face. She sunk to the ground, and began to cry.