Jack's P.O.V.

I walked out of headquarters, not really all too worried about not leaving with my

mother. That's how things were, I automatically knew she would be staying late

and after that little episode my brain and I just had in the cool off room with

Scarlet, I decided it was time for me to head home.

Walking down the almost dark street lights, and purposely ignoring my cell phone,

forced me to think. I'm not going to stress over Scarlet and what happened, she

hadn't noticed most of it. Nothing had changed to her, mostly because all of it was

in my head. Turning the corner and thinking this also made me notice that ever

since we got here my brain and the subject of girls had totally been hooked

together and off the wire.

You have to remember why you came here, I drilled myself silently as I walked up

the steps of my white porch and took out my keys to unlock the golden door knob

of my front door, and you didn't come here for girls. As soon as I recited this, the

forcedly locked away image of Kimberly flashed through my mind. I shook my

head, acting as if doing this would delete the mental picture. You came here for

one reason and one reason only. I began talking to myself again as I laid my keys

on the table and ascended the stairs, to find my father's killer.

I couldn't help but think that as soon as I found this guy that we crossed the

country for, that I would feel finally set free. Free from what? I have no idea. But I

know that I'll just finally feel free.

I walked into my room, although it didn't feel like it as yet, and tossed my phone

down on my bed. I looked around at the white walls, feeling everything was too

normal, telling myself that I'll have to 'Jack-proof' it soon enough just to make it

mine. While sitting on my bed, really starting to analyze the room and think about

what to do with it, I heard the door opening.

"Jack? Jack are you home?" At the first second I had the craziest notion that it was

Kim. But one, she doesn't know where I live; and two; I can recognize my

mother's voice anywhere.

"Yes mom! I'm just in my room."

"Come down here, will you? I got dinner." I sighed, really not wanting to move

from my current position, but to be fair; this was really the only time I got to spend

with my mom without having to be professional about it, the onetime where she's

really feels like a mom.

I got up and made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen, and when she saw

me she smiled and motioned for me to sit down at the table.

"So what's to eat?" I asked, now realizing how hungry I currently am. With all the

events of today, it would make a guy forget. My mother walked over to the table

and sat while she set out the food; it was Chinese takeout. Which, to be honest, is

my favorite. While she set out the food from the bag, I looked at her and really

noticed how tired she looked, even though her face didn't show it as much, I knew

my mother. I instantly felt bad, and stood up saying.

"Here mom. Let me do it." I expected her to resist, but she didn't and I was glad. I

always hated that her life was so hard. I figured we didn't need plates since no one

is for doing dishes. So I kept the food in the containers and put all the sauces I

knew she liked out in front of her besides her food.

"I was surprised that you let the building so early and even more so when you

didn't leave with Scarlet. Why the rush?" my mom asked as she dug into her food,

this question made me almost lose my appetite as I opened my food. Almost.

"Uh, I don't know. She was just washing up, and I was tired. So I told her I'd just

see her at school." I said before taking a mouthful. I hated lying to my mom. Was

that a lie? Don't think so.. I should've known how weird or strange it would've

looked if we didn't leave together. I almost wanted to smack myself. Through all

this mental war with myself, all my mom did was smile at me, almost daring to

laugh.

"What?" I asked her.

"Oh nothing." She chuckled and shook her head. Then said something under her

breath that sounded like "Just like your father…" A lot of feelings hit me at that

moment, a little too much actually, but the strongest one was proud. I was too busy

wondering around in my thoughts, before noticing she was talking again.

"Jack? Helloooo?" she called for me. I hadn't even noticed that she'd gotten up

from her chair.

"Huh? What? I mean, yes mom?" she smiled and shook her head again.

"I said hows school going? With it being new and all?" I stared at my food, not

quite sure how to answer this question. I was confused a bit, what did the question

mean? Does it mean that she wants to know if I made friends or just grades in

general?

"It's going good so far I guess, but I just started so what can I really say." I

summed it up and added a fake chuckle, pushing away my food when the image of

Kim came back to mind. I needed a distraction.

"Mom no." I said getting up and pushing her away from the sick. "No more work,

you need all the rest you can get." She laughed and looked a bit baffled.

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that to you, you know, being the adult and all, of

this house?" she laughed again and I coxed her up the stairs.

"Nope." I shook my head, "not tonight. You need rest. Now go, go on. I'll cleanup

for you then go to bed." She nodded, and then ruffled my head, looked me in the

eyes, and gave me a little hug. I'll admit, it felt weird, being that we didn't have the

"normal" mother and son reactions and precautions, and I can't remember the last

my mom has kissed me on the cheek on head or wherever mothers kiss their

children, but this was just fine because I couldn't really ask for much more from

her.

I hurried up and cleaned the kitchen, because I was in fact, tired too. And then

hurried up stairs to the bed I never knew I had loved so much until this moment. I

checked my phone for the first time tonight seeing that it had two messages; one

from Scar, which I happy to see, and one from an unknown number.

Scar: Hey Jack, your mom wanted to know why you had left so early; I wasn't

sure what to tell her lol. /:

I smiled at this text, she can be so adorable sometimes.

I replied with ' No problem, I worked it out with her. Thanks. '

The next thing I looked at was the unknown number and as soon as I read the

message, there was no room left for wondering.

'Hey, its Kim. Save my number. I wasn't quite sure if I should text you, on

account of what happened earlier today. Explanation maybe?' After reading this

text, that I obviously now knew was from Kimberly, I looked over at the time.

11:06.

I knew that Scarlet would still be up, but Kimberly? I don't know, I just met these

people. I'm good at profiling, but not that good. Yet. I decided to just reply

anyway.

'Its fine. I figured you needed an explanation. I'm sorry though.' I know in that

text I didn't explain anything to her, but I couldn't for obvious reasons. And I had

to remember what Scar had told me. I sighed and brushed distant hairs out of my

pillow.

I couldn't allow Kimberly to end up like another Ruth incident. I pretty much

swore to myself that I wouldn't get into another relationship after what had

happened. Still not forgiving myself up to this day, I reminded myself once again

why I came here. Reminded myself over and over, until I fell soundly asleep.