Chapter Twenty Eight- The Truth

Standing in front of my bathroom mirror in nothing but a towel, I wiped the steam from the mirror. I stared at myself for quite a while before I finally realized I didn't have much time to finish getting ready.

I wondered if what I was doing was right. I was basically using one guy to make another guy jealous and I wasn't exactly sure why. But I did know how Shawn felt about this certain person, so, as selfish as it sounds, I was willing to use that to my own advantage.

I quickly got dressed, in a tight pair of dark jeans, a cherry red blouse that flowed nicely and I hurriedly dried and curled my hair. I applied a light amount of make up and once again was in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to decide whether I wanted to wear earrings or not.

The door bell rang and my heart did a small jump. I bit the side of my cheek and waited to hear my aunt call my name to tell me my date had arrived. I grabbed the bottle of perfume that sat by my tooth brush, that had barely been touched prior. It smelt like cotton candy. I drowned myself in the smell, took a deep breath and headed to the stairs when my aunts voice finally leaked up the stairs, telling me exactly what I already knew. I smiled warmly at him once I got to the top of the stairs and made eye contact with him.

He was wearing a dark pair of jeans also and a light brown t-shirt that hugged his torso well. He definitely looked a lot better than I thought he would. His hair was brushed out nicely and even his shoes seemed perfect. Hmm.

"Hey Jack," I said.

"Hey there,"

I almost felt like I was going to prom with the entrance I had just made. I made my way to the bottom and then slipped on my shoes and without another word, we were on our way.

Yeah, yeah, I know. What kind of person was I to bring my best friend's brother on a double date with him? As odd as that sounds. It wasn't quite like that though. I mean, it was, but it wasn't.

Right after school, I went straight to Chubbie's and sure enough, found him lingering around. I simply asked him to accompany me on a double date that involved Shawn because I felt bad about what had happened when I first met him and I wanted to try to make things right. Not the total truth, but there was truth in there! I did feel bad about what happened, but obviously, that wasn't the only reason I wanted Jack especially to come with me as my 'date'. I was just hoping Jack wouldn't mind. After all, I was a stranger, it's not like there was any trust broken or anything. Or would there be? I was so confused, I practically frowned the whole way there.

"So, Sarah," Jack said finally breaking the awkward silence as we walked. My head quickly snapped in his direction and I shot him a nervous smile.

"Hmm?" I replied.

"How long have you known my brother?"

"For a while," I smiled. "He's a pretty great guy."

Jack's eyebrows knitted together. "I wouldn't know unfortunately."

I turned to him and stopped walking, the urge to know drilling through me almost painfully. "Why is that exactly if you don't mind me asking? Why is Shawn so angry with you?"

Jack stopped walking as well an then rubbed the back of his neck, looking around uncomfortably. "It's complicated." When I said nothing in return, he sighed. "To make it a short story, we have the same Dad. My parents relationship didn't last very long at all due to my Dad's drinking problem. Mom left with me when we were small and we moved far away. Shawn has never gotten over the fact that I've lived a better life than what Dad could give him and has always thought I abandoned him."

I listened and tried to understand. Shawn was a very complex person, as well as an emotional one. If there was one thing about him I definitely had learned, it was that he didn't feel the way he did about certain things for no reason. "Did you?"

"No!" He almost shouted. Jack sighed again, his dark brown eyes swimming with hurt. "We were kids, Sarah. I didn't know any different. I didn't have a choice who my mother was or who she later married nor did I have a choice in where she moved me to. I wrote him letters every day. I just wasn't brave enough to send them because I knew he would just rip them up. What was I supposed to do? I was just a kid. A vulnerable, weak kid..."

It was silent between us for a moment. I could almost feel the hurt, regret and unsaid pain that emanated for him. I had to make this right. For once, my feelings were the last thing on mind and the last thing that mattered. They both deserved to have each other, no matter if there wasn't such wonderful feelings between both of them. I didn't even have Shawn's side of the story, but really, I didn't need it. I believed Jack. I believed that he cared about his brother and wanted nothing more than to have a proper relationship with him. Now the only task was getting Shawn to see that too.

I suddenly regretted using Jack of all people to try and make Shawn jealous, especially after finding out just how strained they really were from each other. How was I supposed to help make it right between them when what I was about to do could do nothing but make it ten times worse? Oh boy..

It didn't take us long to reach Chubbie's. And I knew without a doubt that both Jack and myself walking in together was going to go one of two ways.. I supposed it was time to find out.

It was then, or never.