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A Piece Of His Past

"Zell, what the hell where you thinking?!" Jack yelled as he drove her home. "I don't understand it. You almost got run over!" his hands where clenched tightly against the wheel, his eyes narrowed.

"I said I'm sorry, okay?" She said nervously, reaching to place a hand on Jack's shoulder. He shrugged it off. "Yeah, well "sorry" doesn't cover it. What if you hadn't stopped running, and that truck hit you?!" his voice cracked, which made Zell turn her head.

"I…" he winced. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself, Rapunzel. I'm the older one. The responsible one." He spoke the word like it tasted foul on his lips, his eyes beginning to water.

"Jack, look at me. I'm fine, see?" she leaned forward in her seat, her eyes searching his face. Jack glanced quickly in her direction, then his eyes widened as he looked again.

"Damn it, Punzie! Put on a seatbelt or so help me I will pull over and buckle you in myself." He huffed loudly, slowing the car down. Zell frantically clicked the buckle in place, her hands shaking.

"Sorry." She murmured.

Jack sighed heavily, and then blinked back his tears. He didn't like showing his vulnerable side. He'd been made fun of for most of his life, for his lanky-ness or his extremely white hair (which he insisted was natural). He wasn't ready to show this side of him to Zell, fearing that she would mock him too.

"Just, please be careful. This isn't the south, where you're from. This is the city." He spoke as calmly as he could, his breathing becoming more and more even.

Zell nodded slowly, before turning to face him again. "I...I'll try."

Jack pulled into the neighborhood, the afternoon sun shining brightly. "That's not good enough, Punz. You need to promise me." He parked Mr. Frost's car in the driveway, the brakes keeping it from rolling down again.

He turned to face Zell, and their eyes met. Her bright green eyes sparkled in the light, taking his breath away. She was beautiful, sure, but that wasn't why he loved spending time with her. Why he couldn't seem to stay away. It was more than just her looks, it was her heart, also.

"Why? Why do I have to promise you?" she asked, the question shocking him. In the deepest corners of his mind, an old memory began to form.

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"Why? Why do I have to promise you?" Emma asked him, her small hands hidden inside her wool mittens. "I'm a big girl, Jack. I don't have to promise anything!"

Jack laughed heartily, his blue eyes twinkling. "Because, I'm your big brother!" he leaned down, tapping her nose with one of his fingers.

She giggled. "You're not very big, Jack." Emma folded her arms tightly, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown.

"Well," Jack replied hastily. "I'm bigger than you, so ha!" he quickly snatched her knit cap from her head, her soft brown hair blowing free. She jumped high in the air, trying to steal her hat back. Jack laughed as he held it just out of her reach.

"I'm not giving this back until you promise!" he smirked widely at her, and she ran at him. Her head only came to his waist, but that didn't stop her from clinging tightly to him.

"I promise, Jack. I promise."

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"Just, promise me. Please." He sighed and climbed out of the car instantly, walking around to her side. He opened the door for her, waiting for her response. A good five seconds past before she finally answered.

"I promise, Jack. I promise."

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