Sharing Jack’s Bed: Part 2

I spent the next week at the Mercer house. They went out every night and most days to talk to people and try to find out what had happened to their mom. Sometimes Bobby would tell Jack to stay at the house, which Jack took as a blow to his manhood, but I knew that it was just Bobby’s way of showing that he cared and didn’t want him to get hurt or get into trouble.

One of those nights, Jack and I were alone in the house. I sat looking through the small collection of movies under the television while he paced, speaking – to me or to himself I’m still not sure. “This isn’t fair. She was my mom, too. Fuck, I should have just ignored Bobby and gone anyway. This is stupid; I’m going.” He grabbed his coat from the side of the sofa and started toward the door.

I was on my feet quickly, “Jack, wait. Please.” He paused in a way that told me he was still set on walking out the door, and that I didn’t have much time before he did. “I know you don’t want to be left behind, but every time you all go, I’m stuck here all alone with nothing to do but worry and wonder. Bobby said it himself, nothing big is happening tonight; they’re just going to talk to people.” It was barely working, easily decernable due to the fact that his body was still angled toward the door.

“Beside,” I decided on a change of tactic, “I know the real reason you want to go.” He gave me a quizzical look, showing he didn’t know what I meant. “You know that if you stay, I’m going to try to get you to watch this horror movie that you promised me years ago you would watch, and you’re too scared to do it.” As if to prove myself, I held up the DVD case of a scary movie which had come out just before he had taken off.

“I’m not scared of some movie.”

“Prove it.” My words held the air of a childhood dare. A double dog dare. Jack did not like horror movies. Regardless, he put his coat back down and rested himself on the couch. Satisfied at my success, I put the video in the player and took up a seat beside him, turning off the last light in the room as I did.

Within twenty minutes, Jack was clinging to a pillow in front of him, eyes glued to the screen. A few times, I had felt the sofa shift as he jumped. I tried to pretend that he hadn’t moved closer to me, but after the last dissonant chord and kill in the movie, it was unmistakable how much closer he was. The skin of his arm was touching mine.

“Shit!” His jump made me laugh. He turned and looked at me, obviously unhappy with me, though playfully. “Funny, huh?” I shook my head, still chuckling. “Oh, you’re real convincing. Get over here.” Without warning, his arms were around me, and he was pulling me closer until I was completely up against him. He began rubbing his knuckle against my head, giving me a noogie. “Is it funny now?”

I wasn’t about to give up without a fight. Being undeniably skinny, I was able to slide myself out from his arms and grab a pillow, striking him with it. “No weapons!” He snatched the pillow from my hands and started hitting me back, all the while I tried to stop his arms.

We were both laughing as I ducked and he swung. With a final lunge, I grabbed the pillow, but knocked us too far off balance. Together, we fell from the couch, me landing on top of him. “Oh, Jack, I’m sorry! Are you okay? You didn’t hit your head, did you?” I leaned closer to him, trying to get a better look, which proved near impossible in the darkness. The television still provided our only light source. He was laughing – a beautiful sound – before letting his body relax. His hands came up and rested on my lower back.

Our eyes were locked, our faces inches apart. “Kellie.” My chest was flat against his, enough that I could feel his heart beating. I couldn’t breathe, but wondered if he could feel how my heart raced. Throughout the week, eight years of pent up emotions, feelings and yearnings had been coming back.

This is Jack.

I tried thinking logically. He didn’t want me in that way. Physically, he was everything a girl could want, and deep down he was sweet and soft-hearted. I was plain and ordinary. Not to mention that he had to be way more experienced with girls than I was with guys. There was no way he wanted me. But there he was, holding me while I was just inches from him.