dedicated to: bcm111

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It's been days now since I last talk to Jack, or any of the boys to be exact..

Apparently the guys did so well in their Coachella performance that Michael Espinosa wanted them to stay for another week of the festival. Obviously this was good, great even! The guys got such a good feedback from the crowd that the don't want them to leave. They told us this was a first time ever thing to happen with the less noticed bands that perform. Of course, such success called for more celebration; much to which I wasn't so up for.

That my friend is another big reason why I still haven't seen any of them.

I've showed up to the events but never stayed for their after parties which is where I can actually have a decent conversation that didn't just say "good job out there".

So I skipped all that once I noticed it wasn't really much to my celebration or even ours.. It was the guys. Again, not that I have a problem with it, I'd just rather skip the whole "oh so you're friends with Jack Gilinsky? Tell us about him" story.

Yup, we still weren't talking.

It sucks, and it's been killing me so deeply inside. I'd say something to him, I've been meaning to for days now. There's just never a right time, he's busy.. Very busy.

Today makes two nights I don't seem them in a row.

Trust me, if there's anyone out of us that wants this trip to be over already it's me. Who knew Nebraska would be the place I'd want to run off too. Nothing ever happens there.. And well, everything happens here.

I've been laying in bed all day. Much to my surprise, the tiredness I was feeling before was all gone. Maybe I was thinking too much. The thinking hasn't stopped since I left Coachella and now it was interrupting my sleep. Well, I guess you can say I was never really that tired in the first place. I just needed some type of excuse to leave the festival that day, and I've been using that same excuse throughout the entire week. I needed to get away from Jack. I can tell I wasn't wanted in his presence and I tend not to feel myself anymore when I'm around people who feel that way about me.

All my life people have been telling me that I don't matter. The thing is I do. At least I want to believe I do. My parents have been busy their entire lives so they never even had time for me. My so called "friends" back home only liked me because of my parents money. And everyone else that even looked at me just thought of me of nothing less because I didn't want to follow in the steps of my genius father..

And now the fact that Jack is joining that list of people hurts me.

There was nothing for me to do about it anymore. All I've been doing these past five days is staying in my pajamas and chilling in the rooftop of the hotel we were staying in. Who knew fresh air would be just the right medicine you'd need after a stressful week? This trip has been nothing but bad to me.

So now here I stand.

1 a.m. and standing on top of the hotel rooftop which also happened to have a pool in it.

I was all alone. A balcony surrounded the circumference of the building, allowing you to over look the beautiful city lights from above. The pool lights were on, reflecting a pure blue color from the water. It was soothing, calming even.

A breeze hit my body, blowing my hair over my shoulder. My eyes closed. I had on a white t shirt and black tights, an outfit I found beyond comfortable to just hang around in. It was also warm, perfect for the now chilly weather coming upon me.

I had my elbows resting over the railing of the glass balcony. Like I said before, I couldn't sleep before so I took myself on the adventure to find something to do in the meantime. That's how I ended up here. Only the noise of the wind and vague sounds of the busy streets beneath me were heard.

Once again, I was at peace.

Well, sorta.

"I knew I'd find you here."

I quickly spun my head around the next second, alerted that the voice that was speaking wasn't a strange one.

I didn't say anything though I really wanted to. Instead I just I scoffed, turning to look back out in front of me.

I grew nervous as I looked back out into the city. My bottom lip was bitten as I heard him chuckle. Usually when he chuckles in these conversations it's not a good thing.

"Now you're not going to talk to me?" I could just imagine the pissed off and stern look on his face with my words.

I wasn't going to stand down for it though. He hurt me and should be aware that I'm not going to put up with that behavior.

"Why are you here?" I questioned, turning around to get a better look of him. My arm remaining over the railing behind me. "How did you even know where to find me?"

"I told you before.." He paused. "I will always find you."

The words left chills down my spine.

His tall figure stood on the other end of the pool, hands dug into the front pockets of his pants. Head sinking between both shoulders as his eyes glared up at me.

"You could've fooled Ash and the others that you were just feeling tired.." He paused, legs moving him a few steps closer to me. "But not me."

The night was getting colder. I hugged my cream colored cardigan closer to my body, thanking the heavens that I brought it up here with me.

"What do you want, Jack?" My head cocked to the side, recording his every move. "Aren't you suppose to be in Coachella?"

"I didn't finish with what I wanted to say the other night." His body stretched out to make himself seem taller than he already was.

"Oh, I think you did." I nodded my head.

"Don't put words in my mouth." Jack shook his head, eyebrows furrowing. He was calm, but still scary.

I had no other choice than to listen to him.

"I know what I said to you wasn't fair, okay." He reassured me.

"Oh really? Which part?" I tilted my head again. "The one where you called me off in front of your father that I didn't matter? Or the part where you had the nerve to bring up Ashton's situation to make me feel even worse about what I'm doing..? What we're doing!" My voice raised in anger. I was never this angry before, at least not with Jack. Over the most part I'm more than understanding with him. But he just keeps pulling straws with me and it's killing me!

"Can I try and talk some sense here?" His voice raised, hands being held out besides him.

"NO!" I exclaimed. I became unaware of my actions. Before I knew it I had already set my foot down and was now racing up towards him. I came just a couple of steps away from him but in the condition I was in, it was better this way and I wouldn't recommend him stepping closer either.

"You hurt me, Jack." I looked back at him sincerely.

The look on Jack's face was also sincere.

"I'm aware of that." He nodded. "And I'm trying to fix things here.."

"Yeah, you're going to fix it and then you're going to tell someone else that I don't matter again." I made the action obvious. It's all we've been doing. Almost like a broken record is what our so-called-relationship feels like. "It's always the same story with you."

"Zo.." He looked at me as if I was talking gibberish. "You do matter."

"Then why do you keep telling people that I don't?" I shrugged my shoulders, waiting for him to answer back any time now.

Jack cleared his throat. His head glanced down as he begun to speak again. It was just what he said wasn't the best cover up either.

"You know how I feel about this--"

"Adriana!" I exclaimed. "Yes, I KNOW!"

Jack seemed pretty surprised with my action. Well, so was I. But could I beat myself for it? It's all he talks about now.

"How could I forget?" I breathed out, this time feeling more relaxed with my emotions than before.

"You're making this harder than it already is." Jack looked down, trying to ease me from my state.

"What's so hard about it?" I shrugged my shoulders again. Softly releasing a laugh I looked back at him.

"Zo.." Jack continued.

"No, no." I shook my head. "Why is it so hard for you to understand that I'm not like her?"

I never really met the girl but I know the story well enough to know she sets a trigger in Jack to act like this. What she did to him is enough for me to know that I'm not like her because I'll never do what she did to those guys. If I know that, and Jack knows me, then why is it so hard to get that?

"It's not what it seems--"

"STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND JUST TALK TO ME!" I called out.

Realizing my actions, I calmed down again. I couldn't help it, when it has to do with something I care about a lot I tend to get like this.

"I miss you talking to me before this whole trip." I admitted softly. "And I mean really talking."

"Fine," Jack spoke up again. "You really want to know why I still don't quite understand that you're nothing like her?"

I waited patiently for him to answer, deciding me stepping up to the plate wasn't the brightest move I could do right now.

Jack rubbed a hand over his face, debating over the answer himself.

"It's because I KNOW you're better than her and it scares the Hell out of me!" He finally released.

My mouth was quick to shut again, having no comment for his remark as I thought I did before. Instead, I felt a little worried.

"Jack.."

"No." He interrupted me. "Now it's my turn to talk." He stated strictly.

"I've never had the love I feel when I'm with you and the guys. You're definetly nothing like Ad (pronounced Aide) and I know that. So excuse me for freaking out a little about experiencing something new I've never had."

I looked down. No words could be put into this situation to describe how badly I felt.

"You could've told me what was bothering you." I softly spoke looking back up at him.

"Trust me it's not that easy to talk to you." He shook his head. "At least not about this."

"Why?" I quickly asked.

"Because Zoey.."

Jack stopped himself before approaching his statement anymore. Eyes dropped down to my a spot just on my neck. The look that grew on his face the next second was anything but good.

"Where did you get that?" He asked pointing his finger to the object he seemed to grow really concerned about around my neck.

My eyes followed his trace, stopping to place my fingers over the object I even forgot was there.

"Oh, this.." I fiddled with the object between my fingers before looking back up at him. "I found it one day in your house."

"And you never thought about giving it back to me?" He arched an eyebrow.

"You should know first hand that I don't even have the intentions to do so." I clarified the situation to him. "I found it the day we found Nash's papers online. I'm sorry for being a little distracted at the moment."

I wasn't even nearly done with what I had to say before Jack stopped me and shook his head.

Not letting him start with what he had to say I rose my hands up and around my neck. "I'm sorry." I quickly undid the hood behind the necklace before pealing it off from around my chest. I gripped his hand and placed the object back into his possession. "Here's your necklace." I sasses back as I dropped it in his hand, quickly moving past his body and out towards the exit door which was right behind him.

I would've kept going. You could've bet my lucky stars I wasn't even going to turn back around, but I couldn't. He was once the guy I had feelings for. He still is, and I'm not going to let him go that easily.

"What are we doing?" I stopped in my tracks, swiftly spinning around to look back at Jack. He still remained looking at the necklace, as if it had some sentimental value and was glad it was back in his way.
"We keep fighting.." I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't like it."

Jack remained quiet. Fisting the necklace in his hand the neck moment before his head fell down.

"Jack." I moved closer to him, urging to get a better look of his face. I wasn't so far apart from him, three steps and I was already becoming overpowered by his intimidating height. My voice began to crack up. If I lose this boy over some silly thing like this, I guess I wouldn't really understand the way relationships work after all.

"I don't want to keep fighting with you." I shook my head. "You're suppose to be the person I go to when I have good news. Or when I'm feeling down or want to tell you one of my stupid jokes. You're my go to guy." I explained. "And lately, all we've been doing is just ignoring each other. As if what we have means nothing. Was nothing."

Jack looked up again. By the look in his eyes I figured he'd say something supporting what I had just said.. But I was wrong.

"We have nothing!" He explained. "In everyone else's eyes we're just Jack and Zoey. Not Jack and Zoey." He emphasized. "Knowing that just lets people like Matthew step in and do whatever they want right in front of me! I'm sick of it too, you know."

"What do you want me to about it?" I crossed my arms and looked up at him.

"Tell Ashton!" His eyes widened.

Here we go again. Just when I figured the subject won't come up again, it hits me right in the face. There is just no way around him. Telling Ash is his main priority now. He's even endangering what we have is making its way up to it.

"I don't know, Jack.." I shook my head. "I still think it's too soon."

"It's never too soon nor too late." He held my hands.

His action left me speechless. We've been ignoring each other for days and now he's holding my hands? I can tell by the look in Jack's eyes he didn't mean to do that, but the action was already done and he couldn't change that anymore.

"Please, Zo I'll be right there besides you." His tone came out as a begging one. The look in my face expressed just exactly what I was feeling.

"It's not that I'm scared for me.." I paused, eyes looking back up at him. "I'm scared for you."

"I can handle Ashton." Jack nodded his head. "I've been handling him for the past four years now just fine."

"Yes but now I'm in the picture and I'm his cousin." I tried explaining it to him in a better manner. "He's protective over me."

"And I get that." He nodded his head again. "I'm glad he cares for you. But really, Zo.. Tell me you don't want this as bad as I do?"

All I found physically possible at the moment was to look down. He's pretty good at reading expressions, mine especially since he knows exactly how I feel about this.

I felt his eyes on me the entire time. This made me even more nervous.

"We can do this." He nodded his head. "I'm ready." He paused again. "We're ready."

I looked back at his expression full of hope and opportunity. In every word of what he said I recalled just the guy he used to be around me.. You know, before he was all yelling at me for being around his Dad.

He was back.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I battered my lashes to look down. I took one big breath before speaking again.

"I missed you idiot." I chuckled.

Man, that felt good to get out of my chest.

Jack looked back at me with his winning smile. It fluttered my heart all over again.

"So is that a yes?" His eyes lit up.

I can't believe I'm saying this.. "Yes." I closed my eyes with a soft smile growing upon my face again.

The next moment they shot right back open as I felt two strong arms wrap around my body. My arms unwrapped from myself to hold on to Jack's shoulders in order to prevent me from falling into him. He started spinning us around, me still in his grip. I couldn't keep myself from laughing. Seeing him this happy out of no where was really a surprise, but a nice one too. It's so much better than him being angry at me. Honestly the worst feeling I've ever felt.. And I've had my own step brother say he doesn't like me to my face. Well, I can't really take that personally because we don't really know each other. Whereas Jack I've known for months now.

"AH!" He finally sighed, releasing me to stand back down in the ground in front of him. I felt his eyes on me the entire time but I couldn't look back at him because I was still quietly laughing in the background.

No words were spoken, just actions. Judging by the next move, they were just as surprising as his new mood.

His hands cupped my cheeks, forcing me to look back up at him. I had no time to look back up at him before the next second I had noticed, his lips were pressed to mine.

He caught me by surprise. I gasped a little in the kiss, eyes growing wide. Evidently I gave in, finding peace in the touch of his lips against mine. It was peaceful.

I've said this before and I'll say it again.. It feels good to be back to us."

A thought crossed my mind in the middle of the multiple kisses that followed after the one really long one. It was hard to get it out at once but reluctantly I did.

"We.. both.. have to be.. in the same.. room." I spoke in between kisses. My hands gripped his and moved them away from my face. What I had to say was really important and I wanted him to hear it clearly, not by tiny pieces. I looked deep into his eyes. "I want to make sure I can see Ashton doesn't go around on a man hunt trying to find and kill you."

Jack just shook his head and chuckled. "He won't kill me."

"Then you obviously don't know Ash." I rose an eyebrow.

Jack kept laughing. Not that I made much attention. I know Ash, this has happened before. There were rumors once about some guy wanting to ask me to go to homecoming in freshman year. Sadly that never happened because senior Ashton scared him off just for that. So just imagine how he'd react when one of his best friends is in a relationship with me..

"It'll be the first thing we do once we get back to Nebraska." I stated. "And there'll be absolutely no chickening out." I pointed my finger back at him.

"Alright." He shrugged it off as if it was nothing he'd be doing.

I was about to drop the subject right then and there. My heels were already spun and I took just two steps forward before it hit me.

"Oh and one more thing." I looked back at him with a grin painfully written on my face.

Jack stood patiently waiting for me to answer.

I didn't say anything. This was one of those situations were actions speak louder than words.

Walking back up to him, I place my hands over his shoulders. A smile appearing across my lips.

Jack smiled down at me, becoming aware of what I was about to do as I leaned in closer to him.

Much to his surprise, the heavy weight I was carrying over my shoulders was then brought up to the front of my arm. Pushing with all my might, Jack was urgently pushed away from my sight. I watched his expression change from kinky to shocked as his body fell down to the surface of the reflective pool water behind him.

That was probably one of the best feelings in the world.

Jack was soaked wet now. Clothes and everything, were all wet with pool water.

A few seconds passed before he gasped back up for air. The depth where he was standing, I'd say, was 5 and a half feet. His height was above that and he exceeded above the surface of the water by just standing.

He wiped his face after spitting some water out of his mouth besides him. His eyes wider than ever and I'd say he went down a shade of skin tone.

"What the hell was that for?" He exclaimed looking back at me.

"You made me feel like crap these past few days." I looked back at him seriously.

"I told you I was sorry." He rose his arms.

"Oh come on, admit it," I paused. "You had it coming."

Jack's hands fell back down to his side under the water. Giving me a little sigh in the end which let me know I was right and he was wrong.

"I missed you way too much." He laughed.

"Good." I shrugged my shoulders, giving him my famous look of sarcasm.

"Can you come lend me a hand now?" He arched a brow, raising his hand up to me for me to grip.

I took one look at him and immediately backed away. "Oh no, I know the trick." I widen my eyes. "And it's not going to work on me."

Taking one last good look of a shocked Gilisnky still soaked in the pool, I turned around. A cold wind hit me as I walked towards the exit. I pulled my cardigan closer to my body before grabbing the handle.

"Are you just going to leave me here?" I heard him call out from behind me.

"It's not my job to get you out." I called back with a soft laugh.

"It was you who threw me in here in the first place." He called out again.

I jiggled with the handle for a moment l, finding it hard to open the door all of a sudden.

"Can't hear you!" I sassed, urging for the door to finally open.

What I figured sounded like Jack finally getting off the pool changed the next moment. I didn't mind the footsteps but then all of a sudden I felt the same pair of broad shoulders snake around my waist. Only this time they were wet. Very wet.

The same wet arms pressed my back to the even more wet front of his body. A gasp falling from my mouth as his cold, wet skin met my right cheek.

His words left me speechless for a moment the next time he spoke them.

"You're suppose to pull." I felt him smirk against my cheek.

I didn't have the chance to mentally slap myself before the next chance I noticed Jack's arms were already lifting me off the ground.

"Now it's payback." I felt the vibrations of his laugh go down my spine form his front.

Immediately I released a scream in fear of my body hitting the cold water of the pool. Maybe pushing him wasn't the brightest idea of them all.

"No, no! JACK PLEASE NOOOO..."

We hit the cold surface of the water the next second. The only thing that made me stop screaming was the fact that I had to close my mouth to hold my breath.

The water was colder than I imagined. I was quick to come back for air the next second. I was even quicker than Jack.

Gasping back up for air, I couldn't help but laugh the next moment. We fell a little more further to the shorter side of the pool so now the water came around out waists. Still, it was enough to send my jaw trembling with the temperature.

"Karma's a Bitch, huh?" Jack mocked looking back at me.

I pinned my eyes back up at him, a devious smile approaching my lips the next second as I splashed him with water.

Jack began to laugh again with my reaction, not missing out on the opportunity to splash me back with water. This only caused me to break away soon enough and jump up to him. The space between us wasn't really that far so with the first jump I was already in his arms. He also didn't refuse to catch me.

His deep laugh mumbled through my ears. Arms wrapping around my waist as I crossed both my arms and legs around his body. Jack crotched down on his knees so the water would now rise below out mid shoulders.

I kept my eyes on him as he did on me. The feeling was mutual. It was still there, never left as a matter of fact. Just lost for a moment.

My forehead came close to his again, pressing gently. The heat of our bodies together helped with the cold of the water. I didn't seem to shiver anymore and Jack wasn't being his usual funny self.

It was just.. Quiet.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you." Jack's eyes closed shut. "You know I wouldn't do it intentionally, right."

"I know." I whispered. Hand coming up to brush his wet hair on the side of his face. I stopped at his cheeks, closing my eyes too as I got even more closer to him. This time our noses came in contact. A soft smile curved my lips the next moment. "I know.."

"I'll work on myself." He spoke again. "I promise to work harder on us."

Having him say that made my heart flutter inside. My smile growing wider by the second.

"I know you will." I nodded. "And so will I."

The next moment I drew back. Both my hands met his cheeks in a stern way to get his attention focused on me again.

"We'll get through this."

A smile appeared on both of our faces the next second. Finally it was to be closed and sealed by kiss. By far, it was one of the best and most passionate kiss I've ever had. The pool tops the bathroom any day.

The surprises just keep coming.

We held our kiss for a good minute or so, floating and swaying by the waves of the pool.

It wasn't until Jack pulled away that we stopped. Just by the look on his face, I was afraid he was going to ruin the moment again.

And he did..

"Should we turn this into a skinny dipping session?" His eyebrow cocked, a smirk deadly being displayed in his features.

I drew further back from his body as soon as the words fell from his mouth. Not bother to an argument I just moved away. A causal roll to the eyes was presented to him as I detached myself from his body. Slowly, I started moving away again toward the stairs.

"Oh come on!" He laughed from behind me. "It's the perfect time to do it!"

"In your dreams, Gilinsky!" I called back in dismissal.

My clothes felt heavier as I got out of the water, especially my cotton cardigan. Oh he's going to pay for this alright. He could've just left it to himself being wet but no.. Karma's a Bitch.

Either way, none of that is what's bothering me now. What's really bother me is the fact that once we get back to Nebraska, it's finally going to be the time to face my cousin..

Crap.

--

So, I myself am not so proud of the outcome of this chapter referring to how short it was. sadly, this was all I had in such short notice to get you guys an update soon enough.. On the other hand, it was more of a cute/ yay they're back together type of chapter where nothing really happens but you know they're happy again. Oh and as a heads up, there will be no more minimum breakups after this for Jack and Zoey. But I will get you think here and tell you things don't always go as planned so watch out for the next chapter! I'll work on more longer chapters again, interesting ones too. In the mean time, I'd like to thank you all again for all your support and patience! you are the best! xoxo