xxxxiv
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
Their fourth of July on that summer was the most bittersweet celebration Reagan's experienced.
It started out amazing.
After setting up the tents, the six younger ones of the group all huddled up at the edge of the deck, trying to fish (complete with Ronald's top tier fishing gear), even though none of them actually knew how to.
Eventually, Jonah was able to pull one up the water (everyone screamed in excitement) but their howls of joy turned into laughter at the sight of the fish that was barely 2 inches long. They took it out of the hook and let it back in the water, calling it a day.
When they walked back to the camping site, barbecue was waiting for them so they all sat around in a circle on top of the dirt, stealing food off the grill before Logan could even plate them.
"Fuckin' barbarians," Logan scowled at the sight of them with barbecue marinade forming joker-smile lines at the corner of their lips.
To clean off, Corbyn suddenly took off his shirt and threw in on the ground. He let out a spartan cry and the other boys, the idiots, somehow understood and started doing the same, peeling off clothing until they were left in their boxers
Then all at once, they ran to the water. Reagan curled up in laughter at the sound of them shrieking from the cold.
"Look at her!" Daniel scolded, taking to Zach while pointing at Reagan, "She has the audacity to laugh while she's sitting there, the coward!"
Reagan laughed even louder, throwing her head back.
That was a mistake.
Because the moment she heard the sounds of footsteps coming, it was already too late.
All at once, Jonah was picking her off from where she sat comfortably on the tree trunk and Reagan screamed.
"Put me down!"
"Who's laughing now?" Zach yelled out and when Reagan started thrashing for her life, she felt the other boys restraining her as well, laughing as if their life depended on it.
Then all of the sudden, she was thrown into the water, soaking wet, while fully clothed.
They swam in the huge lake for hours. When she got lazy, she'd use Daniel as a floatie.
At some point, Jack came up from
behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders for support. She tried not to think so much about it. She's been piggy-back riding the other boys countless times while in the water, but Jack was different.
No matter how much she wanted to pretend that they were friends, her mind keeps going back to the waterfalls.
It was her first time with Jack then. One of her fondest memories.
When the sun was starting to set, they all watched from the edge of the lake, feet still dipped in the water.
The sky was all kind of colors and suddenly, a single firework sounded off in the distance.
When it exploded, it was a simple white sparkle that lasted a few seconds but Reagan felt her heart race with joy.
"Happy fourth of July!" Some of the boys suddenly yelled, then that's when they started lighting up fireworks themselves.
When night came, they sat around the bonfire they've set up and made more barbecue.
Daniel was the first one who started singing and it didn't take long until the rest of Why Don't We started singing along.
Reagan sat there in absolute awe, nothing less.
They lit sparklers, made smores, and started blaring music through the speaker they brought.
Surprisingly, it was Ronald who fished something out of his dad backpack and pulled out a bottle of Johnny.
Everyone's jaw dropped (except Reagan, who laughed, because she's never seen her father try to be the 'cool uncle' as much as he has then).
Zach actually tackled him with a hug, mumbling to his shirt, "You're the coolest!"
Logan grumbled.
They all eventually took swigs of the alcohol and the younger ones were the first ones to get tipsy. In an hour since they started, the boys were definitely hammered.
Daniel started talking to his guitar and Corbyn wanted to run back to the water so badly, Logan had to tie his wrist to the tree bark everyone sat on.
Jack on the other hand, was a happy drunk. He was giving everyone kisses on the cheek, even Ronald and Greg who looked absolutely confused.
And when it was Reagan's turn, she smiled at him and Jack smiled back at her with bright eyes.
He leaned down to give her a swift peck on the cheek then whispered a soft "thank you." All Reagan could only watch him as he turned around.
The boys spent most of the night jumping around the campsite, singing to the music that was blaring from the speakers.
When Reagan felt a little light headed, she decided to go for a walk. The campsite started feeling a little too warm and she had to get some fresh air so her feet brought her to the docks whose floorboards were still wet from when they sat there.
Reagan, bottle of beer in hand, was about to take a seat when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"No, don't sit down!" Jack pleaded, voice loud and excited. He put a hand on Reagan's waist and held out the other for her to put her hand on, "Dance with me!"
Reagan laughed. Jack looked like an overenthusiastic child.
It oddly felt like they were good friends—as if they've been like this with each other the whole time.
Reagan didn't fight it and instead shook her head as she put her hand on his, "You're so drunk."
Jack rolled his eyes, small smile tugging at his lips while he guided her other hand onto his shoulder, "Not drunk enough."
Reagan chuckled.
Jack started guiding, leading them to sway into a small circle, following the sound of the music blaring from the campsite, albeit a bit off-beat.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Jack belts out, "Baby, baby brown eyes!"
Reagan throws her head back in laughter.
"Stay with me by my side, 'til the morning, through the night!"
Jack even twirled her, singing completely off from the music playing in the background.
Reagan couldn't help but laugh at him.
Despite everything, this was Jack.
"I told you," he said, looking down at her with a drunk, goofy smile, "I told you I'd serenade you. And it wouldn't be Baby Blue Eyes."
"Well, this is worse," She joked and laughed when Jack made her twirl again then dip. Both of them almost tripped over each others' feet in their drunken state and they ended up bursting into laughter.
"You're so drunk," Reagan repeats, fondness in her eyes.
"You too!" He says back happily, as if it was a compliment. He laughs and pulls her closer and Reagan doesn't fight it.
She rest her head on his chest as they swayed, Jack's chin on her head. It reminded her of the time they danced to Beatles songs in her attic.
"Hey guess what," Jack said.
"What?"
"Rocket to the Moon's having a reunion special again and I walked to the village to get us tickets because I forgot we were broken up then," He said in one quick breath, "Well, not broken up since we were never really official, but, you know."
Reagan was too drunk to asses his words. She laughed instead, "How'd you even forget we were broken up?"
"I was so drunk," Jack laughed, "I stole what we had left from our first camping, it was half of bottle of Jack Daniel's."
Jack laughed again, as if it was hysterical.
"I'm not taking anyone else though, if you're wondering. Remember how I said I wanted to have someone by my side always?" Jack asked, voice still happily drunk, "I think from now on, I'll always want it to be you."
Reagan frowned.
"That's sad, Jack."
Jack laughed again, missing a step as they danced, "I know!" He ran a hand through his face and placed it back on her waist, "I'm pathetic. Why am I even telling you this?"
Reagan hums and just holds him closer as they swayed.
Jack kept mumbling things to her and Reagan wasn't even sure he was aware of what he was saying.
"I was gonna sing every song to you," he whispered, "We would've had the best time."
They stayed there, swaying, for almost half an hour. For the most part, it was their drunken selves talking. It didn't die down as they continued taking swigs of beer.
"I meant it when I said thank you," Jack said, wrapping his arms tighter around her, "You're special to me."
Reagan could only meekly nod. She knew she felt the same and Jack knew it too, she didn't have to say it.
That was the first time silence fell upon them.
"There's something I really need to tell you before I leave," Jack whispered, sounding sober for the first time since they've stood there, "but I don't want to say it right now 'cause I don't want you to think I'm saying it because I'm drunk. Pretty sure you know what it is though."
Reagan had an idea. The first thought that came to mind were the three words she's been dreading.
"Geez, calm down," Jack laughed, "I can feel the gears turning in your head. Trust me, you don't have to say it back, I promise. I just want to say it to you before I say goodbye."
Reagan fell silent.
"Please don't," she whispered back, "It'll just make everything harder."
hi this was so rushed but i was just so excited about finishing this so i could finally edit it
NEXT CHAPTER'S OFFICIALLY THE LAST IM SAD BUT TY QUARANTINE IM ENJOYING WRITING AGAIN
anyways here's the last chance to vote
jack stays
jack goes
or maybe an alternative ending idk
thank you friends ♥️♥️♥️
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