(Ann's P.O.V.)

I put my hand to my forehead, happy for a moment to myself. Today is really busy in the café, and with Mark out sick and my brother in class, I'm the only staff member here besides the cooks. Meaning I have been overworked ever since I got here from school. 

Plus I'm still really worked up over those idiotic bitches at school that were insulting Jack. He doesn't deserve any of it. God knows he's been through enough, or so I've been told. And that's only what I know. I have a feeling he's been through so much more than what he's told either Mark or me. 

"Ann!" I hear Mom call. I turn and walk out of the break room to see... Pretty much everyone gone. "Rush just got out. Should be pretty quiet from here on out. Clean up some and then you can take a nice long break." She smiles, and I nod. 

"Alright. Thanks." I say, walking behind the counter and grabbing the cleaning supplies. I start walking around, grabbing tips and cleaning tables. 

Jack really has been through a lot. So far all I know about is the internal struggle he had with Mark, the thing with his parents, school troubles, "clumsiness", and now his eye. And he's gonna be blind in that eye now too. Icing on the cake. I just feel bad for the guy. I mean, he's really nice. Yeah, he can get a bit over the top, but he's nice and cares about people, and wouldn't hurt anyone if he didn't feel like he needed too. 

So the fact that all of these people hate him, and yet they don't know a thing about who he is, is ridiculous and stupid. And from what I've gathered, it's been that way most of his life. Which makes me think, what was his past? What happened that made him the way he is? Cause, to Mark to, his past is a mystery. 

I know there was conflict at his old school, and I know that something happened in his home life too because of how he talks about his dad, but that's it. I've thought about some possibilities, and I'm thinking about asking him about it eventually, but I don't know how he'd react. Jack is a pretty personal person after all. He doesn't exactly like opening up to people, that's for sure. 

I smile then, realizing that I'm done with the tables and that I can take my well needed break. I put the cleaning supplies away and then head to the break room, where I hang up my apron and stare at the plate of cookies happily. I immediately rush over, grabbing one and eating it in a flash. I sigh, happy. Then I sit down and start eating another cookie, but slower. And then... 

"Ann?" I look up, seeing Jack in the doorway. I smile a bit. 

"Hey. What are you doing here?" I ask softly, concerned. He normally doesn't drop by unless Mark is here. I mean, not that I'm complaining... It's just concerning. He drops his bag on the ground and walks over to me. I notice then that the door is closed. Then he drops on his knees in front of me, and puts his head on my leg. And he cries. 

"Oh my god, Jack." I say, taking his hands and making him sit on the couch next to me. Immediately he latches onto me, crying into my shoulder. I hug him back, shushing him and saying reassuring things. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Sh... Sh..." I've never seen him cry before. Never even tear up. Why is he crying now? He takes in a shaky breath, before letting out a strangled sob. 

"I-it hurts... Wha-at they s-say... What th-they do... It h-hurts A-Ann..." He cries, hugging me tighter. I hug him back, resting my head on his head, tears coming to my eyes as well. It's so heartbreaking... 

"What do you mean what they do?" I ask softly then. His breath hitches, before he cries more. So I just drop the subject and I let him hug me and cry into my shoulder. The only question is... Why is he with me instead of Mark?