THE LOW, A JACK HARLOW FIC.

CHAPTER NINE.

BEGIN.

Solana held an ice pack against her numb ankle as the warm water spilled over her hand. She sucked her teeth for twentieth time that afternoon. Jack pulls into the kitchen wearing the same shirt that easily clung to his biceps and rolls his eyes. She pretends not to notice him and pays attention to her ankle.

She pulls herself up and grabs the couch at an angle so she would be able to walk but ends up wincing. In a matter of seconds Jack is kneeling besides her with a "where are you going" look that makes her hold her breath. 

She stops breathing as Jacks hands press onto the cold center of her ankle and rubbs it as she closes her eyes and breathes out again. "It should be fine in an hour." he says begrudgingly and she notices his upset tone as his eyes only stay on her ankle. He sighs before walking into the kitchen for a minute.

Looking down at her sore ankle she feels embarrassed. Not only did she had to stay for another hour she had to make Jack take care of her. Worst than that she could tell he was upset about it. She was practically forcing him to care that she was in pain. She let her head fall back onto the couch remembering how upset her ex had been when he had to take care of her.

The one time she as sick it was unexpected but she had a headache and a fever. The entire time her ex groaned and complained that he was late for his job, how he would get fired. And how it was her fault and nobody else's. She wasn't going to burden some guy she just hooked up with and wasn't even dating by being injured.

She gripped the couch cousins and began to slowly stand on her ankle. She almost yelled from the shock of pain that was soaring through her foot. She bit her lip to stay quiet before she lost balance and landed on the floor. Fuck! shit! fuck! She cursed squeezing her ankle as it felt ten times worst than before.

Jack made his way to the living room, his eyes popping out of his head at the sigh of her on the floor. He dropped something which she made out to be another ice pack she rushed to her. He sucked his teeth, "Yo.. where the hell are you going?" He cursed, his face filled with worry but his tone demanding.

"I.." He looked at her like she was growing a new head as she continued, "I don't want you to have to take care of me Jack." And I know you dont want to take care of me. He looked beyond mad this time. He took a second to relax, staring at her ankle instead of at her.

—"I'm not gonna sit here and make you take care of me." Jack scoffed and looked at her with some kind of rage. She'd never seen him this mad before, not even when they first met. He really doesn't wanna take care of me. Like damn I get the hint.

"Make me take care of you?" He questioned like that was the most afternoon thing he'd ever heard and it just might have been.

—"Yeah, I'm taking up your time. Don't say that I'm not." She ordered but he rolled his eyes.

"So let me get this straight?" He asked before kneeling next to her in a more comfortable way, "I invited you over.. to hang out with you. And cooked for you. You got hurt in my house while I was supposed to be watching you—or at least paying some damn attention—and you're taking up my time?" He asked as she nodded knowing the answer was no but she didn't have courage to say it. She wouldn't say it to her ex so what was the point.

Suddenly he laughs, dropping his head down. His face is covered but his curls that follow the way he head bounces. Although she can't see his face she can hear the way he's laughing. Like she told a joke.

—"What's funny?"

"You're so stubborn."

Anger pumps through her because only a few people called her that and every-time it was insulting. "No I'm not." She grumbles looking away as Jack holds onto her jaw and then reluctantly lets it go. As if he was going to do something but thought against it.

"You're the one who was trying to run out of here like I'm a fucking murderer." Jack grumbled looking pissed again before he calmed down. Was that why he was mad? Because I was trying to leave?

Her heart rate picked up and suddenly she was satisfied with having to need another hour with him. "That's just because.." she said trying to think of a lie but couldn't. Which made Jack stand properly, looking somber.

"It's fine. But next time you want to leave just tell me so you don't hurt yourself tryna get away." He told her as he grabbed the ice pack from the ground.

—"I'm sorry."

"Why?"

—"I know this is a lot for you."

"You're not a lot for me."

—"I know it's just we hooked up and now you have to take care of me." She recited as he clenched his fist and rolled his eyes. Why does he have an attitude?

"Why do you keep saying that? Like taking care of you is such a chore for me? I care about you so I'm taking care of you." He said in a jaded tone, "would you not do the same for me?" He asked a little quitter as she nodded her response.

"Good then there's nothin else to talk about." He said storming back into the kitchen. Clearly there was because he was sincerely pissed off.

Jack headed into the kitchen and almost lost it. It wasn't that she was hurt, it was the way she got hurt. Like she was trying to escape from him. He didn't know what he did that was so repulsive but whatever it was made her want to leave so bad that she was blind that she could bump into an end table.

He sucked his teeth and ran a hand through his hair before sighing. She said she felt good about me, so why doesn't it feel like she doesn't? Like I'm forcing her to be here. I'm not. She can leave in an hour like I promised.

—"Jack!" She called out from the living room where she was still resting. He walked back in and laying eyes on her finally calm posture and almost laughed.

She was giving him such a hard time but he had to admit it was funny knowing the lengths she would go to "not be a burden". He frowned at the lengths she would go to get away from him and then cleared his throat.

He kneeled down next to her and took her hand, "you trust me?" He asked reluctantly, based on her answers she'd probably lie and say whatever she had to in the situation. Like she did last night. When she said how she felt about him. She nodded yes, her soft eyes looking into his blue once and he could tell she wasn't lying.

He smirked, "ok well here comes the bride." He said before lighting her in his arms, carrying her bridal style. He grunted and finally got her into a good position to carry he as she squealed.

"What are you doing?!" She yelled trying to sound angry but she really sounded excited. Jack gripped her bottom and pretending it was an accident as she yelped. "Jack. Where are you taking me?" She asked trying to act angry but she was smiling as they stopped at the top of the stairs.

"Nowhere Sol." Jack said distractedly before opening the door to his bedroom, before Solána could realize what he was doing his lay her softly against the bed and left her there. Coming back with water and an Advil that he rested next to her.

"Drink. Sleep. Feel better." He grumbled before shutting the door closed and leaving.

"Rude." She did as he said with a smile on her face, popping the pill, gulping the water and resting her head on the pillows that smelled exactly like him.

an: nah this is based on true events and my ankle is broke lmao
i actually like this chapter the drama is coming in a couple chapters y'all gonna enjoy it lmao
I might even double update 😏
ALSO: my birthday is on Thursday and I'm a Scorpio also dang SZAs birthday is so close to mine
ALSO ALSO: The tension between me and the plots i have is insane like fr
vote and comment <3