𝖬𝗂𝖽-𝖥𝖾𝖻𝗋𝗎𝖺𝗋𝗒 2019

𝕬s Jack pulls up to the curb of the high school parking lot, his eyebrows knit in confusion with the way the entirety of the parking lot seems deserted except for the crowd of cars occupying every available space. 

Bright lights emanate from the high gymnasium windows, the soft boom of the music filtering out into the darkened evening, a chill flickering through the outside air with the February cold.

He leans over the steering wheel to locate the magenta of her dress — when she, June, called and asked if he could possibly pick her up from the father-daughter dance she had so excitedly been preparing for since two months, he knew something was seriously wrong and said that yes, he would love to drive her home in the middle of the event but what exactly caused such a specific request when she could've called her mother instead?

He never showed up, she'd muttered into the phone as if admitting the words out loud somehow made a dent in her character and immediately, Jack had been filled with a hot rush of hatred.

But he'd simply complied and driven here only to now squint into the sparse illumination of the parking lot — really, someone could throw a dead body in a corner here and they wouldn't discover it till the next morning — as he catches sight of a black coated figure shuffling around suspiciously near a herd of parked cars, the hem of a magenta coloured dress peeking out from under the coat.

He sighs, ready to go figure out why she's acting like an overdressed car robber, and exits his dad's car.

With quite conspicuous steps, Jack approaches her crouched form with his hands deep in the pocket of his coat and his eyes amusingly assessing the way she's balancing herself on the ground in her heels, leaning closer to the side of the car to . . . . read the number plate?

"Next time you decide to commit a crime, maybe dress in less colourful clothes. You look like half a highlighter jumping around the lot"

She startles, a small shriek leaving her mouth as her head turns quickly with a widened gaze then visibly relaxes when she realises it's just him.

"Why the hell would you sneak up on me in a dark parking lot? With no one around? I almost fell over in these heels", June huffs, straightening up to her full height and huddling her arms around herself just as a cool breeze brushes past, ruffling her hair.

Jack raises a brow, "Me? I'm the weird one here? You're the one trying to steal a car".

"I'm not gonna steal a car, Jesus".

"Then what are you doing?".

"Looking for Kathy Tanner's car".

Jack blinks.

"Why?".

"So that I can puncture her tires".

He rears back slightly, both eyebrows rising up in surprise.

"Excuse me?"

She exhales dramatically, "She's a bitch and she deserves it. Her dad drove over in her car with her and she's always whining about how he thinks she's irresponsible about her birthday gift — her car, obviously — because she keeps forgetting to fill the gas, check her tires and y'know stuff like that", she shrugs, "and what better way to end her spectacular night with her 'daddy' then to oh, I don't know, have him scold her for failing to notice a flat tire?".

"Who's Kathy Tanner again?".

She gives him a blank stare.

"Blonde, stupid, high-pitched voice, annoying, brat. Really, I could go on all night".

When he continues looking at her in confusion, she groans.

"She's on the cheer team with me! She asked you out last month but you said no!".

That seems to do it and recognition flits across his face. 

"Oh, that girl. Wow, uh. Wait. What did she do? Did she say something? Is she bullying you, June?".

June blinks, "Can't do that anymore, everyone knows that. I don't tolerate that shit now but she was being her usual nasty self at the dance and . . . if my night went bad then there's no way I'm letting her have a good night either".

Jack steps closer, lowering his voice, "Is she one of the kids who you used to bully you?".

She swallows, "It doesn't matter".

"It does to me", his gaze flicks down to the way her arms are wrapped protectively around her body and his face softens.

Another breeze blows through the area, her hair falling in her vision with the impact. He brings his hand up to gently push her hair back behind her ear, his warm fingers brushing her earlobe in the process.

She inhales, his light sapphire eyes tracking the motion of his hand before dropping back to her stare and holding her gaze there.

She could melt with the intensity of the warmth in his eyes.

"I know you don't like telling people about it but I really think you should let me have a word with her".

And just like that, she is reminded where they are and why she's still standing here out in the cold.

"No. I don't want any drama and I can take care of myself. Now, you gonna help me find her car or what?".

He sighs and they spend the next fifteen minutes scouring the parking lot with June squealing in delight when she stumbles upon her find then together, they manage to give Kathy Tanner's beloved CRV two flat back tires.

Jack can be credited for the additional puncture.

Finished with their quest, they both jump into Jim Hughes' car giggling and poking the other to hurry up so that they can get away from the crime scene.

When Jack glances at her from the driver's seat, he finds June sitting back with a content smile and it breaks his heart when he realises why he's the one driving her home.

Turning his eyes back on the road, he speaks carefully.

"Will you now tell me what Kathy said?".

She seems to take a moment, "She implied that the reason my dad didn't show up tonight was because I'm not worth it and hers did because she is".

His grip on the steering wheel tightens, "Sure you don't want me talking to her?".

"Yes".

"What did your dad say then? When he called to say he couldn't make it?".

"Important meeting came up. Missed his flight. Next flight isn't till tomorrow morning and he asked if I wanted him to fly in so that we could spend the Sunday together".

"And what did you say?".

"I told him not to bother, that I have stuff to do tomorrow anyway".

Jack exhales, "God, June. I'm so sorry. He's such an asshole".

He sees her shrug in his peripheral vision.

"I'm used to it. He rarely ever shows up when he says he's going to. And I don't even think he booked the flight, you know. I don't think he planned to fly out for this at all. Who gets called into an important afternoon meeting on a Saturday? He's not the fucking President".

He shakes his head, "He's missing out. He has the most amazing daughter in the world and he still can't get his shit together. He's not worth it, he doesn't deserve anything from you".

"I know", she answers quietly, "and he's awful too, not like he's a genuinely good person either but I just, I don't know, he's the only one I can call dad and sometimes I just want that. Sometimes, I just want a dad. Every time he gives me enough attention I . . . . get optimistic that maybe things could go back to the way they used to be before the divorce".

"I mean, it wasn't good before the divorce either. He was always fighting with mom", she gulps when his gaze strays to her, "hitting her. But he did have some good moments with me when he was just a normal dad and I was happy. I don't want to want his love because he's, god, he's horrible but I do want a dad so sometimes I naively believe his promises".

He has heard about her parents' divorce in passing and put two and two together to figure out that her father was abusive but she has never actually spoken about it in front of him. He knows Luke knows stuff but he never tells Jack anything because it's June's business and he respects that.

So, hearing firsthand and confirming his suspicions doesn't feel victorious like it would were this any other matter. It feels gut-wrenching to think about a tiny June wanting a dad despite staying in the same house as the man she shares half her DNA with, being sad because he's hit her mom again and the plans she made to spend time with her dad are now shattered because she can't even face him knowing he has hurt the only person in the house who protects June and truly cares about her.

And Maureen. God, Maureen with her steely eyes and solid, caring demenour. Maureen who's let Jack and his brothers stay over at her house countless number of times whenever their parents needed a break. Maureen who always stands up for June and is ready to kill for her daughter, no questions asked. Maureen who helped him, Trevor, Cole and Alex recover from their very first hangover at her house — not without a stern telling off, of course — and easily skirted around the truth to tell Jack's parents, who were at the time visiting his grandmother, that 'the boys' were down with a stomach bug.

They reach the driveway to June's house and sit silently looking at the light in the living room.

"I wish there was a way I could take all of it away and give you the childhood you deserved. No one should have to put up with all that you did and you've still managed to turn out so incredible? I have no idea how you do it. You're unbelievably strong, Bug".

She keeps her eyes on the house, a small smile tugging her lips up at the nickname as it always does.

"She wouldn't have left him when she did if it were not for the fact that he accidentally pushed me when I went to", she laughs somberly under her breath, "claw at his pants because he was like, three seconds away from hitting her again. He pushed me without looking, I fell and started crying, mom screamed at him and he stood around yelling before apologising like a maniac, then fled the house which he always did after a fight".

Jack's eyes moisten, his hand reaching out to rest on top of hers.

She glances down at their hands and covers his with her other palm, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

"Mom got me to the ER. I got a sling, we came back home, she packed our essentials — he never returned before the middle of the night so she knew she had time — and booked us into a hotel. Called Gramps, told him that she was gonna end it. Gramps flew in the next day and she finally told him that dad didn't just fight with her a lot but he also hit her. Gramps went with her the next few times she went to visit dad, they finally filed for divorce".

June looks up at him now, her expression neutral but he knows that it's taking a lot for her to simply recall and say the words out loud.

"We rented an apartment till the end of the school year then moved here in the summer. Rented out this house", she gestures at the only house he's ever known her to live in, "and a year later, Gramps helped mom buy it. She started paying him back immediately but you know what he did with the money?".

Jack perks an eyebrow and she grins.

"He put it in my college fund".

"Oh my god", he laughs, shaking his head as he feels a new wave of affection for her grandfather blooming inside him.

"Yeah, he's cheeky as hell".

"I'm glad you told me this. I'll always be here for you, no matter what's going on in our lives".

Her smile falters but she nods nonetheless.

"I appreciate it. Gonna have to go in and tell her he stood me up", she tilts her head towards the house.

"Or you could come over to mine. There are some leftovers from dinner, Luke went to bed early because he's still not over last night's movie marathon but we could watch TV or something. Just for a while".

She smiles gratefully and he finds himself wishing she says yes, that he gets a chance to cheer her up after the awful evening she's had.

Something about her finally opening up to him has made him feel unexplainably closer to her.

"Thanks but I should go. Tell mom right now so that she can get mad at him tonight and start tomorrow afresh. Thank you for picking me up and . . . . for listening. You're a great listener, Jack".

He blinks against the glaze obstructing his vision, attempting to get rid of the knot in his throat.

"Always".

***
to anyone living in an abusive situation: i see you and i'm here for you. maybe it feels never-ending atm but one day you are going to be okay trust me, and i am so proud of you for being you ❤️