ENCHANTED -'๑'- JACK HUGHES

forty eight

☄. *. ⋆ BUT ALL YOU ARE IS MEAN
ALL YOU ARE IS MEAN
taylor swift

2 years ago

MATT

MY HANDS worked to button up the last few empty spots, feeling much more comfortable in a simpler outfit than in a suit.

I glanced at the Wild jersey lying on my hotel bed, a smile creeping across my lips. Three knocks on my door pulled me out of my trance.

"Coming, Trev!" I yelled, tossing the green colored cap over my head as I opened the door. I froze when it wasn't Trevor. "Jack?"

Jack ran a hand through his hair, darting his eyes to the end of the hall, then back to me. He seemed in a daze, even more so, disheveled. I had only seen him like this after a bad loss, never just, well, being Jack.

"Can I come in?" Jack asked, licking his lips as I nodded, moving to the side as he walked in, the door shutting behind us.

"Uh, what's up?" I scratched the back of my neck, watching him sit on the edge of my bed, his hands pressing against his face. "You okay, bro?"

Jack shook his head slowly. "Nah, not really."

"Shouldn't this be a good day?" I couldn't help but ask.

Just like we all expected, Jack was the first draft pick. He would join the other names in history, his dream had came true.

"I..." Jack paused, his beg bouncing up and down as he couldn't seem to stay still. "Look, I know we never had a solid friendship. Especially when things went down with Stella."

I shifted awkwardly at the mention of her.

"I'm breaking up with her." Jack blurted, completely throwing me for a loop as I parted my lips in shock. "I feel so fucking horrible. I can't bring myself to do it."

I didn't know what to say, truthfully. I blinked, shaking my head sign pursued lips. "Yeah, I, um, I wouldn't know either. Why are you doing it?"

"It's a lot." Jack huffed, smoothing his palms down his thighs. "I'm a mess. I've been so caught up with Stella that I'm forgetting my game. It's just better this way."

"So, you're giving up?" I asked, forming his words into the truth they hid behind.

Jack tightened his jaw, the rawness of his emotions was dangling over me. We were entering territory neither of us had explored before. Fuck sakes, we couldn't even hold a conversation.

"She's got a good heart." Jack nodded, more to himself. "I don't want to break it. But, I need to let her go."

I ran my eyes over his hunched figure, keeping my arms crossed over my chest. "Sorry, why are you telling me this?"

"She's gonna need someone." Jack cleared his throat, struggling to get his words out. "I know you love her, man. If you want to go for her, do it."

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly in disbelief, shaking my head at the brunette. "Wait, are you serious? Is that really what you think she wants?"

"Isn't it what you want." Jack argued, finding anyway to reason with me.

"Not everything's about me, Hughes." I shrugged, pursuing my lips as I narrowed my eyes at him. "We don't have the same mentality."

Jack flicked his light eyes up to me, cocking his head to the side. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't get something good in life and throw it away." I said with honesty. I would've given up anything to be with Stella. But Jack was all about Jack.

"I'm not throwing it away." Jack scoffed, shifting to stand. "I'm doing what's best for us."

I shook my head, pinching my bottom lip between my two fingers. "You're not. You're doing what's best for Jack. You don't get to pick what she wants."

"How do you even know she'll want to stay with me, huh?" Jack attempted to shift the conversation, putting me to blame.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "She left me for you, didn't she? Everything's about you to her. That's all she fucking cares about. So, who cares what I want, this is about Stella."

"I just...can't." Jack breathed. "I just can't."

"Maybe if you let her go the first time, you wouldn't be in this dilemma." I said harshly. "But no matter how many insults I throw at you, it won't change anything. You'll break it off and when you decided to love her again, she'll come at you with open arms."

Jack was silent, my words seeming to soak in as he avoided my sharp gaze.

"You're right." Jack finally admitted. "I should've let things be when I fucked up the first time. That's why I'm here, Matt."

"Yeah?" I lifted my brows, not believing him. "Continue."

Jack ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, his pupils dilating as he locked eyes with me. "I got between you two. It was wrong. I should've stayed out of Stella's life."

"But you didn't." I interrupted. "And I don't think you ever will. Stella gets attached, Jack. I pay attention. God, she follows you around like a fucking dog."

"That's not her fault." Jack shot back, shaking his head with frustration.

I chuckled with amusement. "No, it's not. It's your fault, Jack. You want and want until something better comes along. I told her this would happen. I told her you'd break her heart."

"Did she listen?" Jack blinked, scanning my face for a reaction.

"What do you think?" I beamed with fake happiness. "No matter what you do, Jack, she'll always be there. It doesn't even have to be physically. She fucking adores you. She loves you!"

"I know!" Jack matched my tone. "Look, just...if she needs you, will you be there?"

I folded my lips into a flat line. "She won't come to me either way. I can't help you in that department."

Jack, silently, walked back towards the entrance to my hotel room, tugging the door open as he paused, looking at me over his shoulder.

"She should've stayed with you." Jack said lowly. "You're the better option."

"Well, she didn't." I shrugged, facing him. "You're gonna regret this someday."

Jack nodded slowly, like he already knew he was. "I know, Bolds. I know."

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