Afraid • l.h

Chapter 7 • "Jack?"

Tilly's POV

It can't be.

"Jack?" I say as I get closer to the familiar face I notice to be my old best friend.

"Tilly." he says with a smile and pulls me in for a hug.

"Why are you here?" I ask slightly laughing out of absolute confusion.

"I moved her a few years ago when we both, I guess, went our separate ways in life."

"Oh, yeah, so where are you getting the bus to?" I asked another question hoping not to sound too curious.

"School." He begins. " I used to live closer but now we have moved to a bigger house, out of town, the bus is my new best friend." He laughs. "What about you?"

"I'm going to school too. I go to University Of California."

"I haven't seen you around. How long have you been at the university?" He questioned.

"Only a week. You go there too then?"

"Yup." Jack replied just as the bus came to a stop in front of us.

Me and Jack both took a seat at the back of the bus. I quickly checked the time on my phone and then text Rosie to say I would meet them at the coffee shop before school.

"So how was New York after I left?"

I can't tell him what happened yet even though he was my best friend for all my life up until a 5 years back.

"It was alright I guess. Not much happening."

"That's good, so have you made any friends yet? You can always hang out with me, you know that right?"

"Thanks Jack I appreciate it. Um I've met some people. Michael, Calum, Luke, Rosie, Grace..."

"You don't know their last names?" He chuckled.

"No, not yet." I laugh "and I have art with a really nice guy called Alex."

"Let me guess you don't know his last name either?" He laughs.

"Nope." I laugh with him.

"I don't recognise the names off the top of my head but I'm glad to hear you've been made to feel comfortable." He smiles. "Must have been scary for you?"

"A bit I suppose. But once the first day was over everything seemed to work itself out."

Me and Jack were so close back in New York. We literally did everything together. Our families were close to and we went on a number of days out and a holiday back to my mums home in England. We acted like brother and sister as we both didn't have a sibling of our own and so we had to find someone to fill that gap and be able to tell anything and everything to them. I remember being told that Jack was moving but I never knew where to and because of new contact details we lost touch up until now.

"I can't believe after losing contact we have met again at a bus stop, live in the same block and go to the same school." I say out of shock.

"I know and out of all the places in America our families both chose California."

"You may have to show me around some time."

"Of course."

Another 20 minutes went by with me and Jack talking about all the memories we have shared together.

"So are you one of the popular people at school?" I ask.

"I suppose I'm in that group you would class as popular but I'm not really bothered by popularity." He says as we get off the bus.