emotions, jack gilinsky

27

amara rahman

"hi." i smile politely at the man in front of me. "is jack home?"

he looks back, "katherine? is the boy home?"

"the boy?" another voice asks, followed by a chuckle. an older woman appears, and she smiles softly at me. "you mean your son?"

"she's looking for him." his father mumbles, leaving her side and going back into the house.

the woman smiles apologetically, "sorry. i'm his grandmother, elice."

"i'm amara, his friend..i think."

she lets out a laugh, "oh! well, do you wanna see him? i'm pretty sure he's in his room."

"i just wanted to see how he's doing.." i trail off before realizing she probably didn't have a clue about what he'd done.

though, she steps back without question and lets me in.

i skip up the steps and reach towards the handle, hesitating before pulling away and knocking.

i hear a groan from the other side of the door. "go away."

"it's amara."

"still doesn't change my answer."

i wait for a few seconds, "okay. i'll leave."

before i could turn, the door swings open and jack steps out, a hostile expression drawn on his face.

"hi." i mumble politely.

"what're you doing here?"

"um," i murmur. "i wanted to see how you are."

"why do you even—"

"don't even finish that sentence." i interrupt. "i care, and i'm kind of tired of you thinking i don't, especially since i came all the way over here."

"you live five minutes away—"

"not the point."

he sighs, crossing his arms as the hostile expression begins to fade. "okay."

"okay?"

"yeah." he shrugs. "i'm doing alright. you?"

i narrow my eyes at his failed act of seriousness, "seriously?"

"yes, amara." he rolls his eyes. "what made you so concerned, anyway?"

"i saw videos, and stuff." my eyes advert to his arm, before looking back at him.

"oh, want an invite to the next party?" he asks.

"no." i scoff. "you're ruining your life."

"my life is already ruined, amara."

"but you can stop before it's too late."

"maybe it's already too late."

"how many times have you done it?"

"just once."

"then don't ever do it again."

"thanks, doctor." he remarks sarcastically.

i grunt and take a step back, "fuck you."

his smirk fades, "what?"

"i'm being serious, jack." i mutter. "and you're not."

"well, i'm trying." he defends. "but i'm fine. and i don't know why you're worrying."

"johnson is too." i tell him, "all of your friends are."