Afterlife - Stephanie Hudson Page 0,180

what had happened and he looked on in horror but I left out a few parts not wanting to cause any more problems than I already had mounting up. He told me how he had been driving round looking for me, until RJ rang to tell him her version of it, which made him smile.

“I have never had anyone fight my corner before, but man that was impressive...RJ said you were unstoppable.” He laughed and put his arm around my shoulders as we were sat on the top step of the front porch. Then something struck me. Why the hell did Draven have him thrown out in the first place? If it wasn't because of me, then it must have something to do with Jack's past. So I decided now was the time to ask.

“Jack, I hate to ask but I really want to know....what happened to make you hate them so much?” His arm fell from my body and he turned to look at my face. His features were first hard at the memory but then they softened when he looked into my eyes.

“It was over two years ago now, the summer before I was to start my first year of college.” He paused playing with his hands and his elbows rested on his knees. He looked out to the surrounding forest as his story was locked away and he was searching for it.

“I met a girl. She was very beautiful and incredibly smart, which I like in a girl. I like a girl you can have a conversation with, a laugh with....Not one of these ‘I love myself’ types....A girl with depth.” He said looking round to find my face, as if trying to judge my reaction to his words. I smiled, so he continued.

“She came into Airtime, the sports store I work at in the mall.” I nodded as I had heard him talk about the shop before.

“Well we hit it off straight away and amazingly I found the guts to ask her out, even more amazingly though, she said yes!”

“I can understand why,” I said nudging him and he grinned back but his eyes remained sad.

“Cutting a long story short, we became an item and were inseparable all summer. She lived with her aunt and was starting college the same time as me so it all felt perfect. We had such a strong bond that my body would literally ache when I wasn't around her.” Of course this I understood perfectly as it was how I felt all the time I wasn't near Draven. Even though now it felt like I could knock his block off!

“So what happened to her?” I asked softly.

“We went to the club for the first time together as then I was the legal age to drink, it was the same night that the Dravens always make their first appearance. Of course back then I was just like the rest of them, getting mixed up with all the gossip, wanting to see them just like everyone else.” He rubbed the back of his head with his hands and I felt bad that I was making him talk about it as he was clearly finding it hard.

“We all waited like idiots for them to arrive but she was the only one who was looking awkward, kind of agitated and I couldn't understand why.... the way you acted that night brought back so many memories I was so sure the same thing would happen to you, that I couldn't witness it again....so I left, do you remember?”

“Yes, I remember.” The truth was how could I ever forget, my life hadn't been the same since that night...Not that it had been much before it!

“You remind me so much of her, it’s scary sometimes...I'm sorry I shouldn't say that,” he said back tracking but it didn't offend me, so I reassured him.

“It's fine, really I don't mind.” He looked at me, smiling at my reaction.

“Well, apart from the hair of course but your sister Libby has similar...she was a red head, but some days I would be amazed looking at it, as it looked as though it was on fire,” he said and I could almost see her in my head.

“Please go on,” I said and he nodded.

“Well Draven did the same thing, as though he was Master of all that is beneath him! He walked past that same table and he looked at her the same way he looked at you, but unlike you, she