Chapter 108 - Lean On Me

Patrick. 

It's been a couple of hours since he left my apartment. 

I have tried calling him but he hasn't answered any of my calls. Do I really have any reason to worry? It is not like something could've happened to him in such a short amount of time. He said he was going to change his clothes. We had a date planned and now he has disappeared on me. 

This is what happens to me, I start to think the worst of situation. 

What if he changed his mind and he doesn't want this anymore? 

Something terrible could have happened to him. I dial his number again in the hopes that he would pick up this time but it just goes straight to voicemail. My hands tremble as I grip the phone tightly. Completely going crazy with worry. 

I have to make sure something didn't happen to him. I don't know how he will feel about me going to his apartment but I need to be sure. I need to make sure he is okay. I get to his apartment and knock on the door gently. If he is here, he will answer and I can make sure he is okay. I can hear rummaging through the door and then footsteps get closer. 

The door opens finally but it is not Jack. A man in his mid-forties looks at me with an angry expression on his face. I take it this is his father. The look on his face is giving me the creeps but I came here to make sure Jack is okay. So I can't leave without seeing him—at least. 

''Who are you?'' the man mutters harshly, his voice is deep and very coarse. There is nothing friendly about this man. No single resemblance to Jack. Jack always has a smile on his face, he is the life of the party; very kind and caring. This man looks like he doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself. This is what he has to live with every day. 

No wonder he was so hesitant about starting things between us. 

'' I am a friend of Jack, is he home?'' I ask wanting to end this conversation faster. 

He raises his brow in a curious way and I stand in front of him, unsure of what else to say. This is very awkward for me. I hate parents. I just never got along with them. My parents are nothing to talk about, I had no choice but to be with them. Other parents—not so much. 

''He is not here,'' the man shuts the door on my face. 

He doesn't even wait for me to leave. What a fucking jerk. I stand in front of the door, completely taken aback. This is the first time I've met his father and I see why he hates him so much. The man smelled of alcohol all through our encounter. He had this look that says 'stay away'.

I go back to my apartment, now even getting more worried. Jack will not just disappear on me like that. Something must have happened to him. I don't know what to do. The only person I can talk to about this is Lance. I don't know how weird it would be, calling him and asking about Jack but I need to make sure he is okay. I am so worried that my heart feels like it is about to explode. 

I dial Lance's number and it takes a while for him to pick up ''this is not a good time,'' he whispers into the phone. 

''Hey, wait. Something is wrong with Jack, I can't find him anywhere.'' I rush to tell him before he hangs up. 

''What do you mean?'' his voice gets louder. 

''We were supposed to hang out over two hours ago. I have tried calling him, he didn't answer. When I went to his apartment, his dad said he wasn't home.''

''His dad is home?'' he asks immediately. 

''Yes.'' 

''Did he seem drunk?'' I can sense the worry in between the lines of his voice. Just the mention of his father and I get this reaction from him. 

''Did you check my apartment?'' he mutters. 

''No, do you think he could be there?'' 

''Yeah, just go to my place. That is the only place he likes to go to when his father is home.''

That stings because I wish he'd want to be with me to escape. I know he has had a longer relationship with Lance than me but I want to be that escape for him. I want to be the one he can rely on. I wish he had come to my place. Even though Lance doesn't seem to be worried anymore. I still am. He was supposed to meet up with me, he was very excited about this date, so he wouldn't just disappear like that. He wouldn't just leave me hanging. 

I go down to Lance's floor and knock on the door. There is silence on the other side fo the door. The walls of this building are very thin. I should be able to hear him If he is inside. 

''Jack,'' I call his name anxiously.

I need to find him. There is this part of me that feels like something is terribly wrong. I hate that I have these thoughts in my head but this is just how I am. 

I think the worst. 

''Please if you are here, let me know. I am worried.'' I cry through the doors. There is this desperation inside me that I can't hide anymore. 

I suddenly hear the footsteps and there is a relief that takes over, knowing he is actually here. The click of the lock sounds and I see him but my eyes can't stop staring at the sight in front of me. His nose is red and bloody. A little crooked. There is a cut on his lip and a black eye, well the bruise on the eye is a bright purple. The freshness of it, shining. 

I just saw him. 

There was a smile on his face. He wanted to take me out. Treat me like a prince. What happened in the span of those hours? 

''Jack,'' I reach for him but he looks away from me, looking down at his feet. There is a bag of frozen peas in his grip; probably to help with the pain. 

''I'm fine,'' he mutters even though I didn't ask. 

He doesn't look fine. He looks beaten up and in pain. 

''Your dad?'' I ask rhetorically. There is no need to question. It is so obvious that he was hurt by that bastard. I reach for him again and this time he doesn't pull back. Slowly I pull his face up with chin and his eyes are red. God, how could someone do this to him? My beautiful man. The light in his eyes, the one that is always there seems to be dim. 

''Your nose is broken,'' I point out. 

I know the bruises that come with a beating. This is nothing new to this. I have been through all this before. The only difference with this is that they are just bruises. They weal heal and he can forget about it. Mine are scars. I am always reminded every time I look in the mirror. 

''I know. It will heal.''

I shake my head ''Babe, we need to get you to a hospital.''

''This is not my first rodeo. I don't have to go to a hospital.''

If he doesn't go to a hospital. His nose will always be crooked. I don't want him to have to be reminded of this every time. We can still fix it. ''Please. I'll drive you.''

He manages a smile but I can see that it hurts to even move his face ''on your motorbike?''

''With your car. Hell, if I have to call an uber.'' 

'' I don't want to go to a hospital.'' He dismisses me. 

I wish he'd listen to me. Trust me, I want to help him. God, I hate that this is happening to him. Seeing him in pain, wishing I could take all that pain from him. 

I want to do something. 

Anything. 

''Please. This will make me stop worrying.''

He sighs loudly, pulling me into the apartment. His white shirt is bloody; probably from his nose. He is dressed in different clothes from when he left me. He was so excited about this date and now it is fucking ruined. 

''I don't have insurance. Going to the hospital right now will be expensive. I can't fucking afford it.'' I freeze from his honesty. I didn't expect him to be that open with me. My heart melts from it. 

''I can pay. Let me help.''

He shakes his head ''I will never ask that of you. Please don't make me stoop that fucking low.''

That's the problem. His pride is in the way. He doesn't want to lean on me right now. Jack is not the kind of person that is dependent on people. I want him to lean on me so badly. 

I wish he would.