This is semi-long-awaited (haha, who am I kidding?) sequel to "Running Out of Pain".
I need to give a HUGE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THANK YOU to Shining Star of Valinor for her help with editing and letting me bounce my ideas off of her. She was a huge help and this probably wouldn't be done by now if it weren't for her, so again, THANK YOU!
Jack jumped off the stage and onto the empty dance floor that was crowded with at least a hundred fans merely a half an hour ago. He smirked to himself, Spyder wasn't the big arena he always dreamed of performing at, but it still provided him with the rush of the crowd that he thrived on. He crossed the floor in five long strides and stood just to the side of the bar. Isabelle was behind it, pouring half empty bottles of similar alcohols together and looked up at him, knowing the look of bliss on his face the he only got from the screams of fans.
"You were amazing tonight."
"You say that every night," Jack replied, smirking.
"Well, that's because it's true every night. You're the best damn musician I was ever engaged to."
"I thought I was the only musician you were ever engaged to," he said, raising an eyebrow.
"So? Just means your competition was slim."
Isabelle placed the bottle in her hands on the shelf and then slipped out from behind the bar. She walked over to him and kissed him softly, keeping her body close to his even after she had pulled away. Jack wrapped his arms around her, engulfing her in his grip and looked down into her eyes.
"Besides, you know how much I love watching my man on stage while all those girls scream for him. It's a major turn-on to know that no matter how much some girl is lusting after you, I'm the one you go home with every night," Isabelle said.
"A tad bit jealous, are we?"
"No more than you. I see the way you look at those drunken idiots who grab my ass when I serve them."
"Well, when did they get permission to grope you?" he questioned
"When did those girls get permission to flash you?"
Jack rolled his eyes, he knew that he had been defeated. Isabelle kissed the side of his neck and heard the deep guttural noise he made every time she did so. Smirking, she pulled away and looked up at him, loving the way the dim light shone off the sweat still present on his body from his energetic front-man act on stage.
"Do I have anything to worry about?"
"From those drunk fools?" Isabelle questioned, shaking her head. She pulled herself out of his grip and grabbed hold of his hand. "You never had anything to worry about. I love you and only you, idiot."
"I love you, too," he said.
"Good, now take me home. I need to get some sleep before I have to go to work."
"Okay," Jack said with a quick nod. He turned towards the back of the club and waved to the owner. "I'm heading out Tony, I'll see you tomorrow."
Jack grabbed his guitar with his free hand and started towards the door, Isabelle by his side. As soon as they stepped out onto the dark street she instinctively pulled him closer to her. Jack had taken on the role of her protector since they were teens and with the short five blocks trek back to their apartment always seemed longer while taking them on streets seedier than the ones in their hometown when Sweet had been in control. It was a comfort to know that Jack was there and wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"I got a call from Bobby when you were at work this afternoon," Jack said, trying to distract her. Isabelle looked up at him and smiled. "The baby's getting big. He called to tell me that we need to get our asses back to Detroit to visit because Abigail needs her godparents in her life."
"We should take a trip back up there when we get the chance," Isabelle said. "I miss everyone."
"I do, too."
Times like that, when the conversation turned back towards their family in Detroit, were the times that Jack felt the most guilty about leaving with Isabelle for New York. Yes, she had told him to follow his dream and work at Spyder, she practically demanded it, but he knew how she felt about her life being devoid of the simple things like family. He felt the same way.
"You know," Isabelle started, knocking Jack out of his thoughts. "I don't have to be up too early tomorrow."
Jack looked down at his fiancé, the grin on her face making him forget all about the sadness he felt. He leant down on kissed her, savoring the taste of her lips on his even after she pulled away. They turned the corner to their block and Jack sped towards the door, kicking open the door that led to the hallway. He pulled his arm out of Isabelle's grip and stood in front of her, holding out his guitar. She took it, staring at him oddly, as he swept her off her feet and carried her up the stairs, holding her tightly to his chest.
"Sudden burst of energy?" she questioned, laughing.
Jack nodded as he hit the last step and headed straight for their apartment. He reluctantly placed Isabelle back on her feet and dug deep into his pockets for his keys. He wrapped his fingers around the loop that held an absurd amount of keys on it and began to unlock all five locks that Isabelle made him install after their had been a drug bust across the street a month after moving in.
After the last lock clicked open he held the door for Isabelle and watched her walk into their apartment. As she went to put Jack's guitar in it's rightful place he started to lock up again. When he turned around Isabelle ripping off her jacket and throwing it onto the ground. She made her way over to their bed, a mattress that resided in the middle of the one room apartment, and sat down on it looking up at Jack. He smirked and quickly made his way over to her. He fell to his knees, wrapping his arm around her waist and sliding her down into a lying position on the bed. Jack slid on top of her and paused for a moment just to look at her. Isabelle went to speak but Jack quickly placed his index finger on her lips, shushing for the moment. She smirked and kissed his fingertip lightly.
"You are so beautiful," Jack whispered.
"Jack, you really don't need to say that, you're gonna get laid either way."
"No, I'm serious," he replied, laughing.
"I look like a whore, I'm still in that stupid ass outfit they make me wear at Spyder."
"That doesn't matter," he said. He smirked and gently rested his hand on the side of her face. "You know, you're all I ever wanted. Nothing else will ever matter to me as long as I have you. I will be happy even if I'm a starving musician, or I have to give it up, as long as you're with me."
"Shut up," she said, embarrassed by how sincere he was being.
"It's true though."
Isabelle shook her head and leaned up towards Jack, catching his lips just as he went to speak again. She took advantage of catching Jack off guard and flipped him over on his back so that she was on top, smiling as she continued to kiss him. She pushed him back against the pillows, sliding her hands beneath his shirt and enjoy the fact that she was in control. Pulling away slightly, she looked down at him, and pulled his shirt up over his head.
"Stop being so perfect," Isabelle said.
Without a moment's hesitation she returned to him and bit down on his lip, causing Jack to groan and plant his hand firmly on the back of her neck. She ran her hand along the length of his body and laughed softly, loving the way that he reacted to the slightest touch from her. Sliding his hand away from her neck, Jack pushed the straps of her tank top away from her shoulder and leaned upward so that he could plant a kiss on her soft skin. Lost to the feeling of his lips on her skin, she allowed him to gently roll on top of her and take control again.
"Cheat," she whispered, closing her eyes.
"Just using the same tactics that you do," he replied.
That was the night, the far too perfect night that made every other romantic moment or gesture after that pale in comparison to it. It was the night before the life changing news. A few months before she felt like the one thing she always had was lost. A year before she decided to take matters into her own hands.
One Year Later….
Isabelle sat in her car in front of the Mercer residence in Detroit, Michigan. There were a few lights still on, the flickering of a television screen evident through the paper-thin curtains that hung in front of the window. Resting her head against the steering wheel, Isabelle let out a soft sigh and then slowly started to get out of the car. She didn't want to do this but the Mercer house felt more like a home to her than her sister's, despite the circumstances.
Walking up the pathway to the house she could hear the familiar sound of an overly enthusiastic Bobby yelling at a hockey game, now, however, it was devoid of the usually present curse thrown in to exercise his point. She stepped onto the porch and gently pressed her finger against the doorbell, in her mind hoping that it hadn't been enough to make the bell ring out. However, she knew it had, as she heard footsteps nearing the door and then saw Lyn's outline appear in the blurry glass part of the door
The door swung open and Lyn stood there shocked but smiling. Before either one of them could get a word out Lyn took a step out onto the porch and hugged Isabelle tightly, it had been nearly two years since she had seen her friend. Taking a step back, Lyn took the sight of Isabelle in and saw the tears in her eyes. She grabbed her arm, trying to pull her into the house, but Isabelle resisted, she didn't want Bobby to hear her.
"Isabelle, what's wrong?" Lyn whispered, sensing Isabelle's need to keep whatever she was about to say between the two of them.
Isabelle bit her lip and took a deep breath, this was the first time she was going to be saying those words outloud, the first time she was going to admit them to herself or anyone else. Her chest rose and fell dramatically as her breathing increased automatically as she tried to keep the tears from her eyes and solemnly admitted what she wasn't really ready to face even though it was her who had brought the idea in her head to action.
"Jack and I are getting divorced."
That's the end of the first chapter. I know I originally said at the end of "Running Out of Pain" that if I were to do a seque to it, it would only be a one-shot, but I changed my route, I hope you all don't mind. I also know this chapter is a bit on the short side, but I need to set things up in the plot.
Please review! Tell me what you think! Hate it, let me know why and what I can do to improve. If you like, please tell me. Any input would be appreciated.