You Can't Tell Me What to Do Anymore (Jack Lex)

"They're good." I answer her question. It must be hard not to see the little ones for a few days since she is so used to having them around.
"I think I'd better get back to them now." I give her a regretful look and hope she understands that I have no other choice. My mother and father need some rest for the exhausting days to come and I do as well so I pick up the reigns of the horse, whose hot breath is traveling through the dark night like steam clouds.

She starts walking down the hill with the sleigh in tow and then picks up the pace. This way we arrive back at the barn 15 minutes later and get out.
I untie the horse and bring her inside, the put the reigns away.
Now I have not more tasks so i stand in front of Faith and look at her intently. "I guess this is it."
I try to smile encouragingly but it fails me because I know of the dangers of the trip.
"C'mon, give me a smile before I go so I remember you right."
I pull Faith into a tight hug and hold her for a while because we won't see each other for a long time.
"Good bye, Faith."

The end ...at least of this chapter

OOC: Want to open a thread of after or during? Actually we could post a post each for ...during

Even after Jack had completely faded out of vision and into the night Faith's eyes didn't budge. It was going to be a long time apart and it toke all she had to not ask him to stay. Taking a gulp Faith finally retreated inside after quite a few minutes of her eyes burning from the long stare. The worse part was not having an exact date of Jack's return, she didn't know when it would be appropriate to begin worrying.

Faith was only able to last two days before having to check up on the Lexiton's household and it was very warming to have such a welcoming from both Jack's parents. Maybe she shouldn't of been so surprised, after all she was there to help with the twins and they all knew her, possibly even trusted her. Faith wasn't going to admit it but seeing Josh and Briar was more of an aid for her then her nurturing care for a few hours, which in fact turned into a daily visit after finishing her own chores.

"If my visits are too frequent I can stop intruding so much." Faith offered Jack's Mother one afternoon before leaving.

It's no surprise, but still a pleasant warmth in her heart, when Mrs. Lexiton reassures Faith of not be an intrusion and also gives her a welcoming to stay longer, something she couldn't pass up. Being in the Lexiton home, around Jack's children and parents was practically like being around him, though the feeling he may walk through the door any second was a little painful because he wouldn't be for several weeks. "Thanks." Faith smiled gladly accepting as she closed the door and followed Jack's Mother to the living room.

"Could of fooled me." Faith lightly joked with uncertainty of how Mrs. Lexiton toke humor, though she looked like the type of have a funny bone. "I love helping out with Josh and Briar, it's not even helping to me when I love it so much." She shared to get across that it was helping herself just as much as them.

The grey's among Jack's mother's hair was beautiful as it clearly showed her kind heart and wisdom that came with good aging, something Faith only hoped to have one day. "But your color shows your knowledge." Faith told wondering if it was crossing the lines, though she feared almost everything she said to anyone was a mistake.

It was obvious that Mrs. Lexiton would be able to spot any feeling from the best liar in the district, but Faith did really believe her smile was convincing. "I guess I just miss Jack." Faith said in more of a hushed voice almost ashamed, then again she had yet to confess her feelings for Jack to anyone, including herself. Swinging her red locks over one shoulder Faith toke a sip of the tea. "I'm sure you must feel the same way. You're his mother, i'm just a friend." Faith blushed a tad bit taking another sip, she had to stop herself from rambling before spilling feelings that were too personal. "Thanks for the tea." She quickly redirected the conversation.

---

Quite a bit a way the worry of Faith's also had his mind among his children and close friend. "Yeah?" His partner responded with a small chuckle at Jack's lie, the crack in his voice clearly indicated his sadness. When Jack didn't return a sly comment a bit of guilt set in and he was actually curious to what was on his mind. "Sorry dude, are you missing your kids?" He asked with only assumptions, the young guy had no children of his own but only a silly teenage relationship to compare it to.

((OOC: I'll never give up on this plot. What's the young guy's name that's on the journey with Jack?))

"Jack's a really great guy." Faith felt the need to explain after her feelings of missing him were pointed out. "You must of done an amazing job raising him." She complimented before lowering her eyes to the tea because she felt as if she was sucking up though it simply flew from her lips. It was really nerve wracking hearing Mrs. Lexiton's concern about her son, and it toke a minute for Faith to realize she was holding her breathe.

"I heard." Faith responded to the last journey not working out great, and then she wasn't quite sure if it was okay with Jack's mother for her son to share those stories. "...about how dangerous it can be." She corrects herself before taking another sip of the tea.

"Oh no, he's probably busy with his work. Plus he has the twins and you guys to miss." Faith redirected as she felt her face burn a little more pink.

---

Brian had a proud smirk on when Jack stated he wasn't easily fooled, though it was quickly over taken by Jack's next comment. "I'm sorry, I know that can be tough." He tried to comfort in the manliest way possible, especially because he couldn't relate the slightest bit to what he must be going through.

"Just a few girls." Brain shared, being young an intimate relationship had yet to get to him and he was still enjoying his sleeping with any girl, teenage spree. "Nothing that won't be there when I get back." Looking over at Jack he felt a little bad and decided to try to act mature.

"What about you?" Brain shifted the conversation to get more of a feel of mature subjects conceived of from his older partner. "How do twins act at six months?" He curiously asked with no knowledge on parenting or the difficulties it is to split with them.

The idea of having older brothers that toke Jack under their wings was precious, something Faith never had but hoped to deliver to her younger siblings. A bit of guilt dropped noticing that Faith's three younger siblings were being effected by the family drama between her and the parents, it wasn't fair and she knew at least Hope was suffering from this change. "But you raised his older brothers?" Faith asked from the surprise of Mrs. Lexington not taking enough credit for such an amazing job she did with her children. Certainly Faith would do anything to have similar parents to Jack's, purposely avoiding the idea of having Jack's parents on account she was perfectly content on not being related to Jack...that'd be creepy and Faith couldn't help but giggle at her thoughts.

"That must of been very difficult." Faith commented to the pain everyone had to go through waiting and when Jack returned. This time he was going to be perfectly okay, no better then that, all Faith wanted was for Jack's safe return, even more then being more then friends with him. "What happened for him to get better?" Faith curiously asked, it was true that Jack was now much more open then when they first met, but she didn't think he was as bad as the description his Mother was giving.

Of course it was a pleasant shock to hear that Faith was on Jack's mind more then she believed, well actually a lot more on account she lowered it down to her not crossing his mind at all. Unsure with how she was suppose to react Faith's eyes stayed glued to the tea that was almost halfway empty, taking sips was a good distracter when Faith was nervous, though she felt she shouldn't be in front of such a kind person. Hearing a reassurance finally gave Faith the strength to break her gaze from the warm drink. "I didn't think it was." Faith admitted because she was nearly certain it wasn't.

The compliment of Faith not knowing how great she was forced a smile on the redhead's face, a genuine one that revealed her dimples and enhanced her rosy cheeks. "It's not that." Faith explained, an image of Jack's beautiful eyes filling he mind after Mrs. Lexington brought up two of many good qualities he contained. "He just only likes me as a friend." Her voice dropping a bit at the end because of the painful truth.

---

"Okay maybe not a few." Brain admitted with a laugh, he wasn't a bad looking guy but didn't necessarily have girls lining up around the block, especially not at once. "Not at the same time at least."

"That'd be cool." He agreed, this was his first time outside of his own District, let alone meeting a girl from a different one. "Think they're any hotter there?" Brian asked looking over at Jack to see his odd reaction, he wasn't like the other boys from school, he was older and much more mature, something that intimidated Brian. When the smallest information came from Jack, Brian was ready to grab it and shift the conversation.

"There's no 'not really' girls." Brian explained as he tried to understand himself, maybe they had only recently met and Jack wasn't certain of his feelings yet. "Unless her names Not Really." He joked with a small laugh. "There's got to be someone." He left open just in case the 'not really' meant it was a guy instead of a girl.

As bad as it was the conversation of girls and relationships was much more interesting to Brian then talking about children. "Yeah." Brian responded though he had no information about babies. "They like to put things in their mouths to, right?" He asked, almost sure that it was a common trait among babies to do that.

Knowing that Jack had a full family at home waiting and worried about him, Brian toke it upon himself to make sure they arrived back safe and sound. "It's either fast or safe, you don't get them both." He told, though he wasn't really in position to be giving even the smallest orders.

((OOC: Sorry it toke so long...again. I'll be able to respond all this weekend, but then during the weekdays i'll probably be too busy and unresponsive again. BUT the semester is almost over and my response time will spiral up once again))

There wasn't a story that Jack told that Faith had forgotten, well for the exception of mixing a few up, but with his past slowly being revealed to her in a scattered format it was difficult to keep track. She wasn't sure if the numb leg from the unlucky journey occurred before and after the incident with Noreen. Then of course Faith felt awfully stupid when she remembered that Noreen joined Jack to the trip to find a healer for help. "That's really great." Faith responded as she sensed hesitation to talk about this sort of thing. Sure Jack's heartbreak over Noreen was the blockage from them becoming more then great friends, but Faith may never of met Jack if it wasn't for her. "I truly appreciate her, she helped make Jack who he is today." She commented with a trickle of a smile.

It was a warming touch to feel Mrs. Lexington's hand on top of Faith's, especially on account of the fact she hadn't even received a simple hug since the departure of Jack. Immediately Faith's light brown eyes found their way to the older wiser ones that resembled Mrs. Lexington's son. Could it really be true that these activities and times spent with one another was more then what just really good friends do? Certainly that's what Faith wanted to believe, but in order to protect herself from growing to attached or getting hurt she convinced herself otherwise. "I guess I just believed we were really good friends." Faith explained, the memory of their drunken night of exchanging one kiss flowing into her mind like a movie. "Maybe I was wrong." She admitted unsure if she should share about their one kiss, especially because it involved drinking.

The next bit of information brought from Jack's mother was a bit difficult for Faith to swallow. It was all so much truth at once, truth that Faith had been lying to herself about even. Sure all she wanted was for Jack to be happy, and could very well find herself happy with him as well, but she still wasn't certain it would make Jack happy. This was his mother though, mother always knows best, right? Still Faith's low self-esteem blocked the ability to absorb it. Despite what Jack had shared on their last night, that if he was going to be with a girl he'd already of found her, Faith was still so fearful that currently he could be in District 11 and spotting the most beautiful girl he'd ever witnessed. Someone better, someone more like Noreen.

One thing for sure though, even being just friends, Faith was able to take the compliment of helping Jack to find happiness once again. And then it hit Faith that she was repeating exactly what Noreen did, showing a great man what he was capable of, or taking him out of his shell as Mrs. Lexington put it. "Similar to Noreen." Faith said in a hushed voice that could still of reached Mrs. Lexington, but before the opportunity the baby girl Briar announced that nap time has ended.

It was perfect for Faith was becoming a bit flustered from this conversation. "I'll get her." Faith offered with knowledge of the difference between when Briar cried compared to her twin brother Josh who had some strong lungs. By the time she had reached the crying baby there was two of them, luckily Faith now had much practice under her belt on how to handle twins, especially these two. "Come on you two." Faith scooped them both up and bounced them back to where their grandmother was.

----

"Complete opposite." Brian responded to the statement of how the majority of the people look within District 11. "It's difficult to think that only one number added to the District changes the lifestyle so much." Finally something sort of mature escapes Brian's lips.

It was hard wrapping Brian's mind around the fact this girl Jack was talking about was only his friend. Wouldn't he of not mentioned her at all? Because the title girlfriend wouldn't link with the memory of her. At least that's what Brian believed. "Yeah just friends." He said somewhat convincing aside from the slight chuckle in his voice. But before Jack had a chance to respond he spotted something in the distance.

Squinting his eyes Brian tried his best to make out the black figure that Jack was pointing to, but from this distance it was simply only dark like a shadow. Brian had no worries within him about something like this happening, and actually anticipated a bit of action. That was until he held the gun within his hands and pointed it to the animal waiting to attack, the nervousness shot in. "I never used a gun before." He felt the need to admit before the threat reached any closer.

Still Brian prepared with the basics he knew of, loading the gun and cocking it. Still his hands couldn't help but violently shake as he held a life-taking weapon within his hands. As the animal approached closer the tension grew along with the threat, before Brian even realized it he gave out the first shot. It was the more stupid idea to close his eyes while pulling the trigger, but luckily he just missed the tip of his horse's nose, and of course no where near the animal that now resembled a panther. This of course wasn't distant enough to prevent spooking the horse, and just as any animal would do, the horse completely freaked out with his front legs dashing high in the air and the other two making their way backwards as to get away from the danger.