daisy-harrington:
Where was fucking Amy? It was after eleven and Daisy was pretty sure the band was on their last encore of the evening. She just wanted to leave. She wanted to go home and rant to her sister and watch her little boy sleep peacefully in his bed. That’s all she wanted. The night had already been a disaster before it had ever really started, and the numerous drinks she had gulped down trying to distract herself had left her feeling numb and slightly out of it.
However, as soon as she heard his voice, the buzz she was feeling seemed to disappear. “Fuck…” It was the only thing she could say, before she forced herself to turn around and acknowledge her ex, who was now standing behind her. He looked older than she remembered and somewhat worn out. The boy she had fallen in love with was now a man. But the way he talked and the smile on his face…it all made her heart race. And it made her realize that beneath all the bullshit and heartache he had caused, she still loved him.
“What do you want Jackson?” She had completely ignored him flirting with her. After all, he did leave her in the middle of some podunk town at a rest area pregnant and all alone. “If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you that leaving your sixteen year old, pregnant girlfriend in the middle of nowhere at a rest stop gives me every right to treat you like you existing was a mistake.” Her voice was cold. Her eyes narrow.
Glancing around, she noticed a small gathering of his fans forming, “Great! Now, we’ll make social media headlines, because people don’t know how to mind their own fucking business.” Finishing the last of the alcohol she had, she slammed the glass down before getting up and pushing through the crowd of people.
Where was her friend? Reaching down into her pocket, Daisy realized she had left her phone at the bar. This night was just getting worse. On the verge of tears, she turned back around to go get it knowing that the same people she had just yelled at were probably going to ridicule her as she forced her way back to the bar, but it was her way out. Her way home. And it contained at least two years worth of pictures with Ace on it.
The hostility should have been expected, that much was true, and Jackson had somewhat braced himself for a tirade of hate but that didn’t mean it stung any less. She was acting like he was garbage that she just couldn’t get rid of, like he hadn’t just made a mistake when he was a stupid teenager, and Jackson went from nervously hopeful to crushed and angry in the span of two seconds. Especially after she spilled the beans around a lingering crowd that could post his past anywhere now. “Are you kidding me right now?” His words were hissed in her direction as his eyes flit around them while fans started to whisper and he shot them all a smile before moving in closer to the blonde who was now ranting about their business being everywhere.
Before he could say anything else, Daisy was brushing past him and towards the exit and Jackson was spluttering, trying to call after her but not knowing what to say to get her to stay. He supposed that might have been a good thing. Going off on someone in the middle of the crowd that kept gathering closer and closer probably wouldn’t have been a good look for the band. Still, Jackson really wished he could have thought of those choice words he could have thrown her way.
Sighing, he turned back to the bar only to notice the cell phone still sitting where Daisy had been and he slowly reached out to pick it up. As he lifted the device her lock screen came on to reveal a picture of Daisy with a young boy, a boy who looked a little like him. So that’s who he had missed out on, a kid who looked like he had that mischievous glint to his eye as he laughed along with his mother, a glint that reminded Jackson so much of himself. It was overwhelming. The sound of the crowd growing a little louder caught Jackson’s attention and brought his gaze up from the phone to see Daisy coming back towards him. He figured she was coming back for the device in his hand and quickly placed it in his back pocket before he walked towards her to meet her halfway.
“Wait, just listen okay?” His hands came up in a surrendering position before he got close to her to ensure no one would eavesdrop, his hands going to her shoulders as he lowered his voice. “I have your phone. I just want to talk. I’ll give it back if you go backstage with me and talk.” He wasn’t sure if she would go for it but he had to give it a shot, right? Besides, after everything they went through just to be reunited together so close to home meant something right? “You don’t get it until you give me at least five minutes.”