Class of '13
Jack Abbot x reader
First fic, be nice!
Reader is kind of inspired by Javadi lol, she started college at 15, though, not at 13 like Javadi. I imagine reader as 28, because that's what matches the timeline, but there aren't any mentions of her age other than the fact that she graduated high school early.
Wrote this because I saw @thatcorporategirlie post abt it (hope this was what you wanted :).)
CW: low-key bullying/mean sentences (only a few sentences) cuddling? mention of Jack's prosthesis, mentioned nudity, established relationship. LMK if i missed anything :D
You had been dreading your high school reunion for the past month leading up to it, even Jack’s constant comfort hadn’t been enough to calm your worries about seeing your old classmates. You only saw them once a year, sometimes you couldn’t even make it, busy with med school, internships, and residency, but you were finally settling slightly, having finished your residency last year, and you and Jack had been together long enough for you to want to bring him to the reunion.
Still, you had been hesitant about bringing him at first. You knew he would get worried - and frankly, slightly angry - when he met your old classmates. You hadn’t been bullied in high school, per se, but you definitely weren’t the popular girl. Focused entirely on your studies, you knew from an early age that you wanted to work in emergency medicine, and because of that, people slowly stopped noticing you, you lost most of your friends, seeing as you always had to study, you remember your best friend’s words clearly, “I really like you, I do, but you’re no fun anymore, all you ever do when we hang out is study, like some nerd, high school is about having fun! Not worrying about studying,” she’d said, and you’d just nodded and watched her leave your room, pulling her shoes on, being too cowardly to say anything.
You’d graduated high school at 15, and started college that same year. You weren’t a prodigy, but you were definitely smarter than average, and Jack constantly praised you for that, seeing as you’d lost most of your confidence during med school, because all your situationships had been self-conscious men that didn't like being with a woman in a more powerful field than them. They had always tried to knock you down. Jack had helped heal those wounds, and you couldn’t explain how grateful you were for that.
You had always been quite awkward, and slightly shy, and while you’d mostly broken out of that shell, the awkwardness had remained, making it hard for you to keep up with those from high school that you still had kept faint contact with.
The two of you had just barely gotten off another grueling nightshift, heading back to his apartment seeing as you practically lived there now, and the two of you went through your usual routine. Quick dinner, that consisted of reheating takeout from the fridge, a shower where he took off his prosthesis and you massaged his leg while he sat on his shower bench, and took turns washing each other's hair, got dressed, you in one of his t-shirts and a pair of panties, him in his plaid pyjama pants that you teased him about, calling him an old man.
When you finally buried yourselves under the covers, you both let out a heavy sigh. Jack wrapped a muscular arm tightly around your waist, pulling you flush against his chest. He pressed a kiss to your temple, smoothing your hair back.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Jack murmured.
“Mhm. Just nervous about tomorrow, haven't seen them in a while,” you whispered against his skin.
Jack tilted your face up. His hand gently but firmly forced your chin up, seeking the direct eye contact he always demanded. It used to make you nervous; now, it grounded you. “You have nothing to be nervous about. I’ll be there. We can leave anytime you need to, okay? No questions asked. We’ll just go have dinner on our own."
“Okay,” you whispered with a smile.
You pressed soft kisses against his jawline, leading up to the corner of his mouth. One of your hands tangled in his damp curls while the other scratched gently against his broad, freckled back, and Jack let out a low groan, leaning into your touch like a touch-starved cat, letting you pull him down to rest his head on your chest.
“Goodnight, handsome,” you whispered. He hummed in response and sleep claimed you both soon after.
You both wake to the blaring of an alarm later, and it was 5.30 pm, an hour before you needed to be at the restaurant for your high school reunion, you yawn, blinking awake, tired from your nightshift, though thankfully you and Jack had tonight off. “Jack,” you sigh tiredly.
He lets out a grumble against your chest, “honey, I’m gonna be crushed if you don't get up,” you groan, and giggle when he says, “I surely hope not, baby,” before rolling off you with a stubborn sigh.
You sit up, throwing the covers off, handing Jack his crutches, and he stands with an unintelligible grumble, his greying curls mussed from sleep. The two of you get ready together, as normal, Jack sitting on the toilet seat while you do your skincare, and get dressed, deciding on a simple pair of loose jeans and a black halterneck, seeing as the restaurant you were going to isn’t that fancy, and Jack is dressed in a black pair of jeans, and a navy button-up, sleeves rolled up, exposing strong, veiny forearms that made you salivate.
When you finally step out of the truck, you and Jack head towards the doors and inside the restaurant where you can already see some of your old classmates, your chest tightens, and you grip Jack’s hand tightly as a server leads the two of you over to their table, some of them staring, others resuming their conversations.
You find two empty chairs and sit down, apparently you were the last people to arrive, and so they call a waiter over. Jack casually orders his food, confidence dripping from him. When the waitress turned to you, your voice caught in your throat. “Uhm- I’d like the greek salad,” you say quietly.
As the waitress walked away, Jack slung a heavy arm over the back of your chair, leaning in close. “You don’t even like salads, baby,” he whispered, his brow furrowing.
You shrugged, looking down in your lap, “they’re fine.”
When the food arrives, the ice breaks, and one of your classmates speaks up, glancing your way.
“So, what’re you doing now?” He questions.
You looked up, slightly surprised to be acknowledged and included in the conversation. “I work in the emergency department of PTMC,” you say, offering a slight smile.
“Ah, still a nerd, I see?” A boy you remember vaguely from your class, who’d found it really funny to bully your smarts, says, and his friend nudges him, eyes wide. You freeze, throat tightening.
Before you could shrink back, Jack tilted his head, his gaze turning icy as he locked eyes with the guy. “Yeah? What is it you do?” Jack asked, his tone perfectly calm, but dripping with an intimidating authority.
He stuttered, shrinking back, caught off guard, absolutely not having predicted this outcome to his question, “I-I work at the local college.” Jack raises a brow, clearly expecting more. “I’m a bodyguard,” the man continues.
Jack leans back in his chair, letting out a huff, “I don’t think you need to say anything else, and for your information,” Jack sighs before continuing.
“I think she’s a hardworking woman. She’s accomplished more than any of you probably will have by the time you’re 40,” Jack says, “she’s wonderful, beautiful, smart, the most hardworking woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I think we’ll be leaving now. Come on, baby,” Jack huffs, standing up, pulling your chair out and helping you pull on your jacket once you’re standing.
Once you’re in the car, Jack doesn’t start the ignition, just turns to look at you in the passenger seat, staring into your lap, chest tight with a mix of embarrassment and adrenaline.
“Hey, look at me, sweetheart.” Jack sighs. Gently reaching over to grip your chin, tilting your face up to meet your eyes.
“I meant what I said in there, yeah? I wasn’t trying to infantilize you, I meant what I said. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You graduated high school at 15, absolutely crushed med school and residency, and you’re one of the brilliant people helping keep the ER together,”
Jack says, and a teasing grin spreads across his lips, “other than me, of course,” he tries to bring humor into the conversation, “of course,” you respond with a smile and a giggle, finally turning to look at him.
“Yeah, there she is,” Jack smiles at you.
“You’ve worked so hard to get here, be proud of yourself, cause you know damn well I am.” Jack finishes.
You turn to look at his profile, his rolled up sleeves, the silver curls, and a mischievous smile tugs at your lips. “You know, I’m pretty sure I saw half the girls in there ogling you, including the hostess, my handsome silver fox,” you tease him.
Jack just huffs out a laugh, shaking his head slightly in exasperation, finally turning the ignition, “yeah? Let ‘em look baby. I’m only going home with one doctor today.”
“I love you,” Jack sighs, rubbing his hand over your cheek.
“I love you too. Can we go get that dinner you promised?” You grin at him, placing a hand on his thigh.
