(Jack's POV)

"...Are you sure?" I asked him. He nodded and tried to say something, but his throat was closing up. After a second of trying to say something, he choked out, "And he knows I'm here." I stared at him blankly for a moment before gripping his wrist tightly and yanked him towards the front door with me. I knew what I had to do for him. I didn't want to do it, but I had to. I shoved him into the backseat of the van we shared and slammed the door, not telling him anything.

I ran back into the house and grabbed a few blankets, a credit card, and the keys, telling the others to get in the car. They were all at risk now. I locked the door on my way out and hopped into the driver's seat, throwing the blankets into the backseat, turning the key, and peeling off. It was wet and overcast outside, and the car was painfully quiet. The only sound was the contact of rubber to road. I bit my lip and tried to blink tears out of my eyes, telling myself not to panic. This can't happen again. Never again. Kara must've noticed because she gave my free hand a warm squeeze and whispered something unintelligible. I squeezed her hand back once before releasing it to turn on What You Know by Two Door Cinema Club, hoping it would make things a little more comfortable. It didn't.

It was about 30 minutes before anyone said anything and we were on the edge of the city. "Where are we going?" Mikey asked quietly. I kept my eyes locked on the road and answered him, "New York, where the JacksonP. Suites central is..." I paused and tried to swallow the lump in my throat, a tightness forming in my chest. "...We're going to see my parents..." My fingers went white against the wheel and I stared straight ahead.

"Jack, we don't have to--" I cut Connor's protests off, "Yes, Connor. We do. We have to." I said sharply. I bit my lip again and tried to quell the screaming voices in my head. I breathed out deeply through my nose, "You guys may want to get some sleep. It might be a while before we get there." It was silent again for a moment before Jade spoke up. "What about school, Jack? And what about Mikey's family? Where will they think he disappeared to?" She verbalized all my fears. Tears spilled down my cheeks and I struck the steering wheel. I yelled what was running through my head a million miles an hour. "Those things aren't important now! Don't you think I know that? All of it?! Connor is what's important right now, and I'm sure as hell not gonna let history repeat itself! I won't--" My voice gave out.

That shut everyone up for a long, long time.

---

(Kara's POV)

Jack shook me awake gently and when I opened my eyes I saw a beautiful glass building against a sky blended into different shades of pinks, oranges, purples, and blues. "We're here." His voice was rough and scratchy. His eyes had black circles under them and weren't bright and lively like they usually were. They were dull... Empty... Detached... It was unsettling. This wasn't the Jack I knew. This wasn't the Jack who set his Christmas tree on fire every year. This wasn't the Jack that somehow got a couch into the neighborhood pool and tried to keep it afloat and ride it. This wasn't the Jack who protected a kid he had never even met before from a bully.
I yawned and got out of the car slowly as he woke up the others. All of us stood before the hotel sleepily, a little bit intimidated. "Now or never." Jack grumbled to himself as he walked toward the entrance, shoulders hunched. We followed him inside and I was taken aback by both the size and elegance of the structure. It was so tall, and there were people bustling about, bellboys running back and forth with carts full of expensive luggage. Jack shoved his hands in his pockets after ruffling his hair. A bellboy rushed past us but immediately did a double take when he saw Jack. "Mr. Perkins? Have your parents been notified that you're here?" his eyes were wide and twinkling, like he was talking to a celebrity. "Not yet, they haven't. Where's Neil?" Jack asked coolly. "O-oh, I'll go ask my superior." the bellboy responded nervously before rushing off again. We waited about five minutes before he got back.
"Your brother is on the 56th floor in his Suite." the bellboy informed us as Jack strode over to the elevator. We all stood awkwardly, waiting for the elevator to reach the 56th floor. It stopped, but didn't open until Jack punched in some kind of code. The doors opened to reveal this large, beautiful room that I wouldn't even be able to imagine if it wasn't right in front of my face. Jack wasn't at all fazed by it and just invited himself in. There was this guy who looked literally exactly like Jack-- like a carbon copy-- sitting at a desk doing paperwork. Well, he had Jack's face, but his hair was combed with gel whereas Jack's was messy and unkempt and the guy had a clean white button-down while Jack had a wrinkled All Time Low t-shirt. "Hello, Jackson." The guy said like a douche-bag. "Hi, Neil," Jack replied roughly, "Where are the parental units?" Neil leaned back in his chair and cracked his knuckles, looking at Connor. "Should be on floor 59. You know the one," He smirked. I could see Jack shudder inwardly and pop his neck. Apparently the Perkins brothers feel the need to crack their joints and digits around each other. "Any changes with Wynter?" Jack asked coldly. Neil frowned falsely and shook his head as Jack dug his fingernails into his palms.
"Nice seeing you anyway." Jack said before turning on his heel and storming back to the elevator, almost not waiting for the rest of us to follow. We stood awkwardly again as Jack punched yet another code and walked into another incredible room where two older looking people sat with tea and hissed arguments at each other. "Mom. Dad." Jack said in recognition. The lady looked shocked and put a small hand over her heart. "Jackson. Why are you--" "I need my suite." he cut her off. The man had a stern look on his face and said, "So, you think you can drop off the radar for a couple years and then come back suddenly and demand your suite?" Jack looked at him venomously. "Yes," then he rolled his eyes and continued, "I may be a screw-up, but I'm still your son, aren't I? Besides, how would it look if the press 'found out' the 'golden-hearted philanthropists' Mr. and Mrs. Perkins turned away their first-born when he was in trouble?"
The man took a sudden interest in his shoes. "Yeah, not very great. Now what floor am I?" The man grumbled for a second. "Top." Jack shoved his hands in his pockets. "Thanks." We went into the elevator one last time and went all the way to the top. "The code is 41125 for future reference." Jack said as he walked into yet another mind-blowing suite. "Connor can have the couch, Jade and Kara can share a room, Mikey can have his own room, and I'll take mine. If you need anything just phone room service. Make yourselves at home. Oh, and Mikey, you should probably call Gee and let him know where you are. Welcome to your new home, guys."

Notes

I know, I know.

I'm sorry.

Seriously though if someone wants to message me giving me feedback, ideas, or telling me how much you hate me for this I'm happy to hear it and will always reply no matter what because I'm desperate for attention... Wait did I really just say that? Oh well~

I really do love everyone that reads this though~