LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Jack (2)
After school, Jack met up with Ethan to walk home. The conversation was easy, but Jack's mind kept drifting back to Lily. It didn't make sense. Why had she been so distant? And why did he feel like something had changed?
Later that evening, Jack made his usual stop by Jack's Grill.
Jack sat quietly at his usual booth in Jack's Grill, savoring the smoky aroma of his ribs. His mom and dad were in the kitchen, busy with orders, but Jack was used to the noise of the restaurant—the clink of silverware, the murmur of customers, and the sound of his parents working tirelessly to keep everything running smoothly. It was peaceful here, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of school, where he was constantly running after his goal of making the varsity football team. But right now, he didn't want to think about football.
His stomach was full, and his mind was elsewhere—his thoughts drifting between his workout, the conversation with Lily in gym class, and the strange feeling that had started to settle in his chest. Why had she been so distant today?
As he chewed on a tender rib, his eyes wandered around the room. That's when he spotted her—Lily—sitting alone at a table near the back. She was with a little boy, no older than five or six. The kid looked a lot like her, with dark, messy hair and a mischievous grin that made Jack's heart tighten in his chest. Her little brother, Jack realized, observing them from across the room.
Lily looked tired. Her usual guarded expression was softened as she leaned in to listen to her brother, who was enthusiastically pointing at the menu, his eyes wide with excitement.
Jack's attention stayed fixed on them as his mom moved to their table with a polite smile. She greeted Lily warmly, as she did with all her customers, but there was a slight hesitation when she saw what the little boy was pointing to on the menu.
"Can I help you, dear?" Jack's mom asked, her voice gentle.
Lily hesitated for a moment before replying. "I'll have one order of ribs, please," she said, her voice a bit quieter than usual. She looked down at her brother and asked softly, "Is that what you want, sweetie?"
The little boy nodded enthusiastically. "Ribs!" he declared, as if it was the greatest thing in the world. His excitement was contagious, and for a second, Jack couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Ribs weren't cheap at Jack's Grill, and even with the discount his mom sometimes gave to regulars, it wasn't something that families with limited income often ordered.
Lily looked at her brother and smiled, but it was a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She was trying so hard to give him something he wanted, something that made him happy, but Jack could see the strain on her face. It was like she was silently weighing whether or not she could afford the meal. She seemed uncomfortable with the decision, but in the end, she couldn't say no.
Jack watched, his heart tugging painfully at the sight of her trying to balance the needs of her brother with the reality of what they could afford. He knew what it was like—he'd grown up in a working-class family, always scraping by, but at least his parents had Jack's Grill to keep them afloat. It wasn't easy, but it was a steady income. Lily didn't have that luxury. And the way she looked at the menu, calculating how she could manage to pay for both of them, made him realize that.
As his mom headed back to the kitchen, Jack leaned back in his seat, still watching Lily from across the room. The little boy happily started to make small talk with his sister, completely unaware of the stress she was carrying.
Jack suddenly had an idea—a simple one, but one that he knew would help. Without thinking twice, he stood up and made his way into the kitchen.
"Mom," Jack said quietly as he slipped through the door. His mom looked up from a sizzling skillet, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Jack? What's up?"
He glanced back at the dining area, then back at her. "Can you give Lily another order of ribs? On the house."
His mom raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Lily? You mean the girl who comes in here sometimes? Why on earth would we give her free food?"
Jack hesitated for a second before speaking. "She's a classmate of mine," he said, his voice slightly more serious than usual. "I just—she's going through some stuff, and she's always taking care of others, especially her brother. I think… I think she could use a little kindness."
His mom stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she gave a soft sigh. "You know we don't usually do things like this, Jack."
Jack nodded. "I know. But please, just this once. "
His mom didn't answer immediately, but after a long pause, she gave in with a resigned nod. "Alright. But only because you asked, and only because you know her. Just don't make a habit of this, okay?"
Jack smiled in relief. "Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it."
Without saying anything more, he stepped back out of the kitchen, taking a seat at his booth again. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, so he kept his head low, trying to act casual.
After a few minutes, Jack saw his mom walk over to Lily's table with another plate of ribs. She handed it to her with a polite smile, saying it was on the house. Lily's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the extra ribs. Her face, usually so guarded, softened for the briefest moment, and Jack noticed that the smile she gave wasn't the strained, forced one she'd worn earlier. It was a real smile—a genuine, heartwarming smile that lit up her face in a way he'd never seen before.
It was small, but it was enough to make Jack's heart skip a beat.
Lily glanced up from the plate, her eyes meeting Jack's for a fraction of a second. There was something in her gaze—something fleeting, something he couldn't quite place. But before he could think about it too much, she quickly turned her attention back to her little brother, who was already excitedly digging into the plate of ribs.
Jack sat still, a strange feeling settling in his chest. He wasn't sure what he was feeling, but he couldn't shake the image of Lily's smile, that unguarded, beautiful smile that had briefly crossed her face. It was a smile that was more than just gratitude. There was something else there—something real.
Jack didn't fully understand why, but in that moment, he felt a deep, almost overwhelming sense of admiration for her. And as he glanced one more time through the window at her, watching her take care of her brother, he knew one thing for sure: Lily wasn't who he thought she was. There was a lot more to her than he had realized.
Without another word, Jack stood up and quietly left the restaurant, his mind buzzing with confusion and feelings he couldn't quite label. He didn't understand why he was so moved by the simple act of giving her an extra meal, or why his heart had skipped a beat when she smiled. But as he walked home, the image of her face stayed with him, lingering like a secret he couldn't bring himself to tell anyone.
As he made his way back to his house, Jack realized one thing—Lily had become someone he couldn't ignore. And that, for some reason, scared him.