Summer heat {Jack Hughes}
Jack Hughes x Elaine Bennett
Jack is always there for his girlfriend that suffers from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
I had been feeling sick from the second I woke up, with a pounding headache and a feeling of dizziness, not to mention it was blistering hot. I didn't say anything, it was summer at the Hughes’s lake house, the best time to be alive and I didn’t want to bring the spirit down. It was around 2:00 when my boyfriend of two years came up to me while I was laying on a towel at the end of the dock, sunbathing while I read.
“Hey, Baby,” Jack greeted me with a smile, standing behind me.
“Hi,” I half turned to look at him, returning the smile.
“We’re heading out on the boat, you wanna come?”
No, I didn’t. Well that was a lie, I always wanted to go out on the boat. Just the thought of sitting on the boat while it rocked back and forth made my stomach do somersaults and make the sandwich I ate for lunch want to come right back up again.
“Sure, just let me go to the bathroom first.” I stood up too fast, making my vision go gray and had me stumbling slightly.
“Woah, you okay?” Jack put a hand on my back, steading me. Jack was used to my POTS symptoms and fainting spells and was always ready in case something happened. He always carried little salt packets in his wallet.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just stood up too fast.” I placed a hand on his wrist, closing my eyes for a moment and shaking my head.
“You sure?” Jack asked, the concern clear on his face.
“Yes I’m sure,” I gave his wrist a reassuring squeeze, “I’ll be right back.”
Jack gave me a light tap on the ass while the boys started down the dock to the boat lift, towels and coolers in hand.
I climbed the stairs up to the house and walked in. I went to the bathroom and filled up my water bottle because there sure as hell wasn't any in those coolers the boys had. I grabbed a pack of saltine crackers Ellen bought specially for me, hoping the extra salt would help make me feel better.
I went back down to the dock, all pairs of eyes looking at me as I was the last person they were waiting for.
“When we said we wanted to go on the boat, we meant today, Elaine!” Trevor called, making me roll my eyes.
“Shut up.” I clipped, decking down under the top of the lift to get on the boat. Once again when I stood up, the blood rushed to my head and I instantly sat in the nearest seat I could before I went down.
Jack noticed this and silently asked me if I was all good from the other end of the boat, to which I nodded. He knew I didn’t like advertising that I had chronic illness, everyone knew obviously but it wasn't a common conversation topic, which I was grateful for.
I opened my saltine pack and started eating it while Jack sat down next to me, resting a hand on my tanned thigh and giving it a squeeze. I listened to the country song Quinn was playing while he drove the boat, closing my eyes and trying to distract myself from the dizziness I was feeling.
“You want one, Elaine?” Trevor asked me, cracking a beer open.
“Sure,” I nodded and took the one he offered me. I attempted to open it, but in fear of breaking one of my acrylics, I handed it over to Jack, who opened it and gave it back to me without a second thought. I muttered a small ‘thank you’ before taking a sip.
“Anytime, baby,” Jack squeezed my thigh once again.
“Anyone wanna bust out the wake board?” Luke asked after an hour or so of sitting in the middle of the lake and swimming and drinking, everyone on the boat voicing their agreement. Everyone, including myself, Jack, Quinn, Trevor and Cole.
Luke of course was first to volunteer. I moved to the back of the boat to watch with the rest of the boys more closely. Luke had to show off, obviously. He did a few tricks and purposely sprayed water onto the rest of us before eventually losing his balance when Quinn made a sharp turn and fell into the water, a victorious smirk playing on Quinn's lips which he tried to hide.
“My turn!” Jack called, already getting strapped into his life vest.
“That's not fair! Quinn, you did that on purpose!” Luke protested, climbing the ladder to get back on the boat.
“Rules are rules,” Quinn shrugged, to which Luke just pouted.
I could never get bored watching Jack. My eyes stayed trained on him as he got in the water, he grabbed the rope and situated the board on his feet before giving Quinn the go ahead to start. His muscles flexed as the boat sped up and he was pulled up by the rope he was holding. He caught me staring and sent me a wink before throwing the rope back to the boat and started surfing the wake, making my cheeks heat up.
Jack managed to stay up for a while, but when he went for a 360 turn, he wiped out, and I couldn't help but let out a little laugh. Jack resurfaced and climbed back on the boat, letting Trevor have his turn. He spotted the smile lingering on my lips and a small giggle that escaped my mouth when he sat down next to me.
“Oh you think that was funny?” He asked, amused.
“Maybe a little,” I shrugged, trying to stifle the grin and giggles that were threatening to escape.
“Oh really?” Jack tested.
“Well we can’t have that.” Jack smirked. In half a second he pounced on me, attacking my sides with tickles, where he discovered I was most ticklish and he used that to his advantage.
“Okay, okay! It wasn’t funny th-at you fell!” I screamed through my giggles and fell on my back, but he still didn’t let up.
“Uncle, uncle!” I frantically yelled, and he finally stopped and I let out a huge sigh. “Jeez, can’t do anything around you.” I sat up, again way too quickly, and that mixed with how hard I was laughing, made my head spin. My hand instantly went up to my head to soothe the ache, breathy heavily.
Jack of course noticed and put an arm around my shoulder, “all good?” Jack asked for what felt like the hundredth time today.
“Mhm,” I nodded, leaning into him and he placed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “Jesus, it's so hot.” I used my hand to fan myself, my cheeks were probably beat red.
“Have some water,” Jack reached to the floor and came back with my water bottle, handing it to me. It wasn't the best idea for me to be out in such hot weather for extended periods of time. If I got overheated, I would most likely pass out.
After Cole and Quinn both had their turns on the wakeboard, it was my turn in the line up. I could tell Jack was a bit worried about me having a go because of the dizziness and near fainting spells I’ve been having today, but he didn’t say anything. We both know if I needed to stop I would.
I actually wasn't bad at wakesurfing, growing up I had my own lake house back home in Pennsylvania which we spent every summer day at, we tubed and wake surfed all day. I took my linen coverup off and got strapped into my life vest and got into the water. I grabbed onto the rope and situated the board on my feet before giving Quinn a thumbs up.
“Remember, just give the signal and I stop right away.” Quinn said.
“I know!” I called and the boat started.
I let myself be pulled up by the rope and quickly found my balance, throwing the rope back onto the boat. I did a 360 and gave Jack a smug look, as he had fallen trying to do one, which he just rolled his eyes at. I kept going for a while, no dizziness or headache coming, but despite the wind that I was whipping in my face, I still felt uncomfortably warm.
We drove through some waves and the boat hadn’t broken all of them. I rode over the waves, catching quite a bit of air before smacking back down on the surface of the water. The boys cheered as I managed to stay up, but the fast and abrupt up and down caused my heart rate to speed up and my head to spin.
I grew lightheaded and quickly gave the signal to stop, my head bobbing up and down. In an instant the boat stopped and I sank back into the water. I swam back to the boat slowly, my head dipping into the water once or twice. As I reached the boat I felt Jack grab the shoulders of my life jacket and hoist me up onto the boat. I collapsed into his arms the second I was upright, my eyes becoming harder and harder to keep open.
Jack quickly took the life vest off, leaving me in just my bikini and laid me on the floor of the boat. It was all very blurry and I couldn't hear anything very well, but I felt Jack holding my head as my eyes started fluttering shut. Jack stroked my hair, moving a few pieces out of my face as I finally lost consciousness.
I watched as her eyes closed and her breathing slowed, losing consciousness completely. After being together for the better part of two years, I knew exactly what to do. I gently placed her head on the wet life vest and felt around her face and came to the conclusion that she had over heated, which factored into her passing out. I reached into the cooler full of beer and took some ice out and placed it behind her neck.
The first time she had a fainting spell around me when we had just started dating, it was nothing less than a dumpster fire. It seemed to slip her mind to even tell me she had POTS, so I panicked and called an ambulance.
I moved to get more ice when I heard Trevor's voice.
“Oh man, no! The beer’s gonna be warm!” He whined.
We all looked at him and gave him looks, mine the meanest. I made eye contact with him before gesturing to my unconscious girlfriend with my head
“Are you serious right now, Z?” Cole asked, his hands resting on his hips.
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Trevor blushed. “Carry on.”
I rolled my eyes because I was going too regardless of what he said, placing more ice on her far too warm body to get her core temperature down.
“Anything you need us to do?” Quinn asked, keeping his composer.
“No, she’ll be all good and up again in a few minutes.” I mumbled, holding a cold beer to her forehead.
I drew patterns on her bicep with my free hand, saying a few words to her as the boys sat on the other end of the boat, paying us no mind because they knew she hated people seeing her have fainting spells.
“You're okay, baby, it’s all good.” I softly said, seeing her eyes starting to twitch. No one really knew why her eyes started to do that when she had an episode, but the doctor said it probably had something to do with her body trying to wake up. “C’mon, open your eyes for me.”
After a few seconds her eyes started fluttering open, but she quickly closed them when the bright afternoon sun shined into them. I removed the red New Jersey Devils hat from my head and placed it on hers, shielding her eyes from the harsh sun. It took a few moments for her to fully open her eyes and a few more for her to adjust to her surroundings and move her head around a bit.
“Jack?” She looked up at me, eyes tired.
“Welcome back, beautiful.” I chuckled softly.
“I take it that wakeboarding wasn’t the best idea when I haven't been feeling the best, huh?” She joked.
Elaine’s passing out wasn’t really an everyday occurrence, but it could be. It was kind of hard to predict when it was gonna happen, sometimes there were signs, but sometimes it just snuck up on her. Feeling fine one moment, and then being on the floor unconscious fifteen seconds later.
“Yeah, maybe not.” I softly chuckled, running my hand up and down her arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well? And why would you decide to go wakeboarding if you weren’t feeling good?”
She ran her tongue over her teeth, avoiding eye contact.
“Mm?” I rubbed her cheek with my thumb softly, trying to get her to talk.
“I..” She sighed, looking embarrassed. “I didn’t want to be a buzzkill with the whole… chronically ill thing. And I knew the second I told you I wasn't feeling well you would drop all your plans for the day and stay with me. I didn’t want you to miss out with your friends.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” My heart ached at what she had just said and I continued to rub my thumb over her rosey cheeks. “No one would ever think that, none of this is in your control. And who cares if I miss one boat ride? I’ve already been on a thousand and will be on a thousand more. Besides, they aren’t my girlfriend who I love more than anything.” I jerked my head in the directions of my brothers and friends. “I am more than happy to stay with you rather than hang out with them from time to time, especially if you're having a tough day, okay?”
“Okay,” She nodded and I leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Alright,” she shrugged, “tired.”
“Do you wanna go back to the house?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I’ll be fine. It would take forever to go all the way back to the house just to drop me off.”
I gave her a skeptical look.
“Truly Jack, I’ll be okay. I promise.”
“Okay, fine. But if you feel one ounce of uncomfort we are going straight home.”
“Deal,” She nodded, chuckling.
I lifted her top half up enough to slip an arm around her and help stand her up, slowly. Very slowly. She stumbled for a second before she caught my arm, stabling herself.
“All good,” she smiled at the boys who were looking at her warily.
“Are you sure?” Quinn asked. “We can go back, it’s no problem at all.”
“No really guys, I’m all good. Trust me, I’ve been doing this for eight years.”
“Okay, but just say the word and we’re on the way home.”
“You got it, Quinn.” She nodded.
I sat down on one of the lounge chairs and laid back, pulling Y/N down to lay on my chest.
“You sure you’re all good, baby?” I asked one more time.
“Goodness gracious Jack, yes. I’m gonna start a running count of how many times you ask me that in a week and make you pay me a dollar for each time.”
“Just gotta make sure my girl is well taken care of, because she sometimes doesn't like to tell me when she isn't feeling well.” I gave her a pointed look to which she rolled her eyes.
“Oh my god, drama queen,” she laughed. “From now on I will tell you immediately the second I feel the slightest bit unwell.” She said sarcastically, but I took her 100% seriously.
“Good!” I said, and we both chuckled.
She let out a yawn and rested against my chest, her eyes closing. She was always tired after an episode and needed a nap, and I was always there to make her as comfortable as possible.
“I got you, baby.” I whispered, gently grazing my hand up and down her bare back and she dozed off.
We pulled into the boat lift back at the house an hour later after coming to the conclusion that the only person that was sober enough to drive the boat was Elaine and there was no way in hell I was letting them wake her up. Elaine is still absolutely slumped on top of me, not that I minded.
Once we were docked I let everyone else pick up all the coolers and towels. Trying my best to move her as little as possible, I pressed Elaine against my chest before hooking my arms under her knees and standing up. She stirred in her sleep slightly before tightening her arms around my neck and nuzzling her head further into my neck.
It was just past five and I knew I should probably wake her because she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but I couldn't bring myself to disturb her. I grabbed both of our phones before I stepped out of the boat and started up the stairs up to the patio and into the house. When I stepped onto the patio my mom and dad were sitting at the table, their conversation coming to an abrupt halt when they saw me with Elaine in my arms, immediately assuming she was passed out.
“Oh god, what happened? Is she okay?” My mom immediately asked, standing from her seat and coming closer.
“Yeah, yeah she's fine, she’s just sleeping.” I whispered. “She hasn't been feeling well all day and she passed out after a go on the wakeboard.”
“Oh, poor girl.” Mom frowned slightly.
“Could you open the door for me, please?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, of course.” Mom nodded and opened the door widely for me, cautious of the sleeping girl in my arms.
I climbed the stairs up to my room I always slept in during summers here growing up, which we now shared. I laid her down on the bed, covering her legs with the comforter. I put a hand to her forehead which still felt slightly too warm and turned the bedside fan on, pointing it at her. I closed the blinds before quietly leaving the room to go hang out with the boys, letting her sleep.
“Is she all good?” Quinn asked when he saw me come down the stairs.
“Yeah, I just wanted to let her sleep.” I nodded, taking a beer from the fridge, Quinn just hummed.
“We’re gonna go play some corn hole, if you wanna come.” Luke said, leaning on the kitchen island.
“Okay,” I nodded, following them outside.
Eventually it had been an hour of a few games lost and a few games won of corn hole when I decided to go check on Elaine.
I made it up the stairs and was about to creek the door open when I heard talking coming from inside the room, making me pause.
First person point of view
I groaned, rubbing my eyes when I woke up, terribly confused before realizing where I was. I sat up in the bed, not missing that I was still in my bikini and reached for my phone that was placed on the nightstand. My eyes widened when I saw it was six pm, knowing there was no way I was sleeping tonight. Not wanting to get up just yet and realizing it's been a few days, I clicked on my moms contact and put the phone up to my ear.
“Hey honey, whatcha doin’?” My mom answered after three rings.
“Nothing really, I just woke up.” I said, my voice still groggy.
“Woke up? What on earth are you doing napping at six in the afternoon?”
“Well Miss. Judgey, it was unbelievably hot today, and I just wasn't feeling good and passed out after a turn on the wakeboard, so I was a bit tired.”
I heard my mom let out a quiet ‘oh,’ knowing she was nodding her head, despite not being able to see her. My entire family and I were all too familiar with my episodes and flare ups, always having bad ones in the summer, remembering the times I went down after the wakeboard or tubing. My mom immediately jumped into the same lecture about how I need to take better care of myself, be more mindful about exerting myself, listening to my body, blah blah blah… I’ve heard it hundreds of times since I was fourteen and I started passing out and was diagnosed.
I just held the phone to my ear, not listening in the slightest and chiming in with an “Mhm” or “I know” when appropriate. I was picking at a stray piece of lint on the comforter when the door opened softly, making my eyes shoot up and land on Jack. I put myself on mute and smiled up at him.
“Hey, baby, are you feeling better?” Jack sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my leg over the blanket.
“Good,” Jack mumbled, placing a hand on my cheek and kissing me sweetly.
“I swear if you don’t start taking a break when you aren't feeling well your heart is going to beat out of your chest… Elaine Viola are you listening to me?!” My mothers voice was faintly heard from my phone, making us break apart.
“Yeah mom, hangin’ on your every word.” I took myself off mute and Mom jumped right back into talking, clearly missing my sarcasm. I put myself back on mute and looked up at Jack, both of us laughing softly at my mom and her antics.
“She’s right, y’know,” Jack said.
“I know…I just wanna live my life.” I brought my legs up to my chest in an attempt to hide myself and feel some comfort.
It was true, this stupid illness has been controlling my life since I was fourteen. Growing up my family was very into sports, and so was I, I had always been a three sport athlete. In the fall I played soccer, in the winter I played basketball and in the spring and all throughout the summer I would play tennis. I was supposed to play tennis at Columbia, but my senior year my doctor said after highschool, I would have to stop playing sports. My heart wouldn’t be able to take that level of intensity everyday and would ultimately give out.
I was crushed, to say the least. I felt like there wasn’t any point. Sure I was smart, I mean I still went to Columbia, but my entire life was planned out, and it was ripped away from me. I was in a pretty dark place for a while, replaying every moment of my life up until my diagnosis, kicking myself and wondering if there was something I could have done different.
Then I met Jack two years later. He showed me my life wasn’t all just about tennis, or soccer, or basketball and there were other things to live and be happy for. Things like my family, all my cousins and little nieces and nephews I would give my life for, the love I found for baking and cooking, all the books I loved to read, my schooling. Him. When I finally told him everything, he took up tennis so I could still play. When he showed up at my apartment in athletic wear and his very own tennis racket in hand, my heart almost beat out of my chest from something other than POTS.
Jack’s eyes softened, reaching up to tuck some hair behind my ear then cupping my cheek.
“Oh, my sweet girl… I know it's hard but it doesn't it's not all you are. You are so much more than you let yourself believe and it’s all just an obstacle you overcome everyday that makes you the strongest person I know.”
I leaned into his touch, placing a kiss on his palm.
“I love you, Jack. So much, I love you so much.” I said softly, looking into his eyes with a lovesick gaze.
“I love you so much, sweetheart. You have no idea.” Jack leaned forward and placed a kiss on my head.
“I mean c’mon!” Moms voice interrupted our moment, making both of us burst out laughing.
“Yeah totally, mom. I mean who does that?” I took myself off mute again, both of us holding in our laughs.
“Your Aunt Kelly, that's who!”
I had to bite my first to keep the giggle at bay. It was always Aunt Kelly.
I pretended to listen to my mom for a few more minutes before hanging up. I usually listened, really. But with Jack right in front of me, it was hard to pay attention.
“Mom it was really nice to hear from you but Ellen’s calling for dinner, I’ll call you soon okay?”
“Oh of course! Don’t let me keep you, honey. I know how you can get when you have a story to tell. Okay, bye, I love you!”
“I-” My eyes widened. “Lo-” and with that, the line went dead.
My jaw dropped open and I looked at Jack who was full on, grabbing stomach laughing.
“How I can get!?” I exclaimed, laughing a bit myself.
“Oh baby,” Jack wiped the stray tears from how hard he was laughing. “I-I… I-” He couldn't even get a word out before doubling over laughing again.
“Okay, I think we’re going to get some food.” Once both of us calmed down from our laughing, Jack stood from the bed.
“Oh my god, yes. I’m starving.” I stood from the bed as well. “I need to change, two minutes.” I looked through the drawers and pulled out the first things I saw.
I unclasped my bikini top, it falling to the ground. I heard a low whistle and turned to see Jack shamelessly gawking at me.
“We don’t gotta go to dinner at all, baby.” Jack said with a cheeky grin, reaching to grab my hips.
“Keep it in your pants, you freak.” I pulled on underwear and my bra, turning so Jack could clasp it for me, followed by a random T-shirt and athletic shorts.
Yes, I am a full grown woman and know how to clasp my own bra, but I always let Jack do it because he just loves it for some reason.
“Well here comes the sleeping beauty.” Cole said when he saw the two of us come down the stairs.
“Yes I know, you all missed me so much.”
"Lane, make sure to get plenty of salt on your food, I don't want to deal with the embarrassment of being with someone who face plants into their plate." Luke said while we walked to the car.
I ran up behind him and jumped to hook an arm around his neck. "What about the embarrassment of being choked out by someone half your size?"
Luke then roughly shoved me off his back and fell into Jack's chest, who pushed Luke’s head with a laugh.
"Biggie." Luke shot back.
“Children, please,” Cole sighed dramatically, opening the car door. “Some of us are starving and don’t need a WWE match in the driveway.”
“He started it!” I pointed at Luke, who just grinned like the menace he was.
“Doesn’t matter who started it,” Jack said, slipping his arm around my shoulders as he guided me toward the car. “I’m finishing it—by making sure my girl eats before she actually does face plant into her plate.”
I whipped my head over to give Jack a glare. "Do you want a purple nirpple?"
Jack shoved me lightly and ran to the car, and I ran after him.
This shit is such cornball.
Also can you tell idk how to write endings?
First imagine 😜 Probably will never post again.
