He Needs To Know
"So what was the bet?"
Bart eyed his friends suspiciously as money appeared to be changing hands.
"Bet? What bet?"
Tilly muttered guiltily.
"The one you obviously won."
She tried to stash her winnings subtly but failed spectacularly as Jono only had change, which he proceeded to drop at her feet, as she rolled her eyes heavenwards in frustration.
'What a plonker!'
"You were or at least your relationship with Sinead was."
Jono replied. They all stared at him (even George and Maddie) as though he were an alien landing in their midst.
"What?"
He stared at them blankly as they stood frozen in disbelief.
"Nice. Bart drawled sarcastically. What were the terms?"
"Just the obvious. How long will it last before you admit the truth?"
"Seriously Jono shut up."
Tilly mumbled apologetically as blushing furiously she attempted to gag his motor mouth.
"It's okay Tilly. Let him speak his mind. Go on Jono. What is the truth?"
"You couldn't handle that you had fallen in love with Jason and you took the easy way out."
"Jon-"
"No Tilly he needs to hear this. You might wish Jasmine was here, but the truth is you realised you love Jason and maybe not today or tomorrow, but a month down the line when it is too late because you are in too deep with Sinead, you're going to see what an idiot you have been because no one is even going to come close to what you feel for him."
Dabbing at the tears welling in her eyes Tilly kissed him fleetingly on the cheek as she whispered in his ear. She knew how difficult that had been for him to say, she could see the ghost of regret in his eyes.
"I couldn't have put it better myself."
"Jono I love Sinead. I can't lose her."
"But you are willing to let Jason walk away?"
"He has gone already and just for the record he left me."
Bart replied defiantly.
"He told you how he felt Bart. Tilly chastised him. You just had to be honest."
"He knew how I felt."
Bart struggled to dispel the obvious bitterness in his tone.
"Was that before or after London?"
Maddie drawled sarcastically.
"But that was all his doing."
Bart interjected defensively.
"He wanted you to be happy. If you couldn't be with him then she was the obvious next choice."
"You don't get it. Bart shot back at them accusingly. I fell in love with Jasmine hook line and sinker from the moment I met her. When she told me she was really Jason…it screwed with my head. I'm not gay. You have no idea how hard this has all been."
"Don't I?"
Jono mumbled sadly.