A/N: Seem to be having some technical difficulties so hope everyone can find this chapter ok
Hope - Chapter Four
"You need a better game plan," Texas advised Dodger, "Ignore her, pretty girls don't like to be ignored, but then you already knew that," Texas closed the door in Dodger's face then wandered into the kitchen, "tea?" she asked Jodie. "Umm nah I'm fine thanks," Jodie replied from where she was sitting pretending to watch Animal Planet on the TV.
The brief visit from Dodger had been a revelation for Texas. She knew that he and Jodie had hooked-up whilst she had been away over Christmas, but Dodger was acting like she had never seen him before, like some lovesick puppy. As Texas stirred her tea she realised she felt unnerved by this. Did this mean that Jodie and Dodger had feelings for each other? This idea bothered her, but it bothered her more that she didn't know why it should affect her so much. Texas sighed as she continued stirring her tea distractedly. She didn't like Dodger did she? Texas tried searching deep within herself. No, she didn't think so. Not seriously anyway, she knew too well what he was like. So why should it trouble her so that there could be some real feelings between him and Jodie?
Jodie was watching Texas out of the corner of her eye as she stood staring into the mid-space, just moving the spoon round and round in her cup. "Err you know that was ready about five minutes ago?" Jodie called over to Texas. Pulled from her revere Texas cradled her cup in her hands and walked over to the sofa and sat down, smiling apologetically at Jodie for spacing out on her.
"He's not right for you." Jodie said to Texas referring to Dodger.
"Why, cos he's right for you?" Texas replied.
"No. Because he's Dodger, and you're a smart beautiful woman."
"So are you." Texas laughed off the compliment.
"I'm not the one who is going to fall for him," Jodie said pointedly
"Well neither am I," Texas retorted defensively.
"Yeah right, cos that hasn't happened before. Texas your heart's in your pants, you can't just hook-up with somebody without it meaning it something"
"That's not true."
"Oh because that's something to be proud of." Jodie shook her head in exasperation.
"Look just cos I don't go round Hollyoaks village sleeping with every guy doesn't mean I'm not empowered."
"If you're talking about Doug I haven't slept with Doug." Now it was Jodie's turn to get defensive.
"No, but I think its pretty crappy how you're using him to get Dodger's attention," accused Texas.
"Wow. That's who you think I am? You don't know anything about the kind of person I go for. Sure Dodger's hot he looks like a walking Abercrombie cardboard cut out, but," Jodie paused licking her lips, "he is emotionally challenged, he treats girls like crap and you can't take that seriously. You're not like that, you're different, you care about things and that's what I like about you."
Texas felt touched by the compliment. Was Jodie right? Did she still care about things? Texas wasn't sure. She felt like she had stopped caring the moment India had been cruelly taken from her. Maybe she wasn't such the lost cause she imagined.
"Nothing means anything to anyone anymore," Jodie continued with a sigh.
"Yeah, well I haven't fallen for him." Texas reassured Jodie. And that was true. Texas was sure it was. So why did the idea of Dodger and Jodie still niggle at her.
"Good. Don't." Jodie smiled at Texas.
They sat quietly for a while, both had their eyes trained on the TV screen, neither really watching. Jodie broke the silence, "what you doing for New Years Eve?"
Texas scrunched her nose, "nothing really." She hadn't made any plans, not sure whether she wanted to celebrate the New Year. Christmas had been particularly difficult, what with it being the first anniversary of India's murder, and Texas didn't anticipate New Year being any easier.
"Good," Jodie smiled at her, "how about we go to Chez Chez, I bet Dodger can get us some tickets, we could invite Doug along too, it'll be a laugh."
Texas pursed her lips thinking. It sounded like a hellish idea to her, being sidelined to watch Doug and Dodger battle for Jodie's affections. "I don't know, I'm not really in the mood for a party."
"C'mon," Jodie stuck out her bottom lip in a mock pout, her eyes sparkling "it'll be fun the four of us."
Texas continued to try and resist, the idea of watching Jodie play Doug and Dodger off against each other all night really didn't sound that much fun to her. "I think I'll just have a quiet night in, you'll have much more fun with just Doug and Dodger."
"I'm not going to take no for an answer," Jodie warned. Texas laughed, "yeah, what are you going to do about it?"
Jodie didn't respond at first, just continued to study Texas for a moment, her eyes dancing with mischief, and her mouth being pulled up at the corner by the start of a smile. Jodie bit her bottom lip gently to stop a full grin breaking out, then maintaining an artificially serious tone she simply stated to Texas, "I will tickle you to death!"
Texas sat stock-still for a minute trying to judge whether Jodie was serious or not. She wouldn't, would she? Texas continued to study Jodie intently, trying to figure out if she was joking or not. She must be joking surely, they were too old now for those kinds of games weren't they? In return Jodie had continued to sit a moment longer just staring at Texas, her eyebrows slightly raised in an amused expression. Jodie smiled and edged slightly along the sofa, closer to where Texas was sitting. Texas felt her whole body tense up in anticipation of the attack, and already began to feel that tickly sensation all over.
The next thing Texas knew she was lying on her back on the soft carpet on the floor, wriggling and squirming under the tickling attack from Jodie's hands. Jodie was sitting on top of her, keeping her pinned to the floor for her 'torture'. Both were in hysterics and had tears of laughter streaming down their faces. Texas found she could barely breath. "Okay okay," Texas half panted half laughed. Jodie ceased her tickling then pinned Texas' arms down on the floor above her head where she lay, "so you'll come?" Jodie asked Texas as she held her there. "Yes!" Texas gasped, "just no more tickling please!" "Great," Jodie smiled, then jumped up from the floor where she was straddling Texas. "See you then," Jodie called as she exited the flat, leaving Texas sprawled on the floor trying to catch her breath.
After Jodie had left Texas slowly picked herself up from the floor, her sides were actually aching a little from the intense laughter. Texas realised with a start she hadn't laughed like that for a year, and then she was even more shocked to realise how much better she felt for it. Perhaps a night out was just what she needed. Some fun to dull the emptiness of a difficult Christmas. Texas had assumed this time of year would beyond awful, but maybe there was some light trying to filter through from the end of the very long dark tunnel she had been confined to.
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Texas carefully applied some eye shadow in the mirror, and then outlined her eyes with a deep dark black line. She had that jittery feeling of anticipation. She was actually looking forward to tonight. Texas looked over her reflection in the mirror, watching how the light bounced off her gold sequined top, and adjusted her hair. Finally satisfied with her appearance she quickly made her way the short distance to the club, across the road from her flat. She checked her mobile, there was a text from Jodie:
We're at the upstairs bar xx
Texas made her way through the packed crowd, everybody in high spirits for the night. She spotted Jodie standing with Doug and Dodger at the bar. "Hi guys sorry I'm late," Texas greeted them, "so who's getting the drinks in?"
To her surprise and relief Texas found that Jodie was staying close to her all night. They laughed and joked on the dance floor, Jodie whispering funny comments about the attention she was receiving from Doug and Dodger, Texas feeling happier than she had in a long time. Jodie had been right, she was having a good time.
Just before midnight Jodie indicated she wanted to get another drink. They squeezed their way over to the bar. As they stood there, drinks in hand Texas had an urge to thank Jodie for dragging her out, "I'm having a great time," she shouted to Jodie over the beat of the music. "Good," Jodie moved in a little closer to where Texas stood to make herself heard.
"When are you just going to choose one and put them out of their misery?" Texas asked Jodie, indicating her head towards where Doug and Dodger were stood looking at them.
"You really want me to choose right now?" Jodie asked.
"Yes, for my sanity and their sake?"
"Fine." Jodie placed her glass on the bar, then before Texas had time to react Jodie turned Texas' head towards her kissing her softly on the lips.
Texas felt the gentle pressure against her lips, almost like the fluttering wings of a butterfly passing close by them. She automatically closed her eyes accepting the soft kiss, forgetting briefly who it was that was lightly pressing their lips against hers. There was something so disarming, so simple, so non-threatening about the kiss that Texas did not pull away, but instead found herself beginning to respond. Then as quickly as it had begun it was over. Jodie pulled away, and both her and Texas turned to see the look of astonishment painted on the faces of Doug and Dodger who had been looking on. Texas found herself revelling in the moment, amused by the reaction of the two guys, sharing the joke with Jodie. Then Texas slowly raised a finger to her lips, feeling a warmth there, tasting a sweetness. Feeling something new. Something different.