Disclaimer: Characters and original storylines belong to Channel Four and Hollyoaks.
A/N – Thanks for the kind reviews, means a lot to me, that you're enjoying this. Please keep them up :)
Doug is in the Deli with a huge smile on his face, he enjoyed his drink with John-Paul and the moment they both shared, if only Leighann didn't show up. Would of happened if she didn't? Would of something happened? It was clear that the McQueen boy is still hung up on his ex. Doug was still wounded by what happened with him and Ste, but he has moved on and was starting to really like the new man in his life. Ste was in one of his moods, yet again. The American didn't even bother asking what was wrong, he knew fine well what it was, two words, Brendan Brady. Ste could see how happy his ex looked, which made him curious.
"What's up with you, this morning?" Ste asked quite annoyed.
"Can't I just be in a good mood?"
"I suppose" Ste handed the customers change. "so, what did you last night?"
"Not much really"
"Not much?" Leighann's voice echoed the shop. "We went for a drink with John-Paul" the blonde smiles.
Ste looks at his ex husband and clicked on why he was so happy this morning "John-Paul?" Ste's tone sound of disgust
"So what? We had a few drinks in the pub, Leighann was there!" Why did the American feel as he had to explain things to ste.
"I would stare clear of him, if I was you" the deli owner states.
"And whys that?" Leighann buts in.
"You should of seen the way he treated Amy's sister" Ste answers.
Leighann rolled her eyes. She and Amy weren't exactly great friends.
"What did he do?" Doug now curious.
"His boyfriend, ex whatever, Craig was engaged to Sarah, while sleeping with John-Paul, They broke her heart"
"Well, everyone has a past" Doug says while he brushes the shop floor. It shouldn't matter what John-Paul has done in the past, he wasn't exactly a saint himself.
John-Paul is in the coffee shop on his lunch break, he orders a coffee and sits down at the table. He thought about going to the Deli, but doesn't want to seem to keen. He liked Doug, but still wasn't sure if he was ready. Enjoying his coffee and reading the paper, he spots Leighann coming towards him. He gives her a smile and she sits down next to him, uninvited.
"You're a dark horse, aren't ya?" the blonde smiles.
"What are you on about now?"
"Doing the nasty with your best mate behind his fiancée's back!"
John-Paul was annoyed at the fact, its been five years, yet everyone seems to still be gossiping about his past. "That was a long time ago, why would people still be going on about it!"
"It was Ste that was telling Doug and Me"
"So what, you just stand about talking about me behind my back? Get a life" John-Paul gets of his seat and heads out the door.
Doug is serving a customer when John-Paul enters, banging the door behind him.
"Hey, I was call you after work, see if you fancied doing something" Doug smiles.
"You know, if you wanted to know stuff about me, all you had to do was asks, not asks the local chav" The McQueen spits.
"What are you talking about?"
"Leighann told, that the three of you have been in here, gossiping about me!"
"John-Paul, I don't know what Leighann told you, but-"
"Save it! Just forget it" John-Paul storms out the Deli, leaving Doug confused and annoyed.
John-Paul is sitting on the couch at his family home, Myra enters the house with baby Matthew.
"John-Paul, could you grab a clean nappy, I think Matthew needs a changing, could smell it from all the way back from the park" Myra could tell something was bothering her son. "What's wrong love?"
John-Paul hands his mum a nappy. "why does your past always come back to hunt you?"
"That's life, just as you think you have everything sorted, some way or another, your past catches up with you, just look at our Mercy"
"Yeah" her son says in almost a whisper.
"Why? What's happened?"
"Nothing. Doesn't matter. Give him here" John-Paul takes his son off his mother and gives him a cuddle.
Doug is done locking up the shop and is on his way home, when he hears Leighann's voice from behind him, at first he ignores her, but she finally catches up to him.
"Hey, what's up with? Anyone would think your trying to blank me" the blonde moans.
"They would be right" Doug mummers
"Eh?" Leighann confused.
"Why did you have to open that big gob of yours!" Doug snaps.
"what do you mean?"
"With John-Paul! Everything was fine, until you opened your mouth to him about what Ste said"
"I didn't think" Leighann now feeling bad.
"You never do, do you?" Doug walks away from her and heads home.
"DOUG! I'M SORRY!" Leigh shouts after him.
The blue eyed American is in his flat, pouring a glass of wine, when the door goes. He's surprised to find the McQueen boy standing in the door way.
"Can I come in?" John-Paul asks.
Doug nods and they both walk into the flat. The boys are sitting in the living room, Doug pours the visitor a glass of wine.
"Look, I'm sorry for going off on one. I know what this Village is like. I shouldn't of acted that way" John-Paul breaks the silence.
"It's OK. I wasn't gossiping about you, Ste just mentioned something that happened in the past and Leighann can't help herself"
"That is true" they both smile. "Mates yeah?"
"Mates" Doug nods. But is that what he wants? Just to be mates with the guy he fancies rotten?
After another few glasses of wine. They boys are laughing at embarrassing stories that's happened to them. John-Paul gets up off the couch and almost trips over a shoe lying on the floor, Doug manages to stop him falling. Still holding the Americans hand, they boys stare at one another long that they should of. John-Paul's heart is racing and for that second, has forgotten all the heartache that has happened to him. He places his hand on Doug's cheek and leans into give him a gentle soft kiss on the lips. During the intense lip-lock, the boys stop after hearing the front door open. They both smile and wait for Texas to head up stairs. Doug walks the young McQueen to the door.
"I'll call you tomorrow, yeah?" John-Paul asks.
"Sure" Doug smiles.
The boys share a goodnight kiss and John-Paul heads home. Once ready, the teacher jumps into his bed. He closes his eyes, but open them again, when his mobile starts ringing. He quickly grabs the phone so Matthew doesn't wake up, but freezes when he sees the name calling him. Craig.
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