Chapter 7
I woke up with a huge headache. I sat up in bed and rubbed the top of my head. I really need medicine. Ow. What happened last night? Bits and pieces are slowly coming back to me. I was with John Paul. We drank. A lot. Oh yeah, I beat him at basketball. That was fun. I stood up and walked to the mirror. Man, I looked like crap. I stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stripped off all my clothes and relaxed to the heat of the water. I let the waterfall cascade over my face and tried to wash off all evidence of last night. I put shampoo on top of my head and began washing it out of my hair, when suddenly I remembered something. John Paul's lips on mine.
"Shit!" I yelled and opened my eyes, which let soapy shampoo sting me. "Dammit!" I quickly washed the suds out of my eyes and hair and turned off the water. I attempted to get a towel and exit the shower.
"Craig, is everything alright in there?"
"Yes, mum. I just got soap in my eyes. No big deal." My left eye was twitching now but my thoughts were all about last night. John Paul and I kissed? I remembered all of it now.
"Are you sure, love? You sound in shock."
"I am," I whispered as I put a hand to my lips.
"What did you say, Craig?"
"Nothing, mum. I'm fine really."
"Ok, see you in a few minutes, son."
I stared at my reflection in the mirror with my hand to my lips. My hangover was fogging up my memory but I distinctly remember his lips on mine.
"You didn't even say goodbye." He looked sad as he put a finger to my lips.
I put my robe on and tied it shut. I stumbled out of the bathroom and absentmindedly looked through my dresser for clothes.
His gaze returned to my lips as he licked his. Lust grew in my eyes and in my groin. Without thinking, I bit my lower lip in anticipation. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't a dream this time. I didn't know what to do. I was frozen as John Paul's face inched closer to mine.
I pulled on a shirt and jeans and went back into the bathroom. The scene from last night kept playing in my head. I looked at my reflection and slowly rubbed my face.
The spark was instantaneous. It was so much better than in the dream. I felt alive as if John Paul had just given me a second chance at life.
"Holy Shit," I whispered. What was gonna happen when I see him again? Maybe I shouldn't see him again. At least maybe I should stay away until he wants to talk to me. Is he gonna be mad? Of course he is. I kissed him. Or, maybe he kissed me. Hell, I don't remember. But I do remember how good it felt. Oh God. Ok today, I can't text or call John Paul. I will let him come to me. He needs to approach me first.
I managed to get a grip on myself and go meet up with Sarah. She texted me after I got out of the shower. Luckily, my mum didn't ask too many questions about the shower incident. She believed that I just had innate clumsiness, which very well could be true. I was walking, when I hadn't noticed but Sarah had come up behind me and she put her hands over my eyes. I couldn't tell who it was. John Paul?
"Hey, you," I said before I turned to face the person. Oh, it was just Sarah.
"Don't look so disappointed," she pouted.
"No, I'm very happy," I kissed her sweetly but quickly on the lips. She smiled and grabbed my hand.
"So, Hannah got plastered last night."
"Wow, I'm surprised."
"Yeah, she kept going on about how much she is in love with John Paul. How much he means to her. They even had sex!"
"They did?" This was news to me. A feeling of nausea sweeps over me.
"Yeah, apparently while we were away they did it at her house. She told me way too many details." Ugh, I felt sick.
"Haha. Yeah, good for them. We shouldn't talk about it. It's their business." It was all I could say without Sarah detecting anything wrong. We kept walking until we got to the SU bar. I was giving all my attention to my girlfriend when I noticed her expression change. I looked in the same direction as her gaze when my eyes fell on Hannah and John Paul.
They were sipping drinks and laughing about some inside joke. He had a dark green t-shirt on with light jeans. I think Hannah was wearing one of Sarah's dresses.
"Hannah! John Paul!" Sarah yelled in excitement.
"Hey Sarah. Craig," Hannah replied and nuzzled up to her boyfriend. John Paul just nodded. Shit.
"So, what are you two up to today?"
"Just getting a quick drink. Then, well I don't really know."
"Yeah," John Paul added. "No big plans for today."
"Good. Hannah, I thought we could go shopping. I saw this lovely bag in a magazine that I just have to have."
"Shopping? Sounds perfect. John Paul doesn't like shopping trips."
"Definitely not my thing either," I chuckled and looked at him. He smiled and nodded but I couldn't tell if it was genuine.
"Ok, so see you later I guess," Sarah turned to me.
"Bye, love you."
"Love you too," she said and kissed me on the lips. I turned around and Hannah had already made her way over to Sarah and they were about to walk away. I looked at John Paul and he was staring into his drink. I put my hands in my pockets sighed.
"Did you two get into a fight?" Hannah asked, suspicious. Sarah crossed her arms on her chest. John Paul raised his eyebrows.
"Nope." He said and just shrugged.
"Yeah, it's all good," I replied trying to smile.
"Ok well we will see you blokes later," Sarah said and walked away with Hannah gossiping about girl stuff.
"Huh, looks like they're gonna have a busy day," I remarked. He took a sip of his drink and wiped his mouth.
"Yeah, girl bonding. Never something I was good at." He chuckled and pat me on the arm. "You wanna go to The Dog for pool or something?" He was so calm and it must have taken me by surprise cause he made a weird face. "…or not? Are you busy with something today?" He looked confused.
"Oh! No, I'm completely free today." Maybe he didn't remember the kiss.
"Good, mate. Just letting you know I'm gonna kick your ass just like I did last night in basketball." Shit, maybe he did remember.
"No, I definitely recall me whipping your butt last night."
"Well, I was drunk but I do remember some things." Some things? What did he mean by that? "You ok, Craig? You're awfully quiet." He tried to smile at me.
"Well, umm." I stopped by the statue near The Dog and sat down he did the same. I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Get on with it, Craig." He chuckled.
"Do you remember everything about last night?"
"Well, yeah unless you drugged me or something."
"Oh." I looked down at my hands.
"What's wrong?" He genuinely looked concerned.
"It's just um, right before I left. We um."
"Kissed?" He smiled at me. I just froze and stared at him with my mouth open for a second. "Craig?"
"What? Yeah yeah. Umm, so you remember it?" I was too nervous about his answer so I couldn't look him in the eyes.
"Yeah, I do remember it. Haha we were pissed drunk though." Phew, it seems like no big deal.
"So, we're ok?"
"Course we are mate. We were drunk. It didn't mean anything. Right?"
"Right. It meant nothing." I cleared my throat and smiled at him.
"But I do have to say Craig, your lips are pretty soft," he smiled. I couldn't help but blush.
"Sorry mate but Sarah beats you there." I pat him on the shoulder, stood up and walked into The Dog.
"You bitch," he chuckled and followed me inside. I smiled to myself.
As we entered, music filled our ears. We looked at each other confused when Jack came up to us.
"Hey, boys. What do you think of Spike?"
"Who?" John Paul asked.
"Our new DJ," Jack commented and pointed to a young man hard at work in the DJ booth. He was actually pretty good.
"He definitely knows what he's doing," John Paul added, nodding toward Spike.
"Yeah, we're hoping he can bring in more business. Well got to go lads, more drinks to be served." I stared at Spike who was just finishing off his set and an emotion coursed through me.
"I don't like him."
"You don't like who?" John Paul asked.
"Spike. I don't like him."
"Why? You don't even know him."
"I can just tell," I began. "I mean is his name really Spike? Seriously?"
"Don't judge him until you've met him, Craig." He told me this while his eyes were on Spike. "He's coming over here."
"Hi, I'm Spike. You must be Craig." He gestured towards me. "And you are?" Before he could answer, I spoke.
"This is my best mate, John Paul."
"Hi. Nice to meet you, Spike."
"Pleasure," Spike responded. Ok, I really didn't like him. I mean he's just a bloke but there's something about him that ticks me off. The three of us ordered drinks and sat down at a table to chat.
"Are you new to Hollyoaks?" John Paul asked.
"Yeah, just passing through when Jack approached me about this gig. The money's good so I said why not."
"Yeah, good deal." I was silent. I just felt like an outsider with them.
"John Paul, I'm gonna head out," I told him.
"Already?"
"Yeah, Sarah just texted me and I forgot that I promised to buy her a few things."
"Oh, good luck then. See ya tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"See ya Craig," Spike added.
"Bye, Spike." I walked out and took a deep breath of the night air. I looked though one of the windows to see Spike and John Paul huddled around the small table laughing together. I shouldn't be jealous. But I was.
