Getting There

calikocat

Word count: 1456

Interlude

A/N: I don't quite remember when Ryder started his contact with the mysterious Katie...but I'm ignoring that whole little subplot.

XXX

"Dude."

Jake opened his eyes blearily, searching for the source of the voice that woke him up. Ryder was peering at him just as blearily in the early morning light. What time was it? The last thing he remembered was crashing at Ryder's after some Halo. "What?"

"Your phone." And then Ryder was asleep again.

Jake reached for his phone; it had somehow slid off the air mattress he was crashing on and was vibrating on the floor. He looked at the screen...the number was unfamiliar. "Hello?"

"Jake?" It was man, not someone he recognized...he didn't know anyone with a British accent.

"Who is this?"

"A friend."

"A friend wouldn't call me before dawn."

The stranger chuckled in amusement. "Trust me, I'm about to change your life. I hear you have a girlfriend."

Jake sat up, more alert now. "Yeah."

"But she was almost your friend Ryder's girl first wasn't she."

"Technically..."

"Blew your first shot, then managed to get a second, and left your boy out in the cold."

Jake winced at that. Whoever this 'friend' was he knew what he was talking about. "Yeah...I did."

"Doesn't have to be like that."

"What do you mean?"

"You both like the girl."

"Yeah, we established that."

"And your friend Ryder isn't a bad looking bloke now is he?"

Jake's eyes focused on Ryder, who was sound asleep, his hair was mussed and he was the picture of peace. "I guess...what are you getting at?"

"The three of you get on well, and she likes both of you. Might give it some thought is all I'm saying."

Jake could feel a frown come over his face. "What? We should share her? Don't think so dude."

"Why is the younger generation so bloody thickheaded?" The man sighed. "I'm not saying share the girl...I'm saying date both of them."

Jake was glad Ryder was sleeping, even though there's no way his blush was visible in the predawn, barely there light. "A threesome?"

"Just think about it. It would solve all your problems, and no one would feel left out. Ta." He hung up with a click and Jake pulled his phone away from his ear and simply stared. There was no way he was going to go back to sleep now...simply too many thoughts.

It didn't help that his eyes kept straying to the still sleeping Ryder...who looked...cuter? With his hair all mussed like that...oh...maybe the stranger was right...this would take some getting used to.

xxx

Marley fumbled for her phone, hoping it wouldn't wake her mom. "Hello?"

"Hello Marley."

She sat up, though her eyes remained closed. "I don't know you."

"All you need to know, is I'm a friend. And I'm looking out for you."

"No thanks, I have enough of that with Kitty."

The stranger chuckled, the sound made her shiver a bit and she finally opened her eyes. "I heard about that. Trust me; I'm nothing like that little crazy. Just wanted to offer you a suggestion."

She sighed, if she hung up he'd probably just call back...might as well listen to him. "About what?"

"About your boys."

"My boys?"

"Jake and Ryder."

"What about them?

"You like them both...don't you?"

She bit her lip, suddenly nervous, and a little ashamed. "Yeah."

"Nothing wrong with that pet, both your young men are worth an ogle or two. But you might want to let them know you still like both of them...that you want them both."

"I...I can't. It was hard enough choosing Jake."

"Well that's exactly what I'm saying girlie. Don't choose."

"What?"

"Be with both of them. The three of you would make quite the item. I'm sure the school would be all a twitter at its first ever threesome."

Marley couldn't help it...she blushed as images of Ryder and Jake...together appeared in her mind. "Oh."

"Just think on it." And he hung up.

Marley put her phone down.

"Oh!" A nervous giggle slipped from her throat. There was no way she'd be going back to sleep.

xxx

It was still early when Ryder opened his eyes to find the air mattress empty and the bedding folded neatly. He frowned; wondering where Jake was...and why was his phone ringing? He grabbed it from the bedside stand and answered. "Hello?"

"Morning, Ryder." The voice was foreign, in two ways, he didn't recognize it...and the guy had a British accent.

"Who is this?"

"Just a friend. I wanted to talk to you about something, plant a seed as it were."

"What are talking about? It's too early for weird crazy person riddles."

The man laughed. "Your boy Jake, you two get on well right?"

"Yeah, he's my best friend."

"And your girl?"

Ryder frowned. "She's Jake's girl."

"What if she was yours too?"

"Dude, that's not cool. Marley is a person, not property."

"Not saying she is, just saying maybe the three of you could work something out. You and Marley like each other."

"Yeah...we've kissed even."

"Ever thought about kissing Jake?

Ryder's brain stuttered to a halt. "What?"

"Think about. If you were with both of them...everyone would win. You'd be that much tighter, and you'd have each other's backs. And when you're ready the sex would be unbelievable."

Ryder wasn't sure his brain could handle much more...now he was picturing Jake in ways that...weren't the least bit disturbing. Huh. "I..."

"Just think on it." And he hung up.

Ryder stared at his phone...then he remembered something...earlier, when it had still been dark...Jake's phone had been ringing. And now Jake was nowhere in sight.

"Oh my god."

xxx

Spike smirked as he pocketed his phone and turned to head back upstairs. Xander was blocking him, standing between him and the stairs. "Morning, luv."

"What exactly are you up too?"

"Just playing matchmaker."

"And why did you snatch Artie's phone last night when he and Puck were otherwise occupied?"

"Needed some numbers."

Xander blinked and rubbed at his face tiredly. "You're trying to get Puck's brother involved in a threesome aren't you?"

"It would solve all of their bloody problems."

Xander rolled his eye and crossed his arms. "Why do I put up with you?"

Spike smirked and edged closer to him, batting his lashes. "Because you love me and I'm a very nice piece of ass and worth every shag."

And then Spike was tackling him to the floor to prove his point.

xxx

Marley sipped at her hot chocolate nervously. She hadn't been sure what she was going to do or say when she told the boys to meet her at the cafe. And now that they were there with her, sitting around a small table, and she wasn't sure how to proceed. Though she was glad they were the only ones there this early on a Sunday, other than the staff, she wasn't sure she could have had this meeting with an audience.

Finally Ryder cleared his throat. "I uh...got a call this morning."

Marley blinked and blurted out; "Was it a man with British accent?" Ryder's eyes widened and Jake choked on his coffee, both blushed and she felt infinitely better. "So it wasn't just me and he really wants us have a threesome."

Both boys nodded, but it was Jake who spoke. "I know you two like each other...and I don't like leaving you out bro. You're my boy, and we'll always have each other's backs."

Ryder's jaw dropped a little. "So..."

Jake grinned. "So we can give it a shot?"

Ryder's eyes were a little wide and Marley reached for the hand closest to her. "It's okay...we're all sort of...surprised by this."

Jake tentatively reached for his other hand. It was strange, grasping a boy's hand...Ryder's hand. But not bad. "So?"

Ryder swallowed and nodded, before he leaned closer, Jake smiled a bit and met him halfway. Neither were prepared for the sparks that happened when their lips met for the first time. The kiss was simple, genuine, and chaste even...but when they pulled back, both were grinning.

"So?"

They looked at Marley, still grinning. Ryder nodded. "Our matchmaker was on to something."

Marley grinned. "Awesome."

Jake kept Ryder's hand in his. Maybe he'd call the guy back, thank him or something...he'd definitely just changed his life. For the better.

XXX