I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to post this. Time has run away with me and I've been busy with school work at the moment. I will try to start posting more regularly now, but I can't make any promises. I hope the length of this chapter makes up for my absence and stay tuned as things start to liven up after this chapter.
Please keep posting your comments, your feedback so far has been overwhelming. As I said before, I am going to keep Lola and Max in this but let me know what you are thinking of the show at the moment. I can't believe Max went to prison and I really hope the truth comes out about Ben soon (pardon the pun) so we can look forward to a Jabi reunion.

Two months had passed since Abi's first date with Jamie and things were going well. She was really into this guy, and maybe it was love but she didn't want to say so yet. Abi always had a problem with taking things too fast with guys and look where that had got her.
But Jamie was everything Abi wanted him to be. He was the smartest person she'd met and his career had started to take of, adding a few extra pounds to his wallet but things like money had never mattered to Abi. He was good looking too, in that rebellion posh boy kind of way, and he made her laugh. Abi never had to be serious with Jamie. He didn't know about her complicated past, but that was the way she liked things. Simple.
"Why don't we just hang out around here tonight?" Jamie asked. "Go to the Vic or something?"
"Really?"
In all honesty, there was a reason Abi hadn't spent much time in Walford with Jamie so far. She hadn't wanted any awkward encounters with the people of her past and the best way to do that was by staying away.
"Yeah. Why not?"
Abi shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think you'll like it there."
"Why not?"
"It's not really your scene."
"Well, I'll guess we'll find out."
"Fine," Abi huffed putting on her Chelsea boots. "If it'll make you happy."
Jamie took Abi's hand and pulled her towards him. "You always make me happy." He kissed her on the cheek. "Come on."

"I thought we were just going to have one, Jay," Ben said.
"Stop moaning, will you? This is only my second," he retorted.
Lola sighed. "Will you two give it a rest? You've been arguing since we've got here."
"It's him! He thinks he's my bloody dad."
"Well, somebody has to look after you, Jay."
"I don't need looking after."
"Yeah. That's why you've been spending most of the last two months down here getting drunk."
"If you don't want to be here, go home."
"I didn't say that, did I?"
"Then shut up."
Ben sighed and ordered another beer.
It was no use. He knew exactly why Jay had been moping around or the last few months. Abi. It was always Abi. Jay and Lola thought he didn't know, but he wasn't stupid. He'd heard them arguing that morning. He knew that they'd slept together. And he also knew that Abi wasn't interested in Jay anymore, he'd made sure of that. She just got in the way, didn't Jay see that? He couldn't understand why he was so upset about her denial.
The door swung open and Ben turned to see who it was.
"You've got to be kidding me."

"Maybe we should go somewhere else," Abi suggested. "It's pretty busy in here."
"Are you joking? There's a table right there, Abs."
"So there is," she mumbled.
"What are you having? Usual?"
Abi nodded then glanced over at the people she'd been trying so hard to avoid. She knew they'd be here. Lola told her Jay had been spending a lot of his time here, drowning his sorrows. Abi didn't understand why he was so upset. He'd had his chance.
Abi snuck another glance before joining Jamie at the bar. Only Ben had noticed her so far.
"Alright, Abi? You didn't tell me you'd got yourself a new fella," Linda greeted her.
"Didn't want to jinx it, did I?" Abi leaned against Jamie and he put his arm around her.
Linda smiled. "What can I get you both?"
Abi watched in a trance as Linda got their drinks. Mick came up behind her and put his arms round her waist. Couples like them gave Abi faith in love. After all, her own parents hadn't been much of a good influence.
"Hey, isn't that your friend Lola over there?" Jamie questioned.
Abi broke away from her trance. "Oh yeah. I hadn't even noticed.
"Let's go say hi," Jamie said as he paid for their drinks.
"Oh, we don't need to do that. I'm sure I'll see her tomorrow."
"Come on."
Jamie pulled Abi along, not giving her much choice in the matter.
"Alright, Lola?"
"Oh, hi Jamie. When did you get here?" Lola looked as shocked to see them as Abi was. She gave Abi her warning look, but Lola didn't have to tell her. She knew how this was going to end.
"Abi." Jay stood up. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm alright."
"Hi. I'm Jamie, Abi's boyfriend. It's nice to meet you." Jamie held out his hand which Jay eyed before shaking it.
"Jay, and this is Ben. Ghosts of Boyfriend's past."
Jamie turned to Abi confused. "What?"
"What are you guys drinking?" Abi interrupted. "We'll get a round in."
"I don't think Jay really needs anymore, Abs. We should probably get going."
"What are you on about, Ben? I'm fine."
"Same again?" Jamie asked.
"Why not?"

One hour had spread into two and Abi was beginning to grow tired. All she wanted to do was snuggle up in front of a movie with Jamie but Jay, it seemed, had other ideas.
"Why don't we do some shots?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Jay," Lola told him.
"Why not? Abi will do a shot with me, won't you?"
Jay had clearly been oblivious to the orange and lemonade she had had in her hand all night. Abi hadn't touched a drop of alcohol.
"We should probably get going actually, Jay," she said. "I told my dad we wouldn't be gone long."
"I forgot, Daddy Branning has to know your every move."
"Jay." Ben gave him a warning look.
"How are you getting on with him, Jamie?"
"Who? Max?"
"On first name terms already, are we? You've done well. It took me almost two years before I could do that." He paused to take a swig of beer. "You better watch out though. It's the sex that really bothers him. You two had sex yet?"
"Jay," Abi moaned. "I don't think you need those shots."
"Stop being boring, Abi. I'm just giving him the warning."
"The warning?" Jamie repeated.
"Yeah, if you're going to date Abi then you need the warning."
"Shame, I never got that," Ben added.
"Shame I ever went out with you," Abi retorted.
"See, Max is very protective with Abi, which I guess is quite sweet really. I mean, she's such a daddy's girl. But it's not so sweet when your the one dating her."
"Jay, stop. You and I both know why my dad had such a problem with you."
"Because I wasn't a top earning lawyer?"
"Because you'd tried to get into Lauren's knickers 6 months before."
"See that." Jay nudged Jamie. "She gets feisty when she's angry. Personally, I think it's quite hot."
"Abi's right, we should probably go. I don't want Max to think I'm taking advantage of his trust."
"No, we wouldn't want that," Jay muttered.
"Like you clearly did."
Jay jumped to his feet. "You what, mate?"
"You heard me," Jamie replied, standing up too.
"I think it's time that we all went home," Lola jumped in. "It's getting late now."
"But things were just starting to get interesting, Lo."
Abi stood up too now, squeezing between the two boys.
"Please don't do this, Jay," she begged, putting a hand to his chest to push him away.
"Why not? You heard what he said to me."
"You're drunk. You need to go home, water and paracetamol."
Jay gave her a small smile. "Always looking after me, you are."
Jamie took Abi's hand. "Come on, Abs. Lets get out of here."
"Hold on, we were having a conversation."
"Well your conversation is over now."
"He's quite controlling, don't you think Ben? I wouldn't like to hear that you've been doing things to Abi you shouldn't."
"What are you talking about?"
Lola pulled Abi aside so she wasn't in the boys firing line. They all knew what Jay could be like when he lost his temper.
"Listen, mate. I don't know what happened between you and Abi, but it had nothing to do with me so why don't you just back off?"
"No."
"What is your problem?"
"You're my problem."
Sensing some tension in their direction, Mick leaned over the bar. "Not in here boys, alright?"
"Don't worry, we were now leaving." His eyes didn't leave Jays.
"Off you go then."
"After you."
"For goodness sake! Will both of you just stop it? You're arguing over nothing. It's ridiculous."
Both of them snapped out of their staring contest and looked over to the girl they loved.
"You're right, Abs," Jamie said. "I'm sorry." He took Abi's hand and went to leave. "You're not going to get her back," he whispered in Jay's ear as he passed. "Why would she want a low achiever like you when she had me?"
Of course everybody had always said, Jay was his father's son.