Bittersweet
Chapter 10
Author's Note: Once again I own nothing except my OC's. I want to point out that this is fanfiction which means it isn't real. In this chapter Jeff mentions he was addicted to painkillers. I don't know what he did or why he really left.
I also got to point out that what happened to his house was terrible to both Jeff and his girlfriend. I can't believe their dog died.
I wish them all the best and hope everything gets sorted soon.
"Are you sure this is ok? I mean the black corset was cute…" Trish mumbled as she looked at her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was down and wavy. She wore dark boot cut denims and a white cami top with silver sandals.
"Yeah but you don't want to give him 'look at me I'm easy' signals do you?" Maria asked raising a brow and Trish smiled slightly as she shook her head.
God what am I doing? I shouldn't be doing this! Aren't you supposed to hate the guy that broke your heart? Trish thought to herself as she wandered over to her bag.
"Keys…cell phone…gum (Maria gave her a look and Trish's eyes widened) It's not like that! I like to ensure I have fresh breath."
Maria giggled and gave her a look as if to say yeah right, she frowned, however, when she noticed her best friend had gone quiet.
"Trish? Trish are you alright?" Maria asked softly turning the blonde to face her how sighed and sadly looked at her brunette friend.
"Yes and no. I'm thrilled at the thought of us having lunch together but gutted that it won't lead to what I really want because he's engaged." Trish truthfully replied.
Maria put her arm around her friend.
"What time is he meeting you at?" Maria asked.
"Um he's meeting me in the lobby at 1pm. Why?" Trish frowned and Maria chuckled as she went into her friend's bag and pulled out her cell.
"You have 1 hour until you have to meet him. You don't need to go through with this. I think its great you guys wanna be friends but that's all you'll be. I'm not trying to be a bitch; I just don't wanna see you get hurt chica." Maria admitted and Trish groans slightly.
"God Ria! You always have to make it difficult for me! But I love you and I know you're only looking out for me." Trish replied seriously as she hugged Maria.
Maria smiled and was about to give Trish her cell back when it suddenly rang.
"How is it?" Trish asked and Maria mouthed 'Jeff'
"You answer it." Trish said and Maria rolled her eyes.
"Hey Jeff. I'm good. You? Good. Trish? Yeah she's here…in fact I'll let you speak to her." Maria said casually with an evil glint in her eye.
Trish shot her giggling friend a dirty look as she took the phone off her.
"Hey Jeff." Trish said softly.
"Hey Trish, how are you?" Jeff asked in his usual southern drawl that made Trish weak at the knees.
"I'm good thanks you?" Trish asked and he bit his lip to stop himself from revealing his thoughts to her.
"Yeah I'm great. I was just calling to let you know that I'm almost ready and if you were still on for today?" Jeff prayed she'd say yes.
Trish thought for a moment then cleared her throat to show she hadn't hung up on him.
"Yeah. We're still meeting at one right? At reception? Will I take my car?" Trish replied.
"Cool and in answer to your questions yes, yes and I thought I'd drive is that ok?" He asked.
"Sure. I'll see you there then."
"Bye Trish." He said softly as he hung up.
"Bye." She whispered.
Jeff tapped his fingers against the marble of the reception desk. The stern faced woman who was furiously typing away gave him a look which made him grin sheepishly and move away slightly.
Lovely woman. He thought sarcastically then he saw her – her golden hair illuminated the room.
Wow. Jeff thought then mentally slapped himself. He had a fiancée. He couldn't do this. As much as it killed him he had to move on as she assumed Trish had.
Trish saw him and smiled slightly. Still the same old Jeff. Multi-coloured hair, albeit shorter (no doubt Beth had something to do with the change in length), he wore faded denims with a white wife beater and blue shirt on top. Only Jeff would receive so many stares…blue, purple and black. Bet Bitch-face will love that at the wedding? Was I mind bitching about Beth? How cares! Trish grinned to herself. To hell with that woman. She was in Milan. If Jeff wanted to be friends with her that was his decision not hers.
"Can I have another glass of water? Thanks." Trish said as the waiter took her empty class away.
"I'm stuffed. How was your chicken? Jeff asked as they had just finished their meal.
"Good. I'm glad we decided to do this. There's so much we need to talk about." Trish told him seriously and he nodded not taking his eyes of her as he took a sip of his water.
"I still feel terrible. I know it's been three years but I still regret hurting you like that." Jeff told her in a small voice.
Her heart ached as she remembered that day. She shook that thought from her head. That was the past. All the mattered now was sorting things out.
"Jeff, I have one thing I desperately need to ask you…I-It's been on my mind ever since you left." Trish said.
"It's ok. You can ask me. Trish I mean it when I say it, I want us to sort things out and be friends." Jeff told her truthfully and she looked at him sadly.
"Why. Why did you leave…why did no-one: Matt, Amy, tell me why you left? There were rumours that you…you…" Trish began but couldn't bring herself to say the nasty things people had said.
"Became addicted to painkillers?" Jeff finished for her in an even voice.
Trish looked at him and saw the sadness in her eyes before he or she could do anything she automatically reached out and took her hand in his.
Jeff felt a jolt sear through his body and he looked down at his hands and back at Trish who looked sad.
"I won't judge you. Tell me what happened to the man I…I loved." Trish said, she said the last part in a whisper which made Jeff despise himself for hurting her.
"I never meant for it happen but it did. At first I took them because I had to…but after my arm healed I still had some left and I was always late, losing my matches and then I took my loser-ness out on you. I shouted when I didn't need too, I got mad at Vince, the drugs seemed to get rid of the pain." He admitted in a thick voice and she squeezed her hand tighter.
The waiter set her water down and she thanked him before he dashed off to another table.
"You should have told me. Jeff I could have helped you." Trish said softly and he glanced at her and looked down at his plate.
"I thought you'd leave me…I mean who wants a junkie as a boyfriend." Jeff mumbled and he felt her hand break free from his and then he felt the warmth of her skin under his chin.
"Jeff…look at me. (She titled his chin up). You are not a junkie! Don't you ever call yourself that again! Its okay to be sad…people get depressed. Now that you told me, I understand the mood swings and how you acted. I wish you came to me and I'd have helped you pull though it. But hey, you met Beth…I'm sure she helped you." Trish replied feeling repulsed at mentioning her name.
Jeff smiled sadly. "Yeah, Beth's great…Only a few months to go now." Jeff said and she smiled slightly.
"Are you having the wedding at home or in church?" Trish asked.
"Church…in New York. Friends and family." Jeff replied and felt weird discussing this with Trish as he had once thought of them getting married.
"Congratulations. All the matters are that you're happy." Trish replied seriously and raised her glass.
"Thank you." He said as the waiter put their bill on the table.
Trish pulled out her purse as he pulled his wallet out.
"Honestly…I'll pay…you drove here." Trish said and he shook his head.
"No…I offered to take you out." Jeff replied.
"Look we'll be here all day at this rate." She giggled "Why don't we go half?" She suggested.
He grinned and they paid for lunch then walked out.
They walked side by side. Chatting away and laughing like old times. It was a start, however they had no clue that they were being watched and that in a few hours pictures of them together would appear on the Internet…
A/N- Ooooh a cliffy! Hmm I wonder how Beth will feel when she spots her fiancé with another woman! Read and Review and the next chapter will be up soon!!
xXxArwenxXx