Love; Lost and Found
A Young Americans- story
By: jakeline
Summary: Jake/Jacqueline never told Hamilton her secret. Now they meet again 10 years later. How will Jacqueline tell Hamilton that Jake never really existed and that she was the boy he fell in love with?
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the plot form 'Young Americans', but this story is mine.
Chapter 10: Relight My Fire
"I am really sorry I yelled at you!"
"I'm so sorry I accepted the invitation for you!" Bella and Jacqueline said almost at the same time when Jacqueline came back home. Jacqueline ran over and hugged Bella tightly.
"I had no right," Bella said.
"No, but I probably needed a nudge in the right direction." Jacqueline smiled.
"Friends?" Bella asked and released Jacqueline from her embrace.
"Friends." Jacqueline held out a hand with a broad smile.
"Good. So we're still on for dinner tomorrow?"
"Yup."
"Great," Bella beamed.
"I think this calls for a shopping-spree!" Jacqueline smiled. "I'm gonna need something for the reunion anyways"
"I bet we're gonna find something breathtaking so that Hammie-boy can't take his eyes off of you!" Bella and Jacqueline put shoes and jackets on and left the flat. Jacqueline suddenly looked concerned.
"But how does he know I'm going to the reunion?" Jacqueline looked at Bella with a puzzled face.
"I don't know. I haven't told him," Bella assured her.
"Have you told Will?" Jacqueline looked at Bella.
"Yes, but I don't think he has told Hamilton about that," Bella said truthfully.
"Then how does he know?" Jacqueline looked puzzled. "He must have called his father or someone at the school. But why?"
"Maybe he asked about Jake, before he found out?"
"Yeah, maybe. That means he has talked to his mother, of course. Shit." Jacqueline's eyes widened with concern.
"Why is that so bad?"
"I'm pretty sure she does not like me that much. I'm not really daughter-in-law-material in her eyes since I fooled a whole school back in the day. What if she tells him that I told her?" Jacqueline looked worriedly over at Bella. "Hamilton would so not like that." Hamilton's face flickered through her mind. Shit, shit, shit. She really needed to speak with him before he met his mother.
-xXx-
The sadness in Jacqueline's face and eyes haunted Hamilton. He realized that she had never intentionally meant to hurt him. The only thing that was still hurting was that she had not trusted him enough to tell him. Not even in her note. His frustration was wearing off and he was starting to look forward to meet her at the reunion. The sensation of her body pressed against his was too much. The frustration was turning into desire. A burning want of holding her close and breathe in her scent, kiss her and hug her. Love her.
-xXx-
"So, Will and Ham are staying quite near my flat?" Jacqueline asked after a while.
"Yes, why?" Bella glanced over at her.
"Bumped into Hamilton when I was out. Literally."
"And?"
"And he backed away and said 'I can't do this'." Jacqueline sighed. "Why can't he just talk to me? All this bumping into him is driving me crazy! There was unwanted bodily contact today!"
"Unwanted?" Bella smirked meaningly.
"On his part anyways, I nearly fell and he caught me."
"A knight in shining armor?" Bella giggled.
"Hardly. He let go of me as if he got burned," snorted Jacqueline. His blue eyes filled with pain flickered through her mind again, his muscular body pressed against hers set her blood on fire.
"Well, we're gonna find you a gorgeous dress and make you look awesome and then he'll be sorry he hasn't made a move on you sooner!" Bella laughed.
"Yeah, right. We'll have to see about that. I just wish I told him sooner. Then we wouldn't be in this situation."
"It's in the past, Jackie, nothing you can do about it now. Now let's focus on the present and the future!"'
"You're right. Now let's find a killer dress that will make Ham forget that I ever dressed up as a boy!" Jacqueline laughed; she pushed away the troublesome thoughts about Kate Fleming for the moment.
-xXx-
"You ready soon, Ham?" Will called as the time drew nearer seven on Friday.
"Yeah." Hamilton came out of his bedroom dressed in dark jeans and a white shirt. "Is this ok or do I need a suit?" He raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"You're fine," Will said. "It's not like we're going on a date." Will sniggered at Hamilton's darkened face. "I'm kidding, Hamilton! Don't take everything so seriously!"
"I'm not! So where are you taking me anyways?" Hamilton asked as he put on a black leather jacket.
"I was in the mood for Italian. I hope that's ok."
"Yeah, no problem." Hamilton wondered what Jacqueline was up to on a night like this. He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away. He was not going to let that bother him tonight. His body and mind was in conflict. His heart screamed YES but his brain yelled NO. What was a man to do?
-xXx-
"You look great," Bella said as Jacqueline emerged from her bedroom. She was wearing a black halter necked dress, with deep v-cut and half bare back that fitted her like a glove. It hugged her gorgeous body tightly and ended a bit above the knee. A small diamond glittered on a thin necklace around her neck and her ears had matching earrings. Her eyes were shaded with black, her cheeks glowing and her mouth glistening with red gloss. "No wonder you became a top model!" Bella remarked and Jacqueline laughed softly looking down at herself feeling rather good.
"Ah well, I did learn a few tricks of the trade. By the way, you should talk!" Jacqueline gestured to Bella's appearance in a midnight blue dress that fitted her perfectly, low cut with thin straps to hold it up and a wide skirt with black taffeta underneath. She had put her long blond hair up in a loose bun and strings of hair played around her delicate face.
"Aw, this old thing?" Bella giggled and blushed a little.
"Oh, please! You bought it yesterday!" Jacqueline said mockingly.
"I have always wanted to say that! Ok, you ready?"
"In a moment," Jacqueline replied and went into her bedroom again and came back with a pair of black high heeled pumps. "Now I'm ready! So where are we going?"
"I found a cute little French restaurant not far from here, and then Joe's for drinks and perhaps some dancing?"
"Sounds great!" Jacqueline smiled. She needed something else than Hamilton to think about. He was preoccupying her thoughts most of her waking hours and came to her in her dreams. Until the reunion she was not to think about him at all.
-xXx-
Hamilton and Will was finishing their tiramisu when Will's cell beeped, indicating a text message.
Are you ready for drinks? We're going to Joe's in half an hour. XOXO, Bella.
"What?" Hamilton asked, as Will sent a reply to the message.
"Oh nothing," Will said nonchalantly. Hamilton peered suspiciously at him, but said nothing. His head was filled with almost irresistible images of Jacqueline. The reunion felt a life time away. He needed to get away from New York and fast. He was not sure how long he could keep a clear head. He could most definitely not concentrate when she was only a few blocks away.
"Are you and Bella going to New Rawley directly tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yeah." Will was still typing on his cell.
"Is it ok if I tag along?"
"I thought you weren't going for another week?" Will looked at Hamilton with a puzzled face.
"Change of plan. I need a change of scenery. Clear the head before the reunion."
"I see. I'll ask Bella, but I'm sure there won't be a problem. Maybe we can rent a car. Do the road trip version."
"Yeah, why not? I haven't seen Bella for a while. Could be fun!"
"I'll call her and see what she says, ok?"
"No problem. I need to use the gents anyway." Hamilton rose and left the table. In the bathroom he splashed his face with cold water. Get a grip, man! He said to his reflection in the mirror. Thick dark lashes framed the intensive blue eyes that stared back at him. He shook his head. What the hell am I doing? Why can't I just talk to her?
-xXx-
"Who are you texting?" Jacqueline asked when she got back from the ladies. Their chocolate soufflés had just arrived and she dug in with large appetite.
"Oh, no one," Bella smiled and tried to look normal.
"You know you are the worst liar, right?" Bella's face turned red on the remark.
"Ok, fine. I sent Will a message telling him to stay clear of Joe's since you don't want to meet Ham." Bella pouted.
"I don't have a problem with seeing him. He is the one with the problem." Just hearing his name sent shivers down her spine. She found herself wondering what he was wearing. Who was she kidding? She couldn't stop thinking about him. Her thoughts were interrupted by Bella's phone which started ringing. Bella's cheeks turned red with excitement when she saw the caller id.
"Oh! It's Will! I got to take this!" Jacqueline just nodded and gestured towards her to go. Bella hurried away through the tables in the restaurant.
-xXx-
"Hey, Bella," came Will's voice over the line.
"Hey, babe, what's up?"
"Hamilton wants to tag along home to New Rawley tomorrow. I thought we could rent a car."
"Ok, did he say why?"
"He needs a change of scenery, but I think that the closeness to Jackie is driving him crazy. He doesn't know how to handle that yet." Bella giggled.
"That's good! I don't mind him tagging along! Do you fix a car?"
"Yes, leave that to me. Still on for drinks and some intentionally bumping?" Will chuckled.
"Oh, yeah. I long to see you, darling. See you in a bit!"
-xXx-
Will hung up his phone just as Hamilton returned from the bathroom.
"So what did she say?" Hamilton asked.
"No problem as I told you." Will put the last spoonful of tiramisu in his mouth. "This was so good. I haven't eaten like this in a while."
"I'm surprised you aren't bigger when thinking of the amount of food you can pile in," Hamilton smiled.
"Sometimes I surprise myself!" Will laughed. "So drinks?" Will gestured for the check towards a waiter.
"Yeah, that would be nice." Hamilton smiled. Everything was going to be fine, as soon as he left the city and Jacqueline behind him. As Will had paid they took their jackets and left the restaurant. They didn't have to walk far before they were at the club. They were lucky there was not a queue, it was a popular club, but they were rather early. They made their way to the bar and ordered beers. Hamilton looked around as he stood hanging on the bar. Lots of chicks to look at, but none of them had the slightest impact on him. Although they tried their best to get his attention, their efforts were worthless. He had only one woman in his head. Jacqueline.
The bar was getting crowed and Will was looking for someone.
"Who are you looking for?" Hamilton shouted over the music.
"I thought Bella would be here," Will answered without thinking.
"So, she and Jackie are coming here?" Why am I not surprised?
"Maybe," Will tried to seem nonchalant about it.
"That's my cue to leave," Hamilton said and put his beer down. He could not believe he had fallen for this.
"No, Hamilton, please don't go. I'll tell them to go somewhere else!" Will looked anxious.
"Too late," Hamilton said as he saw Bella and Jacqueline walking down the stairs. Jacqueline took his breath away. She looked stunning in a black tight fitting dress that didn't leave too much to the imagination. Her half messy dark hair was pinned back with glittering hairpins. Hamilton could say nothing.
"Wow," he heard Will gasping beside him before he rushed over to his girlfriend's side. Jacqueline's eyes locked with Hamilton's and he gasped for air. He didn't know what to do. She was walking over to him on high heels and seductively swaying hips. His body was on fire. He took the bottle again and gulped down the rest of his beer to cool himself off.
-xXx-
"I thought you told them to stay out of Joe's," Jacqueline whispered to Bella when she spotted Will and Hamilton by the bar. Bella's cheeks turned red and she looked at Jacqueline with pleading eyes.
"I'm sorry; I just wanted to see Will. And we have to talk about our trip home tomorrow," Bella replied. "Admit that you want to see Hamilton once more before he leaves."
"He's leaving?" Jacqueline looked surprised. Of course he could not stay in town for ever, but she had not had the chance to speak to him yet. She really needed to speak with him before the reunion
"Yeah, he's tagging along home to New Rawley with me and Will," Bella said. "Apparently you are driving him crazy," she added with a smile.
"Yes well, I was not expecting to see him tonight." Deep inside she was glad to see him. Perhaps now they could have that talk. She felt the familiar flutter in her stomach. She wanted to be near him again. To breath in his scent, kiss him… Love him.
"Then who did you dress up for?" Bella asked innocently.
"Myself," Jacqueline giggled. I am such a liar! I was hoping to run into Ham again.
"Yeah, right!" Bella snorted, and then she saw her boyfriend. "Oh, Will!" Bella hurried over to her boyfriend and left Jacqueline behind. Jacqueline looked over at Hamilton and their gazes locked. She drew a deep breath. He looked dashing in a white shirt and dark jeans that showed off his great body. He made her feel like a school girl again, and not the soon 29-year-old she was. She started moving towards him, swinging her hips as she went. She kept his gaze and her glossy red lips turned into a small coy smile. You do not know what you are missing, Hammie-boy. Let's relight the fire…
-TBC-
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