Just a short one to keep you going. Happy New Year all you Jelly fans. Hope you have fun x
Jen spent the following day in bed being looked after by Sophie. Her head hurt like hell. She felt sick all the time and all she wanted to do was sleep. Sophie was really worried about her and wanted to take Jen back to the hospital, but Jen didn't want any fuss. On the second day she was feeling much better and after some food she insisted that Sophie go to the interview she had arranged. Sophie argued that it wasn't important, but Jen knew how much Sophie wanted the job and so wouldn't take no for an answer.
Jen lived in a two bedroom flat about the office and whilst Sophie was out at her interview, James popped in to see her as soon as he had heard what had happened.
"Way to go Jen - passing out in front of clients is a new marketing approach I'm not familiar with myself!" He laughed as he leant in and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"You forgot the bit about being sick as well" Jen groaned as she relived the moment.
"I'll have to make it up to them at the wedding." Jen smiled weakly. She really didn't know how she would cope being at Tilly's wedding.
"Too late for that I'm afraid" James replied.
Jen was confused. "what do you mean?"
"I mean I got a call from one of the brides, cancelling the job" "what?" Jen asked shocked.
"Yeap turns out they want a friend of a friend to do it instead" James responded. He smiled at his friend who was looking very confused.
"Do you think it's because of me...you know...passing out ?" Jen asked pretty sure of the answer herself.
"No don't be silly."
Jen remained silent. Her thoughts working overtime.
"She just said that their original choice was now available and so wouldn't be needing your services."
"My services" Jen repeated "she actually said those words".
"Yeah. I thought it was a bit weird. Anyway, really annoying as we've lost money there."
Jen swallowed hard. She had to tell James that she was the reason why they had lost the job.
"James the bride... It was Tilly."
"What!" James replied "as in Tilly from Hollyoaks? The school kid?"
Jen nodded. "And I would remind you that it was sixth form college.
"Oh my god Jen. What are the chances?"
"I know! Of all the bloody wedding photographers in the world, she had to pick us!"
"Jeez Jen. What happened exactly?"
"Well you know we had a booking for Kate and Matilda, Kate couldn't make to he prewedding meeting so sent Matilda...Tilly along. "
James interrupted "is that the client who was with you when you collapsed? Sophie mentioned that someone had called the ambulance and stayed with you at the hospital.
"Yes..yes that was Tilly. I honestly don't know what happened. it must have been the shock. I buzzed her in and instantly recognised her voice as she made her way up the stairs." Jen looked at James who was listening intently.
"Anyway, as I heard her voice I just felt my heart stop beating. I... I couldn't believe that after all these years Tilly was walking up the stairs in OUR studio!" Jen took a deep sigh before continuing "as she got to the top of the stairs we just stood in silence for what seemed like a life time, but was probably only seconds and then the next thing I knew I was on the floor with blood pouring from my head and Tilly holding me telling me I would be ok."
"Wow!" Was all James could manage.
"I know! Wow indeed." Jen let out a small laugh. "Tilly is a doctor, well nearly and so she bandaged up my head and came with me to the hospital and waited whilst I had various scans and bloods taken. She called Sophie who was still on the train coming up from Brighton."
"Shiiiiit" does Sophie know it was Tilly that called you?" James asked with concern.
"Yeap. She worked it out. Anyway, Tilly left without saying goodbye and then Sophie arrived. A couple more hours later I was told the head scanned had showed no bleeding and they were happy enough for me to go home. And here I am!"
James let out a small laugh "well no bloody wonder she cancelled the booking. No one wants their ex taking their wedding photos do they?"
"No" Jen replied quietly "although you could have easily have done it rather than me." Jen realised that Tilly must have been shocked herself, and an obvious reaction would have been to have wanted a new photographer. Jen realised that she was kidding herself thinking otherwise.
"So how did Sophie react?" James asked.
"She's been amazing. I'm so lucky to have her." Jen paused "she knows what Tilly and I had was all in the past." Jen smiled weakly at james before repeating "it's all in the past".
James held his hands up "OK, OK. I believe you. Don't shoot me!" James joked before continuing "it's just I know how much she meant to you, how long it took you to get over her, to stop thinking about her." James paused and picked up Jens hand "it's only natural to be shocked by seeing her again like that, and well maybe some of those old feelings have come back to life."
Jen shook her head "your wrong James. I mean of course it was. Bloody shock. After five years of no contact there she was standing right in front of me, holding me, making me better!" Jen hesitated slightly before adding "but she's getting married James. She's madly in love with someone else and in a couple of weeks she will be walking down the aisle with what's her name... Kate!"
James went to open his mouth to say something, but Jen didn't give him the chance
"besides.." She continued "...I'm with someone myself".
James looked at Jen in the face "not the most convincing argument you could have made Jen Gilmore. So what if she's engaged or that you have a girlfriend ... Did seeing Tilly again stir some old emotions within you or not? Aside from making you pass out of course!"
"Well of course it bloody well did. But that's it James. All of that is history. It's in the past. We've both moved on... No point dwelling over things now." As Jen spoke she was also trying to convince herself. She had been scared at how easily the old feelings for Tilly had come flooding back to her. How the touch of her hand had given her goosebumps. How the sight of those plump red lips had sent all sorts of thoughts through her mind. Flashbacks of Tilly using those lips to send Jen to the height of ecstasy. A level, which if she was honest with herself, no one else (including Sophie) had quite managed to reach. Tilly did things to Jen that no one else did. Always had, and after their brief shock encounter the other day, It was clear she probably always would.
Jen rubbed her eyes to clear her thoughts and turned to face her friend "bless you James. I know what you are trying to do, I mean you had to sit there all those nights listening to me bang on about how much I missed Tilly, how in love I still was. I honestly don't know how you put up with me?" Jen laughed.
"Me neither!" James replied jokingly. "I...I just think that maybe things happen for a reason Jen. I mean don't get me wrong, I think Sophie is a really nice girl.."
"But?" Jen interrupted
"...well I just don't see the passion in you when you are with her. The passion that you clearly had for Tilly all those years ago. I mean you risked everything for her!"
James quietened his voice before adding "I just don't think you feel the same for Sophie. I don't think you would throw everything away for her."
Jen felt the tears spring to her eyes. Damn you James, she thought to herself, as she realised he was right. As much as Jen cared for Sophie and as much as they had fun together, Deep down she knew she wouldn't risk her career, her life for Sophie and that was wrong.
"No" she said slowly "you are probably right." Saying out loud felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Just then they heard a noise outside in the landing and they realised they weren't alone. Shiiiit thought Jen. It must be Sophie. How long had she been there? She must have heard their whole conversation. Oh god... What would she say.
"Sophie?" Jen called out. No reply. "Sophie?" Jen called again as she heard more noise from outside followed by the slamming of the front door. Jen and James looked at each other in a panic.
"Oh god James. She...she must have heard. Fuck! What...what do I do?" She asked James hoping he would have an answer.
He smiled "go see her Jen. Go see Tilly."
"But what about Sophie?" Jen asked concerned "I don't want to hurt her...I do care about her."
"I know you do sweet. I know you do... But it's not the same is it? It's not to the same level."
Jen slowly shook her head in agreement "no...no you're right. It's not the same. No one ever has been"