Thanks to everyone who sent in reviews! I had a bit of a writer's block with this one, and I'm not sure how much I like the chapter. It seems kinda like a filler to me, with not a lot of substance going on, but let me know what you think! Exams for the rest of the week so updates may be scarce, but I'll do my best and will try to have another up by the end of the week. Have a good one!
Pete stared at the ceiling as the alarm went off; another night of no sleep. He had been drunk, but that didn't mean he didn't remember the previous night with Jules: how he had kissed her and, more importantly, how she didn't pull away. Replaying the scene over and over in his mind didn't help the fact that he wanted to forget it ever happened. He had enjoyed it, for sure, until Jules had effectively killed the mood by mentioned Bov. He smiled lightly. Bov would kill him if he ever found out. That lad loved his sister more than life itself.
He'd felt really guilty about just walking out on Jules like he had, but it clearly hadn't been thinking straight. If he had, the whole situation wouldn't have occurred. But that was typical of him, he thought angrily. He always seemed to be bottling things that were involving bashing someone's head in.
The alarm continued to blast its obnoxious sound. It was time to get up and face the day, whatever lay ahead.
After dealing with one none-to-happy Steve after attempting to drop of the Yank, Pete knew he was in for a rough day. Showing up at The Abbey and having Jules nowhere in sight didn't help much.
"Bov, where's Bubbles?" he asked, once he had cooled down from he mate's opening remarks regarding Matt and their sexuality. He was not in the mood for any of that today and made it clear.
"Didn't feel well," Bov replied, taking his pool shot. "Decided to stay in."
"Bubbles never doesn't feel well," Swill chirped up. "You sure she ain't gotta fella?"
"Why the fuck is everyone asking me that?" Bover asked, raising his arms in annoyance. "She hasn't got a bleedin' boyfriend."
"Well, that works for you then, doesn't it Pete?"
The group froze and all turned to look at Matt who sat innocently on the barstool. Pete felt the blood drain from his face.
"What was that, Yank?" Bov asked acidly.
"Oh, well, Pete was just telling me that he'd have to throttle anyone who even came close to Bubbles. Now he doesn't have to."
"I think we'd all be in line for that one," Ike added, grabbing a pint releasing the tension of the moment.
"Yeah," said Bov, glancing over at Pete who still had his eyes on the American. "Yeah, we would."
"Good cover there, but you're right close to me beatin the shit out of ya, if you pull that cheeky bit again," Pete threatened to Matt once they left the Abbey a few hours later.
"What? I thought they all knew you had a thing for Bubbles. It's kinda obvious."
"I do not have a thing for Bubbles. Nothing is obvious except that you are losing your mind."
"Or the fact that you're just in complete denial. Listen, I just came around and I can see how you two act around each other. I guess the others don't see it because they are used to fooling around. But she doesn't act with Swill, or Dave, or Ike, or any of them the way she acts with you."
Pete looked at his friend. "So say, hypothetically, I do have feelings for her. What do you think Bov will do to me if he finds out?"
Matt shrugged. "He's your friend, I'm sure he'd understand."
Pete scoffed. "Yeah, like he'd understand astrophysics. And let me tell you, despite whatever your impression of Bov may be, quantum mechanics were never his cup of tea. Besides, inter-office romances aren't the best idea."
"You don't work for a law firm or a business group! You're in a firm and from what I can tell you're all more like family."
"Yeah, well I don't know how it is in America, but in Britain, incest ain't looked to kindly upon either."
"Pete, come on. You can't tell me that these little things are stopping you."
Sighing, Pete came to a stop in front of his building. "Listen mate, you haven't been around long enough to understand. If anything were to happen between me and Jules, it would put at a bigger risk than she's already at. And I can't lose any more sleep worrying about her. Plus, it would put a rift in the GSE which is something we can't afford."
"I guess I just don't get it," Matt said. "You two seem good for each other."
"We are," Pete admitted, smiling sadly. "But it just can't happen."
Jules sat on the park bench over looking the pond and watching the ducks swim slowly by. It was warmer than usual out, and the sun peaked out from behind a cloud every few minutes, lighting her face with its warm rays.
"I thought I might find you here," a voice said behind her.
"Hey Pete," she said quietly as he sat down beside her, uncomfortable at being so close to him again.
"I went to Bov's and you weren't around. I thought that maybe we should...talk...about what happened last night."
"There's nothing to talk about," she said quickly, not looking him but continuing to stare out of the water. "You made it perfectly clear last night that it meant nothing and was a mistake. I get it."
"Jules, don't be like that," he said, placing a hand on her knee. "I care about you, I do. And last night I was pissed and upset and worried and just got a little carried away." He was rambling nervously now, trying to make her understand him.
She gave a small smile, but he could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. "It's not like it would work out anyway, you know?" she teased. "I can't be seen with someone like you, would ruin my pristine image."
He gave a soft laugh and pulled her into him in a one armed hug. "Wouldn't want me corrupting your precious virtue."
"Yeah, you sick bastard. Attacking a poor, vulnerable young woman in a bathroom. Even Swill wouldn't sink that low to get some!"
"Vulnerable, my arse. If I remember correctly you kissed back and I've got the marks on my neck to prove it." Jules turned a deep shade of crimson and looked down at the grass. "Shit, I'm sorry Jules," Pete said giving an apologetic smile.
"It's okay," she replied, keeping her voice steady and believable. "It's better this way."
He stared at her, looking for any sign that she was just shitting him and telling him whatever he wanted, or what she thought he wanted, to hear. He didn't find any.
"Yeah, better. Listen, I'm taking Matt to meet the boys with me this afternoon. Cheeky slag didn't believe me when I said I taught."
"How dare he?"
"Watch it you," Pete laughed, giving her a playful shove as the stood from the bench...anything to get to touch her again. "Do you want to come along?"
Jules always enjoyed her visits to Pete's class, and this time was no different. She especially enjoyed young Duncan McNeill telling Matt he was a "shite keeper." Pete immediately reprimanded him, scandalized by his bad English.
"Shite isn't a word. It's 'shit keeper'."
Watching him with his class during history was definitely the highlight, as it always was. The kids adored him, and it was clear he loved each and every one them. He made the reign of Queen Victoria sound far more fascinating than Jules had ever imagined it could be and the boys were really into it, asking questions and answer the ones posed to them. Jules found herself wishing Pete had been her teacher when she was in school; she imagined she would have skipped a lot less classes. But then again, she probably wouldn't have paid attention to the lectures. She would have just sat in the back, watching as Mr. Dunham's muscles rippled under his fit shirt, how well his jeans fit when he bent over to pick up a dropped piece of chalk, or just follow every movement of his lips and muting out the sound. Kind of like she was doing now...
"Jules?"
"What? Huh?"
"Are you alright?" Pete asked, with a smile that said he knew exactly what she had been thinking. All the boys had similar grins on their pudgy and freckled faces.
"Oh, yeah! I'm just so intrigued by British imperialism. One of my many interests, you know."
"Of course it is," he laughed, giving her a wink. Jules felt the heat rise in her face. This flirtation was all well and fun, but it was having serious affects on her complexion. Not to mention her head. Nothing could go on between them, and yet she found herself more and more attracted to Pete the more she told herself he was off limits. She felt like Eve in the Garden of Eden, wanting just one bite of that juicy fruit, but knowing she risked eternal damnation and the downfall of mankind.
The bell rang then, knocking her out of her reverie and signaling the end of the school day. "Was I really that boring?" Pete asked once all the boys had cleared out.
"No, you're amazing, really. I was just thinking."
"Didn't hurt yourself, did you?" He asked quickly, taking her head in his hands and analyzing her pupil sizes. "No dizziness or sensitivity to light?"
"Sod off," she laughed, swatting his hands away.
"I'm being serious, Jules. Thinking is an epidemic nowadays. Some people think too much and never recover, entire lives are destroyed. People fuck off their jobs, sell their houses and move to Jamaica. It's downright terrible."
"Mmm, Jamaica," Jules said wistfully as they walked out into the cold, rainy afternoon. The warmth and sun of the morning were long gone.
"See what I mean?" Pete asked as they turned down the street and toward the tube. "Thinking is a dangerous thing. Now you're gonna run off the Caribbean and marry some guy named Marley, have dread locks and end all of your sentences in 'mon'".
"And leave the GSE? I don't think so. Besides, I'd burn too easily. I've got the skin of a fucking ghost."
"Is the GSE the only thing holding you back?"
Jules looked up at him and saw the hopeful expression on his face. "Well, I guess not. I mean, there's Bov and Steve and you. But that's basically the GSE right? I don't have much else."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they walked along. Getting on the tube that would take them back to Pete's apartment, Jules forced herself to sit across from him, rather than beside. He seemed to notice this and looked slightly put off. Suddenly, Pete let out a frustrated growl.
"You alright there, Dunham?" she asked with a smirk. Without a word he stood up and moved across the narrow aisle, sitting down next to her.
"It's took fucking hard," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Pretending I can stand being away from you."
A lump formed in Jules' throat as she looked up at him. "Pete..."
"If you want me to stop, just tell me and I'll never bother you with this again," he said softly, resting his forehead against hers as the train rumbled comfortingly along.
"The boys can't know," she whispered, sliding her hand into his and feeling lost and found all at once. "Not yet, at least."
Pete smiled and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I'm sorry I led you round a circle for a bit. I was just nervous, I suppose."
"You were nervous?" Jules laughed. "What about me? I'm the one with a crush on the famous Pete Dunham of the GSE! I never thought I'd be able to live up to your bloody standards."
"My standards aren't that high love," he teased, receiving a smack on the arm. "But I always thought you deserved more than someone like I could give you, still do actually. So if you want to back out now, I would totally understand."
Jules gave her answer by gently pressing her lips to his. It was a timid kiss, but then again it was only her second ever. Brushing some loose hair out of her face, Pete smiled.
"I am such a ponce, you know that? You've been right here for years and I only find you now."
"I forgive you," she replied. "You're a cute ponce."