Oh... look, another chapter. It's short, but that's how things are sometimes, short!
Craig
We end up walking for a bit and not saying anything, I need to calm down and John Paul sensing this leaves me to my thoughts, he'd asked if I was okay as we left the Dog and I had simply nodded my head as a reply. I'd been too angry to say anything, cause she'd nearly hit him, she had no right to raise her hand to him, he's not done anything wrong, but well her and her twisted mentality. I don't even know why I thought she'd change, but it's done now, and I suppose I got some things off my chest that I wouldn't have ever said normally.
Somehow I think I'll always have Jack as a parent, and I have my sisters and even Darren, cause I'll never lose them. I more or less already know that Debbie and Steph are on my side so I'll always have my sisters and that means the world to me.
I grip John Paul's hand, giving it a squeeze and smile as he looks at me, he stops for a moment, cups my face and gently brushes a thumb over the cheek my mum slapped. I sigh softly and he leans in placing a soft kiss on it. "Thank you," he says quietly as we carry on walking and I smile because I know he's thanking me for getting him out of the way but also for really showing him that he's my main priority now.
We carry on walking until I spot Nancy, she's not seen us yet, and from what John Paul's said she's not really at the forgiven us stage for what we did last year, but I have to talk to her. "Nancy," I call out and run over to her, leaving John Paul to follow me.
She turns and sees me and John Paul, then sort of freezes before putting on her stoic face, I reach her and stop a few feet from her, John Paul joins me moments later. "Ehm…" I begin as I look from her to John Paul, she looks at him for a moment, offering a small smile and then looks questioningly at me, "Look, ehm… I know what we did last year…" I shake my head, "I know you're still angry with me… us.. and I understand that, but I…" I rub my neck and chew on my lip as the words form in my head, "From what I've gathered my family haven't exactly been the nicest of people to you these past months," she snorts and I could've slapped myself, "No I don't mean that psycho," she raises her eyebrow at that but I carry on, "I mean mum and … " I shake my head, "Look I'm sorry for what Jake did to you and what he tried to do to Charlie," she nods her head slowly, "And I'm also sorry for any grief my family has given you these past months," I shake my head, "I know what mum is like once she thinks she's right, so I'm really sorry for anything she has done or said to you, cause you don't deserve it, no one does."
"What's happened to your face?" Nancy wonders as she looks at me, making me chuckle.
"Mum's what happened," I shrug as she raises her eyebrow, "She wasn't that keen on hearing me and John Paul are back together you know, just spewed her usual poison and tried to hit him, but I pushed him out of the way." I shrug with a little smile as I look at my boyfriend.
"Oh," Nancy looks from John Paul to me and then nods her head, "I had heard you two were back together," she shrugs and we nod our heads.
"Yeah we are," I smile, "Look we won't keep you any longer. I just wanted to apologize to you on behalf of the family, cause I know they won't bother, and also I wanted to tell you," I bite my lip for a moment before continuing, "I hope you get full custody of Charlie so that you can keep him away from that sick woman," I shake my head, "Just look at how she fucked Jake up by controlling him all of his life, look at the mess I made of things thanks to her controlling me… Please don't let her do the same with Charlie." I look pleadingly at Nancy.
She looks at me for a while, trying to see if I am being serious I reckon and then responds, "I will, don't worry, once I've got him I'm in charge and if she wants to see him it will be supervised visits." I nod my head and smile.
"Good," looking at John Paul I continue, "Suppose we better go," looking at Nancy again I chance something figuring the worst she can do is say no. "Look ehm I know you might still be a long way from forgiving us for… you know," she nods her head, "But ehm, well we might be going out with Hannah and some of the guys to celebrate John Paul's birthday, you could join us, if you want," I shrug my shoulders.
"I…" she looks unsure all of a sudden, "I don't know," she looks at us both, "I'll think about it yeah?" I nod my head.
"Yeah sure, we'll just have Hannah tell you then when and where and then it's all up to you, okay?"
"Perfect," she smiles now, "Look I have to go get Charlie now, and I suppose Frankie will be in a mood," she raises her eyebrow and we both nod, "Right well I'll maybe see you later then," she says and then walks off.
"How about that?" I turn to look at John Paul and he simply smiles and nods, "You don't mind do you?" he raises his eyebrow, "Me inviting her?"
"Oh, no not at all, I bet you Hannah could use another girl there," he smiles warmly as we begin to walk again.
"Yeah suppose so, and besides it's a start on her forgiving us, eh?" He nods and shrugs.
"Oh let's go into the Loft, might as well tell Warren now, eh?" John Paul says as we approach the club, and moments later we're inside. "You're okay with being here, I mean Louise was the one they had as their suspect before Jake confessed," he tells me but I just shrug, it's hardly her fault that she was the main suspect of my brothers crime, or possible crime, or whatever really, I wouldn't put anything past that psycho.
John Paul knocks on the door to the office and we hear Warren call out for whoever it is to come in. So we do, him going in first, me right after him. "John Paul," Warren bellows out and I notice Louise is sat next to him, I offer some sort of nod towards her and shake Warren's hand, "So what can I do you for?" he asks as he looks from me to John Paul.
"Ehm…" John Paul looks at me for a moment, then smiles and turns to look at Warren, "I'm here to give you my notice." I see Warren's face drop and I suppose it's because he knows how good a DJ John Paul really is.
"What, why?"
"I've got a… well… a better job,"
"I'll match whatever they're paying you," Warren counters immediately, but John Paul simply smiles and shakes his head.
"It's not about the money Warren, though granted they'll pay me double of what I am getting here," he chuckles for a moment, "No, I'm moving away, going to Dublin to live with Craig here," he tells Warren before turning to grip my hand, "I'll stay on for the couple of days I've got booked until the end of June, if that's okay, or until you find a replacement, it's up to you," he turns and looks at Warren again.
"Yeah that's fine, we'll start looking for a new DJ and until we find one you'll stay on," all three of us look over at Louise, "And good luck with everything in Dublin," she smiles making me smile too.
"Okay, well we'll probably see you tonight," John Paul says as he begins to walk out the door.
"How'd you mean?" Warren wonders making John Paul stop and look at him again.
"Oh, possible night out, us two and some mates, sort of celebrating my birthday a night early, you know," he shrugs and looks questioningly over at me making me chuckle and nod my head.
"Ah okay, well yeah see you then," Warren grins and nods his head.
John Paul leaves the room and I'm right behind him, stopping in the door and looking over at Louise. "I'm sorry about what Jake did," I tell her in all honesty and she nods as I leave the room, and follow John Paul out of the club.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.
The next bit will be in The Loft, during John Paul's birthday celebration.