A/N: Time for some more, I think. Still looking for a beta. I'm totally willing to help someone else if they could help me out. (lacey_q@hotmail.com). Don't all volunteer at once now, will you? He he. Well, enjoy….
You are such a bloody idiot, Jonathan mentally chided himself as he stomped down the hallway towards the staff parking lot, helmet tucked under one arm, briefcase in the other hand. All day, well at least since the incident in his classroom with Jess, Jonathan had been in an uncharacteristically foul mood. His final period class had been suspiciously quiet, obviously quite aware that their usually laid back English Lit teacher was not in a mood to be messed with today. Jonathan desperately needed to talk to someone about what had happened, but couldn't think of a soul to confide in. Eli would be absolutely appalled, considering he had made it fairly clear that he was still interested in Jess himself. Shawn, who was usually surprisingly informed about the female of the species, and often Jonathan's first port of call when it came to women troubles, was also out of the question. After all, Jessica was his father's girlfriend. Jonathan got so desperate as to actually consider talking to Feeny, but quickly came to his senses after recalling his warnings after the Kat and Devon messes. He'd hate to think what Feeny would say. Jonathan had just resigned himself to a night of solitude and misery when a fleeting thought poked at the edges of his mind. Alan Matthews. Nah, he thought, the man has been happily married for twenty odd years, no way would he understand how Jonathan could be so stupid as to fall for another man's girl. Though, then again, Alan was hardly a prude… With no one else to choose from, Jonathan leapt onto his bike, and sped towards the Matthews with newly found determination.
There was a sharp knock on the glass door to the kitchen of the Matthew house, and Amy looked up in surprise, her hand frozen in midair with the knife she had been using to slice up the carrots for dinner. Expecting to see one of her boys, or perhaps even George Feeny, she instead found Jonathan Turner, looking rather flustered, standing behind the glass. Amy walked over and opened the door for her sons' teacher.
"What have they done now?" she asked, with an exasperated sigh, one hand placed on her hip, the other holding the open door as a gesture for Jonathan to come in.
"Huh?" Jon asked, a little bewildered as he stepped into the warm kitchen.
"What have Cory and Shawn been up to now? Or is it Eric this time? Those boys, they're going to be the death of me…"
"Oh, no, no, Amy. Well, at least I don't know anything they've been doing. Doesn't guarantee they're not up to mischief though." Jonathan observed Amy's slight sigh of relief. "Actually, I was wondering if Alan was home?"
"Sure. He's in the living room. Alan, dear! Jonathan's here to see you!" she called towards the archway to the lounge, giving the man before her a curious look. Jonathan heard the TV being turned off, and then Alan appeared in the kitchen.
"Jonathan? What have those sons of mine been up to now? Lord, don't tell me, Cory's been…"
"No, no," Jonathan interrupted. "Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to you privately."
This revelation surprised Alan somewhat. Sure, he and Jonathan were friends, but never on the level of having man-to-man conversations. "Uh, of course. Excuse us Amy." Alan led Jonathan to what he considered to be the appropriate place for a manly conversation – the garage.
"Thank you, Alan. Look, I'm really sorry to interrupt you, I …" Jonathan babbled, not so sure where to start.
"Not at all, Jonathan," Alan said, hoping to calm him down.
Finally Jonathan managed to convey the whole story to Alan.
"And this Jess is dating Chet Hunter?" Alan asked, absolutely astounded. From what Jonathan had said, Jessica sounded like an absolute goddess, not the sort to be hanging around with scum such as the likes of Chet Hunter. Of course the guy seemed absolutely taken by her.
"Yes. And Shawn is so happy about it. Lord, Alan, what am I going to do? Shawn is going to hate me when he finds out, and Eli too. But worst of all, what will Jess think? I've just gone and blown a perfectly good friendship!"
"Seems to me, Jonathan, that Jess isn't particularly interested in Eli anyway. And sure, he might feel a little hurt, but when it comes down to it, he's had ample opportunity himself. Besides, aren't the two of you always arguing over women? It'll just give you some more ammo for a couple of days."
Jonathan couldn't help but smile. This was all true, of course, and already he was feeling better about the Eli front.
"And as for Shawn – well, I don't know about you, but from what I've heard him say about his visit to his fathers, he was much more interested in Jess than in what his father had to say. Perhaps it is more that Jess is there, rather than with his father? Hm?"
Jonathan couldn't help but agree. How did this man get so smart? "But what about Jess? I mean she ran from the class afterwards? How the heck can that be alright?"
"She kissed you back though. Surely if she wasn't interested she would've run long before she did. You're a good man, Jonathan, stop beating yourself up. Trust me, after all I have been married to one for twenty two years now – women are very complex creatures. Give her a little time to think about what happened and just see. You never know." Alan seemed to have a very sure smile on his face. Jonathan found himself feeling quite relieved.
"You're right, Alan. It was only a kiss after all. It's not like it's the end of the world."
"Precisely. Now, why don't you come and join us for dinner?"