Hey everyone!
Sorry this chapter took a while...ahh i'm preparing for final exams...eek!
But i promise the next few chapters, including the conclusionof my story will be up a bit quicker.
Apologies for the long chapter, i tried to fit in all the info i could because this story is probably dragging. It's also a little mushy...apologies.
Enjoy!
Sundown xx
Here I go again, I promised myself I wouldn't think of you today…
To: Will Truman
Subject: The Forgotten Friend
Hey!
How is your life going? I bet it is going amazing…too amazing to e-mail me yesterday! You KNOW I need contact, otherwise it's just me, Ashton Blake and the banana muffins he keeps giving me that he knows I won't eat since I'm still running on my banana theory.
In answer to your question, no, I have not slept with Mr. Blake yet, and our relationship is entirely professional…even though he is rich, British and cute and doesn't appear to have any physical flaws (yet), besides having his cell attached to his ear, and he is forever on the phone to some Marcus guy. Oh no…I just clicked…he's not just British…he's gay! No wonder I was attracted to him. I must investigate…
How's the Richard guy?
And here's the big one…
WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU FIND ANY TIME IN BETWEEN PLUCKING THE HEDGE-MAZE THAT YOU CALL EYEBROWS AND TRYING TO SQUEEZE INTO TIGHT TOPS TO TELL ME THAT YOU PROPOSED TO JACK?
I'll give you some space to think about your answer hot-shot.
Enough space?
Yeah, that's right. He told me. Did you honestly expect Jack not to flip out? The longest relationship he has ever had is with his Chicago soundtrack and even that came to a dramatic ending when Catherine Zeta Jones didn't win an Oscar for the movie. WHAT were you thinking and WHY are you letting your relationship be over? I think it is a weak effort Mr. Truman and…here comes Mr.Blake.
Seeya,
Love you more than the really cool jacket I bought yesterday…ah who am I kidding? This jacket rules!
Get back to me…soon soon soon Lay-z Boy!
Love, the only beautiful red head in your life,
Grace.
Ever since you've been gone,
The lights go out the same
The only difference is
You call another name
To your love, to your lover now
To your love
The lover after me.
As he flipped his large menu open, Will coughed lightly to remove the croakiness in his throat. He tried to fix his eyes on the writing in front of him, but his thoughts seemed to cut off the link from his eyes to his brain, causing the words to become fuzzy. Why am I here?
He looked up from his menu and he caught a rushed glimpse of Jack sitting opposite him, his face glowing with the light of the candle. Oh yeah, that's why.
Jack caught Will's dark eyes with his own pale ones, and Jack flashed him a gleaming, sarcastic smile. Will shook his head and gave Jack a dirty look
Richard, who was sitting next to him, slipped his hand into Will's under the table, and kissed him on the cheek.
Earlier…
Am I all alone in the universe?
There's no love on these streets
I have given mine away to a world that didn't want it anyway.
"What's the point of a spring clean when spring is practically over?" Jack stated as he lay back and snuggled into Will's couch. Will had been pacing around his apartment, doing laundry, ridding the bathroom of all unneeded items, and was now in possession of his weapons: The Windex and sponge.
As Jack flipped open a magazine, Will stood in front of him, hands firmly on his hips.
"Good article, Jack?"
"Hmm, I don't really care too much for articles, not big on the whole 'words' thing." Hmm maybe I might find an article on why you are cheating on Michael!
Will snatched the magazine out of Jack's hands. "If you were any less productive, you would be in a coffin!"
"Ooh, kinky!" Jack teased as he stood up.
"And next up, ladies and gentlemen…" Will announced, adopting the voice of a television host. "…The sound of wind blowing through an empty tunnel."
Will blew into Jacks ear, causing Jack to jump away and hit Will.
"Get away from me, fat has been known to be contagious. Its rare…but I'm not taking any chances, Truman."
"What do you actually plan to do today, Jack?"
"Are you suggesting that I'm not busy?"
"I'm not suggesting."
"Shut up. Don't answer. What are you doing ?"
"Since it's my day off, I'm going to the hospital to get our results from the blood test and then I have a date with Richard tonight."
"Oh yay! I have a date tonight too!"
"Jack…no…"
"Aw c'mon, Will…how long has it been since we've double dated?" Jack pleaded, following Will on his cleaning rampage.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Jack, but most of the dates I've been on this year have been with you."
Jack looked down at his feet. Cheap shot!
"Well it's settled then. You, me, Dick and Doctor Ray James. You pick the restaurant, eight o clock."
Will nodded subconsciously before realising what he was nodding to. "Wait…no! nothing's settled!"
The phone began to ring, prompting both men to jump and squeal in unison. Will dropped his Windex bottle and stalked over to the phone. Jack picked up the bottle and bounced over to Will. Perfect chance for irritation!
"Hello?...uh, hi…ok…JACK STOP SQUIRTING ME!...sorry about that…pardon? WHAT?"
Will's face, mood and spirit suddenly dropped. Jack felt his friend's body become an instant wall of tension and rigidity. He placed the Windex bottle onto the bench and returned to Will's side. He gently placed his hand on Will's back, in interest and concern but Will shrugged the gesture, along with Jack's hand off him.
"…Uh…alright…no, I'm just surprised…it's so soon to be back…alright, I'm coming down now to see you…bye."
"Will?"
"Not now, Jack." He answered as he dashed past the other man.
In pure reflex, Jack followed Will out of the door.
So this is my new freedom?
It's funny I don't remember being chained.
And nothing seems to make sense anymore
Without you I'm always 20 minutes late.
Tension pulled like a tightrope amongst the four men seated at the table: all were feeling eerily uncomfortable.
Richard attempted to break the silence.
"So, Jack, it's great to finally meet you, Will's told me a lot about you."
Jack's eyes didn't move away from Will's face as he replied to Richard's question. "Don't believe anything he says about me. I didn't really eat the fake apple at his mom's place." Whew. Got out of that one!
"Ok…so you're not funny and adorable?"
Will kicked Richard in the foot. "Shut up."
Jack was stunned for a moment. Where's the story and when did I miss the plot?
"Don't worry Will…Jack said the occasional nice thing about you too in the cab over here." Ray slotted in.
Jack kicked under the table. Will jumped. "Ow…wrong person, Jack!"
Earlier…
Ever since you've been gone
The lights go out the same
The only difference is
You call another name
To your love, to your lover now
To your love
The lover after me.
Jack and Will waited at the desk to collect the results of their blood tests. Ray strolled past, folder under his arm and his stethoscope hanging loosely around his neck.
Will pointed. "Hey isn't that…"
"Shhhh" Jack hushed, pulling down Will's pointing hand. "Don't point! You're killing fairies!"
Will poked Jack in the arm. No response. "Your theory sucks."
"Who was the phone call from?" Jack suddenly questioned.
"A friend."
Jack stared at him. Do it now Jack…say it.
"Does this friend happen to be named Michael by any slight chance?"
Will instantly faced away. "Uh, yeah."
Don't you dare shrug it off! Jack thought angrily.
"And you just can't decide which one to stay with, can you? Michael or Dick, Dick or Michael. Hard choice, isn't it Will? So…which one's the mistress, I'm guessing Michael." That-a-boy, Jack!
As his eyes returned to their normal size after the shock of what Jack had just accused, Will began to feel his common irritation with Jack seep in.
"Jack! I…you know what? We'll grab the results later. Come with me. Right now. I have something to show you." Will demanded, tightly grabbing Jack's hand and leading him away.
"William Truman, if you are leading me into a janitors closet, I will be pleasantly revolted!"
And time goes by so slowly
The nights are cold and lonely
And I shouldn't be holding on
But I've been holding on for you.
"Uh excuse me ma'am" Jack asked the waitress as he coldly stared at Will. "I was wondering if I could please change this salad, yeah, this lettuce is a little bitter, tasteless and old. Sorry, thanks."
The waitress nodded, and as she collected Jack's plate, Will decided to join Jack's game.
"Sorry to be a pain, but I was wondering if I could please choose a different wine? This ones a bit immature and its giving me a headache, even in tiny doses."
Irritated, the waitress picked up the glass of wine and stormed off with the two items in her hands.
"Let's take a reading from the comfort thermometer shall we? Ah, I believe that it has hit an all time low." Ray announced in frustration. "Look, Jack, you're a nice enough guy, but God you can be blind and shallow at times, and I don't think this will work between us. So before you get any ideas, I think I'm just gonna go, ok?"
Ray stood up, pushed his chair in and swiftly exited the restaurant.
"What just happened?" Jack asked.
"He just dumped you." Richard answered.
"That's what I thought. He talked too much anyway."
"Jerk." Will breathed quietly.
"Can you believe he called me shallow? Give me an example of when I have been shallow!" Jack begged.
"Today, when we walked past that homeless woman with the sign that said 'I haven't eaten for a week' and you walked up to her and said 'Gosh, I wish I had your willpower'!" Will replied.
Richard laughed.
"You find this funny?" Will asked, still running on his wavelength of exasperation.
"I always find it funny when you get mad... and cute" Richard replied, reaching over and stroking the back of Will's neck.
"Ugh, please! I'm still trying to eat here. You know what? Forget it…I'm just gonna go, alright? I'm not really in the mood for the live production of Homeo and Julio tonight." Jack affirmed softly, taking his/Will's jacket off the back of his seat and leaving the restaurant.
Will turned to Richard. "I am so sorry about this."
"Go outside and talk to him." Richard urged, smiling.
Earlier…
Here I go again, I promised myself I wouldn't think of you today
Jack stood at the partially opened door, skeptically hovering behind Will. He tried to peek around Will's shoulder, but was unsuccessful. Will pushed the door open, the creaking amplified due to the suspense Jack was feeling. Will dragged Jack in.
"There! Are you happy? There's your so-called 'mistress'. Right there!" Will angrily released, gesturing over towards Michael.
Jack forced his eyes to settle upon the bed in which the man that he had subconsciously envied for seven long years lay. He never hated Michael, he always seemed so strong, but seeing him vulnerable like this poked splinters into his heart.
"Hey, Jack! Come, see the freak show, presented by Will." Michael joked, weakly waving at the man.
Jack's stomach turned, and fear snatched the words away from his mouth.
"I have to go…I will visit you soon Michael." Jack choked, his voice hoarse.
As he closed the door behind him, Will turned to Michael.
"What are you waiting here for?"
"He'll deal with it."
"Like you, Will? How did you deal with it?"
Will nodded, refusing eye contact with his ex-lover. He walked over to the man, hugged him and kissed his matted hair.
"Are you fine?"
"Andrew is coming around after he finishes work. Stop worrying. Wow…saying that just brought me back into the apartment we shared. Creepy."
Will chuckled as he left the room.
But I'm standing at your doorway
Calling out your name
Cause I can't move on
"Hey, Jack" Will greeted. Jack leaned against the wall next to the front doorway of the hospital.
"I am sorry, but your membership to the best friends club has just expired. It is with deepest regret that we had to terminate your membership, but you are still required to pay the weekly fee."
"It seems like somebody bathed in the fountain of youth for a little too long today."
Will took Jack's hand and spun him slightly so they were facing each other.
"I'm sorry I had to tell you like that, but at least now you realize how irrational and insane your accusations were."
"Yeah, rough love, and not in the military video way. I get it."
Will abruptly lifted Jacks chin up with his finger, and inspected his friends face.
"Playing with the big boys now, Jack? How long did it take you to grow that facial hair of yours?"
Jack smirked. "Funny. You lose hair from your head, I gain it on my face... law of age"
Will shook his head, and realized that he was still holding onto Jacks hand. He quickly tore his hand away.
Jack suddenly became oddly serious and stared at Will.
"The blood tests?"
"Yeah, I know, I'm s…"
Will was instantly silenced with the feeling of lips against his own. He closed his eyes, encircling his arms around his companion before both he and Jack realized what they were doing and jumped apart in shock.
"This…can't…happen again." Will, panted.
"Your fault. See you at eight." Jack yelled behind him as he rushed off.
Will sighed loudly and leaned against the wall, watching his the back of his friend hurry away.
Ever since you've been gone,
The lights go out the same
The only difference is
You call another name
To your love, to your lover now
To your love
The lover after me.
Will sprinted out of the restaurant to catch up with Jack.
"Jack!" He yelled. "Turn around, dammit!"
Jack violently spun around. "Do you really love him, Will, or are you with him to look cool…like the wholeTom-Katie thing?"
Will was taken aback by the unexpected outburst.
"Yes, I do." He responded quietly.
"That's good. Go off, live happily ever after with his wonderful daughter. Be a great father, tutor her in anal retentiveness, and laugh about a stupid friend you used to know."
Jack's cynicism almost frightened Will.
"Jack, You're gonna be really good at this one day."
"Good at ice-skating? It's practice, I know."
Huh? "No, freak. Commitment. Marriage. "
"Well of course I would be, just bring on Jude Law and I'll start looking for a white picket fence. Hey I might even meet Cinderella's fairy God-mother and roll home in a pimped out pumpkin."
Will angrily gritted his teeth. "I don't even know why I try with you any more."
"Try? You jumped straight into a new guy! You never tried asking why I freaked out when you proposed!" Jack yelled, his frustration soaring.
Will felt exasperation boiling up within him, ready to erupt at any moment. "I never tried?"
Jack looked away. Will violently grabbed his shoulders. "I never tried?" He repeated.
"Will, you can't ju…"
For the second time that day, their mouths connected. Will still securely clinging onto Jack's shoulders. Awareness, once again, broke their kiss.
"Cant…Happen…AGAIN!" Jack screeched.
The two men remained in a suspended silence, their eyes wide, breath shortened. They paused for a second before yelling in unison and then running off in their separate directions.
"Will, I was planning on asking you this at the date we were supposed to have tonight" Richard nervously stated.
They sat in Richards apartment, relaxing on the couch, Will resting his head on his lovers shoulder.
"Yeah I was telling Jack I wanted to give him a kiss…I mean…a miss….GIVE IT A MISS." He stammered.
"Will…don't joke. I want you to move in with me."
WHAT? So soon? "Huh?" Will asked, sitting himself upright.
Richard faced him and took both of Will's hands into his own.
"I want you…to move in with me."
"Oh." Will replied. "Ha…I thought you said 'I want you to do a movie', thank-god it was just a giant life-altering question, rather than a dirty proposition…"
Thanks to my lovely readers and reviewers!
LJStagFlower4e: Thankyou love! xx
Queen Of The PaperClips: Yes...yet another chapter. Thankyou so much for your interest! xx
GracieAdler: Good to hear your school stuff is getting better! I'm happy that you like Josie's character...thankyou so much for your flatteringreview, and i hope i didn't dissappoint, love! xx
Kaden: Hooray for suspense. Eek...warm fuzzy feeling from your review! thankyou thankyou thankyou!xx
HoorayTheWierd: Glad to see you're liking this! I know, it's sad that it's the last season, but, as long as it goes off with a bang, and a fan-pleasing way I'll be happy since the writers and actors gave us 8 wonderful years of the show. Thankyou! xx
Lozza: Thanks soooo much for the review! Wow, must have taken you quite a while to get through the 19 chapters! Thankyou xx
Next Chapter: Will is torn, deciding whether to move in with Richard or not, and chooses to sort it out with Grace via phone. Grace is still on her mission to discover Mr.Blake's sexuality. Jack spends time with Karen and Josie, discussing boy troubles.
xx