A/N - ANOTHER CHAPTER IN UNDER TWO WEEKS! I think I'm ill, or just — dare I say it? — committed! I've figured that my reviewers like this story, so I should make them happy, shouldn't I? And it's also good practice for the future, since I'm considering becoming a writer in my spare time. Sally looking for my Jack, look for some dialogue and explanation inspired by your review!
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Chapter Eight : Good Girls Like Bad Boys
"Summer?" I gasped.
She turned to me and jumped, looking quickly around. It was strange; she seemed anxious and scared.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, gripping my arm tightly.
"I come here all the time," I replied, taking her hand. "What's wrong? You seem really . . . Weird."
She gasped and pulled her hand away. "Don't do that!" she shuddered, glancing over her shoulder at a table. "He might see."
Confused, I looked over at the table she kept glancing at. What I saw made me hate a certain Jimmy Roberts even more than I already did, if that were possible.
Jimmy sat there with two other girls, dumb blondes, by the look of them. He had an arm around each of them, and he was laughing and kissing their cheeks. It was disgusting. Neither of these girls could even remotely compare to Summer, in looks or personality. But maybe that's what Jimmy wanted. Maybe he was letting Summer go.
"Want a drink?" I asked her, tearing my eyes away from her wayward boyfriend. She shook her head a fraction of an inch from side to side.
"I can't," she whispered, looking down at the bar counter. "He won't let me."
I stared at her. "Are you serious?" Jimmy, over in his little corner, had three empty beer bottles beside him, and one more in his hand.
She nodded, and looked up at me. "He doesn't want me drunk. He cares about me."
I put my vodka down on the bar and took her shoulders forcefully. "He cares about you as much as he cares about a mosquito on his sacred body. You need to get out of that relationship, Tink."
She smiled faintly. "Tink," she murmured, gently. "It's been a long time since I've been called Tink. Years, maybe. But it hasn't been that long. It's only been a week since he insisted that I not be called Tink anymore, but every moment feels like a month with him . . . He's dragging me down . . . And I can't find the strength within me to get out." She picked up my drink absent-mindedly and took a sip. I didn't mind at all. She grinned. "Strawberry vodka? I'm surprised, Jones. I always thought you were a beer person."
I wiggled my eyebrows and gave her a mischievous grin. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Hathaway."
The truth was, many people thought I was a beer person, but beer held no taste to me. It was too sharp, too harsh. It didn't make me happy and content, the way my strawberry vodka did. Beer might be the preference for older men and boys my age, but to me, it was absolutely disgusting. Maybe it was because my uncle was a drunk, and always had beer around, and so I thought as a kid that beer was the worst thing ever. Who knows? I just didn't like it. I still don't.
Summer's smile widened. "You're right. I know nothing about you." She looked down at the table, suddenly embarrassed, it seemed. "I'm sorry I've been such a bitch to you these past weeks, but he . . . I didn't want him to hurt you. Or me." She took another sip of my drink.
I glanced over again at Jimmy. The girls had gone, and he seemed to be sleeping on his crossed arms. Nice 'caring', I thought grimly. I raised my hand and waved to Sandra, calling for another drink. I gave it to Summer.
She drank it without hesitation. "This is really good," she sighed, and sat back in her chair with a groan. Then she turned to me. "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Being so nice to me," she looked into my eyes. I suddenly realized just how close we were, and if either of us moved just an inch, we'd be kissing . . . "It's as though all those years have just melted away, and now, there's nothing between us, like there used to be . . ." she laughed a little, and shook her head. "It sounds stupid, I know, but . . . It's different now. I don't hate you, Freddy. I never have."
I had to hold myself back, psychically and physically, to prevent myself from kissing her. She'd downed the drink too fast, she was drunk. I could tell by the softness in her eyes, the way her voice was quietly slurred. I stood up, drawing her with me.
"Come on," I sighed, gripping her arm tightly as she found her feet. "I'm taking you home."
"Okay," she muttered grimly. "I just hope he doesn't find out, I wouldn't be able to handle it if he did . . ."
As we passed Jimmy's table, I paused and looked down at him. I leaned over and whispered, "You lucky bastard," into his ear. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he looked directly into mine. He opened his mouth to say something, possibly a scathing insult, but his eyes fell on Summer.
"Dear God, is he awake!" Summer shrieked, hiding her face in the sleeve of my jacket.
Jimmy had started to raise his head when I gave him a swift punch to his temple. His eyes snapped closed abruptly and his head fell back onto the table with a dull thud.
"Nope," I said, and half-carried, half-dragged Summer out of the bar.
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The night was quiet, with only the occasional passing car to disturb the gentle silence. Summer held tightly to my arm as I walked with her the three blocks to her building. When we got there, I got out the key and unlocked the door for her. It reminded me of the night when this whole thing had started, when I had first seen her drunk. How things have changed, I thought, lifting her into my arms and carrying her up the stairs and to her apartment door. 4a36, the door read in peeling white letters. I put her down and unlocked the door, then held it open for her. She stood there for a moment, half in the apartment, then she turned to me.
"Aren't you coming?" she whispered. "I need help. Please, Freddy, come in."
I followed her into the apartment.
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After I'd helped her brush her teeth and comb her hair, which fell in sleek black waves down her back, she got changed while I waited outside the bedroom door. Then she called me in.
She was sitting on the end of her bed, her head bowed. I stood in the doorway, waiting, then finally she broke the silence.
"Thank you," she said, standing up and coming over to me. "For everything."
"It was no problem," I said, smiling faintly. But then I noticed that her eyes were too bright, too shiny. She was crying. I did the only thing that I knew to do with a crying female: I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her. She buried her face into my shoulder, and her arms snaked around my neck. We held each other for a few minutes, rocking back and forth. I stroked her hair with one hand and held her tightly with the other, whispering, "It's okay," into her ear.
Finally, she pulled her head up off my shoulder and smiled weakly. She was even more beautiful now, the tear stains on her cheeks lighting up her face, her eyes bright and sparkling. We were so close together, and she seemed to have noticed it to. Her gaze shifted down to my lips, and then back up into my eyes.
"Freddy," she whispered, and put her lips on mine.
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A/N - Yay! First kissing scene! Don't worry, this isn't the end of it. Even I wouldn't be THAT evil. There will be more detailed kissing next chapter. I estimate about three chapter left . . No, four. Then I'll have a bit of a break, and the sequel will start.
REVIEWERS I LOVE YOU!
Sally looking for my Jack - You stole my line! I was originally going to have a little bit between Summer and Freddy about the beer thing, but after your review, I couldn't put it in without giving you credit. But I have no problem with giving people credit, so, you got credit for it. YAY.
blackblood - Yes, I'm back, and I'm here to stay! Sorry for your almost-mourning, I just lacked creativity for a while. As for everything being strawberry flavoured . . . . I can see where you're coming from, but I'm a little bit skeptical. I'm having some issues imagining strawberry flavoured potatoes and chicken (my favourite foods) but to each their own.
Remussweetie - Yes, I'm back. Haha I just said that. Funny. (Accepts confetti and tries to eat it. It, alas, is not strawberry flavoured) And I've said it before: JIMMY WILL NOT DIE UNTIL THE SEQUEL! Geeze. Relax my friends, there will be bloodshed eventually. But not yet.
Vampirehelsing - I will be here to continue, I promise you. It really is hard to finish stories though, I know. Haha . . I rhymed.
wyverna - Is this soon enough for you? It's been less that two weeks since chapter seven. Aren't you proud of me? As for the kick-ass-ness comment . . THANK YOU! I never thought that I had kick-ass-ness in me, and having YOU say it (one of my favourite authors on this site) makes me feels very happy indeed.
climbingivy - I'm really glad that I could provide you with mental pictures of what I've written. I never thought that I could do that, but I guess I can. Thank you for the kind comments. I feel very loved and important right now . . .
sweetcaroline - I love my creative juices. They work so well for me. They never let me down, unless they're not flowing, in which case I get the thing we writers call 'writer's block.'
i am not a chipmunk - Yes, I've taught my prospective ghost how to review stories, so that once I'm gone she can take over for me. That's right. I'm really sorry it took me so long, but I'm happy you're happy that I'm back in action. And NO. How many times do I have to tell you? JIMMY IS NOT GETTING SEVERELY HURT IN THIS FIC. He gets punched a lot though, and Freddy (almost) gets charged with assault for it. But that's for another chapter.
SpikesDreamer - I have granted your wish in this chapter. Jimmy was punch by the wonderful Freddy. Now let's cheer for Freddy! (Hip Hip HOORAY)
rockstarhobbit - You're very right. No one who's read this fic so far HASN'T hated Jimmy. Hell, I hate Jimmy. He's actually based off a guy I know, but his name is Jimmy Robert (not Roberts – he's French) and he's not a totally ass-hole like this fictional Jimmy is. He's a little bit conceited, but otherwise, he's pretty cool. I love Freddy/Summer fics too, so much that I won't even read Freddy/Katie fics, unless they're extremely good.
