Chapter Three

DISCLAIMER: Just a fan, own nothing to do with The Inbetweeners

"What do you think?" The hairstylist asked, as she took off the protective smock she had covered me with.

I surveyed my reflection in the mirror and smiled tentatively. "Yes, it looks great, thank you." The hairstylist had blow-dried my long hair, chopped a few inches off so it now fell just to my chest, and added some soft layers. I did like my new look, but I missed the hair that had been cut off.

"It looks so good!" Carli exclaimed, springing up from the soft pouffe she had been sitting on in the salon's waiting area. "I just wish you had agreed to dye your hair, babe. Then it would be perfect."

I stood up from the seat and Carli followed me over to the salon front desk where I paid with my debit card. I picked up all the shopping bags we had collected today. "No, I like my natural hair colour. And this is already a big change for me. A pricey change, might I add. Especially after all those clothes shops you dragged me through today."

Carli narrowed her eyes at me as we walked out of the salon and into the heart of Waterside Shopping Centre. "I didn't need to come here so early on a Saturday. I had to cancel my date with Tom, and he's so busy I hardly get to see him. You know that. I basically had to sacrifice seeing him because of you."

I sighed. "Sorry, Carli. But you are seeing him tonight, aren't you? And Tom was the one who wanted to switch the date to the evening, after all."

"What?" Carli was flustered for a few moments, then recovered. "Well, yeah but I still had to sacrifice my Saturday lie in for you. And who told you to eavesdrop on my private phone calls anyway?"

"But you had the call on loudspeaker, Carli," I protested. "I couldn't help overhearing-"

"Forget it!" Carli snapped, interrupting me. She crossed her arms, her mouth downturned into a sulky frown. "Go back home on your own, if this is the thanks I get for helping you. Some friend you are, Jane."

"Wait, Carli – don't go. I do appreciate your help," I hastily replied. "Why don't I treat you to a late lunch before we go home? I don't want us to fall out."

"Can you afford it?" Carli asked bluntly. "Since you were whining about all the money you spent today."

I was taken aback, then I smiled lightly, hoping she did not see that I was upset by her rudeness. "Let's go to McDonalds. I can just about swing that, I think."

"I guess that will have to do," Carli shrugged, and then linked her arm through mine. Her face softened as we walked to our destination. "I'm being a bit bitchy, aren't I?"

"No, of course not," I stated soothingly, although it was a lie. "We've had a long day, that's all. We're both tired and I think we'll feel better after some food."

The food court was quite busy. I had been waiting in line for quite a while but finally I had gotten my order paid for and prepared. Carli had begrudgingly taken the shopping bags off me and agreed to find us a table. I thought it would be a miracle if she found an empty table, but if anyone could do it, it was Carli. All she had to was smile and flirt a little then some poor guy would probably give up his table for her. I gazed around the seating area, and finally spotted Carli waving to me from the other side.

I froze when I saw she was not alone. She was with my brother and his friends. My brother and I were barely talking at the moment. He was still upset that I was dating Mark, and kept asking me to break up with Mark though I refused each time he asked. I had not spoken to Jay since the day Mark had gotten in his face. My stomach was twisted into knots all of a sudden, but I was happy to see Jay. I tightened my grip on the tray and weaved through the tables until I reached the booth.

"Hey, guys," I smiled as I set the tray down on the table.

Will looked up at me, wide eyed as he took in my hair cut – then he quietly kept eating his fries. Neil and Simon smiled at me and returned my greeting, though Neil was happily munching through his second Big Mac and Simon was a little nervous as Carli was sat next to him. Jay stared at me as if I had grown another head, and then mumbled an unenthusiastic hello.

"Carli, can you move up a bit so I can sit down?" I asked.

Carli took a sip of her milkshake and pulled a face. "Hmm. It's not as nice as I remembered." She started eating her fries then made a dismissive shooing motion with her hand. "Babe. There's no space on this side, sit down next to Jay."

Simon smiled enthusiastically at Carli, his face flushing red up to the tips of his ears. "But I don't mind, Carli. You can move closer to me and then there'll be space for her to sit."

"Nah, mate," Neil disagreed with Simon, looking dismayed. "I'm already squashed in this corner as it is."

"Shut it, Neil," Simon hissed, giving him a sharp jab with his elbow.

I quickly sat down next to Jay, to prevent further argument. My arm brushed up against his as I reached to take my meal off of the tray. He shifted in his seat to leave a gap between us, but that meant he was pressed up against Will who shoved him back into me.

"Just bloody sit still, Jay." Will snapped. "I've had enough of your antics as it is today."

"Oh really?" Jay smirked at Will. "Just 'cause you're jealous you're not a muff magnet like me."

Carli looked disgusted by Jay's remark, but his crudeness was really not a shock to me now. It was just part of who he was, and he was not doing it with malicious intent.

Will shook his head slowly. "Yes, that's right. I'm so terribly jealous of you and all the countless imaginary girls you've dated."

Carli and the others burst into laughter at Will's jibe, but I just started eating my fries. I felt a little bad for Jay, but he did bring it on himself. His cockiness, false bravado and lies had gotten him and his friends in trouble before and would do so in the future I was sure.

"Laugh all you want," Jay's chin rose slightly as a defiant look overtook his face. "Not like you bunch of ugly twats are getting lucky any time soon. Not like me."

When everyone had finished eating Carli tapped Simon on the arm. "Hey, Simon...Can you give us a ride home?" She smiled sweetly at him and then sent me a sly wink. "We've got so many shopping bags it will be pure hell trying to go home on the bus."

"Hold on a minute! " Will protested indignantly. "There's not enough space."

"Um..." Simon seemed flustered. "It is a pretty small car, Carli. It might not be comfortable if we all crammed in."

"Oh, so you don't want to give us a ride. That's fine," Carli stated coldly, turning her back to Simon. She glanced back at him and sighed. "I just thought we were friends, but I guess maybe I was wrong?"

It did not take long for Simon to cave to Carli's request. Carli insisted on sitting in the front next to Simon, though Jay had called out 'Shotgun' for the front seat. Simon had agreed quite eagerly to let Carli sit in the front, leaving Jay with a betrayed expression on his face. Will sat behind Carli, with Neil in the middle and Jay sitting behind Simon. With the shopping bags haphazardly crammed into the boot, it only left me to get inside the car. But there really was no space left.

"Jane can sit on my lap," Neil suggested suddenly, giving us a bright smile. "Not like she weighs a lot and it's just a short journey."

"No, my sister is not sitting on your bloody lap, Neil," Will sounded appalled. "And we're not breaking the law and endangering her life. If we crashed the consequence could be unthinkable. "

"I think Neil's right, it's the only way I can fit inside the car as well." It was not a bad solution, and I was tired and just wanted to get home. "Look, if Neil doesn't mind, then I don't mind either."

Jay seemed doubtful. "Nah, not a good idea. Neil's too lanky; his legs can barely fit into this shitmobile as it is. You better sit with me."

"I have to admit I feel more comfortable if Jay gives you a seat, though I still want it made clear I do not approve of this idea," Will frowned. "At least he doesn't fancy-" Will paused abruptly. "Nevermind. Let's just go home."

It would have been less awkward to sit on Neil's lap or even my brother's lap but I did enjoy the idea of being so close to Jay. Besides, he had offered for me to sit with him. So I climbed into the car, trying not to tread on Jay's feet as I did so. As Simon drove off, I kept my hands gripped on the back of his seat and sat up straight. Jay kept shifting his position under me and so I tried not to put all my weight on him, concerned he might be uncomfortable. We were halfway home when a car suddenly swerved right in front of us.

"Fucking wankers!" Simon yelled as he quickly hit the brake pedal. He beeped his horn angrily. "Is everyone alright?"

Everyone assured him they were fine, I did too since I had only bumped my head lightly. I had hit the back of Simon's headrest and fallen back onto Jay. His response was to wrap his arms around me securely, and I felt happy because this was the first time I had been so close to Jay. Although I knew he was only holding me because we had come close to being in a crash and he was trying to protect me, I still thought it was a sweet thing to do. The smile that had unwittingly appeared on my face faded rapidly when I felt a stab of guilt pass through me. Just two weeks earlier Mark had wrapped his arms around me too. He and I were not officially a couple yet but we had been talking and hanging out together so it almost seemed inevitable that we would end up together. Although I still was not completely convinced he liked me, but he did not seem to be acting when he was with me. I really felt like Mark wanted me.

Then I caught sight of Will staring at me and I quickly looked out of the window, hoping he had not seen me smile before. Will and Jay's friendship was tenuous at times, Simon and Neil being the glue that held their friendship together and I did not want to give Will another reason to get upset with Jay. I knew I should harden my heart against Jay, otherwise I would not be able to get back at him for hurting me but it was difficult. I still liked him, though he had not even bothered to apologize for his mean and thoughtless remarks about me. A part of me had felt good when Jay had been so surprised to find out that Mark and I were supposedly dating, but afterwards I just felt awful because it was not fair to Mark. I was torn between wanting to make Jay feel as bad as he had made me feel and wanting to forget the whole idea of making him regret what he had done.

After dropping Carli off, Simon drove straight to my house. We all got out of the car and I decided it was time I stop being so nice to Jay. So I channelled a little of Carli's attitude and asked him to help me with the shopping bags. In the past I would have been reluctant to ask for help, but then again I had not deserved to be insulted by him so in a way I felt like he was atoning for his past wrongdoing towards me. Jay had not wanted to help me carry the bags, but I held firm and refused to take no for an answer.

It amused me to see Jay trudging up and down the stairs with the shopping bags – it took him two trips to carry them all up to my room. All the while he was carrying the bags, the others were getting comfortable in the living room, drinking cold ciders and laughing over an inside joke. It was lucky for them that Mum was out for the day with a friend. I knew Jay could not wait to join them, and I felt a petty sense of satisfaction at having made him wait to do so. It was a small start, but I counted it as a victory because it showed I could at least temporarily tamp down the feelings I had for Jay. Though I was still hopelessly attracted to him, I knew I had to get over him.

I was trying on some of the new clothes when I heard the doorbell ring, but I dismissed it from my mind easily. No one ever called for me. The guys had probably ordered some takeaway, despite the fact we had recently eaten. I slipped into a velvet red crop top and a short silver skirt, which left me with my tummy bare. I was not too sure about the crop top, but Carli had insisted I either buy it or a very skimpy dress with a neckline plunging down to my navel so I thought the crop top was the safer option. I had quite a few low cut necklines and short hem lines in the clothing Carli had picked out for me. She had also gifted me with some of her old makeup and I planned to look up some makeup tutorials for beginners tomorrow. Carli had tried to persuade me to buy foundation but I refused. It was going to be enough of a struggle already to get the hang of applying makeup, and I did not want to do makeup that was too time consuming.

I heard a knock at my door and when I walked over to it I saw a note being pushed under the door. I sighed as I picked it up, knowing it was my brother. I knew he still was trying to avoid talking to me. The note said that I needed to go downstairs as I had a visitor. When I went downstairs I noticed it was very quiet. The raucous laughter and chatter from earlier had stopped. I walked into the sitting room and saw Mark was standing there, a smirk on his face and an open can of cider in his hand. My brother and his friends were sitting down, and they all seemed quite subdued. Will looked miserable and Jay had a petulant expression on his face but when he saw me he seemed to do a double take. His face lit up as his eyes keenly swept over me from head to toe.

I liked it, that I could cause Jay to have such a reaction when he saw me but I also felt disappointed in him and in myself. Disappointed in him because he was showing interest now only after he saw some bare skin. Just like he would with any girl. Disappointed in myself for liking his reaction. Mark was standing right there and my focus was on Jay.

"You're not wearing that outside, are you?" Mark asked, a heavy frown settling on to his face as he scrutinized me closely. He quickly downed the remainder of the cider in the can and chucked the empty can at Jay, who had to lean to the side to avoid the can hitting his face. Mark grinned at Jay, but his eyes were glittering with a hard malice. "Thanks for the drink, mate."

"You're welcome, mate." Jay replied, with heavy emphasis on the word mate and a forced smile on his face.

I felt horrible but before I could even say anything Mark had ushered me out of the living room and closed the living room door with a firm snap. "Mark...what was that back there? That was so rude."

Mark shrugged casually, like he did not care but I knew he was annoyed. "I didn't like the way he was sniffing all over you like a dog with a bone, it was pathetic."

"Don't do things like that again, Mark," I stated sternly, although I did not know if I got through to him. "Jay doesn't even like me anyway, so there's nothing to be concerned about. Why did you come over?"

"I just wanted to see you, that's all. Ask you out on a proper date," Mark shook his head slowly, seeming unhappy all of a sudden. "But if you don't want me here, I'll leave." He turned away and walked for the front door.

I grabbed hold of his arm. "Wait, Mark. I do want you to be here, and I'm so glad you came to see me."

Mark looked back at me, his face unreadable, and I felt like barriers were being put up between us. "Yeah? Are you sure about that? We can just forget about the date, if you want."

Suddenly I felt afraid, afraid that if I let him go now that whatever we had between us would be over before it even began. And I realized I did not want that and that I was really starting to like Mark. "No, no. Let me just go get my bag. I'd...love for you to take me on a date."

I let go of him and started making my way up the stairs.

"You're gonna change your outfit, yeah?" Mark asked, a mild undercurrent of warning in his tone. "It's not that warm outside; you'll freeze if you go out like that."

I paused on the stairs for a few moments, then went up to my room and changed into grey jeans and a light cardigan over a pink camisole top before coming back down stairs with my handbag slung over my arm. "Is this better?"

Mark gave me an approving nod, and then I quickly popped into the sitting room to tell Will that I was going out with Mark and would be back home later.

Will struggled not to talk to me, but his protective brother mode made him settle on a compromise. He cleared his throat and turned to Simon. "Simon, can you please inform my sister to be careful and make sure she takes her mobile. Also please remind her that her curfew is 1 am and that Mum will go mad if she comes home late."

Simon rolled his eyes heavenward. "Jane, you heard what Will said, didn't you?"

"Yeah, thanks," I replied. "Tell Will I have my mobile, it's fully charged and I'll make sure to be home before 1 am. Tell him that I don't want him to worry about me because I'm safe with Mark."

After I shut the front door, I smiled at Mark tentatively. "So where are we going?"

"You'll find out when we get there," Mark pulled me closer to him and took hold of my hand, squeezing it lightly. "And I'm sure you'll have fun."

As Mark led me to his car, I felt excited but also nervous too. It would be my first ever date, and most likely I would have my first kiss before the night ended.

Thanks for reading :)