First of all: I AM SOOOO SORRY! I haven't updated in forever! You all are so wonderful and give me the reviews I ask for and what do I do to you? Wait a month to update. I'm sorry, I'm a terrible person. :( And I can't even promise fluff to make up for it because this... isn't fluff. At all. BUT! It's an update! So that's good, right? ANYWAYS, if you think it's good, bad, or ugly, PLEASE review!
Cold air bit at my shoulder and I pulled the warm body snuggled into my chest closer. I lowered my nose to her hair and opened my eyes. This scent was wrong, and since when did Addy have red hair?
I let go of this mystery girl and jumped out of the bed. She woke up and looked at me, drowsy and alarmed. I looked over to Bones' bed for help, but he wasn't there. Probably for the best. I should tell Addy myself. Wait. No. I shouldn't tell Addy because there's no reason why she would be interested. She doesn't give a damn about me.
"Jimmy, what's the matter." Madeline said. Or maybe it was Mary. Pretty sure there was an "M" and some other syllables.
"Sorry, I have an early class. So if you could…" I trailed off, hoping she would take the hint.
"Jimmy. You said this wouldn't be like last time. You said you really cared about me and that I would be welcome to stay as long as I liked in the morning." She pouted, this was not my best move. Why must I be held accountable for what I say when I'm drunk?
"Well, I didn't remember about my class." I insisted impatiently.
"Then I'll be here when you get back." She sat up on the bed and tried to look determined.
"I won't be back until this evening. And at that point I might well be with another girl who bought into whatever I drunkenly told her. Which would be awkward, especially trying to introduce the two of you when I don't know either of your names." Better to rip off the bandaid, right?
She looked appalled and left quickly, muttering "Michelle" as she threw her shirt on. I tried giving her a smile as she left, but she didn't look at me. I caught a glimpse of her mascara-and-tear-stained cheek. Great. Because I just wasn't going to feel shitty enough today.
I tried laying in bed again and reading, but it was still warm and smelled of Michelle's perfume. Deciding to head to the library, I threw on a pair of jeans and my jacket. I almost told Bones where I was headed before remembering that he was gone. I paused briefly to look around the room for a note from him, usually I was the one to not make it back to the dorm room. There was no note, and I figured I shouldn't call him. He probably wouldn't want to hear from me after last night. I pulled my hood up and headed out.
It was a bright and cold day. One of those days that when you're in a bad mood, the sun is too bright and feels out of place. Days like this are supposed to be grey and gloomy. The wind whistled through the trees and I pulled my jacket tighter around myself. The library wasn't far, so I didn't bother with my bike.
I force a smile at the librarian because I forgot my card and she lets me in. I head straight to the non-fiction section, specifically history. Grabbing a few books out of the biography section I start to make my way to the seating area. I turn a corner and hear Addy laughing. Not her usually cynical chuckle or the loud gasping laugh that I heard last time I was in the library with her, but a small, almost nervous giggle. I couldn't help but investigate.
I ran my finger over the spines of books on the shelf and I slowly walked down the aisle. I could hear Addy more distinctly now. She was with someone. Bones?
I stopped walking. I shouldn't be spying on them. Bones is my friend, even if I wasn't a great one. But it's only been a day. I mean, really? Not even twenty-four hours before she's practically jumping into bed…
So maybe I'm not one to talk.
But this is different. That's Bones! Not just the first person who's willing and able. And I haven't exactly been laughing. Great. I got laid and she got him. Probably best for everyone. I wasn't the guy for her. She didn't want me to be. She wanted Bones and he wanted her and now they have each other and that's great for them.
The laughing stopped.
"Jim?" I heard her ask tentatively.
"Hey, Addy, just, uh… browsing." When had I turned the corner? How long had I been standing there?
"...You're five feet from the closest bookshelf. Which is kind of an accomplishment in a library." She rose her eyebrows and half smiled.
"Yeah, well…" I desperately searched for something to say so I could leave. Bones was standing a little behind Addy and I didn't want to see either one of them.
"Jim, look, I'm sorry. I sho-" I cut her off
"You don't have to be sorry, I get it. It's fine." I said shortly.
"You get it? You get that while I did initially go home with you because I was drunk and wanted to make Len jealous I stayed with you because I wanted to? You get that the only reason I didn't tell you was because I didn't want you to think that I was only interested in you to get to him?"
Sure. Whatever. I get whatever I need to so I can get out of here. Even if everything she just said was total bullshit.
"Yes. I know you never meant to hurt me." That was just a happy coincidence. "You were in a tough situation." And didn't even try to fix it. "I understand why you didn't tell me." If you had just told me what was happening I would have understood and maybe we'd still be together now. I turned and left before she had a chance to respond.
"Jim! Hey, wait up!" Bones followed me. Shit. I stopped walking and turned to face him.
"What?" I asked.
"You're mad." He said. He always was a quick one.
"It's been one day. One day and you're already all over each other in the library of all places?" I strained to keep my voice low.
"I'm sorry. I should have talked to you, and we weren't all over each other. We were just talking."
"Just talking, sure." I shot back. He gave me a look and raised an apologetic hand to the people studying around us.
"Damn it man, keep your voice down! We're in a library. And if you knew that she wanted me, not you, why would you keep acting like everything was wonderful and you were so damn in love?"
"She was with me. What was I supposed to do? Just break up with her because I thought she might be into you? You really expect me to give up on what was an awesome relationship because YOU wanted her? I didn't KNOW anything until last night when you two ran off together!" I didn't bother trying to keep my voice down. Bones looked stunned. It was rather satisfying.
"I… I'm sorry. I didn't expect, I didn't think she-" He stuttered
"Didn't think what, that she would be into you? You, the nice trustworthy guy that every girl wants to take home to her parents? You're the guy every girl wants to end up with, and I'm the guy they want to sleep with and never have to deal with again." I shot back.
"Jim, I'm sorry." Was all he said. Lot of good it'll do.
"Whatever. Just leave me alone." I couldn't remember what happened to the books I had been holding but I didn't care. I didn't want to go back to my dorm room that smelled like Michelle and has Bones' stuff all through it but I wasn't about to stay here.
So, I was planning on the next chapter overlapping with this one from Addy's POV, but that was before the Bones and Jim convo happened. I have no control over this story, I just throw the characters into a certain situation and they go off doing their thing while I try desperately to follow them around and write down what they're doing. To hardcore paraphrase Oscar Wilde. You know the deal: Review and there will be happiness for all. And pie. Pie and happiness to all. But really, aren't they one and the same?
