Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: wow, I got such a great response that I never would have expected. I'll keep this short, this is the chapter that really just establishes the plot more. Well on with the show, enjoy and thank you for reading!
Chapter Two - Better Than Before
Jacob POV
A four days later...
Waking up to the sound of knocking on my door, I felt groggy the memory of the night before hazy at best. My head felt like someone hit me with a sledge hammer, the light peeking out from my curtains sending pinpricks of pain through to my brain. Sitting up slowing the bed sheets fell to my waist and I was suddenly aware that I was bare ass naked. That was when I saw the equally naked guy lying on his front beside me.
He was quite good looking of what I could see which was quite a lot. A lean muscled body with shaggy brown hair that flopped into his face a little, he moved in sleep to lie on his back showing a pierced ear. Due to the insane amount of alcohol I had last night at the club I'm having trouble remembering his name, all I know right now is that it begins with an R, Rick...Robert...Ross none of them fit.
As he slept I realized the banging on my door had stopped, sliding out of bed I hunt for my boxers seeing them on the door handle. Yanking them on I sprint to the bathroom making it there just in time to throw up in the toilet. After clearing out my system I hear my phone ring, following the sound I find it in the living room under one of the cushions.
"Hello?" my voice sound dry and croaky, so I head to the kitchen to get some water and aspirin.
"Jake where are you?" I recognize Edwards's voice immediately, stopping in my tracks I try to figure out what he means.
"I just woke up mate"
"Oh, well I've been waiting in the park for over half an hour, for you. Are you alright?" shit, it was Saturday morning, every Saturday we go for a run in the park and I completely forgot!
"Sorry, Edward I totally forgot"
"Well I guess you have had other things on your mind" at this point Riddley or Reese walked out of my bedroom, no longer naked but only wearing a pair of black briefs.
"I am really sorry Ed"
"Don't worry about it, but don't forget about dinner tonight" how could I forget it was a mini celebration for the engagement of Bella and Edward, at their favourite restaurant Bella Italia, aptly named. It was a casual thing before the massive party Edward's mother Esme was planning for them. As Ryan or Riley walked in he smiled at me before helping himself to some coffee.
"I won't forget"
"Do you need a lift?" my rabbit that I had worked on over the years since I was 15 had popped it's clogs last week and I was in the process of getting a new car, but I was being very picky.
"No Leah's will give me a ride" Leah was my friend from my home town and the first person to find out I was gay, she even introduced me to Paul at a friend's party.
"Okay then, I'll see you tonight. Bye Jake"
"See you later" hanging up and dropping the phone back on the sofa I sighed looking at Robert or Ross as he sipped his coffee as he leaned against the counter top. Walking into the kitchen and dismissing the black coffee that had been brewed, I got a glass of water and sat at the table a silence hung over the two of us.
"Last night was fun" he broke the silence looking at me hopefully. I grunted my approval taking a deep pull of water, looking at the time on the microwave and saw that it was nearly one o'clock. The conversation was effectively nonexistent as we had our drinks in silence. Five minutes later I hear the lock on the front door clicking as it swings open. Leah walked in with four bags awkwardly held in her arms at first she doesn't see us, but as I step forward to help her with the groceries she smiles at me, briefly before seeing Richard or Ronald and her smile turned suggestive. She handed the bags raising her eyebrows at me as she saw he was only in his underwear.
"Hello I don't believe we've met before. I'm Leah" giving the last bag to me she walked forwards and held out her hand.
"I'm Riley" they shook hands and he offered to help put the shopping away.
"Thank you, will you stay for lunch?" I shake my head at Leah as I stand behind Riley so he doesn't see, but Leah ignores me an amused smirk on her face.
"I would but I've got somewhere to be" I breathe a sigh of relief. He turns to face me a smile still on his face he walks back into the bedroom presumably to put some clothes on. As soon as he is out of ear shot she immediately starts talking about him.
"He's cute"
"Yeah"
"So?"
"So what?" she lets out an exasperated sigh putting one hand on her hip as she looks at me pointedly.
"Are you going to see him again?" I frown deeply, shaking my head at the same time.
"I don't think so" she looks disappointed and drops the subject as Riley walks back in, now fully clothed. Smiling genuinely at me and Leah he strode over to me planting a soft kiss on my cheek.
"Call me?" I just nod non-committedly earning a disapproving look from Leah which I ignore as I walk him to the door. Leah makes a big show of going into her bedroom leaving us alone, I don't really want to be alone with him. He was a one night stand and I doubt I'll ever see him again after last night. As we stand by the door, he turns round and kisses me, for a moment I don't respond but as he presses his lips closer I kiss him back.
I'm the first to break away, not because he's a bad kisser but because he's not the one I want to be with. With one last hopeful smile he leaves, closing the door behind him I lean my forehead against the door feeling like shit as my headache worsens.
Walking away my footsteps heavy I am about to go into the bathroom for a shower and much needed shave when I hear a knock on the door. Leah pokes her head round the door in confusion at hearing someone at the door.
"I think that's Riley ready for the next round" she announces in a sing song voice waggling her eyebrows suggestively. I rolled my eyes at her innuendo turning round and walking back to the door.
"Get your mind out of the gutter" I threw over my shoulder as I pulled the door open, to reveal the last person I expected to see.
"Hello Jacob" he looks uncomfortable as if being made to do a task that he finds distasteful. He still looks handsome; his black hair recently cut his body muscular even under the loose blue t-shirt he wore. I wanted so much to just hug him and kiss him and pretend like the past week never I resist for I know that is not the reason as to why he is here, even though with all my heart I want that to be so. For him to say he made mistake, that he still wants me with him. It's too much to hope for, so I don't dwell on that idea long.
"Hello Paul, what are you doing here?" there was no point in beating round the bush. I heard footsteps behind me and so I assumed Leah was standing behind me, probably giving Paul a glare.
"Well, I have some things I left here" he scratched behind his ear a quick I recognized for he did it when nervous or uncomfortable, his eyes moving to Leah then back to me.
"wait here" said Leah more to me than Paul, she walked away returning moments later with a box in her arms, she shoved the box into his arms with a little more force than was needed as he stumbled back a step. She took a step back and then put her hands on her hips, scowling at him.
"Here, now you can leave" he looked back at me but I said nothing he opened his mouth to say something but the look on Leah's face made whatever he was about to say die on his lips.
"um...okay then" turning round rather swiftly he left with only a little hesitation, walking down the stairs and away from me. Closing the door I went to the sofa sitting down and placing my head in my hands as my headache intensified. The finality of the situation crashed over me, we were really over this time. After all the fights and splitting up to get back together, we weren't going to kiss and make up this time. Leah sat next to me taking my hands away from my face and pulling me close to her and enveloping me in a hug not saying a word as she did so.
~X~X~X~X~X~
"Leah, have you seen my shoes?" she walked into my room, dressed in a knee length sleeveless olive green wrap around dress and brown sandals with a low heel. Her shoulder length hair was left casually styles in loose waves, with just a touch of make up to accentuate her eyes.
"How am I supposed to know? I'm surprised you find anything under all this crap, when was the last time you were able to see the floor" her tone was heavily sarcastic, sighing at her unhelpful response I looked round finding one shoe at the bottom of my cupboard the other in my sock drawer. She shook her head laughing quietly as I pulled the shoes on. She looked at her wrist watch tapping the clock face impatiently.
"I'm nearly ready" walking to the mirror I took in my reflection, the stripy green and white shirt and the faded dark blue jeans. Rolling up the sleeves up to the elbows I reached for the hair gel carefully doing my hair. Leah rolled her eyes as she leaned against the door frame and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You're such a girl"
"Perfection takes time, babe" she huffed and walked to the door, calling to me over her shoulder.
"C'mon pretty boy or we're gonna be late" with one last glance in the mirror, I shoved my phone, wallet and keys in my pockets grabbed a jacket and locked up as Leah started up the car.
In the car we chatted about mindless things, hot celebrities and our favourite TV shows. Talking about 'safe' subjects avoiding the topic that was at the forefront of my mind, my now officially ex-boyfriend Paul.
Arriving at the restaurant half an hour later, we were shown to a table near the back that gave us some measure of privacy. Our friends were already seated at the table, laughing enthusiastically at a rather embarrassing story of Edward as a seven year old. Our friends were all sat in couples, with Rosalie and Emmett on the left side as we entered, next to Alice and Jasper who curiously were not talking to each other.
On the right side sat Bella and Edward two free seats net to Edward and opposite Rosalie and Emmett. Edward was the first to notice us, he smiled widely his emerald eyes sparkling as he greeted us warmly, saying a quick hello to our friends we sat down and the wine flowed freely as embarrassing stories were being shared about the the newly engaged couple. Bella blushed profusely as Alice recounted a story that involved Bella, ice skating and inevitably a visit to the ER.
Every so often Edward would look over at Bella a smile playing on his lips as he watched her talk, he would squeeze her hand or bring it to his lips. Then she would turn and flip her hair over her shoulder grinning coyly at him, leaning forward and kissing him on the lips. Rose and Alice would ' aww' and Leah would roll her eyes while Emmett waggled his eyebrows in a racy manner, inciting more blushes from Bella when they pulled away.
Every time he gave her one of those special glances or kissed her so tenderly a small stab of jealousy went through me. Even with Paul still on my mind I managed to feel jealous of Bella.
This is crazy Edward is my friend, my very recently engaged straight friend. Mentally shaking Of any other jealous thoughts I focused my attention back on to conversation, as I poured my second glass of wine glupping it down quite quickly earning a worried glance from Leah. Ignoring her I continued to drink, draining my glass in just a few minutes.
What I didn't notice were the occasional glance Edward stole every now and then only when I wasn't looking. Occasionally our knees would brush against each other, he would make no effort to move away nor would he acknowledge it, but it's probably me imagining things that aren't there.
Watching my friends all do couples like activities - apart from Alice and Jasper who were still resolutely ignoring each other - I felt the need to get away from it so I excused myself to go to the restroom. As soon as I left the fixed smile on my face faded and I let out a deep sigh as I pushed open the gent's restroom door open.
As I came out of the stall a couple of minutes later I saw Edward walk in, he smiled at me as I washed my hands.
"Hey"
"Hi Ed" he walked over to me leaning on the edge on the nearest sink with his back to the mirror and his arms crossed over his chest.
"You alright? You seem really quiet" plastering on a fake smile I shook my head as I dried my hands with a paper towel.
"I'm fine" he raised an eyebrow cynically; he knew I felt like crap, I never could hide anything from him. "I saw Paul today" I say sighing in resignation, as I scrunch up the paper towel into a ball and throw it into the bin to my left, it hits the rim and bounces in.
"Where did you see him?" his features were composed into an expressionless expressing the one he used to hide his feelings. As good as he was at reading other people when it came it Edward he was closed off, you really had to try to get close to him and even with his closest friends he was always somewhat guarded.
"He came round to get the last of his things. So I guess it's official me and Paul are no more" he said nothing but looked deep in thought "I guess I wasn't good enough for him"
"Or he wasn't good enough for you" he replies without thinking about, I can tell he thinks he has said too much by the way he pursues his lips and looks to the side.
"You're my friend of course you would say that" he shakes his head.
"No, you're brilliant…honestly" he added as I looked at him with an unconvinced look on my face. "He's just an idiot and when he realizes that you'll have moved on" shaking my head I place my hand on his shoulder giving it a brief squeeze and drooping my arm.
"You're a good friend Edward, but that won't happen. This time it is for good whether I like it or not" sighing I went to walk past him to exit the bathroom, but Edward stopped me in my tracks when he placed a hand on my chest. Feeling his hand his fingers splayed over my chest I looked at him in confusion, he stood up straight so he was standing merely inches away from me. I was fairly tall and towered over most people with my nearly 6ft 4" frame, but Edward was almost as tall as me and so our eyes were locked as he didn't make a move to remove his hand.
His gaze flicked to my lips only for a few lingering seconds but it was long enough, he tilted his head forward, his barely brushed against mine but I responded immediately deepening the tentative kiss, when all of a sudden we heard someone enter and we immediately sprang apart, an alarmed and guilty look on Edward's face as he looked away as a non-descript middle aged man walked in.
Running his hand through his messy looks he moved to the door, walking out only looking back as he opened the door he looked as if he wanted to say sorry, but just left. Touching my lips as if I could feel the second kiss we shared I shook my head and left too.
A/N: comments any one? Thanks for reading and for all the comments, really good to hear. Bye folks!