Hello again! I contemplated an extra extra long chapter or a calm-before-the-storm chapter...from the title of the chapter I imagine you know which direction I went.
As always, thank you thank you for reviewing/reading/alerting & keep it up so that I'll keep it up :)
August 23, 2009
Josie's phone shrilled loudly and her eyes snapped open. She quickly scampered out of bed and over to the bureau to shut off the alarm on her phone. She glanced back at the bed to see Pete giving her a sleepy smile and beckoning her back to bed.
"Come 'ere you." His voice was rough with sleep and she sighed, knowing she needed to get home to get ready for work but as she stared into his blue eyes she skipped back to the warm bed anyways. Pete wrapped his arms around her rolling himself on top of her before kissing her softly.
"Mm, hi"
She ran her hand lightly down his jaw-line before responding, "Hi…" returning his kiss, feeling her heart flutter slightly, "Now bye. I've gotta get home and shower before work. I'll only be out of your sight for about two hours tops."
Josie tried to squirm out from under him but lay trapped under Pete's large frame, her honey-brown hair fanned out around her face. She felt Pete run his hand down the length of her body before coming to the end of the old West Ham t-shirt she was wearing, softly rubbing her bare leg, his fingers burning a trail up to her hip.
"I had a dream about you in this exact position." He kissed her lightly before moving down her neck, planting soft kisses as he went, finally laying his head on her chest.
"Oh yeah?" Her voice come out slightly strangled as his fingers continued to draw light circles on her skin.
He nodded his head as he lay across her with his eyes closed, "The night of our first date. The reality is so much better." He murmured softly.
Josie lay back as her heart finally slowed to a normal pace, they had been together for about four months now but she still got butterflies every time he looked at her, let alone kissed her. This was only the third or fourth time she'd stayed over his place but she was already finding it felt more like home that her own flat was. She seemed to fit perfectly in the crook of his shoulder and she had never slept so peacefully in the time she'd been in England as she did with him.
During moments like this she would allow herself to be honest, she knew that she'd fallen in love with Pete - he'd quickly become everything to her. It was becoming harder and harder to deny this fact out loud. Pete had been the epitome of patience with her – they had yet to even have sex yet. Josie was relieved that he seemed to be on the same page as she was as far as not screwing this up though she was having a hard time stopping herself lately.
Last night they had been very close and she knew it would happen soon. That would be the turning point – there'd be no denying she was in love with him after that.
"What's goin' on love?" Josie was startled out of her thoughts, looking down as Pete stared at her questioningly, "I know it's hard to think when I'm so close but try to pay attention." She laughed loudly before hitting him softly in the head.
"Cocky git, now gerroff me, I've got to prepare myself for a home game." Pete's eyes flashed momentarily with some emotion she couldn't put her finger on – guilt? - before his face broke into another smile. He inched up her body and she felt her entire frame flush at the motion as he gave her a kiss, deepening it quickly.
She moaned slightly before tearing her lips away from his, "Not fair, you know I get all floopy when you do that."
He arched an eyebrow at her, biting his lip to try to stop his smile, "Floopy, Joze? Wat does that even mean?"
"Oi piss off." She felt her face burning and shoved him off of her before heaving herself out of his bed, pulling off the boxers of his she'd slept in, pulling on the shorts she'd worn on their date last night and grabbing one of his ratty sweatshirts to wear home. She felt his eyes on her back and she turned to see him staring at her, desire burning in his eyes that were now a shade darker than usual. She grinned shyly at him before pulling her hair into a messy bun and walking back to the bed.
She sat on the edge of it, her eyes lingering on his bare chest before leaning in to kiss him, "You'd better be the first one at the Abbey – I mean it, like standin' outside when Terry unlocks."
"Whatever you say love," Pete twisted a stray lock of her hair around his finger before pulling her towards him for another kiss, "I'll be there."
Pete strolled across the street, thrilled at the start of another West Ham season but as the Abbey came into view his heart stalled momentarily, and his thoughts returned to where they'd been for the past few months. Far away from football and on Josie –his Josie – who was just a few feet away and he knew what he'd been trying to hide from her was about to come out. The GSE.
His mind wandered to this morning, remembering the way Josie had looked as she'd peacefully slept beside him, her small body draped across his chest. He'd never been more turned on by a girl, yet at the same time he'd never wanted to resist a girl as much as he did her. The past four months had been like a dream, he'd never stayed with one girl this long – and he'd certainly never gone this long without sleeping with a girl. But he knew she wasn't ready and he didn't mind waiting, she was worth it.
Pete felt his stomach flip at the thought of what might happen once she found out about his involvement with the GSE. Bovver had been practically gleeful for the start of the season and he felt it was more because the cat would be out of the bag soon, rather than the return of the Hammers. He'd thawed slightly toward Josie meaning he now wasn't outwardly cruel but was instead simply indifferent, choosing to ignore her very existence except to order pints.
The rest of the boys, however, loved her. Since the very first night they'd met her, they'd been smitten. There were times Pete had difficulty hiding his insane jealousy at any other man that could make Josie smile and the boys were no exception but then she'd turn those big, brown eyes on him and give him the look she only gave him and he'd feel instant relief, knowing she was his.
Pete shook himself out of his thoughts, feeling his adrenaline surge as he saw the some of the GSE coming down the street. Today, wasn't a Josie day (unfortunately), today was football day. He'd have to spin the wheel and see what happened – hell, maybe there wouldn't even be a fight. He smirked at this thought, knowing he was lying to himself; of course there would be a fight. Josie would know by the end of the night and Pete wondered how much longer he'd have a girlfriend.
"Aye, aye boys!" Pete rubbed his hands together at the gleeful faces of Dave, Swill and Ike that met him at the door.
"Alright bruv? Rumor has it the Yids are pissin' themselves just at the very thought of us. These cunts are lookin' for a fight though." Pete looked at Dave, who had a mad glint in his eyes and he draped his arm casually across his shoulder as they walked into the already half-filled pub. Pete's eyes immediately shot over to the bar to find a slightly frazzled Josie – he'd forgotten this was her first home game pub crowd.
"I'll get the first round." Pete moved towards Josie quickly before Dave stopped him.
"Looks like Bov already beat ya to it, never known 'im to buy a round in his life." Pete craned his neck over the crowd to see Bovver and Keith in the corner with a round of drinks already on the table. Dave smirked at Pete, "Go on, get yer smoochin' outta the way, it's the opener so one kiss is all ya get then its GSE time."
Pete shot a grateful look at Dave before turning his attention back to Josie. He felt his breathing shorten, Christ she was fuckin' gorgeous. She was currently dressed in short white shorts and a ridiculous jersey that caused a silly grin to break out on his face. He stood waiting in line for her to notice him as he watched her curly brown hair shine in the light, freckles gleaming on her pale face.
After what seemed like hours, her eyes met with his and her face broke into a wide grin, "What on earth are you wearing?" He looked her up and down, pausing slightly on her smooth legs then grinning at the sight of the team name of Patriots that was stitched in the center of her chest.
He smirked as her face turned crimson, "Oh well, about this." She gestured down at her shirt, "Terry told me if I had a football jersey I should wear it in honor of the home opener. He threw a fit this morning when he saw me in an American football jersey, he apparently thought I knew he meant West Ham jersey and I figured he was letting me be myself…seems there was some miscommunication on both parts." She shrugged her shoulders slightly and smiled up at him.
"You certainly are one of a kind, Joze. Come 'ere, Dave says I get one kiss then I have to be a man." He stuck his chin in the air, puffing out his chest as Josie laughed at back at him.
"Ya sure? I mean, your fan clubs here already, shootin' daggers at me as per usual. I seriously wouldn't want to ruin your chances with any of them by havin' you kiss me in public." She glared in the direction of a group of local girls that were currently eyeing the couple up and down – Pete in a hungry, desperate manner; Josie in a I'm-going-to-rip-you-to-shreds manner.
Pete rolled his eyes before stretching across the bar and capturing her lips with his, "Fuck 'em all." He whispered before kissing her once, twice, three times before pulling away reluctantly. "All right gorgeous, off to do my manly duties, bring us shots in ooo, about twenty minutes."
"It's not even noon yet, drunky Dunham." She scowled at him slightly while tapping her watch less wrist.
"Ah love, but it will be in ten minutes." Her eyes widened momentarily before she laughed quietly as he turned towards his mates, managing to sidestep the gaggle of girls and reached the table in record time.
"Done playin' house?" Bovver's sneer greeted Pete.
"Oi fuck off bruv, you got a problem – that's your fuckin' problem. No one else has one, so leave it out." Pete met Bovver's glare head on until the other man dropped his gaze, choosing to take a long drag of his cigarette instead. Pete smirked in slight satisfaction and took a long chug of his beer. More and more people began to gather around their table and by five minutes to twelve the place was bursting at the seams.
Pete leaned back in his chair at the head of the table, enjoying the banter and cheap jokes that the boys were throwing around and reveling in the start of another season, for once Josie wasn't at the forefront of his mind. Until two minutes later when she appeared at his table, a tray full of shots in hand. Rather than linger she gave a slight smile in his direction before returning to the bar and he felt his stomach flip again, amazed that she seemed to know he needed "man-time" today.
A few pints and a shot or two later Pete was feelin' just dandy. That was until he heard Dave interrupt his fun "So, didja warn Joze about the GSE yet?" Pete's eyes met Dave's reluctantly and he dropped his gaze guiltily.
"Aw mate, you're havin' a bubble? You told her, right? And that's why she's lettin' you be?" Swill yelled as he joined the conversation. Both he and Dave had been pushing him to explain the GSE and what it meant to him to Josie. He'd stubbornly disagreed and kept silent.
"Um, nah…decided not to." He tried to keep his voice casual but his eyes darted in panic towards the bar and Dave narrowed his eyes, recognizing the look.
"Well, it's your head mate. She's a good girl, maybe she won't dump your pathetic arse after you come home bloody and battered, where she'll take one look attcha and realizes you've been keepin shit from her." Dave ended the conversation effectively by turning to chat up one of the local girls that had joined their table and Pete was left to contemplate his fate.
His eyes unwillingly returned to the girl in question, watching her every move. He could stare at her for hours. Just then, one of the younger twats in the pub sidle up to the bar and started to chat her up. He was halfway out of his seat until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Mate, leave it. Save it for later." Ike quietly tried to calm him as Pete continued to seethe. He shook Ike's hand away, drained his pint in two gulps and shoved his way through the crowd, reaching Josie in moments.
"…after the match, you should have the pleasure of bein' takin' out by a real man." Pete overheard the tail end of the conversation, anger coursing through his veins.
He heard Josie snort in disgust, "What are you? Twelve? Piss off, you'll be goin' home with yer hand after the match." Pete let out a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding, wondering why he'd even thought she'd say yes to that pathetic offer. He really needed to get his jealousy under control.
However, his relief was short lived when he watched the boy grab onto Josie's arm tightly and her face twisted in a grimace as she tried to break free. Pete was in the kids face in an instant, "I'd get your filthy paw off my girlfriend if I was you, bruv." The boy clearly recognized Pete as his eyes widened in horror. Pete smirked to himself, knowing no one would knowingly fuck with Josie if they knew she was dating him.
"Oi, sorry Dunham, didn't know she was your bird. I uh, was just uh…askin' how she is and uh, ya know…I…" The kid began to stutter incomprehensibly in shock, trying to apologize to Pete until he held up a hand to silence him.
"Don't fuckin' apologize to me, say sorry to her. After that. I catch you so much as looking at her again, I'll rip your arm off and beat you to death with it." Pete narrowed his eyes into a glare as the boy quickly sputtered out an apology at an amused Josie who simply nodded her head in response, her brown eyes locked with Pete's.
The kid ran off, leaving Pete to stare at Josie again, "Now do you really think that was warranted? You scared him half to death. The booze must be makin' yer head fuzzy already if you thought I'd leave you for a twat like that. You puke on me tonight, I kill you." She handed him another pint and he took it, immediately setting it down and grabbing her free hand.
"Sorry love, I just don't want anyone hurting you. Ever. Even some pipsqueak little twat of a runt that one was." Josie gave his hand a squeeze before waving him away and turning to the next customer.
"Go on Pete, Bov's glarin' over here again, 'member it's football day! Plus Terry'll have your head if he sees you over here again, he thinks you distract me and as you may have noticed, there are a few customers today." He gave her another smile before reluctantly leaving her to work.
The rest of the early afternoon passed quickly, Pete and the boys getting revved up for the match. They took off out of the pub to head towards the stadium, Pete having given a quick kiss to Josie voice slurring slightly when he told her he'd be over after the match. She'd smirked back at him, shoving him away with a laugh.
"I'm forever blowin' bubbles, Pretty bubbles in the air. United! United!" Pete strode down the road with Dave on one side and Bovver on the other, feeling light and happy, excited to see the Hammers play and anxious for the fight to follow.
Finally getting more GSE-ie...don't worry, more to come soon & it won't be fluffy mcflufferson as its been as of late.
Reviews are always appreciated :)