The Truth Comes Out
"Please don't."
Neal interrupted unexpectedly. Tilly rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"He has to."
"I want him to understand but more than that I need you to understand. Jono felt his heart thundering against his rib cage as he turned and their eyes met. Bart, two years ago I was exactly where you are now and I made the wrong decision. He spoke every word carefully and directly to Neal making sure everything he felt was being poured into what he said, before turning to face Bart. I don't want you to do the same. Jono had no intention of revealing his biggest secret to the whole group. Come and walk with me. You too Neal. You'll need to help me fill in the blanks. Do me a favour Bart. Don't speak just listen."
"Jono you don't have to do this."
Neal pleaded with him, although he knew it was pointless.
"He's our best friend. It's about time he understands. Having reached the fountain in Jubilee Gardens Jono decided they had put enough distance between themselves and the rest of the gang who were so self-absorbed, with the exception of Tilly, that they were oblivious to his dilemma. Sit."
"Can't we keep moving? It's freezing."
"No. Look this won't take long. Two years ago-"
"We were in a relationship of sorts."
Neal interrupted. Bart opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, he'd lost the power of normal speech. It was fair to say he hadn't been expecting that.
"Oi I thought I was telling this story. Jono punched Neal playfully. And it was a relationship."
"You mean you two were…Bart struggled to form coherent sentences. Sorry. I'm listening."
"It all happened so fast. I can't really explain it, but it happened I fell in love."
"It was more lust."
"My story, my feelings, it was love."
"Of sorts."
"Neal just let him tell the story."
"Sorry. Continue."
"Look whatever it was it is the next part that was important. I met a girl."
"Who?"
Bart asked suddenly intrigued.
"Take a guess."
Neal supplied bitterly.
"Not Maddie?"
Bart rolled his eyes heavenwards. He'd heard about Jono and Maddies brief encounter through the rumour mill.
"Not my finest moment admittedly. He confessed. And it got worse."
"How?"
"I really wanted to be with Neal, but I couldn't, at least not openly."
"So you saw them both? So Maddie knows about you two?"
"No. She ended it because Tilly told her that he was cheating, she just never said with whom."
"But Tilly knew?"
"Yeah."
"And she never said?"
"There is a lot Tilly knows which she hasn't spread. I think everyone tells her everything."
"You're probably right. But how did she find out?"
"She caught us arguing. I told Jono I couldn't just be his bit on the side because I loved him too much."
"What happ-"
"I'm getting there. Jono regained control of the story telling. The next part was actually down to you."
"Sorry?"
Bart didn't have a clue how he could even be part of this, he had been moved to Hollyoaks without much warning and it was only by chance he saw them again when he and Sinead ran away.
"He means because of that day at the beach."
Neal clarified at the obvious confusion on Bart's face.
"You came up behind us and not that you even noticed, but we were holding hands. I couldn't take the risk of being caught again."
"So like he always does he dropped me like a tonne of bricks and picked the hottest girl there to drool over. Jono had the good grace to avoid meeting his gaze. As it happened he was out of luck."
"Yeah, she was already your beard."
He quipped.
"I am not using Sinead. I do love her."
Bart replied angrily.
"Keep telling yourself that. Believe me you will need to. I started pulling random girls. Anything to be 'normal', but then the odd guy crept in and all those feelings I had for Neal came back to bite me in the arse. Just before we moved down here I took an overdose, which put me in hospital, the doctors told my mum I was more than lucky to pull through. I have been in therapy since then, but I still can't look my mum in the face and tell her the truth."
"But my situation…that's different."
Bart struggled to convince himself.
"Do you love Jason? It's really not that different at all."
Neal argued convincingly.
"Bart you have the exact same chance I did to be happy. Don't blow it. Go or you'll miss the flight."
It didn't take long for him to come to his senses.
"Jono just so you know, I did see you that day at the beach and I never would have judged you."
"I know. Jono replied sadly. I just wasn't ready to be true to myself. I always knew you loved Jason though. Even before your kiss."
"Oh god. I hope I am not too late."
"You never could be. That boy loves you more than you will ever understand."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because Jono means the same to me. Neal tried to hold back the tears now threatening to fall. I love him so I want him to be happy even if that is with someone else. But I would always wait for him and hope that one day he realises he loves me back and Jason has done exactly the same thing."
A sense of overwhelming peace surrounded Bart, as that realisation settled and in that moment he knew exactly where he had to be.
"Thanks guys."
Bart called as he sprinted away into the distance.