How Did You Know He Was The One?
'Your friend has called in. He said he needed to talk to you.'
"Who is it?"
"It's our John-Paul. He and his fiancé, Craig are visiting for a while."
"Your cousin's gay?"
"Yeah camp as Christmas. It was Craig who was supposedly straight, although if you saw some of the cardigans he used to wear. I better text him back. 'Which friend? If it's Jono tell him I am on the way back now and Jason is too. '"
'We'll pass that on. He's having a bit of a dilemma.'
"Definitely Jono. Jason commented as he read the text over Bart's shoulder. I guess he didn't sort it with Neal then."
"Doesn't look like it. We'll call there first. Try and talk some sense into him."
"John-Paul will probably be doing that."
"Yeah, you're right. To Sinead's it is."
Jono had looked such a bedraggled figure John-Paul couldn't leave him on the doorstep, so true to the McQueen tradition he invited him in and made him a cup of tea.
"How do you know when you have found 'The One'?"
Jono mused as he stirred his now cold tea.
"You'll just know."
Craig assured him as he smiled shyly at John-Paul who was staring wistfully into space.
"But how?"
"I can't explain that feeling exactly, John-Paul conceded, but for me it happened when we first met. The moment our eyes met across that deserted classroom."
"So you knew straight away."
"I did, but it wasn't as simple as that for Craig. But I still turn to jelly whenever I look into those baby brown eyes. Why'd you ask?"
"No particular reason."
Jono tried to tone down the desperate nature of his question.
"Jono if you are in love with this guy, you should tell him. Life is too short."
"How did you…?"
"Bart text."
"I can't tell him."
"Why not?"
Craig interjected.
"Because I don't know how to tell him I made the biggest mistake of my life by turning my back on him."
"Just be honest."
Craig patted his shoulder comfortingly, after all he had been there himself.
"You will never know what could be if you sit around here all day supping cold tea. John-Paul reprimanded him. Go."
"Don't think about it. Craig advised him. Just do it. You'll talk yourself out of it so many times. I did."
"I already have. He admitted sheepishly. What made you go through with it? Why did you choose John-Paul? I mean Bart told me about Sarah."
"He chose me from the moment we met. I just couldn't get rid of him. Craig ducked as from the corner of his eye he glimpsed the wet dish cloth heading for his face. He caught it masterfully and then stuck out his tongue playfully in retaliation. No it wasn't that. No matter what I did, who I was with, or where I was, and that included in another country, he was all I could think about."
Jono smiled knowingly. He certainly understood that feeling. He missed not talking to Neal like he used to. They had been best friends before things got complicated.
"I understand that."
"Go and tell him then."
"You will feel better when you do. Craig assured him. It's like a weight is lifted off your shoulders. It was for me anyway."
"I know it's ju-"
"I told you. Don't over think it, just tell him the truth. You'll only have to say this once, so get it right."
"You're right. Thanks guys."
With that Jono headed towards Tilly's where he knew Neal was currently talking to her, trying to convince himself he could move on and even leave the village.