Sorry for the delay, life gets in the way :o) Hope its worth the wait, please continue to comment. Cleo x
please note: Strong language.
Jens chapter - part 1
Jen had kept her word; Tilly had woken that morning still held tightly within her arms. The brunette had remained lost in her lover's warm embrace until check out, savouring every kiss; memorizing every touch.
She had dropped the teenager home, kissing her long and deep before she would allow her to leave the jeep; she was worried it would be their last. She locked the moment into her memory, the sensations of Tilly's soft rose lips caressing her own; would help her get through the pending weeks of loneliness.
She arrives at Diane's home and sighs heavily. The student teacher is grateful for the offer and the low rent; however, she craves a space of her own; she is use to her independence. Diane has an overbearing habit of mothering everyone in the household; something her lazy brother happily exploits.
The brunette mopes around the house, stuck in a pensive mood; she has so much going through her mind she is finding it had to focus on anything. When her mind is not escaping to reminisce in the hotel room; she is left in a moral battle of wills, fighting over her future fate. Whenever her path crosses Diane or her brother, they verbally force her into the inevitable decision of phoning Mr Keeler. She resents their interference; however, she knows they are only looking out for her best interest. Plus neither is aware of her true dilemma or feelings; although she suspect Liam has his suspicions.
She reaches for her phone, hoping for a welcome distraction; she has two unread messages.
From Tilly - I can still feel your fingers caressing my skin, I can still smell your perfume fused with my own, I can still taste your essence laced on my tongue...so how come...I already miss you? xx
She smiles as her stomach fills with butterflies; four months on and the teen still has this effect on her. She replies, then returns to her inbox to read the second message. It is Ky one of her old art student friends, talented beyond belief but unfortunately unpredictably eccentric and swears like a sailor; scaring off all the established galleries.
From kyra – Holly shit Miss Jenovive. They've only fucking gone and given me an exhibition slot in Chester for a week. You get that gorgeous ass of yours here, right this minute. Or ill come there and spank you rotten. xx
Jen laughs at the Londoners brash text and concludes that ky 'fucking' Robert might be exactly what she needs right now. Jen freshens up, re-applies her makeup and heads for the door.
"Where you going Jen?" Diane asks the fleeting brunette; still closely monitoring her movements.
"Going to meet my friend Ky in Chester." Replies Jen, relishing in that fact she does not need to lie on this occasion.
"Oh Ky is amazing! Can I come?" pipes up Liam joining the conversation.
"No!" replies Jen playfully but leaving her brother little doubt that she wants to go alone. She exist the door and jumps in her car, thrilled to be getting out of Hollyoaks.
During the journey she is so excited to see a familiar face, that she has been successfully distracted for the first time, from thinking about her current emotional crisis. She arrives at the chosen pub and pulls into the allocated car park. Running through the rain, she covers her head with her bag; pushes through the large blue double doors and enters into the warmly lit tavern. The interior is splashed with colour and the air is filled with the musty smell of ale; live music fills the atmosphere mixed with raised voices and laughter; Jen expects no other choice than this bohemian dream, from her enigmatic friend.
Ky is already there and Jen finally spots her, shamelessly flirting with a long haired hippie; who is propping up the bar in his over sized mac. Her colourful fellow student has very tightly cropped black hair, however, a beautiful face to go with the style. She looks like a lesbian but confesses often to 'love cock more than paint'. It is a running joke that Ky always attracts more women than the straight looking Jen; who in turn always attracts more men. They love to go out clubbing together, so they can pull then swap; Jen having the lipstick lesbian curse of other women assuming she is straight.
It is the Hippie that notice Jen's arrival first, the black-haired beauty follows his gaze and she sees her friend walking through the pub. Ky runs towards her, picks her up and spins her around "God! You're here, you're really fucking here." She adds before putting her down.
Jen smiles, giggling at her friend, She feels so happy being back in her past and away from her present; the feeling does not, however, last long.
"Shit Jen, you look like crap!" Ky announces with her typical honesty.
Jen laughs although begins to falter, her hard façade that has had to dominate in Hollyoaks, has no place here among these rebels of socialization or a close friend who would guard any secret to the grave; the laugher begins to turn into sobs.
"Jenovive...I was only Joking my lover." Ky tries to retract her statement and drags Jen to a nearby sofa; they both sit down.
"Im so sorry, Ky. If Id of known I would...I didn't mean to ruin...I shouldn't have come." Jen stumbles over her words and begins to stand. Her dark-haired companion pulls her back down.
"Heeey. In sickness and in health. Till death do us part, beautiful." Ky says placing a hand on Jen's knee and her other arm around Jen's shoulders; not use to seeing her charismatic friend in anything but a cheerful mood. The teacher allows Ky to pull her into a hug and relaxes into her loving hold; finally feeling safe in her friends arms for the first time in weeks.
"Did you fail your placement? Don't worry teaching is a waste of your fucking talents anyway." Ky states after a while, with a genuine attempt at a compliment.
Jen's tears had finally stopped and she looks up with a smile "No, my placement went really well and they have actually offered me a full-time job." She replies; proud even though she knows her hippie friend would disapprove her 9 -5 pursuit.
"Well that's great then..." the artist responds. Then notes Jens smile slip from her face "Isn't it?" she asks.
"Yes it is." Jen pauses, she is more than comfortable trusting her friend with the truth but she honestly does not know where to start. "It's brilliant in fact; I mean it wouldn't have been my first choice. but I know the chances of getting a position like this, at my age, is really incredible and in this climate it's more than..."
"I'm not your mum for fuck sake. When did you turn 40!" Ky interrupt the waffling brunette. Jen giggles, this time it is not filled with tears. She smiles at the artist and bursts into a heartfelt laugh. She is starting to feel relaxed again in her friend's presence, she had spent so many weeks being forced to be a responsible adult; she has forgotten how to be young and have carefree fun. The only time she ever really feels happy recently is in Tilly's arms but even those moments are overwhelmed by the seriousness and intensity of their feelings.
Ky notes Jen disappear into her thoughts and she sees the tell-tale corner mouth smile of a person thinking about a lover.
"So, what's her name?" she asks, leaning back into the sofa.
Jen sighs, she is ready to talk; she removes her coat and turns her body to face her friend "Tilly" she answers and sighs agin, looking down.
"Does she love you back?" Ky quizzes, letting Jen know that she can already see that the brunette has fallen in love, a true artist never has trouble deciphering true emotions; they spend so much of their lives observing body language. Jen raises her eyes again and nods.
"Tell me the good things about her." The short-haired women encourages, noticing Jens struggle to talk but realising this is the subject matter of her dilema.
Jen smiles as memories of the teenager fill her mind. "She's perfect Ky. Truly perfect." Jen replies, maybe for the first time knowing she can openly talk about her lover without judgment or a lecture. "She is a slender red-head with an adorable splash of freckles across her nose...and her lips...oh my god Ky..." Jen trails off, she traces her own mouth with her fingers, lost in memory of their last kiss "...and she is so intelligent, funny...and naturally artistic" the brunette looks up at her friend, full of enthusiasm talking about Tilly.
"Wow. I've never seen you like this over anyone before. Have you been together?" ky ask with more sensitivity than she is use too; seeing the teacher is clearly in turmoil over something.
Jen bites her bottom lip and nods "She has taken me to places within myself I didn't know existed." She replies, flushing slightly at her confession "I can't keep my hands off of her." She adds with a giggle and a huge goofy grin.
"Jen babe...I'm lost...if you're so happy. What's happened?" finally broaching the subject of her friends earlier tears. The brunette looks down and fondles with her bangles nervously. She is ashamed of her predicament, she knows her friend will not care; however, she is afraid of admitting it out loud.
"Tilly is my student. I'm in love with one of my pupils" the words sound in the air and they become physical for the first time, a releasing of truth; she knows the feeling too well. She felt it the first time she admitted out loud she was gay.
"Holy Fuck Jen...your like the worst teacher ever!" Ky finally answers in fits of hysteric and smiles at her friend warmly. "Love is blind. Beautiful woman, you've been lost in Babylon too long." She continues in her best Rastafarian accent.
Jen knows in her current anti-establishment and love-biased company; she is not going to get a solution to her conflict back in Hollyoaks. What she does know, however, is that she had just come out and it felt so good after months of lies and suppressed emotions. When Ky stands and grabs her hand pulling her to the dance floor, Jen follows willingly, she is ready for some young and care free fun tonight; Hollyoaks would have to wait until tomorrow.