Disclaim any and all recognizable traits, features, characters, and settings recognizable in any way shape or form. This story and others in my collection are merely a way of showcasing my love for the genre, show, and all that may or may not lay in between those verified lines. Reviews are always appreciated and greatly welcomed in all forms as long as they prove to provide actual assistance in furthering the story's potential in every way possible. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and, hopefully, review.
Believe in Me
After dropping Elizabeth off to get ready for her dinner with her Grandmother, Jason decides to take the scenic route back to the estate. With all the thoughts running through his mind, all the emotions building within him, he just needed the peace and quiet to figure things out. Something he most assuredly wouldn't have gotten had he went straight home.
Obviously the change in pace that he had created with them has taken on a life of its own. The more he tries to show Elizabeth just how much she means to him, the more his own feelings have begun to grow for her as a result. Thinking of all she means to him has brought up feelings he had forced himself to bury a long time ago.
When they had first met, Jason had been drowning in the desire of wanting her. Her beauty pulled him in while her personality kept him coming back for more. Somehow between their nightly talks and getting to know each other, he found his way into the friend zone with her and buried any form of desire he had initially felt for her.
The comfort that he experienced in her presence, the acceptance that she had given him so freely, made him fear what a relationship between them would create. If his past was any indication, relationships just wasn't his forte and he knew that losing her wasn't an option. So, he accepted the friend zone willingly and wholeheartedly.
Now, it seems, that he has come full circle. Right back to that desire he had tried so hard to rid himself of so long ago. Only this time, with the foundation of their friendship to be based on, the desire is stronger and more tempting than ever before. The pull of wanting her almost too impossible to resist.
"Well look who finally bother to show up!" a voice calls out to him as he gets out of his mustang, causing a smile to touch his lips. "Took you long enough!"
"Emily." he smiles softly as she runs into his arms.
"I haven't seen you in forever and that's all I get?" Emily scolds him as she clings tight to him. "I've missed you, so much."
"You have no idea, kid." he counters, hugging her just as fiercely. "I'm glad you're back."
"Come on." she says quickly as she releases her hold on him before pulling him by the hand into the estate. "I want you to meet my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" he practically chokes out as he's pulled through the doorway. "What boyfriend?"
"Oh, grow up." she counters as she pulls him further into the house. "I'm not exactly a virgin."
"There are somethings a brother just doesn't need to know, Emily."
"Fair enough." she smiles before pushing open the door to the family room. "Look who I found in the driveway!"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Jason couldn't help blurting out when Emily's boyfriend comes into view, ignoring everyone's confused expressions. "Not possible."
"Skywalker?" the man voices in shock before crossing the room to him. "You're Em's brother?"
"And, apparently, you're her new boyfriend." Jason counters. "How the heck have you been?"
"I've been good...you know, the usual." he waves away the question. "What about you?"
"Mostly focused on opening up my architect business." Jason admits. "Finally got the chance to do it."
"That's great, man." he replies. "I know how crazy you were about that stuff."
"Okay, can either of you please explain to me what's going on right now?" Emily blurts out, truly confused at this point. "How do you two know each other? Johnny?"
"I went to boarding school with your brother." Johnny explains, turning to face her. "We were roommates."
"Okay...one last thing..." she tilts her head with a slight smirk. "What's with the nicknames?"
"O'Brien was a major Star Wars fan." Jason teases his friend. "Couldn't go longer than a couple days without watching it."
"A phase I outgrew before my senior year...obviously." Johnny counters.
"Obviously." Jason chuckles. "Anyway, I've got some stuff to handle, but its been great seeing you."
"You, too, man."
Before anyone else could really say much of anything, Jason makes his way out of the room, his own inner turmoil making it hard to stay for the arguments already brewing within that room. Everyone had been aware that Emily would be returning sooner or later, none expecting a plus one, however.
"Hey!" Emily calls out to him as he's heading up the stairs. "You can't seriously be bailing out on me right now. I came home to spend time with you and, so far, you have spoken more to my boyfriend than to me."
"I'm sorry." he sighs, walking back down to her. "I just need some time to myself."
"What's going on with you?"
"Nothing you need to worry about." he assures her before placing a soft kiss upon her forehead. "I'll be back down for dinner."
"We'll talk later?"
"With things going the way it is, I just might need that."
Walking away from his sister, Jason makes his way to the private gym that his father had built for him. Whenever things get too stressful or complicated for him, everyone knows that that's where he can be found. A good workout session and dinner with the family later, Jason still can't figure out just how to handle the changes happening between him and Elizabeth.
Not knowing what else to do to help him figure things out, he takes his sister up on her offer of a nice long brother-sister talk. Usually she's the one in need of his help whenever they have one of their talks, but not this time. A strange change of roles for them.
"Why don't you just take the leap?" Emily questions after a long moment of silence. "I mean, I'm surprised it has taken you this long to figure out that you two are meant to be more than just friends."
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on, Jason." Emily shakes her head. "The kind of connection you to have is the kind that any sane person would envy. Its something I hope to create with Johnny one day."
"What if she doesn't feel the same way?" he counters. "If I say something and she doesn't feel the way I do, it'll get awkward real fast and I don't want that."
"It'll get awkward regardless." she points out. "As long as your feelings continue to grow without being addressed, it's bound to be nothing but awkward."
"I just..." he sighs as his cellphone starts ringing. "Its Elizabeth."
"Perfect." she says as she snatches the phone from his grasp. "Time to face your fears and man up, big brother."
"Emily!" he snaps when she answers the phone.
"Hey, Liz." she says quickly before Jason can snatch the phone back. "Its Emily...Jason's sister. The family's having the most amazing dessert ever, so, hurry up. You can talk to Jason when you get here. Okay? Bye."
"Why did you just do that?"
"You're the smartest and bravest man I know, Jason." Emily says seriously. "Man up and go after her before someone else steps up to the plate and sweeps her off her feet."