Right There with You

by R. J. Sable

  “Jelly, go back to the table,” Jake ordered, taking a step towards Jason. They were around the same height, but Jason was considerably broader than Jake. Jake's quick though, I'd seen him land a few punches on Craig before. I hated the idea of the two of them getting into a fight, especially because of me.

  “Jake, I-”

  “Now, Jelly!” He snarled.

  I saw Grayson and Josh take a step forward but Jason shook his head at them.

  “You can't talk to her like that,” Jason said calmly, but I noticed him flexing his fists by his side.

  “She's my sister, I'll talk to her however the fuck I want,” Jake growled. He squared his shoulders and I saw the muscle in his jaw contract.

  “Jason, please, it's fine,” I begged him, putting my hand on his shoulder. He ignored me and carried on his staring match with Jake.

  “Jelly, I'm not gonna tell you again,” Jake spat with just a little too much control in his voice and his eyes still on Jason.

  Reluctantly, I turned and started towards the table. Turning my back on the two of them was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. It took everything I had. I was already dreading going back home and Jake had explicitly told me to do as I was told tonight. I sent up a silent prayer that they not get into a fight.

  I caught Grayson's eye as I turned away and he caught up with me when I reached the table.

  “Grayson, please don't let them get into a fight,” I begged him.

  “I'll try, Jamie,” he said, giving me a quick hug. “Sit tight, okay?”

  I nodded and watched him hurry back over to the bathrooms. I couldn't see what was going on from here because the dance floor was in the way.

  “What's going on? Who was that?” Duff asked as he came back from the bar and sat down in the seat next to me.

  “A friend,” I shrugged, nervously waiting to see either Jake or Jason.

  Duff passed me another alcopop and I eyed it suspiciously. I was already feeling a tad tipsy from the first two and I had a feeling I'd need my wits about me. I sipped at it tentatively. Mark smacked his brunette on her curvaceous rear as she stood up, causing her to giggle. She slipped Mark her number and disappeared from the table, presumably on the hunt for her blonde counterpart.

  Duff and Mark bumped fists and grinned at each other but I ignored them, studying the crowd furiously in the hope of seeing one of them. I spotted Jake thundering over towards us, I was unable to gauge the expression on his face. I looked him over quickly, he didn't appear dishevelled and he wasn't bleeding anywhere. He glared down at me as he reached the table.

  “Seriously, Jelly, what the fuck?”

  I glanced up at him unsure what to say. I was surprised to see he actually looked slightly amused.

  “What happened?” Mark asked.

  “Some jackass who wanted into Jelly's pants complaining about one of you 'mauling' her,” he grinned as he sat down in the chair next to me.

  “You get into it?” Duff laughed.

  “Nah, his bum-chums pulled him away,” he grinned, accepting a beer from Mark.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. At least they hadn't fought. What must Jason think though? I groaned inwardly as I tried to see it from his perspective. He'd seen me sitting on Duff's knee with his hand up my dress. Then, when he'd confronted me about it, I'd ignored him and left him with my fairly pissed looking brother. I doubt he'll ever want to talk to me again. I felt tears gathering in my eyes and stood up to excuse myself to the bathroom.

  “What do you think you're doing?” Jake asked, grabbing my wrist as I got up.

  “I need the bathroom,” I said quietly.

  “You just went,” Duff pointed out.

  “I didn't get chance,” I nodded towards Jake.

  “Fine,” Jake said, letting go of my wrist. “Mark, go with her.”

  Mark didn't say anything but rolled his eyes and got up to follow me. He put his arm round my shoulders and walked me over to the toilets.

  “Don't be long,” Mark said as he took his iPhone out his pocket and lent against the wall outside the bathrooms.

  I sat down on the toilet seat in one of the stalls and rested my head in my hands, allowing the tears to fall. Could things get any worse? I grabbed some tissue paper and wiped my face. I pulled out my phone, deciding to text Jason and apologise.

  I'm so sorry. I

  understand if you hate

  me now. xxx JL

  I put my phone back in my purse and headed out the stall. I'd ruined my mascara completely. I did my best to fix my make-up before heading back out to where Mark was waiting.

  When we got back to the table, Jake was regaling Duff with the details of his bathroom hook-up. I rolled my eyes at them as I sat down in the seat next to Jake. I tried to tune them out. I'd heard enough of my brothers' victory tales to know the basic mechanics of it all. I checked my phone to see if Jason had text back but there was nothing there. I sighed and put my phone away and glanced around the room to see if I could spot Jason and the others. No luck there either.

  At the end of the night, we waved the others off in a taxi and waited for the next one. I pulled my phone out to check it again, although I didn't expect to find anything. I must have checked it a hundred times since I'd text Jason but I'd not heard anything from him.

  “Cut it out, Jelly,” Jake said as he snatched my phone out of my hand and pocketed it. “I'm sick of you playing with this thing.”

  “Jake!” I protested. “Give it back.”

  He shook his head and grabbed my hand as I made a lunge for his pocket. He twisted it round and pinned my arm behind my back just as the next taxi pulled up. He opened the door and pushed me in. I gave the driver the address as Jake climbed in the other side.

  I crossed my arms and refused to look at him. He'd messed everything up with Jason and now he was withholding the only means I had for contacting him.

  “You sulking with me now?” Jake said, his speech was a little slurred but he sounded amused.

  I ignored him and continued to stare out the window, watching the drunken masses amble out from the various clubs.

  “Why you sulking, Jellybean?” He asked, reaching over and putting his hand on my shoulder.

  “You've got my phone,” I grumbled.

  “That I do,” he said smugly.

  “You're drunk,” I sighed.

  “That I am,” he said, almost giggling.

  “Can I have my phone back?”

  “Nope,” he laughed.

  I turned away again and ignored him until we arrived back at the flat. He clumsily paid the taxi driver and followed me into the building. He stumbled when he tried to walk up the stairs so I put his arm around my shoulders and helped bear his weight up the stairs. Boy, he's heavy. I managed to get him all the way to my room. He flopped down on the bed while I locked the door behind us.

  “Jake, do you need to take a shot?” I asked him.

  “I'm already drunk, Jelly,” he grinned.

  “Your insulin, Jake,” I sighed, exasperated.

  I tried to get him to check his blood sugar but he really wasn't listening. I helped him unbutton his shirt, put it on my desk, and turned back to help him with his jeans, but he'd already fallen asleep on the bed. I guess he's getting the bed after all.

  I managed to pull the duvet out from under him and throw it over him. I realised my phone was still in his pocket. He was lying on his side with his back to me. I emptied his left pocket and removed his wallet and his phone and put them on the bedside table. He was lying on his other pocket so I tried to roll him over on to his back but he swatted me away. No such luck. I sighed and resigned myself to a night without my phone. I pulled the sleeping bag from under the bed and changed into my pyjamas.

  Chapter 20

  Saturday, October 13th 2012

  I gave up trying to sleep and went into the kitchen. The clock above the sink showed it was just after six. We'd gotten back around two. I'd barely slept five minutes, or at least tha
t's how it felt. I'd drifted in and out a few times. I decided to bake some muffins to take home to my brothers. Might as well do something. We didn't have to catch the train until half eight. I made a double batch and put them into the oven before nipping into the bedroom to check on Jake at seven.

  “Jake, wake up,” I said, shaking his shoulder gently.

  “Piss off,” he groaned, pulling the cover over his head.

  “Jake, come on it’s after seven,” I sighed, pulling the cover away from him.

  I handed him a glass of water as he wiped the sleep out of his eyes.

  “Take your shot, I'll bring you some breakfast.”

  I waited until he looked fully awake before leaving him. I left five of the muffins on a plate and scribbled a note to my flat mates telling them to help themselves. I put the other nineteen muffins in a large tub and set about making fried egg sandwiches for Jake and myself. I made him two rounds and poured us both a glass of orange juice.

  I took the food into my room and found Jake sitting up in bed. I thought he looked better than he deserved to, all things considered.

  “Gimme that,” he said, grabbing for the orange juice I handed him and drinking it all down in one go.

  “You're up early,” he said as I handed him his plate. “And you look like crap,” he frowned. “Didn't you sleep?”

  “Couldn't get to sleep,” I shrugged, sitting next to him on the bed.

  “Well, your bed sucks,” he complained, rubbing his back.

  “You can have the floor next time then,” I frowned.

  “Why am I still half dressed?” He asked, eyeing his jeans.

  “Because you passed out before you could take them off,” I scolded.

  “Always a sign of a good night,” he grinned.

  “Can I have my phone back now?” I said with a little more venom than I intended.

  “Have I got it?” He looked puzzled.

  “It's in your pocket,” I nodded towards his jeans. “Don't you remember anything?”

  “Everything up to when we left,” he shrugged.

  “At least your bathroom bimbo can be proud you haven't forgotten her,” I said bitterly.

  “Jellybean, are you being arsey with me?” He reprimanded me, looking amused.

  “I'm still pissed at you!”

  “Why are you pissed at me?” He frowned, swiping my orange juice and knocking that back as well.

  “Why do you let Duff treat me like that?” I asked, sounding whiny and hating myself for it.

  “Like what?” Jake said, raising his eyebrow.

  “Like, all grabby and hands everywhere,” I blushed, keeping my eyes on my sandwich.

  “Oh that,” he shrugged. “You and Duff have always been hands on with each other. I seem to remember you almost ripping his nipple off when you were in year nine.”

  “That's different, I couldn't breath in that headlock!” I complained. The nipple-twist had been a last ditch resort to get his arm from round my neck before I passed out.

  “He was the same with you last night as he always is,” Jake shrugged.

  “If it had been anyone else trying to put their hands up my dress you'd have gone ape shit,” I complained.

  “He did what?” Jake spluttered. He looked shocked, but his expression quickly changed and I could tell he was thinking hard.

  “I told him to stop but he wouldn't and you didn't do anything,” I whined.

  “Jelly, you're a big girl now. We're not always gonna be here to keep an eye on you,” he sighed. “But I'll talk to Duff,” he added before finishing off his sandwich.

  “But, Jake-”

  He narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head and I knew we were done talking about it. I wanted my phone back but he still looked pissed and I didn't think he'd say yes if I asked him now.

  “I'm gonna take a quick shower,” I sighed, standing up.

  “Me first,” Jake said, pushing me back onto the bed.

  “It's my shower,” I grumbled, but he was already on his way into the bathroom.

  I washed the dishes and fetched the muffins from the kitchen. By the time Jake was out the shower I'd already packed my bag.

  “Was a good night, last night,” Jake announced as he came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped round his hips.

  I'd spent half the night fighting with Duff and the other half worrying about just how much Jason hated me. I knew Jake taking me out with him had been a nice gesture though and I didn't want to throw it back in his face.

  “Thanks for taking me with you,” I smiled.

  “Anytime,” he said as he pulled a t-shirt on. “You've got five minutes,” he added, nodding his head towards the bathroom.

  I rolled my eyes at him when his back was turned and hopped in the shower.

  We took the bus into town and made it to the train with a few minutes to spare. Jake lifted my bag into the over-head storage and slouched into the seat next to me.

  “Jake, can I please have my phone back now?” I pouted as he grabbed his own phone from his pocket.

  “What's in it for me?” He grinned.

  “I'll give you a muffin,” I said, thankful that I'd had time to bake some.

  “Make it two and you've got a deal,” he said, looking pretty pleased with himself.

  Once he had his muffins in hand, he fished my phone out of his pocket and handed it over. It was dead. My heart sank as I realised I hadn't brought a charger with me.

  “Dammit,” I groaned.

  Not hearing from Jason was killing me. I doubted if he was even going to come to the fight anymore. Even if he did it wouldn't give me a chance to explain myself because my brothers would be there and we were supposed to be acting like we weren't together. Although, maybe it wouldn't be acting any more. The thought made my stomach turn.

  “Sup?” Jake grunted as he plugged his headphones into his phone.

  “Nothing,” I shook my head despondently.

  Jake popped his headset in and turned on his music. I shifted slightly in my seat so I could curl up with my head against the window and try and catch up on sleep during the journey home.

  “Jelly, wake up,” Jake said as he shook my shoulder gently.

  I looked around groggily and realised we were pulling into the station. He handed me my duffle bag and threw his over his shoulder. We passed through the ticket barrier and looked around for a familiar face.

  “Who's picking us up?” I asked Jake when I didn't see anyone.

  “Dunno, whoever pulled the short straw, I guess,” he shrugged.

  We walked out of the station to the pick-up and drop-off area and I spotted Elise walking over.

  “Elise!” I squealed and ran over to give her a hug. “It's so nice to see you! I've missed you guys so much!”

  She hugged me back and turned to give Jake a hug as well.

  “Karl's in the car park with the car. We didn't have any change for the machines,” she explained.

  We walked off towards the car park, Jake in front. Elise squeezed my hand and pulled me back a little.

  “Jelly,” she said with her voice lowered so that Jake wouldn't hear. “I talked to Karl about the dress. I convinced him he was overreacting. You looked great in it.”

  “Aw, thanks Elise. That was really nice of you,” I smiled.

  That was one less argument I had to have with my brothers. She usually tried to stay out of family arguments. She didn’t always agree with the hands-on methods my brothers used for sorting out disagreements. I knew that her stepping in on my behalf had meant she'd risked arguing with Karl and I really appreciated it.

  “Don't worry about it,” she smiled. “How are you finding uni so far?”

  I told her all about my courses and my flatmates, about Adam and I being on the same course and about the sports clubs. I don't think I've ever talked so much in my life. I still hadn't stopped talking when we reached the parking structure and I spotted Karl's Audi.

  “Alright, Jake,” Karl grunted,
pulling him into a one armed hug which turned into a head lock.

  “Get off!” Jake moaned, but I could see he was grinning.

  Elise looked on at them and smiled. I hesitated in approaching Karl, unsure if I wanted a hug if it was going to result in a headlock. In the end, I couldn't resist. I dropped my bag by the car and ran around it to give him a hug. He released Jake and picked me up off my feet and squeezed me tight.

  “Hi, Karl!” I giggled as he set me down again.

  “Hi, Jellybean,” he beamed back at me.

  Karl grabbed our bags and loaded them into the boot before we set off back to THE Carter family residence.

  We pulled up to the house and I smiled. I've missed home. The house had originally been two semi-detached, Victorian townhouses but Dad had bought the second house when I was two or three years old and worked on converting them together with my uncles and brothers. I can't imagine how crowded it must have been before they bought the other half of the house. Ian and Karl had shared a room with Jake until the expansion, and the twins had roomed with Craig. Matt had slept on the sofa and I'd slept in Dad's room but I didn't remember that. Now, everyone had their own room. There were only three bathrooms, which could be problematic at times, but it usually worked out.

  Karl took me downstairs, through the den, and in to the back room which had been turned into a gym. Craig and Ian were sparring on the mats. They were going at it pretty hard and didn't seem to notice us come in. Karl crossed his arms over his chest and took a moment to watch them. Craig dodged a right-hook from Ian, twisting and spinning back round and aiming a high-kick to Ian's head. Ian reacted with lightning speed; he dodged Craig's kick and grabbed his ankle. In one swift manoeuvre, he had Craig pinned to the floor with his leg bent backwards.

  “Are you even trying?” Ian jeered as Craig tapped out.

  Craig didn't reply but spat on the mat and took stance again.

  “You don't stand a chance if you don't take it up a notch,” Karl chimed in from beside me.

  Craig glared at Karl but still remained silent.

  “Hemler's defence against kicks is weak but his grappling is impressive. If he gets you on the mat, it's over,” Ian said, getting back into position.