by R. J. Sable
“I'm still mad at you,” he breathed as he pulled away from my mouth.
“I know, I'm sorry,” I whispered against his chest.
“I got wasted last night for the first time in years,” he sighed. “I can't handle my emotions when it comes to you, I lose all sense of control.”
“I swear I didn't do anything,” I pleaded with him. “I'm so sorry about everything.” I tried to explain but I knew it would be hard to explain away everything that he'd seen but I felt obliged to try.
“The way he had his hands on you...” Jason spat, his jaw clenched.
“I didn't want it, Jason,” I said, begging him to believe me. “I tried to get away, I swear.”
Jason let out a deep sigh and wrapped his arms around me once more.
“I don't want to fight with you, I just couldn't sit there and watch him do that,” he said, his warm lips against my hair.
“I know, I'm so sorry,” I said again.
“Grayson and Josh had to pull me away from your brother. I swear I might have killed him otherwise.”
I winced at the thought of the anguish I'd put him through. He released me and moved his hand up quickly. Without thinking, I recoiled from him, but he just ran his hand through his hair.
“Jamie,” he gasped as he saw my reaction.
I looked down at my feet and blushed.
“Hey,” he soothed as he cupped my face and gently angled it upwards so he could look at me. “I'd never hit you, Jamie,” he said seriously. “You know that right?”
I just blinked up at him.
“Jamie, I'm not the kind of guy that hits women,” he said, staring into my eyes, searching them raptly.
I nodded and took a step back, holding his hand in mine. I could see how serious he was about this. I didn’t understand it but we had bigger, more important things to talk about.
“Do you still want to… I mean... are we still?” I stumbled over my words.
“I still want you, baby,” he soothed. “If that's what you want.”
I sighed with relief and nodded up at him enthusiastically. He still wants me. I didn't understand why, but I was grateful regardless. He smiled and stroked my cheek with his forefinger before cupping the side of my face and kissing me gently on the lips.
“Now we just need to figure a way of getting through a night with your family,” he grinned.
“Yeah...” I sighed heavily. “Not sure how that's gonna go.”
“So far so good,” he shrugged.
“Unless you count Danny wanting to rip your arm off for hugging me,” I pouted.
“But he didn't,” Jason grinned.
“Yeah, that was weird,” I said pensively. If Alex had hugged me a split-second too long my brothers usually let him know about it. They hadn't done anything to Jason, just pulled him off. I should have been relieved, but it made me nervous.
“I'm sure it'll be okay, I just need to fill up on these,” he said as he pulled me into another mind-boggling kiss. “While I have the chance.”
“No complaints from me,” I grinned and kissed him again.
“After that, I can get by on my expectations for tomorrow night,” he grinned cheekily.
“What's happening tomorrow night?” I asked, puzzled.
“You've forgotten your promise to me already?” He said with a note of hurt in his still sexy voice.
“Oh, the pyjamas agreement,” I grinned.
Jason nodded and slid his hands under my jumper, tickling my waist with his long fingers. I giggled and squirmed slightly at his gentle touch.
“Come on you two,” Tony called as he and Josh came out of the store with a large box of beer and a bag of clinking bottles.
“If either of you two mention anything about me and Jamie to anyone tonight you will never be able to eat solid food again,” Jason cautioned them as we put our seatbelts on.
“Your secret's safe with us, mate,” Tony said, grinning broadly. “Although I won't be surprised if we find your body in a ditch tomorrow.”
“They'd never find his body,” I grimaced.
The others laughed but I didn't join in.
When we arrived at the house, I looked around the den and tried to do a quick headcount. There must have been at least thirty people.
“There you are, Jelly,” Ian said, coming up behind me and handing me a can of cider. I raised my eyebrows at him. “Drink it slowly,” he cautioned before turning to face Jason and the others. “Beer or cider?”
Josh and Tony both took up his offer for a beer.
“Jason?” Ian prompted
“I don't usually drink.”
“You looked pretty hung-over earlier,” Ian pointed out.
“That was kind of a one off,” he said, glancing at me guiltily.
“Well then you can make an exception again tonight,” Ian nodded, turning away from us and towards the gym where we had a fridge which was usually well stocked with beer and protein shakes.
“Is it worth saying no?” Jason grimaced.
“Not in my experience,” I replied, shaking my head.
When the guys had beers in their hands we made our way over to the sofas. Karl grabbed me as I walked past and pulled me onto his knee.
“You can sit here,” he stated firmly.
Jason sat down on the sofa next to him while Josh and Tony headed over to Rab.
“Why?” I grinned at Karl.
“You can protect me from all the skanks,” he said as he eyed the girls in the room with disdain.
“Me protecting you, that's a first,” I grinned.
He grinned back at me and took a sip of his cola.
“You're not staying here tonight?” I asked, remembering that Simon was sleeping in Karl's old room.
“Nah, I'm gonna head home in a bit but Ian threatened me on pain of death that I had to put in an appearance,” he smirked.
“I see,” I nodded and took a sip of my cider.
“Where are you guys staying?” Karl asked Jason.
“Honestly, I don't think they've thought that far ahead yet,” Jason shrugged, glancing over at his friends.
“You can all probably just crash on the sofas here,” he suggested. “E!” he called to Ian.
“What?” Ian asked as he made his way over.
“Can Jelly's friends crash here?” Karl asked.
“Sure,” Ian shrugged.
“Cheers,” Jason nodded.
I sat quietly and listened to Karl and Jason talk about the fight. I got the impression Karl was trying to size Jason up, test his knowledge, but as far as I could tell Jason was holding his own. Ian sat on the arm of the sofa and listened just like I did. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. His face was completely neutral, his body language relaxed.
Ian ordered me up to clean up a bit and I went around collecting empty cans. A few of the guys were sat around the table playing cards, some giggling bunnies watching them. I glanced around the room looking for Jason but I couldn't see him. I went over to the table and watched the poker match. Matt was cleaning up pretty well.
I spotted Ian and Karl coming out the gym with Jason. Oh no. Just the three of them, alone? I was more than worried about what had gone down but none of them were giving anything away with their facial expressions.
Ian caught my eye and waved me over. “We need a word,” he said simply, putting his hand on the back of my neck and taking me back into the gym.
I glanced at Jason but he just blinked back at me before I lost sight of him when Karl shut the door behind us. I was alone with Ian and Karl.
“Just had a chat with Jason,” Ian said, leaning against the workbench behind him.
“Oh?” I asked, feeling my mouth becoming dry. “What about?”
“I was concerned,” he shrugged.
“Why?” I frowned, my heart beating rapidly in my chest.
“You looked worried when you saw him at the fight earlier,” Ian said, his eyes studying my face intensely. Karl shuffled behind me, rem
inding me of his presence.
“I thought he'd fallen out with me. I wasn't sure if he'd want to talk to me,” I explained. Nothing ever gets past him. I realised that trying to hide my relationship with Jason from him had been foolish. He was bound to figure it out sooner or later.
“Why did you think he'd fallen out with you?” Ian asked, his eyebrow raised.
“He'd tried to confront me and Jake about the way Duff was treating me,” I explained. “But Jake made me leave them, and I did as I was told. I thought Jason might be pissed that I just ignored him and left him with Jake.”
“Yeah, that's pretty much what Jason said,” Ian nodded, glancing up at Karl.
“You asked him about it?” I said, shocked.
“Wanted to hear both sides,” he shrugged.
I realised he'd been testing us both, checking that our stories matched, but it seemed we'd passed the test. Ian studied me intensely a while before he talked again.
“What's going on between you and Jason?”
“I really like him,” I answered, hoping that was enough of an answer. I couldn't lie to Ian. He'd know and he'd kick my ass.
“Have you fucked him?” He said suddenly.
“What?! No, of course I haven't!” I answered, eyes wide with shock. I can't believe he just asked me that.
“Good, I don't want to have to beat the shit out of you twice in one day,” he said, narrowing his eyes at me.
I don't know what I was thinking, perhaps the cider was making me brave, but I chose that moment to challenge him. “Why am I not allowed boyfriends?” I asked, crossing my arms and hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.
“Excuse me?” Ian spat.
“I'm eighteen, what's wrong with me having a boyfriend?” I repeated, feeling my resolve waver as he took a step closer to me and I backed up against the wall.
“We've been over this, Jelly,” he growled.
“It's not fair, Jake has had loads of girlfriends since he was sixteen,” I whispered, looking down at his shoes.
“So you want me to give you permission to go around fucking whoever the hell you like, is that it?”
“No,” I choked, barely able to speak.
“Then what do you want, Jelly?” He said gripping my chin roughly with his thumb and forefinger. “Tell me.”
“I want to be allowed to have a boyfriend,” I said, my lips trembling.
I expected him to be furious. When he let go of my chin, I dropped to my knees and curled into a ball with my back against the wall, waiting for him to lash out.
When nothing happened, I looked up at him through my fingers. He was leaning back against the bench again, looking at me pensively. I stayed on the floor but took my arms away from my face, watching him cautiously.
“You're a girl,” he said suddenly, his voice gentle.
I didn't know what to say to that, I just raised my eyebrow at him.
“Your brothers are easy to handle, I know they can all look out for themselves if push comes to shove. If they fuck up, it's manageable,” he sighed.
Realising he wasn't going to hurt me, I stood up and went to stand in front of him. Karl followed and stood by Ian's side.
“But you,” he paused to put his hands on my shoulders. “I don't know what to do with you. The idea of anyone hurting you - it kills me.”
“I'm tougher than I look, you know,” I frowned.
“You're not, Jelly,” he scolded. “You never stand up for yourself, you're tiny and you're always causing trouble for yourself.”
“I don't do it on purpose,” I mumbled.
“The point is, if you had a boyfriend and he hurt you... I'd have to kill him, Jelly. I don't mean just beat the crap out of him, I'd have to actually kill him.” He closed his eyes and squeezed my shoulders
“Can't you trust that I can find somebody who would protect me from being hurt instead?” I said, blown away by his honesty.
He shook his head and sighed again.
“You guys have protected me all my life, and I really appreciate it, but you never let me grow up. I'm not a kid anymore,” I whispered, worried I'd make him mad again.
“We're never going to stop protecting you, Jelly,” he said seriously.
“I know,” I sighed and leant forwards to hug him.
“Is this your way of telling me there's something going on between you and Jason?” He asked as he hugged me back.
I pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. His face was expressionless and I couldn't bring myself to answer him because I was scared of whatever emotion he was hiding. I looked away and down to my hands as I twisted my fingers anxiously.
Ian obviously interpreted my silence correctly and he glanced at Karl who looked furious. Karl stormed past me and Ian shoved me to the side as he bolted out the room after Karl. I regained my balance and ran after them. I burst into the den just in time to see Karl tackle Jason to the floor. I watched in horror as he sat on top of Jason and aimed blow after blow to his head.
“Karl! No!” I screamed as I ran over to try and stop him.
Matt grabbed me as I ran past him and I pounded my fists against his chest trying to get away but he pulled both arms behind my back and held me still.
“Stop it! Please!” I begged as Karl didn't let up.
Everyone had stopped what they were doing and there wasn't a pair of eyes in the room that weren’t watching the commotion.
Jason tried to block the blows that Karl was still aiming at his head. It was no use though, Karl had gained the advantage early on. Just as I thought there was no way Jason could take any more, he managed to flip Karl off of him and turn the tables, ending up on top of him, pinning his arms to the floor.
“What the hell's going on, Jelly?” Matt asked me but I ignored him.
Jason struggled to hold Karl's weight down but he didn't move to hurt him. One of the twins stepped forwards in an attempt to pull Jason off but just at that second Karl managed to free one of his hands and aim a blow to Jason's windpipe that sent him sprawling backwards, coughing and spluttering.
“Ian, please!” I begged again, hoping he'd intervene as Karl got to his feet, looking thoroughly thunderous.
Jason lay sprawled in front of me, his hands clutched his throat as he gasped for air. He recovered just in time, jumping to his feet and watching Karl intently. Jason's nose was bleeding profusely and his eye looked like it was starting to swell up.
“You fucking lied, straight to our faces,” Karl spat at him as he lunged forwards and Jason dodged.
“I didn't,” Jason answered breathlessly, shaking his head.
Karl looked furious and lunged for him again, he caught Jason in the ribs, but Jason took the chance to tackle him to the floor and pin him down again.
“I didn't lie,” he repeated, breathing heavily.
Karl managed to push him off and they stood up again.
“You're fucking my sister,” Karl yelled as he made contact with Jason's ribs again and Jason dropped to the floor.
“Karl!” I screamed. “We haven't had sex!”
I was totally mortified. Jason was covered in blood, his t-shirt soaked with it. His eye was almost completely closed now. I looked round the room in desperation, pleading for somebody to step in, but nobody moved.
I watched as Karl raised his fist again, even though Jason was still on the floor, relatively still.
“For Christ’s sake, Karl, I'm still a virgin!” I screamed.
I felt my cheeks burn furiously at the public humiliation but it seemed to have done the trick. Karl stopped, his fist mid-air as he turned to me.
“You what?” He asked, breathing hard.
“You heard me,” I whispered as I struggled against Matt and he let my arms drop.
He just stood looking at me, his chest still heaving.
“Show's over folks,” Danny announced, glaring around at the crowd. Everyone in the room turned their attentions elsewhere, desperately trying to look anywhere but at Karl. T
hey struck up nervous conversations.
I moved over to check on Jason, bending down next to him. He didn't answer when I said his name, he was barely moving but I could see his chest rising.
“Is he okay?” I asked, panicked. I can't believe they did this to him.
“Craig,” Ian beckoned him over. He nodded and set about checking Jason over.
Ian grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me up, but I resisted.
“No!” I yelled, “Get off me!” The tears poured down my face as I struggled against him.
“Jelly,” Ian snarled. “Now!” He picked me up and carried me back into the gym, his hand over my mouth to stifle my screams. He put me down and I immediately tried to run back to Jason. He stretched out his foot in front of me and I fell to the mats, landing hard on my already bruised shins. “Stay,” he ordered, glowering down at me.
I sat on the mats, rubbing my aching shins. I watched as the twins carried Jason into the room and put him down on the old sofa at the back of the room. Craig followed them in with a first aid kit and started cleaning Jason up.
“I said stay,” Ian said calmly as I made to get up. He chucked the box of tissues at me and I tried in vain to clean up whilst I watched Craig work. I was so angry, so helpless.
I saw Karl come into the room and was annoyed to see how calm and collected he looked. Didn't it bother him that he'd just brutally attacked Jason for no reason? He walked over to Ian and the two of them talked quietly away from the rest of us. The twins disappeared back into the den.
“Jelly,” Ian called me over.
I didn't want to be anywhere near either of them right now. I was too angry, but I knew better than to disobey. I grabbed a tissue and wiped my face once more before making my way over to Ian and Karl.
“He'll be fine,” Karl nodded towards Jason.
“No thanks to you,” I frowned before I could stop myself.
Anger flashed across Karl's face and he took a step towards me but Ian grabbed his arm and shook his head.
“Watch it, Jelly,” Ian warned.
“Why didn't you stop him?” I asked Ian, a new bout if tears spilling down my cheeks.
“Because he deserved it,” Ian shrugged.
“What did he do to deserve that?” I asked angrily, my voice a little shriller than intended.