Right There with You

by R. J. Sable

“Don't you forget it,” the twins said in unison from the other side of the island.

  Breakfast was a chaotic affair. I managed to grab a hash brown and a couple of fried eggs before everything disappeared. Jason had gotten his hands on an entire plate of sausages, bacon and eggs. We sat next to each other on the floor since all the chairs and stools were taken. Jake sat with us. His lip was split and I noticed that he winced when he moved too quickly. I guess Ian wasn't too pleased with his new ink.

  “You'll want to eat that quickly,” I said, nodding to Jason's plate.

  He looked at me quizzically.

  “Otherwise he'll nab it,” I explained, gesturing to Jake.

  “I'd like to see him try,” Jason scoffed.

  Jake scowled and tensed his shoulders.

  “Why provoke him?” I frowned. “It's like you have a death wish.”

  “He makes it too easy,” Jason grinned.

  “You want both your eyes sealed shut, jackass?” Jake threatened.

  “Play nice, children,” Ian scolded from the table.

  Jake continued to glare at Jason but he just ate his breakfast and ignored him.

  “Can I see your new tattoo now?” I asked Jake, hoping to distract him.

  “Later,” he grunted. He reached over and grabbed the hash brown from my plate, but Jason grabbed his wrist before he could finish the job. I watched in horror as the two of them stared each other down.

  “She's barely got any food on her plate and you're taking a third of it,” Jason said calmly.

  “It's none of your fucking business, back off,” Jake said angrily.

  “Jason, it's fine, he can have it,” I pleaded. Please, not another incident between these two.

  “It's not fine, Jamie, you way all of twenty pounds,” Jason reprimanded.

  “If you don't let go, I swear to God I'll-”

  “You'll what?” Jason cut him off.

  I saw Jake glance up at Ian. Ian shook his head and returned to his food.

  “Fine,” Jake grumbled as he relinquished my hash brown.

  I smiled up at Jason, grateful that he was trying to take care of me, but annoyed that he kept putting himself in harm's away.

  Both Jason and I managed to eat the rest of our brunch without further interruptions. The twins took care of the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. Josh disappeared and came back with Jason's bag.

  “Cheers,” Jason thanked Josh as he opened his bag and pulled a t-shirt out which he put on immediately. I pouted at him and he grinned at me. I'd been enjoying having him shirtless all morning.

  “We'd better head off soon,” Josh said to Jason. Jason glanced at me and I pouted again. He nodded to Josh, who walked away and re-joined Tony.

  “Don't give me that look,” Jason reprimanded gently. “I'll see you tonight, right?” He whispered in my ear.

  I nodded and grinned.

  “Besides, you should spend some time with your brothers.”

  “Okay, I'll text you when I'm back in Leeds.”

  “Jelly,” Simon said, making his way over to me. “I'll give you a lift back tonight.”

  “I think I'm getting the train back,” I frowned.

  “The ticket's paid for whether you use it or not,” he shrugged. “Rab's heading back with these clowns,” he added, looking pointedly at Jason. “There's plenty of room in the car and we're not heading back until around five.”

  “What about Jake?” I asked, really not looking forward to a car ride with Simon.

  “I'm sure he can manage a train journey by himself,” Simon scowled.

  “Okay, thanks,” I smiled weakly, resigning myself to the inevitable.

  Jason, Tony, Rab, and Josh gathered their stuff together and thanked my brothers. They all shook hands with Craig and Ian. I stood next to Jason as he turned to go. We stood looking at each other and I made every effort to quash the urge to throw my arms around him and kiss him.

  He sighed and planted a chaste kiss on my forehead. “See you tonight,” he mumbled against my skin.

  I watched as my brothers tensed collectively and Karl took a step forwards. Jason grinned and followed his friends out of the house.

  “We gotta swing into town and take care of a few things,” Simon said to Craig. “We'll pick Jelly up at around five.”

  By one o'clock the house had been mostly vacated. There were just my brothers, Elise, and Matt left in the house. I took a shower and changed into clean clothes before joining my brothers in the lounge to watch the rugby.

  When the commentator called half time, Rick kicked Jake off the sofa and onto the carpeted floor.

  “Ow, what the hell?” Jake groaned, pushing himself up from the floor to glare at Rick.

  “Grab us a coke, Jakey,” Rick smirked. He knew Jake was in trouble with Ian and was using the opportunity to wind him up.

  “Me too,” Danny and Craig piped up.

  Jake looked like he was about to argue but one glance at Ian and he lowered his gaze and headed out the room to the kitchen with an obvious stomp.

  “Jelly,” Ian motioned me over to sit between him and Karl.

  I squirmed nervously in my seat, worried what they were up to.

  “So,” Ian said, looking straight at me. “Jason.”

  “Jason,” I nodded, blushing.

  “I like him,” Ian grinned.

  I almost fell off my seat. My jaw dropped and I stared at him, my ability to speak long gone.

  “I don't,” Karl grunted.

  I ignored Karl and carried on staring at Ian. “You... like him?” I choked.

  Ian shrugged and grabbed one of the cokes Jake was offering. “Don't get me wrong, he puts one step out of line and...” he broke off. He didn't need to say any more. I got the picture.

  “But you're okay with me seeing him?” I asked, unable to believe how well he was taking this, asskicking aside.

  “No,” he shook his head. “Not in the slightest.” He paused and put his arm around my shoulders. “I'm not happy about it, but you're right, you're not a kid anymore.”

  I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. “Thanks, Ian,” I said beaming up at him.

  “Don't make me regret it,” he grimaced. “And be careful, there's something he's holding back.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, caught completely off-guard.

  “I read people well, Jelly. It's part of what I do. There's something he's hiding, I don't think it's anything major. He seems like a good guy, but just bear it in mind.”

  I nodded, my head swimming. What does he mean? Jason's only ever been honest with me, about everything. I dismissed it, Ian was probably just messing with me.

  Chapter 24

  Sunday, October 14th 2012

  “Jesus! What happened to you?” We heard Bradley exclaim from the hallway. Adam and I were sat in the kitchen enjoying a cup of tea. I’d only gotten back to Leeds half an hour ago.

  I winced, realising he was probably reacting to Jason's face. Someone must have let him into the building. “In here,” I called, holding the kitchen door open.

  Jason made his way in and Bradley trailed after him. Adam's jaw dropped when he caught sight of Jason's face.

  “Hey, little squirrel,” Jason grinned, sauntering over to me and giving me a warm, sensuous kiss.

  “Hey,” I breathed, wrapping my arms around him. “I was making some tea, want some?”

  Jason nodded and I pulled another cup from the cupboard.

  “You two gonna pretend that Jason's face doesn't look like mincemeat?” Adam asked.

  “Oh, that?” Jason shrugged and winked at me with his good eye.

  “I met Jamie's brothers,” he grinned.

  Bradley and Adam glanced at each other.

  “I thought you weren't going to tell them?” Adam asked, his brow furrowed as he looked at Jason's eye.

  “I didn't,” Jason said, looking at me.

  “I didn't tell them either,” I shrugged. “They figured it out.”

&n
bsp; I poured cups of tea for everyone and Jason pulled me back to my room.

  “If you didn't tell them, why did they know?” Jason asked as he sat down on my bed.

  “They asked me if there was something going on between us but I didn't answer,” I admitted. “I guess that was an answer in itself.”

  “Well,” Jason sighed, letting out a long breath. “I'm just glad we're out of there.”

  He flopped back onto the bed so that he was lying on his back. I sat down next to him, worried that he was mad at me for letting my brothers know.

  “I thought you handled them pretty well,” I said quietly.

  “Honestly?” He said, opening his eyes and looking up at me. “They scare the shit out of me.”

  “What?” I blanched, completely shocked. “But you were all relaxed and laughing and you even wound them up a few times.”

  “Baby, your brothers are not the kind of guys that you reveal your hand to. They're like wolves, they sense your fear, they go for the kill.”

  So that whole time he'd been terrified? He'd been beaten and bullied and he'd stayed through it all. Maybe that's what Ian sensed Jason was holding back?

  “Why did you stay?” I asked.

  “For you,” he shrugged.

  “You're insane,” I said, shaking my head. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. “How many times did they threaten to kill you?”

  “I stopped counting after a while,” he grimaced.

  “You know the fact that they didn't is a good sign, right?” I grinned, stroking his stomach gently with my fingers.

  He sighed deeply and put his hand to his temples.

  “It may have been a bad idea for me to come,” he admitted.

  My heart sank, even though I knew he was right.

  “I'm sorry,” I said quietly.

  “We've only been together a week,” he sighed again.

  “I know, but in retrospect, if we'd have waited a month before telling them they might have been more pissed off,” I said.

  When he didn't answer I started to worry. Maybe that's not what he meant?

  “Did they... have they scared you off?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

  He pulled me down so that I was lying next to him and wrapped his arm around me.

  “Don't be daft,” he said as he kissed the top of my head. “I just...” he broke off and took a deep breath. “I'm finding it all hard to take in.”

  I nodded and enjoyed the warmth of his embrace.

  “What were the rules?” I asked, remembering what Ian had said.

  “Oh, basically a list of things that I'm not allowed to do if I want to live,” he grimaced.

  “I'm so sorry,” I sighed, feeling a little ill. “I understand if you want to end it,” I said, almost losing my dinner at the thought of it.

  “Jamie,” he frowned, “Don't say stuff like that, it makes me mad.” He squeezed me closer to him and kissed my head again.

  “Sorry,” I said quietly.

  We lay together, silently. I'm not sure how long for, but the longer we lay there, the more relaxed I felt. Jason rolled me onto my back after a while and lifted himself over me, supporting his weight with his elbows.

  “Your brothers aren't here now,” he grinned as he started kissing my neck, behind my ear.

  I didn't reply, too focussed on the tingles that were surging through my body. He trailed kisses from my ear, down my neck and up to the other side, nibbling gently on my left earlobe. I moaned gently as his tongue traced along my jaw and his lips met mine, pulling me into a deep, passionate kiss.

  “You owe me,” he said, breathing hard against my neck as he trailed kisses across my collarbone.

  “Owe you what?” I panted.

  “This,” he breathed as he slowly pushed my tank top over my stomach, stopping below my bra. He glanced up at me, asking permission. I hesitated but after everything he'd been through over the weekend, because of me, I wasn't going to break my promise. I lifted my weight onto my elbows so that he could pull my top off completely. He tossed it onto the floor and I watched as his eyes moved down to my face, across my chest and down to my white lacy bra. His eyes were glimmering and heat danced in his emerald eyes.

  All of a sudden, he stopped. A frown crossed his face and he sat up, straddling my hips.

  “What's this?” He demanded, his finger grazing my ribs.

  I glanced down to see that he was touching the bluish bruising from yesterday morning.

  “It's nothing,” I dismissed, shaking my head. “It was my own fault.”

  “Jamie,” Jason demanded, his voiced tinged with anger. “What's this from?”

  “Jason, please,” I begged, praying he would let it go. “It's nothing, honestly.”

  He hopped up from the bed, pulling me up with him and placing my feet on the floor. I closed my eyes and crossed my arms over my ribs, the heat rising in my cheeks.

  “Your brothers did this?” He spat.

  I kept my eyes closed, unable to look at him. I didn't answer. I didn't need to.

  “This is fucking ridiculous,” he yelled, his voice shrill and barely under control.

  I felt his hands on my shoulders as he turned me round. I shuddered as I felt his hands travel down my back, over my bra clasp and down to my lower back. I winced as he pushed gently over what I assumed was another bruise.

  He span me back around. I opened my eyes slightly but kept my head down, my gaze on the floor.

  “Is there more?” He spat, squeezing my shoulders.

  I didn't answer. What does it matter? He was so angry he was scaring me. I didn't know how to react.

  “Is there more?” He asked, louder this time.

  I nodded slowly, tears seeping down my cheeks.

  “Where?” He asked icily.

  “My legs,” I mumbled, my voice trembling.

  He knelt down and undid the knot on my jogging bottoms, sliding them down my legs. I stood still. I wasn't exactly comfortable stood in my underwear. I moved my hands from my ribs and held them in front of my knickers, trying in vain to cover myself up.

  “Step,” he ordered.

  I did as I was told and stepped with one foot and then the other as he removed my jogging bottoms. I closed my eyes as I felt him run his fingers down the front of my thighs and over the bruises on my shins. I heard him sigh deeply as he got up. My chest was trembling as I let the tears flow silently.

  “Please, Jason, please don't be mad,” I pleaded. “It was my own fault.”

  “How is this your fault?” He yelled.

  I took a step back. He looks so angry.

  “I messed up,” I sobbed.

  “I don't care what you did, that doesn't make this right!” He yelled, smashing the sides of his fists against the wall as he turned away from me.

  “It's how it works,” I tried to explain. “I deserved it.”

  He moved closer and I took another step back, stumbling onto the bed.

  “Nobody deserves this,” he snarled, gesturing to my ribs.

  “You didn't complain when they did it to you.”

  “That's different!”

  “How?” I sobbed.

  “This is just fucking sick!” He yelled, grabbing his bag from the floor.

  “Are you going?” I asked, scrambling off the bed. No, don't leave! I didn't want him to go, not like this.

  He headed towards the door and looked over at me before he stormed out. He looked furious, but more than that. He looked disgusted. Disgusted by me.

  Chapter 25

  Wednesday, 17th October 2012

  I'd been operating on autopilot since Sunday night. Go for a run. Shower. Go to class. Read. Write essays. Swim. Come home. Try to sleep. Rinse, wash, repeat. I'd not been able to eat much. I was living on tea and Ryvita. Adam kept trying to cheer me up, but it was no use. I felt completely lost.

  My phone rang as I headed out of the changing rooms. It was Craig, I contemplated letting it go to answerphone but I
knew I'd feel guilty if I did that.

  “Hi, Craig.”

  “Hey, Jellybean. How are ya?”

  “I'm fine, how are you?”

  “You don't sound fine,” he said firmly.

  “I just got out of the pool, I'm a little tired,” I answered, hoping he wouldn't dig any deeper.

  “Just thought I'd check on you,” he said gently.

  “That's nice of you,” I smiled. Sweet of him to check up on me.

  “How's Jason? His eye healing okay?” He asked.

  I winced and sighed inwardly. I do not want to talk about Jason.

  “I'm not sure, I haven't seen him for a couple of days,” I said, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice.

  “Oh? Why not?”

  “I have a lot of work to do at the minute. I don't know what Jason's got going on though.”

  “I see,” Craig said suspiciously. “Everything okay with you two?”

  “I don't know,” I said honestly, my voice cracking a bit. “I think you guys scared him off a bit.”

  “If that's true then it's for the best,” Craig said confidently. “But you let me know if you want me to come over there and knock some sense into him.”

  I smiled broadly for the first time in a few days. “Thanks, Craig. I think that might make things worse though.”

  “Well, you know where I am if you change your mind,” he laughed.

  “Thanks, Craig,” I smiled down the phone at him.

  “Take care, Jelly.”

  I walked back to the flat with Bradley and Adam. Adam made me a cup of tea.

  “Want some breakfast?” He asked as he handed me a cup.

  I shook my head.

  “Jamie,” he sighed, his mouth setting in a firm line.

  “I'm not hungry,” I argued.

  “You need to eat, Shorty,” he reprimanded. “At least have a banana?”

  “Fine,” I sighed with exasperation, accepting the fruit he offered.

  ***

  Thursday, 18th October 2012

  “Want to come to the library with me?” I asked Adam as we packed up our bags and left the lecture hall.

  “I have a seminar for my elective, but I'll catch up with you later.”

  I sat down at the desk and plonked the library books down next to me. I needed to do a bit of research for the essay I was writing. I yawned and stretched my arms as I grabbed the first dusty volume and cracked it open. I could feel my lids getting heavier and heavier as I tried to focus on the words of the page. Five minutes. I'll just close them for five minutes.