If I Can't Have you

(2) The Dinner

On Thursday afternoon, there was a wrapped present waiting on the doorstep to Jemimas house with her name scribbled illegibly on it - she could only tell it was meant for her because she recognised Duncan's handwriting.

She picked it up, undoing the brown paper, crumpling it into a ball as she walked back into her house, gasping when she noticed it was a material cover of Little Women.

A small piece of paper fell out when she opened the book, I do believe in you

She smiled, throwing the wrapping in the bin, keeping the small note. Jemima opens the book, flicking to the back so she could read the last page.

She slipped the note back into the cover page of the book, placing it on the shelf she used for her books before heading for the front door again.

"Did you like it?" Duncan asks, appearing outside her front door, "it's beautiful, thank you," Jemima smiles, kissing his cheek.

"I was an idiot the other day, shouldn't have said what I did. I believe in you. I believe that you will go on to achieve magnificent things, and I'd be honoured if you chose me to stand by your side as you did them." Duncan says.

"Of course I'd choose you." Jemima assures.

"So, what are you doing right now?" Duncan asks.

"I am going for dinner round Johns, remember?" Jemima answers, "even after I gave you the gift?" Duncan says, "even after you just said you'd choose me."

"Is that all the book was for? To buy me back, if that is the case you can have it back." Jemima states, going to walk away, but he caught her wrist pulling her back towards him.

"No, but you said you'd choose me, now you're fucking off to be with them again." Duncan exclaims.

"Choose implies I have options, they invited me over, you have not asked a thing of me. Therefore I have not chosen, I am sticking to a commitment I made." Jemima replies.

"What about your commitment to me? As my girlfriend." Duncan says.

"You cannot expect me to drop everything I have planned whenever you show up." Jemima states. "I would for you," Duncan replies.

"I am going to be late," Jemima says.

"I'm giving you a choice now, you come out with me, or you go with them." Duncan tells her.

"I made a promise to them, and Max. You cannot show up here and demand this of me. You have no right or authority to me or over me." Jemima quips.

"So it's them," Duncan scoffs, rolling his eyes in disbelief, "Max and some guys you don't even fucking know!"

"It is your choice how to respond to me going to this dinner, but do not even think about trying to blame this on me. I suppose I have made my choice, and I am willing to deal with any consequences you decide to give me." Jemima states, "I am choosing a plan, a commitment over something you never offered. It's not them over you."

Duncan's grip around her wrist tightened, "let go of me," Jemima says, trying to shake his grasp, but it didn't work, "Duncan, you're hurting me."

"Now you know how I feel. You're hurting me, Jem. You are playing with my fucking emotions." Duncan says, loosening but not releasing his hold.

"I am sorry if that is how you feel, but I need to go else I will be late." Jemima replies, managing to pull her hand away, "I may see you soon, I may not. It is down to you."

This time Duncan let's her walk away, opting to glare at her back until she turned a corner and was out of sight.

Jemima walked to Max's house, knocking softly on his door, waiting for him to appear, which he did, grinning, with some flowers in his hand as a gift for Mrs Shelby , "I can't fucking wait."