If I Can't Have you

(8) New Houseguest

"Max... wake up," Jemima groans, gently shaking her friend.

Logan had shown up on her front door saying that Max was passed out in one of the booths at the Garrison, and that he couldn't wake him.

"Maximilian Humphries, I will pour water over your head," Jemima threatens, "I see your cheeks twitching; I know you can hear me."

"Always one to be loud in the morning, aren't you, Jem?" Max responds, rubbing his head as he sat up.

"Why did you fall asleep here, Max? Logan told me you hadn't even been drinking." Jemima sighs.

"Mum and Danny kicked me out," Max whispers, "said me 'disobeying' and 'rebelling' by going to war was the final straw."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's embarrassing," Max blushes, "saying your Mum don't even think you brave for risking your life. That she doesn't care enough to keep a roof over your head. That she doesn't love you enough to not have a second thought about it."

"What about your Dad?" Jemima asks, "he'll take you."

"I can't do that, he's got Isla. The house isn't big enough for me too." Max says.

"Come live with me then, I've got plenty of room. We can even have Isla over for some nights." Jemima suggests.

"Lover-boy would be okay with that?"

"It's not Logan's decision, you're my best friend, and you need a place to stay... if he can't deal with him, that's his issue that he'll have to sort out alone." Jemima replies, "it's my house, no one but me has a say as to who comes and goes."

-

"Ada, I'm not having this conversation with you," Jemima blushes as they sit round the kitchen table of the Shelbys house.

"I won't tell anyone," Ada says, "come on, there's got to be one guy that's miles above the others."

Due to Jemimas silence, Ada takes that as her answer and squeals, "there is, isn't there? Who?"

"I didn't say anything!" Jemima defends.

"You didn't have to, now spill, who is it?" Ada queries, "is it Logan?"

"Yeah," Jemima answers, but Ada sensed it wasn't in earnest.

"You're lying, I promise I won't tell anyone." Ada says.

"I'm done with this conversation." Jemima replies.

"What conversation?" Tommy questions as he enters the kitchen.

Both women stay silent, well Jemima does, Ada starts laughing under her brothers gaze, causing him to raise an eyebrow at them both, "I'm inclined to think it's a topic that shouldn't be discussed in the open, and now I'm intrigued."

"We were talking about sex." Ada states, "and you know, the best we've had."

Tommy looks down at his sister, folding his arms over his chest, "you've had?"

"Oh Thomas, she's not a little girl, stop treating her like one. Sex is normal." Jemima scoffs.

"Not with my fucking sister, stay out of this." Tommy replies.

"She's 22 for fucks sakes," Jemima says, "name one person in this house that abstained until that age, fucking nobody. I know you sure as hell didn't, and I know I sure as hell didn't."

"You're fucking stubborn." Tommy comments.

"That's your way of saying I have logic you can't argue with. So I'll take it as a compliment." Jemima responds.