Life is but a Fiction...

24- The silence between us

Jimmy arrived shirtless as Johnny started the house tour. Jess followed Johnny as I hugged Jimmy.

"Hey, I'm glad to see you. I didn't know I was going to stay for dinner." I said.

"I know you may be uncomfortable right now. I'm sorry. But did you think you would come to my hometown and not party with me while you're here? We'll just take some shots to get past that. " We laughed. "I'll be there with you the whole time." He added. He put his arm around my shoulders. That somehow managed to calm me. 

"I didn't think I'd have to face him. I kinda am in denial. It's probably gonna be weird." I said. 

"Or maybe, it is a blessing in disguise? Give you guys time to talk." Jim replied.

"I fear there is nothing to talk about. He doesn't want to be with me…" I sighed. "How about we visit your house and I'll deal with it later." I suggested. 

He nodded and gave me the tour.  The backyard was also vast and had an inground pool, a spa, patio furniture and all you could dream of to enjoy and relax. Every guy had his room upstairs with its private bathroom and there was an extra room for guests. Jimmy already made up his mind that's where Jess and I would sleep tonight, I told him I'd have to talk with her first. 

Jimmy put on a shirt when he made me visit his bedroom. We put our bags in the guestroom. We were ready to go, so we joined Johnny and Jess downstairs. I saw Zacky who was about to leave with Brian. He looked at me. 

"Hi…" He said.

"Hey." I said back. 

And we were silent. 

"So, are we going or not?" Jimmy broke the silence. 

Well, that was weird. 

"Yeah, let's go". I said. 

We all left the house at the same time. 

Zacky stared at me for a few seconds. 

… 

Johnny and Jess runned into the water together as Jimmy and I were laying on our beach towels. 

"Seems like Johnny is flirting." Jimmy chuckled. 

"Is he? " I looked at them. "I guess you are right" Johnny was touchy with her and she didn't seem to mind. 

"How are you doing?" Jim turned on his side to face me.

"Better. I've been sad for the first week and a half. I've skipped class a couple of times to avoid him." 

"He told me." 

So he noticed that I was gone. 

"Oh…" 

We talked for a while and I almost fell asleep laying in the sand. The sun felt divine against my skin and it's been a while since I allowed myself to just relax for more than fifteen minutes. 

"Wake up." I heard Jimmy's voice. I opened my eyes. 

"I'm not sleeping." I groaned. 

"Yeah, you were snoring." 

"Liar." I smiled. 

"You'll look like a crab later tonight." 

"I'll just reapply sunscreen, then sleep again in the sun." 

I got up and looked through my purse for my SPF and noticed Johnny and Jess talking to each other with a beer in their hands, enjoying each other's company. 

"Seems like they are having a good time." 

"Time for a bet. They'll end up having sex tonight." Jimmy said. 

"I don't know if I can make a bet that says otherwise, by the look of it. " 

We looked at each other and started laughing. 

“How about we go for a swim?” Jimmy said. “I’m bored. I get myself in a lot of trouble when I am bored. Keep me entertained, please.”

"The water is cold here, no?" I was unsure about this idea. 

Jimmy lifted me off the ground and carried me on his shoulder as he started running.

“Don’t. James Owen Sullivan, I am gonna kill you.”

I just heard him cackling. Before I knew it, I was in the cold Californian water. I gasped. 

“Oh god, this is so cold.” I glared at him. I got close enough to him to start pushing him and splashing water in his direction, I laughed. 

He grinned and did the same. Jimmy was just like a six feet tall child you couldn’t stay angry at. He pulled me into his arms and took me with him underwater. 

“How embarrassed will you be to have Zacky see your hair like this?” He laughed. “Oh wait, maybe you can shower in his bedroom when we get back.”

“You, idiot” I splashed water on him once more. 

We went back to the house for dinner. I went for a shower, since my hair was a mess, like Jim stated previously. When I got to the bathroom, I faced Zacky who was leaving the bathroom, his hair was wet and he just applied perfume. Nothing to help my healing heart.

“Hey. How was the beach?” he simply asked.

“Good." I paused. "Are you okay with me being here? I kind of feel bad to intrude in your space.”

“Well, it is not just my space. But I’m glad to see you, even though I know you are avoiding me.”

“I am not… anymore.” I chuckled. 

“By the look of your hair, you were gonna shower. Do you need anything?” 

“Why do I always have to look like an absolute mess everytime I see you?”

We both laughed. 

“You don’t… Can we chat tonight, just the two of us?”

I nodded and he left. I didn’t know what to expect from him.