Too much to lose

This just wasn't any kiss

"No" I repeated for the millionth time. Jake still continued to slide the phone and paper closer to me. 

"You need to" he insisted softly. 

I sighed. 

"What would I even say?" I asked, still skeptical about the idea.  

"We could invite her to dinner tonight?" He proposed.

"No way" I said shaking my head and backing away from the phone again. 

"Skye" he sighed. "You know it'll do you good. And I'll be there the whole time" he looked at me pleadingly. 

I sighed again and snatched the phone from his hand. He smiled proudly at me and I stuck my tongue out in response. I dialled the number and pressed call. The significance of what I was doing didn't hit me until I had the phone to my ear. She hasn't picked up yet, I thought. Maybe I could just hang up now. Jake obviously caught onto my thought as he shot me a look that told me to stay with it. Surely enough after another ring the phone was picked up at the other end. 

"Hello?" She answered. 

"Jenny" I managed to splutter out, even though she wasn't here just hearing her voice was enough to send me over the edge. 

"Skye" she replied sounding relieved. "I didn't think you'd call" 

"I didn't think I'd call either" I managed to joke and I heard her laugh softly on the other end. 

"It's been a while" she stated, suddenly serious again.

"Yeah" I agreed. "I was wondering- umm.. If you wanted to catch up- dinner... If you wanted- we could?" I couldn't find the words to begin. 

"Dinner sounds great" she said. "Tonight?" 

"Yeah" I replied. 

"Great" she said. "I'll text you my address" 

I mumbled my goodbye and hung up he phone. I sighed deeply and fell into my bed with relief. 

"You did great" Jake smiled flopping down next to me. 

"Yeah right" I smirked. 

"It'll be fine" he smiled again. He rolled towards me and laid his head on my shoulder. He looked up to kiss me before returning to his earlier position.  I heard my message tone and reached across Jake to retrieve the phone. Jenny had sent me an address and suggested a time. 

"We have three hours" Jake stated. 

"Hmm" I smiled. "What could we do?" 

He laughed before pulling me down on-top of him. 

*

 Jenny was staying in a hotel a few blocks away from ours so it didn't take as long as I had hoped for the taxi to pull up outside. 

"You look gorgeous" Jake whispered when he noticed me frantically trying to fix my hair in the mirror. I smiled and kissed him before taking a deep breath and stepping out onto the pavement. I had just made it to the large entrance doors when she appeared from behind them. For a moment I was stunned but I forced out my words. 

"Hi" I smiled, trying to make an effort. She looked incredible which made his even harder than I had first anticipated. 

"Hey" she smiled back. "I'm so glad you called" she added and it sounded genuine. 

The drive to the restaurant was fairly quiet and uneventful. Jake and Jenny tried to make polite conversation while I stated blankly out of the window in an attempt to distract myself. 

It wasn't much better once we were inside. We had decided to eat at the restaurant opposite our hotel. It wasn't until around 3 glasses of wine later that he conversation flowed more consistently. Dessert arrived and it was like we had never fallen out. 

"Well this is definitely better than the ones we tried to make" Jenny laughed, looking at the cake before us and shooting me an accusing look. 

"I had it covered" I argued laughing back. "You were the one that burnt them" 

Jake  smiled at me and squeezed my hand reassuringly under the table. I smiled back and nodded to tell him he was right. We finished and payed then walked outside and tried to attract the attention of a taxi. 

"But where do I go now?" She giggled and it was clear that she was already nearly drunk. 

"Okay" I sighed. "Jake why don't you head back to the hotel I'll make sure Jenny gets back ok" 

"Sure" Jake replied. He hugged me quickly before dodging the traffic across thestreet. 

"C'mon" I said, pulling her into one of the more obedient taxis that had pulled up beside us.

Jenny laughed the whole way back to her hotel and despite my attempts to take charge I found it was contagious. We pulled up outside and the driver seemed just as relieved as I was that she had made it home without throwing up on anything, or anyone. 

"I don't know which room you're in so you're gonna have to try and remember" I told her. 

She flung open the door and started her not-so graceful exit. After a few seconds she was lying on the pavement. 

"For god sake" I sighed. I followed her out and helped her up.

She was in no state to take care of herself. I signalled for the driver to take off and began making my way towards the door, Jenny clutching my arm. We found out what room Jenny was staying in from the receptionist and made our way up to it. I opened he door for her. She didn't go inside, instead just stared at me with a blank expression. I rolled my eyes and lead her inside. She took off her shoes and began jumping in the small sofa that took up one of the walls of the room. 

"Bye" I said, trying to escape now that I was sure she was safe. 

"Wait" she replied, and she sounded oddly sober. 

I looked over to her and found she was closer than I thought. She held her arms out for a hug and I rolled my eyes again before obliging. 

"Bye" she whispered. I pulled away first but she still held me. 

"What are y-" I tried to get out but my words were cut off by her lips on mine. 

"I missed you" she whispered, her eyes still closed. I sighed deeply. 

'I missed you too' I thought but I couldn't admit it. She was just drunk. She probably wouldn't remember. 

"Jen, I have to go" I said. 

She nodded sadly. I made my way to the door and I had just got out o the room when the tears started. I laughed at my own stupidity. 

"Skye" I heard her behind me. 

"I need to go" I said again. She walked slowly towards me and brushed my tears away. 

"Why do we do this to each other?" She asked sadly. 

I couldn't find words. I stared down as more tears fell to the carpet. I felt her hand on my chin and before I knew it my eyes once again met hers. 

"I'm sorry" she whispered, before planting her lips back on mine.