Take Me Back

Chapter 6

"Urgh, do we really have to watch it again?"

Kayla was curled in the crook of my arm, perfectly nestled in. She sighed dramatically as I pressed play. It had become a habit in the few weeks following that first date, Monday nights she would find herself at my place, we'd watch TV and she'd spend the night.

When she wasn't around, she was all I could think about. I could be in something as mundane as my Integral Calculus lecture and she would spring to mind and I'd be lost in fantasy land.

Her honey hair spread across my pillow.

Deep breaths, hot mouths, frenzied hands.

Her whispering my name, tangled in my sheets.

I stifled the groan that threatened to emerge as the highlights reel played through my mind once again, there would be time for that later. Instead I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and chuckled, "What are you talking about? You love Game of Thrones!"

"Yes, I love it when we watch an episode once. We do not need to watch last week's episode again before watching the new one"

"Oh you adore the fact your boyfriend is such a nerd"

And with one sentence it was like all the air had been sucked out the room. I felt her stiffen in my arms.

"Boyfriend?"

I moved forward to look at her and in the first time since I had met her, she was refusing to meet my eye, "Well I know it's not a discussion that we've had yet but I kind of assumed that's what was going on? I mean I'm not seeing anyone else, are you?"

She wrung her hands and remained silent, this was not the direction I had envisioned this conversation going. The seconds ticked by and I felt like I was going to vomit.

"Are you seeing someone else?"

"Of course not!" she looked up at me, her grey eyes filled with apprehension that didn't seem to fit her usual demeanour, "Why would you say something like that?"

"Then I don't understand what the problem is, what are we doing?"

"We're having a good time, I like you Jace but I just don't want to label this yet. It's too soon"

I felt my temper rising and I found myself on my feet, praying that maybe pacing would stop the feeling of my heart being crushed, "What the fuck are you doing then, just wasting time with me until someone better comes along?"

She held her head in her hands for a moment before standing up, "That's not what it's about Jace, I have no idea what we are yet but I do know that I only just got out of a serious relationship a few months ago and I'm not ready to be someone's girlfriend again just yet"

She grabbed her bag and made a beeline for the door.

My anger was fading and instead I could feel the dread pooling in my stomach.

"Wait, please wait", I begged and for the first time in my adult life I was caring whether a girl stayed or went.

Kayla stood firm in my doorway, her voice firm, "I just need some time to process. I like you Jace, I really, really do", she paused, "but I want to be ready for whatever this is because I know that when the time is right, you and I are going to be everything"

Then she was gone.

oOo

Jonathan's house had become my sanctuary. After Jamie had tried to make it up to me by attempting to climb my body like a jungle gym, I was finding any excuse possible to not go back to the house we shared.

I had called her that night and said I was staying at my parents place for the week. I didn't bother with an excuse.

Instead of visiting my folks, I was now holed up in Jonathan's spare room trying to make a plan for what was next.

"You in there buddy?", there was a brief knock at the door before he let himself in. Taking in his appearance, I was still baffled by how much he had changed over the years.

Future Jonathan was now a lawyer, when we did find time to fit into his busy schedule it was often for after work drinks. He would always be there in his perfectly pressed suit, tie loosened but still looking remarkably clean cut.

The Jonathan that stood in front of me now was shirtless, wearing nothing but glitter, denim cut offs and a captains hat. His dark hair longer than what I was now used to and a martini glass clutched firmly in his hand, "I made margaritas! We're going out"

I groaned, "I'm not heading out mate, I'm wrecked and where the hell do you expect to get in wearing just that?"

"Please", he scoffed, "You know the bouncer at PJ's wants some of this"

I shuddered at the memory of the burley looking security guard that manned the bar we had spent most of our weekends, "Seriously dude, he's about 40 and looks like Santa Claus"

"Well according to Grindr he's about 2km away and is, and I quote, 'suuupppperrrr horny'. Pretty sure we'll have no issues"

I raised my eyebrows "You aren't actually going to sleep with him are you?"

"God man don't be gross, I'm not into bears. I'll just flirt a little an get us ahead of the queue"

"And how would Charlie feel about that?"

Jonathan rolled his eyes, "Charlie is all about sacrifice for the greater good. Also on that note any future thing I should know about, are we still together? Do we live in a lavish water facing apartment with a French bulldog?"

I sighed, "you know I can't tell you any of this right?"

He winked and handed me his glass, "it was worth a shot, now down this and we're leaving in 15 minutes. Grab the black skinny jeans out my closet and the blue button up, you'll be perfect"

"Aye aye cap'n"

An hour and six shots later, I found myself stumbling into PJ's. The alcohol had given me enough of a buzz that leaving the house seemed like a good idea and it was actually somewhat entertaining to see Jonathan whispering in the bouncers ear to get us in. I smirked at the groans of the never ending line as we skipped the queue.

We made our way through the crowd and I could feel the music thumping. In my mind I felt to old for this, the girls that looked at me with half-lidded come-to-bed eyes screamed jailbait, and most of the boys didn't look old enough to drink, though judging by my own reflection, neither did I.

Jonathan made a gesture for a drink and I nodded, I could barely hear myself think and I began to remember why I didn't come to these places anymore.

While I waited for Jonathan to return, I surveyed the bodies swaying on the dance floor, the sweaty grinding that passed for rhythm in clubs. Then I heard it, that laugh, her laugh.

It cut through the air and everything else fell silent. The base wasn't loud anymore, the drunken screaming along went to all but a lull in my mind.

I turned and there she was.

Kayla.

My Kayla.

oOo

A/N: If you liked it, don't forget to vote or comment. Love you guys!

Question for those writers out there; where do you get inspiration for your characters?

Until next time,

Caitlyn