Take Me Back

Chapter 9

I felt like an idiot.

A tall, wet and cold idiot.

The umbrella clutched in my left hand offered little to no protection against the rain that seemed to be pouring side ways.

Kayla's bus was late and what I had initially thought was a romantic gesture, instead was just me drenched to the bone, with a mug of tea held in my right hand which was now much too cold to be a gesture anyone would delight in.

I knew I should have brought the thermos but it didn't quite have the same aesthetic.

It was like my conscience wasn't actually me but instead a very critical Jonathan.

Her bus pulled up and sprayed me with more water from head to toe, the tea was now not only cold but filled with gutter water. The phrase "it's the though that counts echoing in my mind" but then there she was, the girl I would wait in the rain for any and every time.

A beanie pulled firmly on her head, her cheeks rosy from the cold. She laughed when she saw me, my frown breaking into a grin as I presented the mug to her.

"You're mad", she giggled as she threw her arms around my neck, not caring that she was soaked now too, "Absolutely stark raving mad!"

"Mad about you maybe"

"Gross too", she pulled a face, "the stuff that actually comes from your mouth is sickening"

I held her tighter, "this is what you do, you turn me into a pathetic sap"

"You love me" she replied before her lips found mine.

"I do. Shall we go home?"

"I quite like the sound of that you know, home, our home"

"Well let's go to our home"

oOo

Jamie was quick this time, I had to give her that. My Taking Back Sunday shirt, signed Say Anything album and my favourite teddy bear from when I was a kid where found on my front lawn engulfed in flames within four days.

I knew I deserved it, I had been a jerk but in hindsight I wish I had remembered to hide Sir Teddington so he was saved from Jamie's wrath.

"You're being incredibly boring", Jonathan sang as he waltzed through my front door.

"Oh hi Jonathan, so nice of you to drop by. I love how you use the key I gave you for emergencies to let yourself in whenever you please"

He poked his tongue out before throwing himself down on the couch beside me, "I had to check that the devil incarnate hadn't murdered you in your sleep. What has she done today?"

I sighed and showed him the lock screen on my phone. 15 missed calls and 38 text messages, "Most of these are death threats, the other half are apologising for Sir Ted and asking if I meant it"

"The bitch did not hurt Sir Teddington the third"

"You passed his ashes on the way in"

He put his hand on my shoulder, "She's actually the worst human ever", he sighed, "but huzzah! Ding dong the witch is dead dude and I have a hot date tonight"

"Who this time?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Uh the guy I've been seeing for over a month now? Charlie you idiot, he's taking me to dinner. You know I never really thought I'd be into this couple stuff but I kind of like it"

"I'm glad"

Jonathan paused for a moment and inhaled, "Look if all this future stuff is real and you don't recognise him then I guess we don't end up together but maybe it will change. You've seen him more now and you wouldn't forget him right? I don't know, I just don't want it to end"

I remained silent, I couldn't look at him but I could hear it, he'd been working up to this. After the past few days I should have been used to the guilt that had slowly been eating my insides but Jonathan was a whole new level. There was a hope in his voice that I had forgotten he was capable of and here I was letting it go on. Setting my best friend up to fail.

"Mate, look I don't even know if this is real anymore, I broke up with Jamie didn't I? Who knows what happens with you and Charlie?"

Liar.

"So no words of wisdom?"

"None"

Liar.

"Good, because this Friday, post whore face shenanigans will begin!"

I smiled weakly, maybe I did deserve this.

A/N: My gosh has it really been that long since I posted? Things have been a little hectic lately, buying a house and zigzagging the country for work does not leave ample writing time so thank you so so much to all my new readers and those who are sticking with me. If you've like what you've read don't forget that little star and please comment away! I know he's being a jerk right now, I kind of hate him too :P