The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 4

Jamie

After I walk Benji, take a shower and get changed, I make my way downstairs because I can hear familiar voices coming from my kitchen. Fucking everyone is here. Perfect.

"Jamie! Are you okay?" Aubrey exclaims at the sight of me, while rushing over and pulling me into a hug. I notice Erin looking Aubrey up and down, and Sarah rolling her eyes at Erin. Kim watches with mild interest.

"I'm fine, thanks. And I'm sorry for my behaviour last night. You all rock, and I don't deserve any of you." I say, addressing the girls, Jay, Joel and Patrick.

"Fuck off, Jame. You were upset. It was understandable." Patrick says casually, before sipping some coffee that he's helped himself to. I notice no one else has a cup. I guess Patrick's the only one of my friends who feels completely at ease with me today. Totally my own fault, of course.

"Anyone else want a coffee?" I ask the room, as I wind my way past everyone, over to the kettle. I hear too many voices reply to me at once, so I say: "Just fucking help yourselves. I'm going to the living room, there's more room."

Patrick, Sarah and Aubrey follow me. I guess Sarah and Aubrey don't wanna experience the delights of instant coffee. Fair play.

"You just get back, P?" I ask him, as he sits down next to me.

"Like five minutes ago, I came in and this circus was already here, so I just made myself some coffee." He informs, and I notice his eyes landing on Sarah as she and Aubrey sit down across from Patrick and me. "We haven't met."

Sarah raises her eyebrows at Patrick before smiling at him sweetly.

"I'm Sarah, Erin's roommate. You must be Patrick?"

"Ah, you've heard about me already?" He says, grinning over at her. I stifle a laugh. Typical.

"Patrick, now's not the time." Aubrey says, as Joel and Kim enter the room.

Joel sits next to Sarah, and I catch him glowering at Patrick, warning him to lay off of Erin's roommate. Sure, whatever. Kim sits next to Aubrey on the armrest of the sofa. Erin and Jay are still in the kitchen. Just the two of them.

"That was so cool of you letting Sarah crash at your place last night, Joel." I tell him, and he smiles at Sarah. She smiles back at him, and wow, those two would make very attractive babies. As if, Joel would never go for Sarah.

"Did you sleep in my bed?" Patrick asks Sarah, and I nudge him in the ribs. Hard. Joel frowns at him.

"Seriously, you guys. I'm sorry I ruined your night. Especially you and Erin, Sarah. You guys came all the way here." I say.

"Don't worry about it, Jamie. Everyone understands why you were so upset. And Joel was great company last night, it's all good." Sarah says with a smile. I love Joel so much, of course he would have made her feel welcome, even though he doesn't know her.

"I don't understand why Erin completely ditched you though, you guys came together?" Patrick points out.

"She came over here with Jay to try and track the two of you down." Joel says, nodding his head towards Patrick and me. "We didn't really hear much from them after that."

"They had a lot to talk about, I guess." Sarah points out.

"If they fucked anywhere near my drum kit, I'm gonna freak out." Patrick says, casually sipping his coffee.

Erin and Jay were alone most of the night last night, so the thought did cross my mind too. But, Erin would tell me. Or Jay would tell me. Everyone's been too busy talking about my shitty situation to really grill Erin and Jay on what they got up to last night, but we're all thinking it. And they're still alone in my kitchen. What the hell are they doing in there..?