The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 18

Jamie

"What the fuck is this!?"

I startle awake at the exact same time as Joel, as the hotel room door slams closed and the lights come on. I rub my tired eyes and blink into the sudden light. Patrick is standing by the door, mouth open, staring at me and Joel. He looks furious, that idiot.

"Dude, calm down. This isn't what it looks like, obviously." Joel explains sleepily.

"Obviously." Patrick says, but he doesn't sound convinced.

"Patrick, get a grip. We were sleeping, that's it." I say, blinking a few times before finally feeling awake. "What the fuck time is it, anyway?"

"Like 4:30." Patrick says casually, kicking his shoes off. "I wanted to get some sleep before we check out of here, I didn't realise there'd be a sleepover going on in my room. Why aren't you in your own room?"

I look at Joel nervously. He shrugs his shoulders at me. Fuck. I can't lie, help me out, Joel! He can't lie about this either, though. I know he can't, because Patrick is still frowning at us both. He does not look impressed at all, and we're both acting sketchy. Shit! I need to tell him the truth. Nothing other than the truth will work.

"Okay, don't freak out." I start, and Patrick's eyes widen. "Erin is here. With Jay..."

Patrick relaxes his features immediately before laughing and walking around the bed to get in next to Joel. There's room on my side too, dude. Whatever. His hair is totally disheveled, and he does look tired. Tough few hours of sex with that girl he left the bar with, I guess. I feel so sorry for him. Not.

"So Jay's banging Erin upstairs." Patrick says, lacing his fingers together and putting his hands behind his head as he lays down on the bed beside Joel. "Why the secrecy?"

"You aren't surprised by this?" Joel asks him, and he shakes his head.

"They had sex when we were at the Bayside show, right Jame?"

How the hell does he know that? Jay must have told him.

"Um, yeah." I admit. "Did Jay tell you?"

"Nope, just an educated guess." He says. "I have a sixth sense with these things."

"Shut up." Joel says. "I thought you'd spend the night at that girls place?"

"I would have, but... She was kinda weird." He tells us. "Far too freaky for me. She wanted me to do things that I am not okay with."

"Like what?" I ask, intrigued. Joel immediately covers his ears.

"She wanted to put her finger -" Patrick starts, and I burst out laughing as Joel yells "NO!"

We know where that was going...

"Did you let her?" I ask him, and he shakes his head.

"Nope. But enough about her. What about Jay and Erin? Are they getting together?"

"No. Not right now, at least." I inform him with a sigh.

"Figured as much. They're fucking idiots. So why have they told you guys about it, and not me?" He asks.

"They haven't told anyone but Jame." Joel informs him. "Jay doesn't know I know. He thinks Jamie used his snoring as an excuse for her wanting to spend the night in here with me."

"Right, but I had to tell Joel the truth. And you, now." I add.

"Because you can't lie worth a damn." Patrick supplies with a grin. Correct.