The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 19

Jamie

We've said our goodbyes to Joel and Jay, who are now on their way over to the NYU dorms, and we're on the road. I'm driving, even though I didn't want to (I hate driving Jay's car, it's too fucking big). But, I got more sleep than Patrick so it seemed fair.

"Wake me up when we get to North Bridge." Patrick says, reclining back in the passenger seat and putting his feet up on the dash.

"Watch it, Jay will kill us if you leave so much as one scratch on this car!" I warn him.

"Don't care." He says lazily, closing his eyes and laying back. "He's too busy pleasing Erin with his dick ring, anyway."

I laugh at this, even though I do not want the mental image of my two best friends having sexy time together. Ugh, no.

My phone's hooked into the car stereo over Bluetooth, so I select my most current Spotify playlist as Patrick shuffles around in his seat getting comfy.

"Please tell me there's no slow, acoustic shit in this playlist." Patrick says without opening his eyes, as Pictures of You by The Cure starts playing.

"Most likely." I reply, concentrating on navigating my way through the busy streets of New York City. "I'm driving, so we're listening to my music. If you aren't happy, you're welcome to drive."

"Even if I was driving we'd be listening to your music, J2." He replies lazily. He has a point.

I smile smugly to myself as Robert Smith starts singing one of my favourite songs. Then I realise I haven't talked to Erin about her night with Jay. I haven't replied to Shaun's text either, but that's not important. Hopefully he's free tonight. I'll talk to him then.

"I'm thinking of going over to Shaun's when we get back." I say, possibly to myself. I think Patrick's asleep. I look over at him a couple times. His eyes are closed and he hasn't acknowledged what I just said. Talking to myself, awesome.

I sigh and dial Erin through the hands free system. Pictures of You stops and my dial tone sounds through the car instead. She answers on the second ring.

"Ohmygod, thank you so much for last night, Jame. Seriously, everything worked out perfectly. I owe you one." She says the moment she answers the call. No point wasting breath on "hello's".

"You're welcome." I say with a smile. "Jay was really happy this morning too. Are you with him now?"

"Not yet, he's on his way to the dorms with Joel now, they won't be long." She says. "I actually had an awkward situation with Sarah when I got back here. She was here. She was supposed to be at her mom's but she ended up staying in our dorm room. Awkward. I told her I hooked up with some random guy. She bought it."

"Why don't you wanna tell her about Jay?" I ask. "The guys know now. And she's gonna wonder why you're spending the day with him today, right?"

"Nah, I told her Jay's visiting Jordan and Melody with Joel later, so they're hanging with us for a while before they head to Philly. I don't really care what she thinks about it, to be honest. I just don't want her judging me."

"Why would she judge you for wanting to spend time with the boy you love?"

"Because, I've given her so much grief about her secret lover. He's from Philly, actually. I think it's too far. How can I see someone from North Bridge when I tell her that seeing some guy from Philly is dumb? I'd be such a hypocrite." Erin says with a sigh.

"Erin, that's fucking stupid. Just tell her about you and Jay, she'll understand." I say, rolling my eyes as I drive.

"Maybe... I'll think about it. She's downstairs having a smoke right now." Erin says. "Where's Patrick?"

"In the car with me." I reply.

"You're being awful quiet, P." Erin says.

"I'm trying to get some fucking sleep." Patrick grumbles. "It'd be a lot easier if you two would stop your fucking chin wagging."

"God, you should be happy today, you got laid last night." Erin says sternly.

"Yeah, and so did you. You like Jay's piercing, huh?" Patrick snaps back.

"Jamie!" She yells over the phone. "Must you tell those boys everything!?"

"Sorry, but you know I can't lie." I reply with a laugh. "We are all fully supportive of Jerin, always have been. Bare that in mind today. Please think about trying to make it work with him, Er."

"Agreed." Patrick mumbles.

"You guys, I can't." She says, and she sounds sad now. "Sarah's just came in with Jay and Joel, I gotta go. Drive safe!"

She disconnects the call, and my music resumes playing over the stereo.

"I'm going to sleep now." Patrick says, repositioning himself in his seat. "If you want to go straight to Campbell's place, wake me when we get to North Bridge, I'll drop you off then go get Benji from Aubrey."

"Really?" I ask in disbelief. He obviously did hear what I said about Shaun, he just chose to ignore it at the time I guess. "You'd do that? But, you hate Shaun? You hate that I'm sleeping with him?"

"Both true, but you're my friend and you can make your own choices." He says sleepily. "Night night."

I turn the music up and smile to myself as I continue driving towards home. Patrick can get some sleep, I'll call Shaun when I'm certain Patrick isn't awake, and hopefully later tonight I'll be naked in Shaun's bed again.

I'm not exactly desperate to have sex tonight, it's just... Well, Noah has still been on my mind these past couple days. I've had an awesome time in New York with my friends, we nailed our audition for the talent scouts, things might actually be looking up for Erin and Jay, it's all good. Besides my heartache over that fucking New Yorker. I need to get him out of my head, and the best way to do that is by spending some time with Mr Campbell. So, I don't wanna waste any time. I wanna see Shaun as soon as possible. Hopefully he's free tonight.