The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 67

Jamie

~ December 30th ~

I wake up because Benji is licking my face. This tells me it's either really late and Benji is desperate for the bathroom, or... It's really late and Benji is starving. Either way, I know I need to get up.

Christ, it's almost noon already. I am such a lazy fuck sometimes. Okay. Get up. Feed the dog. Eat Cornflakes. Drink shitty instant coffee. Walk the dog. Catch up with friends. Don't obsess about the non-existent state of your relationship with Noah, or his silence. Be normal.

I pour out my Cornflakes, and the door leading downstairs to the garage opens. Patrick, of course.

"Have you heard from them?" He asks, sitting down at the kitchen table and helping himself to my shitty instant coffee which I made in my favourite Friends mug, so clearly it's mine. Zero boundaries.

"Not a peep. You?" I reply, sitting down across from him to eat my cereal. He's talking about Erin and Jay. 

"Nope." He comments, before looking around the kitchen like he's wondering what to do with himself. "Joel's been pretty quiet too. This is weird, right?"

"It's not that weird, Patrick." I say, my mouth full of cereal. He screws his face up at me in mock disgust.

"What about Noah?" He asks, and I roll my eyes as I swallow. I shake my head. I'm not getting into this now.

"Is it weird that you haven't heard from him much?" Patrick asks. "Like, that's weird, right?"

I screw my face up at him. "You're being weird. Why are you pointing out how weird everything is?"

"I don't know." He starts rhythmically tapping his fingers against the kitchen table. He seems restless, actually. I observe silently as I eat my cereal, wondering what he'll say next. He pulls his phone out and checks it, before putting it back into his pocket. I continue eating, and watch as he drums his fingers on the kitchen table while looking up at the ceiling, his tongue twirling his lip ring around absentmindedly. What the fuck is going through his head? This is kinda amusing.

He checks his phone again, and sighs. I gotta ask.

"Are you expecting to hear from somebody?"

"What? No." He replies quickly, while checking his phone again. I raise a brow at him like uh huh? He sighs.

"I don't like it when Joel's quiet, okay?" He says, a little sharply. He's bouncing his left leg up and down on the ball of his foot now too. Because of Joel!?

"P, relax. You're making me feel uneasy." I say, spooning the last mouthful of Cornflakes into my mouth.

"I am relaxed. I'm just... Ugh, never mind."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I stand up and walk over to the sink, discarding my bowl and spoon. I turn on him, leaning against the counter. "Are you in withdrawal? Is that what this is?"

"What?" He snaps his head up to look at me.

"You know what I mean." I fold my arms across my chest. "You haven't gotten laid since the Snow Ball. I can't remember the last time you went this long. You're getting frustrated?"

"Jamie, please." He sits back and sighs, looking up at the ceiling. I'm pretty sure I'm right, though.

"You wanna go home and have some alone time? I think you need it." I say, I am of course kidding, but he looks horrified.

"Fuck off, there's nothing wrong with me." He says, pulling his phone out of his pocket again. "I'm calling Joel."

He stands up and leaves the room, his phone against his ear. What a fucking baby. Who knew Joel getting a girlfriend would have such an impact on him? I laugh to myself before turning to address the dirty dishes in the sink. I can hear Patrick talking from the living room. This is hilarious, and pathetic.