As The World Turns

Chapter 26

''What do you want Joe?'' Jodie repeated, her arms were crossed over her chest. Despite his request, she stayed on the ice, finding the barrier sufficient closeness at that point in time; much like how the bar had been a barrier the night before.

''I just want to talk to you. I got that perhaps last night wasn't the best time or place to do it, but I needed to make sure you were still in Detroit,'' Joe shrugged his arms resting on the railing. Jodie was pleased that was as far as he could get to her at that moment.

''Wait it was you're an idea to come to the club last night?'' She rose her eyebrows. In all honesty, she had thought it was Royce's idea; now knowing it was Joe's mad her slightly angry. Royce could have been forgiven for being there, especially since he had no idea of the past relationship she had with Joe. However, it being Joe's idea, put the entire blame on him.

''Yeah,'' he nodded, shifting uncomfortably from the leaning position he was in. the bar had been digging into his ribs, so he now stood with his hands gripping the railing instead, ''anyway, could we talk, I'd rather sit down you know over a drink...''

''If you think I'm going for a drink,'' Jodie placed the word drink between too sarcastic quotation marks, ''with you, you got another thing coming buddy,'' she snorted as his mouth hung open, trying to say something in return, but nothing came out.

Jodie huffed, bringing herself off the ice. In a way is regretted using the opening right where he stood because of course nothing was stopping him helping as she lost her balance and nearly fell over. She hated how safe she felt when his hands wrapped around her forearm to stop her from toppling face-first on the matting that surrounded the outside of the rink.

''Thanks,'' she muttered, pulling herself from his grip before moving over to one of the benches where she'd left her bag and shoes. The rink was always quiet when Jodie used it and so she'd never worried about her items being stolen. Although it appeared she did have to worry about Joe Budden turning up unexpectedly and extremely uninvented instead.

Silence filtered between the two; Jodie tried desperately to ignore him as she changed out of her skates and back into her converse. However, even though she was ignoring him, it was clear Joe wasn't wanting to ignore her. That was clear from not only the way he was sitting next to her but also how he struck up the conversation again, something Jodie had wanted to avoid.

''Hey you still got the same shoes,'' Jodie rolled her eyes as she began to tie them.

''Yeah well, unlike you I can't afford to buy and new pair every month,'' she snapped back, sliding her foot into the other shoe and then tieing that one too.

''Whoa, I don't do that. Although your boyfriend might,'' the bitterness was clear in his voice from the way he'd said, boyfriend. Jodie gave another eye roll in response to his comment, this time she did it purposely so he could see it.

''Is that what you wanted to talk about? How Marshall isn't good enough for me and that I'm making a mistake because I'm feeling some real déjà vu vibes if that's the answer,'' Jodie spoke, standing up and slinging her bag over her left shoulder before grabbing her skates her left hand. They never fitted in her bag, but she didn't have the time to find a new one.

''I was right about Braxton though. I mean what type of name was Braxton anyway?'' Joe near enough had to jog to keep up with Jodie, who'd begun to speed walk towards the exit.

''What kind of name is Joe Budden,'' she retorted, not glancing back for a second because she knew he was going to still be right behind her.

''That wasn't funny,'' he shouted back as a couple split them up. Unfortunately for Jodie, Joe managed to find his way past them.

''Never said it was funny,'' they'd made it to her car now; Joe making no indication that she was going to leave her alone any time soon. Jodie admired his persistence, but it was so god damn annoying.

''Ok you're pissed at me.''

''You just fucking realised that, how slow are you?'' Jodie slammed her boot down causing Joe to put his hands out in defence.

''Ok, ok I'm sorry don't attack me,'' his attempt at calming her down didn't work very well as she stood in front of him her arms crossed and if you looked close enough he was sure there was smoke coming out of her nose.

''I'm just gonna say it because I've been thinking about it for a while and I mean a while. I wasn't quite sure how to say it up until now and as I say this I realise maybe it's too late, but...''

''Just say it, Joe, because I'm this close,'' Jodie parted her thumb and index finger slightly, ''to just getting in my car and leaving you in the car park.''

''Right erm, I miss our friendship, I have for a while now and seeing you last night made me realise how much you meant to me,'' he shuffled his back and forth as he awaited her answer.

''If our friendship meant that much to you you wouldn't have waited nearly waited 10 years to apologise to me,'' Jodie spit out, rage raking through her body.

''Jodie I...''

''If you say you were busy Imma slap you,'' her words were like daggers as she pointed her finger at him.

''Jodie...'' But she cut him off again, leaving his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

''Save it. This conversation is over,'' thankfully he didn't even try to stop her as she got in her car.

Joe watched his head hanging low as he watched her back out of the parking space before finally disappearing into the distance.

''Shit,'' he cursed, punching his fist. That was not the way he had expected the conversation to go. He had hoped she'd hear him out, but it appeared he was wrong, extremely wrong.

+++

Jodie didn't go home, there was too much on her mind. Joe's presence was something she had not be expecting and seeing him twice in two days had been even less expected. So instead she found herself pulling up in front of a set of gates she'd only been through once before. To her relief, Marshall was in.

''Yo, what's up. I thought you did family shit on a Sunday,'' seeing him instantly brought a smile back on her face. he moved away to let Jodie in, taking her coat from her as she struggled to shrug it off.

''Is it just you here?'' She asked standing on her tiptoes so her arms could swing around his neck.

''Yeah,'' he whispered, bringing his lips down to meet hers.

''Good,'' she whispered before pulling him closer, a good distraction was something Jodie sorely needed and she couldn't wait any longer. Marshall wasn't going to complain either.