As The World Turns

Chapter 35

''Oh so hang on let me get this straight,'' Tiffany's fake nails, drumming on the glass she was drinking from, ''you went from having no guys to three at once Jo, what the fuck you some kinda player now?''

Jodie sighed; it was the annual girls night, a least once a month (mainly friday) Tiffany, Taylor, Tammy and Jodie all got together to just gossip. She'd just told them how Joe had kept coming showing up recently, first at the bar, then the ice rink and finally the other night when he'd shown up with her diary. Tiffanny had immediately jumped to the conclusion that Joe was somehow trying to get with her.

''Wait, there's only one guy Tiff, that's Marshall. Robert's finally backed off after he saw Marshall and I kissing in the ally way at work the other day,'' Jodie blushed after she'd revealed the antics she'd been getting up to with Marshall after she'd decided to bring him to her cousins, Scarlets, wedding.

''Ooh Jodie you naughty girl, making out at work, behind the building,'' Tammy started giggling uncontrollably, which wasn't must of a surprise to the other girls since she was the one that always ended up drinking too much. They ignored her further comments and giggles, more interested in what Jodie had to say instead.

''Ok, so just too guys then cause Joe ain't just sniffing around here cause he wants to be your friend again, trust me on this,'' Taylor remarked, pouring herself another glass of wine after she'd wrangled the bottle from Tammy's grip that is, '' don't you dare give me that look, Jodie, you're just too loved up with Marshall to notice. He returned your diary and told you to read at certain pages, think about it,'' Taylor added, not particularly enjoying the death glare Jodie was giving her.

''Well I haven't exactly looked at the pages though so they could say anything,'' Jodie shrugged, ''what?'' she exclaimed after every single one of them shook their heads at her, although Tammy was shaking her head for a whole different reason. Tiffany had told her that she couldn't have any more wine because she didn't want her throwing up all over her car. Especially since she'd just bought it too.

''Jo, sweetheart, we love you even Tammy, who had no idea what's happening right now,'' Taylor gestured to the brunette, who had now fallen asleep on the sofa, one of Jodie's fluffy cushions clamped n her iron grip, ''but your so stupid right now, go get that diary cause if Joe's read it you're not gonna care if we do now right?''

''I guess,'' Jodie sighed as she got up to go and grab the diary from where she'd last put it. After she'd fetched it from her nightstand, she was coming down the stairs and noticed that the Taylor and Tiffany were talking to someone at the door. Confused as to why they hadn't told her that someone had knocked since she hadn't heard the doorbell from upstairs. A little worried as to who it might have been, see as quietly as she could, walked towards them.

''Yeah so it's girls night, don't worry since not drunk or anything and we rarely even go out cause the only club we'd go to is the one under the strip club and we always get recognised and it's a nightmare,'' Tiffany, seemed to just carry on talking unaware that the person she was talking to had spotted Jodie coming behind her and so was no longer listening to a word she had to say.

''Hey Marshall,'' Jodie called over Tiffany's shoulder causing the black-haired stripper to turn around as Jodie's sudden presence had startled her.

''Ooh, we'll have a look at this book, while ya'll talk come on Tay,'' Tammy grabbed the diary in Jodie's arms with one hand and took Taylors had with the other. Leaving a bemused Marshall in the doorway.

''So girls night looks, exciting and interesting,'' he rose an eyebrow, a little confused at how excited Jodie's friends appeared to be over some book.

''Yeah, Tammy's already asleep,'' Jodie remarked, giggling a little, ''she's always asleep though,'' she added.

''Have all your frineds got names beginning with T or am have I crossed into a parallel world where all strippers names start with a T,'' Marshall pointed out, humour filtering across his features.

''You saying all my friends are strippers?'' Jodie accused.

''No, I...''

''Then you'd be right,'' she cut him off, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

''So, I was gonna ask if you wanted to hang out after you said you had the night off, but you already had plans,'' Marshall was a little upset that Jodie told him she was working only to not actively want to spend time with him.

''Well we do this at least once a month, but thinking about it now maybe I led you on a little,'' she muttered the last bit, her eyes moving to look down at her bare feet, which were beginning to get a little chilly due to the cold night air wafting through the open door.

''Maybe tell me next time ok?'' Marshall moved his hand up to cup her chin, so she was looking up at him, ''I'm not mad, just a little...''

''Let down. I know, I'm sorry, I'll make sure to tell you next time,'' Jodie replied after he'd let go of her.

''I'll see you later,'' Marshall lent down to give Jodie a quick kiss on the lips before turning and leaving. She watched his figure as he walked away, knowing that she'd made him a little upset. A part of her felt guilty, but then again nobody could stop her spending time with her friends, so she deiced to let it go and continued to watch Marshall leaving until he'd driven out of sight.

When Jodie entered the living room again, she found Blink being made a fuss of by Tammy, who after her nap had sobered up a little. While Tiffany and Taylor had their noses in her old diary, whispering incoherent words to each other.

''So go on, what have you guys found out?'' She asked, dropping back down on the sofa with a huff.

''You say Joe was the one that liked you a little more than a friend, but you kinda liked him a little more too. Until you met, Carl,'' Taylor, was just paraphrasing what Jodie had written, Jodie figured that out because what she'd said sounded familiar.

''Who the fuck is Carl?'' Tammy exclaimed.

''We dated for a couple of weeks that's all,'' Jodie shrugged.

''What happened?'' Both girls asked in unison.

''I can't really remember exactly, I think we just kinda didn't think it would work out,'' Jodie replied, she wasn't lying she had no idea what happened between her and Carl. In truth, she couldn't really remember what he looked like anymore.

''I think I know why,'' Tiffany sing-songed, before clearing her throat, ''listen to this. Joe offered to help me pick up my new car today. I was gonna ask my dad, but he insisted and well everything was normal. We went to go pick the car up, he took me in his and we both drove back to mine, Taylor was supposed to move in tomorrow so he then asked if I wanted help with anything else. Since he'd offered, I told him there were a few things that still needed setting up in what would be her bedroom...''

''Stop,'' Jodie shouted, causing Blink to jump out of Tammy's arms and run out the room. Pouting and not really caring about the conversation Tammy went to go calm him, ''I know what you're going to say and I can't believe I forgot,'' Jodie whispered, burying her head in her hands as she felt her whole body beginning to shake.

''You need to tell Marshall Jo,'' Taylor pipped up after a moment of silence.

''No she doesn't,'' Tiffany, butted in, ''What Marshall doesn't know won't kill him and I don't know about you, but he'd probably have a heart attack if she told him,'' Taylor hit her on the arm and Tiffany defended her comments saying she was only joking.

''I... I just need time to think,'' Jodie finally spoke, gesturing for the diary. If she'd remembered what had happened that day she sure as hell wouldn't have let them read it. She didn't know is she felt more embarrassed that Joe had read or her friends. With shaking hands, she read the last couple of lines to herself.

It wasn't supposed to happen, but I didn't necessarily regret it either. My only worry is that he did because the next day we didn't talk about it, not a word. Maybe if he'd stayed after we would have, but he had to catch a flight to LA and so he left me. One thing's for sure, at least Taylor had no idea we slept together in her bed.

I kid you not I totally didn't realise that Jodie's friends all had the same name till I read back looking for the names I'd mentioned before. Anyway it' kind of funny to me now.

Thanks for all the support though guys💕
And do you think she should tell Marshall or not?