The Suburbs

Chapter twelve

I'm shaking so much I can barely hold the vodka still long enough to pour it in my glass.
I never drink vodka straight but if there ever was a time to try it, it's now.

Despite feeling tipsy earlier, I'm certainly sober as a judge now. The shock of what just happened made sure of that. I don't even think it was Patrick's actions that shocked me the most, but rather Jacob who left me speechless. Jacob is well-built, I know that, I've seen his body and the fact he has his own gym at home shows me how into fitness he is, so I know he is strong and capable if he had to defend himself. But, I had no clue he could or would ever fight like that.

I down my vodka with one swig as I watch all the party guests scramble out of Jacob's house. One of Jacob's friends seems to be pulling Patrick up onto his feet and carrying him to a car, I'm assuming they're taking him home. Elle is standing by the front door looking as though she is about to cry and throw an almighty tantrum. It's obvious she's angry and has no real clue as to what's just gone on.

My nerves are calming a little bit and I notice my body has stopped trembling, the vodka has done what I hoped and settled my anxiety.
I grab my sofa blanket and wrap it round my shoulders to help me warm up too. I'm not sure what to do with myself, my adrenaline is still pumping enough that I know I won't be able to sleep and my mind is racing with thoughts of Jacob and wondering whether he is okay.

Thanks to Patrick, I really don't like this dress anymore. I just had a flashback of him aggressively trying to pull up my skirt and I don't think I'll ever want to wear it again. In fact, I want to bin it right now. I zip myself out of it and toss it straight into the kitchen bin and then I head upstairs to find a basic white tee and some jeans to wear instead.

I sit at my make-up table and carefully wipe away the mascara from my eyes and the smudged red lipstick from where Patrick was trying to kiss me. I think back to Jacob warning me off outside the bathroom, oh how I wish now that I just went straight home.

When I glance back over out my window and towards the house, I see that everyone has now left and it's a lot quieter. The music from the live band is no longer playing and the majority of the lights are off, you wouldn't even know there had been a party now if it wasn't for the few plastic cups scattered around the driveway.

This could be my opportunity to go back over, I could offer Elle a helping hand in tidying everything up but I could also try to get a moment alone with Jacob to thank him for helping me.
I throw my white trainers on and head downstairs before I can talk myself out of it.

I half expected to hear arguing as I got closer to the house, but nothing. I lightly knock on the door just in case they've gone to bed.

"Mia?" Elle croaks as she pulls open the door. Her eyes are puffy and she has mascara streaks down her face, she's clearly been crying.

"Hey." I say sympathetically.
"I thought I could maybe help you tidy up?"

"That's sweet but I don't expect you too. I'm sorry the party was ruined. Did you have fun before my husband decided to kick everyone out?."

"I had an amazing time." I lie.
"Please don't apologise. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Elle gestures me in and I follow behind her as she leads the way to the lounge, an area of the house I haven't spent much time in before.

"He ruined everything." Elle whines dramatically and slumps down into an armchair.
"All I know is that apparently he was seen fighting with someone on the driveway. But he won't tell me who it was with or why."

"Perhaps it was just a silly alcohol fuelled fight. You know what men can be like."

"Not Jacob." Elle says defensively.
"We don't engage in fights. Jacob knows full well how I feel about violence. He has completely shown me up tonight in front of all our guests and he hasn't even got the good grace to tell me why."

I fidget awkwardly by the lounge door, I'm not really sure what I can do or say right now. I know why Jacob got into a fight but if he doesn't want to tell Elle why it happened, then I really shouldn't either.

"I'm going to bed. I have a huge migraine and due to the stress I've been forced to take a sleeping tablet. If you really want to help with the mess, Jacob is outside picking up rubbish, I'm sure he could use a hand."

I nod politely to show I'm happy to help and watch as Elle disappears off upstairs. When I hear her close her bedroom door behind her, I take a deep breath and head off through to the kitchen and out the garden to find Jacob.

Immediately I spot him as he isn't actually tidying up, but instead he is sitting by the pool, feet dangled in and a bag of ice on his hand.

"Jacob?" I say so quietly it almost comes out as a whisper.
Jacob looks up at me straight away with a frown as if he can't understand why I would be here, but after a split second his frown fades and he looks somewhat pleased to see me.

"Erm, Elle said I could come out and give you a hand with tidying up. She's gone to bed."

I approach with caution, unsure of which attitude from Jacob I'll get.
I grab a seat on a sun lounger next to the pool.

"Jacob, listen. I am so sorry about tonight. When you warned me I should have just left, I shouldn't have questioned you and..."

"Sorry?" Jacob cuts me off.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Why would you think you do?"

"I ruined your party. I made you get into a fight." I answer apologetically.

"You didn't make me do anything Mia."
Jacob grabs a small glass filled with a brown liquor from next to him and takes a large mouthful.
"When I saw Pat...that scumbag, touch you the way he did, I felt sick. All I knew at the moment was that I had to protect you."

I smile to myself at his words. I feel butterflies in my stomach over how sweet he is being.

"Will it get you into trouble?"

"Fuck no." Jacob says with a chuckle.
"If he tells anyone what I did then he'll have to explain why I did it and he won't want that."

Jacob throws back another mouthful of his liquor before staring at me with sorrow in his eyes.

"Are you okay, after...after what happened?"

"I think so." I try to assure.
"Thanks to you, I'm okay."

"You know...I had just over two hundred guests tonight and I can barely tolerate any of them. They're not my people, this isn't the lifestyle I wanted. But then I saw you and I thought, finally. Someone I can relate to. Let's just say I'm pleased your stubborn and don't listen when someone tries to uninvite you to their party." He says with a big smile and I can't help but giggle.

"Will you stay and have a drink with me, Mia?"

"Sure." I answer without hesitation and feel the butterflies return to my stomach.

"Get comfortable and I'll get us both a drink."

I watch on contently, my eyes stay on Jacob whilst he heads back inside to fix us a drink. I feel like this is the most honest conversation we've had with each other so far, and it's only just beginning.

"Here." Jacob says as he puts a blanket around my shoulders. Just in case you get cold."

I love his warmth and smile gratefully as he passes me a whiskey neat.

"Something has been on mind for a little while and I feel as though I should explain it. The other day you accused me of sleeping with Elle's best friend?"

"Oh. Yeah I did." I answer timidly.
"I shouldn't have thrown your past at you. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm pleased you did, because it gives me a chance to clear a few things up. You're the one person who I don't want thinking badly of me."

I sit back on the sun lounger so I'm comfortable and I show him that I'm listening. I'm nervous about the answer, but I'm listening.

"To answer it honestly, I'll need to start from the very beginning. It could take some time."

I reach out and give his hand a little comforting squeeze.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jacob."