The Weekend - Completed

Chapter 10

After James's home truths I hadn't felt much like talking and was glad when I heard some of the girls returning, I took my opportunity to leave and hurried to my room. I'd starting unpacking my bag when I heard a knock on the door.

"Hiya, just thought I'd come and say hello" Daniel said chirpily walking into the room and sitting himself down on the bed.

"Hello Daniel, you alright?" I asked in a blasé tone.

"Yeah I'm great, so what you doing now? Do you want to hang out for a while until Katie comes back?"

"Yeah sure", the words had come out my mouth before I'd been able to engage my brain, remembering my conversation with James I quickly added "I've already made plans though, I'm going to James's but I'm sure you can join us".

"Oh ok sure, well I'll see you in a bit" and he stood to leave.

"I'll only be a couple of minutes, I'm just finishing off unpacking, you can wait if you want", I had visions of James's blank face when Daniel had told him we had plans, so thought it better if we faced James together.

"Fine, I can help you if you want?" and with a roguish smile dived for my bag, "I'll help you with your 'smalls' shall I? " He said laughing, folding my arms across my chest and shaking my head slowly from side to side I replied,

"How old are you? Besides I've already put them away but thanks for the offer of assistance". We were still laughing when James popped his head round the door.

"Well sounds like someone's having fun in here" he observed, I jumped into the conversation before Daniel could say anything.

"Yeah I was just on my way to yours but I got side tracked by Daniel telling me about his fetish for women's underwear", James looked back and forth between the two of us not quite sure what was going on. "So James what do you fancy doing? It's ok if Daniel joins us, isn't it?" I continued.

"What? Oh erm yeah sure, I haven't got any set plans I just thought we could hang out" it was a good job he wasn't taking drama, as his acting skills were atrocious, he shot me an icy glare I discretely shrugged my response.

"So what should we do?" asked Daniel,

"Dan why don't you grab Mark, he's just come in, and we'll go and have a couple of games of pool in 'The Swan', you could ask if anyone else wants to tag along". We all nodded our agreement. With that Daniel left to find Mark,

"Thought you were staying away from him" he said accusingly.

"What was I suppose to say, 'get lost, I'm not allowed to talk to you", I said juvenilely.

"No, of course not", then lowering his voice, "I didn't realise how much you liked him, you're a lost cause I'm afraid" then pausing to think for a moment, "Well, I think the problem is that he likes you too, but only as a friend, so don't go getting your knickers in a twist, and because there's no 'love interest' on the scene he thinks it's ok for him to spend time with you, as friends", feeling quite satisfied with his hypothesis he continued, "So, we have to find you a man, of course I could ..."

"Yeah, that's not going to work" I said cutting him off, he was about to argue but I shook my head and persisted "I don't know how to tell you this, but Daniel knows". James face drained of all colour, he looked like he was going to pass out.

"You told him" he shouted at me, his voice thick with emotion and I could see the rage in his face, I started to defend myself when.

"She didn't have to tell me, I've known for months", I turned quickly to see Daniel stood in the doorway, "And I haven't told anyone because it's not my business, and I won't tell anyone because it's nobody else's business". I could see the tears welling up in James eyes and as he spoke fat tears meandered down his cheeks.

"I just wanted to belong, I knew it wasn't real but I loved being here, being normal, being one of the boys, having friends. I knew it wouldn't last forever, so I guess everything's going to change now", as he finished speaking his whole body seemed to shrink and droop, I watched him physically withdraw into himself.

"James, James listen to me", Daniel said grabbing him round the shoulders and shaking him slightly, "James, nothing is going to change, we're not going to tell anyone, and when you're ready, I'll be there for you, we're mates and this doesn't change anything between us, understand?"

James's audible sobs made my heart break, he just stood in the middle of the tiny room with his face in his hands and cried, it was too much for me to take, just standing there doing nothing, I rushed over to him and putting my arms round him we stood there together, hugging each other and crying.

Finally he stopped and looking at the both of us he said "thank you", although he still looked awful I could see the relief in him.

"Erm James" Daniel interrupted, "My one piece of advice would be, when you tell the lads, threaten them with her" motioning to me, "As most are still petrified by her threat to chop their knobs off whilst they are sleeping". Daniel's ploy to lighten the mood only raised a half smile on James's face.

"Yeah, I don't fancy Chris's chances if he gives me any shit, she's just waiting for any excuse to get the scissors out on him", James added.

"Oy, I am here you know, and yes you're right Chris will be first on my list."