thought i'd bump you. When's the next segment coming?

Thanks hun. At the moment I'm snowed under with uni work so I haven't had chance to write anymore. But I will try in the next few days.

Sorry for the long wait. Hope you like.

Part 9

John Paul picked up his pint and drained it of its contents. He turned his attention to Summer and Katy who were sat opposite him giggling. “Right ladies, who’s for another?”

Katy glanced at her watch, alarm evident on her face at the time it displayed. “Count me out. I’m meeting Justin in about five minutes. We’re going Christmas shopping.”

“So it’s all back on then, darling?” Summer gushed.

“Yes,” nodded Katy with glee. “He’s been so sweet recently.”

At one point John Paul couldn’t have imagined the words “sweet” and “Justin” in the same sentence but he saw the way Justin looked at Katy. He made Katy happy and that was all that mattered.

Too bad John Paul wasn’t feeling the same way. Christmas was approaching and everywhere he went he heard the same banal songs that proclaimed the season was the happiest time of the year. Everything suggested that the holiday was a joyous period that should be spent with loved ones. In a few weeks time he would move back into the McQueen household and spend it the traditional way with his mum and sisters. Not only that, the seasonal festivities also reminded him that Craig would be home soon. One big question kept him awake at night: how would he cope seeing Craig every day around the village and just be “friends”?

At first he thought about staying away from him but that was just preposterous. Staying away from Craig was like saying that any one of his sisters could remain celibate. Instead he would have to back away slightly from the situation. See Craig but definitely make sure nothing happened. That would be torture in itself but it had to be done.

After Katy gathered her belongings and said her goodbyes, vowing that the three of them would have chill out session at The Loft at the weekend, John Paul turned his attention to Summer. “Sum, you up for another drink?”

“One more drink darling and then I must dash to get a start on this essay. Haven’t you got one due in before Christmas as well?”

He nodded thinking back to his Madwoman in the Attic assignment on Jane Eyre. “It’s a killer one. I needed a break.”

John Paul headed to the bar. Internally he groaned noticing both Frankie and Jake serving. Whose bright idea was it to come to The Dog when his two favourite people were working? Two people who were members of the We Hate John Paul Because He Turned My Precious Son/Brother Gay Club. Why did it have to be his round? He’d dodged this awkwardness earlier by pretending it was everybody else’s round apart from his. He stood shoulders back; head held high. They weren’t even worth worrying about. Small-minded people - that’s what they were - if they couldn’t even comprehend what he and Craig had.

Jake caught John Paul’s eyes as he moved from one customer to the next. “Mum, did I tell you I got a text off Craig today?” he asked straining his voice slightly. John Paul had a funny feeling it was all for his benefit.

“You did, love? What did he say?”

“He’s enjoying Uni life – was out at another party with Fee last night. Turns out the gay thing was just a passing fad.”

Frankie stopped mid-serve, a look of utter astonishment on her face. “Jake?”

Jake ignored his mother but turned his full attention to John Paul as though trying to make a point. “Oh sorry, John Paul, didn’t see you there!” He put on a fake smile.

John Paul felt his fists clench. He took a deep breath and vowed that this time Jake would not wind him up. However much Jake was irritating him he shouldn’t resort to violence. Think of something pleasant. Liverpool winning the premiere league. Jesse Metcalfe served up on plate just for him. Craig kissing him in front of everyone at the John Lennon airport. He started to relax and unclenched his fists in the process.

“Jake, go and make yourself useful. Bring up another barrel will you, love?” Frankie asked, knowing fine well that if she didn’t diffuse the situation soon they would come to blows.

Jake’s fake smile turned into a look of annoyance; he couldn’t continue to irritate John Paul. John Paul gave him a little wave, which irritated Jake even more. He gritted his teeth and headed for the cellar.

Frankie turned to John Paul, “don’t take any notice of him. Craig may be fooling Jake but a mother can sense when something isn’t right. He’s coming home in a few weeks. Did he tell you?”

John Paul nodded remembering an illiterate text message from Craig, which he had spent hours interpreting. Finally he understood what it said; Craig was coming back home for Christmas and did he want to meet up? He must have been inebriated again when he had sent that. The idea of him drowning his sorrows every night left John Paul worried. He loved Craig; he always would but what was the deal with his apparent heavy drinking?

“Have you heard from him?” Frankie asked.

“Not for a while.”

“He sounds miserable,” she paused looking slightly glum. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s missing you like crazy. You should have a talk when he comes home. Maybe sort something out. I don't pretend to understand what you two have but I want what every mother wants: to see her son happy. And I think you make him happy.”

John Paul realised this was as close to getting Frankie’s blessing as he would ever get. “Thanks Frankie. That means a lot.”

She smiled, "now what can I get you?"

“A pint and a white wine please.”

As Frankie got to work on his order he glanced around and saw Summer mouthing frantically at him from across the room. A wrinkle appeared on John Paul’s forehead as he tried to lip read. She was pointing at something. A person. A dark haired man.

Nate.

Realising whom it was, John Paul quickly turned around, praying, crossing his fingers and toes that he could walk back to his table, drink his pint unnoticed and leave The Dog by the nearest available exit. He hadn’t seen Nate since he’d left him in the SU Bar so he could answer Craig’s phone call. After he’d rung off, John Paul had gone for a long walk to clear his head. Nate had been left on his own. He hadn’t rung him to apologise or to ask for another date. A cloud of guilt hung over John Paul’s head. He wasn’t interested in Nate but that didn’t excuse him of being plain ignorant.

“He’s still into you, you know. Yesterday, he casually asked if you were seeing anyone. He looked so forlorn,” Summer nodded in the direction of Nate.

“It’s not fair to him to lead him on. I’m not over Craig.”

“I’m not asking for you to be over him. I’m only asking for you to try to be under someone else. It will help, I assure you.”

John Paul shook his head in disbelief. It might very well be the way for some people, but he couldn’t imagine the feel of another man apart from Craig.

A look of mild amusement crossed Summer’s face. “I’m just gonna go to the little ladies room,” and with that she left John Paul befuddled.

“John Paul?” a voice called from behind him a little too eagerly.

The owner of the voice moved into his eye line.

“Hi Nate. How are you?”

Without asking permission Nate sat down across from him. “I’m fine thanks. How are you?” If Nate was annoyed at what had happened his face didn’t show it.

“I’m okay. Look, I’m really sorry about running off like I did before. I’ve just come out of this really complicated relationship and I think that date with you was a little premature.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s the same with me really. Just out of a relationship.”

John Paul though that scenario seemed a little too convenient but he kept it to himself. “Really?”

“Yeah. The love of my life as well.”

“Ditto. Again I’m really sorry. I’d really like it if we just stay friends.” It wasn’t until the words left John Paul’s mouth that he realised how much of a line they sounded.

“My thoughts exactly.” Nate smiled, “I best get going. I’ll see you around John Paul.”

John Paul let out a sigh of relief. That went really well. A little too well if you asked him considering how into him Nate originally seemed to be. When Summer reappeared he explained the whole thing to her.

“Bless him! I think it’s sweet. He’s made up this whole ex just so he doesn’t lose face. And he wants the two of you to be friends ’cos he’s hoping one day in the near future you’re going to change your mind.”

That’s what John Paul had been afraid of.

*********************

That's it for today peeps, hope you like.

Bumpety Bump!

excellent stuff loved it

Enjoyed catching up. Looking forward to the next episodes. Can't wait for the the great reunion.

You're a good writer. I'm going to try and write my Sarah the Avenger fanfic.

quote:

Originally posted by SandraMet:
Enjoyed catching up. Looking forward to the next episodes. Can't wait for the the great reunion.

You're a good writer. I'm going to try and write my Sarah the Avenger fanfic.

Finally! I've heard so much about this Sarah Avenger I just can't wait.

quote:

That’s what John Paul had been afraid of.

lol

aww poor john paul
he's gonna have a stalker isnt he?

quote:

Originally posted by Rockit-!:

quote:

That’s what John Paul had been afraid of.

lol

aww poor john paul
he's gonna have a stalker isnt he?

You'll just have to wait and see. Lol!

I've just realised that the last bit doesn't really make much sense. Not quite sure if it's obvious but the speech right at the end that starts with, "Bless him!..." is meant to be from Summer. Sorry if it doesn't.

Not long enough, forget uni work and let us have more more more!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Sadmum:
Not long enough, forget uni work and let us have more more more!!!

Lol!!! Will try better next time. I'll have the next part up in the next few days.

Love it Romcomqueen! I'm glad JP iS leaving Nate alone.
(I agree with sadmum though, leave uni work and write more of this!!!!)

Part 10

Craig’s body met Fee’s in an osculatory embrace. Their lips conflated; they strained for breath. Craig deepened the kiss. His hand found its way from her cheek to her soft hair and he fingered it delicately. He felt her tremble with pleasure beneath his touch.

In between a breathless kiss she groaned lightly, “do you have to go?”

He barely nodded.

“Stay!” She pressed he body up against his hoping that her feminine charm would give her what she wanted.

Craig had to admit that he was slightly turned on but if he didn’t leave soon he would be late. And he couldn’t be late. He didn’t want to be late. As if to signal that he had to go, his trousers started vibrating.

She jerked away and looked in the direction of the buzzing.

“That’ll probably be Ryan right now wondering where I am.”

“Sometimes I think you spend more time with Ryan than with me. If I didn’t know any better I’d think something was going on between you two.” Fee laughed at her own joke and pulled Craig closer to her.

A red glow suffused Craig’s cheeks. He wondered if his guilt was noticeable. “We…we’re meeting…for…for an assignment.”

“I know Craig, I’m only joking,” a big smile spread across her face.

“We’re sorting out this assignment tonight and then I’ve made an appointment with Shane really early about this assignment. I’m quite worried about it.” For some reason Craig couldn’t help explaining the ‘situation’ to Fee. It was essential that she believed him. Even if at times he didn’t believe himself.

Her arms found their way around his neck pulling him even closer still. “I know you’re conscientious and he’s your tutor but you only saw him last week. You don’t want to go all stalker on him, do you?”

Fee was only extracting the Michael but Craig wondered what she would think if she knew how close to the truth the situation really was?

He kissed her: deep and meaningful, hoping that it would wipe the silly notion from her head. When he planted one final kiss on her lips she moved away again.

“Are you going to answer it or not?”

He answered her question in the affirmative and delved into his trouser pocket. His heart pounded wondering what he would do if she wanted to read the text. He’d be stuck then.

Shane.

I’m free now if u want 2 come round a bit earlier? X x x

“Is it Ryan then?” Fee asked inquisitively, leaning closer to his body trying to get a peek.

He quickly closed his phone before she could have a look and nodded. Bluffing he said, “R…Ryan… he’s in the library. I… I think he thought we were meeting at four instead of half past. Think I better shoot off.” He brushed her lips with his and detached himself from her suffocating grip. They had only been together for just over a month and she was already getting ideas. It didn’t help that when he was with her he felt like he had to prove himself to be the masculine, straight man that the world expected him to be. That’s why he needed to flee as soon as possible and go to the one place where these ideologies didn’t exist. Where he could be himself. Whatever that really was nowadays.

A mischievous glint flickered in Fee’s eyes and she gained ground towards Craig again. “You know, if you finish early you could always come back here?”

“We’re a bit far behind.” He removed her clasped hands that were now around his waist. “I don’t think I’ll be able to.” He pecked her goodbye and headed off pretending that he didn’t see the disappointment visible on her face.

He practically ran to Shane’s house. He had to admit that he was still a poor man’s John Paul in more ways than one, but he needed these clandestine meetings in a way that he couldn’t even begin to comprehend. Plus it worked for them both. Shane needed to keep it secret because of his job; Craig needed to keep it secret to protect his image. It was a perfect situation and the best thing about it was that nobody had an inkling.

He thought originally it was just John Paul but he had really begun to question himself in the last few weeks. He was still adamant about one thing though: he wasn’t gay.

Maybe… it was all because of John Paul. If Shane wasn’t his doppelganger Craig was positively sure that he wouldn’t keep going back to him time after time. When he was with him the black hole inside Craig’s heart, the one left by John Paul, didn’t feel so dark.

That didn’t stop the pang he felt as each day went by. He missed him like salt would miss pepper, like fish would miss chips, like day would miss night. It was only recently that he had started to think of their relationship in terms of the big pairs. Without John Paul he just felt incomplete as though somebody had ripped out one of his important organs and without it he couldn’t function properly.

In a few weeks they would come face to face. It would be his chance to prove to John Paul how much he truthfully loved him. He couldn’t and wouldn’t screw it up. His future happiness depended on it.

Taking in his surroundings Craig was brought out of his thoughts. He rang the doorbell urgently and tried to stand there patiently instead of looking like he had ants in his pants.

“There’s no flies on you,” Shane said cheerfully as he opened the door.

Both men looked around and finding that the coast was clear Shane moved in for a kiss.

Craig felt the charged electricity between the two of them. On a scale of one to John Paul, this kiss ranked higher than Fee’s but it wasn’t in the top range. Nothing would ever reach the top mark. That was sacred and only ever saved for the best. The best was in Hollyoaks though.

When the kiss ended Shane moved away from the door and let Craig in.

***********

A stranger hovered in the distance and noticed this outward display of affection. “Interesting!” the stranger said in a low voice and went back the way he came.


**********

Hope you like.

OOH WHO IS IT? BRILLIANT STUFF

Thanks Was starting to think there were no McDeaners online today.

amazing stuff

OH MY GOD!!! This fic just keeps getting better and better!! please write some more soon!! Can't wait to see who that stranger is Hope nothing bad happens!!! Viva craig and jp 4ever!!

Taking a break from uni work so thought I'd transfer the next part over. Hope you like.

Part 11

“You all sorted mate?” Ryan asked picking up Craig’s suitcase and taking it towards the door where his trusty rucksack lay. “Jeez, what’s in here? Feels like you’ve got everything in apart from the kitchen sink.”

“Presents,” Craig replied absent-mindedly double-checking that he had his passport and ticket in his back pocket.

“What have you bought them? Bricks?”

“No,” Craig laughed for the first time in ages, “just the general stuff. Books. CDs. DVDs.” With every passing second Craig felt happier because he knew that it would mean one minute less until he could see John Paul.

He was going back home for Christmas. He was going to reclaim the man he loved.

They hadn’t really organised meeting up but he knew it was a definite possibility. It was like asking the possibility of night turning into day. It was something that was inevitably going to happen, he just wasn’t quite sure how it would go down.

Fee got up from her seat on the settee and made her way to Craig. “I’m really going to miss you.” She leaned in and brushed her lips with his.

Part of him was glad that he would be Fee-free for a few weeks because recently she had been irritating the living daylights out of him.

“Will you ring me when you land?”

He nodded. She sounded more like they had been going out for years rather than just a couple of months. He knew she was more invested in their ‘thing’ than he would ever be but he still couldn’t break up with her. He needed her. He needed the cover.

But what would he do if the long shot happened, if John Paul came back with him in the New Year? How would he explain him to his friends? To Fee? Craig supposed he would have to cross that bridge when he came to it. But he knew one thing for sure: Fee would be ancient history. He had wasted too much time apart from John Paul that he would do anything in and beyond his power to get him back and keep him.

“You ready to go back home?”

“I can’t wait to see everyone,” Craig smiled thinking of one person in particular.

“They’re going to want all the gossip; every detail about your exciting life in Dublin. Even those secrets that we don’t know about.”

Craig’s eyes met Ryan’s and he tried to understand the look behind them. Without thinking his mouth opened and words came tumbling out. “Secrets? I don’t have any. I’m straight up.” The man doth protest too much, he thought but didn’t say it.

“I know mate. You’re one of those squeaky clean men who have no dirt to dish,” Ryan’s facial expression relaxed which in turn made Craig relax internally. He thought for a moment Ryan had found out about everything. That would have been dreadful.

“Be good. Ooh and don’t forget these.” Ryan handed Craig his post, probably a few bills and the occasional Christmas card.

Craig and Ryan loaded the suitcase and rucksack into the taxi. He said his goodbyes to Ryan and Fee. The former gave him a friendly pat on the back, whispering in his ear, “have fun in Hollyoaks. While the cats away and the like. She won’t know what’s going on behind close door and I reckon you’d be good at keeping it a secret.”

Craig thought that was another strange comment to make but it didn’t match the look on Ryan’s friendly face. He should start relaxing. Nobody was going to find out about his little extra-curricular activity. It was fine. All good.

The latter looked like she was going to burst into tears but managed to compose herself. Craig pretended to be upset but he was convinced that everybody could see the happiness emanating from his every pore.

He was going back home.

To John Paul.

He couldn’t keep the grin off his face.

***********

That's it for now.

amazing loved it