awwww - i like vulnerably darren! and him and craig connecting was really nicely done... your dialogue is always so witty and natural. more soon!x

I really loved this bit - so sweet and vivid!

Yay an update! Whoop whoop!

Amazing stuff Dotty!

ok, I promised it'd be up tonight and here it is!!! Enjoy!!


Part 19

Caitlyn tossed her keys on to the coffee table before throwing herself on to the sofa and simultaneously kicking off her shoes while turning on the TV, while Caleb went out into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

“Caleb?“ Caitlyn called out as she flicked through the channels, “Don’t forget the biscuits!”

“Right.” He called back before mumbling under his breath as he began searching through cupboards, “and they would be where, exactly?”

He finally located them in the large cupboard next to the washing machine, on the opposite side of the kitchen. Shaking his head slightly he couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at Caitlyns idea of organisation. ‘Same old Caitlyn.’ He thought to himself as he finished making the tea and headed into the lounge, carrying the drinks and biscuits carefully on a tray. Resting the tray on the coffee table Caleb handed Caitlyn her drink before settling himself onto the armchair.

“So…” he started, “What you got planned for tomorrow?”

“Dunno.” She answered, still flicking through the TV channels, “I was gonna show you the sights, but seeing as you’re off out with your new friends I guess I’ll give Gilly a call, see if him and Rhys wanna go out somewhere.”

“Oh right, sounds cool. They’re the lads you were telling me about aren’t they?”

“Yep.”

“So Rhys would be the one that challenged you to a pulling contest right?”

“Well, I challenged him but yeah.”

“And then he copped off with some girl and left his mate with nowhere to sleep?”

“Not exactly, it just meant Gilly would have to kip on the sofa.”

“Sounds like a great bloke!” Caleb said sarcastically.

“He’s alright just a bit cocky, that’s all.” She laughed.

“And what about the other one? Gilly? What’s he like?”

Caitlyn could feel her lips curling into a smile as she thought about this.

“He’s really… He’s lovely!” she gushed, feeling her cheeks start to burn slightly as she did.

“I know that look!” Caleb stated as he noticed his sisters flushed appearance, “But hang on, it was someone else causing it a few hours ago. I though you liked Darren?”

“I do. I really do!”

“So what’s going on with Gilly?”

“It’s complicated.”

“So uncomplicated it!”

“Don’t you think I’ve tried?” she said, her voice cracking with emotion, “Caleb, I don’t know what I’m going to do!”

Caleb perched himself on the edge of the sofa beside his sister and gently put his arm around her as she began silently sobbing into his shoulder.

“Hey, hey, come on Caits, don’t get up set.” He said as he stroked across her shoulders, trying to comfort her, “tell me what’s happened?”

“I don’t know, it’s just…” she trailed off, emotion once again getting the better of her, “It’s just too complicated, I don’t know where to start!”

“The beginning is usually a good place.” He said gently, “Whatever’s wrong, I just wanna help!”

“It’s all your fault!” she said playfully hitting him on the arm as she sat herself upright.

“How is this my fault? I’ve not even met Gilly!” Caleb responded, shocked at her accusation.

“If you hadn’t run off from home, I never would have been worried and Darren never would have looked after me and I’d still be sure Gilly was the one I wanted!!”

“Ok, sorry, but I’m lost now! What are you on about?”

“Me and Gilly have been getting on great and this lunchtime when we were waiting for the others to show up we nearly kissed.”

“Only nearly?”

“Well, we would have if Rhys had just been a minute or two later.”

“Right. But I still don’t get how this has anything to do with me?”

“After that I was sure something was going to happen with Gilly, and that gave me that warm bubbly feeling, you know? But then I get the phone call from Toby saying you’d gone AWOL and I was so upset, so Darren brought me home. And he was so sweet and kind to me. Then tonight at the pub, every time he touched me, even by accident my skin started to tingle and my heart started to race. And now I don’t know what to do! I really like them both, when I’m around Darren it’s like there’s this energy, like a strange sort of force that only I feel, but I don’t think he feels that way about me. Then there’s Gilly, he’s so kind and warm, and with him I feel so safe, like he’d never do anything to hurt me and I’m sure he likes me too.” She let out a deep sigh and threw her head into her hands, “I’m so confused, but my head is saying Gilly, he likes me too, and there was a spark there. Not as intense as the one with Darren, but that doesn’t make it any less valid, does it?”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

“I don’t know, both!”

“Caitlyn, you know as well as I do that if it’s Darren you want more, then logical or not, being with Gilly isn’t fair on you or him!”

“I don’t know who I want more! That’s the point!”

“Just promise me you’ll give yourself time to think about it, figure things out in your own head. Before you go making any decisions? Like when you’re out with Gilly tomorrow!” he said, shooting her an accusing look.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen. Rhys will be there anyway, so I couldn’t even if I wanted to!” She assured him as he stood and went back t his position on the armchair.

“Ok, I trust you!” he said sceptically, “Now can we find something decent to watch please?? Not exactly loving the re-runs of Jerry Springer!”

Caitlyn obliged and the two of them settled in to their seats as the late movie started to play, but as Caleb concentrated on the goings on on screen, Caitlyn let her mind drift back to thoughts of her two suitors, and sighing inwardly to herself she realised she was still no closer to an answer.

Brilliant Dotty! You write confusion very well! I can't wait to see what direction you take this. Both Gilly and Darren deserve a little happiness in their lives. I, myself, can not even choose whom I'd rather she be with.

Just bumping this so that everyone else can read that Fantastic chapter!

another FANTASTIC part hun

you know i loved the similarities yet differences to the previous part (hope that makes sense)

Caitlyn's sense of organisation with the biscuits made me laugh

and now she has a very tough decsion on her hands gilly or darren she likes both but i hope she makes the right choice (you know where my heart lies)

SUPER DUPER stuff dotty

Hey I managed to makeit on early enough to comment!!!

I've been keeping up and I LOVE it! Fab work Dotty!!

this was a great chapter, want more soon!!!

Bump! More soon please Dotty!

just posted on your other fic and said that I'm really enjoying this fic!

I think I have an unhealthy obsession with McDean fics so this is a nice break from them lol

thank you all for the lovely comments, I'm so hglad that you guys are enjoying this story!

this is just a quick message to say that I haven't forgotten about this fic, I just have some stuff going on at the minute that's got me preoccupied and unable to write. hopefully though, I should have an update for you soon!


thankies again for all the fab comments

big hugs and much love... Dotty xXx

Have a bump to page 1! I hope to see an update on this soon Dotty! In the meantime... I will be reading your new Darren fic.

hey guys, sorry it's been soo long, but I've had some stuff going on, and well, needed fun stuff to write, not serious like this, so I started a new Darren fic, called I'm Just A Love Machine ~ A Darren Osborne story, so for those of you that haven't already, check it out!!

anyway shameless self promotion over, on with this story, I hereby presentto you the next part.

Part 20

Caitlyn sat outside the coffee shop in a daydream. She had been up and out of the flat early that morning. She felt a little guilty for leaving Caleb to make his own way into Hollyoaks village but she desperately needed time to clear her head, to try to make some sort of sense of the feelings she’d been having for Darren and Gilly before she faced spending the day with Gilly. But now having been sat in the same spot for almost 2 hours now, and already halfway through her third cappuccino, she was still no closer to an answer.
She was snapped out of her daydream by the sound of her phone beeping, causing her to jump slightly. Reaching into her pocket and pulling out the offending phone, she gazed intently at the screen, she had 1 new text message, the display informed her, and as her eyes traced down the screen she was further informed that the message was from Gilly. As she opened the message, her body seemed to tense at the prospect of what it could say, but she felt herself relax when she saw it was only to let her know he was running late and would be there as soon as possible. Realising this meant she would be waiting even longer than she had expected, she ordered her next coffee to go and headed for the nearest park, texting Gilly once she had found a good spot to sit down, letting him know of the change of meeting place.
As she spread herself out on the grass, leaning on her elbows and basking in the warm sunshine that was beating down on her, her gaze drifted around the park at the others who had decided to take advantage of the warm weather. She found herself smiling at the families out for an afternoon together, and the boy trying to walk his dog, though it looked more like it was the dog taking him for a walk. Unwittingly, she settled her gaze on an elderly couple sitting on a bench opposite her, they were hardly talking to one another but the small little gestures and touches she saw them exchange led her to believe that here was a couple very much in love, and as she smiled at this thought, her mind came to a realisation. For the first time she realised that love didn’t have to be about huge over the top romantic gestures, and it didn’t mean always having something to talk about, it was about being comfortable enough in each others company that it was enough to just be with them, that silence between the two of you didn’t have to be awkward, it could be golden.
As this idea began to sink into her subconscious, she found she was not granted time to process it, as she heard a familiar voice rouse her from her thoughts.

“Alright Caitlyn?” Gilly called as he bounded over to her and sat beside her on the grass.

”Hi Gilly.” She smiled, “Where’s Rhys? I thought he was coming too.”

“Nah, that’s why I’m so late.” Gilly explained, “He got called into college this morning, some kind of problem with his coursework or something, so I went along with him and was waiting outside when I get a text off him. Apparently, he’s messed up on his work and they’ve called him in coz he needs to do some catch up lessons otherwise he’ll never pass. So he said I should just come along and meet you and he’ll try and meet us later.”

“Oh, right then.” Caitlyn said, lying back and putting her arms behind her head.

Gilly did the same and the two of them lay there together, staring at the clouds, neither saying a word. Closing her eyes Caitlyn felt a smile forming on her lips as she lay there in silence, maybe this was something special, the ability to jut lie here together in silence, without feeling awkward or uncomfortable. Would she be able to do this with Darren, she asked herself. But before she could find an answer she felt something fall on her nose, then her eye. Blinking as she sat up she realised it was beginning to rain, a realisation Gilly had clearly beaten her to as he was already stood up, offering her his hand to aid her in doing the same. Caitlyn managed to get to her feet and the pair of them got to the footpath just as the heavens opened and the rain began to fall at an intense rate, but this didn’t bother them, and they slowly headed out of the park.

“So, where do you wanna go now?” Gilly asked as they reached the park gates.

“We could always head back to mine.” Caitlyn offered, unsure of what she hoped would happen when they got there.

Gilly smiled at her in acceptance of the offer and they began to walk towards Caitlyns flat. Still not quickening their pace as they walked together along the streets of Chester, Gilly noticed Caitlyn shiver slightly and took off his jacket, placing it gently over her shoulders. Caitlyn smiled her thanks at this sweet gesture, yes, she thought to herself, perhaps Gilly could be the one she wanted after all!

awwwwwwwww!!

short but very very sweet, loving your writing soo much hun ;D

more soon!!!

Gilly or Darren? Darren or Gilly? Such a dilemma for the poor girl!

Awesome chapter Dotty! I'm glad you're back writing this one but you must continue updating I'm Just A Love Machine too!

Fantastic! Love this triangle! Poor girl!

how did i miss this i really am getting useless at spotting new chapters

great stuff dotty but you know who i want her to end up with but that doesn't mean i don't like the caitlyn/gilly parts i smiled when she did as they lay together on the grass

FABTASTIC hun

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I hereby present to you, a new chapter, not very long I know, but it's what I have to offer, so I hope you enjoy it. hopefully there should be more soon.


Part 21

Darren took his mobile phone out of his pocket and stared intently at the screen for what felt like the hundredth time today, still no messages. He thought, well, he secretly hoped, that Caitlyn might have sent him a text or tried to call and invite him to join her, Gilly and Rhys after his shift finished, but she hadn’t. He felt a little wave of jealousy washed over him at the thought that she was enjoying her day with Gilly so much that he hadn’t even entered her thoughts, whereas she had done nothing but occupy his mind all day. He snapped himself out of these thoughts with the realisation that Rhys was with them, surely nothing would happen with him there. He let out a small sigh of relief, and happy at the thought of Rhys playing gooseberry he decided to busy himself with some cleaning, in between taking the few drinks orders he received.
As he wandered around colleting empty glasses he found himself gazing out of the window at the rain that had suddenly descended upon them, and although he felt bad about it, he couldn’t help but feel a little happy that the turn in the weather meant that Gilly, Rhys and Caitlyn would most likely be holed up in some pub or café, unable to wander around town as Caitlyn had hoped. His happiness was short lived though as he heard a familiar voice behind him start talking.

“Flamin’ heck, it’s raining blooming cats and dogs out there!” a rather wet and dishevelled looking Rhys stated, “ant chance of a drink mate? I tell you, I need it after the day I’m having!”

“Rhys?” Darren said trying in vain to mask his surprise at his friends arrival, “What can I get you? The usual?”

“Please.” Rhys replied.

“So what you doing here? I thought you were going out with Gilly and Caitlyn today.” Darren casually enquired.

“I was!” Rhys exclaimed, “Stupid college, I got called in to catch up on work, apparently I’ve been missing too much and needed to attend revision classes in order to catch up!”

Darren nodded along as he placed Rhys’s pint in front of him. Rhys reached into his pocket to get Darren the money for his drink, but Darren held his hand up to stop him.

“Nah mate, it’s on me.” Darren said, “So, why not meet up with them now?”

“Well, I was gonna, but Gilly called me a few minutes ago. They were in the park when the rain started, and they got soaked so they’ve gone back to hers to dry off. So you get the pleasure of my company for the afternoon.” Rhys said before taking a big gulp from his drink.

Darrens heart sank, the thought of Gilly and Caitlyn together was hard enough for him to deal with, but together, alone and soaking wet was too much for him to take. He took a deep intake of breath before forcing a smile to his face and turning to Rhys.

“Rhys mate, you couldn’t do us a small favour could you?”

“Depends, what is it? If you’ve met some bird with a dodgy mate and need a wingman I’m afraid I’m gonna have to respectfully decline. I don’t do mingers!” Rhys stated with his usual charm.

“Nah, it’s nothing like that mate.” Darren assured him, then lied, “it’s just that the barrels gone on the Guinness, can you keep an eye on the bar while I go down the cellar and change it? There’s another pint in it for you?”

“How could I refuse?” Rhys smiled, then scanning the n