Learning To Trust Again

Rebecca was taken aback by Jake's tone but she was also sure he was lying and the thought depressed as much as it angered her. After she finally saw Mark for what he was, and discovered that everything he’d ever told her was a carefully conceived lie. That he crafted everything so he could get exactly what he wanted from her. She promised herself she’d never put up with that sort of betrayal again. And from what she knew of Jake she wouldn’t have believed it of him. She knew he was complex but she could have sworn he was honest. But maybe she couldn’t trust her judgment after all, maybe Todd was right and she couldn’t tell when someone was genuine and when they weren’t. Miserable that that might be the case and angry that Jake was ruining everything by not being honest, she turned to glare out the side window as she tried to hold back the tears blurring her vision.

The rest of the journey was conducted in silence and as they reached her apartment, Rebecca’s voice was flat as she looked down at her hands and said ‘I’m tired tonight Jake. I think I’ll just go to bed.’ She was letting him know he wasn’t invited in. Looking over at him she noticed his black expression but she wasn’t sure whether he wasn’t happy about her decision or was still angry for her trying to find out what was going on. He looked away. ‘Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow’ he said.

Rebecca nodded but didn’t look at him and she didn’t speak again. She just got out of the car and without a backwards glance she walked across the footpath and up the stairs. As she closed the door after letting herself in, Rebecca heard Jake drive away.

Rebecca had had a sleepless night and as a result was not in a particularly good mood when she heard the knock on her door, late the next morning. As the door swung open revealing Jake she just looked at him for a second as she debated whether to talk to him there or invite him in.

 His expression wary, Jake said ‘hey’

‘Hello Jake’ she replied without any discernible warmth. She was surprised to see him and it hurt. She’d spent the night swaying back and forth between aching for him and hating him for lying to her. So to see him at her door was more painful than she could have imagined. The fact that he was here, from her perspective, was as bad as it was good. She wanted him to explain as much as she didn’t. She wanted to know what was going on but she didn’t want to hear him admit that he had lied because she knew it truly would be the end.

Learning To Trust Again

Walking back into the bar Jake spotted Rebecca standing by herself and walking towards her he met her eyes. Ignoring her searching look, on reaching her, he kissed her head and hoped she wouldn’t ask too many questions he couldn’t answer.

But Rebecca hadn’t missed Jake re-entering the bar with her brother. She had noticed Jake had been missing for some time and guessed he probably needed a break from her family’s inquisition, but she had not realised Todd was gone as well. Curious as to where they had both been all this time she asked quietly ‘hey where have you been?’

Deciding on a version of the truth Jake replied ‘just outside to get some air.’

But sensing the guardedness in him, Rebecca knew there was more to it than he was letting on. She studied him for a minute and with a worried expression, asked ‘you were outside with Todd?’

Jake said ‘I met him out there, yeah.’

But seeing his eyes shift way, Rebecca was not satisfied. She could see he was uncomfortable and she continued to probe, ‘so what were you doing all that time? You’ve been gone for ages.’

‘Not much, just talking’ he said. 

Watching him Rebecca was concerned. If her brother had said something to upset Jake she’d never forgive him, but not wanting to push it in the middle of the party she decided to leave it for now and ask him again later. In a quiet voice she said ‘okay.’ 

But her concern cast a shadow over the rest of the evening for her and she could tell Jake wasn’t in the party mood anymore either. So when he suggested an hour later that they go she was more than ready to call it a night.

After saying goodbye to her family Rebecca and Jake headed back to his car. She had witnessed a tense conversation that went on between him and Todd as she was talking to her parents and was convinced now that Todd must have said something. Her anger with her little brother underlining her words, as Jake drove, she asked in a sharp tone ‘what’s going on with you and Todd?’

Frowning but keeping his eyes on the road Jake said ‘nothing.’

‘He was rude wasn’t he? What did he say?’ Rebecca asked furious with Todd for interfering in something that was none of his business.

Turning his head to look at her for a second before moving his eyes back to the road, Jake said ‘he didn’t say anything.’

Figuring Jake was just trying to cover for her brother Rebecca said with increasing irritation ‘come on Jake, you two came back to the party after being missing for over an hour and your mood had changed completely. Then you have a whispered conversation that did not look too friendly when we were leaving, so don’t tell me he didn’t say something. Don’t try to protect him.’

But surprising her, Jake’s own anger appeared to spark. He said in a harsh tone he’d never used with her before, ‘Todd did not say anything to me, okay?’

Story News

For those reading Rush Fanfic 1 and 2, please note these two stories will be coming to an end very soon. I'll post parts a little more regularly for the next few days until they are finished. Happy reading.

Going Home

Part 101

After lunch Margaret felt like a little exercise so asking Josh to accompany her they headed off along the bank for a walk. But the bank was sloped and full of tree roots and rocks which made the going slow. And while navigating their way along involved picking the best path more than actual walking Margaret was just happy to be spending some time with her son. As they made their way along the bank Margaret tried to be careful and not to trip but the ground was so uneven she still managed to stumble a couple of times.

Watching his mother with concern as they walked along Josh was worried she was going to get hurt. After the third time she tripped where he only just saved her from falling flat on her face he said with impatience “for god sake mum hang on to me will ya?”

For Margaret this was a big moment. She had started to understand her son a bit more of late and even though Josh sounded angry she realised it was concern for her safety that was behind it. So disregarding the tone he used, and smiling to herself she looped her arm through his. She was pleased he cared enough to offer his help and without looking at him because she knew it would make him uncomfortable she said in a quiet voice, “thank you Josh.”

Josh looked down at her bent head as Margaret continued to watch where she was walking. As she wasn’t looking at him he smiled and replied “no worries.” He was appreciative of the fact that she didn’t make a big deal about it or take offence. Before their reunion Grace was the only person who was able to read him, to understand his motivations and he was not unhappy that it seemed now his mother could too.

 Trying to keep the grin off her face Margaret strolled along beside her son feeling very happy indeed.

Learning To Trust Again

Jake continued to frown. He didn’t like this. It was one thing for cuts and bruises not to be looked at straight away but a head injury was something else entirely.

‘After the party, tonight’ Jake said pushing for an assurance that he would get his injuries checked tonight.

‘Okay okay’ Todd said, sounding frustrated.

Jake looked at him for a minute, frowning. He still wasn’t sure about this but as his sister was a nurse he reasoned he’d probably know all about the dangers associated with head injuries. So he nodded and watched Todd grimace as he moved. Straightening out his clothes some more Todd inspected himself in the mirror and said ‘not too bad.’

‘Yeah, not bad I guess’ Jake agreed, his expression grim, ‘as long as no one has a close look.’

‘Good, well let’s go before they send out a search party’ Todd said with a grin in an attempt at humour.

But Jake was in no mood to take any of this lightly. The other man had suffered a serious beating and his evasiveness about it was more than worrying. So his tone serious, he said ‘are you right to walk now?’

Smiling, sounding nonchalant, Todd said ‘never better’ and walked towards the door as if to prove it.

Frowning, unimpressed by the other man’s casual attitude, Jake followed him out through the restaurant to the street and they headed back to the bar. 

But before they reached the door of the bar Jake said, with an edge of steel in his voice ‘no more drinking Todd, right? You have a head injury, and were unconscious, so no alcohol.’

‘Sure Jake’ Todd said in an off -hand manner, 

But Jake could tell he wasn’t really listening and this only served to irritate him further, so in a tone that didn’t permit argument he said ‘Todd, no alcohol.’ 

Looking at Jake, serious now, he agreed ‘okay Jake, no drinking.’

‘Good and we are not done here remember, I want to know what’s going on.’

‘Okay but don’t tell Becs or Mum and Dad. I’ll never hear the end of it.’

Jake nodded, he’d keep up his end of the deal as long as Todd did the same. He had a feeling there was something serious wrong concerning Todd.

‘Thanks for your help’ Todd mumbled, his attention already back in the party as he pushed through the glass in the door.

 Jake didn’t even bother to respond, he knew he wouldn’t be heard. Frowning he followed him in.

Learning To Trust Again

With Jake’s help Todd managed to get to his feet. He groaned as he left him leaning against the wall of the building, telling him he was going to go and check that the coast was clear. Watching him stride back towards him Todd wished it had been anyone but Jake that had found him. The two men didn’t speak as Jake pulled Todd’s arm around his shoulder so he could support him as he walked. Todd leaned on him, letting him take a proportion of his weight. Everything hurt as he moved and Todd gritted his teeth to stop from crying out in pain. Step by step they made their way back to the street. One door down from the lane there was a fast food outlet and Jake told Todd to keep his head down as he pushed through the front door.

Jake saw the shocked look on the face of the young man behind the counter as he looked up and saw them enter. But staring him down, Jake continued moving towards the back of the restaurant and managed to get Todd into the toilets without drawing any further attention or having to answer any inconvenient questions.

After Todd splashed his face with water, washing off the now dried blood, Jake checked him for injuries. As luck would have it, there were few visible marks as yet. Tomorrow would be a different story, but in the dark bar he should be able to pass muster. More good fortune was that Todd was wearing dark jeans and shirt so whatever took place in that lane was not obvious except for the fact that his clothes were a little wrinkled and he was missing a button from the bottom of his shirt. But here again Jake knew the dim interior of the bar would help. Jake watched as Todd, pulled up his shirt to inspect the damage in the mirror. His back and stomach were covered in angry red marks indicating the many blows he’d received. Jake could see blue bruises starting to form below the skin. ‘Shit’ Jake said as he inspected the numerous marks. ‘You really need to get these looked at.’

‘I will’ Todd said lowering his shirt ‘later.’

Jake sighed, frustrated by the younger man’s attitude.

 Checking Todd’s head after seeing no obvious wound that would account for the blood Jake found a shallow cut, but it was just above the hair line so unless you were looking for it you wouldn’t know it was there and the bleeding appeared to have stopped now. But more worrying was the huge lump he found on the back of his head. ‘Were you knocked unconscious?’ Jake asked in a concerned tone.

‘Yeah I think so’ Todd said without looking at him as he did his best to straighten out his shirt.

‘God we have to get that checked’ Jake said, having second thoughts about agreeing to let Todd go without a medical clearance by a doctor. A head injury was a serious matter.

‘No. I was only out for a second’ Todd lied. In reality he had no idea how much time had passed when we was lying knocked out cold in the lane but he wasn’t about to tell Jake that. He’d got this far without anyone else finding out what had happened, he wasn’t going to let the other man take him to hospital now, all for the sake of a bump on his head. He felt fine, his head was fine. It didn’t hurt anymore than the rest of him. He’d get it looked at tomorrow if need be.