I was a bit off today, it was raining, so I spent most of the day fic writing. Needless to say I went totally overboard with this chapter
,so I have had to break it up into 2 parts.
ENJOY!!
DISCLAIMER - This story is fictional and in no way reflects the actions or day to day activites of the characters involved. In other words..ITS MADE UP!He sat outside in his car for ages, trying to summon the courage to go inside. The last words he said to her echoed in his ears and he couldn’t leave things as they were. He couldn’t deny his feelings any longer. He had to tell her. He had to tell her he loved her…tonight….20 months earlier.Part 1
Eloise and Joe studied the menu at the restaurant deliberating on what to have. Joe was starving, but refused to pay the exorbitant price of the meal he wanted, and Eloise wasn’t particularly hungry at all.
The entire cast were gathered on a Friday night to celebrate Jane Hall’s birthday. What initially started off as an intimate get together ballooned out to over 30 people in the days leading up to it.
“It sort of got out of control a bit didn’t it,” Jane laughed as she came and sat next to Eloise.
“You could say that, but that’s what you get when you tell everyone to just pop on in,” Eloise giggled, “everyone has popped. Anyway this has been a perfect opportunity for Joe to meet everyone.”
Joe and Eloise had been seeing each other for a couple of months now. He did as Millie expected and asked her out when she went to pick up that book. They quickly fell into a nice, easy relationship and Eloise really enjoyed spending time with him.
He was different to the rest of them though. Joe was quiet, studious, sensible, and she worried how he would fit in with her unruly cast mates.
“I thought James would have been here by now,” Jane commented, “Do you know what he’s doing?”
“I’m not his social secretary,” she replied more abruptly than she intended.
Jane looked at her surprised.
“Sorry…it’s been a long day,” Eloise apologised.
“It has! James was in a mood today too. Did you notice or was it just me?” Jane asked.
“Yes, you could say I noticed,” Eloise responded knowing full well it was her that put him in the bad mood in the first place.
They had a fight, she couldn’t really remember how it got so out of control, but it started with her ribbing him for forgetting his lines, and him being too sensitive about it, and ended with the usual trading of insults, but this time James seemed more irritable than normal and he stormed off in a huff. She wondered how he would be around her, as he was fuming when he left the studio. She figured it was going to be an interesting evening.
“I would say he is waiting for his girlfriend to arrive, and then depending on how she feels will determine whether he graces us with his presence or not,’ she said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Oh right,” Jane nodded knowingly, “Have you met her yet?”
“No I haven’t,” she replied. Eloise was very curious as to what she was like and she hoped that they would turn up, even if she did have to tolerate him out of work for a few hours.
“She’s lovely, but these long distance relationships are nothing but trouble. Anyway I am so glad we finally got to meet you Joe, especially after hearing so much about you from this one,” Jane teased as she got up to go and mingle with her other guests.
Joe smiled at Eloise sweetly.
“So you talk about me huh?” Joe teased, “I like that.”
She returned his smile and gave him a hug, but she tensed up slightly as she saw James and presumably Caitlyn head towards the table.
Much to her annoyance the first thing that popped into her head was how handsome James looked in his jeans and tight black sweater. She quickly dispensed of that thought though by remembering his behaviour that afternoon.
She watched as he started introducing Caitlyn to those that hadn’t met her before. She wasn’t what Eloise expected at all. She was tall and pretty, but erred dangerously on the side of plain-ness, and on first impressions she seemed…lovely.
Much to Eloise’s horror, as everyone started sitting down at the table the only available seats were opposite her and Joe at the end of the table.
Don’t tell me I have to put up with him during dinner she thought to herself, and she didn’t particularly want him and Joe near each other either. She didn’t like how James made her act and she certainly didn’t want Joe witnessing her bitchy side…at least not yet.
They headed for the empty seats and James pulled out the chair for Caitlyn to sit down and then sat down himself. Caitlyn smiled pleasantly at Eloise waiting for James to introduce her to them, but he merely sat down and began reading the menu.
He completely ignored them.
Eloise sat there astounded at his rudeness.
“I’ll fix you,” she mumbled under her breath as she shot up out of the chair, “I’ll introduce myself.”
“Hi Caitlyn, I’m Eloise and this is my boyfriend Joe,” she said as they happily shook hands across the table.
Joe extended his hand to James and there was nothing he could do but accept it and pretend to have manners.
“I have been looking forward to meeting you,” Eloise said sincerely, “I was very curious as to what a woman who can put up with this one was like.”
Caitlyn, much to Eloise’s relief took her serious dig as light hearted banter, but James looked at her like she was the spawn of Satan.
“Oh he’s not that bad really,” Caitlyn joked as she tenderly rubbed his arm.
“Oh yes he is,” Eloise muttered through gritted teeth so no one could hear. But she hadn’t finished yet.
“I guess you must have forgotten we haven’t met yet,” Eloise commented directly to him with a forced smile.
‘I guess so,” he replied frostily with an equally forced smile as they stared at each other evilly.
“Luckily I know how forgetful he is,” she said cheekily directing her comments at Caitlyn, “he always forgets his lines.”
Joe and Caitlyn laughed along with her but James nearly choked on his beer and gave her a thunderous look across the table.
“And Eloise always concerns herself with pointing it out,” he quipped back, “it must be nice having someone always ready to point out your faults Joe…you’re a lucky man.”
Joe was taken aback with his comments, as was Eloise and the only thing that saved James from getting a kick under the table was the waiter coming around to take their orders.
The evening went on, and the alcohol went down. Joe happily chatted to Steve who was on one side of him and Caitlyn chatted to Nikki. Eloise and James ate in silence, sneaking evil glares at each when the others weren’t looking.
“I might go and get us some more drinks, seeing as you’re not offering,” she said deadpan after they had finished eating, “do you want something?”
“No thanks…you are likely to put poison in it,” he replied straight faced.
“Don’t tempt me,” she sneered quietly back at him.
She took everyone’s orders and headed off to the bar. James watched her from his seat, trying to quickly think of a one liner that would really shut her up when she came back.
Instead he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked, in her long tight black dress, and hair swept up. He quickly snapped himself out of it, and decided he had had way too much to drink and had better lay off for a bit.
After she ordered her drinks he watched as a young man approached her. He was obviously drunk and he bent down and whispered something in her ear, laughed loudly, then walked away.
James could see she was visibly upset and as she put the drinks down on the table he could see her hands shaking slightly.
“Thanks,” everyone sung out as they took their drinks and resumed their conversations.
James was the only one aware that Eloise was upset.
“Are you OK?” he mouthed after getting her attention.
“Yeah,” she mouthed back as she brushed a tear from her eye.
He continued to stare at her.
“Well you don’t look it,” he whispered leaning across the table, “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said looking at him sadly and he could see tears welling up in her eyes.
James felt helpless and the disdain he had felt for her 2 minutes ago was quickly replaced by disdain for the guy that had upset her.
“I need a cigarette,” she told him as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
He nodded and he watched her walk outside onto the balcony. That guy had obviously rattled her and he didn’t like it one bit.
He surprised himself how concerned he felt for her and he couldn’t help himself. He had to go and make sure she was OK.
He excused himself by telling Caitlyn he was going to the bathroom, but he followed Eloise outside instead, determined to find out what had happened.
Tbc…
DISCLAIMER - This story is fictional and in no way reflects the actions or day to day activites of the characters involved. In other words..ITS MADE UP!