Work Text
One year late
r...
Lots has changed in the last year, not all good, not all bad. Happiness. Sadness. Joy. Anger. Confusion. A year is a very long time when the world seems to move so slowly.Diane and Tony announced their split when she went into rehab. They're going for joint custody over the children, apparently, but that will have to be when Diane is better. Tony is currently taking the responsibility for the kids, according to the McQueen's — the peak of gossip for the town.After Warren's passing, several villagers pitched in to help Mercedes take care of the twins. The McQueen's welcomes her back in with open arms as well as Cindy and Dave when they were still together. Cindy left to go and see Jude in Spain after the whole Blue charade. After Warren's death, about ten villagers left, but I didn't know them very well. Some were killed in the Blue crossfire.As for us, the Blake Dynasty is going strong. My mother is her usual self. Sienna is keeping her distance, and who can blame her really? After everything, I wouldn't want to be my child either. But that's a long story for a different day. Liberty and Dilly are also shying away slightly, but they aren't in quite as much of a hurry to leave when they come over.I still have the allotment, although it's had a bit of a rebrand where I've been here over the past year. The small shed is now an extra onto the side of the house, which is only small but it gets me out of Sienna's hair. It's a small cottage with rustic paint and features - no internet, but I don't use mine much - but there is electricity. It didn't take long and my mother pitched in with the cost, given that there was a lovely spot of land towards the left of the allotment that was being ill-used and she had the money to spare; that was always the one thing my mother was never short of. Now, it's three thirty. I've changed out of my gardening overalls, put on some slacks and an old navy cotton shirt. I've had more tattoos done since I arrived, and now, there's a swirl sleeve covering my shoulder with a few more dates scrawled in ink. Sienna's birthday. A quote on my wrist to keep me on track. Things like that with a few skulls. I slip my workman boots onto my feet before reaching for my keys in the fish bowl I brought in a moment of madness. My hand bends down to catch the overnight bag at the door with everything I need for tonight and tomorrow morning. I throw the satchel over my shoulder and force my eyes shut, biting down on my tongue as I open the door. The freedom is enough to scare me, but I put one foot in front of the other and in the end, I'm able to step outside into the allotment - I even manage to get past the garden gate.I'm on the road before I know it, heading up towards the flat. The school is a forty minute walk from here, but I don't mind, it's all to see him.My body sways as I cross the road, minding out for pedestrians. Part of the emotional turmoil is the fear of touch, and I've never been comfortable since my Uncle. I follow the cars and cross at the lights, trying not to panic about my impulsivity. Mother says that I'm not supposed to walk across roads by myself in case I throw myself in front of a car again, but I'm much better now - she said so herself.From my right, I hear a car horn beep, and I realise that I'm supposed to be crossing. It jolts me, but I pick myself up and run across the road, tipping my head. I'm so small, all of a sudden. It's like I don't even matter -I manage to keep my head down until I reach Hollyoaks High, smiling broadly. My satchel is digging into my shoulder, and I'm absolutely dying for a cup of tea. My hand reaches out for the front doors, and as I open them, I realise how quiet everything is after hours. There are teachers bustling about but that's all. No students. Some teachers. Huge halls.My eyes peer around every corridor until I find a map attached to a wall. I grind to a halt, running my finger along the edge of plastic before I turn in the direction of the English department on the third floor. There's a lift, and I hop into it as my breath catches in my throat. I don't normally do this, and he may have already gone home and I've walked forty minutes for nothing, but I know he does love a surprise.When I reach the door to his class, it's wide open with him drawing on the whiteboard. He's stocky, especially from the back with broad shoulder built thickly with muscle. Even whilst he's turned around, I remember his ashy hair and sapphire eyes, both piercing enough to be beautiful in the dark. I step in, and everything is so quiet because he doesn't turn around. Instead, I tread my steps carefully and swallow hard."Don't turn around," I say quietly in a way that's more leant to sultry. "It's only me."He puts the pen down and widens his stance just enough that I can stand behind him. My hands begin on the bones at his pelvis, gripping onto them hard enough to drag me closer. Rough fingers from gardening brush upon his neck, smoothing out the skin and adjusting his head. My lips glide across his neck, my nose nudging against it, my tongue trying to stay out of the way -And then he moans. Oh, what a melody it is. He drops whatever else he's holding and turns around, pulling me flush against him. Our lips meet, and what is a tame vision of affections swiftly pivots into an act of passion and need. He doesn't stop until my back meets the wall and his tongue is down my throat - I can't say I care a great deal.But then we have to pause to breathe. "I wasn't expecting you, you know.""I know," I say. "But then I've always been stealthy."He pushes me towards the nearest desk, seating me on top whilst he's wedged between my legs. I let out a childish giggle as his lips come to my neck, the bristles around my chin tickling him into kissing me more. Once our waists are pressed together, I clamp him in between my thighs and cup his face with my palms."How long have we been together?" I ask. My left hand falls onto his chest, looking down at the buttons as a hot flush rises to my cheeks."Oh... about..." he pauses. "Three months, there or there abouts."God it feels like longer. It feels like I've known him my whole life. Most of the time, I cant describe how it feels, but the best way is that we were put on this earth to be together. Anna was only a course guider. Scott was a one-night-stand and John Paul is supposed to be my partner."Jeremy."I look up from my gaze. "Yes?""I've booked us a hotel," he tells me. "But if you don't want to go and you want to go back to your house instead I totally understand —"My lips interrupt him from uttering out his last words. I press my forehead against his own and gently run my hands up his sides. "I'd love to go. We're always being watched by people, and tonight, maybe we can have some alone time.""Mhm, alone time," he hums, kissing me again. "We should get in the car before I end up fucking you over the table."A shudder runs through me. "Y-you want to have sex with me?""Yeah, if you do?"After him. After everything with Anna. After the army. After —I'm not sure I can take it again."M-maybe a different night," I say, smiling softly. "I-if that's alright?""Yeah, 'course it is," he says, kissing my cheek. "Come on then, I'll drive you back this time.""Thanks."As we climb into the car, a pit carves it's way out in the centre of my stomach. I don't want him to think that I don't care about him, or that I never want to have sex with him — because I do, just... Not when he means this much.Scott was easy. We got pissed. We chatted. Lazy kisses broke out first, then his tongue edged down my throat. We had fun, just about — wasn't the best, wasn't the worst I've ever had.But John Paul actually means something to me. He is my partner, my boyfriend, and I don't want him to see me as the Virgin Mary. I'm not. I just know that the moment we get to that bed, he'll expect me to be a good pet and do as he says whilst he touches me all over.He senses my agitation and reaches for my hand. A gentle squeeze ingites a smile, and he doesn't let go until he needs to change gear."Did you actually walk from the allotment to here?" He asks, turning left."Yes," I say. "It was only about forty minutes.""Forty minutes! I would have died!"A small laugh surpasses my lips. "You forget I hiked up the Himalayas. The walk there made this look like Disneyland.""You really have lived a thousand lives, haven't you?""Why not when life is so precious?" I say, but end up clawing myself with my fingernails."I'm glad you think so," he tells me, trying to look at me, but is instead more focused on the road. "Now, what would you like to eat? You can choose."I shrug. "I'm not that hungry, you can pick.""I suggest we go to the Dog in the Pond and then make our way to the hotel, yeah?"I have to smile. "Sounds completely perfect."