#OvertheRainbow2
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I & II
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Life in the Slow Lane Chapter 2 by OvetheRainbow2
Life In The Slow Lane Part 2: Changing LanesÂ
 Sheâd bought a killer pair of gold heels. Ridiculously expensive but seriously ferocious. Itâd been love at first sight. She wasnât entirely sure how sheâd walk any significant distance in them, let alone pay for them but as was so often the case with Kayleigh, heart had overruled every objection that head could possibly muster. Needless to say, for every pair of shoes, there must be a bag and a matching clutch was added to her purchases. By the time sheâd decided to take a load off and grab a brew and a muffin, diet be damned, sheâd added a blouse, a cute little sweater and a new pair of trousers to her haul. Sheâd lingered over some sexy lingerie but even she wasnât that much of an optimist. As she sat in the cafe alone, her bags arranged in the seats opposite, like silent companions, she watched as all around her, parents pacified grouchy toddlers, friends chatted animatedly, while others checked their phones or, like her, indulged in a spot of silent âpeople watchingâ. Sheâd gotten used to this over the years, sitting back, watching other peopleâs lives. Whether it was her parents, or Kieranâs revolving door of girlfriends, or Mandy and Steve, or her mates, she always seemed to live vicariously through them. Listening to their various triumphs and frequent tales of woe. Giving advice. Sometimes solicited and other times not. Watching as they coupled, uncoupled and even re-coupled. Sheâd had her own occasional dramas over the years but most were fleeting. Kayleigh had become accustomed to being in the passenger seat. She savoured the irony. Not much had changed, she thought. Only she could find herself in a relationship that she didnât fully understand and couldnât quite define. In love with a man who canât even say the word âloveâ without coming out in a rash and whom she often felt was somewhere, just beyond her reach, even when he was right there, by her side.
 A young couple in the corner were engrossed with each other. They couldnât be much more than sixteen. Holding hands across the table and leaning over for frequent kisses. She couldnât help but long for those days. When anything and everything felt possible and love was now, real and intense. When youâd yet to be damaged, or humiliated. When you didnât know how much it could hurt. When you werenât afraid. The days before âitâs complicatedâ was an optional status. It all felt so much easier back then. Suddenly a chiming sound emanated from her handbag. Reaching across to the seat beside her, she took out her Blackberry. The message read, âHi. What you up to? Iâm at Big Bobâs with Jim. Heâs not as much fun to share me rind with. I miss you. John xxxxxâ. Kayleigh smiled and sighed. She missed him too but couldnât help wondering whether they were actually missing the same things. For her, it was the presence of the man who made her laugh like no one else ever had. Who was kind and thoughtful and made her feel safe and whole. She missed his smile and his laugh and those blue eyes that sparkled with mischief but which she sensed also held an inner sadness she could never quite fathom. She missed that feeling she got every time she saw him. Those teenage butterflies in her stomach. That sense of excitement. That absolute conviction that this was the man she loved. Was it the same for him? Two months down the line, she still wasnât sure. She felt awkward about being so frank and having raised the whole âsex thingâ with Mandy. It was private after all but she just felt so confused. Maybe she was being daft and it was actually a good thing that he wanted to take it slow. He was showing her some respect. God knows, that made a refreshing change but that was just it. It was always about her figuring out what he intended, what he wanted, what he thought was for the best. What about what she wanted? Where did that fit in? When was that considered? It felt as though she was always trying to work out a way to deal with his choices, to accept them. Trying to make his decisions about them and not only about him. To pretend that sheâd somehow played a part in it all, when sheâd just had to like it or lump it. Her uncertainty caused her to reflect that perhaps the absence of sex, was less about desire, or a lack of it and more about trying to avoid intimacy of any meaningful kind. To retain just enough room, to allow him to run for the exit when it all got too much. Whatever the case, John continued to dictate the pace. To keep them firmly in the slow lane and she remained so desperate to cling to the hope of something more, eventually, when he was ready, that she just went along for the ride. The thought of that exquisite pain of heartbreak, preventing her from making any real effort to articulate her own wishes, or her increasing fears. Now it felt like they werenât so much âtaking it slowâ anymore, as stalled and instead of being confident about their eventual destination, she just felt lost. Mandy would say she was over-thinking it all and no good ever came of that. She was probably right but she was also right that they really needed to talk and as much as she feared it, Kayleigh could feel that conversation getting ever closer.
 It was only when she heard another chime from her Blackberry that she realised she hadnât responded to his initial message. Heâd sent another, âKayleigh, is everything OK? Where are you? John xxxxxâ. Shaking herself from her thoughts and seeing his obvious concern, she immediately replied, âSorry. Iâm at The Rock. Just picking up a few things. Iâll call you later. K xxâ Johnâs reply was swift, âIs Mandy with you?â âNo. Just meâ. âOh. OK. I was worried when you didnât reply.â âYeah, sorry. Iâve only just sat downâ âBuy anything nice?â âJust some bits and bobsâ. âFeel like modelling any of those bits and bobs for me?â Kayleigh stared at the message, stunned. This was definitely a new development. Heâd never been this bold before. She began to second guess herself. Maybe she was reading too much into it. She decided to play it off, âUnless Youâve got a shoe fetish you havenât told me about, I think youâd be a bit bored.â She added a winking emoji. He replied within seconds, âDepends what youâre wearing with the shoes....or not wearingâ, he saw her winking emoji and raised her one with heart shaped eyes. Kayleigh was getting suspicious that all was not as it seemed, âJim if this is you and youâve grabbed Johnâs phone, just know heâll kick your arse!â Within seconds her phone rang. âHey. Is that you John?â âYeah itâs me. You thought it was Jim!?â âI thought it might be yes. It didnât sound like you. Whatâs that noise in the background? You outside.â âYeah, I stepped out of Big Bobâs to call you. Didnât want to have a private conversation in front of Jim. I mean heâs me bessie mate âan all but heâs mouth almighty.â Whatâs going on John?â âI didnât know anything was. Frankly, I could ask the same of you! Have I done something to piss you off?â âWhy do ya say that!?â âI donât know. Just a vibe Iâve been gettingâ. âA vibe?â âYeah, you know, a feelinâ. You just seemed a bit stand-offish in your texts today. A bit distant.â âDidnât come running like usual eh?â It was out of her mouth before sheâd thought of the consequences. She was upping the ante. Like a massive cliff edge looming in the distance, they could both see danger on the horizon but it seemed both were powerless to avoid the impending doom. âWhat the Hell are you talking about Kayleigh?â Well if Iâve been distant, youâve been bloody weird!â John began to raise his voice above the sound of the passing traffic, âWhat do you mean ��weirdâ?â âI mean, since when do you want me to âmodelâ for ya!?â âIâm a bloke! I have a drop dead gorgeous woman in my life. Am I not allowed to flirt with ya all of a suddenâ!?
 Of course, more meaningless, idle âflirtingâ. What else could it be? More switching on the ignition, with no intention of going anywhere. Christ, sheâd had enough of this pathetic crap. âYou know what? I donât get you John! One minute youâre sending me home like were a couple of teenagers and Iâve got a bloody curfew and the next minute you want me to model me bits and bobs for ya! How the Hell am I supposed to read this!? I just donât know whatâs going on with ya.â âI was just tryinâ to have some fun with me girlfriend! I just wanted to tease ya a bitâ. âIsnât that what you have been doing since we got together? Teasing me.â âWhat do ya mean?â âI mean Iâm confused John. Weâre two months in to this âthingâ and I have no clue what weâre doing or where weâre going. One minute youâre calling me your girlfriend and snogging me face off on your sofa and the next you act like Iâm some sort of guilty secret. âGive over, weâre at work. Give over, someone might see us. Give over, I havenât told Rose about us yet. Give over, not in front of Jim. Iâm not thirteen anymore John. Iâm not looking for a âlittle handy-holdyâ boyfriend. Youâre clearly not thirteen anymore either.â John immediately got the implication and it stung. âI love you John. I really do. Incidentally thatâs a word you still canât bring yourself to use.â At this point her voice was beginning to crack with emotion. âMaybe you were right John. Maybe I donât know you after all. I canât see that changing any time soon because you wonât let me. You wonât let me get close enough to you, emotionally or physically. I told you that I wonât wait forever.â John suddenly said, âDonât do this Kayleigh, pleaseâ. âDo what John? Tell you how I feel? I need to think about all this and so do you. This should feel natural John. It should be growing and developing. Letâs face it. It isnât. We should be comfortable together. I always thought we were, up to now. I donât know. Maybe we were only ever meant to be âCar Share Buddiesâ. Maybe weâve taken this as far as it can go.â John felt a sharp pain in his chest every bit as acute, if not more so than the one heâd felt in that traffic jam a mere two months before, âPlease donât walk away again Kayleigh. I just need some time. I told you that.â âI donât think this is about âtimeâ John. I could give you all the time in the world. I think what you want is a âget out clauseâ. Anyway, I donât want to have this conversation on a mobile in Costa. Iâm gonna go nowâ. âYouâre just gonna say all that, kick me in the balls yet again and not give me a chance to give my side!? Why do you keep running away from me!?â âI just need space to thinkâ. Johnâs reply was blunt and to the point, âBollocks to that! We need to talk. Iâm not giving up on you, on us.â âJust like the song says eh John?â âI thought you loved that songâ. âI do John but Iâm beginning to realise that sometimes love...isnât enough. Iâll see ya.â With that, she hung up, wiped her eyes hoping no other patrons had spotted her tears, she then grabbed her shopping bags and headed for the car park.
 John walked back into Big Bobâs like a man who���d just had the weight of the world dropped on his shoulders from a very great height. It was becoming an all too familiar feeling. Jim was exchanging a well worn punchline with Janet as he paid for the Fat Boys, âSo I said âKing Prawn Ballsâ not âKing Kongâs Balls!â Janet laughed awkwardly. Jim turned with a broad smile, proudly brandishing his new âI Love Fat Boysâ baseball cap. âLook at this! Janet punched me card! I got the cap. Iâm stylinâ it out, donât ya think?â Jim twirled and modelled like a pro, even throwing in a few shoulder jerks. Suddenly he began to realise that he had a less than appreciative audience, as a sullen John approached him, âChrist! What the Hells happened now? You look like youâve just lost a tenner and found 10p.â âI think Iâve just lost much more than that. Listen Jim I need a massive favourâ. âIf I can I will, you know thatâ. âI need you to take me to Bury.â âWhat? Now!?â âYeah now. Mate, do this for me and Iâll owe you for the rest of my life.â It took less than a second for Jim to note his friends obvious and very real distress. He immediately replied as he moved to the door, âCome on. Get in the car. Bury here we come.â
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Beautiful work
"It was so obvious that she had been deeply in love with Sidney Parker. Further, it took little observation or understanding to realise that the feeling was entirely mutual. He was distinctly handsome, with a powerful presence, charisma, energy and vitality. Together, they were captivating. While in her innocence, Charlotte may not have understood the full extent of the impulses flowing within her, there could be little doubt that this was a young couple who would love with a passion and enjoy each other greatly."
#sandition spoilers#sanditon finale#sanditon itv#sanditon 2019#sanditon#sidlotteedit#sidlotte#sidney x charlotte#charlotte x sidney#sidney parker
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The Nearness of You
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2ZxpGs6
by OverTheRainbow2
The prospect of two weddings brings the past, present and future in to stark focus for two families but can it mend two shattered hearts?
Words: 2622, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Fandoms: Sanditon (TV 2019), Sanditon - Jane Austen
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: F/M
Characters: Mary Parker (Sanditon), Tom Parker (Sanditon), Eliza Campion, Arthur Parker, Lord Babington (Sanditon), Mr. Crowe (Sanditon)
Relationships: Charlotte Heywood/Sidney Parker
Additional Tags: Angst with a Happy Ending
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2ZxpGs6
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Over the Rainbow II đâ¨
#krakendice#overtherainbow2#overtherainbowii#goldnumbers#diceset#rainbowdice#pridedice#multicolor#layered#colorful#polyhedraldice#dnd#rpgdice#mydice#dicecollection#translucent#nerdgems
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Life in the Slow Lane Chapter 4 by OvertheRainbow2
Life In The Slow Lane Part 4: A New Direction
 Thirty minutes after his declaration, John and Kayleigh were seated on the side of her single bed, arms wrapped around each other, while Kayleigh continued to intermittently sob, sniff and ruin the sleeve of Johnâs shirt. Sheâd also made her way through half a box of Kleenex Ultra Soft and John was becoming increasingly concerned that at this rate, she was at significant risk of dehydration. âSeriously Kayleigh. Youâve got to stop cryinââ âI know! I just canât! Every time I look at you. No oneâs ever said anything like that to me before. It was so beautiful.â With that she started crying yet again. âYeah, well I meant every word. I love ya. Iâm also really hoping youâll stop blubbin long enough for me to a) get the feeling back in me right arm, b) avoid the necessity to dry clean this shirt, c) prevent flood damage to the carpet and d) let me kiss ya. That finally made her smile, âI like the sound of option dâ. âI thought you might.â The kiss started out as a tentative and tender effort to reacquaint their lips but as was often the case between them, it didnât take long for it to become more of a heated exchange. Soon they were reclining on the bed, their limbs desperately trying to find the optimum position, like a highly competitive game of Twister. Forgetting that the scope of his performance was somewhat limited by the venue, John attempted to roll onto his back, bringing Kayleigh with him, only to crash unceremoniously into the tiny bedside table, upending the alarm clock and bedside lamp. âChrist! Me elbow! Mother of God woman! You should come with a health warning.â âNever mind your elbow! What about me lamp!? Anyway, you were the one attempting gymnastics.â Moment lost, Kayleigh clambered over John to survey the damage and pick up the scattered items from the floor.Â
 Having narrowly avoided catastrophe, John was now comfortably reclining on the bed with a somewhat smug expression on his face. He couldnât help but grin as he admired Kayleighâs pert posterior as she bent over in front of him. âI donât know if anyoneâs ever told you this but youâve got one hell of acute little ass Miss Kitson.â âJohn!â âWhat!? You do. Itâs a statement of fact. The idea of that sleazy get Rick puttinâ his hands anywhere near you, pisses me off in ways you canât imagine. How Iâm gonna get through this wedding without lampinâ him, Iâve no idea.â Kayleigh found herself blushing at his cheeky compliment. He noticed, âYouâre also very sexy when you blush.â Sensing this was heading for, as yet, uncharted territory and curious to discover the exact destination, she decided to play along. âAm I now?â âYeah. You are.â âYou know, one of these days youâre going to have to put your money where your mouth is John Redmond.â âWhat the Hell does that mean?â âIt means youâre all talk and no action. All mouth and no trousers.â âOh Really.â âYeah really.â âYou talkinâ about Rick because if you are, let me tell you, no one touches my woman. If he wants to keep his wedding tackle intact, heâll keep his hands to himself from now on.â âOoh, here comes the caveman. Your woman?â âWell, Yeah. Thatâs what you are...arenât ya?â Kayleigh drew herself up to the entirety of her 5ft 2 ins, âI am a woman John.â âI know you areâ. âAnd even though I can stand up for myself, I do love it that you get all, protective of me. I just think itâs also important that you understand that a woman has needs. This woman has needs.â
 John began to look sheepish. âYeah but Iâm guessinâ they donât include some lecherous bastard takinâ liberties!â âNo. They do not.â âListen, I know how you feel and Iâm not averse to fulfilling those âneedsâ. Honest Iâm not.â Kayleigh scoffed, âYeah right! Iâll believe that when I see it. If I made a serious move on you right now, youâd run a mile. Youâd be off down those stairs faster than Usain Bolt.â âWhat makes you so sure?â âExperience. With you, itâs so far and no further. Iâve heard every excuse in the book. âLetâs not rush thingsâ, âOh heck, is that the time? Weâve got an early start in the morningâ. My personal favourite is, âPat next doorâs bringing back me orbital sanderâ. Youâre hot and cold more often than a dodgy boiler John Redmond. Itâs like that Victoria Wood song. Iâm saying âLetâs do it!â and I half expect you to say âMe motherâs sent a note to say you must excuse me.â John was smiling, âDâya want me to beat you on the bottom with a Womanâs Weekly then?â Kayleigh couldnât help but chuckle, âYouâre missing the point!â âIâm not. Believe me, I understand. Youâre frustrated that we havenât....you know...â âOh I know! The word is sex John and frankly if you canât even say it, Iâm more than a bit concerned about youâre ability to actually do it!â âHey! I can do it. Trust me. Iâve had no complaintsâ âWell I wouldnât know, would I? Should I check the reviews on TripAdvisor?â âDonât be smartâ. âIâm not beinâ âsmartâ. Thatâs exactly what Iâve got to do, trust ya. Iâve got to trust that Iâm not completely wasting my time here. That it isnât the case that you love me but youâre just not âin loveâ with me.â The turn of phrase immediately caused him to sit up in bed. The atmosphere changing almost immediately. âIs this about Charlotte?â âNo. Itâs not about Charlotte, itâs about us.â âThen why are you digging up the past?â âIâm not!â âYou are! I told you months ago that was one of the reasons why I broke up with her. You seriously think thatâs how I feel about you just because we havenât slept together yet!?â âI donât know what to think John.â âMother of Pearl! I tell you I love you. More than anyone Iâve ever known and you translate that to mean I love you like a mate but otherwise Iâm not that fussed!? How about when weâre together? Itâs not exactly as though thereâs no passion there. Iâve got the bruises to prove it! In case you somehow missed it, I fancy you like mad!â âThatâs the point!â âOh, thereâs a point to this? Thank Fuck!â âNow youâre just being a shit!â âOh, Iâm a shit now, am I!?â With that John got up and headed to the door, âWhere are you goinâ!?â âTo wait for you to cool down and to be a shit in the comfort of my own home.â âFine. Sod off then. All you ever do is avoid the issue.â âWhat bloody issue!?â âWhy you donât want to have sex with me?!â âI do want to have sex with you!â âSo why do you keep fobbinâ me off?!â âTED2!â
 It hung in the air between them for several seconds. Kayleigh looked both confused and aghast and John looked mortified. After what felt like an eternity, the silence was interrupted by a knock at the door, followed by Mandyâs voice, unfamiliar and a strange combination of 1940âs telephonist and vaguely patronising flight attendant, âEh, sorry to disturb but could I suggest lowering the volume slightly? If I could avoid the necessity for Sex Education with two primary schoolers over the Sunday roast that would be very much appreciated. Thank you.â As they heard her footsteps retreat back down the stairs, Kayleigh tentatively re-opened the conversation, âTed 2? What the hell does he have to do with our sex life?â âYou really fancied him.â Kayleigh was bewildered by this random statement of the blatantly obvious, âEh, Yeah. Iâm not sure youâd find a heterosexual woman with a pulse, who wouldnât. I also really fancy Jake Gyllenhaal and Bradley Cooper and if I was ever going to reassess my sexuality, you know that BeyoncĂŠ would definitely get it. Iâve got about as much chance with them John, as I do with Ted 2. Itâs a fantasy. If Iâd wanted to talk to him, unleash my inner cougar and probably make an absolute bloody fool of myself, I would have done it. I didnât. Thatâs because sometimes itâs just nice to dream but know that dream will never be a reality. The truth is, you donât really want it to be. Especially when reality is so much better. Iâve never had much luck when it comes to romance, you know that. I was beginning to think that it wasnât going to happen for me. That happiness was something Iâd always dream about but Iâd never know. Then I put my name down for a bloody company car sharing scheme, checked the notice board and Cath Hilton had just helped me win the lottery of life. You came along. You. With all your quirks and imperfections, with all your wonderful and infuriating. Youâre my dream come true John Redmondâ. Despite himself, he felt teary. As was his habit, he desperately tried to pass it off, âIf Iâm your dream come true, you mustnât have much of an imagination.â âOh youâd be amazed.â She gave him a wicked grin and winked. Despite her reassurances though, John still looked subdued. âLet me tell you exactly what my dream always was. It was to meet a man who made me laugh until I cried. Who didnât bore me to death. Who listened to my stories, treated me with respect and made me feel valued and special. Who didnât just see me as some ditsy girl. Someone who was kind and made me feel safe. A man I could love so much it made my heart ache and who I knew loved me too. One that I could actually see myself building a life with. Throw in beautiful, twinkly blue eyes and the loveliest smile, a cuddle and a takeaway on a Sunday night and there it is. My idea of perfection.â âWhat about a six pack and a tight ass?â âWhat about them?â âIsnât that what you want too?â âThatâs what all this is about isnât it? You feel self-conscious.â His sudden fascination with the bedroom carpet said it all. âJohn. Look at me.â Tentatively he looked up. âI feel nervous too. I keep thinkinâ about me muffin top and Cagney and Lacey arenât quite the formidable crime fighting duo they once were.â John smiled, âWhy do you think I started going to boot camp? I wanted you to see me at my best.â âYouâre always at your best and you always will be. Youâre the loveliest, most beautiful woman Iâve ever known and every day youâre more gorgeous than the next.â âSee that? Right there? Thatâs better than any six pack and thatâs why I love you. Youâre not looking for me to change, or be something Iâm not and never will be and Iâm not looking for you to do that either. Iâm not interested in some buffed up gym bunny. I donât want Ted 2, I want John 1.â âDo ya, really?â She moved seductively towards him, âYes I do. I Really, really, really do.â With that she kissed him. This time it felt so much less desperate and urgent and so much more relaxed, yet with an intensity that was overwhelming. Within minutes their hands were touching and exploring, with a renewed confidence and the lure of the tiny single bed was immense.Â
 This time it was Kayleigh who called time on their passion. âJohn?â She gasped. âHmm?â Came a distracted reply from the region of her neck. âDonât hate me but I think we should stop.â He did, immediately but for a moment he didnât move. Slowly he lifted his head. âYouâve got to be kidding me.â She began to panic at his frustrated expression, âI know. Itâs just...â Suddenly, he broke into a reassuring smile, âDonât worry. Iâm just winding you up. I know what you mean. I donât want our first time to be in your sisterâs box room with walls like paper, a bed designed for a ten year old and the prospect of your niece and nephew walkin in on us at any moment. Not to mention your brother in law and my best mate just outside the window and your sister cookin a roast dinner in the kitchen downstairs. I mean, a little bit of distraction can sometimes be useful in these situations but thereâs distraction and then thereâs bloody off putting.â She whispered in his ear, âWeâll have our moment....soon. I promiseâ. âToo damn right we will! Do you have plans for next weekend?â âNope, nothing in the diary.â âWell, how about when I pick you up on Friday morning, you bring some clothes and whatever other bits you need and stay with me for a few days? Weâll do whatever you want to do. Go out for dinner, or stay in and grab a takeaway, watch a DVD, or go to the cinema. Whatever you feel like you wanna do. No pressure. Just you and me....and if during that time Cagney and Lacey decide they want to let me help them with their inquiries, Iâd definitely be up for that.â Kayleigh grinned, âOh youâd be up for that would you?â John chuckled, âI absolutely would. Those two still know how to get their man and I can tell ya, Iâd be more than happy to be detained at their pleasure.â Kayleigh laughed long and hard, âYouâre such an idiot but I love ya to bits.â âRight back at ya gorgeous. I take it thatâs a yes.â âOf course it is!â The heart shaped lamp on the windowsill suddenly caught Johnâs attention. âStill up there I see.â âYep and itâs goinâ nowhere. Iâm keepinâ that lamp always. Even when it doesnât work anymore, itâs stayinâ with me.â âYou really did like it eh?â âYou donât get it do ya? Thatâs when I knew.â âKnew what?â âThat I loved you.â âWhen I bought you a plastic novelty lamp!?â âIt wasnât so much the lamp. It was what it meant. You could have bought me anything. A gift voucher, some flowers, or a bottle of Prosecco but you didnât. You remembered something I said to you weeks before, in passing, about a heart shaped lamp that I liked and instead of forgetting about it, or just ignoring me, like most blokes would have done, you actually listened to me, you heard me and you cared. You held on to what I said and you chased it down to Preston and you bought it for me, just to make me happy.â By now they both had tears in their eyes. âAnd that is why that lamp is staying with me.â John instantly replied, âWith us. Itâs stayinâ with us. Forever.â
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Life in the Slow Lane Chapter 3 by OvertheRainbow
She hated arguments. Mainly because she was completely rubbish at them. She couldnât do confrontation and inevitably ended up in tears within minutes. This time was no exception. It didnât help that her journey back to Mandyâs had been to the soundtrack of Forever FMâs âSunday Love Connection With DJ Danny Loveâ. The whole thing was cheesier than an extra large Margarita Pizza, with stuffed crust, cheese bites, cheesy garlic bread and maybe a fondue thrown in for good measure. Sheâd held it together through Van Halenâs âWhy Canât This Be Love?â but by the time the late great Whitney Houston had finished belting out the first chorus of âAll The Man That I Needâ, played with âAll my love alwaysâ from Leanne in Oldham to Richie in Southport, she was a blubbing mess. That it triggered her memory of John, on their first official âdateâ, telling her about his dedication to her, that sheâd missed by moments, really didnât help her situation. Try as she might, she found it impossible to be angry with him. Frustrated yes but angry, no. Even if he could never bring himself to fully open up and give her any more than they currently had, even if he could never actually say the word âloveâ, preferring to make hints and coded references, even if this âthingâ was never going to work out, even if he was destined to break her heart beyond any and all repair, it was his to break. It always would be and that was that.Â
 As she finally parked up in front of the house that never really felt like home, Kayleigh took a moment to compose herself. Steve was in his usual location, doing exactly what he always did. Rain, hail or shine. Mandy was on the front step next to a large ladder, looking exasperated, gesticulating wildly and intermittently pointing up at the Christmas lights, which had been hanging precariously from the roof for the better part of a year. As Mandyâs tone varied from a ânot in front of the neighboursâ whisper, to a socially acceptable outdoor voice, to a full on bollocking, Kayleigh caught the general gist of the conversation, even from inside the car. It was best summed up by Mandyâs final, very audible declaration, âYouâre a useless dickhead!â Mandy never had any qualms about venting a sense of anger in her relationship. Throughout the entire tirade, Steve had remained his usual sanguine self. Saying nothing and wiping a spanner on his oil stained shirt. Sheâd never fully understood the dynamic between her sister and Steve. Mandy had the Kitson feisty gene. Steve was utterly passive to the point of comatose. She wasnât entirely sure how her sister hadnât strangled him, or died of boredom by now and yet, somehow it just worked for them. She knew how this latest incident would play out. Steve would leave Mandy to âsimmer downâ, then eventually fix the lights, at his own pace and in his own time. Heâd give Mandy a cuddle, whisper something doubtless filthy in her ear, sheâd giggle and smack him on the backside and before long, theyâd be disappearing up the stairs. Kayleigh would settle on the sofa with a brew, open her iPad, load up Netflix and put her headphones on. All while contemplating yet another night alone in that tiny box room with a cross trainer, 36 pairs of shoes, a set of Babyliss Crimpers and a plastic heart shaped lamp for company. At least now she could add in another pair of shoes, yippee. Steve tapped on the passenger side window, âYou gettinâ out sometime today or what?â âYou fixinâ those lights sometime this year, you lazy sod?â came her terse reply as she opened the drivers side door. âDonât you start. Iâve already had it off your sisterâ. âI know. I heard. Iâm guessinâ they could probably hear it in Dundee!â âYeah well, Mandyâs got no volume control.â âSheâs got more bloody patience than Iâd have, thatâs for sure. You said you were takinâ them down the day after New Years! Theyâve been hanging up there like an afterthought ever since. They almost came down entirely after that bad weather last month.â By now Kayleigh had retrieved her bags from the car and was heading up the driveway. Steve was still surveying their âfestive light displayâ. âI donât know. Maybe we should leave âem as they are. They look like...what do they call it?⌠shabby chicâ. âThey look like shabby shit. Mandyâs right. Get âem fixedâ, with that Kayleigh went inside, leaving Steve to resume his avoidance of the inevitable.
 As she entered the hallway she could hear Mandy ânegotiatingâ with Chloe and Alfie over the eveningâs dinner options, âWeâre having a roast!â âWe want chicken dippers!â âI want a fortnight in St Lucia, all inclusive but itâs not gonna happen.â âItâs not fair!â âNo youâre right. Unlike many others, youâre going to bed tonight with full stomachs and a roof over your heads. It really isnât fair.â âYeah but we wonât have chicken dippers!â âYour suffering is noted. Iâll call Simon Cowell, see if One Direction want to reform for a benefit gig.â âSo, can we have them then?â âEh...let me think about it...no.â âMuuummmmâ âChlooooeeeee. Both of you, zip it. Weâre having a roast dinner. Any more complaints and itâll be with extra veggies and no Yorkshireâs.â That appeared to do the trick and the pair retreated in defeat. Kayleigh smiled at her exasperated sister. âOne of those days?â âLetâs just say it didnât improve after you left. Sometimes it feels as though Iâm tryinâ to manage three kids.â Looking at her bags Mandy asked, âDâya get what you wanted?â Now there was a question. âI got some shoes and a couple of bitsâ. âWell then. Letâs see!â Kayleigh produced her purchases to much ooing and ahhing from her sister. âThose shoes will make your legs look incredible! Youâll knock John dead!â Kayleighâs reaction, or rather lack of it, spoke volumes. âOh no. Please tell me you havenât gone and binned him off.â âNo! Course not! We just had a difficult conversation earlier.â âDefine âdifficultââ. âI sort of, off loaded on him. I was feeling frustrated and I did exactly what I always hate. I just let it all build up and then got stroppy with him. I donât think he had a clue what was going on, I didnât even give him a chance and it all just spiralled out of control. Iâm ruining everything!â Suddenly Kayleigh burst into tears. Mandy immediately rushed over and embraced her sister, âAw, sweetheart.â As she offered what comfort she could amid the loud sobs, Alfie wandered through the hall and declared, âSee! Even Auntie Kayleigh wants chicken dippers.â Mandyâs response was swift, âSheâs crying because Iâve just told her whatâs going to happen if you mention them again!â Kayleigh found herself laughing despite herself. âListen, Iâve got a roast on. Needless to say, our resident food critics approve. Itâll be an hour or so yet. Why donât you have a lie down. Iâll give you a shout when itâs ready.â âThanks Mand.â âYou really do need to talk to him Kayleigh. This isnât fair on either of you. You need to explain your feelings and try to get some answers and he needs a chance to understand you and give his side of things.â âIâll give him a call after dinner.â âGood idea. It would be such a shame to throw it all away when the two of you just need to get on the same page.â âYouâre right sis. I canât lose him because of this. You know, talkingâs always been so easy for us. Weâve never done awkward silences. Now weâve found the one topic thatâs guaranteed to be a conversation killer and itâs the one thing we actually need to talk about.â âWell, get some rest and then take on the unspeakable Wonder Woman.â âIâll fetch me golden lasso and cuffs.â âNow thatâll definitely do the trick.â Mandy grinned and Kayleigh headed up the stairs in the hope that a quick snooze might help her formulate a plan.
 âChrist! Take it easy Lewis Hamilton!â John exclaimed, as he swayed precariously in the front passenger seat. âI thought you wanted to get there quickly, Miss Daisy!â âI do! Iâd just rather it wasnât in a bloody body bag.â âCan I assume weâre not heading to Bury for you to have a long overdue booty call.â âNot unless it involves her sticking her boot up me arse.â âWell, if thatâs how you like it. I make no judgement. Each to their own.â John gave Jim some vicious side eye. âWhereâs your sense of humour these days?â âIâm just finding it hard to laugh at the general fuck up that my life has become.â âI thought we sorted this back at Big Bobâs. You love her, you want her, you just need to get over feelinâ awkward and you can crack on.â âYou make it sound so easyâ. âIt is John. You keep on makinâ it complicated and you may as well forget it. Have you ever actually told Kayleigh how you feel about her?â âShe knows. Sheâs got to.â âHow? She a mind reader on the sly?â âI wrote her a song for Christâs sake! It was all about hearts and journeys and colours and shit and I meant every word of it too. What more does she want!?â âHearts and journeys and colours?â âYeah, you know, she walked away with me heart, made my journey through life lonely and turned my world to colour from black and white, that sort of thing.â âYouâre no Gary Barlow mate.â âThatâs not what she said.â âYeah, well sheâs your number one fan.â âYou make her sound like a friggin stalker!â âHas it ever occurred to you that maybe she doesnât want theatrics and riddles. Maybe she just wants to hear you say the word.â âWhat word?â âLOVE! You bloody idiot!â Why does that matter so much!â âBecause itâs a small word thatâs about as big as it gets. It doesnât mean âIikeâ, it doesnât mean âfancyâ, it doesnât mean âYouâll do for now until something better shows upâ. It means, youâre feeling it where it matters, where it counts and not just between your legs! It says you could hurt me...maybe even more than I could ever hurt you. Thatâs whatâs freakinâ you out. Isnât it?â John sighed, âYeah. Yeah it is. Iâd never cried over a woman until Kayleigh. I mean, Iâve been sad before, Iâve even gone off me food.â âJesus! When were that!?â âOy!â âSorryâ. âI know now that she can hurt me, more than Iâve ever been hurt before, because she didâ. âNow thereâs a lyric. Seriously though, do you really think that by just not sayinâ it, you can somehow not feel it. Do you think itâll protect you? Cause if you think thatâs the case, Iâve got one question for you mate...howâs that workinâ out for you?â John put his head back against the headrest and momentarily closed his eyes. It was a silent answer, which somehow spoke volumes.Â
 The rest of their journey was spent in companionable silence, interspersed with occasional instructions on which direction to take, from John. Finally, they arrived on the familiar road that led to Mandyâs house, or as John always thought, to Kayleigh. His heart and his brain were currently competing in a race to the finish that neither seemed willing to concede. âItâs up here on the right. Number 25. It might have a green gazebo.â âA green gazebo!â âYeah. Her sisterâs fella Steveâs into fixinâ bikes.â âThat still doesnât explain the gazebo.â âFuck the gazebo! Itâs not even up!â âAlright John! Calm down.â âSorry, itâs here with the shitty Christmas Lights. Right, this is it.â âDâya want me to come with you or wait here?â âChrist! I hadnât thought about that. I donât know how long Iâll be. She might kick me out before I can get a word in edge ways. Either that or Iâll be here for ages. Itâll be a feast or a famine.â âWell, letâs take it as it comes shall we? You need me to make meself scarce for a bit, Iâll find a Maccie Dâs. You can text me when you want me to come back.â âCheers mate.â âIs that Steve?â âYeah. Heâs soundâ. Steve was already waving at John. John and Jim both got out to greet him, âAlright Steve?â âHey John mate. I wasnât expecting to see you today!â Furtively looking back at an amused Jim, John attempted a casual reply, âWell, Yeah, we, eh, happened to be in the area and I just thought Iâd stop by and say hello to Kayleigh. She about by any chance?â âYeah, sheâs just back from the shops. Front doorâs on the snib. Go on in.â âThanks pal. This is my mate Jim by the way. Jim, this is Steve.â âHow do mate.â âHow do. Nice bike. Ya canât wack a Triumph. Johnâs Dad were into his bikes if I remember rightly. He had a Triumph at one point and...aw what were it called? John! What was the name of that bike your Dad had?â John was already heading for the front door as he replied, âA Land Devil. Steve knows. I gave him some bits from the garageâ. Steve replied, âThat were very decent of you by the wayâ. âNo botherâ. With that John disappeared inside as Steve and Jim stood awkwardly like two spare parts at a wedding. Suddenly Steve produced a flask, âFancy a brew mate?â âDonât mind if I do.â Steve poured the tea into the plastic cup at the top of the flask, then refilled his Robocop mugâ. âNice mug.â âThanksâ. Steve looked up to Kayleighâs bedroom. Jim watched his gaze and followed it upwards in the direction of a window with a heart shaped lamp at its centre. âHe in the dog house again?â âHow did you guess?â âShe gets in a right mood when sheâs pissed off with himâ. Jim sighed before ruminating, âI think they just need a good talk.â âYou ask me they need a bloody good shag!â For a second nothing was said as the two men simply looked at each other, in silence, before they both simultaneously broke into laughter and toasted each other with their mugs. Steve reached down into an ancient biscuit tin and brandishing it in front of Jim enquired, âHob Nob?â With that, the male bond was firmly created.Â
 John announced his arrival by calling out, âHello! Itâs Johnâ. Mandy was in the kitchen up to her neck in carrots. She was shocked to see him but couldnât deny that she was also delighted for her sister, âJohn Redmond! As I live and breathe. What brings you to the bright lights of Bury? Could it be a certain red head by any chanceâ. Offering her a kiss on the cheek John smiled, âHey Mandy. You rumbled me. She accepting visitors?â âSheâs having a lie down upstairs.â âAny chance I could....?â âIâm not sure if I want you to finish that sentenceâ. âI just want to talk to her Mandy. We need to sort a few things.â âDo me a favour. Try to sort them in a way that doesnât disturb the neighbours or traumatise the kids.â John smiled and looked suitably sheepish. âUp the stairs, first on the right.â âThanks Mandyâ. âOh and John, do ya want a bit of roast?â âIâd love to but me mate Jimâs here with me. Heâs outside with Steve.â âHe can join us too if he likes. Iâve got half a cow âere.â âThanks Mandy, youâre a good âum.â With that, she smiled and retreated to the kitchen as John took a deep breath, climbed the stairs and knocked on Kayleighâs bedroom door. Sheâd been lying on the bed with her headphones on listening to an old eighties mix tape. She hadnât heard the knock at the door, so when it opened and Johnâs face peaked in, she literally shrieked, âJOHN!â Misty immediately started barking from the back garden. Only Kayleigh could reach that octave. She pulled her headphones off and immediately jumped off the bed. John stood in the doorway, his eardrums struggling to recover. âWhat are you doing here?!â âWell. I remembered itâs Sunday and I thought you might like a cuddle and a Chinese....or a cuddle and Mandyâs roast...or maybe just a cuddle.â Kayleigh stood so still, that he began to be concerned about what was to come, then without warning, she threw her arms around him and promptly burst into tears. âOh John. Iâm sooo sorry. I was so horrible to you. I didnât mean to be such a nasty cow.â âHey, sweetheart. Donât get upset. Itâs ok. Itâs ok. You werenât a nasty cow. You donât have a nasty bone in your lovely little body. Donât cry love.â âI just love you so much Johnâ. âLook at me.â With that Kayleigh pulled back and faced him, wiping the tears from her eyes. âIâve never said this to anyone before and itâs because Iâve never meant it until now. I should have said it to you weeks ago. The truth is, I probably knew it months ago...but Iâm absolutely bloody certain of it now...I love you too Kayleigh Kitson. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love anyone or anything in this world and Iâm scared. Iâm terrified because for the first time in my life Iâve realised that something was missing and that something was you. If I lose you, I go back to who I was before and now I know that who I was before wasnât complete. I had a Kayleigh Kitson shaped hole in my heart and in my life and I donât want to go back. Not now, not ever.â...and there it was. Heâd finally said it.
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Fanfiction Updates!
Just thought Iâd put together this little, post-finale update to let you all know how the world of Car Share Fanfiction is going.
Iâve had a handful of lovely private messages asking me about more post-finale fic and what Iâll next be doing, so I thought Iâd let you know my fic schedule ahead of time and some other updates.
The Longest Time - This fic still has about 3-4 chapters to go up. Hopefully a chapter will be posted over the weekend!
I then DO plan on doing a âRick & Donnaâs wedding ficâ like everyone else, LOL so thatâll be after that.
Then I have plans for a couple of other fics which take place further down the road in John & Kayleighâs relationship.
So, no sign of me stopping any time soon...
AND OTHER FANFICTION NEWS...
There are some post-finale fics up at AO3, including Thinking Twice by littleorphanannie and The Christmas Wedding by LauraNicoleXx
And the BIG announcement....
TOMORROW I will be posting, on this very blog, a NEW fanfic by OvertheRainbow2, author of the fabulous Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Itâs a FAB, saucy, post-finale fic I think everyone will love!
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Broken Things
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2rDTA18
by OverTheRainbow2
âItâs amazing how someone can break your heart and you can still love them with all the little pieces.â â Ella Harper
Words: 2368, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Fandoms: Sanditon - Jane Austen, Sanditon (TV 2019)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: F/M
Characters: Charlotte Heywood, Sidney Parker, Tom Parker (Sanditon), Mary Parker (Sanditon), Georgiana Lambe, Esther Denham, Eliza Campion
Relationships: Charlotte Heywood/Sidney Parker
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2rDTA18
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The amazing Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow fic is now on Ao3! Please do check it out and leave kudos or comments so we can encourage OvertheRainbow to write more! :D
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What Never Goes Away
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2P2SUMh
by OverTheRainbow2
Sidney and Charlotte are struggling to cope with their new realities. Can they simply bury the past? Or will they find that some things can never be laid to rest?
Words: 1121, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Fandoms: Sanditon (TV 2019), Sanditon - Jane Austen
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: F/M
Characters: Charlotte Heywood, Sidney Parker, Mary Parker (Sanditon), Tom Parker (Sanditon), Diana Parker (Sanditon), Alison Heywood, Eliza Campion
Relationships: Charlotte Heywood/Sidney Parker
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2P2SUMh
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*NEW FIC* Life in the Slow Lane by OvertheRainbow2
 Chapter 1
The final vestiges of summer had drifted into the shorter days and longer nights of autumn. Before long their daily commute would take place in darkness. Daylight would become a hypothetical thing, glimpsed only at weekends, weather permitting. Those early harbingers of the festive season and imminent hibernation, Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor and Iâm A Celeb, were now in full swing. For Kayleigh, these months of snuggling on the sofa in her onesie watching wannabes and âcelebritiesâ of often questionable calibre, sashay across a dance floor, murder a tune, or eat a bug, had a comforting familiarity. Throw in occasional partying and frequent indulgence and they marked her favourite time of the year. All culminating in the twinkling, tinkling, sparkling joy of Christmas. In contrast, for John, it was traditionally a long, drawn out headache of constant stock takes, impossible rotas, a mountain of turkeys and endless staff arguments about Christmas leave. All to the soundtrack of Slade and Wizzard, drilling a hole through his last nerve. This year was different though. This year, they had a partner to share their journey towards the festive season and for them both, this added a sense of delight and anticipation, that nothing else could equal.
 In the weeks since they had tentatively embarked on their new relationship, things had been progressing nicely between them. Theyâd had numerous âdatesâ, from staying in, cooking dinner and watching a DVD dates, to restaurant dates, to the cinema, bowling, a memorable attempt at ice skating (the bruises were almost healed and he swore he didnât really like those jeans anyway), a pub quiz in which Johnâs encyclopaedic knowledge of music and Kayleighâs grasp of reality TV trivia, had won them six bottles of Prosecco and dinner for two at Mr Wongâs Chinese Rib Emporium and a fun night at a charity dance-a-thon. Theyâd discovered, much to Johnâs relief and Kayleighâs delight, that even without the little red Fiat surrounding them, they could still make each other laugh until they ached and they were never short of conversation. Speaking of the Fiat, sadly on inspection it proved to be a write off. Not only had the crash ripped the door clean off its hinges, the chassis had been damaged to the extent that it was pronounced by the insurance company, ânot economical to repairâ. John was given a final chance to remove any valuables, which consisted of a wooden bead back massager, some rope, a blanket, Now 48 Disc 1 and a cracked CD case containing the second disc, found lying on the road, with a yellow post it note inside. Of all those items, it was the post it note and itâs contents which were truly priceless to him and the only item heâd been desperate to retrieve. On a rainy Saturday morning, heâd asked the scrap yard if he could take a small piece of metal from what was left of the Fiat, as a keep sake. Heâd taken a piece that was still distinguishably red and found himself strangely emotional about it all. Heâd then driven the hire car to pick up Kayleigh for a long planned trip into Manchester, to look for an outfit for Donna and Rickâs wedding. Later, they would look for a new car together. He wanted her to be involved in his choice. It felt right that she should be. That was how it had progressed between them. There still hadnât been any huge, sweeping gestures, or promises and commitments made. Instead, it had continued to gradually evolve to the point where they inhabited each otherâs lives completely, as though they had always filled the spaces they now occupied. Well, almost completely and unknown to John, for Kayleigh, the âalmostâ was becoming an increasing cause for concern.
 It had started out as little more than a niggle at the back of her mind. A background noise she couldnât quite put her finger on but still, it was there. If she had to pinpoint the moment sheâd first noticed it, sheâd say it was a couple of weeks ago. Sheâd borrowed Mandyâs Citroen to go over to Johnâs. He was redecorating his front room and wanted her opinion on the colour scheme. Sheâd stopped to grab a pizza for them on the way over. She knew him so well by now, that she could order for them both, without the need to check the toppings. That simple thought delighted her in ways she could never possibly describe. Later, she was going to drive him to a Compendium gig, at a pub over in Salford. Heâd casually suggested that she didnât need to stay for the full set, Jim could drive him home. Sheâd replied that she was in no rush and was happy to stay, she loved to listen to him sing. Putting her arms around him and drawing herself close, sheâd sung a few bars of âCome Back My Car Share Buddyâ before giggling and seductively whispering in his ear that the idea of seeing him on stage turned her on. Despite this temptation, heâd insisted it was for the best. The venue was a bit rough and after leaving him home, her journey back would be far too long. It would take them a while to pack the equipment up at the end. He really didnât like her driving so late at night and the weather wasnât great. There was ice forecast for later. Heâd feel much better knowing she was back home, tucked up in bed, safe and sound. Heâd text her before she went to sleep. Then heâd kissed her. They were good at that. Kissing. In fact sheâd go so far as to say, they were outstanding. They could snog for Britain at this point and their skills at foreplay had reached Olympic standards. God knows, they were putting in enough practice. It was only much later, as she lay in bed recalling the days events and gazing at a text that read, âNan-Night my little hedgehog xxxxxâ, that it occurred to her, that not once had he suggested the most obvious solution to their travel dilemma. She could just take him back to his place and stay over...and there it was. That little niggle had lodged itself in the back of her mind.Â
 Since then, it had been firmly cemented in place, by Mandy. A passing remark, one which Kayleigh was certain, her sister could never have anticipated would give her any cause for concern. They were having breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning. Steve had taken the kids to the leisure centre. They had the place to themselves for a change. A chance for a sisterly catch up. Mandy had asked her about her plans for the day. She didnât have any. The hire car had been returned as John was picking up his new car, first thing in the morning. After much deliberation, heâd decided to stick with the comfort of the familiar and had chosen a new Fiat 500 X. It was slightly different from his late lamented 500 L. A small SUV instead of a hatchback. John liked the driving position and Kayleigh thought it, âlooked sportier than the last oneâ. Once again, it would be red, although a slightly darker shade than before. For John, embracing change still remained a slow process.Â
 Kayleigh observed to Mandy that John, âmust have asked me about a dozen times if I liked it! I donât know why. I just have to sit in it. Heâs the one who has to drive it!â âAww. Itâs really sweet. I think itâs nice that he wants to involve you in these things. He wants your approval. Thatâs a good sign in a relationship. Means he sees you as a partner,â Mandy replied. Kayleigh smiled as she sipped her tea, âDâya hear that one on This Morning?â âOy, cheeky. I happen to be very insightful when it comes to matters of the heart.â âOf course you are Dr. Mandyâ, Kayleigh nodded earnestly. Mandy smiled, âAnyway, you ungrateful mare, things seem to be going well with you two. I was just saying to Steve last night, itâll be lovely to have John over at Christmas. Have you thought about your plans?â âPlans?â âYeah, you know. Christmas Day with his, Boxing Day with yours, that sort of thing.â âBit early to be thinking about that, isnât it?â âNot really. Itâs getting closer and trust me, planning these things is the best way to avoid arguments. Besides Iâll need to know before I order the turkey. Remember our Kieranâs home this year too. Actually, this reminds me of the first Christmas I spent with Steveâs lot.â Mandy laughed as she recalled, âYouâll not be the least bit surprised when I tell you that Steve forgot to tell them I was coming. We were sat around a bird the size of a canary, with his Mum Ann looking daggers at him! I ended up having Spaghetti Hoops on toast for me Christmas dinner! Iâd bought her a present âan all. She panicked that she hadnât bought me anything and I ended up with a tub of Johnsonâs Baby Powder wrapped in tinfoil. If memory serves, it was already opened! I donât think I ever told you that.â Kayleigh giggled, âNo you never didâ. As she reached for the jam, she observed, âI donât know about planning really, itâs not Johnâs thing. He likes to just take things as they come. One day at a time. Anything else makes him nervous.â Mandy scoffed, âYeah, well heâs clearly never cooked a roast turkey with all the trimmings, for eight greedy gobs, has he? Anyway, whatâs he nervous about? Youâre a couple for Godâs sake! Iâve never seen two people so happy. Youâre like a pair of lovesick teenagers. Youâre together day and night....well, maybe not night exactly.â And there it was. Those four words, âMaybe not night exactlyâ. For Kayleigh, that background noise suddenly just got louder and was beginning to penetrate her carefully crafted bubble of happiness.Â
 The comment hung uncomfortably in the air for what felt like an age until Kayleigh finally reached for it, âWhy did you say that? âMaybe not night exactlyâ?â Mandy sheepishly replied, âListen sis, I donât want to pry but I just want you to know, you donât have to feel the need to come home every night, if youâd much rather, be somewhere else...so to speak. You know Iâd never judge you, letâs face it, thatâd be a laugh and as for Steve, heâs always thought you two were at it like a couple of rabbits anyway. Youâre a grown woman, youâve got a bloke whoâs crazy about you. Enjoy yourselfâ. Mandy theatrically winked. Now the comment began to make sense. With a frustrated sigh Kayleigh muttered, âChance would be a fine thingâ. Mandy stopped midway through buttering her toast, âYou what!? Are you seriously saying that you and John arenât...that youâve never actually...you know...â âI do know and no, we havenât.â âBloody Hell Kayleigh! There I was thinking you were sneaking around! Resorting to desperate measures. At it in store cupboards at work and havin a bit of afternoon delight over at Johnâs of a weekend, rather than face the prospect of doing the âwalk of shameâ past Steve and trying to slip back in here at dawn. All this time....?! How long have you two been seeing each other now?â âWell, weâve known each other properly for about five months roughly and weâve been, I suppose what youâd call a couple, for around two.â âWhat do you mean âsupposeâ? You are a couple!â âWell. Yeah. Yeah we areâ. âYou donât sound entirely convinced. I thought you loved him.â âI do!â â...and he loves you too?â âYeah. I think he does.â âWhat do you mean you think he does? He either does or he doesnât. Has he said he does?â âWell, there was the song and he said he thinks the world of me.â Mandy looked stunned, âOh, come on! He can do better than that!â âItâs not that simple Mand. You need to know John. He doesnât do that stuff. For him, thatâs big. Iâm pretty sure he does love me. I suppose Iâm just not entirely sure if heâs in love with me.â Mandy looked alarmed. âI mean, I know loveâs not all about sex.â Mandy raised her eyebrows sceptically as Kayleigh continued, âbut if he really loved me, would he want to wait this long? I mean, itâs not like Iâm not giving him the right signals. Iâm like a permanent green light and itâs not as if thereâs no passion between us. There is! Thereâs tonnes of it but every time it looks like we might, take it to the next level, he backs off. I feel like Steveâs fâin bike. My engine keeps gettin revâed up and then I just end up over-heated and goinâ nowhere! I feel like Iâm throwinâ all this love at him and heâs constantly deflecting it and itâs just getting exhausting.â Mandy contemplated her sisterâs dilemma for a moment, then leant across the table and whispered, âAre you sure heâs âcapableâ?â complete with air quotes. Kayleigh rolled her eyes and replied with her customary frankness, âYes Mand. He can âget it upâ if thatâs what youâre asking. Upâs not the problem. The problem is, that for some reason, he doesnât want to, get it on!â Mandy looked like she was trying to figure out the worldâs most difficult maths equation. âYouâre sure heâs not gay...because sometimes..â âYes Mandy. Iâm as sure as itâs possible to be that heâs not gay. He told me he isnât.â âHe TOLD ya?! Whyâd you ask him in the first place!?â âI didnât. Big Diane off non-foods thought he was gay before we started car sharing and I just assumed she was right. Which Iâve since discovered isnât the smartest move. Itâs a complicated story. It involves Gloria Gaynor and I canât be assed going over it all again. Anyway, heâs definitely not gay.â By now Mandy looked vaguely as though she was trying to follow a conversation in a language she didnât remotely understand. She ruminated. Just as she appeared to finally reach a eureka moment, the sound of the front door opening, followed by Chloe and Alfieâs raised voices and Steveâs cry of âMannndddyyyyâ brought an abrupt end to their conversation. Mandy sought to reassure her, âWeâll talk later OK?â Kayleigh seemed less than enthused by the prospect, âIâd rather leave it to be honest. Iâm probably just being daftâ. Kayleigh slipped off the kitchen stool, âListen, do you mind if I borrow the Citroen?â âYou going over to Johnâs ?â âNah. I think Iâll go to The Rock. I wanna see if I can get a pair of shoes to match that dress I got for the wedding.â âNo probs. A bit of retail therapy sounds like a good idea and Kayleigh...â âYeah?â âTry not to stress this too much. Just talk to him. Itâs still pretty early days. Youâve got time. Itâll work itself out. Give it a few weeks and he wonât be able to keep his hands off youâ. Kayleigh smiled, âWho knows eh? Hope springs eternal. Thanks Mand.â Her smile faded as she walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway, she just wished she could believe it.Â
 After the Salford gig, which had been less than well received by a drunk crowd whoâd thought Compendium would be a thrash metal band, Jim had noticed that John was subdued. Fearing the imminent end of their music careers, Jim suggested picking him up the following afternoon and heading over to Big Bobs Munch Box for a Fat Boy and a much needed pep talk. Having no car and no fixed plans with Kayleigh, John agreed. He was nursing a brew and checking his texts on his sofa, while he waited for Jim to arrive. Heâd sent Kayleigh a message first thing, âHope you slept well. I could do with a Kayleigh cuddle. Speak later? xxxxxâ Her reply came after ten minutes, âSlept OK. Text u later. xxâ That was brief and to the point for Kayleigh. No exclamation marks, no heart shaped emojis or Luv U and he wasnât going to dwell on the somewhat economical, two kisses. Maybe he was getting paranoid but ten minutes!? Normally she was bouncing back to him within 30 seconds, full of mischief and overflowing with affection. Maybe she was busy, or in the shower, or just otherwise occupied. Thatâll be it. Heâd been checking his phone ever since, but nothing more. Nothing, except a creeping sense that something wasnât quite right.Â
 Theyâd had the post mortem in the car. âWe need to be clearer about who we are. Less spit and sawdust pubs, more open mic nights maybeâ, Jim had suggested. John clearly wasnât hearing a word. âOr maybe we just say âfuck itâ and go full on burlesque. Iâll get us some feather boas, a couple of fans and some tasselsâ. âYou what!?â âThat got your attention.â âSorry, I were miles away.â âI noticed. In Bury maybe?â Jim said with a smirk. âYeah, maybeâ, John replied, with a half hearted smile. After a pause and a glance at his sullen friend, Jim asked, âWhatâs the matter?â âI donât know Jim. I just get the feelinâ Iâm screwing this up, againâ. âSo, Iâm guessinâ this isnât about last nightâs gig.â John shook his head. âKayleigh?â âYeahâ. âWell that would certainly explain why youâve got a cob on. I thought you two were loved up.â âWe are. Sheâs the best thing thatâs ever happened to me.â Jim wasted little time in agreeing with him, âShe seriously is. This is deffo not one you wanna fâ up. I mean youâre my best pal âan all but I gotta tell ya, youâre punchâin like Tyson with this one mate. I mean, Christ! How the Hell did you manage to pull her!? Sheâs gorgeous, sexy and a right laugh. First time I saw her in those skinny jeans I thought, that jammy bastard! Heâs hit the jackpot. I wouldnât let her out of me sight, or me bed for that matter.â âYeah, alright! I told you before. Thin ice!â âIâm not tryinâ to disrespect her John. Iâd never do that but thatâs a lot of woman youâve got yourself there. Youâll never be bored thatâs for sure.â John found himself laughing affectionately, âNope. Boring she is not.â Silence descended for some minutes before John suddenly added, âMaybe I am though. Maybe youâre right. Maybe Iâm not man enough for herâ. âWhat the Hell!? Thatâs not what I said and itâs certainly not what I meant!â They pulled up at Big Bobâs. Jim turned to John who was reaching for the car door, âWhatâs going on here mate?â âItâs nothingâ âThe Hell it is. Itâs definitely something and you need to deal with itâ. John sighed and rubbed his hand over his face, then finally relented, âIâm just scared Jim. Iâm friggin terrified.âÂ
 Janet placed the two fry ups in front of them, as Jim looked sceptically at his brew, âIs it just me, or are these mugs getting smaller?â Johnâs reply was as disinterested, as it was matter of fact, âTheyâre getting smallerâ. âSorry, you were saying, you had a row, she wanted to define your relationship, you bottled it and sent a text to Forever FM instead. She told you she loved you, you sat on your arse in the car, while she got in a taxi and missed the messageâ, John looked less than amused at Jimâs blunt summary of events, he continued, âYou wrote her a song, she listened to it, accepted your apology and you decided to give it a go but take it slow,â âYeah.â âYouâve been dating for two months and allâs well.â John hastily corrected, âBetter than âwellâ, itâs greatâ. âBut somehow youâre still terrified about it all and now youâre freakinâ out over a text message that seems pretty normal to meâ. âYou wouldnât think it was normal if you knew Kayleigh. She doesnât do, short and to the point. Not unless sheâs pissed offâ. âSo, maybe youâve pissed her off.â âHow!?â âSheâs a woman John. Trust me there are many, many ways. Did you forget something? A birthday, an anniversary, to tell her she looks good, changed her hair, bought new shoes, lost weight?â John looked anxious, âI donât think so!â âSheâd have mentioned something if it was that important to her. We talk about everything.â Jim looked at him ominously, âNot necessarily. I can see you have much to learn Grasshopper.â Jim shoved another piece of sausage in his mouth. âHowâs the sex?âÂ
 John almost spat out his tea, his spluttering drawing the attention of their fellow diners. âEasy there tiger. Hit a nerve did I?â Jim raised his eyebrows in curiosity. âIâm not talkin to you about me sex lifeâ. âFair enough. Just trying to helpâ. âYeah well. Some things are privateâ. âOf course.â Jim returned to his meal and was suitably nonchalant. John watched him eat for a bit, then suddenly said, âItâs non-existentâ. Jim looked up casually, âWhat is?â âThe sex. Itâs non-existentâ. Jim froze. His fork, loaded with fried egg and beans, hung suspended half way up to his mouth. The beans slowly cascading back towards his plate. Finally recovering sufficiently to place his cutlery back down, Jim calmly began, âSo, let me get this straight you and Kayleigh have yet to....â Jim began gesticulating as though playing a game of very awkward charades. He continued, â...youâre not currently....what I mean is...you havenât shagged her.â âOh, thanks for taking the time to put it so sensitively! No. I havenât. We havenât.â With an air of authority, punctuated with a flick of his teaspoon, Jim pronounced, âRight there. Thatâs your problem.â âI donât have a problem!â Johnâs raised voice was, once again, attracting attention. Embarrassed, he lowered his voice and repeated, âI donât have a problemâ. âMate trust me. If you havenât sealed the deal with that bird by now, youâve got a problemâ. âSheâs not a bird, sheâs a womanâ. âToo bloody right she is! So, is Houston having a problem?â âWhat!?â âAre we struggling to get the rocket off the launch pad?â John put his head in his hands, why had he started this conversation? âBecause if you are, thereâs tablets. Viagra my friend. Trust me, take one of those puppies and your seat will be in a fully upright position before you can say âdoors to manualââ. With that Jim winked and shoved some fried bread in his mouth. After a moment John asked, âHave you ever heard of a mixed metaphor?â âNo. Is it like a mixed grill?â John rubbed his eyes, âI donât suffer from erectile dysfunction Jimâ. By now the patrons of Big Bobs Munch Box had decided that this conversation was infinitely more interesting than their own. Jim flinched and looked like a particularly nasty smell had just wafted in his general direction. âAlright John! No need to be graphic. Iâve still got half a sausage âereâ âYouâre the one who was going on about bloody rockets and airplane seats!â âI was putting it politelyâ. âIs that what you call it?â âDo you fancy her?â John looked at Jim as though he was quite possibly the stupidest person in the known universe, asking the stupidest question in recorded history, âOf course I bloody fancy her. I think about her every minute of every day.â âDoes she fancy you?â John considered this for a moment, âYeah. I think she does.â âYou think she does.â âYeah.â âYou donât know.â âWell, you know, when weâre together, she seems keen.â âKeen?â âYou know, eagerâ. âEager?â âAre you just going to repeat everything I say!?â âSo, sheâs keen and eager and youâve got the horn. So whatâs the problem? Get some Barry White on the speakers and turn her âBig Cuddly Bearâ into the Walrus of luuurveâ, Jim smiled. John looked furious, âI told you only to read her last textâ. âOh come on, Big Cuddly Bear. Donât get all grizzly on meâ, Jim laughed long and loud. âSome mate you areâ. âAw, come on. Iâm just winding you up thatâs all. Itâs what mates do. You know Iâm made up for you. You deserve some happiness and she really is a belter.â âThatâs just it though. I keep thinkinâ what if when she sees me, I mean really sees me. You know, with me kit off. Sheâs turned offâ. As John fretted, Jim considered his friends dilemma, while extracting a remaining morsel of bacon from his tooth, with his tongue. Eventually John continued, âItâs just, there was this bloke, a university student, he worked at the store over the summer, collecting trollies. She fancied him like mad. Salivated over him for weeks. Tall, six pack, pecs, movie star looks, the works. Then thereâs me. Never mind a six pack, Iâm not sure Iâve got half a can left in the fridge.â Jim laughed. âListen mate. I love you like a brother but I really donât think Kayleighâs anticipating Mr. Universe under there. Sheâs expecting John Redmond. Thatâs the bloke she loves and you love her donât ya?â âChrist Jim. More than anyone or anything Iâve ever known.â âWell then. This is the part thatâs meant to be fun. Itâs never like it is in the bloody movies anyway. You know that. Bras are attached with Velcro and nobody ever farts for a start,â John laughed. âListen, youâll get it right, youâll get it wrong, youâll laugh about it but the most important thing is, youâll share it and youâll figure it out. Together.â âThis from a bloke who mixes his metaphors.â âYeah, well. I have me momentsâ. âYour a good friend Jimâ. âStop it. Youâll have me blubbin into me brew. Anyway, you need to finish that. Get your strength up.â Jim winked and John laughed, as he sent a text to Kayleigh.
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I need the update to this now! Tuesday week pronto would also be acceptable đ
Life in the Slow Lane Chapter 2 by OvetheRainbow2
Life In The Slow Lane Part 2: Changing LanesÂ
Sheâd bought a killer pair of gold heels. Ridiculously expensive but seriously ferocious. Itâd been love at first sight. She wasnât entirely sure how sheâd walk any significant distance in them, let alone pay for them but as was so often the case with Kayleigh, heart had overruled every objection that head could possibly muster. Needless to say, for every pair of shoes, there must be a bag and a matching clutch was added to her purchases. By the time sheâd decided to take a load off and grab a brew and a muffin, diet be damned, sheâd added a blouse, a cute little sweater and a new pair of trousers to her haul. Sheâd lingered over some sexy lingerie but even she wasnât that much of an optimist. As she sat in the cafe alone, her bags arranged in the seats opposite, like silent companions, she watched as all around her, parents pacified grouchy toddlers, friends chatted animatedly, while others checked their phones or, like her, indulged in a spot of silent âpeople watchingâ. Sheâd gotten used to this over the years, sitting back, watching other peopleâs lives. Whether it was her parents, or Kieranâs revolving door of girlfriends, or Mandy and Steve, or her mates, she always seemed to live vicariously through them. Listening to their various triumphs and frequent tales of woe. Giving advice. Sometimes solicited and other times not. Watching as they coupled, uncoupled and even re-coupled. Sheâd had her own occasional dramas over the years but most were fleeting. Kayleigh had become accustomed to being in the passenger seat. She savoured the irony. Not much had changed, she thought. Only she could find herself in a relationship that she didnât fully understand and couldnât quite define. In love with a man who canât even say the word âloveâ without coming out in a rash and whom she often felt was somewhere, just beyond her reach, even when he was right there, by her side.
A young couple in the corner were engrossed with each other. They couldnât be much more than sixteen. Holding hands across the table and leaning over for frequent kisses. She couldnât help but long for those days. When anything and everything felt possible and love was now, real and intense. When youâd yet to be damaged, or humiliated. When you didnât know how much it could hurt. When you werenât afraid. The days before âitâs complicatedâ was an optional status. It all felt so much easier back then. Suddenly a chiming sound emanated from her handbag. Reaching across to the seat beside her, she took out her Blackberry. The message read, âHi. What you up to? Iâm at Big Bobâs with Jim. Heâs not as much fun to share me rind with. I miss you. John xxxxxâ. Kayleigh smiled and sighed. She missed him too but couldnât help wondering whether they were actually missing the same things. For her, it was the presence of the man who made her laugh like no one else ever had. Who was kind and thoughtful and made her feel safe and whole. She missed his smile and his laugh and those blue eyes that sparkled with mischief but which she sensed also held an inner sadness she could never quite fathom. She missed that feeling she got every time she saw him. Those teenage butterflies in her stomach. That sense of excitement. That absolute conviction that this was the man she loved. Was it the same for him? Two months down the line, she still wasnât sure. She felt awkward about being so frank and having raised the whole âsex thingâ with Mandy. It was private after all but she just felt so confused. Maybe she was being daft and it was actually a good thing that he wanted to take it slow. He was showing her some respect. God knows, that made a refreshing change but that was just it. It was always about her figuring out what he intended, what he wanted, what he thought was for the best. What about what she wanted? Where did that fit in? When was that considered? It felt as though she was always trying to work out a way to deal with his choices, to accept them. Trying to make his decisions about them and not only about him. To pretend that sheâd somehow played a part in it all, when sheâd just had to like it or lump it. Her uncertainty caused her to reflect that perhaps the absence of sex, was less about desire, or a lack of it and more about trying to avoid intimacy of any meaningful kind. To retain just enough room, to allow him to run for the exit when it all got too much. Whatever the case, John continued to dictate the pace. To keep them firmly in the slow lane and she remained so desperate to cling to the hope of something more, eventually, when he was ready, that she just went along for the ride. The thought of that exquisite pain of heartbreak, preventing her from making any real effort to articulate her own wishes, or her increasing fears. Now it felt like they werenât so much âtaking it slowâ anymore, as stalled and instead of being confident about their eventual destination, she just felt lost. Mandy would say she was over-thinking it all and no good ever came of that. She was probably right but she was also right that they really needed to talk and as much as she feared it, Kayleigh could feel that conversation getting ever closer.
It was only when she heard another chime from her Blackberry that she realised she hadnât responded to his initial message. Heâd sent another, âKayleigh, is everything OK? Where are you? John xxxxxâ. Shaking herself from her thoughts and seeing his obvious concern, she immediately replied, âSorry. Iâm at The Rock. Just picking up a few things. Iâll call you later. K xxâ Johnâs reply was swift, âIs Mandy with you?â âNo. Just meâ. âOh. OK. I was worried when you didnât reply.â âYeah, sorry. Iâve only just sat downâ âBuy anything nice?â âJust some bits and bobsâ. âFeel like modelling any of those bits and bobs for me?â Kayleigh stared at the message, stunned. This was definitely a new development. Heâd never been this bold before. She began to second guess herself. Maybe she was reading too much into it. She decided to play it off, âUnless Youâve got a shoe fetish you havenât told me about, I think youâd be a bit bored.â She added a winking emoji. He replied within seconds, âDepends what youâre wearing with the shoesâŚ.or not wearingâ, he saw her winking emoji and raised her one with heart shaped eyes. Kayleigh was getting suspicious that all was not as it seemed, âJim if this is you and youâve grabbed Johnâs phone, just know heâll kick your arse!â Within seconds her phone rang. âHey. Is that you John?â âYeah itâs me. You thought it was Jim!?â âI thought it might be yes. It didnât sound like you. Whatâs that noise in the background? You outside.â âYeah, I stepped out of Big Bobâs to call you. Didnât want to have a private conversation in front of Jim. I mean heâs me bessie mate âan all but heâs mouth almighty.â Whatâs going on John?â âI didnât know anything was. Frankly, I could ask the same of you! Have I done something to piss you off?â âWhy do ya say that!?â âI donât know. Just a vibe Iâve been gettingâ. âA vibe?â âYeah, you know, a feelinâ. You just seemed a bit stand-offish in your texts today. A bit distant.â âDidnât come running like usual eh?â It was out of her mouth before sheâd thought of the consequences. She was upping the ante. Like a massive cliff edge looming in the distance, they could both see danger on the horizon but it seemed both were powerless to avoid the impending doom. âWhat the Hell are you talking about Kayleigh?â Well if Iâve been distant, youâve been bloody weird!â John began to raise his voice above the sound of the passing traffic, âWhat do you mean âweirdâ?â âI mean, since when do you want me to âmodelâ for ya!?â âIâm a bloke! I have a drop dead gorgeous woman in my life. Am I not allowed to flirt with ya all of a suddenâ!?
Of course, more meaningless, idle âflirtingâ. What else could it be? More switching on the ignition, with no intention of going anywhere. Christ, sheâd had enough of this pathetic crap. âYou know what? I donât get you John! One minute youâre sending me home like were a couple of teenagers and Iâve got a bloody curfew and the next minute you want me to model me bits and bobs for ya! How the Hell am I supposed to read this!? I just donât know whatâs going on with ya.â âI was just tryinâ to have some fun with me girlfriend! I just wanted to tease ya a bitâ. âIsnât that what you have been doing since we got together? Teasing me.â âWhat do ya mean?â âI mean Iâm confused John. Weâre two months in to this âthingâ and I have no clue what weâre doing or where weâre going. One minute youâre calling me your girlfriend and snogging me face off on your sofa and the next you act like Iâm some sort of guilty secret. âGive over, weâre at work. Give over, someone might see us. Give over, I havenât told Rose about us yet. Give over, not in front of Jim. Iâm not thirteen anymore John. Iâm not looking for a âlittle handy-holdyâ boyfriend. Youâre clearly not thirteen anymore either.â John immediately got the implication and it stung. âI love you John. I really do. Incidentally thatâs a word you still canât bring yourself to use.â At this point her voice was beginning to crack with emotion. âMaybe you were right John. Maybe I donât know you after all. I canât see that changing any time soon because you wonât let me. You wonât let me get close enough to you, emotionally or physically. I told you that I wonât wait forever.â John suddenly said, âDonât do this Kayleigh, pleaseâ. âDo what John? Tell you how I feel? I need to think about all this and so do you. This should feel natural John. It should be growing and developing. Letâs face it. It isnât. We should be comfortable together. I always thought we were, up to now. I donât know. Maybe we were only ever meant to be âCar Share Buddiesâ. Maybe weâve taken this as far as it can go.â John felt a sharp pain in his chest every bit as acute, if not more so than the one heâd felt in that traffic jam a mere two months before, âPlease donât walk away again Kayleigh. I just need some time. I told you that.â âI donât think this is about âtimeâ John. I could give you all the time in the world. I think what you want is a âget out clauseâ. Anyway, I donât want to have this conversation on a mobile in Costa. Iâm gonna go nowâ. âYouâre just gonna say all that, kick me in the balls yet again and not give me a chance to give my side!? Why do you keep running away from me!?â âI just need space to thinkâ. Johnâs reply was blunt and to the point, âBollocks to that! We need to talk. Iâm not giving up on you, on us.â âJust like the song says eh John?â âI thought you loved that songâ. âI do John but Iâm beginning to realise that sometimes loveâŚisnât enough. Iâll see ya.â With that, she hung up, wiped her eyes hoping no other patrons had spotted her tears, she then grabbed her shopping bags and headed for the car park.
John walked back into Big Bobâs like a man whoâd just had the weight of the world dropped on his shoulders from a very great height. It was becoming an all too familiar feeling. Jim was exchanging a well worn punchline with Janet as he paid for the Fat Boys, âSo I said âKing Prawn Ballsâ not âKing Kongâs Balls!â Janet laughed awkwardly. Jim turned with a broad smile, proudly brandishing his new âI Love Fat Boysâ baseball cap. âLook at this! Janet punched me card! I got the cap. Iâm stylinâ it out, donât ya think?â Jim twirled and modelled like a pro, even throwing in a few shoulder jerks. Suddenly he began to realise that he had a less than appreciative audience, as a sullen John approached him, âChrist! What the Hells happened now? You look like youâve just lost a tenner and found 10p.â âI think Iâve just lost much more than that. Listen Jim I need a massive favourâ. âIf I can I will, you know thatâ. âI need you to take me to Bury.â âWhat? Now!?â âYeah now. Mate, do this for me and Iâll owe you for the rest of my life.â It took less than a second for Jim to note his friends obvious and very real distress. He immediately replied as he moved to the door, âCome on. Get in the car. Bury here we come.â
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