a change of pace {jamie!}

[CLEO EVERETT]

Done! Cleo grabbed plates and slid a sandwich onto each one. She set the pan in the sink before grabbing a knife. While waiting for the sandwiches to cool down, she leaned on one leg, a hand on her hip, the other toying with the butter knife. She watched Jamie, grinning when he asked if she’d been startled by the movie. “As if, hun!” she told him, removing her hand from her hip and poking him in the shoulder. He was trying not to laugh, she knew it, and he was doing a terrible job at it. Cleo rolled her eyes, turning to cut the sandwiches in half while he added sugar to the tea. “More, please. Two tablespoons isn’t definitely not enough,” she said quickly, watching carefully. Honey? “Why not?” She questioned, figuring the sweeter her tea, the better.

Cleo laughed. “That makes sense. I hate tea if it’s not sweet enough. It’s not even funny how bad a sweet tooth I have.” She gestured to his plate before grabbing the mug and her own plate. Cleo led the way to the dining table. Four seats and it was funny how obvious it was where each of her roommates usually sat. Cleo settled into her own chair, folding a leg beneath her. She sipped at the tea and gave a happy nod of approval. Delicious! She wasn’t all that hungry so she picked the sandwich apart instead of biting into it. Cleo kind of preferred it this way, when the cheese was melty and delicious on her fingers. Listening to Jamie explain his dream, she slowly began to eat her sandwich. Why couldn’t she have Harry Potter dreams?

Cleo nodded excitedly, “I would totally take parseltongue if it were, like, a language class! It’d be way better than Spanish or French.” If only, though. For a short second, she wished somebody would create a school like Hogwarts. She would enroll the second it opened. Cleo laughed, “if the girl is into Harry Potter, you mean. Otherwise it would probably come off as super nerdy. Like that Star Trek stuff.” Which Cleo really didn’t care for anyway. He paused suddenly and she gave him a curious look, tilting her head. Quickly enough, though, he was asking her which movie was her favorite. “Pft, that’s like asking a mother to choose her favorite child!” Cleo exclaimed. She thought about it while drinking more of her tea. It really was quite good. “I’m going to have to say Prisoner of Azkaban.” Oh, but how she hated having to choose!

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

darling I know that you're all shook up from a terrible relationship

[/size]

he broke your heart

Jamie had a question on his mind while he stirred in three more tablespoons of sugar and some honey into Cleo’s drink. He was fairly certain it wasn’t something he should actually ask Cleo. He could ask it out of curisousity.

“That makes sense. I hate tea if it’s not sweet enough. It’s not even funny how bad a sweet tooth I have.”

Jamie lost his nerve and shook his head. “Sweet tooths are awesome. Sweet food means a sweet personality,” he said smiling. He poked her in her side and walked to the table with his delicious smelling grilled cheese. He bit into it and grinned. Yummy! Cleo also liked his tea. Score!

“I would totally take parseltongue if it were, like, a language class! It’d be way better than Spanish or French.”

“Ssssooo much better. I wonder who it would be written… Lots of esses probably,” Jamie said still feeling the nagging of the question in the back of his head. And then he realized his dream was real. Of course he would dream that they were together. He missed Cleo. She was his little red! He’d never tell her that he wished that he could turn back time and stop himself from breaking her heart. The guy he was back then didn’t know what he had until it was gone. Now Cleo was back and he’d kissed her. Damn, he was an idiot.

“Hey Cleo, Why haven’t you dated anyone since me?” The words just tumbled out of his mouth. He wanted to swallow them back up along with his grilled cheese. A lump formed in his throat making him not be able to speak, he was sure, until Cleo answered.He knew the question wasn’t just curiousity. It was more of check to see if his small hope that they still had something could be confirmed. Probably not but he wanted to know.

yeah he tore you into pieces

[CLEO EVERETT]

Cleo shifted in her seat, trying to figure out how she’d be most comfortable. Any other day, she’d fold a leg beneath her and sit on it. Today, it just wasn’t working out that way. Finally, though, she grew still once her knees had been brought to her chest. Resting her chin upon them, Cleo continued to carefully pick at her grilled cheese sandwich, as if there was a method to her madness. Cleo grinned at Jamie, shooting him a wink. “Then I suppose I’m the sweetest of them all.” For she had, of course, the best sweet tooth of anybody she’d ever known. Perhaps even of anybody she’d ever meet.

Discovering that the hot tea had helped sooth her headache, Cleo reached for the mug and held it close to her face. The steam warmed her cheeks and she smiled a small smile, enjoying the familiar smell. “Definitely lots of S’s,” Cleo agreed. She tilted her head, thinking back on anytime Harry had spoken Parseltongue in the movie. There seemed to be a few H’s and R’s as well. Though, she’d read the books, hadn’t she? It was practically already written, anyway! Dismissing that as a conversation for later, she tilted her head back and drank some more of her sweet tea. There really was no better drink in the world.

Cleo had begun to eat her sandwich again, telling herself to stop being so meticulous, when Jamie asked her a question. She was thankful that her cheeks were still warm from the steam coming off of her tea. She would’ve been much more embarrassed to realize that she was indeed blushing. Cleo peeked at him from behind her bangs, wondering what she could say. It would be too mean to say that she wasn’t one for dating, right? That she normally avoided relationships like the plague. Yes, that was too mean. She couldn’t say something like that. Cleo took a moment to answer, chewing her food as if pondering her answer.

“I suppose I haven’t met anybody else,” she answered slowly. It was true enough, right? She hadn’t particularly tried after anybody. Cleo had been busy with school and the occasional part-time jobs. She’d tried to get her grandfather to stop making clocks and she’d practically begged for a family trip to the beach. Basically, Cleo hadn’t had the time to try. Or had she? Perhaps she just wasn’t the same after their breakup. Cleo shifted in her seat, lifting her shoulders in a tiny shrug. “I was busy. School and… all that.” She shifted her gaze, as if suddenly interested in a sculpture Scottie had finished recently that had taken up residence on top of the refrigerator.

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

darling I know that you're all shook up from a terrible relationship

[/size]

he broke your heart

“Then I suppose I’m the sweetest of them all.”

“That makes sense,” Jamie said smiling. “You’re sweeter than anyone I’ve ever been friends with.” He thought about this and realized it was true. He hadn’t known anyone--- well maybe J. Although, he’s only known her for a little bit. She could be evil and scary. Jamie almost laughed out loud at the thought. Though he’d known Cleo the longest of anyone and knew she was always sweet. She was the balance in his life as Peter. Everyone was mean to him but she was the one person who was nice. Yet, he threw her away. Ugh, he needed to stop thinking about that. The past was the past and it wasn’t going to change.

“Definitely lots of S’s,”

“Yesssss,” Jamie said before giggling. He could smell the tea from his seat. He took a deep breath and smiled. He wished tea tasted as good as it smelled. Then life would be grand. Well, sorta. He still had that whole deal with him kissing his ex and possibly saying stuff while he was asleep that should never come out of his mouth again. Hmmm, how should he approach this.

He sat there not being able to breathe while Cleo thought this over calm as ever. Jamie really needed to calm down. Cleo was over him. That was that. No point in hoping for a-- Oh wait, she’s gonna say something.

“I suppose I haven’t met anybody else,”

Jamie’s thoughts instantly went to Jacob but his mouth stayed shut. Sure they were fighting then but it’d soon be over. The way they acted around each other looked like a relationship waiting to happen. Jamie insides twisted at the thought. “Oh,” he said weakly.

“I was busy. School and… all that.”

Oh gosh, he was making her uncomfortable. He really shouldn’t have asked. But at least now he knew for sure that she didn’t like him anymore. Jamie really needed to get out. His smile was becoming faker and faker by the minute. He looked up at the clock and bit his lip. “Oh jeez, It’s late. I should probably go,” Jamie said fighting to keep his voice steady. “Sorry for passing out and other stuff,” he mumbled trying to make a vague apology as he cleaned up the dishes. He gave Cleo a quick hug and headed for the door. He had about five seconds before his smile was going to fall apart.

yeah he tore you into pieces

[CLEO EVERETT]

Cleo smiled. “Thanks, hun.” Though she could probably think of somebody who was sweeter than her if she had the time. It really depended on how she was defining ‘sweet.’ Cleo was a variation of sweet. Somebody who really was sweet… Jemma. Without a doubt. She was a complete sweetheart, an absolute doll. “I don’t know, though…” Cleo started, pretending to mull it over. “Jemma is pretty sweet if you ask me.” Was it weird talking about Jemima with Jamie? Didn’t he, like… like her or something? For considering herself to be all-knowing, Cleo didn’t know much. She had an excuse, though! It had been a really bad few past days, after all. (Never mind that Jemima and Jamie were sort of old news. Wait… that sounded rude. Was that rude? Oh well. It had been a thought, anyway).

No. No, no, no. That wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. God, why couldn’t she just be honest with him? More importantly, why couldn’t she be honest with herself? She knew she’d met somebody else and she was sure everybody else knew. Jamie probably even knew! What was wrong with her? She was so stupid. So, so, so stupid. His hug startled her, mostly because she’d just stood to tell him ‘wait.’ Before she could return the embrace, he was heading for the door. “Jamie!” She called after him, trying to find the right words. Cleo followed after him, grabbing onto his wrist. It was like that time at the mall all over again. Why did he keep running away from her? Then again, she’d already kept him here once after he tried to leave. Maybe this was all her fault? Probably. As of late, everything felt like her fault.

“Jamie, wait.” She murmured, still searching for words. What could she say? What did she want to say? This was Jamie. It wasn’t Peter. He wasn’t the first boy she’d ever really dated. The first boy who had really broke her heart. The first relationship that had gone exactly as she expected. It was why she’d been so fearful of commitment all her life. It was just confirming everything she’d ever believed. But this wasn’t Peter! It was Jamie. Jamie, who was sweet and funny and genuine. Did she like him? Maybe. It wouldn’t kill her to go out on a ledge for once. So, with nothing coming to mind, Cleo leaned in and kissed him. It was only a few seconds before she pulled away and lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry.” Why was she apologizing? She wasn’t sorry. Was she? No. “No. Wait. I’m not.” Then, at some small attempt of humor, she looked up at him, smiling a bit coyly. “It was my turn.”

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

darling I know that you're all shook up from a terrible relationship

[/size]

he broke your heart

“You know J?” Jamie asked. It was sort of a stupid question. Jamie knew Cleo. She was the type to be friends with everyone. Of course, she would know J. Her and J were probably best friends. She probably knew J before he did. He felt weird that Cleo and J were friends for some reason. He pushed the feeling away and continued to talk.

Jamie kept telling himself not to look back. Cleo didn’t need to see his face. She was over him but she would probably still hate to see him sad. He was such an idiot even hoping that Cleo would ever think about liking him after what he did to her. Well, what Peter did to her. But still, Peter and Jamie looked alike and Cleo probably would never be able to look past that. Peter was gone but the memories were still there. Even the good ones. That’s what Jamie wanted to hold onto. The good good memories with Cleo. Their first date, their first kiss, and everything else they experienced together. That’s what he would hold on to. Hopefully, Cleo could just forget Peter and her feelings for him all together.

Jamie felt a hand clasp around his wrist again. He felt like a yo-yo. He was always running and Cleo was always pulling him back. Why was she doing this when she had someone else? He would always be her friend. She had to know that. He could never hate anyone especially not Cleo. He took a deep breath and turned around.

“Yes, Cleo?” he said his face fighting a frown.

“Jamie, wait.”

Jamie looked into Cleo’s eyes and waited. She seemed to be searching for something. He couldn’t move. He wanted to hear what she had to say even if he knew it’d probably hurt him more. Jamie wanted to make this all go away. All this upset between them just needed to be over with. He and Cleo should just be friends. Jamie needed to suck it up. He needed--

Jamie didn’t realize what was happening until Cleo’s lips were on his. His eyes went wide with surprise. He didn’t have a chance to react and couldn’t even get a word out when she pulled away and apologized. Wait, no she wasn’t. Jamie’s look of surprise turned into confusion. He laughed as his hope flared up again. “Wait, wait, I’m so confused,” Jamie said still laughing. His bad mood had instantly lifted. “Little red, I’m so confused. I thought you just wanted to be friends.” His eyes showed the hope that she changed her mind. “I mean, I still,” he couldn’t say the word. The L word had been blocked from his mind when it came to people. “I still like you. I always have.”

yeah he tore you into pieces

[CLEO EVERETT]

Cleo nodded, "of course I know Jemma. She's my freshman." Cleo couldn't help but to remember being told she wasn't allowed to adopt every Barrie freshmen. So what if she was friendly and liked taking them all under her wing? Who was the kid that had adopted Jamie as their freshman? Wasn't it Scott? That's right, because Dan had adopted Delilah. Well, Cleo felt a little better that it was Scott looking out for Jamie. Was it wrong of her to be extra protective of Jamie? She'd known him so long and with the change he'd gone through...

Cleo smiled and pulled him back to the couch. She sat down criss-cross applesauce and watched him for a minute or two before saying anything. What wasn't there to like about Jamie? Other than their rocky past, she really enjoyed being around him. "I'm a girl. We tend to make things confusing." Cleo thought most guys had learned this by now. She glanced to the television, realizing that The Sorcerer's Stone was nearing its end. "I forget this was on..." she said off-handedly; she grabbed the remote and paused the movie before facing Jamie again.

"I like when you call me Little Red," she said with a smile. Cleo had never been good with serious conversations, especially ones concerning relationships. She was trying to put off answering and she knew it. She was being terribly rude. "I do want to be friends." It wasn't fair for others because her definitions of friends or frenemies or whatever. Cleo took his hands in hers, playing with his fingers. "I don't... know what I want." She started slowly, choosing her words carefully. "Especially not now. You know?" Cleo looked him in the eyes, hoping he understood. She didn't want to hurt anybody else.

"I like you, Jamie. Really. Hanging out with you is always fun and we have so much in common." She tilted her head and waited a moment before lowering her gaze. Why was this so hard? "I'm just trying to figure everything out."

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

darling I know that you're all shook up from a terrible relationship

[/size]

he broke your heart

"I'm a girl. We tend to make things confusing."

“No kidding,” Jamie said sounding far off. His head was spinning. He really wanted to lean down and kiss Cleo again and again. Well, that’s what his heart wanted. But his brain was just a jumbled mess of questions and doubts that left him biting his lip and letting himself be pulled to the couch. He glanced at the tv screen when Cleo mentioned it still being on. His mouth couldn’t form a good response so he let her talk.

"I like when you call me Little Red,"

Jamie made a crooked smile and relaxed a little waiting for her to continue. Neither of them were good with serious conversations and he knew it. Why did he want to face this now? That was just one of the many questions swirling around in his head that he couldn’t answer. He tried to pull himself out of his thoughts to listen to Cleo.

"I do want to be friends. I don't... know what I want." She started slowly, choosing her words carefully. "Especially not now. You know?" Cleo looked him in the eyes, hoping he understood. She didn't want to hurt anybody else. "I like you, Jamie. Really. Hanging out with you is always fun and we have so much in common." She tilted her head and waited a moment before lowering her gaze. Why was this so hard? "I'm just trying to figure everything out."

Jamie looked down at their hands and pulled one away to lift Cleo’s chin up. He took a deep breath. “Cleo, I don’t expect you to have everything figured out right now. It’s okay. I’m just glad we’re friends. I never thought that would happen again.” He kissed her on the head and gave her a hug. As much as he wanted to, he wouldn’t push the boundaries of their friendship anymore tonight. It was too risky to their growing friendship. Plus, Cleo had just gotten in a huge fight and this would totally not help anything and damn, why did Jamie have to ask Cleo all these important questions? She had enough on her mind as it is.

“Don’t worry about it too much. We have all the time in the world to figure things out,” Jamie said offhandedly. That’s what he thought at least.

yeah he tore you into pieces

[/quote]

[CLEO EVERETT]

Cleo couldn’t help but to laugh a little, despite the seriousness of the conversation. At least he understood just how confusing the opposite gender could be. Heck, she hardly even understood her girl friends sometimes. However, it always had been boys that confused her. It was a given, really. Why couldn’t there just be a book? Then, there wouldn’t be any awkwardness or confusion or difficult conversations. … Then again, a book would take the mystery out of things and mystery could be so much fun. “You’re one to talk,” she muttered, poking him in the shoulder. “Like you aren’t terribly confusing.”

She gently held onto the hand he hadn’t moved, unable to wonder what if. What if questions came to her often and they were much too frequent as of late. What with all the drama she’d been going through, the fights and the yelling and all those stupid emotions. What if she and Jamie (… Peter?) had never broken up? Cleo had to look Jamie in the eyes as he lifted her chin up and it made things that much more difficult. She really was just so selfish. And he was being so sweet about the whole thing.

Cleo sighed a little and a smile slowly formed. “I’m glad we’re friends. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Really.” It was the honest to God truth. Sure, things had ended badly and it’d been a bit awkward seeing him again but here they were, thick as thieves. It felt right. “Lady Luck was smiling down on us,” Cleo giggled, finding the phrase somehow funny. “All the time in the world.” She agreed, nodding. Holding onto him tightly, not wanting the hug to end, Cleo tried to put her troubled mind at ease. There was no reason to be stressed out tonight.

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

darling I know that you're all shook up from a terrible relationship

[/size]

he broke your heart

“You’re one to talk, Like you aren’t terribly confusing.”

Jamie’s face held a guilty expression. He guessed he was pretty confusing for someone who had known him before. He changed his name and his personality back to when he was younger. Being a kid was so much easier really. Nothing phased you. But Jamie wasn’t a kid. He had feelings that he didn’t want to have. Feelings that made his confusing life even more jumbled. And no matter what, he knew they wouldn’t go away.

But Cleo was being so nice to him and patient. She was hurt by his old self but still accept his new self with no grudges from the past. He was being selfish by being with her. She had the chance to be with anyone she want. She was an amazing girl and there was someone so much better out there than him for her. All he wanted to do though was hold her tight and never let go. It made him feel like a jerk. How could he just expect her to be okay with him disappearing though? She had made him her friend again in a snap. Cleo couldn’t hate anyone. That’s what was so perfect about her.

“I’m glad we’re friends. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Really.”

And as if she read his mind, those words confirmed his thoughts. He couldn’t just disappear. If he did she would be more hurt than before. If he did, it would make his heart shatter for sure. How did he get himself into this situation. He wondered what would have happened if they had stayed together. Would Cleo been able to find a way to pull him out? Would he have just been an empty shell for the rest of his life? I sounded so depressing but he could except that Cleo would find the cure to his addiction. He was glad he was alone when he finally came out of it. If she had seen him that way, he was certain she would be scarred. He would hate himself for sure then.

“Lady Luck was smiling down on us,”

It was true really. The break-up had been terrible but it saved his ass. And he still was friends with Cleo. Almost like before. He didn’t know if he could ever be more. But he did know that if he had the chance, he’d drop everything. Even the smoking and the drinking. He would never make the same mistake again.He’d just be high on life. But for now, they were friends. That was more than good enough for him.

“All the time in the world.”

Jamie smiled and let out a huge yawn before saying, “You bet.” He let go of her hand and kissed her cheek. “I should get going. I don’t want to fall asleep and drool all over your couch,” he whispered. He smiled and let himself be pulled into a hug. He didn’t want to leave ever. But they’d see each other pretty soon for sure. “I’ll call you and we can hang out again. Hopefully next time there will be less injury,” he teased. He kissed her bruised head softly and slowly got up. He walked towards the door, looked back with a smile and a wave, and then went out into the night. He’d see her again soon.

yeah he tore you into pieces