Jules & Rules Chapter 9

9.

"His name is Jordan," Julie started. She needed to get it all out but the warmth of Alan's hand on her cheek made her want to stop talking. "We grew up together. We dated in high school. And I'm really sorry I never told you about him before."

Alan's hand slowly fell to his side.

"I know you saw the kiss," she added.

"Uh, yeah," he said calmly, reaching up to touch his jaw.

"The kiss didn't mean anything, Alan. I don't know why I let it get to that."

"It's not the kiss I'm worried about," he paused, gazing deeply into her eyes. "He must be a big part of your life but you kept it a secret. I guess that means something."

"I don't know what it means. I just blocked him out of my memory for a while," Julie sighed. "Jordan, Kady, and I were best friends growing up. He was my first serious boyfriend. But then he hurt Kady and we were done. Just now, we've tried to work our friendship out. Nothing happened while he was staying at my house. But I may have let him on by acting confused about you and me and I don't know why I did that."

Alan shook his head gently, trying to understand. "What are you confused about?" he said, lifting his eyebrows as he looked up at her. "I know, you know how much you mean to me."

She reached out to hold his hand by the fingers and nodded. "I've never put so much trust in the hands of a guy before. Even after you cheated, I still felt like I could trust you with my life and it made me so mad. But trusting you with other girls is just ... different. Especially now, with all this."

While she spoke, Alan slid his hand from her fingers, up her arm, to her cheek. His right hand rested on her back. "You have nothing to worry about. I promise," he whispered. He lowered his hand to the small of her back, bringing her in closer to his body. "I just want to be with you, all the time. That will never change."

"You don't know that," she challenged. Her eyes glistened as if she was holding back tears.

Lowering his hand from her cheek, he stopped at her mouth and slowly brushed his fingertips across her lips, parting them slightly. "Are you gonna fight me on this?" he smiled.

She couldn't help but to smile back. Her cheeks flushed from his touch and her lips longed for his. There was something immensely intimate about this moment even though they were in a room full of people chattering and moving about. She couldn't make out anything they were saying, but she wasn't really attempting to listen. All she could pay attention to was the faint sound of Alan's breathing as he moved in closer. Her gaze had focused on his mouth before he drew it down to hers, kissing her softly. She then closed her eyes and started to kiss him back. Both of her hands slid around the back of his neck as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. Her heart pounded inside her chest as he deepened the kisses and tightened his grip around her body. One of her hands drifted away from his neck and down his arm, tightening against his bicep. A thousand familiar emotions shattered through her body before she finally forced her hand up his abdomen, stopping at his chest to gently push herself away. Her hands came off first, her lips pulled away last. She lowered her head for a moment.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

Julie took a deep breath before letting it out. "Why didn't you tell me it was Jen?"

"Who?" he tilted his head, his green eyes questioning her.

"Jennifer. Really pretty blond girl. Tall as a model. Hates me. Is it coming to you now?" she paused only to see that the questioning look on his face hadn't faded. "Alan, please... just tell me everything."

He looked away for a second before returning his gaze on her. "Oh, I know who you're talking about. What do you want me to tell you, though? I don't really know her at all."

Julie folded her arms impatiently but the tone in her voice stayed soft. "You don't have to know someone to screw them, Alan."

He began to open his mouth, but slowly closed it again. Keeping his eyes on her, he drew out a long sigh. "I'm sorry about that... but what does it have to do with Jen?" he paused, looking into the painful expression on her face and realized what she had been thinking. He reached out his right hand and ran his fingertips through the strands of her brown hair, "Someone must've lied to you, Jules. I told you everything about that night, I didn't know the girl but I swear it wasn't Jen. "

Julie pulled away, "Why would she tell Jordan that it was her and then lie to me about that?"

"How does Jordan fit in all this?" he questioned.

"They dated," she replied.

"So maybe she was jealous of you or something, I don't know, but she lied to you." He cast his sea-green eyes down to the floor and when he looked back up, they were filled with deep sorrow. "This is where it gets hard. I see the way you're looking at me right now and it's killing me. I know you don't believe me."

Julie held her hand to her lips and felt tears sting her eyes. "I'd be lying if I told you I did. And you should take back what you said about waiting for me cuz I don't know how long it'll take. It's not fair to you."

Alan shook his head. "I can't do that," he whispered.

Julie's eyes teared up and her voice wavered as she spoke, "I'm sorry." From the corner of her eye she could see Kady coming towards them. Leaning in closer, she slowly swung her arms around his neck and held on tight. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist as he buried his nose in her hair, taking a deep breath. When Kady approached, she kissed him lightly on the neck and let go.

"Hey guys," Kady said excitedly, but quickly changed her tone when she saw the looks on their faces. "I was going to ask what you wanted to do after this but, I ..." she looked over at Julie, trying to figure out what to say next but all Julie did was turn to walk away.

Alan called after her but she kept walking.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of her," Kady assured him as she walked out the door after her friend.

Julie couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her face. She wiped her eyes as she walked, her knees feeling more wobbly with every step.

"Wait up, girly," Kady called, as she took Julie's arm and draped it over her shoulder.

"The look on his face.." Julie sighed, her lip quivering lightly.

"I know," Kady said. "Tell me about it later, it's ok."

While they continued to walk, they heard a familiar voice call out to them. It was Jordan.

"What are you doing here?" Kady questioned as he reached the two of them. "Wait, never mind, can you take us back to Steph's place?"

"Sure," Jordan nodded, his eyes focusing on Julie.

"Alright, thanks, let me just call Eddie and tell him we're covered," Kady took out her cell and turned to dial while slipping her arm from under Julie's arm. She nodded to Jordan to take over. He placed his hand carefully on Julie's back, looking at her face to make sure she was ok with it.

"Why'd you come back?" Julie asked, holding back her tears.

"Why are you crying?"

"I asked first," Julie argued quietly.

"I have to tell you something." Jordan watched as Julie's ears perked up, "Jen called me about an hour ago."

"Oh Jordan please, I don't want to talk about her now," Julie pleaded.

"You'll want to know this," his eyes tightened as if he didn't want to say what came next. "It wasn't her he slept with. She lied."

Julie closed her eyes and raised her face to the sky. "I am such an idiot. Of course she would."

"You could go back to him right now," Jordan said, turning to face her. His deep brown eyes staring her down with concern.

"I think I just want to go home," Julie replied. "Thanks for driving all the way back to tell me. That was really nice. You could've just called me, though," she forced out a tiny smile.

Jordan looked down at his feet, "I know... and no problem."

They started walking towards the lot when Kady joined them.

"Am I driving?" she winked as they smiled.