One Shot—

Sequel to Jennifer’s Diary In Which It Becomes Clear What the Hell Happened Between the Ending of the Book and the Epilogue

--

It hurt like a bitch when Jen moved in with Devon. There’s really nothing more to say. I loved her, I had loved her for years. Then, when I was finally ready to say something, Devon-the-ass comes along and manipulates her life. Suddenly she’s confused about him and Todd and I just get cut out of the picture.

I guess I should be used to it.

Sighing, I flipped through the channels on TV. “News, sports, cartoons, reality – Cartoons!” I exclaimed, and switched back a channel.

“Timmy!” Sheena groaned from the kitchen. “God, Raj is like. You are like a baby. All you watch is friggin’ cartoons.”

“It’s not my fault that Bugs is classic!” I argued. “He’s a genius. It’s a political satire mixed in with the type of sadistic humor which captures the attention of audiences everywhere!”

“…you need to shut up,” Sheena said, laughing. “Anyway, are you ready to have dinner? Jen and Dev should be here sometime soon.”

I groaned. “Sheena, do you want to fucking torture me?”

Her eyes notably softened. Maybe I could get out of this dinner thing…just play my cards right…

“No, I don’t, Tim-Tim, but you know Robert asked for you to check up on Jen while he was with Maryanne.”

“Dammit, Sheena, can’t you do it for me?” I begged. Seriously, seeing Jen and Dev together killed me.

“No.”

--

“Timmy, why are you ignoring me?” Jen demanded.

“What do you mean?” I asked (not so) innocently. Okay, maybe I had pretty much blanked her all evening, letting Devon and Sheena do most of the talking. But it hurt like hell to talk to her. To know that in reality, she didn’t give a damn about me – not that way at least.

“I mean this whole not calling, not emailing, not responding to emails or calls, and then blanking me at the dinner table thing,” she said, her skin flushing with the cold and the anger. We were standing on the balcony at the back of the apartment. I’m sure Sheena and Devon were inside, arguing (again) about the theories of Rousseau. Nerds.

“What the hell do you expect of me?” I asked, my temper rising. “I’m not your brother, Jen. I shouldn’t have to check up on you!”

“You’re right, you’re not my brother,” she shot back. “You’re not even my friend. You’re just the brother’s best friend. Why should I give a fuck if I keep in contact with you or not?” She turned to walk away.

I was stunned temporarily. Then the anger – and hormones – kicked in. I’m not sure who was more angry, but I grabbed her arm and tugged her back towards me.

“Just your brother’s best friend?” I spat back. “Well, then I can do this without feeling guilty.”

I swear, I felt fireworks explode in my brain. Suddenly, I wasn’t cold at all – I was hot, uncomfortably so, but at the same time I never wanted to let her go, and she was definitely the cause of the heat.

Her lips – their taste is indescribable. Mint, chocolate, coffee, toffee – I’m not sure which to pick out. Either way, it was addictive.

We broke apart a minute later. Her eyes were wide, her face was flushed. Not to sound like a hormonal teenager, but damn she looked hot.

“I…you…Dev…I…” she stuttered.

I smirked. “Jen, stop thinking,” I commanded her before I kissed her again. It was considerably longer this time, and again she kissed me back.

When we broke apart, she looked a lot more confused. And somewhat distressed.

“I….I have to go,” she finally whispered, before she fled.

I wasn’t sure if my heart broke at that moment – or if it took a leap of triumph.

--

I never considered having any feelings towards Timmy. It was impossible to consider! He was my brother’s best friend! I liked him as a friend, sure, but isn’t against some sibling code? I assumed it was.

Then again, I’m eighteen, Tim’s twenty, and I’m pretty sure those “codes” don’t apply anymore.

But I had never had an interest in Timmy earlier.

The ride home with Dev was silent. He looked somewhat angry…I’m not too surprised. It was an awkward dinner, to say the least. Robert had required us – once a week, food with Timmy and Sheena this way he was sure that I was doing okay.

Dev finally parked in front of our apartment.

“Fucking hell, Jen, are you ever going to tell me that you and Timmy kissed?” he finally asked, his voice tinged with anger, yet oh-so-low.

“Uh…” I said, my eyes going wide. This really, really wasn’t good. Devon’s always had a short fuse, and I’ve generally been careful not to tick him off.

“Well?” he asked, his voice getting tighter.

I wasn’t sure to be honest. I was still in shock over Timmy kissing me. Well, okay, I kissed him back (he’s a damn good kisser.) but I was still in shock. It had happened thirty minutes ago for heaven’s sake!

“I hadn’t thought about it,” I said, deciding to stay honest. “I’m still sort of shocked about it. He never even gave a hint…”

Devon laughed. Yeah, you’re reading this right. He laughed. “Are you blind? He’s been after you since before we turned enemies! Robert knew it, I knew it, the whole school knew it.”

“I…” I’m not oblivious. I swear. It’s just people are way too subtle. Do they expect me to pick up on everything or something?

Dev sighed. “Jen, our relationship cooled down. College did that to us. I think you actually need to think about this. I don’t want you to leave, but you need to consider it now. Tim, he’s a nice guy and he’s been in love with you for years. And I think, sometimes, if I hadn’t been there, you would have started dating him last year or the year before.”

“No,” I said, cutting Devon off. “Dev, I don’t know what you’re thinking. I’ve liked you for a long time. You know that. Tim? I never though about him in that way at all. Period. He just is my brother’s best friend. Nothing more, nothing less. You? You’re the man I love.”

Devon scrutinized me. I could feel his eyes searching my face for hesitancy. He didn’t find any.

“Next time, Jen, can you just tell me if something like that happens?” he asked, sighing again, this time with relief. “I love you too, and dammit Jenny, I was so scared you were questioning our relationship.”

We got out of the car and walked into our apartment into our room. Yes, I was still a virgin. But that didn’t mean we couldn’t share a room. Separate beds and stuff made it possible.

Dev pulled me down onto his bed and just held me for twenty minutes. We fell asleep like that.

--

Six Months Later

“We’re done, Jen,” I told my girlfriend – ex-girlfriend. “The spark died.”

Instead of the tears and anger I expected, she nodded her head, calmly at that. “I…you’re right,” she agreed, looking somewhat sad. “It died long ago, didn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I said, before leaning down and kissing her for the last time. She tasted, as always, like honey and chocolate. It was a wonderful taste, one that used to excite and intoxicate me. Sadly, it no longer happened. I wasn’t quite sure what had happened to us, but after the incident with Tim, our relationship slowly died.

Tim left. He went to Europe to meet Robert’s – Jen’s brother – girlfriend and to finish his last year of college on an internship. He was actually due back in a week and a half. But ever since he left, Jen started receding from me. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, and somewhere along the path, I sort of stopped caring.

That doesn’t mean I don’t love her as a friend. I do. But the romantic way? Not so much. I love her – I’m not in love with her though. Not anymore.

She sighed, soft and sad. “I’m sorry, Devon,” she said, tears springing into her eyes. I had a hard time not crying as well – I may have (just) turned twenty, but that doesn’t mean our relationship hadn’t affected me and that I wasn’t mourning it’s loss. If it hadn’t been for Timmy, I’m sure Jen and I would have ended up together permanently.

But, as much as she doesn’t want to admit it, she’s in love with Tim. She has been since he kissed her – and she knows everything about him. She’s never had issues picking gifts for him, and they’ve always genuinely delighted her. He could always read her like a book, and she could read him just as easily.

I suppose I won in the short term – I was jealous as hell of Tim when Jen moved in with Robert. I knew he liked – or loved – her then, and when she chose me (though I’m not sure she was aware she had a choice) over him, I was ecstatic. But overall, I still lost. The moment Timmy left her life, she fell apart.

She had stopped eating so much recently and I had called her brother two days ago to inform him of that. I also told him I was planning to break up with her so I’d rather he be home to take care of her. Her mother was too image conscious – she had almost encouraged Jen’s first bout with anorexia and there was no way I was going to leave Jen with the psycho-bitch.

Hence Robert and Timmy would be here in a week. Till then, Jen could still stay with me. We were friends, even if we weren’t together.

She kissed me back, well aware it was a good bye kiss. Then she pulled back and we both put on slight smiles. S he told me she was going to take a walk in the park, that she’d be back in the evening.

Yeah, I admit it. I was damn relieved. I was planning to go to my friend’s dorm and get drunk till I forgot about what I just did.

--

It’s been six months since I’ve seen Jen. Six months Since I’ve heard her voice, since I’ve feasted my eyes on her body, since I’ve been soothed by her laugh and calmed by her touch.

Fuck I missed her. Pardon my French.

I tried dating other girls in England. Apparently, like the American girls are crazy for Brit guys, Brit girls are absolutely mad for American guys. I got my share of action and women…but for some reason, Jen’s face always flashed in my mind. Scratch the “for some reason” bit. Because I loved her, Jen’s face always flashed in my mind.

When Robert and I headed back to California, I was excited. I couldn’t wait to see her. To my surprise, though, it wasn’t her who picked us up at the airport, but Devon.

“How is she?” was the first thing Robert asked.

Devon looked helpless. “She hasn’t eaten properly since we ended it. But she wasn’t that upset about it being over…”

“Well, she’s moving back in with us tomorrow. Got it?” Robert said, playing the slightly scary, intimidating older brother.

“Of course,” Devon said, affronted. “I don’t want to take advantage of her.”

“Good,” Robert growled.

Me? I was speechless. She was single…but she wasn’t eating. And that, that concerned the hell out of me.

--

I moved back in with Robert and Timmy today. Truth to be told, I was scared as hell of seeing Timmy. I was scared that the words we parted on last time were too bitter, too angry, too hateful for us to be friends ever again.

And then when I saw him. Wow.

You know how distance makes the heart grow fonder? Let’s just say apparently my heart (and eyes) were now really fond of him. He walked into the room and I became warmer. I could feel the rush of blood go to my head, and my heart started pumping furiously. And I could swear I felt myself blush.

However, it wasn’t awkward at all. In fact, it seemed like he forgot the kiss and fight at all. He saw me, smiled, and swept me into his arms for a hug – which I swear made me hot and bothered! – and told me that he had missed me “like hell.” Hopefully, he didn’t see the very pleased expression on my face.

I had missed him like hell too. I never told Devon, but after that conversation in the car, once Timmy left, I began questioning my feelings. There was no doubt in my mind that I loved Dev. But how did I love him? And slowly, the realization crept upon me that I loved Timmy too.

How did I love Timmy? I didn’t know – but the thought of not seeing him for six months and him not talking to me made me feel physically sick and incapable of eating. The thought of the words I had said to him made me close myself off.

I came to the conclusion that I was no longer in love with Devon – if I had ever loved him. Slowly, the sparks faded out of our kisses and our “make out sessions” didn’t go quite as far as they used to.

And damn, I had missed Timmy like hell. But honestly, I didn’t know how much until I saw him again.

But it’s not like I could tell him that. Despite what Dev told me, I didn’t know if Tim loved me or not. And there was no way I was going to put my heart on the line. I know that it was me who had messed up…but I just didn’t feel as though I had the courage.

--

I wish Tim would tell her that he loved her. Jen and I stayed close – it was hard not to. We were so used to calling each other and seeing each other regularly – even just as friends – that we finally decided that to keep it from being awkward, we’d just meet for coffee daily. It stopped the incessant calls we kept giving each other just because we missed the other person’s voice.

I had found a new girl I sort of liked. Because Jen and I hadn’t ended badly, it was so, so easy to talk to her about this girl. And Jen, she started confiding in me about Tim.

The man was an ass. He obviously loved her, she equally obviously reciprocated his feelings. If he just had the damned courage to say something to her.

I finally decided I was sick of his not saying anything two months after he got back. I confronted him. Sort of.

“Hey Tim, I need to talk to you,” I said, leaving a message on his cell phone. “Meet me at the park in two or three hours, please. I’ll be sitting by the pond.”

Sure enough, two and a half hours later, he showed up.

“What’s up?” he asked. He had been notably friendlier to me now that Jen and I were over and Jen was eating again. My conclusion about that, by the way is Timmy equals Jen eating. No Timmy equals Jen starving.

“Can you just tell Jen you love her?” I asked, cutting bluntly to the chase. Tim’s eyes went dark.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked. His voice stayed mostly friendly, but there was a slight threat in there. I noticed it, but I kept going anyway.

“It’s obvious, Tim,” I said, sighing. “Everyone, except Jen, is well aware you love her. Ask Selene, Kyle, Bri, Belinda…hell, ask Robert. Everyone knows. Todd of all people knew even in high school!” I told him. “It’s your chance with Jen now. Take it.”

He was quiet for a minute.

“I’m her brother’s best friend,” he said, echoing her words from long ago. “Nothing more, nothing less. Until she makes a move, I’m not free to do anything. It’d ruin our friendship, which I was happy just to get back after I kissed her.”

Hm. Interesting.

--

I’m not sure if I felt better or worse after my talk with Devon. But I felt a little reassured. If Jen loved me now, then all she had to do was say it. Hell, I’d be happy with a kiss. Just something to let me know, something that she told me herself. I knew to myself that once I had her, I’d never let her go. Ever. So I wanted her to be sure what she was getting into. And this time, that meant her making the first move.

--

“Kiss him,” Devon said, one afternoon while we were having Starbucks.

I actually accidentally spit my coffee halfway across the table. He looked sort of disgusted as I tried to mop up the mess. Finally, when my shock and laughter subsided, I asked him if he was either insane or joking.

“No, I’m not,” Devon said. “You’ve always given him this impression that you only regarded him as your brother’s best friend. Maybe it’s time you let him know how you feel. He was pretty open about it with that kiss…”

“Which he never mentioned again,” I reminded Dev.

“Because you reacted so negatively! Just try it – what’s the worst that can happen?”

“He’ll reject me.” Duh?

“But if you don’t tell him, you’ll get rejected anyway. Or he’ll pick another girl. And that, love, would hurt so much more,” Dev said, staring at me seriously.

He was right. I knew it and when I went to the apartment, I resolved to tell Tim that very night itself.

When Timmy came home, with Robert, I asked him (Tim of course) if he wanted to go to the park with me. Robert shot me an encouraging look – I told my brother about my crush and he was okay with it – and told Timmy to go with me.

When we reached the park, Timmy finally stopped me.

“What the hell is this really about?” he asked, leaning against a tree trunk.

I hesitated. “It’s…” I paused again. Slowly, it started to drizzle and then to rain. I felt my resolve weaken and shook my head.

“It’s nothing,” I told him, and turned to head back to the apartment before I got completely soaked. Timmy’s arm, however, held me back.

He pulled me into his chest, into his embrace, and I felt my face heat up. Being this close to him – well, it did strange things to me. Suddenly, I felt the spark.

I love you.

But how to say it? How to get the courage to push the words out of my mouth?

I couldn’t. I shook my head again. Tim sighed and pushed my chin up so my eyes met him.

His eyes. It’s hard to describe. They were filled with so many things. Hope, passion, hurt, anger, friendship, warmth…and love.

I knew what to do.

His lips – they were warm, soft, smooth, firm…they were so many things. My hands slid into his hair and pushed his mouth against mine, just a little bit harder, and I fit my body against his. His hands, which had been on my arms, slid around my waist and began to roam over my back.

He kissed me back.

I’m not even going to try to describe it. Like eight months ago, it was magical. But there was something more, something that, now that I recognized it, wasn’t ever there were Devon. I’m not sure what it was – if our souls connected or something, but it felt like it. And I knew I couldn’t ever bear to be apart from Timmy. Not truly apart.

We broke apart, panting, and his arms tightened around my waist. I was short enough where my head fit neatly beneath his chin once I stopped standing on my toes and he straightened up, and I felt just plain comfortable. But I needed to say it.

I got on my tip toes again and whispered into his ears:

“You’re a damned good kisser. Would you like to go out with me?”

He laughed, nodding his head, and finally choked out, between chuckles, that he’d love to. We returned to the house holding hands, dripping with rain water, and laughing.

Yes, I knew I loved him, and I was sure he loved me, but I wasn’t ready to say it. Not yet.

--

Four Months Later

“I love you,” I told her, holding her warm body against mine. She made a little sound before replying.

“I love you more.” Her eyes glinted with laughter and love, and I kissed the top of her head. Then I realized it was the perfect ending to the perfect night.

“Jen, I know you never expected to do this until you were married,” I said, hoping the words would come out right, “and that you were planning for it to be a magical night. And I don’t know how to make it magical. But, I do know how to alleviate whatever sinful feelings you might have.”

I pulled a ring box from the top drawer of my side table and shifted so that she was lying on her back and I was propped up above her. Her hair was tousled from my hands running through it and her eyes looks suspiciously bright.

“I love you, Jen, and I have for a good few years. I know we’ve been together for a short time, but I also know that I’m never going to love anyone as much as I love you. We don’t have to get married right away – well if you don’t want to we don’t have to get married period – and I’m really willing to wait because I just love you and want to be with you forever. And I don’t think I could stand not having you in my life, in my heart. You make me so happy. And I really love you and –”

She cut me off with a kiss. At my stunned look, she grinned.

“You were babbling,” she explained. “Now, continue.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed.

“Jen,” I asked, kissing her between each word. “Will…you…marry….me?”

She nodded, a tear slipping from her eye. I kissed it away and looked at her, waiting for verbal consent.

I should have remembered that she wasn’t really one for sentimental moments.

“No shit, Sherlock,” she said, finally hugging me to her. “Yes, hell yes.”

“Who the hell is this Sherlock?” I asked, pretending to be offended. “Is there something you need to tell me?” I asked as I slipped the ring on her finger and then began kissing down her throat. She moaned softly and I kissed lower…

We didn’t sleep that night. At six in the morning, she finally curled into me and heaved a huge sigh, slipping into sleep.

I can actually only remember one coherent thought running through my head (besides “I love you”)…

Hell yes.

Fin

AN: Hi!

Yes it’s been forever since I promised I’d have this up. This is a lot more like what I intended to happen instead of what was going on the The Brother’s Best Friend. Seriously, sure this was just as cliché, but at least it makes more sense, eh?

Anyway, I’d like to really thank all the reviews for TBBF, that was really nice of you guys to stick with such a crappy story. It definitely didn’t measure up to JDKOP at all, and this does a lot more.

About Mischance – I do have the next chapter halfway done, so expect it up after SATs. (March 10th). Possibly that weekend itself. We’ll see.

Anyway, thanks again . Review!