Hey again folks.
Due to a lot of encouraging from you guys I've finally been able to finish the 6th chapter of Mrs. Jones, which means I'm posting chapter 5 now.
Not gonna add more non-interesting facts, please enjoy it and I'd be so happy if you left a comment. Big or small, size doesn't matter, right? Well, tell me what you like or don't like!
Enjoy, peeps!
Love, Liz xxx
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CHAPTER FIVE:
PARTY
David was over almost every day to help plan the party. Or that was the agenda. Amanda wondered a little selfishly if that was his main reason for coming over. But he did talk about Evelyn every day as well. Not to Amanda directly, like he knew that she did not prefer to talk about her, or maybe because no one else knew about his own doubts and he didn’t want to discuss the matter any further before Evelyn got home. Amanda didn’t care; she was just pleased that she saw so much to him these days. And the time with the twins had done him good.
Katie had also noticed the lift in Amanda’s spirit, and was starting to wonder if something had happened between them after all. Amanda just laughed at her when Katie had asked her about it. “You said it Katie, he’s engaged!” she just answered her while running back to the lads.
On Saturday night the house looked amazing. The lads had really taken everything a step further by making the living room look more like a colour-carnival instead of the neat living room it used to be. There were colourful drapes hanging in waves from the living room ceiling – not in synchronization, which bugged Katie - and there were last years Christmas-lights dressing the staircase.
Amanda and Katie had given up on trying to influence the guys on decoration and had retrieved to the kitchen to prepare snacks for the night, which meant that the twins had hung up a big self-painted banner that read “Welcome Back”.
Darkness fell and David and Amanda went out to light the candles that was supposed to light up the path to the door.
“You guys have really taken this a step almost-to-far!” Amanda stated to David while she was holding on to her drink and tightened her cardigan, getting chills from the cold November weather.
David looked up at her and smiled. “Yeah, I think the Twins really wanted to show that they can throw a great party, too.”
Amanda giggled, starting to get a little tipsy. “And you had nothing to do with this?” She gestures to all the lights.
He shrugged teasingly. “Well, maybe only a little!”
Amanda took another sip as David’s phone rang. “Oh, it’s Evelyn!” he said excited. “She must be on her way here! Hello?”
As he answered the phone he handed the lighter to Amanda and she continued his work. Amanda tried not to pay to much attention to the phone-conversation.
“What do you mean?” Amanda saw that David’s excited face had vanished, and was replaced by a look of frustration and hopelessness. He moved further away from Amanda and she took the hint and focused on lighting the candles without spilling anything of her drink. In the corner of her eye she saw that David was gesturing furiously with his phone-free hand.
“But you promised…” David’s voice broke off. Amanda saw his chest heave and that he pulled his hand through his hear. “This is important to me, E!” Amanda started to feel uncomfortable and went to light the candles that were the furthest away from David and his phone. She couldn’t hear anything besides mumbling anymore, and Amanda figured that David had lowered his voice as well, because she hadn’t moved that far away from him. When she had lit the last candle she couldn’t decide whether to go inside or to wait for him. But before she had made up her mind she heard a raised voice.
“Fine! You just stay there as long as you like. Don’t think of me, of your supposed-to-be fiancée!” And with that he shut his phone and walked with hard steps towards Amanda.
“You done here?” he snapped, checking the candles and not meeting Amanda’s eyes.
“Yeah…” Amanda looked at him investigatory, she needn’t know about the phone call to know something was wrong, “David, look at me!”
He looked up and looked so sad that Amanda’s heart stung in sympathy. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She stroked his arm.
David started to say something, but then his face changed from sad to mad and he said furiously: “E’s not coming to the party. Her plane got delayed a couple of hours!”
“But she’ll make it then, just be a little late that’s all.” Amanda felt so sorry for David that she forgot all about how much she didn’t want Evelyn to come in the first place.
David shook his head and threw Amanda’s hand off him. “No, she decided to stay ‘til Monday, since the plane was already delayed. She met some of her friends, and apparently they are more important than waiting for a plane for two hours and coming back home to me!”
Amanda tried to sooth him, but it didn’t work. “Hey, it’ll be OK. She probably didn’t mean it like that. Maybe they are planning the wedding or a surprise for you when she comes back!?”
“Nah, she is probably just shopping and drinking espressos with the Olsen-twins! Or whoever. It’s so typical.” He stomped his foot, looking down. “So are we gonna go in? It’s getting kinda cold out here.”
“Sure. But are you gonna be OK?”
“Of course, you know me. The survivor.” He walked past Amanda who understood that he was not gonna be OK. Hopefully all of the people invited would come and maybe that would distract David. Amanda didn’t like the fact that David was dating Evelyn, but if it made David not look like a lost puppy whenever Evelyn was around, then she could live through days of her company. Couldn’t she?
She followed him inside and heard him already telling Katie and the Twins about his “selfish girlfriend”.
The house was filled with old and new friends of the four inhabitants. And everyone seemed to have a good time. Even David seemed to have fun; dancing more and more wildly by every beer that he drank. Amanda couldn’t help laughing as she sat in the sofa watching him.
Katie bumped down in the seat next to Amanda, a bit out of breath from all the dancing. “He seems happier.” She stated.
“Yeah,” Amanda said, smiling, not taking her eyes of David, “alcohol, you know: Great for memory loss!”
Katie laughed. “Yeah, you’re right there. I just hope he knows his limits.”
“He’ll be fine. I’m looking after him.” Amanda smiled even more.
Katie turned to face Amanda. “So, I can see. Have you taken your eyes off him all night?”
Amanda looked over at Katie. “Yeah, sure I have.” She took a drink of her bottle. Katie continued to hold her gaze at her, like she was trying to read her mind.
Amanda bowed for the pressure. “Ok, so I’m not mingling too much tonight. So what? David needs me.”
Katie raised her eyebrows. “There are, like what, 15 people here. You’re not the only one that cares for David, you know?”
“I know. But he’s my best friend.”
Katie sighed and got serious. “Amanda, are you sure that that’s it? Your mood the last weeks have been depending on how David and Evelyn’s relationship is going.”
“Oh, come on, Katie. Not again! I’ve told you; I’m cool with him being with her. I just feel the need to look after him. He’s always been there for me, hasn’t he?”
“I just don’t want you to get your hopes up and get crushed again.” Katie sounded genuinely worried.
Amanda put one arm around her friend. “I’m fine. Seriously. Katie, please just stop!” Amanda got up, but flashed her a smile. “Now go and dance some more with Luc, ‘ey? He’s waiting for you!” Amanda nodded towards the dance floor where Lucas was dancing with David and gesturing for Katie to join them.
“Ok, are you coming too?” She got up as well, straightening her white dress.
“Nah, I think I might pop out for some air.”
“OK.”
Katie flashed a smile at her as Lucas pulled her into his arms and gave her a big kiss. Amanda looked at them in envy and then back at David, who was mimicking them to the great applause of the twins. She had to laugh as she got her cardigan of the kitchen chair and headed outside.
The night was cool, with a gentle breeze that ruffled some leafs on the lawn. Amanda headed for the tree-hut that was right beside the porch. Amanda’s father had built it for her right before he passed away from a heart attack when she was four and a half. David’s father had helped keeping it in shape and added a neat porch to it as they grew up.
The tree-hut had become Amanda and David’s hide away. No adults were allowed and their parents had given them that freedom. They used to spend the summer nights here, just chatting and joking around all night to the light sound of grasshoppers that hid in the hedge, that separated the garden from the road.
The planks that were nailed to the tree squeaked a little as Amanda climbed up. She was glad that she had put on tights with shorts over them instead of that tight, new, red dress she had planned to wear, otherwise she would have had trouble coming up. She crawled onto the inside floor and looked around. She hadn’t been there since David moved out, yet another thing that was theirs. It didn’t look like it had been neglected for years at all, apart from thee creaking noise the floor made and the paint that had started to peel off. She got up and the ceiling was just tall enough for her to stand upright. She walked through the arch and sat down on the edge of the porch, her feet hanging in free air. The view showed the garden hedge and the tree tops of the forest on the other side of the road. She sighed gently and looked up at the sky.
It was a bright night, with a million of stars and the moon shining down on her. She could sit like this until morning, if it wasn’t for the cold. It was a little chilly up there…
“You cold, sweetheart?”
Amanda jumped at the sound of another voice, but she knew who it was before she turned around. She smiled as she turned to face David.
He smiled back. “Here,” he handed her a thick blanket.
“Oh, thank you.” She pulled it over her immediately.
“No problem. I thought you might be cold. You are hardly wearing anything!”
“Hey!” But before Amanda could be offended, she saw that he was just joking. He had that big grin on his face that she could just die for. She looked away as he sat down next to her.
“I brought all the necessities.”
Amanda looked at him again and saw that he had brought another blanket, probably for himself, and a six-pack of Carlsberg.
“Oh, so I see. Beer and Blankets.”
“Ha-ha, yeah. Want one?” He held out a beer for her.
She shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Mine’s empty now anyway. Thanks.”
“No, problem.”
David sighed as he opened his can and Amanda watched him as he took a big drink and then leaned back to look at the stars. Amanda copied him, opened her beer and took a sip.
“It’s really quite amazing up here isn’t it?” He asked. “I can’t understand how we ever stopped going up here.”
“I know. Brings back all the good memories doesn’t it?”
David nodded in agreement. “We should have just had the party here.”
Amanda laughed and looked at him in disbelief. “Yeah, ‘cause that wouldn’t have torn the whole hut down!”
David laughed too. “Yeah, it’s become a bit noisy hasn’t it?”
He pushed the fence that they were leaning on a little, and it followed David’s movement easily. “Yeah, I can get dad to come and look at it some day. We can’t let it fall to pieces, can we?”
“No, we can’t,” she grabbed his hand to make him stop, “but I don’t think you tearing the fence down will help.”
David giggled a little. “Oh, sorry.” He took another drink, leaned back and looked at the starry sky again.
Amanda looked at him. He was so gorgeous with his, tonight, straightened hair, his blue eyes big and awake and his three-day beard. It was clear that he hadn’t been around Evelyn for a while, because she would never have allowed that to grow. He wouldn’t have been allowed to be seen with her in that pair of worn out jeans that he was wearing either. Amanda had to laugh; Evelyn was so stuck up sometimes it was funny.
“What’s the joke?” David sounded curious.
Amanda was still giggling but she just waved her hand in the air, like she waved the question away. “Nothing.” She cleared her voice. “Have you heard anything more from Evelyn, then?”
David’s face fell. He grunted. “You really had to bring that up?”
“I’m sorry.” She stroked his back.
He looked at her. “No, I’m sorry.” He took out his phone from his pocket. “She’s called a couple of times, since… Well, you know.”
“Yeah, and??”
He sighed. “And… I let them go to voice-mail. And I haven’t checked them yet.”
“Did she really hurt you that bad by not coming here?”
David shrugged. “I don’t know if I am relieved or hurt that she’s not here. I just need to be mad at her right now. There’s just been so much wrong lately. Maybe it’s good for us. I dunno” He shrugged again.
“It’ll all get better when she comes back, and then you can clear up all the mistakes.”
David put down his beer and took her free hand in his. “Thank you!” he said genuinely. He looked straight into her eyes.
Amanda’s heart started racing, and she wanted to pull her hand away from his, but then again she wanted to leave it there. It felt really nice. “Thanks for what, exactly?”
“For always being there for me and cheering me up and for understanding, like, always!”
“Well, erhm, no problem.” She pulled out her hand and smiled at him as he reached for the can again. “How much have you been drinking tonight?”
He took another drink and gave her a big grin. “Not that much…”
“No, I can see that.” Amanda answered sarcastically, not letting go of her smile.
“Awh, come here you!”
He pulled her in under his arm and took the other hand and ruffled it on the top of her head playfully.
Amanda tried to get free, but failed. “Hey, watch the hair!”
David let her go with a giggle. “Ooops, sorry.”
Amada’s hands went automatically up to try and straighten her hear back in her ponytail.
“Don’t fuss, you look kinda sexy like that!” He snarled at her.
Amanda pushed him gently. “Shut up!” she felt her cheeks go red, so she looked down. “You have been drinking a lot tonight!”
David laughed again. “Maybe, but you do look really good tonight. I think I have forgotten to tell you that!” He took another drink while Amanda stopped fussing about her hair and looked up at him.
“Thanks, Dave. Well, I see E has taught you some manners.”
His face became hard again. “Would you please not mention her?”
“Oh, I am sorry. I forgot that you were mad at her. Sorry…”
He sighed. “Well, no matter. You look good all the time so…”
Amanda felt her cheeks burn, but she wasn’t quite sure if he was making a joke or that he meant it. “Erm, thanks. I think.”
David looked at her again. “I mean it. That’s not the alcohol talking, you are a gorgeous girl. Ask me any day and I’ll say the same thing.”
Amanda was a little lost for words. Here he was. The man of her dreams telling her that she was gorgeous. Well, if I am so effing gorgeous why can’t you ditch you fiancée and be with me instead??
David continued. “Everyone thinks so, I think. The Twins, Katie has always been jealous of you beautiful hair – Oh, Luc told me.” He added when he saw Amanda’s confused expression. “And I think even E is a bit envious. But she’ll never admit that.” The tone of his voice became mocking as he said the last bit. He was really mad at Evelyn. And Amanda kind of liked it. She didn’t like that she liked it. But they would have to break up if she was going to end up with him, and it was better that David broke her heart than if Evelyn should break his. His big warm heart!
Amanda didn’t know how to respond, so she went the safe way, tried to joke it away. “Ha-ha, like E could ever be envious of anyone. She’s perfect! You’ve even said so.” She nudged him with her elbow to show that she knew he was joking. But apparently he wasn’t joking.
“I mean it. She may be perfect on the outside, and on the photoshopped pictures of her in magazines. But trust me being with a celebrity isn’t what it is all cracked up to be. They’re quite selfish. Like now, she can’t be here with me, for me. But she stayed with her “Pals” in the states instead of waiting an extra hour at the airport.” He flung his arms out, so that the can he was holding bounced over. “Am I not worth an hour at the airport?”
“David? You are spilling your beer.” He took his hands down. Amanda took the beer from him. “You’ve had enough of that for a while.” She took both his hands in hers and stared him straight into the eyes. “Look, honey. To me you are worth a hundred hours at the airport; you are my best friend and I love you! And if you are gonna marry her; you should be just as close, shouldn’t you? Or even closer!” She took a breath. “Honey, I only want what is best for you! And marriage means that you have to spend every day with her. So, you know, you should be talking to her about this, not me. Although, you know you can always come to me. I’m always here.”
David didn’t say anything. He seemed hypnotized, gazing into her eyes.
Amanda let go of his hands and waved one of hers in front of his eyes. “David? Hello?”
“You… You… love me?”
“Of course I do, David. You’re my best friend, silly!”
“You know I love you too, right?” He looked so serious that Amanda didn’t see how he could be joking, but you never knew with David.
“I sort of figured” she said in a confident, but joking tone. She looked up at the stars again.
David stretched and inhaled deeply.
They sat like this for a while. They didn’t speak, they were just looking at the sky.
David was the one to break the silence. “I’m sorry.”
Amanda was surprised. “For what?”
“For being an ass and dumping all my issues on you. You’re right; I should be talking to Evelyn about them.”
“I am always right.” She answered him in a smug tone. “But you know I don’t mind listening to you. I’m always here, I mean it too.”
David smiled warmly at her. “I know. That’s why you’re so great!” He put his arm around her again and she rested her head against his chest.
“You know, this is kinda nice!”
“Yeah, I know.” David answered. “Remember all the things we used to do up here?”
Amanda laughed. “Yeah, from making mud-pies to “making” mum’s pizza and your mum’s cup-cakes.”
“Oh, and remember that day that we were set on sleeping out here and it started raining…”
“…and we refused to come down and ended up soaking wet and with pneumonia and a week in hospital.” Amanda finished for him.
They laughed in sync. “Oh, well, dad made sure that the ceiling didn’t leak after that night.”
“Ha-ha, yeah. Oh, I’ve really missed this place. And you…”
David squeezed her tight. “I’ve really missed you too, Mandy.”
He tilted her head up, so that she looked up in his eyes. “You know what we never did here though?”
She shook her head. “No?”
“This.”
He leaned in and brushed his own lips against hers. Amanda started breathing heavily and her heart started racing. She turned so she faced him with her full body as his mouth was lingering just millimeters from hers. She wanted to make the first move and meet his lips, but she also knew that he wasn’t hers to kiss. But he had been the one making the decision in the first place…
Her thoughts were broken by David’s lips on hers. He kissed her hard and long, and almost left her without breath. When they broke apart they were both panting. But David never moved his head back to decent distance. Their faces lingered with only centimeters of air between them. Amanda could smell his breath. It smelled a bit like alcohol – big surprise – but it wasn’t revolting like Troy’s had been. Troy was the football player who turned into a drunk, which she had dated years ago, before Evelyn came into the picture. She had dumped him quickly after he starting drinking and smoking, and sort of lost himself.
David’s, on the other side, smelled inviting and sweet, despite his drinking activities tonight.
David leaned in trying to kiss her again. But Amanda leaned away, taking all the self control she had. “David?”
He opened his eyes. “Yeah, what’s wrong?”
She sighed, only wanting to kiss him again. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yeah.” He was so certain in his voice.
“What about…” She started, but David kissed her again, making it impossible for her to finish. Amanda gave in, she couldn’t resist anymore.
This was what she had been longing for.
I will continue posting them here don't worry. I need all the feedback I can get 
Just kidding.
This was very good.