Jake’s POV

Monday and Tuesday didnt really drag by, I couldnt say that, but it still felt like this week was going on forever…

I wanted to get this over with to head back home, I really needed those days off after returning.
I wanted to spend some time with Ella, and I wanted to just hang around, not being supposed to do anything besides relaxing at home with my girl.

I did notice I was running out of energy, I was getting cranky and that wasn’t my normal behavior.
I was normally a pretty fun loving, and always happy smiling guy but these last weeks especially with Ella being so down about her job, were pulling on all the energy and power that I had left.

I was just glad Ella was finally getting the groove in the job and didn’t feel like I left her alone, too much. Or if she did she wouldn’t make me feel like it, I just hoped it all went alright, but I checked in with Eric earlier and he said, she was doing fine and looked happy, so I guess I could take his word for it.

It was late Tuesday evening/ night when I talked with Ella again, she yawned a few times, but I still didn’t want to let her go. “I need to get up early, Jake… I need my beauty sleep” She protested and I grinned “You don’t need that, you are way too pretty for your own good already. Stay with me, just a little longer, I have a hard time falling asleep when you are not next to me…” I whined and Ella huffed out air “You sweet talker… but just a little more, I really need to sleep its past midnight, I’ll never get to work in time”

“I have to start at noon, why don’t you do the same?” I suggested but I knew Ella wasn’t the type, but she surprised me when she seemed to think over it “You think that would be okay?” She asked and I rolled my eyes “No one is taking your hours, babe. As long as you get the work forward, its fine… I’ll put in a good word with your boss…” I chuckled.

“You ass” She countered and I smiled even more, she had that effect on me, no matter what she made me smile.
“Don’t tell me you don’t miss me.” I said sadly “Of course I miss you… but its not my fault that you are so far away” She shot back and I heard a smile in her voice. Our back and forth was going on for a few more hours, making me miss home a little less…

I woke the next morning when my alarm started ringing and the sun was already shining through my window. I had forgotten to close the curtains, since I had been talking to Ella till almost 3 in the morning, I almost fell dead asleep right after. The phone rested beside me was fully charged again by now and I plugged it out checking for any news.

I hoped Ella made true to her word and would be going to work not before noon, she told me she also had to go grocery shopping,or she wouldn’t be able to make herself a meal if she wouldn’t do that.

I swung my legs out of the bed and stretched my arms over my head, another training today and my body felt slightly sore, yesterday the customer had been in pretty good shape and I had to do a lot more session than I expected or even planned.

I didn’t really know what to expect today, but I better get ready and have a look at my plan, to be prepared for everything.

I just dressed when my phone started to ring again, I still had an hour till my meeting with the customer, but I hadn’t eaten yet.
I looked at the caller and grinned, I haven’t heard from him in a while.

“Hey Dan, what’s up?” I asked my friend. We got to know each other in my gym, he was there a lot, trying everything out, we became friends over the time and even though he was a lot on the road we kept in touch.

“Yo Jake, I am at home after all the travelling… are you at the gym? I could come over later and we meet up for a training and have drink afterwards, what you say?!” Dan asked and I chuckled.
“You are always welcome at the studio, sadly I’m not around this time. I’m having a training week out of town… but you can still go.” I told him walking out of my hotel room to grab something to eat at the breakfast buffet.

“Shit, really? Well, the whole thing was to meet with you again and have drink, the training I can do on my own, if your are not up for a competetion, asshat” Dan shot back and I laughed “Maybe you should do something for your body, and prepare, next week I’m back” I shot back and heard Dan snort “I’m always in shape, dude, they don’t call me Body for nothin’”He laughed and I grinned, it was good hearing from him.

“Alright alright.” I said “You home for a while? Or back on the road soon?” I asked and heard commotion in the background “I’m home next week too, you call me when ya back, then we meet up? How that sound?” He asked and I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me.

“Sounds like a plan… how’s everything going? All good?” I asked and heard some voices again “Yeah, I’m good, the lady is good. We should talk properly when you are back, how about you? Your woman? The job all good?” He asked and I sighed “Yeah, we are great, she had a hard time with losing her job and all, but I think its working out quiet good for now.” I made the long story short.

“Shit, yeah that sucks… We gonna meet next week, promise? Then we get to really talk, I gotta go. Lady is waiting for me already” Dan said and I nodded “Gotta work now anyway, have a good day… I’ll let you know when I’m back. Take care.”

We hung up and I checked the planning and ate breakfast while writing Ella a quick message to check how her day was going.

Ella’s POV
I dragged myself out of bed by noon, I felt like I haven’t slept at all. Damn Jake, and his late call… Even though it had felt good to be able to talk to him longer than just a few minutes in between training and work. But for my taste it had been way too late, especially when I had to work and still do some shopping today, or I wouldn’t be able to eat anything after getting home from work.

I showered, dressed and grabbed my bag, the weather was great and I thought about walking to work today, it wasn’t that far, I was too late now anyway, so why bother. I could stop at the grocery store and get the necceities on my way home.
I closed the door and headed to work, it took me good 30 minutes with all the traffic I had to consider and regretted not taking the car in the end.

When I walked into the studio I quickly said hello to everyone and then moved into my office. I concentrated on my work comepltely and wanted to get everything done before all shops were closed and I would get home empty handed, and with an empty stomach too.

Time went by so fast, that again I didn’t realize how late it got, when Eric knocked on the door and stuck his head in, “You still here? It’s getting late?!” He asked and I looked at the watch cursing.
“I’m about to leave…damn it” I quickly saved my work and righted the desk to not have it overflown with documents, grabbed my bag and made my way out.

I hurried my steps over the parking lot when I saw a familiar person only a few spots from me. When he noticed me as well, he lifted his hand in greeting and walked the few steps towards me.

“Hey, haven’t seen you around? You have been hiding?” Matt asked his car door still open and I shook my head “Just worked late… and I really need to get going, I need to do some grocery shopping and walk home...” I trailed off already taking a step back to get back on my way. Matt frowned motioning to his car “Should I take you? I need to do some shopping myself… care to join?!”

I thought about his offer and if I still wanted to eat something today, I should probably take him up on his offer, or I would never get something cooked today.
I nodded and Matt smiled, he walked around his car opening the door for me and I grinned for his gentleman move“Thanks” I sat inside and he hurried to the other side.

“You don’t have a car today?” He asked looking at me from the side and I shook my head “I stupidly decided today to walk, not considering I would forget the time again…” I shrugged making Matt chuckle.

He pulled up to the grocery store and I got a cart out, he didn’t seem to want to take one for himself so I started to walk ahead.

He made fun and we laughed a lot together, while I just put in the most necessary things for today and the day after, Matt walked next to me closely. He seemed to look at me every now and then but didn’t say a word.

He also didn’t put anything into the cart, which made me frown, didn’t he say he had to buy something too?! When I was about to say something he was suddenly gone from my side and I frowned, where the hell was he now?!

Then I found him at the register area, I was already done, had just decided to give him time to pick out the items he needed, but instead he was on his phone talking heatetly. His eyes met mine, and he mouthed the word ‘sorry’. I didn’t really know why so I just started packing my things on the register and Matt followed me, still on the phone, sighing loudly.

“I told you, I need a little longer, okay? Deal with it… I’m not home” Matt hissed and I cringed, had he missed an appointment cause of me. Shit!
“I’ll be there, just a little later, okay?” He said again before hanging up and pushing his phone back in his pants pocket. “Sorry” He said and helped me pack my stuff into bags. “Is everything okay? Did you miss an appointment? I can still walk home… You don’t-” I said and Matt started shaking his head.

“NO no, don’t worry. It’s all good. Someone is at my home waiting for me, but they’ll get over it. Won’t hurt them waiting for a little” He smiled and wasn’t that smile contagious?!

“I really don’t want to bring you any trouble, I mean it.” I tried again but Matt shook his head “No trouble, all good.” And that was when his phone started ringing again and it never stopped till we were at his car.

Matt tried to ignore it but I couldn’t “Hey, why don’t you drive on home and I’ll walk. I think that’s better… I really don’t want to be the reason-”
“No, its fine.” The phone started again and he pulled it out shutting it off completely this time.

“Would you mind, if we stop by at my home, it will not take long… then I drop you off?” Matt asked sighing loudly and I chuckled. “No problem, really.” I answered and Matt drove off, he parked infront of a big house and I saw a couple of people standing before his house waiting already, making me feel bad.

“About damn time, Sanders! You forgot about us or what?” Someone yelled that I recognized from his band and also a few other people form the crew I had seen before.
“Should I wait?” I asked and Matt looked between me and the group back and forth.

“You can come along, it will be real quick?!” He said and got out of the car and I thought about it for a second until I decided I could at least sneak a look at his house while waiting at the entrance way.

I stepped out and saw how all eyes turned on me, I swallowed thickly and felt how my cheeks immediately turned a bright red.

Matt was looking at me as well and smiled “Don’t let those guys scare you, they are all real nice if you get to know them… I just need to open up for them, then we can leave” He said and was almost shoved out of the way by his band member.

Matt’s POV
This could have been the perfect plan, if I wouldn’t have forgotten that today was the beach party planned at my house.
Fuck!

At the gym I almost thought that I wouldn’t be able to see Ella today, didn’t really think I would after leaving, but then when she hurried out I knew this was meant to be.

I had quickly offered to take her home, I mean, that was perfect, in my head. I would take her home, or first shopping, I could be the perfect gentleman, helping her with her bags, bringing her home, walking with her inside, bringing her heavy bags in and then get the opportunity to see her home, why not offer to help her cook, not that I was any good, but I could be around and we could eat together, a drink, maybe a kiss… one thing let to another.

Perfect, right?

But no, while we had fun shopping, and yes I told her I needed something too that I really didn’t, I just wanted to not make her feel bad about letting me drive her around, no then I got the call from my asshole friends.

They were at my place for the beach party, the beach party I had completely forgotten. Fuck! It couldn’t have a worse timing, right?!

And those guys wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone, now I did the only thing I could do and take Ella along with me.
I hoped the guys didn’t scare her away, everything could have gone right, now everything turned out wrong.

When I pulled up I saw them waiting already and saw how restless Ella looked, that wasn’t what she signed up for and I hoped this wasn’t about to put my chances down.

“Should I wait?” She asked looking over to the waiting people and I considered my options, which were slim to none. “You can come along, it will be real quick?!” I gave the decision over to her and she seemed to think over it for a moment.

I took a step away from the car and I noticed right away when Ella had made her decision, cause everyone was turning towards her, ogling her even.

I turned to her to give her some reassurance “Don’t let those guys scare you, they are all real nice if you get to know them… I just need to open up for them, then we can leave” I said and was almost shoved to the side by Gates who walked past me.

“Ms. Ella, what a pleasent surprise, now I know why Sanders too so long. Come on, I’ll show you around.” He grabbed Ella’s arm and pulled her forward and I narrowed my eyes, that fucker…Ella seemed overwhelmed and just went along, looking over her shoulder at me with confusion written over her face and I inhaled deeply, cursing when I let the air out of my lungs and marched forward to open the door.
Okay, fine… apparently I had lied to Ella, it wouldn’t just take a minute. We were now at my home for about an hour, and after I had said hello to everyone and every minute someone new approached or just wanted to talk to me for a second, I had suddenly the bbq going and the pool was full of my friends.

I honestly hadn’t even seen Ella since we enterd my home. I grabbed Johnny from beside me handed him the equipment for the bbq and went through the mass of people to find Ella somewhere. I should apologize and get her home.

“Well, I can tell you, he can make the best steaks… you shouldn’t let that opportunity go past you” Zack’s voice sounded and I grinned, he was talking about me, sure thing. “They are good, okay… but I bought all the rest of the food. Come on, I’ll get you something” Gates voice sounded next and then I saw him and Ella press through the people on my other side.
I turned around and wanted to head after them when Jason stopped me “Isnt she from the Meet and Greet?” He asked and I looked at him confused “Who?” “The girl Gates is all over the entire time..." Jason pointed into the direction of my house and I tried to follow his movement, but not seeing Gates or Ella.

"Ella?" I asked and Jason shrugged "Yeah, could be... I couldnt really talk to her cause Brian thought he had the exclusive right, even though I just wanted to know if I had seen her before." Jason said and took another sip from his beer.
Damn Gates, I really had to keep an eye on that fucker!

I left Jason sitting there without answering and headed for the terrace entrance, later on when everyone was fed, we would move to the beach behind my house and start a small fire there and drink until the morning sun would come out.

When I reached the terrace I finally saw Ella and Brian, he was loading food onto a plate and gave it to Ella.
I quickly walked over to them "YO JOHNNY! Hand that first piece of meat over to us!" Brian yelled and Johnny came running putting the steak onto Ella's plate and I took the chance to finally get in between it.

"Shit, Ella, I'm sorry. This got out of control... I can bring you-" I started when Ella shook her head and tried to get up from the chair she just sat down. She pushed the plate into Brian's hands who frowned.

"I'm sorry. I thought... I didnt meant to take anyone's food or..." She stuttered and Brian looked at me with small eyes mouthing 'WTF'

I shook my head quickly "No, no, thats not what I meant! Of course you are invited, take a seat, grab something to drink, eat... I just... I..." I had no idea what to say, since when was I this horrible in these situations?!

"Here, sit. Eat! I'll have a quick chat with Matt." Brian said and grabbed my arm pulling me away from Ella and the chance to finally spend some time with her.
I cursed but went with him nontheless... Maybe I could finally find out what the hell was he doing with Ella and what he planned!

Notes

How did u like this chapter?
Let me know in the comments!

And another Votinggggg...
Did u notice what I did with Dan - The Body and Jake? Huh?!
Soooo guess what?!

Should Dan show up at the party?
A) Yes B) No

Thank youuuu!