Take Me Back to Start

Jolie woke up still cuddled into Brian’s chest. With a small smile, she carefully crawled out of his arms and tip toed out of the room. She went downstairs to see her dad sipping on some coffee and reading the newspaper. When he looked up at her, he gave her a little smirk and she knew he had already figured out what was going on. A light blush covered her cheeks as she walked over to the refrigerator to grab a glass of orange juice as well as pulling out ingredients for breakfast.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened with you and Brian last night before he comes down here for breakfast or are you two going to tell me together?” Scott asked with a teasing tone clear in his voice.

Jolie bit her lip a little freezing by the stove and turning around to face her dad. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have no clue if we’re making the worst decision of our lives or not. I just…We’re dating, dad. I’m dating Brian…” she rambled a little. In the end, when she finally vocalized it, it was like a sudden realization that this was actually happening.

“She’s so nervous, pretty adorable, isn’t it?” Brian teasingly said as he entered into the kitchen. He walked right over to the coffee machine to pour himself a mug and gently leaned over kissing the side of Jolie’s head. “I’m assuming you and my dad were waiting for me to finally say something,” he added directed to Scott.

Scott laughed loudly shaking his head. He liked the ease that Brian fell into with his daughter. There was nothing different from their friendship aside from the more romantic gestures.

Mostly, there was nothing hiding behind the friendship anymore. “Senior and I have been taking bets since you two were kids. He thought you’d say something at prom, but I thought you would have long before that. You were always overconfident. Who knew that all it took to make your ego normal sized was my daughter?” he joked straight away with a grin.

As the two men continued to joke, Jolie was surprised that Scott just accepted it. Had he and Papa Gates really been taking bets? Was she this oblivious that literally everyone knew, but her? She glanced up at Brian who offered to help her cook. She shook her head gently pushing him towards the counter to sit with her dad.

“Let’s be honest, Dad. Jimmy was the sole reason Brian said anything. I had to bring it up first. The great Synyster Gates was too scared to say anything himself,” Jolie jumped into the joking after a moment. Scott laughed loudly shaking his head as Brian glared at her.

“Hey, I was taking my time, okay? I tried to tell you or make my move plenty of times, but you were too fucking oblivious to it,” Brian grunted in defense. She rolled her eyes not believing him. “Come on! I did! I tried before you left three years ago! I also tried at prom! You never wanted to listen,” he argued straight away.

Jolie pouted a little knowing she was caught. Thinking back to those times, she knew that she hadn’t been listening. She probably wouldn’t have believed him anyways. “I’m listening now,” She murmured with a little grin making Brian just laugh before waving her off. He fell into conversation with Scott.

As the food was finishing, Jimmy came running in the front door with no warning. He was practically screaming as he wrapped his arms around Brian jumping up and down. Matt, Val, Zacky, and Johnny came walking in behind them. Without any hesitation, Jolie pulled out more food starting to make it so there was enough for everyone. Jimmy was still dancing around while Matt greeted Scott. Zacky walked over to the stove along with Johnny. Both kissed her cheek before joining in the conversation. Matt finally come over giving her a hug as well. Val came skipping over as well to greet her.

Jimmy moved over to Scott hugging him too for a few minutes before finally grabbing Jolie into a huge hug as well. “I can’t believe it finally happened!” he cheered, “Two of my very best friends are finally together!” He stepped back with Jolie in his arms twirling her, “The only thing that would make it better would be if I was also in this relationship!” Then, he dragged her over to Brian nearly throwing her into the other man’s arms. “It’s so cute!” he screeched. Jolie was blushing so brightly and Brian just laughed easily with his arms around her.

“Glad to see you finally grew some balls, Gates,” Zacky teased.

“Jimmy had to pretty much set it up though,” Johnny added.

“Hey, they just had to work through it,” Val defended.

Jolie finally slipped away from Jimmy and Brian a little overwhelmed. “Calm down. It literally just happened last night,” she mumbled heading back to the stove. She went back to cooking right away. Her reaction made Jimmy pout for a moment before he started jumping all over Brian again. While everyone was mostly distracted, Matt leaned against the counter next to the stove.

“So, Haner then?” Matt asked with little prompting.

“Yeah, Haner then,” Jolie mimic with a smile.

“Can’t say I’m surprised. You happy?” he asked concerned. It was the only thing he really
cared about. The question made Jolie’s heart swell.

“I’m happy. He makes me feel safe and loved,” she said softly.

Matt leaned over to draw Jolie into a tight hug kissing the top of her head. If he was being honest, he was nervous for the new couple. He knew their feelings were genuine, but he wasn’t sure if it was too soon for Jolie. Either way, he would keep an eye out and be there if one of his friends needs him. That’s just how he was.

“Hey, Sanders! Hands off the lady,” Brian joked drawing the two away from each other.

Playfully, Matt put his hands in the air before going back to Val’s side, who seemed unfazed by the whole moment. If there was one thing Val learned when she started dating Matt, it was that his friends were a package deal. That meaning, Jolie was his best friend and nothing would change with her.

“Don’t go all jealous boyfriend on me,” Jolie teased softly with a smile. Brian leaned over kissing her softly.

“Matt’s not a threat. I’ll save the jealousy for when it matters,” Brian laughed.

Soon after, the food was completely finished and everyone was sitting around the kitchen table. Scott loved having all kids in the house. It made it feel full instead of way too big for just Jolie and him. Mostly, he just loved seeing how happy they all were together and how much they loved one another. While nobody necessarily shared blood, it was a family they created.

There was a knock on the door that interrupted breakfast. Jolie got up to go answer it as Zacky started to clear the table with Brian. When she opened the front door, her stomach jumped for a moment and she couldn’t believe who was there. She couldn’t even speak for a moment. Finally, she croaked out, “Peter?”

Standing on her small porch was Peter, Alex’s cousin. He looked a little sheepish with his hands in his pockets. He looked over her quickly noticing how much better she looked.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m sorry to show up uninvited,” he says gently.

“Is…is he with you?” Jolie asked hesitantly. She put her hands behind her back to hide the small shake that was occurring.

Peter instantly shook his head. His face was crestfallen. “No! Of course not. I wouldn’t have…you got away, Jolie. I would never bring him back. You look so good,” he rambled quickly trying to calm her down.

Before Jolie could say anything more, Scott came walking out to the front hall with them. “Is everything okay, Jo?” he asked a little suspicious. He noticed the look of relief that passed over his daughter’s face and the way she was hiding her hands. He had no clue who the man at the door was, but he was instantly concerned.

“I’m fine, Dad. Don’t worry. This is Peter, he’s a friend. You can calm down,” Jolie said slowly managing a smile as she calmed down. While turning towards Peter, she offered, “We should have a little bit of breakfast left. Do you want to come in?”

It was more than just an invitation into the house. It was a message to Pete that Jolie wasn’t mad at him. She forgave him for all the things he felt like he did wrong towards her. He smiled softly before nodding his head. She stepped aside to let him in. “Just a warning, my friends are all here. They’re nice though,” she said with a small laugh.

At the warning of Jolie’s friends being there, Peter felt nervous. He wasn’t sure what she had told everyone about him in general. She reached out taking his hand gently in a comforting manner. As they walked into the kitchen, Peter saw the five men and one woman. He vaguely recognized them from the first year that Jolie had started dating Alex. She talked about these people until Alex started to control her even more. “Guys, this is my friend Peter. He’s a sweetheart and I’d like if you could all be on your best behaviors,” she said with a teasing tone in her voice.

There was a look of suspicion from a couple of the guys. Peter couldn’t blame them for being on edge at all. He remembered that these friends of Jolie’s were people she grew up with, so they’d know any friends she had before Alex. Finally, Jimmy smiled brightly up at him. “I’m Jimmy! Don’t be too intimidated by us. A friend of Jolie is a friend of mine,” he said easily,
“These guys are Matt, Johnny, Zacky, and Brian. Then, this lovely lady is Val!” Jolie was so happy for Jimmy’s happy and accepting demeanor. It helped Peter relax a bit.

Jolie got Peter a plate to eat as Brian and Zacky did the dishes. Scott hesitantly headed out to work. Matt, Johnny, Jimmy, and Val all watched Jolie carefully. On the other hand, she was very relaxed. She trusted Peter. In the end, when she needed him, he helped her. There was no ill will towards him. After they were finally sitting down, Jolie asked, “So, what brought you here?” Peter’s face fell again and he hesitantly looked around at everyone. He wasn’t sure what these people knew and he was nervous to bring it up at all. He didn’t want to bring Alex back into her life, but there was no stopping here.

Notes

Anyone guess Peter would show up again? lol. What's the news he's bringing? Let me know what you guys think and your predictions! :) Thank you all for your support!