Part 1
As John Paul sat entranced by Spikes confident attitude and behaviour Craig thought of the times he and Jp had shared in the year he had known him. As he reminisced of the many football games and nights out at The Loft he was startled to see the whole room staring towards him.
John Paul smiled and said “You alright Craig, haven’t said much all night”
“Yeah am alright, got a sore head you know” Craig said in the most believable tone he could muster.
“Well you look fine to me” Spike smiled at Craig Craig barely was able to smile at Spike, truthfully he didn’t think much of him and, although he couldn’t help it, was seeing him as competition for Jp’s affection.
Sarah whispered to Craig “I thought you said you were okay with them being with us”
“Yeah I did … and I am”
“Well could you start acting like it then” As Craig turned to speak to John Paul he was stunned to see his mouth was already in use and without thinking blurted out.
“Oh for god sake” Jp stopped immediately and shocked looked at Craig, as did Sarah and Spike, and wasn’t exactly pleased with his outburst.
“I… eh… better go” And before he had finished the sentence had his coat and left. Sarah watched two completely different reactions spike had already forgot and was trying to get Jp to do the same but he had obviously taken more offence to it then spike.
“Sorry John Paul, I … I really don’t know why he did that” Sarah could see Jp was troubled by what Craig had said. Jp stood up and headed for the living room door, Spikes reaction changed to that of bewilderment.
“Your not actually going after him are you”
“Yeah … yeah I am, because I want to see what his problem is” Sarah tried to intervene
“Don’t you think you should leave it John Paul”
Spike looked at Sarah then Jp “I think she’s right, sit down and also Sarah … who asked you”
“Look that’s the second time that’s happened one more…” And with a huge thud of the door Jp went racing after Craig.
* * * *
Craig sat on the park bench more than a little ashamed of what he had just done. Yes spike was arrogant and cocky but he shouldn’t have took it out on John Paul. He was just about to go back and apologise when he saw Jp storm over in his direction.
“John Paul look im … im sorry”
“You were out of order Craig … if your not gonna accept me and spike then there’s really no point in us being mates”
“I do accept you … its just … your always with spike … we’ve not had a chance to be mates the way we were”
“Well why cant spike be your mate too”
“He’s your … boyfriend John Paul… it makes it weird and hard for us to be mates again”
“First you want nothing to do with me then you want me all to yourself, I think you’re the one that’s confused”
“Confused about what … all I want is for us to be mates, okay that’s all” Just as Craig stopped speaking Spike walked around the corner, he had a emotionless look on his face.
“Craig, why is it that you want nothing to do with John when he is in need of a friend but when somebody else gets his attention your all over him” Spikes emotionless face turned to that of a growl.
“His name is John Paul and as you so often say its none of your business”
“Im going out with John …Paul … so I guess it is my business”
“This is between me and John Paul so would you go because personally I don’t care for your opinion on whatever I say”
“No im staying to support my boyfriend as that’s something you plainly never done for him”
“Well sorry … I am sorry John Paul by the way, I didn’t say it before but I am”
“Oh how touching the former best mates on a guilt trip and says sorry, you think that’s good enough” John Paul eventually stepped in
“Spike, could you just leave it”
“Why should I he’s been nothing but horrid to you and all you do is take it” Craig was starting to get angry
“Yeah and I apologised didn’t I”
“Oh yeah well done what next you going to accept him for what he is … another thing you should have done long ago”
“Look will you both stop” John Paul was completely torn in this argument “No Craig deserves to be told how much damage he actually did”
“Stop telling him what to do!”
“Ha that’s funny because all you want is someone to boss around and do what you want … and John Paul you should stop doing what he tells you to” John Paul looked Spike in the eye and said
“No I should stop doing what you tell me to do, your just as bad as each other” And as Jp stormed off filled with emotion he just wanted to release Craig and Spike scowled at one and other until they realised exactly what they had done.
Part 2
John Paul sat in a dim corner in El Nosh, which was empty as it had been closed for a number of hours, and watched Jacqui and Alec bickering, he had started to like Alec despite what he had done it his sister. As he saw Craig walk by the front door he quickly pretended to drop a fork so he wouldn’t see him. He was completely torn between Craig and Spike, they both had valid points and on one hand Craig has been his mate for just about a year yet Spike had gave him confidence Craig could never he decided he would leave it and think about it later.
* * * *
Craig slouched in the dog with all the lights out except the one at the table he was sitting at. He couldn’t help but resent Spike as John Paul was totally in awe at his self-belief and charisma, yet Craig couldn’t give a toss all he saw was Spike as an obstacle between him and Jp ever becoming friends again and at this point in time he didn’t see that happening unless he and spike could interact together. Craig wanted Jp back but he wanted nothing to do with Spike.
* * * *
Spike lay on his bed with his mobile phone in his hand flicking through pictures of him and John Paul and sincerely regretting what he had said to Craig. He knew Craig meant a lot to John Paul yet he was so filled with rage as Jp had told him everything that happened with Craig and he felt it his duty as Jp was so naturally timid that he should defend him. But now everything had taken a huge turn for the worst and he worried if Jp would want him back after he so wrongly ordered about.
* * * *
Jp awoke upon a cloudy Saturday morning, he hadn’t heard a word from either Craig or Spike and it had been three days he was starting to worry that neither of them wanted anything to do with him never mind the other was about. He checked his phone for a text or something, still nothing. He finally arisen from his bed after almost forty-five minutes laying contemplating what to do. As he walked downstairs he was puzzled to find Sarah sitting on his sofa, she didn’t seem in the best of mood yet when she saw Jp he expression changed immediately.
“Hiya John Paul, look its about what happened on Friday”
“How’d you know”
“Craig”
“Oh right, well he obviously cant be too bothered hasn’t tried to call me or nothing”
“John Paul of course he couldn’t”
“Why too scared or let me guess he was too busy with you”
“John Paul he’s in the hospital”
“What, why … what happened”
“Craig and Spike…”
“Spike … what’s wrong with spike?” “
"What you don’t know what happened?”
Part 3
2 Days Earlier Craig looked at the clock it had just past eleven thirty, he knew that John Paul would still be awake so he decided that he would go and try to talk to him. But then he thought Jp needed some time to himself, it had only been a few hours since his altercation with spike had happened. So he thought he would go round first thing tomorrow.
* * * *
Spike had had enough of waiting, he wanted Jp back now and would do anything for it, even speak to Craig. He had no clue what Craig’s problem was, then all of a sudden he had knew, he knew exactly why Craig had been so awful towards him. Without another thought Spike grabbed his coat and raced to see John Paul.
* * * *
Craig was leaning against the open door of the dog when he saw Spike running, what looked like, towards the McQueen house.
“SPIKE” Craig yelled, Spike stopped dead in his tracks, he watched Craig for a moment and headed in his direction.
“Yeah”
“Where are you goin”
“To see John Paul, I’m guessing you weren’t planning on yourself then”
“I think he needs some time to think things over”
“Well I’m going to tell him something that he can think over also”
“What that you love him or summin”
“No Craig, that you do”
“What!, I don’t love John Paul”
“Then tell me why you are forever trying to defend him and why you don’t like me”
“Because he’s my mate and because you always boss John Paul about”
“I did it once Craig and I was going to apologise, but that doesn’t stop the fact that I know your in love with John Paul”
“Yeah whatever” Craig went to walk away from Spike.
“Do you walk away from all your problems, I hear that’s a family trait” Craig’s face distorted, spike had obviously hit a nerve. Without warning Craig landed an impressive punch on Spike’s left cheek. Spike in an instant was on the floor nursing an incredibly swollen face.
“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again understand” Craig was right in Spikes face as he spat out every solitary word.
“Wow, first John Paul now me, you must really hate gays Craig”
“No I don’t just you, and who the hell are you to speak about my family when you have a gay dad and a mum who probably died of embarrassment when she saw what you are” Spike swiftly got up and landed a thunderous blow of his own which knocked Craig back into the doors of the dog.
“If it’s a fight you want Craig your more than welcome” Craig lifted himself from the floor and walked towards Spike so his nose was touching Spikes.
“You not think that will hurt John Paul more if we fight”
“Your right Craig … I apologise” Spike went to walk away but before he did mumbled something that was little more than a whisper that Craig barely heard
“You what” Craig stormed over to Spike, who without warning smacked Craig in the face. Craig stumbled then fell into the side of a tree just left of the dog. He managed to keep himself from falling down the hill the that was just beyond the tree he was breathlessly lying against.
“You know Craig your really starting to annoy me” Spike slowly strolled over towards Craig and in an instant burst of energy Craig kicked spike back away from him. Spike quickly revived himself and returned to his previous position and with all his might kicked Craig down the hill. With his last ditch attempt to save himself Craig clutched spikes trouser leg which only brought spike with him. Craig raced down the steep hill which led to the river below, he was going at such a speed he couldn’t stop himself and he watched in horror as he was about to hit the water then suddenly an immense surge of pain went through both his legs and he was at rest with both legs caught on a huge cracked stump. Spikes body had contorted on his way down and was now falling backwards. He caught a glimpse of Craig on his tragic journey, and as he tried to get another look at Craig he went straight head first into a mammoth sized tree. Instantaneously spike was unconscious. Craig watched spikes demise then heard a deafening snap and he thought both of his legs were free yet to his horror it was a colossal branch ,from the tree spike ran into, falling onto him. Ironically Craig’s legs were freed and his body started to roll down towards the river, yet his mind he was a million miles away as he also had passed out from the pain...
- David2007
