FicWad

Chapter Twenty Three - Time Is Running Out

15th November 2006


Jill could hear knocking, she wanted to shout for the person to stop making the noise but all she could muster was a feeble, "Fuck off," however the knocking kept going and then she heard a mobile sounding particularly familiar and she pulled a pillow over her head whilst groaning away to herself, all she wanted to do was sleep and the bed was so comfortable. Jill almost fell on the floor when the phone on her bedside table started to ring. She anxiously reached towards it whilst pulling the covers away.

"Hello," she groaned.

"Jill, I don't want you to freak out," a familiar voice said which instantly brought a smile to her face.

"mmm," she replied pulling the covers back over her.

"Jilly, it's 9.30 in the morning and we're all waiting for you on the bus," Bob said slightly pulling the phone away from his ear and looking over at Frank as he heard a shrieking girl through the handset, "Jill, calm down, Steve's coming up to help you and there's plenty of time."

Bob couldn't help but laugh when he finished the call, she was just too damn cute even when she was swearing like a sailor. Bob looked over at Frank who was smiling like a chesire cat.
"What!"

"You called her Jilly," Frank smirked.

"I did not," Bob replied suddenly realising he had but knowing there was no way he would admit it especially to Frank.

"Why are we still here?" Gerard asked as he walked into the living area still in his pyjammas.

"Jill's running late." Frank explained standing up from his seat and looking out the window.

"Uh?" Gerard muttered rubbing his eyes.

"There's just no point speaking to you when you're half asleep Gee," Frank replied watching a very sleepy Gerard slump down beside Bob.

"Look, here she comes," Frank said laughing out loud as he watched Jill dragging herself alongside Steve towards the bus.

Bob turned round in his seat and looked out in the same direction as Frank, "Jill looks so tired."

"I know, what you been doing to her Bob?" Frank asked.

Bob glanced round at Frank as Gerard smiled with his eyes still shut,"Quit it Frank."

As Jill approached the bus all she could think about was getting to her bunk as soon as humanly possible. She could sleep for a few hours and Ruth could wait for her new update. Jill felt guilty at holding everyone up, she hadn't even bothered to change out of her pyjammas and she had just slipped her boots on and a jacket. Bob opened the door and smiled as he saw her, her hair was all dishevelled and she had one pyjamma leg inside a boot and one hanging over the other. He wanted to pick her up and kiss her right at this very moment. Instead he held out his hand and helped her up the stairs.

"Hey Jill," Bob said quietly as he accepted the bags from Steve and shut the door.
"Hey Bob," Jill replied smiling at him.

"JILL," Frank shouted running up and hugging her tightly.

Jill let out a stifled laugh as Frank practically engulfed her, "Frank, I can't breath."

"Whoops," Frank replied laughing as he led her over to where Gerard was sitting.

Jill slumped down beside him and they both just looked at each other as if each registering each others presence but not having the willpower to speak.

"You want something to drink or eat?" Bob asked.

"Coffee," Gerard muttered.

"I wasn't asking you," Bob replied.

"Coffee would be good," Jill replied struggling to keep her eyes open.

Bob stood up and went to the kitchen area.

"I'll get you some coffee Gee," Frank said following Bob.

Jill could feel herself wanting to fall asleep and she leaned back, "I'm so tired,"

"Just sleep Jill," Gerard wearily replied.

"I should go to my bunk," Jill added as she felt herself slip downwards on the couch.

"Me too," Gerard added.

Frank and Bob clattered away in the kitchen, "Should we make something for Mikey and Ray?" Frank asked pouring the coffee into the mugs.

"They've passed out in their bunks," Bob said.

They grabbed the mugs of steaming coffee and walked back out to the living area.

"How does he do it?" Frank asked as he set the mugs down on the table.

"Do what?" Bob replied before stopping as he look down at Jill sleeping with her head on Gerard's shoulder, "Right, that's it."

Bob leaned over and gently scopped Jill up in his arms, "mmm, wha r doin, bobbbb,"

"sshhhhhhh," Bob whispered as Gerard started to stir.

"What you doing?" Gerard moaned.

"Come on Gee, bedtime." Frank said pulling him up despite his protests and following Bob into the bunk area.

Bob balanced Jill in his arms as he crouched down and pulled the covers off her bed. He eased her into the bed and gently removed her boots, placing them on the floor. Bob pulled the covers over Jill and couldn't resist brushing the hair away that had fallen over her face. Jill's eyes flickered as he touched her, Bob instantly moved his hand away and started to stand up.

"Noooo, stay," Jill said sleepily as she pushed herself back in the bunk. She reached out and grabbed his arm.

For once, he didn't hold back. Bob kicked off his boots and lay down beside her. It felt so good as she scooted over beside him and lay her head on his chest. He couldn't help but smile as he felt her arm going across his chest and he idly let his fingers play with her hair. He looked down to see her sound asleep and as the bus continued it's journey towards Nottingham he agreed with himself that he would make the most of every moment with her.


x------x

Jill slowly opened her eyes as she heard people moving about, it took her a few moments to realise exactly where she was. She was snuggled so close to him, her arm under his t-shirt tightly wrapped about him and her left leg drapped within his. His skin was so soft and he smelled so nice. She looked down at herself and sighed as she noticed her crumpled pyjammas, old bed socks and hair all over the place. Jill was startled when she felt lips upon her forehead.

"Morning," Bob whispered, "Or should that be afternoon," he added as he checked his watch.

"Already?" Jill asked as she looked up at him, "Ruth will be wondering where my update is,"

"We should probably get up, we can't be that far away now." Bob replied running his hand up and down her back.

Jill closed her eyes at the sensation of his touch, she could stay like this forever.

"Is everyone else up?" she almost whispered praying he would say no and that they were all asleep and the journey was just starting.

Bob peeked out the bunk, "There all up except Gerard I think."

"Damn, I suppose I should get washed up and well get dressed." Jill replied burying her face in his chest, "But I don't wanna get up."

Bob laughed, "Well don't."

"But I have too, "Jill whined, "I've got work to do and I must stink."

"You smell all nice," Bob replied laughing again.

"Liar," Jill said looking up at him once again.

"Me," he replied pretending to be shocked, "Never."

"Well I'm getting up now so you'll have to move Mr Bryar," Jill said reluctantly moving away from him.

"Nope," he playfully replied.

"Please Bob, I can't stay in my pyjammas all day." Jill pleaded pulling at her top.

"But you look good in them,"

"Ha ha, very funny," she replied, "Well I'll just have to climb over you then,"

"You'll just have to do that then," Bob said raising his eyebrows playfully at her.

Jill looked at him with his slightly evil cheeky grin before she started to climb over him. She stared down at him as she gingerly placed her arm and leg over him, "Don't you dare," she warned as she noticed him move his arms.

"What?" he asked innocently, "You mean this," he added before his arms shot up and he tickled her mercilously on her sides.

Jill shrieked as she lost her balance and fell on to him, giggling like some crazy woman, "Stoopp, ha ha ha, pleeeeessse."

Bob couldn't help laughing before he relented. Jill was resting her full weight on him as she paused for a moment to regain her breath. "You are evil Bob," Jill laughed as she looked directly down at him. She noticed he suddenly looked so serious, so deep in thought as his eyes looked directly at her.

"I don't want to go," he suddenly said to her.

"Go where?"

"Away from you," he answered.

Jill felt herself take a deep breath, the words he spoke to her made her heart leap for joy but the pain of thinking about being away from him caught her train of thought. "I'm here in this place with you, right now, that's all we have." She whispered as she stroked the side of his face.

Bob nodded unable to say anymore for fear of what he might just say. Jill gently let her lips fall on to his and she kissed him so tenderly. She could feel herself wanting to cry, she had got so close to him over the last few days and now when she was so happy it would be snatched away. Bob sensed her sadness as he rolled them both on to their sides and returned her kiss. He pulled back to look at her as he noticed the tears build in her eyes, he gently touched the side of her face as she looked at him. "Don't worry," he whispered as he pulled her in close.


x------x

Gerard stretched out in his bunk and sighed, it's always took him so long to fall asleep and then when he eventually woke up he would always have missed half the day. He rolled over on to his tummy and pulled back his curtain. He noticed everyone seemed to be up and even Jill and Bob had disappeared. He smiled as he thought about what he had heard earlier whilst dozing. It had taken him quite a time to put any trust any Jill, he had always liked her but this lifestyle had made him so suspicious of people's motives. But the sound of her and Bob lauging and joking about when they thought nobody could hear had convinced him that her intentions towards his friend were true. Plus she had been so good to his brother and the records that she had given them all. Gerard suddenly remembered about his record and the Iron Maiden one that Ray had been given. Now was a perfect time to have a sneaky look whilst Ray was distracted. Gerard froze as he heard footsteps coming in and he cautiously looked out to see Jill moving back into her bunk with her laptop and he smiled as she half-closed her curtain. He kicked off his pyjama bottoms and pulled his jeans on, he grabbed a t-shirt from the bottom of his bed and threw it on. He quietly lowered himself off his bunk and stood for a moment to check that no-one was coming. He had seen Ray put the record in his bunk and Gerard was determined to find it. He looked over the bunk area and started to pull the magazines out from the cubby holes round the bunk. His eyes immediately spotted the oh so familiar colouring of the front cover.

"Gerard, what are you doing?" Ray asked as he noticed Gerard hanging over his bunk.

"Nothing." Gerard instantly replied as he dropped down from the upper bunk looking guilty.

"Gee?" Ray asked in his best fatherly tone.

Jill looked up from her laptop and watched their interaction, she couldn't help but smile as Gerard instantly recoiled in front of his friend. It was so funny considering Gerard was the eldest but his respect for Ray was so evident in the way he felt shame faced at being caught.

"Pass it over you chancer," Ray said holding out his hand and clicking his fingers.

Gerard reluctantly brought his hands round to reveal Ray's record that he had received from Jill's Dad.

"I just wanted to read the sleeve," Gerard whined as he handed it over to Ray.

"Well you should have asked and I might of let you look at it." Ray responded checking to make sure Gerard had not damaged it.

"Aww Ray," Gerard added as he watched Ray put it back in his bag,"You know how much I love Iron Maiden and you won't let me at least look at it?"

"No," Ray replied as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Gerard slumped on his bunk and looked over at Jill, "Tell him he's a mean fucker,"

Jill laughed, "Ray, let him have a look at it," she said glancing back at Ray, "He's pulling that sad face again."

Ray shook his head, "There's one thing you have to learn being on the road with us Jill," Ray said as he placed his hand on her shoulder, "You need to be able to ignore the Gerard manipulation."

"Whhatt?" Gerard responded like a flapping bird," I don't manipulate, that's unfair, you take that back Toro."

Jill couldn't believe it, she was just lying on her bunk minding her own business and all of a sudden she was caught bang in the middle of them fighting again.

Ray just laughed, "Okay Gerard, you can look at it but you can't touch it and if I see one grubby pawprint on that vinyl you are for it."

"Yes Pop," Gerard replied following Ray out to the sitting area.









Thanks for taking the time to review my last chapter, you guys are just too good. The Iron Maiden record bit in this chapter was inspired by Moonshyne and I would like to dedicate that bit to you. My whole story would be nothing without the people that read it and enjoy it so thank you for giving me the kick in the ass to keep going. Please rate/review as it lets me know if I should keep going with this.
Most of my chapter headings are song titles which I should credit but keep forgetting - this one is Muse.