Unexpected

Part 2

"Well you're right." Ste said to John Paul once the other had apologised to him. "I have done bad things as well." Ste sighed, pulling the ice pack from his lip whilst he spoke to him, rather surprised he'd even shown his face again. "But I have never tried to break a family apart just because I can!". He started to argue.

"What and you think I don't hate myself for that?" John Paul breathed out, trying his hardest to avoid arguing with him again.

"Well why don't you just walk away then?!" Ste asked, shaking his head at the male.

"What if I can't?" John Paul said quietly, his eyes not really meeting Ste's at that point, but Ste continued to stare him out, and he sighed.

"Maybe you should sit down." Ste moved to the side, pointing to the edge of the counter. Maybe he could hear him out. If he had to.

"Thanks.." John Paul strolled over and took a slow seat, a hand running through his hair quickly. "It was only supposed to be a flying visit." He shrugged, looking down.

Ste filled his ice pack up again and handed it to John Paul to place against his wounded face. He then went around to the front to start sorting out the chairs for closing time.

"Why don't you just finish with my dad?" Ste asked in a much calmer tone than before, pushing away the fact they were enemies for a moment.

John Paul thought about his answer for a moment, before just coming out with it. "Because I love him." He swallowed, looking at him. "And I know he loves me too."

"But you do know that he won't choose you though don't you? He loves Sam too much." Ste answered, going to sit beside him. "You might wanna hold it closer to your eye, it'll stop the swelling." Ste informed firmly.

John Paul moved the fabric to the cut and gasped. "Ouch." He huffed and sucked in a breath. "When it comes to dating bad men, I wrote the book, but you, Brendan Brady? Come on."

"Uh, I married Doug didn't I?" Ste clenched his jaw as he hated bringing up the past. "And you don't have a clue about Brendan either. I loved him. I still love him." He insisted. "Me and Doug were gonna run away together and start a new life."

"I'm sorry. You must really miss him." John Paul sighed out, feeling guilty about bringing it up.

"I was scared at first, about Brendan you know, staying in his old flat. But it does make me feel closer to him. And I don't blame you, for falling for my dad." Ste shrugged.

"How can you?" John Paul bitterly chuckled. "You almost went there."

Ste shuddered and stood up, clenching his palms together. "How about we don't."

"I don't know what the biggest surprise is here, me being back here or you. Wearing chinos and selling smoothies." John Paul smirked amusedly, receiving a laugh from Ste, which gave him a sort of fulfilled feeling, but his smile quickly faltered awkwardly, handing his ice pack back to him, which made Ste fall quiet also.

He walked over to the bucket and began filling up the fabric with fresh ice. "Right I like my sisters, I like Sam. I don't want anything to ruin that." Ste walked over to John Paul and pushed the pack over his bruise.

John Paul retaliated a little. "Ow." He mumbled, pressing his own hand over Ste's, biting his lip a bit, adjusting it to a better place.

Ste stopped for a moment, blinking at the fact he was practically holding hands with John Paul and it didn't feel horrible, but he quickly pulled away, facing the front of the shop.

"Since Craig.." John Paul started. "Danny's the first person I've fallen in love with." He sighed. "If you could take it all back with Brendan, and Doug. Would you?"

"I don't know. I mean I miss them both a lot. I still haven't gotten over it."

"He spoke about you that night in Ireland." John Paul said quietly, knowing this was a touchy subject.

"What did he say?" Ste asked, breath hitching at the sheer thought of it.

"That he'd met someone that loved him, and that he loved, and that he was the happiest he'd ever been." John Paul looked at the ground.

"He really said that?" He answered, eyes full of tears.

"He really loved you, you know?"

"I know." Ste nodded, wiping his eyes quickly.

"At least he was taken from you, Craig walked out on me." His heart stung as he revisited this, not letting himself cry. He couldn't. Not in front of Ste.

"At least you's had your chance. Now all I'm left with is what if's." Ste finished, not having anything left to say.

"I guess that's what we've got in common then isn't it? We're both alone."

"Yeah, we are." And it just kind of clicked, for the both of them. It's like they both had to stop and think; Oh. That's where you are.

John Paul flickered his eyes over Ste's lips, suddenly drawn to the vulnerable and upset guy next to him, and he nervously leaned in towards him.

Ste took in a breath and also inched closer to John Paul, right up until their lips nudged together, sealing everything with a gentle kiss. The hatred seemed to wash away. Ste opened his eyes to see John Paul's still shut and very much in the moment, and his heart hammered, as he leaned in and pressed their lips together again, deeper this time.

Their lips moved against eachother in a soft but passionate sync, they both just needed someone, and were in the right place at the right time. It didn't even feel wrong. Ste moved his hand up to cup John Paul's neck, pulling him closer as the heat between them rose.

John Paul hastily moved closer, wrapping his arms slowly around Ste's waist, tugging him in, and his tongue shyly darted over his lower lip, before their tongues just seemed to slip together, tackling eachother, which made John Paul smile into his lips, as there was still the obvious tension there.

Ste's breathing sped up as he rest his hands finally on John Paul's chest, hands trembling as he kissed him hard, letting out all his frustrations.

Then, it hit them both.

I'm kissing John Paul McQueen.

I'm kissing Ste Hay!

They both seemed to pull away gently, a large amount of lust in their eyes. They panted.

"I.." John Paul started, but no words seemed to come out as he untangled himself from Ste. "Sorry.." He whispered.

"What for?" Ste swallowed, slightly shocked. "Just heat of the moment, init?" He reassured himself. He felt something had definitely changed.

"I guess. Yeah. That's it." John Paul quickly agreed, but it wasn't, he genuinely wanted to kiss Ste right then. He handed him his ice pack back. "I best go.." He stood up and blushed hard.

Ste wanted to grab his sleeve and tell him not to go, strangely. He was meant to hate the guy. "Okay. See you around John Paul." He sighed.

John Paul looked back at Ste, seeing this lad in a whole different light, he suddenly wasn't scally Ste with the big mouth, he was gorgeous, sweet little Ste. He needed to sleep seriously. He was scaring himself. "It's been fun." He finished, clear smile in his voice before he scurried out into the night.

As soon as John Paul left, Ste stood up and shut the door, turning around and leaning against it, pressing his fingers against his lips, and the only thing that left his mouth then was; "Oh my god."