Why Bother?

I HAVE TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK TIME TO REVIEW THIS STORY. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT. YOU ROCK! THAT BEING SAID, WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM.

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Early morning sunshine was just starting to dance softly on Joanne’s bedroom walls when she woke up. Looking over, Joanne saw Jake sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing his jacket and putting on his shoes. Scooting over and onto her knees, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his back. “Where are you going?” she asked softly. “It’s not even six yet.”

Turning to look at her, Jake noticed that Joanne jumped a little when she saw his face. In her hazy morning fog, she had probably forgotten the extent of damage his father had done to him the night before. Reaching for her hand, Jake rested his forehead against hers. “I don’t want to get you in trouble,” he whispered. “And besides, I want to be there before anyone wakes up in my house. Just in case, you know.”

Pulling back a little, Joanne nodded and her round dark eyes looked at Jake’s bruised face. Her eyes grew glassy as she reached to touch his cheek gently. “Couldn’t you report him?” she was nervous to ask, afraid she was crossing a line. But Jake didn’t look upset with her. He just tilted his head and gave her a sad smile.

“If I report him and he actually gets arrested or something,” Jake looked frustrated. “Then my mom is going to be left with nothing. He would definitely lose his job, the mortgage on our house is huge, and my mother hasn’t worked since she got married. And Eve doesn’t need for things to get crazy. Plus, if he got arrested and released later, he’d be an unemployed, even more irate bastard. I just couldn’t do that to Eve or my mom.”

Swinging her legs around, Joanne sat next to Jake on the edge of the bed. “You are such a good person,” she told him gently. She couldn’t believe that he didn’t even count himself in the equation when he was considering the situation with his father. It was all about Eve and their mother. “You never put yourself first, do you?”

“I can be selfish,” Jake gave her a small grin. “I mean, I definitely enjoyed what you did for me on Sunday, and that was all for me.”

Smiling a little, Joanne leaned over and kissed Jake’s split lip softly. “I wish I could do something to make this all go away,” she told him. She hated seeing Jake in pain, and just then Joanne would have done anything to take both the physical and emotional pain away from him.

“When I’m with you, I feel like it all goes away,” Jake told her honestly. Sitting silently for a moment, Jake just studied Joanne’s worried features. He wanted to stay there with her all day, wanted to hold her, to talk to her, to kiss her, to make her laugh, to stroke her. But as usual, life had other plans. Standing up, he looked at Joanne on the bed. “I’ll see you in a couple hours, okay? I’ll meet you by your locker.”

“Okay,” Joanne nodded. She watched as Jake tiptoed across her room, careful not to bump into anything or stand on particularly creaky floorboards. “Jake,” she called out softly as he reached for the door. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Jake smiled at her and then left the room.

-----

Because of his years working for the law firm, Mr. Reynold’s company wasn’t going to fire him. In fact, they sent one of their best defense attorneys to make a plea bargain whereby he ended up only paying a series of fines and having to do a one-day drinking and driving course. Jake couldn’t believe that his father was able to get away with putting other people’s lives in such danger without getting any real punishment, but deep down he was glad about how things turned out. Four weeks with his father home and in a bad mood had been long enough.

“Ding, dong, the bastard’s gone,” Eve skipped up to Joanne at her locker one morning. “He left before we woke up this morning to head to Texas for some case he’s going to be working on. He’s not going to be back for weeks, thank God. He’s even going to miss Christmas – and considering how well Thanksgiving went a couple weeks ago, I don’t even have to tell you how great that is.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Joanne gave her friend a hug. “I’m glad the worst is over,” she told Eve.

“Oh, can I get in on some of that action?” Derek was walking by as the girls were embracing. He gave them a lewd smile and continued. “I could definitely enjoy a little girl-on-girl-on-Derek fun.”

“Dude, you’re talking to my GIRLFRIEND and my SISTER,” Jake walked up to them just at that moment. “Don’t make me kick your ass in the hallway before the first bell even rings.”

“I was just kidding,” Derek looked shocked to have been caught by Jake. Even though he was as big and athletic as Jake was, it was clear Derek never wanted to figure out who would win a fight between the two of them. “I, um, I gotta get to class. See you guys later.”

Letting out a giggle as Derek scrambled away, Joanne then looked up towards Jake. His lip had healed up completely and the bruising around his eye was gone, but there was a little puffiness around his jaw from earlier that week when his father had ended up punching his son for having his radio on too loud. Joanne couldn’t believe how relieved she was that Eve and Jake’s father was gone. She didn’t know how much longer she was going to be able to go on knowing what was happening to Jake and not doing anything about it.

“So what’s the plan tonight?” Eve asked with enthusiasm as the three of them headed down the hallway. “I think we need to celebrate!”

“I hope you have a great time,” Jake slid his arm around Joanne’s shoulder. “Because I will be at home, on the couch, watching television without having to worry if the volume’s too loud, or if my feet are on the coffee table, or if I was breathing wrong… You interested in keeping me company?” He smiled down at Joanne.

“That sounds perfect,” Joanne put her own arm around Jake’s waist. “You still planning on going out, Eve, or do you and Mark want to join us?”

“A, I have no idea how you and I were raised together, Jake,” Eve had put her hands on her hips and stood in front of Jake and Joanne, making them come to an abrupt halt in the hallway. “And B, I can’t understand how you are my best friend, Jo. You are hands-down the most boring people in the world.”

“I take it that means we’ll only be ordering pizza for two people tonight, then?” Joanne tried to hold back a giggle when she saw the exasperated expression on Eve’s face.

“I am not even dignifying that with an answer,” Eve replied before turning on her heel and heading into the classroom, leaving Jake and Joanne at the doorway.

“I should get to class,” Jake said as he glanced at the wall clock. “Are you sure you’re okay with just staying in tonight?”

Reaching up, Joanne wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck. “There is nothing in the world I’d rather do tonight than curl up on the couch with you and watch movies.” She gently pulled at Jake until he lowered his mouth to meet hers for a slow, moist kiss. Pulling back, she smiled him.

“Well, there are a few things I would rather do tonight than watch movies, but all of them include you, and they could all be done on a couch…” Jake had a wicked grin on his lips. Joanne slapped his arm lightly in response just as the bell rang. “Damn, I’m going to be late for class.”

“Serves you right,” Joanne told him brightly as he started heading down the hall. “That will teach you to be a pervert before 8am.”

“I can be a pervert morning, noon and night,” Jake called back as he started jogging down the hall.

Joanne laughed at him and turned to go into the classroom just in time to see her teacher standing there. Turning bright red, Joanne didn’t know what to say. “Morning, Mrs. Leverson,” she finally mumbled.

“Good morning, Joanne,” her teacher replied. “Do you mind joining us now and saving your conversations about your boyfriend’s perverseness for another time?”

The entire class erupted into laughter as Joanne took her seat next to Eve, who was laughing louder than anyone else. It didn’t matter to Joanne, though. Her boyfriend and her best friend weren’t going to have to live in constant fear anymore. Things were finally going to be able to get back to normal for everyone.

-----

“Where’s your mom?” Joanne asked Jake later that night as they settled on the couch under a blanket, realizing she hadn’t seen the woman all evening. A half-finished pizza in its box was on the coffee table and the credits for a movie were flashing on the screen of the TV.

Putting his arm around Joanne’s shoulder, Jake smiled at her. “In LA, visiting friends. She up and decided to go this afternoon. So there’s no one to hear you yell out in ecstasy, if you were wondering.”

“Let’s see how the movie is first,” Joanne joked. “If it’s boring, then maybe.”

“You are a terrible tease, did you know that?” Jake leaned over and kissed Joanne softly. It only took one minute for those soft kisses to change into deeper, more desirous ones. Joanne had somehow ended up on top of Jake, straddling his hips. His hands slid under her shirt to feel the softness of her full breasts as his mouth pressed eagerly against hers.

Feeling so much happier than she had been for the last month, Joanne got lost in the feeling of being close to Jake. Her hands were tangled in his short hair, her tongue pressed against his, and most surprisingly, her hips were bucking down involuntarily into Jake’s lap. “This movie is really boring,” Joanne pulled away enough to whisper in Jake’s ear.

Letting out a chuckle, Jake nodded. “Really boring,” he told her. “Let’s see if there’s anything interesting on in my room.”

“You don’t have a television in your room,” Joanne smiled and looked into Jake’s eyes.

“Exactly,” Jake told Joanne as he rose with her still wrapped around his waist. He carried Joanne to his room and kicked his door closed behind him. Placing her down gently on the bed, Jake climbed atop her. “I love you, Jo,” he told her once again before his mouth dropped to hers.

Feeling Jake’s hand slide down over her breast, Joanne shivered. It only took a moment for them both to shed their tops and her bra. Sliding her hands down his back, Joanne began pressing on Jake’s ass, pushing his hips down against hers. As he kissed her throat, she felt him begin grinding his lower body against her. “No pants,” Joanne whispered softly.

As quickly as they had shed their tops, Jake and Joanne removed their pants. All that remained between them were a soft cotton pair of plaid boxers and a blue satin pair of panties. Moving his body slightly to the side, Jake let his hand slide down over Joanne’s stomach to the smooth blue fabric. Her back immediately arched to press into Jake’s hand, and he could feel how wet she was already through her underwear. He pressed gently at her, causing soft whimpers to escape Joanne’s mouth.

With gentle movements by his fingers, Jake was making Joanne’s whole body shudder. She felt him slip his hand below the fabric of her underwear to let his fingers touch her body directly. He softly teased her swollen clit, causing Joanne to bite her lip hard to not yell out. As she felt his finger move further down to feel her slickness, she closed her eyes in anticipation, and was rewarded by feeling two of Jake’s fingers slide inside her.

Watching Joanne’s closed-eye expression, Jake smiled to himself. His fingers were moving at a pace that he knew was pleasurable for her, but not enough to bring her over the edge. He could tell that frustration was beginning to take over Joanne’s body, as she began pushing her body down on his hand. As he pulled his hand back from her body, he had to stifle a chuckle at the disappointed groan that escaped Joanne’s lips.

“Don’t worry, I’m not done with you yet,” Jake told Joanne as he repositioned himself on the bed. Curious, Joanne just watched Jake without saying anything as he removed her underwear and climbed between her legs. It overwhelmed Jake that she trusted him so much, she didn’t even question what he was doing. She knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.

Taking in a deep breath, Joanne didn’t know what to do as she watched Jake’s mouth descend to her thighs. He kissed her thighs gently, moving his mouth up slowly. Finally, Joanne felt his lips whisper over heat and she let out a soft moan. Jake had asked to do this before, but Joanne had always been a bit shy to let him. So instead, he had just done it without asking. I was so stupid not to let him do this, Joanne mused to herself before getting lost in the amazing feeling.

Jake began by kissing Joanne’s aroused flesh gently before letting his tongue reach out to taste her. Feeling Joanne nervously reach down to bury her hands in his dark hair, Jake decided to take her action as an approval. His fingers pressed apart Joanne’s folds, allowing Jake to press his tongue inside her. He felt her whole body jump, but within one minute Joanne was letting out very audible sounds of pleasure. Sliding two fingers back inside her, Jake turned his attention to her clit, licking and sucking the little nub.

It took all of Joanne’s self-control to not begin thrashing on the bed. Jake’s fingers were moving inside her in a quick rhythmic pace. His breath was hot on her flesh, and his tongue was performing some sort of divine cruelty to her clit. Suddenly, it felt to Joanne like her body temperature doubled as her muscles contracted and she let out something between a cry and a moan. As her body finally began recovering, she felt Jake gently licking her lips and thighs clean.

“Oh my God,” Joanne panted as Jake moved up beside her. “That was the most… I’ve never…” There were no words to describe how intense her orgasm had just felt.

“No need to say anything,” Jake’s eyes were sparkling, and he was smiling with a bit of well-deserved pride. “Just stop being so silly about letting me do things like this for you. It makes me happy to see you like this. It really does.”

“I love you,” Joanne sighed softly, reaching over to run her hand over Jake’s chest. She looked into his caring eyes as her hand slid down over his stomach and finally over his boxers. “And apparently, we still have something to take care of,” she smirked as she felt his erection clearly straining to escape the fabric.

“I’ll be okay,” Jake told Joanne. “I wanted tonight to be about you. You don’t have to… oh, that feels good.”

Giggling, Joanne had reached below Jakes waistband and begun stroking him languidly. She sat up now and helped him remove his boxers before taking his hardness in her hand again. There really was nothing she loved more than seeing that look of total bliss on Jake’s face during these private moments they shared; it was the only time she could ever really see him forget about the world for just a minute and concentrate on himself, like he deserved to do more often.

The rhythm Joanne was using was leisurely but pleasing for Jake, and he closed his eyes to just lose himself in the feeling for a moment. Shortly after he did, though, he felt Joanne’s head drop and her mouth took him. Jerking his eyes open, Jake looked down at Joanne, who had was eagerly repaying her debt to him. Her tongue traced his length as she took him, pulling back to run circles around his head before beginning a faster, deeper pace. Jake was already so turned on by going down on Joanne, he knew he wasn’t going to last long.

It had taken a little time, but Joanne was glad she had been able to convince Jake that she wanted him to come in her mouth. She knew his signals now, so it wasn’t like it happened without warning. As she felt his hands bury deeper into her hair, his thighs and stomach muscles tightening, his eyes closing and finally a small groan, she readied herself, enjoying the taste of his liquid as it pumped into her mouth.

It was Jake’s turn to look disoriented and be panting. Joanne crawled up beside him, curling up by his side and pulling the sheets over them. “This was so much better than going out, don’t you think?”

“I totally think,” Jake laughed, pulling Joanne close to him. “Are you staying here tonight?”

Burying her head under his chin, Joanne sounded a little sad. “Unfortunately, no. I didn’t know your mom was going to be out of town, so I told my parents I’d be home by midnight.”

Glancing at the clock, Jake nodded. “That’s okay,” he said, reaching for the alarm and pressing a few buttons before placing it back on the nightstand. “That gives us about two hours to lie here together.”

Feeling Jake’s arms wrap protectively around her as her cheek lay against his chest, Joanne once again wondered how she had managed to be so lucky as to end up with Jake. “Two hours are better than none,” Joanne said in reply.

“I’d rather hold you naked for two hours than spend a year doing anything else,” Jake kissed the top of her head softly. “I love you.”

“I love you,” Joanne tried her hardest not to let her voice crack as she replied. She didn’t think Jake had any clue how some of the little things he said on a daily basis made her heart soar and made her feel so good about their relationship. She didn’t even think he would want to hear it; that sort of thing made Jake blush uncomfortably – yet another of his sweet, humble, kind traits.

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“Joanne,” an unfamiliar voice called out in the hallway the following week. Turning, Joanne looked skeptically at the girl walking up to her. Mary Binchy had been in the same schools as Joanne for five years and had never spoken to her before. Now the tall, perfectly-groomed girl was walking up to her with a smile like they were close friends.

“Hi Mary,” Joanne closed her locker and looked at the girl before her. “What can I do for you?” The only reason Joanne could think that one of the biggest snobs in school would be talking to her would be to get class notes or something.

Letting out a fake laugh, Mary shook her head. “No, silly, I don’t want anything. I just wanted to give you this.” A perfectly manicured hand passed Joanne a blue piece of paper. “It’s an invitation to a party I’m having next weekend. My parents are in Europe for two weeks, and I plan on having the party to end all parties.”

Looking at the computer generated invitation in her hand, Joanne didn’t know how to reply. “Well, thanks for inviting me-” she said with confusion, only to be cut off.

“Of course I’m inviting you!” Mary smiled widely, showing a row of perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth – obviously the work of braces and dental bleach. “I mean, this is a party for… how can I say this without sounding bad…? The more important people at school.” Before Joanne could say anything in response, Mary started to walk away. “I already gave Jake an invitation, of course, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I was definitely inviting both of you. I hope you can come!”

With a flutter, Mary strode down the hall, leaving a dumbfounded Joanne behind her. She looked down at the paper in her hand again and blindly read through the information. “Invite to Mary’s party?” Eve walked up beside Joanne.

Looking at her friend, Joanne nodded. “Yeah, I just… She’s never even spoken to me before. I don’t know why she invited me.”

Putting her arm around Joanne’s shoulder, Eve tilted her head. “Because Mary is a popularity whore, and even though you might not realize it, you are now considered one of the privileged. I mean, you’re best friends with the hottest girl in the sophomore class and your boyfriend is like some athletic god to these pathetic wannabes.”

With wonder, Joanne tried to understand what Eve was telling her. “Wait, so I’m popular now?” She looked incredulous. “My life hasn’t changed an iota, besides spending all my time with you and Jake now. I don’t go to parties or dress differently or… or whatever the so-called ‘in crowd’ does. How am I popular?”

“High school popularity is a weird thing,” Eve nodded her head like she was explaining a very deep philosophical issue. “It has nothing to do with being liked or hanging out with tons of people. You, my dear, have become cool by association. My advice is just to get used to it and remember that all these people who are going to start coming out of woodwork soon are generally… evil.”

Laughing, Joanne shook her head. “I had no idea getting to know the Reynolds kids would cause such big changes in my life.”

“Oh, of course you did,” Eve looked at Joanne like she was crazy. “We are the most fabulous people you’ll ever meet. You knew that!”

“Oh, of course I did,” Joanne grinned as they began walking down the hall together, Eve already on to another topic of conversation as Joanne thought to herself. She didn’t care that she her ‘social status’ had apparently changed without her knowing, but it was kind of amusing that ‘brainy Joanne the loser’ was now considered cool. Who wrote the strange rules to the way things worked?

-----

Joanne entered Mary’s house nervously the following weekend. She wished she had been able to arrive with Jake and Eve, but she had promised her parents she would go to a dinner with some family friends that night, so she drove separately. She had called Jake a little while earlier and found out that they were just on their way, as well. Apparently, Mark and Eve had been late meeting Jake, so they were running behind.

Giving a small smile to some familiar-looking people around the room, Joanne worked her way through the crowd towards the kitchen. Mary, who needed to be reassured that the Reynolds’s were on their way, greeted her enthusiastically. “It just wouldn’t be a worthy party without Jake and Eve Reynolds! And of course you, Joanne,” she smiled as she moved into the party.

“Okay,” Joanne said under her breath with disbelief. “I have just walked into an alternate universe.” Spotting some soda on the counter, she poured herself a glass and walked back towards the living room. Turning the corner, she almost walked straight into Derek standing there. “Hi Derek,” she said. “Sorry about that.”

“Hello Jo,” Derek slurred. It was obvious that he was drunk already. He glanced around the room quickly before turning his attention back on Joanne. “So where’s Jake tonight?” he asked, looking at her in a way that made Joanne uncomfortable.

“He’s on his way,” Joanne said in a sure tone. “He should be here any minute.”

Studying Joanne for a moment, Derek gave her a vulgar smile. “You know, I never noticed until Jake started dating you, but you are pretty damn hot.”

Feeling more than uncomfortable now, Joanne glanced towards the door, wishing Jake would come in. “Thank you, Derek,” she said flatly.

“You know, Jake’s not the only guy in school,” Derek reached over and put his hand on Joanne’s shoulder. “I mean, there are lots of guys who would be very happy to be with a girl like you.”

Quickly, Joanne moved Derek’s hand from her shoulder. “I don’t really care one way or the other,” Joanne’s voice was clear. “The only guy I want to be with is Jake.”

“I’m just saying,” Derek wouldn’t be deterred. “You’re like, this whole new person at school now. You might consider dumping Jake and moving on to another guy, so you keep this reputation up.” With that, Derek reached up and stroked Joanne’s cheek.

At the same time, Jake, Eve and Mark were entering the party. Looking across the room, Jake and Eve saw Joanne across the room with Derek almost immediately. A look of annoyance crossed with a small bit of fear was obvious on Joanne’s face as she pushed Derek’s hand away. “I am going to kill him,” Jake looked furious as he started crossing the room. It took Eve her full strength to make him stop.

“Jake, I think Jo’s handling it just fine,” Eve was smirking proudly.

His mouth dropping open, Jake watched with amazement as Derek leaned forward in a sloppy drunken attempt to kiss Joanne, who in turn lifted her knee hard. Within seconds, Derek had dropped to the floor.

“Way to go, Jo!” Eve bounded up to her best friend, startling her.

Coming over a moment later, Jake put his arm protectively around Joanne’s shoulder. “Damn, baby,” he said, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth as he looked at her dumbfounded expression. It was obvious that Joanne hadn’t realized she had the strength or courage to do what she had just done.

“Come on, let’s get something to drink,” Eve reached for Mark, who had joined there little group. “We’ll see you guys in a little while.”

Looking down at Derek, who was starting to rise from the floor finally, Jake’s expression changed to be very hard. “Touch Joanne again,” he said in a low voice when Derek met his eyes. “And this will be a cakewalk compared to what I do to you.”

“Yeah, I, um,” Derek looked terrified as he glanced between Joanne and Jake. “No, I didn’t mean… I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea…”

“Just go,” Jake replied in the same low, threatening voice. “Now.”

“Okay,” Derek nodded, moving away as fast as he could.

“You alright, Jo?” Jake turned concerned eyes on his girlfriend. “I mean, I saw that you could handle yourself, but are you freaked out or anything?”

“No, I’m okay,” Joanne said. But that wasn’t completely the truth. As she followed Jake into the kitchen and watched him share friendly banter with Eve and Jake, Joanne tried to shake the uncomfortable feeling that had just taken over her. The way Jake had just acted with Derek had startled her. He had sounded more than angry; he sounded like a completely different person. Someone that had scared Joanne, if only momentarily.

Taking the beer Jake offered to settle her nerves, Joanne began to relax as the night progressed. Still, she thought as she stole glances at her kind boyfriend as he laughed and joked, that had been strange. Joanne had never seen Jake like that before, and she wouldn’t mind if she never saw him like that again.