Happy birthday

LJ

"Jamie?" I said to the hunched figure at the foot of my bed.

"350." Haha, he's awake.

"Can't I get a free pass for my birthday?" I said through my teeth. Then, I touched my face. "Also, I think my wounds are all scabbed up."

Jamie got up and wheeled his chair closer to my head. He rubbed his eyes before putting his glasses on. I didn't realize he had them on when he came back from filming his show. "Happy birthday, kid," he yawned, then started checking my wounds. "What do you want to talk about? I promise I won't charge you until your wounds break open again."

"What did I get you for your birthday?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "You got me something? I don't remember."

I pouted. "You said you liked it."

"Okay, why are you asking?" he chuckled. "Do you want to know what I got you this year?"

I sighed. "I want you to erase what I did in the club," I said.

Jamie sighed, a longer one than mine. He propped his chin on his hand, his elbow on the edge of my bed. "I wish I could, J, but life doesn't work that way."

"Rory will never get back with me if she knew what I did."

He looked at me for a minute then asked, "So why did you do it?"

"I was drunk," I said. Even I knew it was lame. "I know, I'm horrible when I'm angry."

"Yes, but everyone gets angry," he shrugged. "Look at Mark. He's always angry and he's actually the most normal of all of us."

I raised an eyebrow. "Mark is the most normal?"

"Well, within the last 24 hours, he hasn't assaulted a teenager, been questioned by the police, been called gay by the woman he's fucking, or gone missing because someone killed herself for him, so, yeah. Mark is the most normal."

Both eyebrows were now raised and stretching my face and it was just painful enough to remind me to stop it before Jamie starts charging me for talking again. "What did you say happened to you?" I started laughing. "Who are you fu... I'm sorry, who's the lucky girl?"

"Who do you think it is?" he challenged me.

"Veronica," I said immediately. There didn't seem to be anyone else, and I actually watch Amazing just to watch her get under his skin.

He smiled, his eyes downcast.

"Oh crap, are you being shy?" I couldn't help it, I burst into laughter.

"400 dollars," Jamie said. "450 if you don't stop."

"She thinks you're gay?" I giggled.

"Apparently." He looked pissed off. "Why would you think someone is gay when you have sex whenever nobody's looking?"

"You have sex whenever nobody's looking?" My jaw dropped. "So you've done it on the set of Amazing?"

He nodded, smiling all smug. "Before anyone got there, of course."

"Where exactly?"

"Just against the wall, our sets aren't sturdy enough."

I frowned at him. "You said sex in public places was the best way to get pregnant."

"She's on the pill," he shrugged. "And she jumps me, it's never my idea."

"Look at you, like it's no big deal," I snorted. "I wish I could punch you."

"Of course, it's a big deal," he shook his head. "I would die without her."

I nodded. "Yeah."

He shot me a look. "What do you mean, yeah?"

"I've seen you together," I shrugged. "It's like we know you guys are going to end up together. Mark and I ship you guys."

"Mark and you what?"

"You heard me," I snorted.

He chuckled. "But don't you feel that way about Rory? That you'll end up together eventually?"

I hate it when he changes the topic like that. "She's not gonna forgive me," i sighed.

"So you keep saying sorry until she does," he patted my hand. "Unless you don't really like her all this much and don't think she's worth the effort and inconvenience. I mean, if you don't like her anymore, just walk away."

"If Veronica was mad at you and you know she will never forgive you, how long before you decide to walk away?" I asked. I was ready to do math.

"She can be mad at me all she wants," Jamie said. "And if she never wants to see me again, okay fine. But you know me, I do the sad, broken-hearted thing really well. If getting over Antonia took eleven years, I think Veronica would probably be longer."

"So, you've forgiven Steve then?"

He looked at me and smiled. His eyes looked sad. "I thought I was mad at Steve because he slept with Antonia," he said. "But I realize I was mad at him because he knew it would hurt my feelings and he did it anyway."

He sighed and took his glasses off, cleaned the lenses with my blanket. "And then I realized that you do crazy things when you're in love with somebody, and if I stayed mad at him, wouldn't that be like throwing away ten years of my life?"

I studied his face. Sometimes, Jamie had the kindest face in the world. "Is Veronica that something important thing you had to do this afternoon when everyone was trying to figure out what to do about Burt?"

"Yes," he said, simply.

I nodded. Then, I yawned.

"Get some sleep," Jamie yawned along with me. "Tomorrow, we'll have cake and your mom promised me she won't say anything about your face or the friends you insist on hanging out with, and you're gonna have a happy birthday. And maybe Steve will be back. I know what he got you, it's so awesome, it will make you piss in your pants."

I laughed as he lowered my bed. "He doesn't need to get me anything, he just needs to be here," I said. "Did you threaten to charge Mom, too?"

"Yes, it always works," he rolled his eyes. "Good night, J."

"Good night, Jame," I said, closing my eyes. "And thanks."

"For what?"

"You know for what."

I heard him chuckle as I drifted off. "Anytime."