It actually took some deft maneuveringto make sure he had the seat next to Ellie on the metro, mostly because she’d been talking to Sharon as they’d all boarded the train car. Still, he’d managed by literally tugging Ellie into one of the seats beside him, shamelessly refusing to relinquish his hold on her hand. He’d taken her hand as soon as she’d arrived at the metro station, looking casually gorgeous in jeans and a dark red tank top edged with black lace underneath a cropped leather jacket, and just the slightest hint of a waddle in her walk. Although she’d seemed uneasy about holding hands with him on the platform, she hadn’t protested either or tried to move away. She’d just seemed nervous, although her anxiousness had gone away as conversations had started up and no one had made a big deal out of their hand-holding.
Sharon immediately plopped down on the seat in front of him and Ellie, turning around to continue her conversation with Ellie - she’d apparently decided Ellie would make a perfect replacement roommate for Kate and was trying to convince Ellie to come around to her point of view.
“The doorman is always there to receive packages or if you forget your key,” Sharon said, her dark eyes bright and cajoling. “It’s like having a butler, except he doesn’t answer the front door for you.”
Jake, who was standing and holding onto the overhead bar rather than taking the open seat next to Sharon, snorted. When Sharon’s head whipped around so she could glare at him though, he was looking at the front of the train rather than down at her.
“I think I’m pretty good where I am,” Ellie said again, still sounding amused. “I like living on my own.”
“When was the last time you livedwithsomeone?” Sharon asked, coaxing. “You might like it even more. And I’m a blast to live with. Right, Kate?” The second question was half-shouted across the train, since Kate was sitting several rows back with Andrew and looked like she’d fallen asleep on his shoulder. “Kate? Oh, never mind. What’s the use of having a best friend who constantly has all the energy fucked right out of her?”
This time she ignored the derisive noise Jake made. Michael leaned back in his seat, not bothering to hide his grin. Sharon could be incredibly crass, which for some reason seemed to seriously irk Jake, which only encouraged her to be more so. Her nickname for him kept changing, but last Michael heard she’d most recently dubbed him Captain America after he’d rebuked her for cursing.
“How do you know you won’t have the same problem with me?” Ellie asked, although unlike Sharon her voice was soft enough only Sharon and Michael - and maybe Jake - heard her response.
Frowning, Sharon’s eyes flicked back and forth between Ellie and Michael.
Michael gave her a wicked grin.
She shrugged. “I guess I don’t, but since we’re good friends and you’re not mybestfriend I won’t feel quite as neglected if you keep falling asleep when I need you.”
“It is incredibly rude to compare friendships like that,” Jake interjected, glowering down at her. “What if you just hurt Ellie’s feelings?”
“I didn’t,” Sharon said irritably, waving her hand dismissively at him. Then she frowned at Ellie. “I didn’t, did I? Although, if you did move in with me, I’d totally be willing to revisit the question of who my best friend is.”
The aggravated noises Jake was making were getting louder. Michael eyed him with amusement. No wonder Ellie was so quiet all the time, just sitting back and watching could be highly entertaining. Although Jake and Sharon were currently the best show in town. In the sideways seat in front of Sharon, Jared and Leigh were curled up around each other, whispering and ignoring everyone else. On Jake’s other side, Olivia was sitting in the sideways seat next to Chris, whose lap was currently serving as Jessica’s foot rest; Jessica was tucked underneath Justin’s arm and the four of them were talking. Behind Justin and Jessica, Liam and Hilary seemed torn between listening to the conversation in front of them or Sharon and Jake’s bickering. Lexie and Patrick had no such issue. Patrick was leaning against the window while Lexie leaned against him and they were both watching Jake, who had his back to them or he’d realize just how interested their friends were in what was going on with him.
Behind Patrick and Lexie, Angel and Adam were currently arguing about something, although not very loudly, since they were trying not to wake Kate who was snuggled on Andrew’s shoulder in the seats behind them. Since Rick and Maria were directly behind Michael, he wasn’t sure where their attention was; and behind them were whatever poor sods had ended up on the same train car as the rest of them.
“So, I get you as a best friend… anything else?” Ellie asked, her eyes sparkling.
The look Sharon gave her was almost of awed respect. “You’re kind of sassy this morning, I like it!”
Ellie giggled and leaned against Michael’s shoulder. He almost shifted to put his arm around her, but he didn’t want her to panic the way she had the last time he’d tucked her under his arm… so he just enjoyed the feeling of her leaning against him, their hands entwined and resting on their thighs.
“Did Michael give you a sass injection last night?” Sharon asked, not bothering to lower her voice as Jake gave her a disbelieving look, which she ignored. Both Michael and Ellie burst out laughing.
“Do you have any sense of decorum at all?” Jake growled down at her.
Across the aisle, his little sister finally couldn’t take it anymore. She burst out laughing, and Jake whipped around to finally notice he had the attention of pretty much every single one of their friends at this point - except for Kate who was still asleep on Andrew’s shoulder.
“What?!” he barked out.
“De- de- de-” Lexie couldn’t even get the word out, she just pointed at him, laughing even harder as tears started to slide down her face.
“What Lexie means is you’re turning into a prude, Captain America,” Patrick said.
“Don’t call me that,” Jake snapped.
Rolling her eyes, Sharon pretended she hadn’t just stirred the pot, returning her attention to Ellie. “Please tell me you’ll think about it?”
“I’ll think about it,” Ellie said, but her tone of voice indicated thinking was all she’d be doing, making Sharon sigh with exaggerated defeat.
The conversation got a little quieter as the Metro moved along, more people getting on and off at every stop. Sharon started bouncing in her seat with every stop, now chattering about all the animals she wanted to see today and what she hoped they would be doing. When Michael happened to glance up at Jake, he smirked when he saw the other man watching Sharon’s excitement, the tiniest hint of a smile curving his lips.
Ha.
Busted.
