Just to let you all know, I've been on an employability course called TNG for a few days, hopefully starting back at the St Helens Star on Friday. It's all jolly good stuff, but it'll come in due time.

This post, my friends, is Jason-centric.

"Again?!" you may cry, slamming your fists down on your computer desks. "What of the novel? And you have yet to prove to us all that you can actually draw!"

Well, that stuff's been going on too. But, like my TNG and upcoming Star continuation, separate posts. Besides, I'm too bloody chuffed to fixate on any of that for now.

Last time I posted on this subject, Jason had given my phone back to me on the Friday after I'd left it at the pub. He said that he'd contact me some time during the week once his friend Mel had gone back to London. I didn't hear anything from him until today, when I contacted him myself.

I got a text from Anna this afternoon; 'Jam night?'. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to go - I've been dead with 'flu for the past four days and while I was getting better, I wasn't feeling 100%. Then I thought of Jason, and how I'd like to hang out with him tonight. So I texted him, inviting him to the jam night, and success! He agreed to come along! We'd be meeting at 7.30, in Victoria Square. I decided that tonight would be the night - I was going to tell him that I liked him.

As if one act of boldness/lunacy wasn't enough, I decided that I'd go out wearing a skirt. Earlier on in the day I'd walked past the RSPCA charity shop in St Helens town centre when I spied this gorgeous outfit in the window - white blouse, black skirt with an orange and white stripe near the hem, cream military-style coat with black trim, white chiffon scarf with orange spots and black bead necklace. I bought the lot for just over a tenner and this is what I decided to wear, minus the coat and with the addition of my cream trilby.

For once I think I looked rather good. The downside? I was freezing my arse off as I waited for the bus. On the bus itself I was fine, but because they were hourly at that time I wound up waiting a full half an hour in Victoria Square. I passed the time by text-spamming Holly with irrelevant observations and tidbits of nonsense, even though she wasn't replying - anything to take my mind off the cold. I listened to Vaughan Williams' English Folk Songs Suite - which helped somewhat.

Jason showed up and we sat there gabbing for a while until I decided that the cold was getting too much for me. We headed straight to the Duke of Cambridge where it was surprisingly quiet - they were setting up for the jam night. We were able to have a proper conversation, which was great; it meant we could have both music and chatter!

He'd said when he arrived that he may have overshot it a bit when agreeing to meet at 7.30. I sort of wonder if he did that deliberately, knowing we'd have an hour and a half to kill before the jam night would make conversation difficult. I didn't mind - in the right company, I can sit and chat for hours so it was all good. We talked a lot about movies, mainly ranting about the crap ones that we've seen - I did a rather impressive summary of the generic disaster movie plot - and then we realised we had one bad movie in common: SyFy's godawful 'Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus'. That film's so bad it's actually quite glorious.

Anna arrived (already drunk) while the jam night guys were still setting up, and here I met the legendary Billy. And Tom, her other ex. Anna talked about how much she missed the Prince's Trust - and I agree; even with TNG to give me something of a routine, I've been bored and missing everybody, especially Anna. Apparently she's been suffering from major 'Kelza withdrawal' - a compliment, or am I now listed as a Class A drug? Whatever the case, it was great to see her again. I've missed her so much!

Funny story; one of the first things Anna said to Jason and I "so are you two an item yet?" - cue bafflement! Alas, this wouldn't be the last of it...

Another friend of Anna's came in. At one point they were having a fairly deep discussion about something - which, when I was included in the conversation, turned out to be Emma. Everyone else was baffled as to what was going on but I knew - I've been in on this story the longest; a full eleven years. The most recent development, following her supposed second pregnancy with twins, is that Anna arranged to accompany her to an ultrasound scan so she could prove the legitimacy of it. Well, Emma did a bunk. Nobody's heard from her. Further suggestions here that she's lying. Quite amusing, really!

The jam night kicked off, and some time into it a couple of ladies came in. For lack of a place to sit, they sat across from Jason and I. We'll call them Matchmaker and Ms. White, since I never caught their names, or if I did I can't remember. Both of them were quite visibly drunk, since they were having an early celebration of Ms. White's retirement. We chatted a bit, the four of us, and they danced, which was hilarious - and then Matchmaker lived up to her name.

First of all, they thought I was Jason's girlfriend. My heart nearly exploded at the thought, and only later did I realise that neither of us denied it. When Jason and Anna were both absent from the table they started quizzing me; was I Jason's girlfriend? Was Anna his girlfriend? Did he like me? Did I like him? I just wore this baffled grin throughout, too surprised and embarrassed to even come up with a one-word answer. When Jason came back, Ms. White talked to him (I didn't hear a word she was saying - but I'm assuming it was about me) and Matchmaker talked to me. Encouraging me to 'get in there!' and all that jazz.

Honestly, that's when I think it became obvious to Jason from my behaviour that I liked him. There was simply no hiding it. I didn't say anything, but the stupid grin on my face and the fact that I'd gone bright red spoke loudly enough.

This went on for a while. I nipped to the loo at one point and remember thinking Oh crap, what are they going to say to him while I'm gone? I'd already confessed to Matchmaker that I liked Jason, so no doubt she was relaying to him every word I'd said. Eep. Anna, meanwhile, was in and out of the pub talking to people and looking for Billy, who seemed to have vanished.

Eventually, after a lengthy absence, Anna returned - annoyed at Billy, who'd been going on about how much he cared for Emma - and decided to join Ms. White and Matchmaker in their game. Anna was a lot more straightforward in her method, actually. She just came out with it: "Right, I've had enough of this. Jason, will you go out with her?"

My brain stopped for once in its life. My heart was thudding like it was trying to compensate. Then Jason put his arm around me, pulled me close and said yes!

Cue celebration. I can't even remember much about the moments afterwards; Jason bought me another drink, I hid in my hat, wondering what the hell had just happened... and what chance I got to speak between the songs, I only talked about how surprised I was. This was a totally unexpected outcome.

That pretty much defines the rest of my night; I sat there in a state of complete, utter bafflement and bliss. Jason and I are boyfriend and girlfriend! How strange it felt to even think that! All the same, I was glad - I really like him, and the night couldn't have had a better outcome; in hindsight, I don't think I could have plucked up the courage to tell him myself. Turns out that my earliest suspicions were right! Jason does indeed like me!

Anna left first, and then it was our turn. Jason and I waited for the song to finish and then left the pub; immediately he offered his hand, which I gladly took. We talked about other things on the way back to the station but I think we were both giddy with the way things had worked out. Then, at the bus station, Jason admitted that he'd been planning to tell me tonight all along. Great minds think alike! I reckon, then, even without Matchmaker, Ms. White and Anna, we would have wound up seeing each-other. I imagine what it might have been like that way, if he had told me without any intervention. Just the two of us; it would have been nice.

Still, I can't complain. I have a fantastic boyfriend now who really likes me, and I think he's wonderful. Does it really matter in the end how it all came about? All that matters is we like each-other and want to be together. I'm happy. The bus showed up on time (unfortunately) and we parted with a kiss. The ride home was again in a haze of bafflement. Blossom shining in the dark, clouded sky passed me by I was that amazed.

Since it's now official and we both know each-other's feelings, I suppose it's okay now to publicise the entries regarding Jason. I had them all f'locked, paranoid that he might stumble across them and not actually like me; in which case he'd be one severely weirded-out chap. But we now know that's not the case - plus he doesn't have the Internet anyway! *evil snigger*

Well, I hope you lot are enjoying the Chronicles of Jason so far! I know I am!