of course not

"What's really going on?" Ian didn't mean to feel troubled by what he'd seen with Jules. "You and that...guy?" Ian couldn't figure it out. It really was the last thing he expected, seeing Jules at the concert with a guy.

"You're the ones who's gay. Really, you're thinking there is more to it, than it is." Jules really was being coy about this Jonah's matter. He was cleaning out the platters from the empty spots in the pastry display. His work continued even if Ian was there.

"Its just...really, why would you?" Ian bit his upper lip. "Is it my fault? You're mad at me?"

Jules looked back at him with a sly smile. "I love making you jealous." He shook his head. "Why would I be mad, huh? Look, Jonah came in. He..he asked me out. Not like its a love connection, all right. Not like I signed a document, putting labels on it, you know. Its was just going out. That's what I do. Or did. It was lame. Completely, lame." Jules shrugged. "I don't have any mates. Not like you. I just needed to get out. You know, without you hoovering over."

"Hoovering? I've never hoovered." Ian scowled.

"Look, I'm pretty sure I've screwed things up with the bloke. Not to worry. All right." Jules washed the platters, rinsed even more.

"There is so much, we don't talk about." Ian told him.

"I'd rather not." Jules' teased. "Who knows, maybe its all my fault you're gay." He shrugged.

"Now that's quite an ego you got going there, mate." Ian winced.

"You know what they say...misery loves company. I doubt you need my company," Jules said ever so quietly.

"Is this about Collette?" Ian found himself asking. She must still be on his mind.

"She was your friend, not mine." Jules was quick to tell him as if he'd never had any association with her.

"You, need to deal with these feelings, you still have for her." Ian thought Jules was still running from something.

Jules just smiled as if Ian really was making more of the situation than it was.

"We'll get together, sometime, just the two of us. All right?" Ian felt he'd let him down.

"Really, its all right. You don't have too." Jules promised Ian, he was OK.