Patti and Zac were busy in a heated conversation concerning antique cars so Jade and Ike moved their conversation into the area that was supposed to serve as a kitchen for Jaimie. "Hey where the heck is Jaimie?" Ike asked. "This is HER place isn't it? And it's awesome by the way." he grinned at Jade. "I like it too. It suits her, and she can keep and eye on her dad." Jade told him. "Why would she need to keep an eye on him?" Ike asked, curious. "She won't talk about it much, but her brother, Jimmy, was killed and so was her mom. A car accident, 'bout 5 years ago. Her dad never really got over it, though he tries to function pretty well, for Jaimie's sake I think, but there are times when he loses it, so Jame likes to be close by." Jade said and then gave him a look that told him she was ready to drop the subject. Ike realized then, that Jade felt like she'd said too much, so he kept his curiosity in check. "Maybe they stepped outside?" she suggested, looking toward the door. Ike shrugged and went to the door. "Good idea if they did, it's HOT in this apartment." he grinned and held the door for Jade. She preceeded him out the door, but they didn't see Tay or Jaimie anywhere. "It's a nice night.." Jade commented absently, looking up at the sky. "Yeah, it is." Ike replied and moved to her side, looking up to see what she was looking at. "When I was little, I used to love picking out the different constellations, figuring out where they fit together. I used to bring a sleeping bag and pillow out in the middle of my backyard and watch. Sometimes if Angel was staying with us, she'd come out, too, but I don't think she ever really understood.." she let her voice trail off and looked at Ike, whose face was illumated by the soft moonlight combined with the glow of the streetlights out front. He was smiling and Jade caught herself holding her breath. She quickly looked away when he turned to her. "Josh and I used to camp in our old treehouse." he told her. "We'd sit up there all afternoon with waterguns and water balloons waiting for Zac or Tay to come by so we could blast them." he chuckled. "My parents used to let us sleep out there occasionally, until.." he let his voice trail off as he looked into her green eyes. She was smiling directly at him. "I can't believe you did that to your own baby brothers Issac Hanson." she said, her voice low. "Aw. They had it comin'." he grinned down at her. before he knew what was happening, and before she could stop it, his soft lips were on hers and his fingers trailed through the soft curls at the sides of her face. Jade was stunned enough that she didn't pull back right away. She let herself feel his lips on hers, his hands touching her gently and she wanted him to continue. She found herself wondering what it would be like to let HIM be the one to...'NO!' she yelled in her head and grabbed his shoulders. "No.." she breathed. "Isaac we can't do this.." she looked at her feet when he let go of her and stepped back. "I'm sorry, Jade...it's just..dammit. I can't explain it." Ike shoved his hands deep into his pockets, to keep himslef from touching her, the urge to hold her and make everything all right was that great. He could tell that she was wrestling with as many emotions as he was, but he also knew that there was a connection between them that couldn't be stopped now. "I know, Isaac. But Josh..he's your family. I haven't really broken up with him..he just makes me so angry sometimes. And even if...Ike..he's your family. One of your best friends. I couldn't live with myself.." she sputtered, almost incoherently. But in actuality he understood every single point she was trying to make, while trying desperately not to hurt him. He admitted to himself right then that he LOVED her for that.
	"Jade..listen." Ike told her as she tried desperately to make sense of what she was saying, thinking out loud, he figured. He finaly grabbed her shoulders and made her look at him. "Jade. It's okay. You're right. And I'm sorry to have put you in this postion." he said softly. "I can't help it if you're so easy to like and to be with." he grinned and she smiled back, her eyes filled with sadness. "I know what you mean. But it's not just about US." she sighed. "I better grab Zac and get going." he said and gave her shoulders a squeeze, before he let her go. "Ike?" Jade called his name and he turned back to look at her. "I still may need to take you up on your offer. You know, if I need someone to talk to?" she almost whispered. "Anytime, Jade." he smiled as his heart broke, then went inside to collect Zac. Jade stood outside, staring up at the sky and knew that Ike would be more than willing to lay out in the backyard to watch the stars with her. "Zac..we gotta go, bro.." Ike motioned to his brother, involved in a seriously ridiculous conversation with Patti, about what color a '65 Mustang should be. "We'll get this settled later, Red." Zac teased. "My ride WILL leave without me." "RED???" Patti laughed incredulously. "Well what do you want me to call you? Fake red? I thought it was natural.." Zac continued, batting his eyelashes. "Jeez, Zac. I have a name." she smiled up at him. "Kay. PATTI." he made a face at her. "See? I'm not as a big a moron as you think I am." "Goodie for you Einstein. And it should be BLUE." she tried to get the last word in, but Zac would not relent. "Candy Apple RED.." he wiggled his eyebrows. "We'll finish this argument Friday, Patti. I'm dying to hear you guys play without that..." he started to say, 'bitch, Angel' but stopped himself when Jade came back inside. "I liked the original stuff." Zac told her. "I like playing Jameson's stuff too." Patti smiled, "she's good." Patti stood and leaned toward Zac. "But she won't write anything for Angel." she said so Jade wouldn't hear. "I think Jame's right about the little plastic skank, but she's Jade's family." Patti shrugged. "What goes around comes around and I'm sure it'll be comin' 'round the mountain soon enough." she giggled, making Zac smile. "Probably." he said and grabbed his jacket. "Where the hell is Tay?" he asked. "You are a grumpy old HAG." Taylor grinned as he strode through the door, Jaimie close behind him. Zac looked closely at Jaimie's flushed cheeks, then scowled at Taylor, who blinked in surprise. "Dude. I was KIDDING." Taylor said. "Whatever. 'Night Jaimie, your stuff rocks." Zac told her and headed for the door. "Thanks, Zac." Jaimie told his retreating form, then looked at Jade, who smiled knowingly. "See ya Friday, Jameson. SLEEP some." Patti said, grinning widely at Jaimie. "Yeah, see ya." Jaimie looked at Taylor, obviously confused. "Let's go, Jade." Patti chuckled and followed Zac out the door. "'Night Jame.." Ike grinned, gave Jade one last sad smile and followed the other two. "'Night.." Jaimie's voice cracked in her confusion. Jade laughed and gave her a look to say, 'I told you so' but said, "I'll call you tomorrow on my break." "Kay. Bye Jadeleigh." Jaimie turned to Taylor. "What the...?" she stopped when she looked into his sparkling blue eyes. "I dunno." he said. "All I know is I won't be able to sleep, knowing you're working your ass off and I have to wait to see you." "Tay.." he stopped her with another kiss. "I'll see you in the morning, Jame." he said and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Okay." she said, then lifted her chin so he could kiss her again. "'Night, baby." he smiled and was out the door, leaving her standing there, shaking and panicked.
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