| Jaimie quickly changed her clothes and pulled on her workboots, trying to ignore Jimmy's echoing soapbox speeches about guys, and how they would screw up her life and her music, especially the ones like Taylor, who were just as into the music as she was, the ones like Jimmy. She ran her hand through her hair and pulled it back, securing it with a ponytail holder as his words pounded through her head, racing like freight train, making her shake, though now she couldn't tell if it was from panic or anger. She pulled on her jacket and caught sight of the stack of tapes she and Jimmy had recorded together. She shoved her wallet in her back pocket, grabbed her keys and then roared out of frustration. "JIMMY!! SHUT THE HELL UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE FOR A CHANGE!!" She glared at the pile of cassettes, shut off the lights and slammed the door behind her. Work would be a welcome distraction, because right now, she didn't want to think. Jade drove home in silence, wishing that Jaimie could afford to take this night off from work. She really needed to talk and somehow, she felt like she better not breathe a word of this to Angel, and there was know way she wanted to analyze her feelings with Isaac, he was the cause of her total confusion and major guilt trip anyway. She sighed heavily as she pulled into her parking space and turned off her car. 'Jade you are gonna be one pruned-up wrinkly hag.' she thought to herself, deciding she would take another long, hot bath and drink a glass of wine, so she could put her feelings on hold until she had a chance to hash them out with Jaimie. That thought made her chuckle. Jaimie was really good at knowing what was best for everybody else, but when it came to herself, she was totally clueless. Ike lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and silently kicking himself for the millionth time that night. What was he thinking? Why in the world did he put Jade on the spot like that? And with Josh practically on his knees begging for her forgiveness, he knew there'd be serious trouble there if Josh found out that he'd even kissed Jade, let alone admitted to anyone but himself that he was falling in love with her, if not already head over heels. "Issac, you dumbass.." he muttered to himself and rolled over, trying to sleep, but it refused to come. |
| Josh rolled over, throwing his arm over the sleeping form next to him. He sucked in his breath in surprise, having fallen into such a deep sleep he'd forgotten where he was, and doubled over in another coughing fit. "Josh are you alright?" the blonde figure next to him asked. "Yeah..yeah.." he said when his coughing fit subsided. "But I think I better get home and be sick there." he told her. "I think I'm getting worse instead of better. You better see a doctor, or you won't be able to.." She cut him off. "Whatever. I'm fine. You don't have to leave though. We could make each other feel better." she said seductively, but the desired effect was lost when she doubled over coughing. "Uh-huh.." he mumbled, sarcastically. "I feel like shit and so do you. I think I'd rather be sick by myself, wouldn't you?" he asked. "So go." she snapped, annoyed. "Oh come on. It's not like that and you know it. You knew this wasn't supposed to be..." he started to say to soothe hs aching conscience, but she cut him off again. "WHATEVER. Go then, nobody's stopping you. No strings.." she rolled over and pulled the pillow more firmly under her head. "I WILL call you.." he leaned over and kissed her cheek, after he was dressed and ready to go. "Don't strain yourself." she muttered, pouting. "Don't be like that, baby. I WILL call you." he repeated. "Really?" she asked suddenly hopeful. "Yes, really. Just rest and get better, okay?" he said gently, not wanting to leave things with her as bad as they were with Jade. "Okay, Josh. You too." she reached out and stroked his cheek. "'Night." he said and tucked the blanket around her shoulder. "'Night Josh.." she sighed. He didn't her her say, "I love you.." as he closed the door behind him. He got himself home and into bed, just as the fever made his body begin to ache and sweat, and as he thought he should try to call Jade again, he flopped down on his bed and pulled the blankets up. "I'll call her in the morning.." he told himslef as his body rebelled against every move he made, then finally he fell into a fitful sleep. "Hello?" Ike answered his cell phone sleepily. "Issac? Oh god. You were asleep.." Jade's voice on the other end jolted him awake. "It's okay, Jade. Whats' wrong?" he asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, trying to wake completely up. "Nothing's wrong. Well, maybe...hell I dunno. I can't sleep and I was worried that you might be feeling...' there was a long pause. "Jade? Are you still there?" Ike finally asked when she didn't continue. "Yes." she sighed. "I just was hoping I didn't give you the wrong idea...maybe somehow that was my fault and I dunno what the hell I'm getting at..I just didn't want you to be angry with me or upset and if.." she babbled cutely, making Ike smile. "Jade. I said it was alright. Nothing was your fault. Don't think that, okay. I was out of line, but I'm glad I wasn't so far out of line that you are uncomfortable with me." he smiled into the reciever warmly and she could picture it. "Okay, now see...I was thinking you might be uncomfortable around me and I really, really don't want that." she sighed heavily. "You and I are okay, Jade. Don't worry. Did you let Josh explain yet?" he asked, his heart becoming heavy. "Actually no. I haven't heard from him since he left Jaimie's. I thought he might be all over my answering machine...the way he acted at Jameson's...he must really be sick. But if I call him...I HAVE MY PRIDE.." she grinned, and Ike pictured her cute dimpled smile and sparkling green eyes. "Of course you do." he said. "You ARE totally in the right Jade. Just don't be too hard on him. He's a sick man." Ike laughed. "Don't you have to work in the morning? It's late, Jade." he said when he noticed the time. |
| "I know." she said softly. "Things with Josh are just so screwed up right now and I didn't wanna have them that messed up with you. I think that it would be even MORE difficult, since Taylor and Jaimie seemed to be joined at the uh....well..." she blushed and then giggled, "hip, I mean." she finished when Ike gasped slightly. "Good save, Jade. get some sleep and I'll see you later, okay?" he chuckled. "Okay. Ike?" she paused. "What?" he waited. "Thank you. I'm glad we can be friends." she said softly. "Me too, Jade." he answered. "Goodnight." "Goodnight." she almost whispered and hung up the phone. "Friends..yeah, great..." he muttered and then laid back down. he lay there for a while and then got out of bed when he realized Taylor was up roaming around. He was sure it wasn't Zac, because he could hear Zac snoring from all the way down the hall. Ike pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, then padded down the hall to the kitchen to find Taylor digging through the fridge. "You are a bottomless pit lately.' Ike joked. "Can't sleep. How's Jade?' he asked. "How should I know?" Ike asked, a little defensively. "Duh. Your cell phone rings this time of night and I know something happened at Jaimie's. It was written all over your face man. So when were you going to tell me?" Taylor asked as he shoved a plate of leftovers in the microwave. "Damn. I kissed her." Ike blurted out, making Taylor gape at him in surprise. "Do you LISTEN when I talk, man?" he asked, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I couldn't even help myself, Tay. She was going on and on about camping in her backyard and watching stars, so I told her about camping out in the treehouse and stuff..she was getting on my case for blasting you and Zac with the super-soakers and she looked so cute..and before I knew it.." he babbled, making his brother laugh out loud. "Oh my god. You have it BAD, dude. Too bad she's DATING our cousin.." Taylor's face fell as soon as he mentioned it. "What's that look for?" Ike asked. "What look? Now you're delirious.." Taylor tried to cover but Ike wasn't buying it. Ike did decide to leave it alone for the moment. "You gonna see Jaimie tomorrow?" Ike asked, to change the subject. He'd have a serious PHYSICAL problem if he didn't stop thinking about what it was like to kiss Jade. "Yeah. I'm just gonna take her out for breakfast when she gets off work. She HAS to sleep sometime, man. I dunno how she lives life on the goofy sleep schedule she has. I'd drop." he said. "She's a naturally hyper person." Ike gave his brother a wide grin. "Sort of a female Zac.." Ike waited for Taylor's reaction. "Thanks for the visual..." Taylor muttered giving Ike a dirty look. Ike laughed out loud. "Sorry dude. Couldn't resist. Wanna watch a movie? I can't sleep either." Ike asked. "Kay.." Taylor followed Ike into the TV room and sat down, while Ike chose the movie they'd watch. |