Angel slid into the backseat, next to Isaac and Josh helped Jade into the front passenger seat. As she buckled in, she caught Ike's glance in the rear-view mirror. Her heart skipped another beat when he smiled warmly at her, and she blushed. She hoped he didn't catch THAT. It was dark, so maybe he didn't. "We better take Angel home first anyway, regardless of Jaime's less-than-ladylike attitude." Josh commented as he slid into his seat and started the car. "Josh! Since when did you know Jaime to care if anyone thought she was a 'lady'?" Jade chuckled. "Yeah. My point exactly." Josh snapped and then took Jade's hand. "Sorry. Just tired I guess." he apologized instantly while Angel fumed in the backseat. "You and Jaime don't get along?" Ike asked, surprised. Why be in a band if you can't deal with the other members? "Jaime just has a high and mighty self-centered streak is all. Don't know how she could be best friends with someone as sweet as Jade." she said and then gave Ike a small smile. "She seemed cool enough to me." Ike remarked catching Jade's eye in the rear-view mirror. His heart pounded wildly and he reprimanded himself sternly. He turned his body to give his full attention to Angel. "I deal okay, because Jade is my cousin,  they are best friends, and I get to sing." she shrugged her shoulders. "Big of you." Ike grinned and ganced toward Jade, who smiled apologetically for his being caught in the middle of Jaime and Angel's 'creative differences' as Jaime like to refer to it. Ike shrugged and then answered the million questions that Angel threw at him until they reached her apartment. "Flip the light so we know, Angel.." Jade told her. "I'll walk her up.." Ike offered to save himself the discomfort of watching Josh and Jade together. It seemed to be bothering Angel too, though neither said a word to the other about it. "Safe and sound." Ike smiled as Angel turned the key in the lock. "Thanks Ike. I do appreciate it. You comin' to the gig next weekend? Same place and time. We're regulars there, two weekends a month." she smiled hopefully. "Depends. You guys were good though. Jaime can kick the crap out of those drums. I'll see what we can do." he told her, noticing the scowl that fleetingly crossed her face when he mentioned Jaime. 'Oh-ho' he thought,  'someone's jealous.' "Goodnight Isaac. It was cool hangin' out with you." Angel smiled again and tiptoed up to kiss his cheek. 'Hope Josh was watchin' that..' she thought to herself as Ike blushed, taken aback. "Been fun." he finally managed. "See you later." he told her and sprinted down the walk to the car. Angel watched as he got in the car and they sped away, then stormed inside and slammed her door shut when Josh didn't even wave goodbye. "Okay. Jade's turn, then we can go home and crash too." Josh grinned back at Ike. "I'm beat, too." Ike agreed, smiling at Jade again in the rear-view. He wasn't sure if it was just him, but it seemed that every time he caught sight of her, she was looking back at him. And her smile sent his head spinning and his heart thumping and once again he felt like a complete idiot, she belonged to Josh. He thought he saw her blush during their last meeting of eyes, right before Josh opened her door to let her out and walk her to her apartment. "'Nite Isaac. It was good to meet you." she said softly, as she pulled herself out of the seat. "Nice to meet you. See you again soon I'm sure." He smiled back and got out. He shook her small soft hand and then got in the front seat, to wait for Josh, after she released it. He sat for a long time, starting to feel drowsy, but when he looked up, they were still standing at her front door. He had to look away when Josh finally kissed her goodnight, and was relieved when Josh finally returned to the car. They drove to the Hanson house in silence, but it was comfortable, since the two had been close since they were little kids. They tiptoed in, so they wouldn't wake the rest of the house as much to keep Taylor and Zac out of trouble, as to keep from disturbing anyone. They peeled down to boxers and Ike tossed Josh the heavy sleeping bag he always used when he stayed over. Josh unrolled it and then flopped into it, shoving a pillow under his head. Ike threw himself into his bed, pulled the covers up and turned on his side. "I needed a night out. Thanks dude." Ike said. "It's cool. I knew you'd have a blast." Josh replied. "I'm whipped. 'Nite." Ike said and closed his eyes. "Nite, man." Josh answered sleepily. Ike's head popped up off the pillow as a thought occured to him. "Do you have Jaime's number? Just in case?" he asked, worried that if Tay and Zac were with Jaime, they may not make it home for a couple of days. "Jade does. I'll get in touch with her if we need to. But Tay has his cell, and so does Zac." Josh yawned. "Jaime'll crash in a couple of hours. That chick gets wound and then she crashes like a rock. Tay and Zac could steal her bike once she's down and she'd never notice. They'll be home soon, man. Nite." Jhe explained. "Kay. Nite." Ike yawned in resonse. Both were out cold in a matter of minutes.

"Zac! You dork! Wait a second.." Jamie yelled as he tried to hoist some of her equipment in his condition. "What?" he grinned as he proved to her he had it under control, by bouncing once. "I got it." Jaime sighed hevily. "Don't give me a heart attack. That stuff's expensive.." she trailed off as he and Taylor began unloading her things together, working with ease. "Well HELL!!" she grinned widely, "Just let me unlock the door.." She hurried to the side door of the garage and threw it open, reached in and flipped the lights on, then got out of their way. "You know, Jamester...it'd be easier if you just opened the big door." Taylor grunted. "Can't." she replied laughing, "Unless you WANT me to ruin my entertainment center.." she raised her eyebrow at him, and chuckled when Zac set his end of the soundboard down and looked around in wonder. "Cool.." he grinned at Jaime and poked Tay in the arm. "This rocks, huh?" he asked smiling. Taylor took a good look around and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it does." he smiled at Jaime. "How long did it take you to do all this?" he asked her. "Couple of months. But to use that end as a wall I had to seal it off. The other door is there." She pointed to the other side of the room. "Bathroom's in the corner, and I left the rest open so we could just prctice in here and be comfortable." she shrugged. "Got tired of listening to my Dad bitch about not being able to get at his stuff, but he never parked the car in here, so I built him a small shed for his piddly junk and converted this to an apartment. He doesn't charge me alot for rent either." she finished. Both Taylor and Zac turned in a circle, checking out Jaime's place thoroughly. It was converted from a three car garage into a spacious studio apartment. The wall that used to be the large door that opened into the driveway was lined with a huge, built-in entertainment center, a semi-large TV in the center, with DVD player and surround sound, which she had hooked up to the impressive stereo system. On either side of that, there were bookshelves filled with everything from fiction and literature, to reference books. Also built-in to one corner was a computer desk and system, and another shelf lined with books for learning programs. The bathroom was small, but very functional and there was a semi-kitchen set up along the back wall, complete with apartment sized stove, refridgerator, microwave, and dishwasher, but no table. On the other side wall there were built-in drawers and a closet between them, and Taylor decided that he'd love a peek at her wardrobe. In the center of the room was a gigantic oriental-looking rug, and placed around it were the biggest futon couch either Taylor or Zac had ever seen, a recliner on either side of that, and a couple of small end tables between each chair and the futon. All of the lighting was overhead, but not harsh and Taylor noticed a heavy-duty electrical cable with several outlets and a surge protector for both the computer and entertainment system, and a second one not in use, but that he assumed they used for amps and such when they were playing. Taylor looked again and noticed a keyboard similar to his, only not as big, in an out of the way spot. And on the computer desk were blank music sheets. Taylor and Zac went back outside with Jaime and brought the rest of the stuff in, putting the sound stuff, amp, and speakers in the place she designated for them, and her drumkit she began to reassemble on the rug sitting to the side for that purpose. The place was well-organized and very clean. Taylor's gaze was drawn back to the stack of blank music sheets.

********************************

Back Home Next