AJ stood up and walked slowly over to the window. He stared out at the bright sky blankly. Jessica... that name brought up too many memories.
Flashback
December 31st, 1993...
Jessica leaned back against Nick. He wrapped his arms around her, lacing his hands in hers. He rested his head on top of hers and followed her gaze. As he saw who it was, he sighed softly. "Talk to him, Jessie," he whispered. "You can't avoid him forever."
"But Nicky," she protested, "After what I did to him? I can't..."
"Jessie, please. Look at him." She stared at AJ, who was standing alone in the corner, his face drawn and sad.
She bit her lip and turned back to Nick. "But..." she whispered. He shook his head and pulled away from her, giving her a little shove in AJ's direction. Biting her lip, she walked deliberately forward toward him.
"Want some punch?" he asked, somewhat coldly, without turning around.
She stared at his back incredously. "I... I'm sorry..." she stammered, backing away as if in fear, fighting to stop the tears from falling.
AJ closed his eyes painfully, and letting out a long sigh, turned around. "I loved you, Jessica," he murmured, his usual raspy voice so full of pain. The tears which had been in her eyes now spilled out; a river rushing over large rocks. "I loved you so much..." he continued, "What did I do to make you stop loving me? Please..."
She let out a soft gasp and, spinning on her heel, fled the room. AJ dropped his head. Stop it, he commanded sternly, silently to the hot tears threatening to fall down his face. I won't cry over her anymore... What's the use? Do I need all the heartache? Dammit... when did I start talking to myself? So deep in his thoughts, he failed to feel Brian's arms wrap around him in a brotherly, comforting, hug. AJ just sighed when he finally comprehended the arms.
"I'm sorry, J," Brian whispered. AJ nodded.
End FB
AJ shook his head. After that day, he had never heard of/ from Jessica. For all he knew, Brian and Nick had lost touch with her. But now she was here, would be here. He turned to Brian. "I don't know if I can do this, Bri..." he whispered painfully.
It was too late, however. The door bell broke into the tense silence. AJ swore under his breath. He turned to Claudette. "Can you leave, ma cherie? This is something we have to settle on our own."
"But..." Claudette whimpered.
"Please," AJ said hoarsely, turning away from her to hide his fustration and pain. She nodded, reluctantly, and went out the back door as Brian let Jessica in the front. AJ held his breath, turning towards the window, as a young woman's soft laughted flitted up the stairs. She's 17 now. I wonder... no. stop it. She doesn't love you anymore; maybe she never did.
"Frack!" she cried out, running to jump on her younger friend. They embraced, laughing. "And Kevvy," she said, hugging him. "Howard," she smiled, winking playfully at him before eneveloping him in a hug as well.
She turned to face the remaining Boy, scared shitless. She hadn't been able to get his last words to her out of her head, not once in the past few years. "Alex..." she whispered. He turned around, his pained eyes meeting hers. He was surprised to notice that her gray eyes mirrored his own expression.