Pandora's Box
Angela's POV:
"So… Where are you taking me?" Briefly, Angela's eyes flicked at Jordan Catalano behind the steering wheel, only to reattach themselves to the sideview mirror again hastily.
"I know this place, you'll see." Dividing his attention between Angela and the road, Jordan was surprised when his eyes encountered the back of her head instead of her eyes.
Angela VO: "Looking at Brian Krakow's ever diminishing silhouette from Jordan's sideview mirror, is like watching my own life projected onto a tiny TV-screen. It's like, when you turn off the TV after watching something that touched you deeply, the image like, lingers on your heart for a while. But then life takes its course again, and you kinda forget about it, you know? It feels like I'm obliterating Brian and his existence, by driving away from him."
Long after Brian Krakow had disappeared from her view, Angela kept eyeing the sideview mirror anyway, like she expected him to pop back into view any second.
Angela VO: "God, I'm finally alone with Jordan Catalano again, and all I can think of is Brian Krakow. I didn't need to hear about his feelings for me. I hate knowing, or something. I hate how he like, sorta *used* Jordan Catalano to express his own smouldering feelings for me. I hate how maybe, he expects things from me now, because I can't give him anything, I can't even give him words."
"But it's like, if I *don't* confront him, this thing will be like, hovering over us like this huge, black cloud. Maybe I can avoid him, you know, for the time being. I think it's best for both of us, 'cause it's like, totally embarrassing and awkward anyway. I just can't be someone else's Jordan Catalano, you know? I don't know how to deal with something like that, I just don't."
"You okay?" It nerved Jordan out that Angela hadn't spoken a single word since they left. Normally, she'd talk so much he had to cut her off by kissing her.
Lost in thought, Jordan's hoarse voice wasn't able to bring Angela back to reality. Her head was whirling with so many thoughts, she didn't know what to think anymore.
Illuminating the dark, grey road ahead, the car cut through the woody environment.
Near a curly, iron gate, separating the forest from the concrete, Jordan pulled the car over. The lack of soothing engine sounds finally startled Angela from her thoughts.
"Oh…" Abruptly, her head shot up and her eyes took in the unknown environment. "Why'd you stop?"
"'Cause we're here."
"Where is 'here' exactly?" Huddling towards the farthest end of the door, Angela looked around warily.
Angela VO: "Great. Jordan Catalano took me to the middle of nowhere. I'm sure my mother wouldn't have approved if she knew where he was taking me. When did my life turn into this old, black and white thriller? You know, where the unsuspecting girl gets taken by surprise in some abandoned, dark forest and all you can think of is, "Don't go there! Don't trust him! He'll kill you, you stupid girl!" When exactly did *I* become the unsuspecting girl, and Jordan Catalano the villain?"
"Pittsburgh Forest, you've never like, been here?" Flicking his tongue over his lips, Jordan eyed Angela coyly. Something was up with her, but he wasn't sure what it was.
"Sure, but not at this hour!" A loud laugh, coming from deep within Angela, concealed her fear.
"Look, I just thought, you know… We could like, take a walk, or something." White knuckles clutching the steering wheel displayed Jordan's insecurity.
Then his eyes turned into two portals into his soul again, begging her to put him out of his misery. Her strained muscles relaxed instantly and she felt like a big blob of jelly skidding all over the seat.
"Okay. Let's go for a walk." A brief smile adorned Angela's face before she climbed out of the car.
"Look, we still need to talk things through, you know?" Holding onto Jordan's hand, Angela strolled alongside him.
"Yeah? I mean… I know."
For a while, leafs and twigs crackling underneath their feet, were the only sounds audible. Their thoughts had been put into a natural soundtrack to accompany their evening saunter. Chilly air wrapped itself around their hot breaths, making the oxygen visible by turning it into foggy, little clouds. Beaming through the trees, the moon was glowing like a big, white lantern.
Angela VO: "I needed to hear Jordan Catalano say those words to me, or at least I thought I did. During the entire drive, I sat next to him and when I wasn't staring in the sideview mirror, I found myself staring at his lips, desperately watching them, to catch the words when they would finally tumble from his mouth. I was even afraid to speak, frightened I'd miss out on the magic words that would finally relieve me from my misery. I actually believed I needed those words to be able to forgive him."
"I um… I'm sorry, Angela."
Angela VO: "When Jordan Catalano finally uttered the long-awaited words, I found myself mesmerized by his eyes instead of his voice. He could have told me anything right then, I wouldn't have known the difference anyway."
"All I could see were those stunning, deep blue portals that sucked me right into his core. All I could feel were his warm hands, lingering just above my waist.
All I could smell was his sweet, enticing scent, so familiar and so inviting.
All I could taste were his lips pressed against mine, while his tongue was playing gently and telling me entire tales, more so than his husky voice could ever do."
"His hot mouth sang to me, the most beautiful song I'd ever heard. His kiss made the letter seem abundant, like a juvenile, childish note. Besides, who needs words anyway? They just stray your heart away from pronouncing its most pure feelings and desires."
"I know, but thank you, Jordan Catalano."
Angela VO: "Who am I kidding? Even if Jordan Catalano had slept with every, single one of my friends, and brutally slain my entire family, I'd still forgive him. I'm being intoxicated by his whole being, like he's never hurt me and nothing has changed. Just because he's being *Jordan Catalano*, and I can't say no to him, I guess."
Angela VO: "So, by reading the letter, I kinda opened up 'Pandora's Box'. All sorts of unexpected, evil stuff surrounded me, tugged on me and tried to drag me down. And still, nothing changed. Everything remained the same. I'm still in love with Jordan Catalano and Brian Krakow is still my obnoxious childhood friend. Even if he does have some sort of crush on me. It's kinda unbelievable how *one* measly letter can unleash so many feelings, fears, hopes and expectations."