Disclaimer: Standard still applies.
A/N: I'm glad you all are liking this so well. :D

Chapter Three

"Whoops?" Martha asked as she paced, looking at Ianto who was lounging calmly on the sofa. "My insurance doesn't cover Teen Mood-Swings."

Ianto looked at her, "Tell them I had a seizure."

Martha sighed and put her hands on her hips, "Is this about Canary Wharf? Are you punishing me because I want you to stay close to home?"

Ianto looked up, "No, this is about you making decisions for me."

"I'm your mother, it's my right," Martha responded, knowing that Ianto would not bring up the point that she was actually his step-mum.

"So what I want doesn't matter?" Ianto sat up, questioning.

"You're eighteen. You don't know what you want." Martha didn't want more of her family leaving her. "And you won't know what you want until you're forty-five. And if you get it, you'll be too old to use it."

"I want to go to Canary Wharf. I want you to trust me to make my own choices!" Ianto argued back, "I want you stop controlling my life because you're afraid that if you didn't I'd leave you."

"Oh yeah, well you know what I want-" Martha stopped abruptly, interrupted by her pager. Sighing, she responded. "We'll continue this later."

Ianto rolled his eyes, "Can't wait." Standing up, he left the room, practically running into Gwen.

She glared at Ianto. "Did you just maim Owen's car?"

"Yeah." Ianto said, tone dead, "Looks like you're going to have to take the bus."

"Has the fact that you are completely psycho managed to escape your attention?" Gwen spat out at her brother who just ignored her and walked away.

{{{|

The next day Jack stood at his locker. When he shut it, he was greeted by Owen, glaring at him. Jack sighed and leaned up against the lockers.

"When I shell out fifty," Owen said, "I expect results."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm on it."

Owen continued glaring. "Watching that fag violate my car doesn't count as a date." Owen continued glaring. He then dropped the glare, "If you don't get any, I don't get any." He punched Jack on the shoulder. "So get some." He started walking off then turned to leave.

Without raising his voice, he called out. "I just upped my price."

Owen turned, mouth open slightly. "What?"

"Hundred a date." Jack paused, "In advance."

"Forget it."

"Forget his sister then." He flashed Owen a grin.

Owen shot a glare at Jack as he walked over, getting more money out. "You better hope you're as smooth as you think you are, Harkness."

Jack took the money, his smile growing.

{{{|

Later on in class Rhys and Tosh noticed that Jack's friend John left him. "Go." Tosh said.

"You go." Rhys replied

"No, you go." Toshiko protested.

"I went before." Rhys wasn't keen on getting hit on again. He eventually sighed and the pair walked over to Jack. Rhys swallowed, facing the other boy, "We know what you're trying to do, with Ianto Jones."

Jack looked the two over before leaving his eyes on Rhys' face, "Is that right? And what do you plan to do about it?"

"Help you out."

Jack was surprised by that answer;, he tilted his head, "Why's that?"

Tosh spoke up then, "The situation is, Rhys here," she patted her friend's arm, "really likes Gwen Jones."

"What is with this chick?" Jack asked, clearly not caring, "She have beer flavored nipples?"

"Hey," Rhys protested.

Tosh put her hand in front of Rhys, silently telling him to calm down, "I think I speak correctly when I say that Rhys' love is pure. Purer than say, Owen Harper's." She gave a small smile.

"Look." Jack said, making eye contact with both before continuing, "I'm in it for the cash. Harper can plow whoever he wants."

"Okay. There will be no plowing!" Rhys responded a bit too loudly.

"Jack." Tosh said, stepping closer to him, "Let me explain something to you here. We set this whole thing up so Rhys can get the girl. Rhys." she stated again, making it clear, "Owen's just a pawn." She gave a mischievous grin.

"So you two are going to help me get emotions out of him?" Jack looked from one to the other, questioningly hesitant.

"Yeah, we'll do some research." Tosh nodded, "We'll fine out what he likes. We're your friends in this."

Rhys glanced at Tosh, "And she means that in a strictly not-porn-movie type of way."

Tosh nodded, "Let's start here." She pulled out a flyer, "Now, Friday night. Mary is having a party. It's the perfect opportunity." Rhys gave her a look, remembering his first day when he found out Mary had betrayed Toshiko.

"Opportunity for what?" Jack's brow furrowed.

"For you to take out Ianto." Tosh stated. Some would say she was warped on the inside.

"I'll think about it." Jack replied, walking away.

Tosh turned to Rhys with the flyer in her hand, "Now for a little payback." Her grin grew, "This is gonna be some party." On the flyer it said that there was going to free beer and to just show up along with Mary's address. They two shared a smirk and stood at the top of a flight of stairs before throwing a stack down. The sheets started to fluttered down and as hands reached out to grab them.

{{{|

Owen stood with Gwen at his locker, they two grinning at each other. "Okay now, this is important." He paused and reached into his locker, getting two pictures of himself, "Which one do you like better?" In both the pictures he had the same pose and facial expression, the only difference was in one he wore a white shirt while the other was in black.

Gwen frowned thinking about it, "Uh, I think I like the white on better."

Owen nodded, "Yeah, it's more…"

"Pensive?" Gwen supplied.

Owen frowned, "Damn, I was going for thoughtful." he shrugged. and Gwen's face contorted in a look of amazement of how dense Owen was. As he placed the pictures in his bag, he asked, "So, you going to Mary's thing Friday night?"

Gwen gave a shy smile, "Yeah. I might."

Owen looked Gwen up and down and gave her his most flirtatious smile. He felt it wasn't that great anymore, not after seeing Jack's, but he attempted anyway, "Good. 'Cause, you know, I'm not gonna bother going if you won't be there."

{{{|

Gwen was walking with Rhys, just hanging out instead of working on their French. "So," Rhys started, glancing at Gwen, "Have you heard about Mary's party?"

Gwen pouted, "Yes. And I really, really wanna go, but I can't." She looked at him, "Not unless my brother goes."

Rhys frowned, "Yeah I know. I'm working on that." He paused, "So far he's not going for my guy." He decided he needed more information on Ianto, "Sure he might be gay?"

"I found a picture of Johnny Depp in his in his drawer once, so I know it's an option." She paused, "He had a girlfriend once. Lisa. That was back when he was popular, two years ago. She left him for a guy she met online." She tilted her head, "A sort of cyberman."

Rhys nodded, "So, that's the kind of people does he likes? Pretty ones?"

"I don't know." Gwen said, "All I've ever heard him say is he'd never date someone who was unfaithful. Probably why he didn't fight too hard to keep Lisa."

"Okay. Alright." Rhys nodded, "What else?"

"You're asking me to investigate the inner workings of my brother's twisted mind,? I don't think so."

"Well, nothing else has worked." Rhys stated, "We need to go behind enemy lines here." The two shared a look before Gwen nodded.

They soon found themselves in Ianto's bedroom. It was an organized chaos with books lining most walls and a neatly made bed. Rhys stood back as Gwen went through Ianto's drawers. She stood up and gave him a stack of papers. "Okay, here we go. Class schedule, reading list, date book, coffee tickets, um, concert tickets." She sighed and sat down on Ianto's bed.

Rhys looked them over, "This might work. Yeah. Good work, Gwen." He smiled at her.

{{{|

Tosh and Rhys stared at the bar with wide eyes. "He's in there." Tosh said, getting out of Rhy's car, "Let's go tell Jack how he can seduce Ianto."

The two went inside and quickly found Jack who it seemed was playing a game of darts for money, and was hustling the others. Rhys almost put his hand on a table when Toshiko slapped it away,

"Don't touch anything. You might get hepatitis."

Jack turned when he noticed the two, "So, what've you got for me?" he asked as he took a sip of his beer.

"A little insight to a complicated guy." Rhys said.

"Just one question before we start," Tosh said to Jack, "Should you be drinking alcohol if you don't have a liver?"

"What?" Jack asked, putting down his beer.

"Nothing. Nothing." She gave him a tight smile.

Rhys sighed, "Bit of a problem,: Ianto likes pretty people."

It was silent for a moment when Jack suddenly spoke, "Are you telling me I'm not a pretty guy?" He seemed slightly hurt.

Tosh quickly said to Rhys, "He's very pretty. He's a gorgeous guy."

"I wasn't sure." Rhys added just as quickly. "I didn't know." He then pulled out a list of things, "Alright. Okay - likes: Thai food, thought-provoking books, and a large variety to music. Here's a list of CD's he has in his room." He handed over the list.

Jack glanced at it, "So I'm supposed to buy him noodles and listen to music I may not like, right?"

The two looked at each other, "Ever been to Club Raven?"

"His favorite band is playing there tomorrow night." Rhys added.

Jack looked horrified, "I can't be seen at Club Raven, alright?" It was a place where only goth-rocker's went. He was actually surprised Ianto's favorite band was someone who would play there. Ianto didn't seem the type who would like that genre of music.

"Just assail your ears for one night." Tosh said, understanding.

And that was how Jack found himself at Club Raven. He dressed as he usually did, not fitting in with the crowd. He looked around the dance floor and grinned when he saw Ianto dancing along with Tommy. He saw the Welshman heading towards the bar and Jack before he quickly made his way over so that he was there when Ianto reached it. So as to arrive at the same time.

Ianto saw Jack but Jack made it clear he was ignoring Ianto, "Two waters." Ianto told the bartender. He then rolled his eyes at Jack trying to disregard him. "If you're planning on asking me out again, you'd better get it over with." He yelled over the music.

Jack pretended he was trying to listen to the music, "Would you mind? You're kinda ruining this for me." He paused, "You know these guys aren't too bad." He stood up and went into the crowd.
Ianto followed after Jack, "Really?"

Jack nodded, "Yeah, don't you agree?" He took a sip of his drink that he had gotten at the bar, "I was watching you out there before-" the song suddenly stopped and Jack without realizing it he hadn't lowered his voice, "-I've never seen you look so sexy." It was heard clearly through the crowd. The crowd people laughed at that as the band started playing the next song. He grinned anyway, "Come to Mary's party with me."

"You never give up do you?" Ianto's voice sounded amused.

"Was that a yes?" Jack asked, watching Ianto walking away.

"No." Ianto yelled back.

"Well, was that a no?"

"No."

Jack grinned, "I'll see you at half nine then."

{{{|

Friday night came quickly and Gwen and Diane were trying to sneak out of Gwen's house in their party clothes, shushing each other and making sure they didn't step on any loud floorboards. As they passed through the living room doorway towards the front door Martha didn't even look up from her paper when she said, "Should've used the window."

The two froze and Gwen suddenly tried to look normal, "Hi Mam."

Martha turned around and looked the girls up and down, "Hi. Where you going?"

Gwen swallowed, trying to sound normal, "If you must know, a small study group of friends."

"Otherwise known as an orgy?" Martha accused, raising an eyebrow.

"Ms. Jones." Diane said, "It's just a party."

Just then Ianto came walking down the stairs, not knowing anything about what was going on and stopped at the bottom. when Martha asked him, "You know anything any party?"

He shrugged and shook his head.

Gwen almost stomped her foot, "People expect me to be there!"

Martha sighed, "If Ianto's not going, you're not going."

Gwen turned to Ianto, "Why can't you be normal?" She glared at him.

"Define 'normal'?" Ianto asked.

"Mary's party is normal."

"Mary's party," Ianto started, "is just a lame excuse for all the idiots at our school to drink beer and rub up against each other in hopes of distracting themselves from the pathetic emptiness of their-"

Gwen and Diane both cut in, speaking as one, clearly used to this saying, "-meaningless, consumer-driven lives."

Ianto stopped, completely surprised by how predicable he had apparently become. He frowned at himself.

Gwen decided to plea, "Can you, for just one night, forget that you've got no feelings and be my brother? Please? Please? Come on, Ianto, please do this for me?" She was very sincere and hoped Ianto would agree.

Ianto sighed and rolled his eyes, giving in, "Fine. I'll make an appearance." The two girls squealed in delight.

Martha frowned, "It's starting."

"It's just a party, Mam." Gwen stated.

"I want you to wear the belly." Martha got up to fetch it.

"Mam, no." Gwen protested.

Martha rolled her eyes, "Not all night. Just around the living room for a minute so you can fully understand the full weight of your decisions." She got out a faux-pregnancy jacket and walked towards Gwen who admitted defeat, letting her Mam put it on her. It had weights in it and gave the full look of pregnancy; Gwen immediately had to put her hands on her hips to keep her balance.

"I am perfectly aware-" Gwen started.

"Listen to me." Martha asked in a soft voice, "Every time you think of kissing a boy, I want you to picture wearing this under your shirt."

"You are completely unbalanced." Gwen replied, but still loving Martha all the same. Lovingly.

"Uh-huh." Martha agreed absently, kissing Gwen's forehead.

Ianto sighed, "We're going now."

Martha turned to Ianto, "Alright, wait a minute. No drinking. No drugs. No kissing. No tattoos. No piercings. No ritual animal slaughter of any kind-" Ianto raised and eyebrow as Martha gasped at herself, "Oh God, I'm giving them ideas."

Ianto rolled his eyes and opened the door to see Jack standing there, clearly ready to knock on it. "What are you doing here?" And how did the American know where he lived?

"Nine-thirty, right?" Jack gave a grin. Ianto did his best to hide his shock, "I'm early."

Ianto sighed, "Whatever. I'm driving."

Jack looked in through the door and saw Gwen with the faux-pregnancy jacket, "Who knocked up your sister?"

Across town at Toshiko's house she and Rhys were getting ready for the party themselves. And Rhys was watching Tosh adding the finishing touches to her make-up, "So, then Gwen says that I was right. That she didn't wear those shoes with that dress because she thought it was mixing genres. Right?" He wasn't even taking a breath between talking, "The fact that I noticed - and this is a direct quote - "really meant something"." He looked at Tosh, waiting for her reply.

"You told me that part already." she sounded slightly bored.

"I've been thinking about it all the time-"

Tosh cut him off, "Stop being so self-involved for one minute. How do I look?" She gave Rhys a little twirl.

"You look good." Rhys responded, smiling.

"Good." Tosh nodded, "Let's go."