Disclaimer: I do not own MSCL or any of the characters.
A/N: This chapter was a struggle for me. I've tried to write it from Angel and Jordan's view points, so if they come across OOC sorry. I've tagged the thoughts as AVO and JVO. I tried my best, but anyways... I hope you enjoy it! Please review!
Chapter 3: The Talks
Outside the Chase house, Angela and Jordan were sitting in an uncomfortable silence; both lost in their own thoughts. They each knew that they should talk to Brian, but neither wanted to take a chance of losing his friendship. But if they didn't talk to him and soon then it would be inevitable that they would anyway.
JVO: I can't believe Brain likes Angela the same way I, like, do. I've really got to tell him I didn't take credit for that letter. I think... that... he deserves to, like, know or something.
Jordan sighs and shakes his head while turning to watch Angela. He loves to watch her while she's in her own head.
AVO: I know I should talk to Brian, but I really just wish I could ignore him. Knowing he has feelings for me makes things worse somehow. Even though, I see him differently now I've realized how great of a friend he truly is. I've just got to tell him everything. Nothing and no one could make me feel the way Jordan does. God! Why do I have to be over-analyzing what I'm going to say to him! Why am I even thinking this much over Brian Krakow?
Jordan was starting to worry if it would upset her that he wanted to go do this together. He touched her arm breaking her out of her thoughts immediately.
Angela looked over at him and smiled.
"What do you want to do, Ange?" He gave her a half-smile, wondering what she had been thinking about.
"I don't know," she sighed, "I really don't. I guess... I guess the only right choice would be to go talk to Brian now."
Jordan tensed knowing he should tell Angela what he had decided to do, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. So instead he asked, "Would you, um, like mind if I went with you or whatever?"
"Sure, if that's, like, what you want." Angela wondered why he had asked and what the reason was behind it, so she asked her own question, "Why?"
He had known she would ask, but he couldn't help the uneasy feeling that came over him. "Well... It's just I feel..." He sought for the right words so he could explain, "I just feel, that seems how he's helped me..." Jordan chewed on his thumbnail, appalled at himself for this mess that he had caused. He had been such a fool. "It's just that I feel I should be, like, the one to, um, tell him that I told you the truth about the letter."
Angela flashed Jordan a brilliant smile. She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss, while uttering, "You're amazing!"
Those words were something he never thought he would hear from her. Jordan flashed her a seductive smile back and gave a small laugh, "Oh really? Just for wanting to do that?"
She couldn't help but to laugh and nod her head in the affirmative.
He wasn't sure what the new feeling coursing through him was or meant, but he was unsettled by it nonetheless. Jordan tried to maintain his outward cool, "Then you haven't seen nothin' yet."
Angela laughed, wondering what exactly he had meant by that. Guess I'll find out eventually. "Let's go talk to Brian."
"Yeah... Let's..." The sooner they got this done the better he would feel. He just hoped that things worked out for the best.
Jordan grabbed Angela's hand and pulled her close; wrapping her in his arms for a great big hug. As soon as he released her, he opened the driver's side door and climbed out keeping her hand in his as they crossed the street. Neither saw Brian watching them from his bedroom window with a look of pure loathing on his face.
The couple instantly let go of each other as soon as they reached the door. It was an involuntary reaction, but their nervousness has taken control; Jordan had begun to chew on his thumbnail and Angela was pulling at the cuffs of her sweater.
Jordan took a deep breath and knocked on the door quickly.
Angela sighed with a slight bit of relief when Bernice Krakow answered the door.
"Well hello Angela! It's great to see you sweetie," Bernice's smile wavered a fraction when she saw Jordan, "Who is your friend, dear?"
"Hi, Mrs. Krakow. This is Jordan, my boyfriend." Angela wasn't quite sure why saying Jordan was her boyfriend felt strange, but it did. She definitely couldn't explain it.
"Oh!" Bernice's smile became dazzling after Angela's explanation. It's a pleasure to meet you Jordan." Jordan mumbled something along the lines of 'you too.' Bernice turned back to Angela and said, "You here to see Brian?"
Angela chuckled as she looked at Jordan and saw his tension at the situation of being faced with Brian's mom, "Yeah, is he home?"
"Yes, he is. Come on in and I'll get him for you." She moved back to let them through. "Brian," she called up the stairs, "You have visitors."
There was no response. Angela and Jordan gave each other a discerning look as Bernice turned back to them and said, "Well... Would you two care for a drink?"
"Um, sure, that'd be great. Thanks." Angela grabbed Jordan's hand and pulled him along behind her as she followed Bernice into the kitchen.
After Bernice had Angela and Jordan seated with their drinks, she went to find Brian and let him know about his visitors before she had to leave.
As they sat their sipping their tea in quiet contemplation of what they both would say, they heard Bernice and Brian arguing in hushed whispers. After what seemed like a lifetime, they heard the front door shut and in walked Brian. His face betrayed him, by showing the emotions he was feeling at seeing the two of them sitting together in his kitchen.
"What could you two possibly want to talk to me about?" He spat at them, barely restraining his anger.
Jordan grabbed and squeezed Angela's hand under the table before he spoke, "Um, we came to talk to you. We've got some stuff to, like, tell you."
"Would you please sit down and talk to us?" Angela looked at Brian expectantly and smiled shyly.
"Sure, I guess... I don't have long so can we make it quick? It's just that I have a lot of homework to do." Brian sat, while trying to explain why he just didn't really want to be sitting in his own kitchen talking to them like they were friends or something.
"We'll try not to take up too much of your precious time, Krakow..." Angela informed him, visibly annoyed.
"Brain..." Jordan struggled for the correct words for just a moment. "Look man, I just want you to know..." He trailed off as Angela squeezed his hand in support. He took a deep breath and continued, "I want you to know I told Angela everything."
Brian was confused by these words and it clearly showed, "What?"
"I told Ange everything. She knows I didn't write that letter. I just, um, figured you should, like, know the truth. That way we could still continue to be, um, friends and go on with tutoring or whatever." Jordan shrugged, trying to hide his stress.
Brian was stunned speechless. He hadn't figured on Jordan being so honest with Angela. It's true he had come to respect Jordan Catalano, but now he was amazed. "Um... I... I don't know what to say, ya know?"
Jordan chuckled, "Look dude, I respect you, ya know? So I figured you deserved to know the truth." A wave of relief washed over him at having said that.
"Well... um, thanks." Brian felt the shame starting to overcome him for the way he had acted earlier.
"Brian..." Angela didn't feel relief like Jordan did. She was nervous beyond belief at what she knew she was going to have to confess to now.
Brian looked up hopefully at Angela, but his face fell a bit as he watched Jordan kiss her on the cheek.
"I'm going to give you some, like, privacy." He leaned down and whispered so only Angela could hear, "I'll be right outside." It's not that he didn't trust Brain, but sometimes you just never knew.
"Okay, thanks," She smiled at him before he turned and walked out. After she heard the front door close, she looked back towards Brian. "Brian... look, this isn't easy for me to say. I don't want you to be mad and I don't want to lose you as a friend. So please just bare with me."
"I know what it is, Chase. I get it, okay?" Brian had known this was the way things were going to turn out, but he still felt disappointed all the same. He was disgusted with himself for feeling rejected again.
The disgust in his voice took her by surprise and she could help but stutter as she responded, "Y... Yo... You do?"
Brian felt humiliated all over again. "I'm pretty sure I do. You're choosing Jordan..." He scoffed.
"Look... This isn't easy for me!" Her anger and annoyance was slowly taking control of her words and actions. "It's not! Even if you think so." She took a deep breath, "That letter was beautiful. It was exactly what I needed to hear. So thank you for writing it." She interrupted him when she saw he was about to respond, "But... It just doesn't change anything. Sometimes I wish I could change the way I feel, but let's face it none of us can. Sometimes I wish I could feel for anyone else the way I feel about Jordan, but I don't. I don't know if I ever will be able to. So... I'm sorry that I can't return your feelings. I still hope we can be friends though."
Brian had known all this before she had said it all aloud, but it for some reason it hurt worse to hear the words coming from her mouth. He didn't know -maybe to hurt her back just a little bit- he blurted out, "You'll wish you could, Chase. Especially after he dumps you once you've given him what he's really after. Just like all the rest of his whores."
Angela's eyes welled with tears. She was hurt in a way that only a friend could hurt you. "I... I can't believe you think or just said that to me."
Brian instantly regretted his words.
Angela was beyond mad and annoyed at Brian, so she figured he had a right to hear what was going through her head, "I'm sorry that you're hurting. You have been one of my closest friends, Brian, and I know you've always had my best interest at heart. I just never knew you could be so vindictive. I..." She let her tears flow freely, her voice infused with the hurt she was feeling, "I... don't think... I want... to be friends with you... ever again..."
Angela stood and ran towards the door as the pain of his words and the pain of losing a good friend overwhelmed her.
Jordan had heard the last part of their conversation and couldn't believe what he had heard. He stood in shock with the door wide open at his back.
Brian moved towards the living room, hoping to catch Angela and make amends before she got too far. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Jordan -stunned speechless- in the doorway.
Angela ran right into Jordan, but instead of letting him comfort her she pushed him out of her way and kept running. She ran towards home with her tears flowing faster down her face.
Jordan watched Angela and made sure she was in the house out of earshot before he turned to face Brian. His face displayed on his contempt for the kid.
"Jordan... I..." Brian wasn't for sure how to explain.
"You what?" Jordan's voice dripped with disdain.
"I... can... explain," Brian couldn't help the stutter. He was filled with remorse and hated himself even more than anyone could imagine.
"I'm sure you can, but I really couldn't give a shit less."
"Please... let me..."
"No!" Jordan was so angry that he started to yell, "I don't want to hear it! I can't believe we came over here thinking if we talked with you that things would be okay. I can't believe you said that to her!" He took a deep breath, hoping to reign in his anger.
Brian was startled by Jordan's anger, so he just stood there saying nothing. He was drowning in his guilt.
"It's really none of your damn business, but I'll tell you one thing and then we're through." Jordan walked towards Brian until he was right in his face and lowered his voice to a dangerous level, "I would never do that to her. NEVER! You have no idea of what my feelings are towards her, but I'll tell you one more thing... I've learned my lesson. She's taught me enough to know I never want to fuck up with what I could have with her. As for you, we're finished."
With that being said, Jordan turned and walked back to the door. He threw a revolted look over his shoulder and said, "I'll find a new tutor." Then he walked out, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Jordan was trying to regain control of his emotions as she strode right into the Chase house, only to be brought up short from the sight that lay before him.
JVO: Shit! How an things go from good to bad in just a few moments! I can't believe this! It's, like, a damn roller-coaster ride. Fuck! Look at her! I just hope I can say this and she'll believe me.
"Ange?"
Jordan watched as Angela's back heaved heavily with the weight of her pain. She was sprawled across the couch like she just couldn't go any farther.
AVO: Oh God! What is he doing here? I so don't want him to see me like this. Would he really do that to me? I wouldn't be able to survive it if he did! Why can't life ever just be simple?
When Angela didn't move to look at him or respond, Jordan walked over and dropped to his knees beside her. He tried to not let his anger take control again as he watched her pain.
"Ange..." He was at a loss for what to say, but knew he needed to calm her down and tell her what Brian said wasn't going to happen. "Please, babe, talk to me..."
Angela closed her eyes not wanting this to be happening now. She was already in pain over losing her friend. How much more pain would she be in by the time they were done talking? "Talk about?"
Jordan stroked her back trying to comfort her, "Anything. You could, like, tell me what's wrong."
AVO: Oh so he didn't hear! That's just great! How am I going to tell him?
Angela started to cry even harder than before. Jordan stood, picked her up, and settled them both down on the couch with her in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly, "Is this about what Brain said?"
To say Angela was shocked by this question would have been an understatement, she looked up into his eyes while her tears streamed down her face, "You heard?"
Jordan's baby blues blazed with anger and contempt. "Yes," he stated simply. "I had just walked back in. The next thing I knew you were running into me then shoving me out of your way."
Angela wiped her face with the back of her sleeve. She wasn't for sure how to respond. She let out a sigh, "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Pushing you. I just had to get out of there quickly."
Jordan rubbed her arm and gave her a slight squeeze, "It's okay, baby. Really. I kind of, like, went off on him after I watched you run in here."
Angela was shocked, but she let out a little giggle. "You did?"
He couldn't help, but smile at her while he shook his head in the affirmative.
Her eyes lit up at the thought of Jordan standing up for her to Brian, "Why?"
"Why what?"
She wasn't for sure why she wanted to know. She just needed to hear his answer, "Why'd you go off on him?" She looked down as she blushed.
Jordan lifted her chin with his finger. Just one look into her beautiful green eyes and he knew he'd tell her everything, "Um, I figured I should tell him, like, how wrong he was."
Angela gasped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but the look in his eyes told her he was telling the truth. "Really?"
Jordan laughed at the pure innocent delight on her face, "Yes, really." He laid his forehead against hers, "I'm not going to pressure you. I learned my lesson the last time. I mean, don't get me wrong, I want to, but I'll try to be patient until your, like, ready or whatever. You're more important than some meaningless lay like all the others."
She flinched at that remembering Rayanne and him together, but then she looked up into his eyes again and saw that he was sincere. "Wow..."
Jordan's smile gave away the satisfaction he was feeling at surprising her yet again.
"Jordan... I'm speechless. I seriously don't know what to say..."
He laughed, "Well.. There's a first."
Angela laughed and playfully smacked his arm, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Um, why have you been calling me Ange, babe, and baby here lately?"
Jordan frowned. He wasn't for sure exactly why. He just did. "I'm not sure, but saying them to you feels..." He struggled for the right word to fit the way they made him feel.
"Feels what?" Angela was intrigued.
"Right, I guess." Jordan smiled shyly at her.
She giggled as she wrapped her arms around him and leaned in to kiss him. Jordan kissed her back with such passion and urgency, that they were out of breath within minutes. They broke apart, to regain control of themselves. Each of them had put the feelings that neither could say into that kiss.
"Jordan..."
"Yeah?"
"I think we should take things slow and also talk about things, like, together when there is something bothering us."
"Okay. Sounds fine to me."
She smiled at him and then sighed, "I think we should get some homework done."
Jordan pouted. He didn't want to let her go. He liked her right where she was. "Okay..."
Neither wanted to do school work, but were resigned knowing that Patty would be home soon.
As Angela and Jordan worked, Brian was across the street lying across his bed wondering how he had lost two good friends earlier. He knew that tomorrow he would end up losing more when everyone found out how he had acted towards Angela. As the night progressed, he started working on a new plan to win back everyone's trust, respect, and friendship – plans of revenge forgotten.
