With or Without You, by Lady(dragon) Guinevere

A/N: Sadly, I don't own the characters. If I did, I wouldn't be sittin' here writing and posting fanfic, I'd be off doing the wild thing with Jordan Catalano instead ;)

R&R if you like it, please!

Chapter 7 "Nothing Left to Lose"

Angela VO: "Okay, so even if I did get like, this huge sign and everyone seems to think I should give Jordan a second chance, how do I like actually *do* this? I can't just like go over there unprepared. What do I say? 'Hey, so, this Great Spirit thing like, opened my mind up to your song and since you can't argue with destiny, here I am'? It's like, now I finally know what my heart wants, but my mouth can't like, actually pronounce it."

While sauntering over to the place where Jordan's tunes came from, Angela's mind went over a long list of possible things to say.

Angela VO: "I know it's like, totally pointless anyway, once I'm in Jordan Catalano's presence I'll freeze up. My mouth will just talk and I won't have a clue where the words come from. His eyes wipe every last bit of sanity from my brain."

A few yards up ahead, Jordan sat in front of a fire, playing his guitar. His hair almost hung onto his shoulders nowadays, some stray strands of hair brushed over his face. Seemingly unaware of Angela's proximity, Jordan kept singing intensely. After a few lines Angela recognized the song Jordan was singing, U2 scored a hit with it a couple of years earlier.

"Sleight of hand and twist of fate

On a bed of nails she makes me wait

And I wait without you

With or Without you

With or without you"

Angela VO: "Again, Jordan Catalano astounds me. That song is like, exactly how I feel, like I can't live with, or without him. It's really not just a twist of fate he's singing this song now. After what happened tonight I believe it's like, another sign. I never even realised that my indecisiveness caused him so much pain. I guess I just thought about my own feelings, instead of thinking about the bed of nails I created for him."

Captivated by the intensity of Jordan's words, Angela just watched Jordan for a few moments. She could just stay there and listen to him play and sing all night long. She'd almost forgotten how beautiful his voice sounded when he sang, and how he shut his eyes most the time. The flames gave his exterior a beautiful, warm colour, enhancing his most gorgeous features. Still dressed in the Natives' vest, Jordan's upper arm caught Angela's attention. She noticed the braided leather bracelet, tightly wrapped around his biceps. Her eyes darted further down over his arm, following its lean, muscular shape until they reached his hand. Blinking in the fiery flames, his silver rings almost clashed with the warm tones of the skin on his fingers.

"Ange?"

Startled at the sound of Jordan's hoarse voice calling out her name, Angela felt her cheeks flame.

"Um, hey… I umm… I like, heard you play, so."

Angela VO: "DUH!"

"Oh. So, like, you're done with the Peace Pipe thing?" Lowering the guitar, Jordan rested his arm upon the instrument.

"Yeah, we're like, done. It was kinda intense even." Slipping a strand of hair behind her ear, Angela strolled towards Jordan and sat down next to him. "So, I um… I heard you play 'Red' too."

"Yeah? I mean, yeah, so?" Mimicking her gesture, Jordan tucked some hairs behind his ears as well. Meanwhile the guitar was providing a safe barrier between him and Angela.

"It's still beautiful, Jordan. And I guess, it made me realise like, what I really want." Resting her eyes upon Jordan's, Angela hoped to convey the message without words.

Drumming the guitar's surface with his fingers, Jordan opened his mouth, shook his head and shut his mouth again.

"Jordan, it's *you*."

To emphasize her words, as well as not to be embarrassed any further, Angela leaned in to kiss Jordan, ignoring the instrumental barrier still keeping them safely apart. Softly, her lips brushed over his. The initial contact felt so good, she felt like she was back in a trance once more. Exploring the soft territory unleashed millions of butterflies inside her stomach. She'd been there before, but she'd almost forgotten that nothing else mattered when they kissed.

Their gentle kisses became bolder and more demanding. Lips caressed lips, softly biting the other ones. Soon, their tongues joined in the adventurous journey, probing, searching, licking the others lips at first, before daring to go deeper inside. Embracing each other like they had never done before, their tongues teased, tickled and loved. Their hot mouths had become one big scorching, wet place of lust and love.

Eagerly, Jordan's hands cupped Angela's face to pull her even closer to him. Flinching away, Angela interrupted their kiss for a moment. "Hmm, Jordan… Your umm… instrument is kinda, you know, riding up against my ribs."

"What?" Again, Jordan was looking for an answer in Angela's eyes when Angela clarified herself. "Your guitar."

"Oh, you meant…" A shy smile lit up Jordan's face, before he quickly pulled the guitar strap over his head, the guitar vanishing along with it. Carefully he laid the instrument down on its sleeve, before giving Angela his full attention again.

"So, you sure 'bout this?" Cupping her face in his hands once again, Jordan fixed his eyes onto Angela's.

"Absolutely."

Angela VO: "Jordan proved his sincerity by waiting around for me, no matter how painful it was to him. He never meant to hurt me, and I guess he never will again. Nothing left to lose, but everything to gain."

The End, my friends…