X.x.X
{ 2013, Llanview,Pa, settling in, the day after the proceeding chapter, Jenny's now attending Llanview High, and working at the diner and the fitness center after school.}
"Okay, seriously, Jack, this thing, with you? Stalking me? It's getting annoying. And I'm sick of your little pet, Neela and her army of flying monkeys going after me, because they stupidly think I want you when I do not." Jenny said as she stood staring him down with her hands on her hips and an annoyed look on her face.
"You do want me, Jenny. You just don't know it yet."
"Hahahaha. Oh wait, you were serious. What does a senior guy want with a Sophomore anyway?" Jenny asked as Jack leaned in and said with a smirk, "Because you know you need a real man. Not some kid."
"Where is he then?" Jenny asked, as she looked around, making more than a few of the girls she'd been talking to when he came over and decided to play skeeze just now laugh in hysterics and then high five her.
He leaned in closer, and she put the towel she'd been wiping the counter in the diner down, and leaned in also. Just when he got close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath, she stepped back and said "Yeah.. I'd rather kiss a horse's ass." before turning on her heels and walking off. Maybe if she humiliated him enough, he'd finally take the damn hint, leave her alone.
Shane walked into the diner and Jenny looked at Dani and Destiny, Matthew and Zane, a small smirk forming. Jack grabbed her and then said calmly, "You know I'm right, Jenny. You know deep down, even if you won't admit it, you do feel something for me. And you know I'm right when I say you really don't need a jerk like Morasco.."
"Since you seem to be really, really shitty at taking hints, Jack.. I want you to watch this. You're gonna like it." Jenny said as Zane and Matthew, Dani and Destiny all looked at one another, brows raised, wondering what the petite blonde Latina was about to do, knowing full well she had a bit of a temper, and the occasional wild streak, so with her, she could be thinking of doing anything, literally.
But they didn't have to wonder long, because as soon as Jenny made sure no adults who'd get onto her for being so forward in what she was about to do were present, she walked over to Shane, where he stood in front of the jukebox and tapped his shoulder, calmly.
Shane turned around, and before he even realized what was happening, Jenny was pressed against him as had happened in the hallway of the fitness center on accident two days ago, when he'd wanted to kiss her..
It seemed like everything was in slow motion, when she pressed against him, and what happened next really shocked him. But not enough so that he didn't respond, of course. She kissed him, her tongue slowly tracing the outline of his lower lip, her teeth grazing it as he groaned and his hand went through her hair, rested on the back of her neck so he could pull her into the kiss deeper. He could taste chocolate chip cookies on her breath and he could smell the vanilla/apple perfume she wore all the time that drove him insane. It seemed like the entire world froze for them and the room definitely disappeared.
Dani sucked in a breath as Destiny high fived her and then said quietly, "Damnnnn." while Matt and Zane watched, brows raised, surprised (and if they dared admit) proud of their cousin, because he'd always been a shy kid.. And both males knew he wanted to do this, but he didn't dare.
Jack on the other hand was so furious he was literally twitching and even Neela's coming in didn't stop him from gawking at the two of them kissing, which of course only made Neela start yelling at him, creating a scene.
"Hey Manning.. Doesn't look like Jenny likes you as much as you said." One of his friends called out as another guy randomly yelped, "Get it, Morasco.. Hey, man, grab her ass, chicks like that." promptly getting him a hard smack in the head from Dani who stood close by the kid who'd yelled it as she rolled her eyes and said "Don't you disgusting vultures have somewhere else to be? This is a beautiful moment, your sick comments are only screwing it up for them."
The kiss broke and Shane raked his hand through his hair as he stared at her, not really sure why she'd just kissed him, but definitely sure he enjoyed it. Before he could ask her, she looked at him and muttered "Sorry, I.." before turning and bolting out the door of the diner.
"Dude.. Are you really just standing here after that? Go after her!" Matt said as he reached up from where he sat in his wheelchair and smacked his cousin in the back of the head as Zane pointed him towards the door.
Shane ran out, and if he hadn't, the car careening straight at Jenny would have taken her out. He knocked them both out of the way, and then watched the car speeding off down the street, making a mental note of the car's tags as he hauled her off the pavement and carried her back inside, the adrenaline rush that hadn't actually died down from his training at the fitness center, or the kiss a few minutes ago, surging again, making him unaware of what he was doing.
Dani raised a brow as Shane carried Jenny back in, then said "You guys sit here with her.. I'm gonna go find Carlotta.."
"What happened?" Destiny asked as Shane stopped in his tracks and said "Some asshole almost ran over her just now, and from where I was standing, it looked like it was on purpose."
Jenny winced as she looked at her ankle and then groaned as she said aloud, "Fucking awesome. It's sprained." and palmed her forehead. She'd definitely not be able to enter the dancing competition now, for sure. She'd wanted to so badly she could taste it, but she didn't have a partner.
Jack of course, ran over and said "Are you okay?"
"Fuck off, seriously. I'm done being mildly bitchy, Jack. This stalking thing you're doing is starting to really piss me off. Did you not see me kiss Shane?"
"Yeah, I did. But Shane's not always gonna be around for your convienence." Jack said as Jenny leaned up and slapped him with an open hand then said "He's not around for my convienence. If he had been, you moron, I'd have not kissed him just now, I'd have.." she trailed off grumbling as Matthew and Zane stood with arms crossed like literal bodyguards and pointed at the door solemnly, with Zane adding, "You're out of control with it, Manning, and it's getting a little creepy. Now do what she said or I go to my mom, who will tell your mom."
Jack glared and then sighed, shrugging as he walked out, angrily. He was going to have to find some way to prove to Jenny that he was right and she was wrong. Wheezy wasn't anything special.
If there was anything special about the dork, Jack had yet to see it.
Carlotta was washing dishes when Noelle ran in and then said "Tell her what you told me, Shane."
Shane took a deep breath and said "Someone just tried to run over Jenny, Ms. Vega.. I ran out of here after her and I saw it. It actually sort of looked like the guy sped up."
Carlotta's eyes went wide and she asked, "Is she alright?"
"She's sitting in the booth. I think it sprained her ankle, but I don't even want to think what woulda happened if I hadn't walked out after her just now." Shane muttered as he said "Should I go tell Antonio?"
"Let me. I think I know what this is about." Carlotta muttered in shock as she dialed her son's work number.
Meanwhile, at the station, Talia had just stepped out to go and grab a box of files from the backseat of her car, when the bright headlights blinded her as the car sped around the curve. Before she could say or do anything, Antonio knocked them out of the way, they hit the pavement hard and Antonio took most of the fall. Breathlessly, he asked her, "Did you see the plates?"
"Not all of them. Last three numbers were 675." Talia muttered, still in shock, getting a very very bad feeling as she stood and wiped the pavement off of her hands, brushed the dirt from the fall off of herself and Antonio before kissing him and saying, "See? I told you that if anything happened you'd save me and the girls."
Antonio nodded and then said "I just wish my heart would climb down out of my fucking throat right now." as he held open the door to the station and walked back in, intent on finding John.
Natalie found him instead and said grimly, "Shane just called from the Buenas Dias.. Someone tried to run over Jenny."
"What'd the car look like?" Antonio asked as his anger surged and he fought to control it. That bastard was really going to do this? The threatening emails and calls were one thing, but if something had happened to his wife or his daughter? He'd kill this man when they finally caught him.
"He told me the plate number. I think it all happened so fast that the poor kid was too shocked to even look at the car." Natalie said as she held out a notepad and showed Antonio the plate number she'd written down, adding, "Brody's going over there now, Bo sent him. He said it wouldn't be a wise idea for you to go."
"And he's right, because if I see this man, I'm going to murder him." Antonio swore as the door to the squad room opened and Carlotta came in with Jenny and Jamie, Shane helping Jenny in.
Antonio held onto both of his daughters and then said "From now on, Jenny, you don't need to wander off by yourself. If you go somewhere, make sure at least Talia or me, or your grandmother are there.. Or some other adult is nearby. And make sure you have your friends with you."
"Dad, it was probably just some drunken jerk." Jenny said quietly as Antonio shook his head, and explained what he felt was happening to her, in Spanish.
Shane hung back, listening, pretending he didn't understand when he did understand most of it, thanks to Spanish class last year.. Someone was after Antonio's family?
He made a mental note, especially after that unexpected kiss, to make sure she wasn't anywhere alone. Rex noticed his son slipping out of the station and fell in behind him, quietly, listening as Shane made the call he was going to make.
He smirked a little when he realized Shane was calling Matt and Zane, telling them the situation. As Shane hung up, Rex pretended he hadn't heard the conversation and Shane said quietly, "Is this what you've been helping John and Mr. Vega with?"
"It is. Who'd you call just now?" Rex asked as he looked at his son, wondering what he'd say.
"I called Matt and Des.. They were worried about Jenny when we all left. Then I called Zane."
"Oh."
"It's bad, isn't it, Dad?" Shane asked as he studied his father's face. Rex nodded and said "It could be, but we're all working on catching the guy, before this gets out of hand. We'll get him."
"You guys better." Shane muttered as Rex chuckled and then said "When are you going to get around to telling her you like her?"
Shane glared and then said "It's not that easy, Dad.. Look at me."
"I am. I don't get why you don't just say it."
"Ha.. Like you finally just said it to Mom?" Shane asked, smirking as he laughed and then said "Well?"
"You have a point. Let's get home. Your mom's making spaghetti tonight." as they walked back into the station.
Carlotta listened as Antonio and Bo filled her in on everything they had managed to dig up so far. The matching plates only helped to prove that they were on the verge of a big break, because if they weren't even a little closer to finding the man who'd killed Jenny's mother, and worked for Carlos, then why would someone try to run down Talia and Jenny tonight in a car?
She smiled and then said "Jenny's had an exciting night." as she looked around then said "She just kissed Shane Morasco, right out in front of everyone, on a whim."
This made Antonio shoot a glance over to Shane who was talking to Jenny and for a moment, he stood there, trying to figure out how he felt about it as Carlotta and Natalie said at the same time, along with Talia, "Hey.. Shane's not a bad guy.. It's Jack we should all watch out when hes' around her."
"I noticed.. It's just.. She's growing up too damn fast." Antonio muttered as Carlotta said with a smile, "Sometimes, they remind me of Christian and Jessica.. Or you and Jenny's mother when you two first met."
"I'm just glad it's not Jack Manning. I just don't like that kid." Antonio admitted as he sighed and said "I suppose it's not a bad thing.. Rex isn't a bad guy, I mean we've had our differences obviously, but he's a different guy now.. And Shane's never been anything but nice and polite to me.. But he better not hurt her or make me regret my decision." Antonio said as Talia managed to chuckle and then say, "Antonio, relax.. It's not like they're running off to get married. Besides, I'm just glad she's getting used to being here and getting more comfortable with us all. And I like Shane."
Shane looked at Jenny, not sure of what to say.. They hadn't actually gotten to talk about the kiss at the diner, and he'd wondered why she'd ran out after doing it. Jenny looked at him, then sighed as she muttered, "Just say it.. You're feeling awkward and you're kinda mad at me because I did that.. I just.. It.. It gets to me when Jack starts bugging me, and he keeps talking about you and..."
Shane shook his head and then leaned in and said quietly, "Shhh. It's fine." as he shrugged and then said quietly, "Don't apologize. I sort of wanted to yesterday in the fitness center, I just chickened out.."
Before they could really talk about it all, and decide whether it meant if they were just friends, or something else now, Rex walked over and then said "C'mon buddy.. We've gotta get home. Your mom's been calling me."
"Coming, dad." Shane muttered as he looked at her then mouthed, "Text you tonight.." before walking out with his dad. Did this mean they mutually felt the same way, or had she just done it to piss Jack off?
He didn't know which..
Antonio and Talia walked over with Carlotta and Jamie as Jamie giggled and said "Mimi tell me you kissed Shane.."
Jenny groaned and then looked up at her father, waiting for his lid to blow as he ruffled her hair and jokingly said "You had an eventful night.. Let's go get some food. Everyone's hungry."
"I starving." Jamie piped up as she let Jenny pick her up and then asked, "I like Shane.. Is he you boyfriend now?"
"Jammy, I don't even know." Jenny said quietly as Talia smiled and then said "Well, I know you'd consider it the stone age, but.. when I was your age, it meant that.."
"It's complicated, though, I mean.. Ahh, forget it, I'm too exhaused to think right now." Jenny said as she whispered to her stepmother, "We'll talk about it later, I wanted to ask you something, actually.. It's kinda too girlish and personal to ask dad.."
"Okay." talia smiled as she helped Jenny walk out of the station, then said "How bad did your ankle sprain?"
"Bad enough that I don't think I'll be dancing for a few days." Jenny said as she leaned back against the seat and tried to process her whirlwind of a night, quietly..