AN: Here's the twist to get things even more complicated! if you haven't already figured this predictable twist coming, thenhere it is in writing. I'll update soon! after all, what else do i have to do? except homework... :( bleh!

Chapter 18

"Thanks guys," Claudia said to the movers. She was so excited. The loft was perfect. Perfect décor in every part of the house. Her room was filled with chic red silk, shining crystal, and bold black lace. She loved it. the guest bedroom was simple and basic. A lot of earth tones that mixed into a jumble of harmony. It was extremely relaxing and perfect placing for her mother's chair. She already couldn't wait to just sit in there and relax, but there was no time for that. There was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Jason standing in the doorway.

"hey!" she said, a smile dancing across her face, " I'm glad you could come."

"yeah, so why did you want to see me here? Why not at your house?"

"this is my house," she said, " and the best part about it is this." She walked to the back corner of the living room and slid her hands along the side of a brand new pool table.

"this," she said seductively causing chills to go down Jason's back.

" Isn't it stunning?" she said admiringly. She picked up the queue ball.

"and look at this ivory. It's so gorgeous and smooth," she said in awe. Jason could help but let out a chuckle. Claudia smiled her mischievous smile. She got him to do it again. She loved it when he laughed. It was a part of himself he hid from everyone but her. It was a part of him only she knew. She didn't really know why, but she loved that.

"So, why did you want to see me?" he asked, breaking her out of her trance. She blinked for a bit.

"Oh," she said, coming back to reality, " just for no reason," she smiled.

"For no reason?" Jason said, raising his eyebrows in disbelief, "are you sure? You know I have a job don't you?"

"Technically you have the nightshift," She responded with the same sexual tone to her voice, showing off every curve of her body, " it's just the afternoon." Jason was mesmerized by her smooth and fluid movement towards him. She smiled that mischievous smile he loved so much. He forced his eyes to tear away. She broke her concentration on his face.

"so I was thinking maybe you would want to play a game of pool," she said, her eyebrows raised, a crooked smile dancing across her lips.

"Sure," he said. It was always a challenge against Claudia, and he couldn't think of anything he loved more than a good challenge.

"Eight ball?" she suggested.

"You're on."

"What do you want to bet?" she asked. Jason was in shock. What could they possibly bet on? They already had peace. The last game they played at Jake's had wiped his wallet clean. What could she possibly want now? As if she was reading his mind, she answered him.

"maybe that dance you owe me from the first time we played a game of pool," she said. He had almost forgot about that. The first time she had met him was at Jake's. She challenged him to a game of pool. They bet on a dance. If Spinelli hadn't broken her concentration she would have won. He smiled inwardly at the memory. He shocked himself. He never thought he would look back on that memory with a smile on his face.

"So what's it gonna be handsome?" she said, smiling her smile of mischief.

"Alright, I think I can do that," he said walking towards her to get a pool stick off the rack.

Just as last time, Claudia won.

"what song?" she asked. Jason broke his eyes from scanning up and down her body.

"What?" he said absentmindedly. Claudia chuckled, fully aware of what he had been doing.

"what song?" she repeated.

"Oh. I don't care. Whatever you want," he said. She put in a CD and went up to him, waiting for him to take the queue. The CD paused for a second and then started playing Bring On The Rain by Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw. Jason and Claudia were in perfect synchronization as they slowly danced in the middle of the living room. He felt her lean her head down tentatively on his chest. It seemed her body just melted into his. Maybe it was the music or the slow pace, but memories, the few he had, started racing across his mind.

"Jason, Jason wake up. Can you hear us honey?" He slowly opened his eyes.

A woman sitting in front of him had a tear streaked face. He didn't understand why though. Why would she care what kind of damage he was in? It slowly came back to him. This was his mother. Everything rushed back, the accident, blood, ambulances, crying, screaming, the words dead, post-traumatic stress, sole survivor...

He tried to remember what it was like as a child, when everything must have been more simple, but the thing was, he couldn't remember. He tried and tried, but nothing came to him. He had to remember, how could he not. He saw his mother's face fall.

"what's wrong?" he heard someone ask.

"he doesn't remember anything," he heard her say defeated.

Another memory breezed past his mind:

He walked along the sidewalk. He saw her being pushed to a car. For a girl she was putting up a really good fight. "Help me," she had pleaded. He wanted to, but he didn't know how. He stared into her dark tortured eyes. She was in pain and despair, but how could he help her? He knew he had to do something. He took a couple of steps towards her only to be shoved away. She looked back at him pleadingly until the man who was holding her slapped her across the face. He couldn't stop looking at her, as if his thoughts and raw will would bring her to his side so that he could help her escape. Before he knew it, the car was driving off and he couldn't do anything about it. He now felt remorse and defeat wash over him. She was gone, he was never going to see those dark eyes again. He ducked his head and walked on.

The mere thought of the memories brought him sudden grief. He couldn't believe how passive he had been about the whole situation. If only he had done something.

She felt at perfect ease as she quietly hummed to the melody. She listened to the words issuing from the speakers. She closed her eyes, letting Jason sway her to the music. She felt his cheek lean against her head. She dazed off to her memories. All the thoughts rushed in.

"Daddy, why can't you come downstairs? I want to play chess with you."

"Claudia, I'm putting my son to bed. go to your room. Go to bed."

"it's barely nine o' clock on Saturday. I'm thirteen. Come on, just one game?"

"go to your room. I don't care what you do, just don't bother me."

"But you're the best chess player I know. How can I learn from anyone less than the best?"

"I said go to your room."

"But I've gotten better. I really want to show you Daddy,"

"Claudia, I said go to your room. Now leave me the hell alone!"

She stayed quiet as tears ran down her cheeks. She didn't want to cry anymore, she wouldn't cry anymore.

Another memory flashed through her head:

She only saw a boy who couldn't have been much older than her walking down the sidewalk. Still, from seeing boys not much older than herself work in the 'family business' as her father liked to call it, she knew people her age were capable of many things.

" Help me, please," she quietly said, barely in a whisper, her dark eyes staring into his. She knew he could see how desperate she was. She could see it in his deep indigo blue eyes. She also knew he couldn't help her. He hesitated just long enough. He advanced towards her, but was quickly shoved out of the way by Trevor.

" Get out of my way, kid." He said savagely. The boy let Trevor pass. She didn't blame him. He had to stay out of trouble. If only she had a life that simple. She looked back one more time hopefully at the boy now standing behind her on the sidewalk. He took a few steps forward, not exactly sure of what to do. She had looked too long because in a matter of seconds she felt a hand slap her across the face. " Get in the car!" Trevor yelled. She felt the boy's eyes on her. As soon as she was in the car, she looked at the boy standing on the sidewalk. He was still standing there, not sure of what to do, or what he could do. As the car started to move, she saw him duck his head and walk on.

She remembered that day. It was the day she was sent away, the day her own father banned her from the house she grew up in. She felt a warm tear run down her cheek.

Jason's head stirred from it's position. She felt him move to look down at her. The music stopped. She involuntarily let out a sniffle.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked. Claudia turned her head away to keep him from seeing her weak and decrepit face streaked with one tear. She still couldn't bring herself to show any sign of weakness to anyone.

"Yeah," she said, trying to discretely wipe her face of the tears. Jason caught the gesture, but he decided not to say anything. Claudia was strong, and just like him it was hard for her to let her defenses fall. He turned to look outside the window.

"It's getting dark out,. I have to go for the nightshift," he said with a smirk. Claudia gave a weak but amused smile at the echo of her words.

"yeah, I've got some stuff to take care of around here too." She said.

Jason walked out the door. Claudia closed the door behind him. Despite their moments of painful remembrance, they both smiled a smile they couldn't seem to wipe off.