AN: Hi, hey, oh, everybody! As always, thank yawl for reading "Welcome to the New Home" to this point! I thought that my 20th chapter left a lot of great cliffhangers, too, AlongTheBinding (even though I already know 'em ;D) and thanks also for the congrats! Well, I thank my great friends who are reviewing, and I thank you all who are reading! Your guys views and reviews make my days sunny and full of life! I truly adore each and every one of you! Now, this chapter is totally going to be filled with drama..suspense..maybe even some cryptic romance...and of course something else...some more puzzle pieces to Jazz's life story...and maybe even Cassidy's story! Interested ;D? Sit back, clear your mind & relax, lock your nearest door ('cause a certain character is going to be announced, and just because they seem nice, doesn't mean they are!), fetch some popcorn and pop, set down the homework and studying, and please review! Well, time to read! I hope yawl enjoy chapter 21 as much as the first twenty! :D
Chapter twenty-one
It was getting dark outside, considering that it was December, but thank God that the town wasn't completely pitch black. It was more of a beautiful shade of a middle color shade of a mixture of dark and sky blue. Jazz and Cassidy were already nine minutes away from the store, after leaving from under the Curtis's roof and having Dally, Two-bit, and Steve babysit Jocelyn by themselves for a few, which Jazz still questioned to himself if that was such a great idea, since he was the main one Johnny was counting on to watch his and Cassidy's baby sister. Nevertheless, Jazz didn't think that Cassidy needed to know that. Besides, it was her idea to leave Jocelyn with Two-bit, Steve, and Dallas, and besides...Jazz knew that he could trust her the most out of everyone in the gang.
Jazz and Cassidy walked down the sidewalk in the snowy, icy town, which hardly seemed like it was even alive since it was getting dark that night. The two twelve year olds stood by each others sides, not leaving the other behind a single inch in their footsteps.
Jazz's heart was pounding a bit hard in his chest, and he was quietly breathing in and out some fast breaths, as he rolled his eyes from left to right; up and down a bit. He was surprised that Cassidy was only grinning straight ahead with no single thought of feeling scared shimmering off in her eyes or anything. Dang...she certainly did look pretty under the evening sky.
The winter breeze whistled in the cool air, which slimly made Jazz let out a small yelp from his lips and jump a bit. The poor boy was only remembering his dark past...and it frightened him more when actually being outside in the nearly full dark night.
Concerndly, Cassidy looked over at Jazz, who was standing at her left side, trying to not stop walking from feeling the overwhelming fear snipping and snapping at him. "Jazz, are you okay?" Cassidy asked
Jazz snapped out of it the best he could and shook his head to get back into the present instead of getting pulled and pushed back into his dreadful past. He took in and let out a deep breath, right before he looked over at Cassidy, and tried to forget that fact that they were walking all by themselves in almost fully dark town. "Yeah, I'm okay," he lied, and Carla knew he was lying, but she didn't want to force any preasure onto his mind by asking him what the problem was, even though she already knew it was his life story that must've been eating away at him. Although, she just shrugged her shoulders and said a simple, but slightly nervous, "Alright.", right before she looked back in front of her.
Silence formed between the two twelve year olds as they continued walking, knowing that they were almost at the store. Jazz took in and released another deep breath of the cold winter air, and watched a frozen cloud flow out of his mouth when he let his breath back out. He stuck his hands into his winter jackets pockets and looked down at his waterproof boots as he continued walking besides Cassidy, who was now gazing up at the sky with her hands also stuffed all warmly inside of her winter jackets pockets. Confusion formed inside of Jazz's mind, him wondering to himself about what certainly had Cassidy's full attention up there in the nearly night sky...until he remembered the Dingo...when Johnny gave him 'The Relationship Talk' and spoke about how Carla always wanted to find a shooting star, but never could. Jazz gleamed up at the sky then, too, but there were no stars in sight yet. Hm...what would Cassidy and Jazz wish for if they actually did spot a shooting star or shooting stars? Hm...
Cassidy took in a deep breath and released it, both using her nose as she turned her attention to back down the sidewalk, her eyes now clenched from dissapointment for only a moment, but she didn't allow her upset feelings to get the best of her, taking it into consideration that she never saw a shooting star for years, and she thought that she was never going to spot a single one.
Jazz frowned as he looked back down the sidewalk, too. It was as if he could sense the sadness and sorrow that Carla was feeling at that moment. Some people may say it was ridiculous to feel all down in the dumps over some shooting star, but it truly wasn't. At least it wasn't to Jazz. He knew what it was actually like to see something that he always wanted to stare at, and it just so happened to be a shooting star. You know that feeling...when you finally glance at something for the first time and you've always wanted to see it with your own eyes. It actually somehow seems magical, and that's the word that Jazz used to describe his recent finding of a shooting star. It was actually the night before Ponyboy and Two-bit found Jazz half dead in one of the dark alleys around their town, before the twelve-year-old boy was about to pass out from weakness and tiredness. He actually wished...he had his parents back...but after what Tigerlily did to split Jazz's family up, Jazz knew that he was never going to have that wish granted, unfortuently. Nevertheless, Jazz was very much glad that he was now living with the Greasers and was starting clean new slate, or in other words, it was like he was redoing his life, just a bit before Jazz's parents...um...let's just say that Tigerlily did do something very hard to believe...and Jazz was only hoping that his folks were very happy with where he was with the gang right then, and would hopefully go on for the rest of his life.
"Ya know, Jazz," Cassidy spoke up, breaking the quietness between her and the other twelve-year-old.
Jazz wiped the frown off from his face and looked over at Carla, who was still keeping her eyes glued down the sidewalk. "Yeah?" he shrugged his shoulders.
"You know you didn't have to come with me, right?" Cassidy asked
"Yeah, and?" Jazz shrugged again, then a playful smirk curled up on his lips. "You really didn't expect me to allow my best friend to walk around town all by themselves at this hour in this town where anything could possibly happen with Socs, don't you, Carla?"
Cassidy's slim, but very beautiful grin spread across her face as she tucked one of her brunette curls, that wasn't being tied back in her ponytail, behind her ear. For the first time, Jazz actually realized that Cassidy's ears were pierced with small, fake diamond earrings that were gently pressed against the skin of her ears. The phony diamonds looked just like the actual diamonds that she was wearing around her neck, tucked under her winter coat so nobody would attempt to jump her for the amazing necklace, thanks to Jazz for actually buying it for her. God, Jazz thought...she was truly beautiful...but he didn't like her for her looks...he liked her for her golden, rainbow heart...but he still refused the thought that he actually loved her. He still didn't even know if he should give dating another chance or not...
"So I am your best friend," Cassidy chuckled, feeling all strange on the inside all the sudden.
Jazz's face heated up and turned bright pink, but his playful smirk remained straight on his face for a couple more seconds, right before it turned into one of his world-famous; movie-star smiles. "Of course."
Cassidy's beautiful grin immidiately flashed into her full grown, bright, golden smile, and her face glew bright pink then, too. She cutely snickered a couple of times, then looked right into Jazz's eyes while he looked straight back into hers, the two of 'em still walking down the sidewalk.
"If I may say so, Jazz...I think you're a very cute boy," Cassidy shared, feeling her heart take one big pounce in her chest, as she looked away from staring at her friend, deeply wishing that she kept that to herself.
The twelve-year-old boys eyes slightly grew big from feeling so surprised to actually hear a girl that wasn't Lily or his mother actually say that they thought he was a very cute young lad. Jazz's full, handsome smile faded into his shy grin, and his face stained darker pink. Jazz didn't feel like he was good-lookin' much at all, and figured he was just somebody who blended into the background. Although, he was wrong there. Jazz really was a handsome boy who looked fourteen other than his actual age as a twelve-year-old, and he certainly did have movie-star looks, just like Sodapop Curtis did. Being slimly insecure was something that Jazz and Cassidy actually had in common, but when they're with the gang, they feel completely thrilled to be who they are instead of just silent people, who they really aren't.
"Wow, Carla...thanks...a lot," Jazz shyly thanked, which earned him another beautiful smile from Cassidy, and a single bow of her head, which meant she was telling him that he was welcome. Jazz's face was truly pink now, but his shy grin stayed directly on his face. "You're a very pretty girl, Carla Cade...don't let anybody tell you different...Joseph didn't deserve you then and he certainly doesn't deserve you after God knows what he did to you that completely changed your life...either way, I think you're dazzling..."
However, Jazz couldn't get those words to come out of his mind and transfer 'em out of his lips, but he didn't really mind. He actually wanted that to stay a secret to himself. Oh God, Jazz...why think it if you're not going to say it?! Face it, though...Jazz just refused to even think about loving Cassidy, and she did the same for him, because they both denyed it either way.
Another two minutes past of nothing but silence between the two twelve-year-old Greasers, and they finally made it to the store.
"Alright, Jazz, you wait out here while I go in and buy Jocelyn's formula and favorite baby food, okay?" Cassidy instructed
"W-what?! You w-want me to stay o-out here while you go in t-there all by...youself?" Jazz nervously stuttered. It was pretty obvious that he was extremley nervous all over again, just like he was at the house after the milk exploded, and when he and the others found out that Jocelyn's baby food was all out. Although...he wasn't nervous about staying outside the store all by himself, even though the night scared him quite a bit from bringing back his past, but he was mainly nervous about Cassidy's safety because...he really thought of her as...a great, beautiful girl...who was his...his...best friend.
"Yeah, but there's no need to worry 'bout me, Jazz. There's employees in there, and it's nearly completely dark, meaning hardly any people will be in there. Also, I'll only be in there for two-to-four minutes. But thanks for caring," Cassidy explained, yet another one of her beautiful grins plastered on her face when she thanked her best friend.
"Um..yeah...no problem, Carla...but hurry up so we can get going back to the house...it's getting colder and darker, and not to mention..a bit scary," Jazz admitted as he felt his face now turn bright red with embarassment, but he was surprised when Cassidy continued grinning at him instead of looking at him like he was suddenly insane, considering that Greasers often go out at night, but around the holidays, they rather stay in.
"Don't worry, Jazz. I'll be quick," Cassidy promised
"And I'll be waiting," Jazz told her as he leaned back onto the stores solid brick wall and stuffed his hands back into his winter jackets pockets.
The oldest female Cade gave Jazz one more beautiful smile, right before she pushed one of the two main glass doors that entered the store and walked right in, her words, "I'll be out in a couple of minutes!", echoing out, happily, to her best friend, then the glass door shut all the way after her enterance into the store.
Jazz waited all by himself, continuing to kick back on the stores brick wall. He laid his head back and rested his eyes only for a second, then started feeling the cold breeze growing colder and colder as it whistled in the winter air. It was getting so freezin' out, which meant it was about to snow at any moment, and it caused Jazz to tremble a bit. The twelve-year-old male Greaser took out his hands and cuffed them over his mouth, which is when he blew a deep breath into 'em to keep 'em warm. After that, he pulled up the hood of his winter jacket, then relaxed his eyes shut again, as he thought about Dally, Two-bit, and Steve, wondering with full concern about what could they have been doing when watching Jocelyn, and not to mention how Jocelyn was actually taking it. Although, being seven months and all, she properly won't figure that there's a difference when there actually really is.
Suddenly, though..the breeze wasn't the only sound the Jazz was hearing. Two sets of footsteps were heard coming his direction, and two voices that were the opposite gender were heard joking and chuckling with one another. At first, Jazz began feeling nervous, but then remembered that there's of course more people who live there in that town. These two voices sounded like they belonged to two teenagers, which they did. One boy and one girl. Slimly, Jazz peaked up, his hood remaining over his head so these two teenagers wouldn't be able to see his face if they cared to even spot him.
Jazz noticed that the boy was a redhead and looked a lot like he was sixteen-year-old. His arm was around the girl, who had dark skin. However, that was the only thing that Jazz could tell about the girl, and for other fact that her hair was an average length, touching the tops of her shoulders, and it was dyed a spacific color, a color that pretty much nobody dyed their hair. Jazz's eyes slimly grew big when he first took a small peek at the two other teenagers, but he couldn't see their faces, due to the two of 'em both wearing hoods to keep themselves warm from the cold December nights breeze as well. You could see the girls hair though hers, her hood see-through purple and covered with sparkles. That instantly gave it away that these two teens were Socs. You could tell that the girl was totally a Soc, and not to mention the boy because Greasers and Socs just don't mix.
"Okay, baby!" the redhead boy howled, wildly and cheerfully. "We went to the park, had lunch at the Dingo, visited my brother in jail, and went to the latest drag race! Today was a blast, babe! But the nights still young! So, what do you wanna do now?"
Jazz's eyes grew big a bit more when he remembered who's voice that was...
"Hm, I don't know, hun...let's just explore around the store a bit," the dark skinned girl shrugged, then snickered with the redhead boy as he grabbed her hand with a gentle grasp and the two pushed open one of the two main glass doors.
At that moment, Jazz's eyes were completely big and filled with shock. His heart dropped, him now knowing for a hardcorse fact that he knew both of those voices. The twelve-year-old boy Greaser quickly looked up all the way from peaking up to catch the two Socs faces before they walked into the store, but when he did look over to see who they were, all he got to see was the glass door shut behind 'em when they walked into the store. That's when Jazz remembered the main reason why he was waiting outside of the store...CASSIDY WAS IN THERE!
"Crap!" Jazz exclaimed, and with that, he pulled down his winter jackets hood, then bolted right into the store. His heart was racing so hard, only thinking about Cassidy and her saftey all over again, but this time was ten times worse, considering Jazz instantly knew who those two teenagers were, but he wanted to get to see their faces so he could lead them away from where ever Cassidy was in the store. However, there was just one issue...the store was sort of a big square that was filled with all kinds of different aisles, and Jazz has never been in that store before. He just stood there, looking back and forth quickly without blinking his eyes a single time. He was determined to find Cassidy before those other teenagers did, then he would try to see their faces later if he could. At that moment, though...Jazz just wanted to save Cassidy. "I won't let them touch her!" Jazz exclaimed to himself in his head, a glare now forming on his face as he took off down one of the many aisles. Let the search for Carla Cade begin, Jazz thought.
While Jazz searched for the second oldest Cade, she was just so happening to be ironically in the baby section of the store. She had just picked up Jocelyn's favorite kind of powdered baby formula, but when she went to pick up Jocelyn's favorite mashed-up peas, she couldn't find any jars of it. There was chopped up bannanas, orange slices, kewi sauce, strawberry surpreme, broccli strings, and every other baby food..all but any mashed-up peas. Cassidy asked one of the employees about the smashed-up peas, hoping that at least one jar was spared somewhere in the store, but however, the employee informed her that all of the mashed-up peas of baby food were completely sold out. Cassidy sighed her thanks to the employee, then decided it was better that she atleast had her baby sisters favorite baby formula. The gang would just have to imporvise on something for Jocelyn to eat.
Cassidy started her way down another aisle so she could make it back to the front of the store and cash out, but when she reached the center of the aisle, something stopped her. It was a male voice, talking to somebody. It just so happened to be the two teenagers that Jazz heard outside, and witnessed them talk a short conversation, and not to mention their clothes to tell that they were Socs. However, Cassidy didn't know who the female voice belonged to, unlike Jazz, who had this hardcore feeling that it was who he thought it was...
Carla's heart felt like it just took one great big leap and it hopped right out of her chest. She froze still in the center of the aisle that she was in, carefully and quietly gazing behind her, hearing the voices coming her way. Being a whole lot extra careful and silent, Cassidy tiptoed back over to the end of the aisle, from the way that she just came, and took in and let out a deep, but soft breath, right before she got enough guts to gaze around the aisle wall.
At that moment, she swore to herself that she felt her heart drop, and her eyes shot big, knowing exactly who the redhead boy was, but she still didn't know the dark skinned girl. The redhead boy had his arms connected around the dark skinned girls back, holding her close as the two of them made out, as if they were two baby monkys. Cassidy covered her mouth with one of her hands and gagged a couple of times, having a hard time believing what boy he was seeing, actually making out with some girl after what happened the night before.
"You got to be kidding me! Him?!" Cassidy exclaimed in a mumbling voice to herself. "He can't be here! He just can't be! If he notices me or Jazz outside, we're toast!"
She continued watching, disgustingly, and felt great relief when the two teenagers parted from their making out session, big and amused smiles plastered on their faces, which each others hands stuffed into the others back pockets. That only made Cassidy want to throw up even more then when she just saw them making out. But just when the second oldest Cade was about to head away from watching the two teenagers that just finished trading spit and now had each others hands in the others back pockets of each others jeans, the redhead boy and dark skinned girl looked over her direction when they felt like somebody was watching them. Cassidy's eyes shot big as she let out a gasp, while the dark skinned girl and redhead boy quickly released each other from their arms both stared at her, the girl all surprised, and the boy now scowling angrily. He was exactly who Cassidy and Jazz thought he was...
It was that evil, high redhead Soc from the Dingo the night before...Zack. There was only two different things with him that time, though. One, he wasn't high on any drugs at that time, and two...he actually had...a...girlfriend?!
"Hey!" Zack exclaimed at Cassidy, who quickly took off running down the aisle, scared out of her mind, but she got even more frightened when she heard two sets of footsteps chasing after her. When Carla made it to the front of the store, she dropped the right amount of money down next to the cash-register, ignoring the guy behind the counter and his half confused/half uncaring expression that was glued onto his face. "Get back here!" Zack's voice echoed out.
Quickly, Cassidy ran over to one of the two main glass doors of the store, hollering out Jazz's name, as she pushed open one of the doors and bolted out of the store, but when she didn't see Jazz standing there, leaning against the brick wall like he was the way she left him, Cassidy swore that she felt her heart explode from so much fear. Jazz was one of those special people to Cassidy that meant the whole world to her, and when she didn't realize he was still outside of the store, she felt like something very terrible must've happened to him.
Cassidy looked back and forth rapidly, not blinking one bit as her heart jumped so hard in her chest that it was beginning to hurt a little. She began calling out her best friends name, the first couple times in a loud, but questioning tone, then the next few times, louder with fear. "Jazz? Jazz?! JAZZ! JAZZ! WHERE ARE YOU?! JAZZ!"
From the back of the store, the twelve-year-old male Greaser heard Cassidy's cry outs, and quickly bolted back to the front of the store, but when he exited out one of the main doors, he realized Zack and the dark skinned girl had beat him out there. Zack had his blade being clenched in one of his hands so hard that his knuckles were starting to turn bright red, the sharp point pointed directly at Cassidy, who was now crying millions of tears from her red-rimmed eyes and trickling down her now bright red face.
Jazz narrowed his eyes and clenched his teeth, feeling nothing but complete pits of anger running through his entire body. Nobody was allowed to harm a single one of Jazz's friends, unless they wanted to meet the twelve-year-old boys bad side. And yes, Jazz does have a bad side...and it ain't pretty when he got ticked.
"Zack! I knew it was you!" Jazz exclaimed, angrily
The redhead Soc evilly smirked, as deviousness glowed in his cold, heartless eyes. "Ah, the little boy from the Dingo yesterday...remember, the one who harshly beat me and got me grounded by my folks for an entire month?"
"..Serves you right for calling my girl a hottie," Jazz muttered under his breath, keeping himself quiet from saying that to Zack's face, considering he had a very sharp and pointy switchblade pointed at Cassidy. "Did I just call Carla...my girl?!"
Zack rolled his coldless eyes and continued pointing his blade at Cassidy, keeping his evil smirk straight on his face as he grabbed the oldest female Cade from around the waist and pinned her to his chest. Cassidy clenched his wrist with both of her hands that were trembling and shaking from so much fear, while more and more tears poured out from her two dark, dark brown, and dripped down her bright red face. She struggled back and forth, side to side to attempt to squirm away from Zack's hard grasp, but it was no use. He was too strong.
"Ya know, babe," Zack said to his girlfriend, the dark skinned girl, who was looking away from Jazz, so he couldn't see who she was...but she did have orange dyed hair. "This girl happens to be Johnny Cade's little sister...I think she'll be worth some very serious cash if we take her with us."
Jazz's eyes grew big as scared feelings struck him, actually realizing what Zack was getting at when he spoke that to his girlfriend. He was talking about kidnapping Carla and keeping her away from the rest of the Greasers until Johnny would pay up a huge amount of money to have his little sister back. At that moment, Jazz remembered what Johnny said to him, Dally, and Steve before he left with Ponyboy, Kitten, Darry, and Sodapop to the movies..."Remember what I told yawl about Jocelyn's care, please! She and Cassidy MEAN THE WORLD TO ME."
Quickly, Jazz shook his head at Zack, right before he looked at his girlfriend, trying to think about who she was. Considering that this girl kept earning Zack's attention, she must've been one type of person that could completely change his mind. So, Jazz grabbed the girl by her shoulder and pulled her around...completely shocked to find out who she finally was...his heart felt like it exploded...
"Tigerlily?!" Jazz gasped full of shock instead of any anger.
The dark skinned girl bit down on her lip as she scratched the back of her head, actually feeling the awkwardness that was swimming around in the air all the sudden. Oh, god...she was Tigerlily! Jazz's ex-girlfriend! The girl who completely changed his life!
"Oh, um...hi, Jazz," Tigerlily spoke up, awkwardly.
Zack's evil smirk turned into only an anger filled glare, but he was actually confused. Cassidy watched Jazz and Tigerlily, feeling completely concerned and confused herself, but she continued crying and sniffling.
Jazz narrowed his eyes again and clenched his teeth behind his closed lips, remembering how evil his ex-girlfriend was, and not to mention how scheming she was after what she did to his family. Nevertheless, Jazz still wanted Cassidy to be safe. Even though he didn't like what he was about to do, he knew he had to do something.
"I need to talk to you," Jazz told his ex.
A scowl formed on Tigerlily's face as she placed her hands on her hips and she rolled her eyes, uncaringly. "Ugh...what about?"
"Something! It's private!" Jazz exclaimed
Tigerlily rolled her eyes again as she took in and let out a deep breath, right before she informed Zack that she would be right back and for him to not let Cassidy out of his sight. Zack nodded his head once with agreement and told her that there was no problem there, right before Tigerlily followed Jazz back into the store, and continued after him until they reached the back of one of the many aisles.
"Now, what's this talk about?" Tigerlily asked, kicking back on the wall as she crossed her arms, keeping her eyes glued on her ex-boyfriend, who didn't look pleased at all. He was completely upset all over again.
"Call your boyfriend off!" Jazz ordered, referring to Zack getting ready to harm Cassidy with his switchblade.
"No way! Forget it!" Tigerlily exclaimed as she got ready to walk back down the aisle so she could leave the store, but before she could even walk away, Jazz grabbed her arm and pushed her back into the wall.
"Please!" Jazz pleaded, but his voice sure didn't sound like it was begging at all. He was actually demanding, and both of his arms were now resting on the wall, on both sides of Tigerlily so she couldn't attempt walking away from him again. "You owe me!"
"I owe you crap!"
"YOU owe my father!"
Right after hearing those words come out of Jazz's mouth, Tigerlily felt the past hit her hard, like a heatwave does unexpectingly on very hot summer days. Guilt and sorrow overwhelmed her body as she scratched her right arm, flipping her orange dyed hair over her shoulder as she bit down on her lip. "Jazz!" Tigerlily exclaimed, sounding like she was angry, which she sort of was. "Would you forget about that already?! I didn't mean to do that to your dad!"
Jazz rolled his slimly narrowed eyes and showed his ex-girlfriend his teeth that were now clenched again. "Oh, yeah! Sure!" Jazz sarcastically proclaimed, taking his hands down from resting on the wall, and slapping his arms across his chest. "I'm sure you didn't mean to pick up that-!"
"No, I didn't mean to! I mean, sure, I meant to do it then, but I know now that it was a completely ridiculous thing for me to do!" Tigerlily pleaded "but I served my time in juvie for two weeks, then went to a mental instatution for two days. After that, I realized that I shouldn't have done that to your dad.."
"Lily," Jazz began, and he noticed Tigerlily's eyes grow big with complete sorrow, properly because he didn't call her by her usual nickname like he used to when they dated. Nevertheless, Jazz just rolled his eyes once again and went on with what he wanted to say. "My parents were such great people! I was their only child! And after what you did, you wrecked us! If you hadn't done such a thing to my father, he and my mother would still be around and maybe you and I would still be dating!"
Tigerlily sighed, then shrugged her shoulders. "What else can I say, Jazz? I already said that I made a huge mistake, so what can I do to make it up to you?"
"Give me my parents back!" Jazz bellowed "but it's obvious that you can't do that after everything!"
"Jazz, that happened a month ago-" Tigerlily began talking
"In four days...it'll be a full month since the incident in four days," Jazz interrupted her with a sighing tone.
Tigerlily frowned and reached out her hand, placing it on Jazz's shoulder afterwards, so she could comfort him. However, the minute that Jazz felt Tigerlily's hand resting on his shoulder, he glared again and didn't take any hesitation to shrug it off.
"Jazz...please," Tigerlily began begging, but she was caught off when Jazz placed one of his hands up to one of his shoulders and continued glaring at her.
"I don't care to hear what you have to say, Lily! No matter what, my parents are gone and my entire family is distroyed! I don't care if a year passes from the incident! The dark memories will always remain very vivid to me, and it's all thanks to you!" Jazz snapped
"If I could take it all back, I actually would,"
Tigerlily placed her hand over her heart and said that she promised, but Jazz jut repeated her to call off Zack. Just as Tigerlily was about to say something back, Jazz walked away, his scowl still stuck on his face, and his arms crossed against his chest again, while his hands stayed clenched in tight fists of pure anger. Tigerlily guiltily frowned and released a sigh, before she trudged after her ex-boyfriend, until the two of 'em made it back outside of the store, where Cassidy and Zack were both still in the same positions that they were in before Jazz and Tigerlily went back into the store for their little chat.
Zack still remained holding Cassidy close to his chest with his switchblade being clenched so close to her throat, just like in one of those world-famous spy movies.
"Zack, let her go. Let's just get back to your place to hang out," Tigerlily spoke up to her boyfriend.
Zack looked at his girlfriend surprised, but surprisingly took his blade down from Cassidy's throat and placed it back inside of his pocket. Nevertheless, he still didn't release her from being pinned to his chest, his arm resting across her waist and head now resting on her shoulder.
"Zack, I said to let her go!" Tigerlily repeated, her voice now sounding desparate, because she really wanted Jazz to trust her after what she did to his father and his mom, but mainly his dad. "Zackary!"
"Depends, baby...what's she going to give me? Money? Her wallet? That watch of hers? Possibly even...her life?" Zack deviously smirked as he slowly took his blade back out of his pocket and held it against the twelve-year-old girls throat, making her cry many more tears once again. At that moment, Cassidy really believed that, that was the end of her. "I'm going to die tonight..." Cassidy thought to herself in so much fear, as her heart rapidly pounded pump after pump. Nevertheless, she became completely surprised, as Tigerlily and even Zack did, too. They watched as Jazz quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet that contained many different coins and some five dollar bills. He even unstrapped his watch from his wrist and laid it on top of his wallet, as he held it out towards Zack, who was just glaring at him, but was completely surprised and a bit confused at the same time. Jazz didn't want Cassidy to die...he really...really...liked her...
"Zack, please!" Jazz begged, tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes as he continued holding out his wallet and his watch. "Take all of my money! Take my whole wallet! Even have my gift cards, Zack! And my watch that my dad gave me when I was a young ten-year-old! But please...don't take my best friend!"
Zack bit down on his lip, taking a silent moment to digest Jazz's offerings as the twelve-year-old boy began sheding his tears, each drop slowly starting to fall and drip down his cheeks, which left long, wet tear streaks.
"Zack, you shouldn't do this!" Tigerlily told her boyfriend, which earned her his full, undivided attention for only a moment, right before he glared back at Jazz. "This is ridiculous! You and I should be hanging out in your bedroom right now! Not jumping some brunettes!"
Jazz's face burned up with anger, but he continued crying, feeling completely ticked that Tigerlily was referring to him as some random brunette instead of her ex-boyfriend in front of her new boyfriend. A crazy Soc who adores taking drugs named Zack. Dang...but considering what Tigerlily did that distroyed Jazz's family, it was pretty understandable. Nevertheless, Jazz didn't allow himself to get drained into all of that drama again, so he went back to trying to bribe Zack, which he could tell worked when the Soc slipped his switchblade into his boot. Jazz felt great relief, and quickly yanked his arm back after Zack snatched his wallet and watch away from his hand, then took away his arm from staying hard around Cassidy's waist, right before he rushed over to Tigerlily, grabbed her hand, and twirled her around until his arm rested around her shoulder.
Sometimes, Tigerlily really thought that Zack was an embarrassing boyfriend, and at that moment, it was totally embarrassing. It was so embarrassing that she couldn't help her face from heating up and turning bright red as she frowned again, biting down on her lip at the same time. Although, Tigerlily still loved him.
"Pleasure with doing buiness with ya, Jazzy, boy!" Zack deviously laughed as he pushed the twelve-year-old boys wallet and watch into one of his jeans pockets, continuing to smirk at the two Greasers.
Cassidy wiped away all of her tears and sniffled a bit, as Jazz threw his arms around her from her side, and held her close, thinking to himself that he just saved his girl from getting kidnapped and/or murdered. He would've been glaring at Zack at that moment, but he was so relieved for rescuing Cassidy that he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"Come on, Zack," Tigerlily said, nudging her boyfriend with her elbow. "Let's get back to your house. Oh, and, Jazz...I'm sorry," she mouth her apology to Jazz so Zack wouldn't hear her. However, Jazz only rolled his eyes. "Maybe I'll see you around?"
Jazz clenched his teeth again, but only for a short moment when he released Cassidy from holding her close. Then, he shot angry eyes at his ex-girlfriend, while she gazed back full of sorrow, and Zack just concerndly watched the twelve-year-old boy.
"Stay out of my life, you sleazy piece of crap!" Jazz ordered Tigerlily, who felt some tears coming on after hearing him say that to her, but she knew she truly did deserve it after what she did to Jazz's father, which caused his family to become ruined. Cassidy gawked at Jazz, completely struck with surprised feelings all over again. Same with Zack, and he planned to do something about it, but before he could even walk up to the two twelve year olds to physically harm Jazz, Tigerlily gripped his shoulder. Zack stopped walking right after feeling her hand, and looked back around at her.
To Jazz's surprise now, Tigerlily softly spoke to her new boyfriend the exact words, "..Let it go...", right before she added after a few seconds of a silent pause, "Let's just jet on over to your house, Zack."
Jazz narrowed his eyes at Tigerlily, who just let out a soft sigh, as if she was apologizing to him again for the incident that she had caused, but Jazz didn't care. She wrecked his family. Zack then narrowed his eyes back at Jazz, showing them to Cassidy afterwards, as he released a snarl-like sound from his lips before he turned away, placing his arm back around his girlfriends shoulder, and the two of 'em walked away from the two twelve-year-old Greasers. Jazz and Cassidy kept their eyes on them, and Tigerlily took one final gaze back at Jazz. She was crying a bit, but Jazz didn't care about that either. After what she did, he knew that she deserved to cry and feel guilty for the rest of her life. Cassidy and Jazz kept their eyes on the two other teens until they vanished out of sight down the street.
The second oldest Cade let out a deep breath of relief as she looked over at Jazz, who was gazing right back at her.
"Jazz...you know that girl?" Cassidy asked, even though she already knew the answer.
"Are you alright? Did he pull that blade on your throat?" Jazz asked as he gently touched the skin that was on Cassidy's neck, over the part where Zack was clenching the sharp and pointy blade, but there was not a single scratch or cut. He was certainly relieved that Cassidy was alright and not to mention alive, but he wished that she hadn't of asked about Tigerlily.
"I'm fine," Cassidy promised, her voice soft and gentle, as she tucked a piece of Jazz's hair behind his ear.
"Thank God," Jazz sighed with full relief. "And, please...don't ask about that girl. She's nobody but a worthless piece of trash that shouldn't even be here after what she did..." he mumbled, upsettingly.
A confused expression wiped across Cassidy's face. She knew that this properly wasn't going to be such a great question to ask, but she couldn't help it. "What'd she do, Jazz?"
"I don't want to talk about it! But let's just say that she ruined my life, just like Joseph ruined yous!" Jazz informed, and after he said that, he wished he hadn't.
Cassidy looked like she was about to start crying again. She placed her right hand onto her left shoulder, and her other hand rested on her right side. She nervously bit down on her lip, remembering her horrified and pleading cries for help and for Joseph to stop doing what he was trying to do. She really felt like an idiot, actually believing it was alright to go to his house in the first place, and not to mention the fact that his folks weren't even home. Although, Joseph promised her that they were there, but he lied...and he didn't tell Cassidy that he planned on getting boozed up, considering that Cassidy didn't even know that he did drink. He secretly did, sneaking it right under his parents noses, and around her, which truly broke Cassidy's heart. Him drinking turned him into a monster the night that she was there...
"Carla, I'm sorry," Jazz apologized, breaking into Cassidy's thoughts and helping her come back to the present instead of getting drained back into the past. "I shouldn't have said that to you."
The twelve-year-old boy placed his arm around the girls shoulder and felt her curls that were tied back in her ponytail tickle his hand a bit. He actually liked it, considering that it was Cassidy. She was different from other girls that Jazz had met in his life, and he really adored that 'bout 'er. She was different...and he liked it. Sound familiar from somewhere?
Cassidy shook her head at Jazz's apology. "No, it's alright...I'm just thinking. Now, I can't believe that you gave Zack your wallet, money, and watch...just for me,"
A hansome grin flashed on Jazz's face as he leaned into her ear and whispered, "You're truly somethin', Carla Cade."
When he slowly leaned back again to find Cassidy now smiling beautifully at him and her face now a bit bright pink, Jazz's smile grew a lot more handsome as he released some chuckles from his lips, and his face blushed up, too. The two twelve year olds stayed focused on each other, lookin' into the others glimmering eyes without speaking a single word. Jazz began to lean in again, and before the night could tell, the two Greasers were holding the other in their arms, their lips meeting in one heck of a long kiss. Every short time Jazz and Cassidy parted, they ended up kissing again under the moonlight of the cold December night. They must've had nearly ten short kisses, the last one lasting about fifteen seconds straight, until the two Greasers released each other, and they caught their breath, both completely surprised in what just happened.
"Wow...you're really good at our friendship kisses, Carla," Jazz shyly spoke up, breaking the awkward silence after kissing Cassidy.
Cassidy grinned, then bowed her head, shyly thanking Jazz for saying that, then said that he was great, too. "You're sure gettin' a lot better at 'em, Jazz...you're a good kisser."
"Thanks...you are, too, Carla. Our friendship kisses are sure somethin', huh?" Jazz snickered, another one of his famous grins curling up on his lips.
"..Yep."
Jazz and Cassidy continued smiling at each other under the moonlight for a few more seconds, until Cassidy spoke up, she being the one to break the quietness this time. "Well...um...yeah, Jazz...we should be gettin' on back to the Curtis's house so we can get back to helping Dally, Two-bit, and Steve babysit Jocelyn."
"Oh, right. God knows what they're doing now," Jazz muttered under his breath. "Yeah, let's go." he said, loud enough for Cassidy to hear him this time, and with that, the two started their way back to the Curtis's house. Oh, God...what are Two-bit, Dallas, and Steve doing right then at that moment?
AN: Oh! Jazz has a point! What IS Steve, Two-bit, and Dally up to with their babysitting with Jocelyn all by themselves? Well, you'll have to wait till the next chapter to find out what they're up to! The next chapter will be the last one that deals with Jazz's first time babysitting, and then it'll be time for the next day of the week. Thursday (three more days till the Greasers head on over to the Curtis's family ranch). As always, those questions I always ask at the end of my chapters still remain and chapter 22 will be a very humerous chapter, FYI! Well, read yawl then! :D :D :D :D