"You okay?" Jane was asked by her best friend while they got the chips and drinks set up on the table.

"Yeah, what about you? Ready to show your wild side?" she said around a smirk.

What is that look about Jane?

"Mm…..a New Year's celebration of The Spiral's burgeoning success, sounds like fun," she made a face, "and we all know how much I love to party," she mocked.

"Oh, I think that you know full well how to have a good time, I always found it amusing that you were at a loss for words around Trent, but maybe that's because I was there," she mused as her friend turned to look at her with eyes full of fearful embarrassment of what Jane was suggesting that she'd heard. Jane's voice dropped to a loud whisper and she leaned in close to her friend. "I knew Trent had a wide range of vocals, but I think that you made him invent a few new ones…..that you matched of course. Maybe not in pitch, but certainly in enthusiasm and-" Seeing the beet red that immediately came to her friends face made Jane laugh. Jane loved the discomfort that this seemed to bring- it reminded her of the good old days.

"Jane, what- when- We thought-"

"Perfect," Jane clapped her friends shoulder and went to retrieve some more items for the table.

"Jane….." her friend trailed behind her.

"It's no big deal," Jane shrugged off. "Let's not get all serious about it. We're all adults here and it's not like I don't know that you guys are having sex. I just wanted to yank your chain, while you yanked my brothers-"

"Jane! Come on," she pleaded.

"Okay, okay." She held up her hands in mock surrender. "Let's get this finished, I want to catch a shower and change before everyone shows up."

Maybe that will get me out of this funk. I'm not really use to this feeling…..loneliness. Damn it Anthony, I miss your ass…..among your other appendages. Oh, well suck it up, you'll see him soon enough.

The party was done in the non-traditional laid back style that the Lanes enjoyed. Jane looked at the familiar faces gathered in the different areas of her childhood home. Max and Stacey were huddled in the far corner, probably consoling one another and making plans to meet as much as possible while he's on the road and she is helping Quinn with that fashion show. Nick was on the couch with that Josie chick from Christmas and they were engaged in a heavy make out session that they were going to have to take elsewhere or take the party to another level. Jesse was listening to a couple of blondes that looked almost like twins as they prattled on about how excited he must be about the tour and how cool it would be for them to be able to say that they knew him before The Spiral hit it big. Before Christmas, they would have been side by side and he would be her cohort in making it through the evening without going insane, but of course that was before they had talked. The pain that she had seen in him and to know that she had unwittingly been the cause…it had stung and its venom had been left in the gaping wound of their friendship causing a chasm that neither had been prepared for. They would have to mend this before she returned to school. There was no way that she wanted time and distance to grow between them.

We'll hash it out Jesse…..we have to.

She continued looking until she glimpsed Trent and her best friend in the kitchen engaged in what they thought was a private moment. The way he held her with such careful restraint, the look they both got when their eyes met, and the way she traced the outline of his features with such a delicate hand, made Jane groan on the inside. She glanced at the kitchen clock and saw that it was close to midnight.

I think I should go and call Anthony…..

"Happy New Year's Jane," Anthony's voice said from behind her.

She turned to where the voice had come from, certain that it had been her imagination, but to her delight, he stood before her. She didn't have a smart quip or funny saying that sprang to mind, so she did what they both wanted, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. There was no hesitation on his behalf either. He took her into his arms and returned the kiss with no small amount of vigor. Around them the New Year was rang in with the count down and streamers and the voices of jubilation…..

"So who's the Clooney?" One of Jesse's blondes sidled up next to Jane in the kitchen where Jane had been getting some punch. Jane glanced at her from the side.

"Anthony," Jane made to leave, but the girl stopped her.

"Jane," she spoke and Jane turned back, "nice."

Jane nodded at the young lady that was giving an appreciative look at Jane's choice. Jane smiled and headed back towards where Anthony was standing, but was side tracked by Trent.

"You could have told me it was him," Trent stated mildly. "Were you embarrassed or something?"

"No," she spoke definitely as they both continued looking at the subject of their conversation and Jane noticed with no small amount of curiosity that Jesse had made his way over to Anthony and after a few words, they headed outside, "…..I just wanted to be sure, before….."

"Before introducing me to your new boyfriend?" Trent teased.

"Come on Trent I've always introduced you to anyone that made it past date one, but this felt different from the start. Anthony and I have something…..special."

"I'm glad that you have someone in your life that you care for." Trent stated truthfully. "Just," he turned to look at her, "don't keep stuff from me. That's not our dynamic."

"Roger that. I didn't mean to though….."

"I know….."

"I should go find him." Jane felt better after having spoken to her brother. She chastised herself knowing that she could have told Trent without worry of judgement from him. He was always in her corner.

Outside

"You serious about her?"

Anthony took a good look at Jesse's muscular frame that faced him with more than just the random concern of a friend or surrogate brotherly affection.

"Yeah, I'm serious about her. What about you?" Anthony watched the flicker of emotions play across Jesse's face and knew that his suspicions of Jesse having more than a passing interest were correct.

"I love her." They stared at one another for a moment more. "But she doesn't love me- not like that." He bit his bottom lip for a quick second before continuing. "She and I- we'll always be friends."

"I wouldn't try and come between her and any of her friends- not that she would let me."

They both chuckled slightly at the thought of anyone forcing Jane to do anything that she didn't want to and Jesse had to nod in agreement. They looked to see Jane silhouetted in the doorway before spotting them and heading towards where they stood on the walkway. Jesse held out a hand to which Anthony took hold and both firmly shook.

"If you hurt her, I will end you," Jesse said looking at Anthony so that there was no mistaking that he was serious. Anthony gave the briefest of nods in understanding.

"What's up guys?" Jane asked coming up to them.

"Just catching up," Jesse remarked as he strolled back to the house.

"What was that about?"

"We just talked." Anthony took her into his arms as he spoke.

"About what?" she had her arms around his neck and both felt the need to be close.

"Guy stuff, you, the usual."

"Do tell?"

"Later. It's a new year and I want to continue bringing it in with you."

"Well alright," she laughed and enjoyed the feel of him in her arms with the cold air around them and the sounds of celebration as their backdrop.