Chapter 29
"What are you doing here?" Tiffany frowned after opening the door and finding Brian. He held out a dozen roses and flashed his best sincere smile. She ignored it, as painful as it was, and walked inside.
"Tiffany, please? Talk to me." Brian begged, chasing after her.
"Why? So you can interrogate me? No, but thanks anyway." She replied smartly, her temper warming up at the sight of him.
"Jordan sent me." He said. The minute it had slipped out of his mouth, he knew he should have chosen better words.
"See, you know you don't care about me. You're only here for her sake. Cut the act." She said coldly.
"What act? That's bullshit. I'm here cause I wanna be here. Because I want to talk to you. Why do you keep judging me?" He frowned, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"How's it feel to be judged, Brian?" She asked, her eyes meeting his. He stopped and looked down.
"I deserved that one." He acknowledged.
"Yeah, you got that right at least." She agreed.
"Tiff, I miss you. We all do. Your part of the team and you're a part of me. I knew it wasn't you but I don't know what to do. I made a mistake." Brian sat down as Tiffany rearranged one of her candles to keep her busy.
"Really? Is that before or after Ice talked to you and spilled his big ass mouth about everything?" She turned around sharply, as though she had been possessed.
"Ice didn't tell me anything." Brian shook his head, keeping his promise.
"Lucky for you, you passed that test." Tiffany arched an eyebrow. "Brian, you hurt me." She finally admitted, still frowning.
"I know and I am so sorry." He said sincerely, his voice deep.
"You're where?" Tempest asked, answering the phone at the garage. It was Vince on the phone, claiming that he and Megan had almost crashed. They were stranded. "Leon, your boy's breaks went out and he needs a ride. Meg needs to get to school." Tempest said, wiping the grease off of her hands. She loved getting down and dirty with cars. They were her life.
"Great. Where's he at?" Leon asked, throwing down his wrench.
"Tatum road, towards the mall." She replied, blowing her hair out of her face. Damn that Letty for teaching her that.
"You did his damn break job." He accused, more angry he had to stop working than at Tempest. He left that part out, though.
"What? Hold the hell up." She stepped in front of him. He looked at her lean frame wearing a white wife beater and camouflage cargo pants. "You better back up right now." She said, her face red.
"I gotta go." Leon avoided a fight and tried to leave. Tempest again blocked his way.
"Get your sorry ass outta here and bring back an apology if you step back through this door or any door I am behind." She ordered. "I pull wrenches for a living, Boy, I am not afraid of you. No way was it my fault." She said, her lips were in a thin line. He stomped outside.
"The closer to Race Wars, the greater the stress." Jesse noted, getting back to work when Tempest looked at him.
"Nah, he just has a problem with me." She said. "Tension or not, I'll lay him flat on the ground." She said fearlessly.
"Ok, but I gotta warn you, he likes feisty chicks." Jesse grinned.
"Chick? You need to relearn your terminology, Jess." Tempest retorted, getting back to work. "Besides, no guy can handle me, not even Ice." She laughed, using her bragging rights to prove her intimidating status.
"You could not handle me. Tell the boy the damn truth, Girl." Ice picked her up from behind and slung her over his back, making her laugh. She smiled at how good he looked, especially from her advantage point. He had a black hat on backwards and his usual t-shirt and jeans.
He tickled her endlessly.
"Stop!" Tempest yelled.
"Give in and tell Jesse the truth." Ice said, not stopping and easily overpowered her.
"No." she refused. He tickled her harder. "Ok, ok, he can handle me." Tempest said, while shaking her head 'no' while she said it. Jesse laughed. Ice was only like this around her. He was all business any other time, almost like Dominic with Jordan.
"What's wrong, J?" Tej asked, seeing Jordan's teary eyes. She had just came from physical therapy and was in major pain. Her face was bright red and she was sweating. Tej took this to mean she had been working her butt off.
"Nothing. What are you doing here? I look like crap after pt." She complained, knowing she was lucky to be alive and given a chance to get better.
"Baby Girl, you could never look like crap." Tej laughed, fixing her pillow for her. "You're in pain, aren't you?" He asked, turning serious. She nodded. Tej was always in tune to her feelings.
"I am tired. Are you gonna stay here for a while?' She asked, wiping the tears that had fallen. He nodded. She looked happy. "I know I should be happy he didn't kill me, but he should have." She said, out of the blue. Tej thought he was going to fall over, hearing that come from her mouth.
"J, no. Why?" He asked, stroking her hair as she finally gave in to the tears. He held her closely, hoping Dominic didn't come in anytime soon. Dominic wouldn't admit he had a problem with Tej, but Tej knew he felt threatened. Anyone lived in the house could tell by his actions, though.
"I am a mess. I'll never be ready for Race Wars. My wrist and my face are all scarred. I don't know. I honestly think I would be better off." She said, every bone in her body aching.
"Can she have some pain medicine?" Tej called the nurse's station and asked. "They'll be here in a min, Baby Girl." He said softly as she squeezed his hand. He could tell she was hurting. "You're just overwhelmed." He stroked her hair.
"Why the tears?" Tiffany walked in. Jordan looked up, her eyes brightening. She hadn't been to the hospital since she had went into the coma. She had shut off the world. "There's no crying in getting ready for Race Wars." She teased with a smile.
"Tiff! I am so happy to see you!" Jordan said, her misery quickly forgotten. Tiffany hugged her. "Thank you for coming to see me." She smiled. The nurse came in and put some medicine in her iv.
"You're welcome. I'm not goin anywhere, so if you're tired, go to sleep. I'll stay until you wake up." She sat on the edge of the bed. Tej walked outside.
"Hey Man. How ya doin? Still without a girl?' He asked, slapping Brian's hand.
"Nah, I'm on probation right now." Brian grinned and laughed.
"You lucky she even talked to you. Bet she made ya work for it, didn't she?" He grinned as Brian nodded.
"Harder than all those test these fools put me through, that is for damn sure." He laughed. "Like I said, probation. It was made very clear." He nodded. "How's my sis?" He asked, looking at Tiffany and Jordan in the room, talking.
"She's depressed about how she looks." Tej turned seriously. Brian nodded, sitting down to give the girls some time to chat.
"The doctor said that would happen. don't even mention she may never be able to cheer again." He warned, his face dark. He was worried about his sister, but he also knew between Tempest and Tiffany, that she would have all the resources she needed.
"So, what ya so down about?" Tiffany asked as Jordan fought her heavy eyes.
"My wrists, my scars, being here. I am going to go to Race Wars. The doctor can't stop me, and neither can you guys." Jordan looked at Tiffany with sheer determination.
"What's stoppin you? Get to it, Girly." Tiffany shrugged, knowing her uncaring attitude would spur her drive and get her up to the challenge.
"Everything and anything." Jordan sighed, exhausted.
"Hey, it is all you. I can be here to be your cheerleader, but it is your attitude in the end, missy." Tiffany said. Jordan nodded, drifting off to sleep with those thoughts.
