Disclaimer: I own the stuff you don't recognize. Which will be most of the main characters and Roslindale, Connecticut and I'm not sure about the rest yet. But I'll keep you posted, promise.



Zane's POV

I waited around until the five-minute bell for Jordan to arrive but he never did. Tre didn't decide to stay, instead he chose to finish his math homework in homeroom. I had to dash into my seat in order to not be marked tardy.

"Where's Jordy?" Tre asked as the teacher read off announcements.

"Dunno, didn't show up," I told him.

"Think he skipped?" he asked me.

I shook my head, "Nah, he was telling me about his cousin. I think his cousin would know if he skipped. I bet he just got sick or something."

Tre shrugged and turned back to his homework. I in turn looked at the front, trying to make it look like I was paying some semblance of attention. The day passed slowly, without the unusual quips a la Jordy. I was surprised at myself. I had found kinship with someone I had only known a few days.

I just shrugged if off as coincidence.

By the end of fourth period, curiosity was killing me, and I made my way over to Gabriella before Tre and I headed off to make with our daily visit to Carlos.

"Hey," I said to Gabriella, catching her before she turned down the hall towards the cafeteria.

"Hey," she repeated, letting her blond hair out of the neat braid and then putting it back up, this time in a high pony tail. The ends brushed the back of her neck as she swung her head towards me.

"You have any clue where the short one is?" I asked.

She shook her head before digging through her binder. "Hershey kiss?" she asked as she popped one into her mouth.

"Erm, okay?" I took it and unwrapped it, stuffing the wrapper in my pants pocked, "Now do you know where the short one is?" I repeated my first question.

She looked at me, "Good, he stayed home. I really didn't feel like going through with my threat," she half said this to herself, half to me.

"Threat?" I asked, my eyebrow raised in question. Something told me I never wanted to get on this girl's bad side.

"He wasn't feeling well yesterday, and I told him if I saw him today, I would cart him back home," she retorted.

I grinned, "You acted like a mama bear. All maternal like."

She glared, "Did not. But I'm thinking of stopping over there after school."

"Say no more!" I held a hand up, "I'll go with you!" I grinned and started walking away. "I gotta, lunch date. I'll meet you out front!" and then I was gone.

I was excited by the time I got out of social studies, I was free for another afternoon, and I got to see Jordan, what could be better. "Why are you so excited?" Tre asked as I half ran /half skipped down the hallway.

"Well, I'm meeting Gabriella and then we're going to Jordan's," I told him.

He gave me a funny look, "Why are you macking on Jordan's girl?"

I snorted, "She isn't anybody's girl, and as far as I know, he and Jordan didn't hook up."

"Talking about me boys?" Gabriella popped up.

I looked at her, "Nope, why do you think we would talk about you. The world doesn't revolved around you," I said in a teasing manner.

She stepped back and for a second it looked like she was chewing the aforementioned fact, "It doesn't, since when?" she teased back. "Oh and I could tell you were talking about me, my ears burned."

I grinned, and held up my hands in the surrender position, "I give up, I was caught red handed. Forgive me?"

Her face mirrored my own, as she adopted a happy face. "If it was good. Was it good?" she asked curiously.

I nodded, "Of course it was. Now what do you say we get to Jordan's?"

Her smile faltered a bit, "That'll be a bit hard, I sorta don't know where he lives," bit her bottom lip slightly, obviously a nervous habit of hers.

I smirked, "That's where I come in, I know where he lives."

She gave me a curious look, "You do? How?"

My own smirk widened. "I followed him home once, didn't even notice me at all either."

She looked shocked, "That was wrong," she then looked around and then turned to me, "Teach me how?"

I grinned and nodded, "Of course I will. But let's just go visit the sick puppy, shall we?"

She nodded, "We shall," she said in a fake posh voice.

We walked through the town, and soon made it to the Osbourne residence. I knocked on the door, and Oz, or who I assumed to be Oz answered. "Ya?" he looked out and a small hint of a smile.

"We've come to see Jordy!" Gabriella spoke up from the front.

Oz's smile grew a bit more, "Thought so, I didn't think you were here for my tea brewing skills."

As we walked in, Gabriella turned to Oz and cocked her head, "You brew tea?" she asked excitedly. "Like real English tea?"

Oz bowed his head slightly; "I have been known to do so."

"Great!" Gabriella was practically jumping up and down by that time. "I haven't had a good cuppa tea in…a long time."

I laughed at this, and than took a hold of Gabriella's arm, "I'm sure you can talk about tea, of all tings later. But I believe we're here for Jordan." I pulled her towards and up the stairs. We were halfway up before I realized neither of us knew where his room was.

"Second door on the right," Oz called to us before entering the kitchen.

As we entered the room, we found Jordan sitting in his bed. He was looking through a comic book, but he tossed it to the ground when he saw us coming in. "Hey," he said.

I grinned, "Man, you look like a sick dog," I said.

An elbow in the ribs surprised me. "Subtle much?" she hissed.

I raided an eyebrow, "Like you are?"

She shrugged, "That's different, a lot different."

Both Jordan and I burst out laughing before Jordan coughing, interrupting his laughter.

"Damn, that hurt like a," he looked around for a moment before completing his sentence, "bitch."

Gabriella walked over to him, "Do you want us to go?" she asked, worry in her voice.

He shook his head, "No! I need human interaction. Oz isn't much fun, you can't bug him…but with you guys, I can!"

I looked at him, "Glad to be of service," I deadpanned.

Gabriella shot me another look before sitting on the surprisingly clean floor. "Your room's…neat," she said finally.

Jordan shrugged, "Oz makes me do so. He's a taskmaster. But fair, I guess."

"Why do live with Oz by the way?" I asked, curious.

He looked away, avoiding my eyes. "I don't really want to talk about it, okay?" he softly.

I nodded, "That's cool man." And we let the subject be.

An hour later Oz pretty much forced us out of his room, saying that Jordan needed rest and that bull crap. Before we left, Oz made sure to press a bag of something into Gabriella's hands.

"Tea!" she said happily.

"Drugs?" I turned.

She shook her head, "No. Tea leaves. You know the type you use to make tea?" she asked.

I rolled my eyes, "It's sounds like he just gave you drugs."

She shrugged, "Whatever," she shoved the bag into her backpack as we stopped in front of the store, Magic and Mystery. "I gotta stop in here. So this is where we split. My dad's shop is down the street. I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked.

I nodded and she grinned before turning and walking into the shop, fixing her ponytail as she went. I debated going in and following her, but decided against it. She could handle herself; she didn't need someone watching over her like she was a china doll. Besides, she was getting help already. And with that thought, I turned and started walking home, whistling.



Author's Note: FF.net has been wonky at night, so my posting has been off as well. Now I understand if you have to catch up, and only want to review once, but could you do me a favor and either go back and review chapter nine or include your opinion about Jordy's nightmare? Please? Thanks so much, and iup next....Connor! Who should it be after that? You tell me!