Disclaimer: I do not own JA or any of the characters.

Chapter 18: On Fire

Tell you where you need to go
Tell you when you'll need to leave
Tell you what you need to know
Tell you who you need to be

Amy glanced in at the girls before going back to the kitchen. "I can't help but think.... when there are several girls together that they are upto something."

"I know what you mean. When I said yes to Megan, I thought that was going to be it, and then when she asked for Lauren...."

"I can take her home if you don't want to be left with 3 girls."

"No that's not what I meant, well actually it probably is." Amy laughed. "Not you taking Lauren.... the whole all girls thing."

"You scared they might gang up on you?"

"A little bit. It's amazing how manipulative women can be." He glanced up at her from where he was pouring some more wine.

"Is that meant to be a personal dig?" She put her hand on her hip, and glared at him.

"You know, that glaring thing might actually scare me if it wasn't for the big grin that you have pasted on your face."

"Hey," she swatted his arm. He tried to dodge anymore onslaughts and slid across the tiles. Amy skidded into him and lost control. Bruce caught her just as she was falling. "Hmm, now any other guy would drop you after being hit, but I don't know what kinda guy I am." He kept contact with her eyes.

"Don't you dare," He fake dropped her and she screamed before laughing.

"Don't I?"

"Don't , please, I'm sorry."

"For what?" He said playfully, as he stood her up.

"For what I am about to do...." she tried to tickle him, but he wrapped his arms around her so she couldn't move her arms. "Hey, that's not fair!"

"In your eyes it's not, but for me, it is. Do you promise to call a truce if I let go?"

Amy looked thoughtful before she looked up at him. "Sure."

But everything inside you knows
Says more than what you've heard
So much more than empty conversations
Filled with empty words
Lauren, Megan and Rebecca had been watching through the kitchen door since Amy screamed. They now snuck back into the living room before they were spotted.

"Is your mom dating Mr Van Exel?" Megan started

"No, I mean, she was dating this other guy. But they broke up. Again."

"Wouldn't it be cool if my dad and your mom were going out. We could have like a permanent sleepover!"

"And that would mean that me and Victor wouldn't have to worry about the fact that we could be brother and sister! We have to make sure they get together."

"Well they look pretty together to me." Megan stated looking a little left out of the conversation.

"We would invite you over all the time, I mean with the two of us, we could persuade them to let us have the whole grade sleeping over!" Rebecca said.

"Cool!"

"I hate to be like a party pooper here but my mom would never agree to boys sleeping over."

"I never thought of that. Bummer, dad wouldn't either!"

"Well you can always get me to come over!"

"True." The three girls high fived each other, and cheered.

Amy walked to the living room door. "What are you girls upto?"

"Nothing." They looked up at her with innocent faces.

"Yeah right! Keep it down in here will you. We can't hold a decent conversation, and we are in the kitchen."

"Well we don't want to interupt something do we?" Megan whispered and they all started giggling.

"Ok, going now. Just keep it down." Amy not having heard what she said.

"So what were they upto?" Bruce asked.

"I don't know, they were just laughing and stuff. They're upto something, but I couldn't figure out what."

"As long as it has nothing to do with me or my bank account I don't care."

"What about me?"

"It depends what they are planning!"

"If it wasn't for that truce I would so be hitting you right now!"

"Oooh a violent woman, I am so scared. What are you going to do? Tickle me to death?" Bruce pulled a face and was caught by surprise when Amy ploughed into him. Pushing him against the wall. "Ok, ok, I'm sorry."

"No you're not. You just don't want to be beat by a girl."

"Yeah that's it!" Bruce tried to grab Amy in order to move her away, but as he touched her bare skin he stopped.

And you're on fire
When he's near you
You're on fire
When he speaks
You're on fire
Burning at these mysteries

They stood still, staring into each others eyes. Amy dropped her hands which had been holding him to the wall. "I...." She dropped her gaze to the floor. "I...." He lifted her chin up to face him again. He slowly lowered his head till their lips were touching. When she began to respond he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Relishing the fact that he was touching her bare mid-drift. She pulled away from him and they stood in awkward silence.

There was a ringing in the hall. "Saved by the bell." Bruce attempted to lighten the mood. He released his hold and she smiled at him before walking back to her bag.

"Hello?"

"Amy."

"David. It's late. What do you want?"

"Besides you?" He asked hopeful.

"David...." She said in a tried voice.

"Look, have you seen Victor? I kinda fell asleep and I just woke up. He's not here and the door is unlocked."

"Do you want your wine now?" Bruce called from the kitchen. David heard a man's voice, but dismissed it as being Peter's.

"Yes, he's at my house, he's asleep."

"Can you wake him and bring him over?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm not there."

"Where are you? Who asked you if you wanted wine?"

"I'm...." Deciding just to tell the truth. "I'm at Bruce's."

"Bruce's? You're at Bruce's?"

"Yes, Lauren is sleeping round here. He didn't want to be on his own faced with 3 girls."

"Oh.... Who is Victor with?" He tried to hide the fact he was jealous.

"My mom, phone home and speak to her. I have to go."

"Amy...."

"David, now is not the time." She hung up and turned her phone off.

Give me one more time around
Give me one more chance to see
Give me everything you are
Give me one more chance to be... (near you)

"Bruce I have to go." She called out.

"What, why?" Bruce came out of the kitchen looking confused.

"I just do. I'm too confused with...." She looked up into his eyes. "Things." He nodded to show he understood her meaning. "Noodle." She pushed open the door to the living room. "I'm going home now, call me tomorrow when you want me to pick you up."

"You're going? But aren't you like still eating and drinking and stuff?"

"No, I'll see you tomorrow."

"K, bye." She turned back to the tv.

Amy closed the door and looked up at Bruce. "Like she would have noticed anyway."

"She would have done, she loves you."

"Yeah, she just doesn't show it very often."

"She's a teenager what do you expect?" Amy shrugged. Bruce opened his arms and held her. "I wish you didn't have to go." Amy stepped back.

"I should go now, before...." She grabbed her stuff and walked to the door. "Bye Bruce." He watched her walk down the steps and to her car. Sadly he closed the door and walked back to the kitchen alone.

Cause everything inside looks like
Everything I hate
You are the hope I have for change
You are the only chance I'll take

When I'm on fire
When you're near me
I'm on fire
When you speak
And I'm on fire
Burning at these mysteries
these mysteries...

I'm standing on the edge of me
I'm standing on the edge

Amy drove in silence trying to come to terms with all that had happened. She was so confused. She didn't know what to do. As she pulled into her drive she saw David's car and sighed.

And I'm on fire
When you're near you
I'm on fire
When you speak
(Yeah) I'm on fire
Burning at these mysteries...