Over and over he pushed the clutch but all he heard was the engine struggling to start his frustation growing it only made mathers worst when he heard giggling behind him , looking a the side mirror he saw Maxine laughing at him .
MAX: Your horse gave up on you cowboy .
JAKE: hahaha Maxine your hilarious .
Pushing the clutch once more jake let out a loud growl that made Maxine only laugh even more the more frustatted he got the more fun she thought it was .
JAKE: dont you have something better to do ! he grolwed between his teeth .
MAX: ohh no no no this is much better then grocery shopping im enjoying the view .
Turning his body sideway Jake grinned widely at Maxine knowing too well what she actually was looking at .
JAKE: Any other time i would have entertain you darling but i got somewhere i got to be .
Patting his bottom Jake actually laugh at the look of pure terror on Maxine face .
MAX: what? ...no thats not what i meant ...why you always twist things around ?
JAKE: because i know from experience that women always speak in code ? he laugh winking at her before trying to push the clutch down with not much success .
JAKE ; GOD DAMN STUPID THING ?
MAX: You know i dont know why but when you men dont get your way you cursed and yell.
JAKE: And you women you just pout and cry until you get your way .
Trying one last time to get his engine starting Jake gave up when no sound came up he got off his motocycle in a very bad mood .
Peeking at the fuel gauge Maxine gave a strangle laugh covering her mouth with her hand she tried not too laugh but Jake saw right through her .
JAKE: what?
MAX: you know i dont know much about motocycle but huh ...dont they need gas to start .
JAke face became brigth red with embarressment his eyes wide he tried to play it cool but it only made Maxine laugh louder .
JAKE: yeah... i knew that !
MAX: sure you did !
Laughing maxine made her way to her car laughing loudly at Jake who look at his motocycle completly dumbstruck .
MAX: Good luck getting home !
JAKE: WAIT! he yelled at the top of his lungs making Maxine jump has she open her car door .
JAKE: Any chance you would be ever so lovely and give me a ride !
MAX: Pffft fat chance !
Getting in her car she closed the car before Jake could reply but Jake tapp on her window repeatly annoying her to a point where she thought about running him over again and yet all she had to do was drive off and leave him in the dust but something in her made her push the window down .
MAX: what part of ""NO"" didnt you get .
JAKE: you didnt actually said ''NO'' you said '' fat chance ! grinning when she rolled her eyes he did his best puppy eyes expression .
JAKE: PLease Maxine i was going to check on Calleigh ...im really worried .
MAxine gave a long sight of all the people to be giving a ride too Jake was the last one she wanted too , especially after what happen when she gave him a ride she would rather let him die on desert road under the heating sun then let him get inot her car , but Calleigh was top priority even after all the harsh thing she said to Natalia , Alexx and her at diner this afternoon .
MAX: Fine get in ! she finnaly said with a long painfull exhale .
Trotting around the car Maxine almost pushed the gas pedal when he was in front of the car but he looked up at her with a smile that gave her tiny goosebump on her arms that distracted her from pushing the pedal .
Has he got in the car he quickly put on his seatbelt thanking maxine .
JAKE: Thank you for doing this .
MAX: I aint doing it for you , im worried about her too ...and no funny business ! she warned wiggling her finger at Jake .
JAKE: Funny business like that last time you drove me home ?
Wiggling his eyebrow she rolled her eyes again starting the car already regreting letting him inside her car again .
PArking his car on the side of the street ryan quickly crossed the street before uncoming traffic cut him off a few cars back Jasmine did the same . She watch from a far has Ryan ran up some stair into an appartment complex .
When the coast was clear she got out of her car and walked over to his car keys in hand she scracth it along from the rear to the front whistling and swirling her hips has if nothing was going on . She felt something gratifying about the sound of the paint scratching agaisnt the key .
After her mischief was done she followed the path Ryan had just went through walking up the stairs she was carefull that her high heels didnt clank on the concrete step .Has she reach the top she looked left and right , on her right nothing but on her left a sign about an open house condo , smirking she thought to herself that if Ryan was looking for a condo there was clearly trouble in paradise between him and miss goody 2 shoes .
Creeping closer she stopped at the open door when she heard his voices coming from the inside .
RYAN: This is really a nice place Mrs Chapman .
Jasmine couldnt help rolling her eyes she couldnt see him but could imagine him using all his charm all bright white smile and being over polite .
MRS CHAPMAN: Ohh yes our condo complex '' the fountain bleau '' is very popular , since it's very close to the beach and we just renovated all of our unit so everything is up to date .
RYAN : yes i can see that ...your add though it didnt say how much it was a month ?
MRS CHAPMAN: This unit here is 900$ a month that includes 2 bedroom and one full bathroom along with access to the pool and the gym we also have gated parking lot that only the resident have access too .
RYAN: Im not sure if i would need 2 bedrooms but i really like the place .
MRS CHAPMAN : we have another unit thats only one bedroom it will be available next month if your interested i could make an appointment for you to visit .
RYAN : hummm i dont think i could wait for a month...i kind of need place right now , i've recently separated from my spouse and living with a friend .
MRS CHAPMAN : Ohh i see ...there alot of single ladies living here ! the elder lady said with a giggle that made Jasmine want to puke .
Ryan didnt say anythign just smile politly and didnt go into further detail about his love life he looked around a bit more then said .
RYAN :Alright i'll take it where do i sign ?
MRS CHAPMAN : ohh at first we do a background check on everyone ..it's protocole ...this community here is tight knit ...we dont accept anyone but since you said you were a police officer i dont think there shouldnt be any problem !
Outside jasmine saw her opening if this community was so thight knit they woudlnt appreciate any drama at all . Smirking she appeared at the door and yelled.
JAS; THERE YOU ARE ..YOU BASTARD !
Ryan eyes widen at the sight of his worst nightmare standing at the door the older complex manager looked confused and looked at the petite but tall women standing at the door and at her futur tenant who was bright white .
MRS CHAPMAN : Who is this woman mr Wolfe .
RYAn : no one dont mind her shes my ex girlfriend .
Ryan thought that maybe if her ignore her Jasmine would go away but he should have known better .
JASMINE . NO ONE ? IS THAT HOW YOU CALL THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDRES ?
MRS CHAPMAN :: Children ? but you said you were single and dint have any children .
RYAN : i dont ...
JAS : YOU DONT ? she interrupted before Ryan could defend himself ... WHAT ABOUT YOUR SON WHO CALLS AFTER HIS DOUCHEBAG OF A FATHER DAY IN AND DAY OUT !
RYAN ; WILL YOU STOP RIGHT NOW JASMINE IM WARNING YOU ?
JAS: OR WHAT YOU'LL HIT ME IN FRONT OF THIS NICE WOMAN ?
MRS CHAPMAN : hit her ...mr Wolfe ?
RYAN : Mrs Chapman i am begging you do not believe this woman she is crazy!
JAS; YEAH CRAZY TO HAVE FALL FOR A A TOTAL LOSER MORON LIKE YOU ...ITS BAD A ENOUGH YOU WONT AKNOWLEDGED YOUR OWN CHILD BUT TO GIVE ME A STD AND LEAVE ME ALL YOUR DRUG DEBT ..BUT CALLING ME CRAZY ..HUMPH...
Before Ryan could react Jasmine slapped him across the face hard , Mrs Chapman gasping at the sound of the palm connecting with Ryan cheek .
JAS; IF I WERE YOU MA"AM I WOULDNT RENT TO SCUMBAG LIKE HIM ..HE IS KNOW TO PARTY LATE A NIGHT , ALWAYS PAY HIS RENT LATE, GAMBLES ...AMONG OTHER THINGS . BE READY TO HEAR FROM MY LAWYER !
With that Jasmine turned on her heels smilling widely at the look of anger mixed with total confussion on Ryan face .She walked out of the condo hurrying her step in the hallway before Ryan could catch up to her .
It didnt take long for Mrs Chapman to close the application folder she was holding in her arms with a hard look on her face she stared at Ryan and said .
MRS CHAPMAN : Im sorry mr Wolfe but i dont think we will accept your application !
RYAN : Please mrs Chapman ..that ..that woman she was lying she has been making my life hell please do not believe what she is saying !
MRS: CHAPMAN: That may be so but we do not need that sort of drama here , please leave or I'll have the police escort you !
RYAN : but i am the police ! he argue his shoulder deflating .
MRS: CHAPMAN : And you should be ashamed over that sort of behavior ...NOW LEAVE ! she said pointing to the door !
Ryan walked out of the condo complex with an anger that he didnt know he had in him , clenching his fist at his side he hurry outside in hopes to catch the monster from hell has he nicknamed her . At the edge of the street he looked left and right and then saw her mini cooper pass him by she blew a kiss at him before diving off , but Ryan had enough of her behavior and was intent on stopping it .
Has he was about to cross the street and drive after her, Ryan was almost ran over by a tow truck passing in front of him , the moment of distraction gave her time to drive off and even though Ryan knew where she lived he decided on a better course of action and get a restraining order , after all there were other condo in miami , But when he got to his car and saw the long scratch on his car from the rear to the front , his anger double , knowing too well she was responsible , but he had no proof .
The ride to calleigh house had been a quiet one , Maxien had expected jake to either tease her or annoyed her to a point where she would thorw him out the car while he it was still running but he didnt say nothing didnt even look her way which threw her off a bit , the only thing he did was fiddling on his seat and try over and over to reach Calleigh with his cellphone and the closer they got to their destination , the more Jake was eager to get there .
His genuine concern for Calleigh well being made her a bit uneasy so she step on the gas a bit and hurry to get to Calleigh house , she barely had time to park the car in front that Jake had opened the car door and was getting out running up her front step jumping one or two of them .
At the door he rang the doorbell pushing it longer then it should , standing behind him patiently Maxine made sure he was between her and the door , just in case " She even went further to straighten him when he moved away .
JAKE: What are you doing ? he asked turning his body sideway with an annoyed looked on his face .
MAX: ohh just in case Calleigh get more pissed off and start shooting at us you'll be between me and her !
Maxine laugh at her own little jokes but when Jake instead of replying like he usually did gave her a harden looked her smiled faded from her face .
JAKE: Maxine now '' really '' not the time .
Turning back around Jake once again rang the doorbell over and over with no answer.
MAX: Look Maybe shes not home ?
JAKE: her car in the driveway !
MAX: maybe she went for a run ?
His patience wearing thin Jake sharply turned to face her Maxine took a step backward surprised by his sudden outburst .
JAKE: LOOK MAXINE EITHER YOU HELP OR LEAVE IT'S UP TO YOU BUT I AINT LEAVING UNTIL I SEE HER !
MAX ; HEY MR GRUMPY DONT YELL AT ME !
Taking a deep long breath Jake took half asecond to calm himself before looking straight at Maxine she could clearly see the concern in his eyes .
JAKE ; Please Maxine i just want to check on her !
With pleading and worried eyes Jake stared at the women in front of her , hoping that she would get the hint and help him , turning back around he rang the door bell again this time maxine joined him instead of getting in his way she helped by banging on the door when they still got no response Jake tried the door knob finding the door unlock he pushed the door open .
MAX: now shes really going to shoot us ! she said under her breath has Jake stepped inside without hesitation .
JAKE: im just making sure shes alright !
JAKE: CALLEIGH ! he called out loudly so she could hear him.
MAX: maybe shes out back !
JAKE: CALLEIGH ! he called out again with no answer .
Calleigh house wasnt that big so it was highly unlikely thats he hadnt heard them maybe after all Maxine had been right Calleigh could be outside and wasnt hearing them .
JAKE: I'll check outside , you check her bedroom ok !
Before Maxine could answer Jake had already been making his way to the back of Calleigh house , with more hesitance Maxine step further into the house walking along the hallway she peek inot the living room to find it empty , having been to Calleigh house a few times Maxine knew it well enough to know where her bedroom was .
Peeking inside she once again found it empty sighting , somethignt hen caught her attnetion a piece of paper crumple on the floor of Calleigh bedroom has she bend to retrieved the paper ,she heard jake footstep coming back toward her .
JAKE: Nothing in the backyard , did you find her ?
CAL: No it's empty ...but i found this !
Unfolding the pices of paper all crumple Maxine read out loud what was written on it '' ATF AGENT MARK COLEMAN ''.
JAke who had been looking around Calleigh house snap his head back toward Maxine has he heard the name she said out loud .
JAKE: WHAT ?
Snatching the paper from her hand before she could answer Jake read over and over the name on it .
MAX: you know him ?
JAKE; i... no ..not really heard of him !
MAX: why would Calleigh have his name ?
JAKE: i dont know doesnt really mather .
Jake put the paper in his front pocket turning around away from Maxine ,his years working undercover had thought him to lie well enough to get out of trouble , altough he hadnt really lie he didnt know Marck Coleman personnaly but knew what was his speciality inside the ATF agency and for a second Jake wondered .
JAKE : Maybe we should wait outside for her ?
MAX: or maybe we should let her be after everything she said to us this afternoon at dinner im not really eager to see her .
JAKE: Look Maxine i know ...i know Calleigh hasnt been herself lately but giving up on her wont help .
MAX: everyone one has their breaking point Jake !
JAKE: so your just going to give up on her !
Maxine gave a faint shrug looking at the floor , she didnt want to give up on Calleigh but she wondered if Calleigh could even be saved.
Jake shook his head a little angry at Maxine and everyone for letting Caleligh get this far deep into her depression without action , it was then that Jake notice a light coming from under the bathroom door adjoining Calleigh bedroom .
Knowing too well she liked to take bath , from a hunch Jake walked the few step toward the bathroom door and slighlty pushed the door .
First he saw the glass of wine shattered on the floor , Maxine standing close behind she crept over his shoulder and notice the glass has well , has Jake pushed the door further thats when they saw her. Her hand falling limply over the edge of the thub , and her head under water running to the bath Jake slipped on the tiles floor screaming to the top of his lungs .
JAKE ; CALL 911 !
He didnt hesitate one second and pulled her head from under the water her skin already blue and her body limp has he pulled her out of the thub , Maxine stood at the edge of the door gasping has her hand clasp over her mouth and her eyes sweeling with tears at the sight of a apparantly dead Calleigh in Jake arms .
JAKE ; CALL 911 ! MAXINE ...
Frozen on the spot maxine she couldnt hear jake plea has he immediatly started reanimation procedure .
JAKE ; MAXINE ...PLEASE CALL 911!
Unable to move to sight in front of her Maxine remained where she stood Jake reached for her hand pulling at her to wake up .
JAKE; MAXINE I NEED YOU TO CALL 911 ...CALLEIGH NEEDS YOU !
Shaking her head Maxine slowly backed out if the bathroom her eyes never leaving the pale face of her friend .
JAKE: HURRY !
Running out to find Calleigh home phone , grabing the receiver in a hurry she dialed 911 only to find that no sound was coming out of the phone , panicking Maxine tried again , but still nothing , looking at the wall plug she saw that the phone had been indeed disconnected , her hands shaking she tried to connect the cable again .
JAKE: COMMON CALLEIGH DONT DO THIS...DONT LEAVE NOW...NOT LIKE THIS .
After a few try Maxine finnaly got the cable connected and she'd never been more glad in her life to hear a police operator voices on the other end .
Overexcited Joey didnt know where to start has he bent on his knees and peeked inside the manys boxes his mother had retrived from the basement .
JOEY: MOMMY HURRY! he yelled at his mother searching through the boxes before his mother had time to come back .
Panting and sweating Natalia did the best she could to bring the heavy boxes of the christmas tree up the basement stairs , usually Ryan would have help her with this , always on hand with the heavy stuff she had difficulties to carry.
But Ryan wasnt here tonight and Joey really wanted to do the christmas tree tonight so Natalia did her best to bring the box up the stairs , fighting spider webs has she did .
Taking a deep breath she gave one last push and sighted when the box reached the top of the stairs , she heard the excited footstep of Joey running to her .
JOEY: mommyyyyy ! he whined at his mother slow pace .
NAT: im coming baby ...im coming ! she panted out of breath from the heavy lifting .
JOEY: i want to put the decowation !
NAT: we have to set up the tree first , sweety .
JOEY: then hurryyy ! he whined again .
Taking another long breath Natalia pushed the box one last time finnaly reachign her destination , Joey too excited to help his mother jumped up and down clapping his hand when he heard the front door slamming she saw him dissapeared calling ryan name.
JOEY ; 'YAN ...'YAN ...LOOK...LOOK ...CH'ISTMAS TWEE.
Joey jump excitedly in front of ryan unware that Ryan was in no mood for anything chrismasy right now .
RYAN :thats good Joey !
He said firmly passing by the little boy but Joey caught his hand and pulled him toward the living room .
JOEY: COME...COME ...
RYAN: not now Joey !
Ryan said firmly again pulling his hand away from the little boy grasp but Joey was having none of it and pull again at Ryan hand .
JOEY ; YES ...NOW ...CH'ISTMAS TWEE.
RYAN ; FOR GOD SAKE JOEY I SAID NOT NOW ! LEAVE ME ALONE !
Ryan raised his voices louder then he intended but his patience was very thin right now and when Joey let go of his hand took a step back his bottom lip quivering , before he ran away from ryan to hid in his bedroom ,ryan felt a pang of guilt hit him rigth in the heart .
Rubbing his eyes and taking a long deep breath ryan clamed himself before opening his eyes again what he saw hurt him even more , the accusing look of Natalia stadning in front of him arms crossed and tapping her feet on the floor .
RYAN ; OHH PLEASE NOT NOW ALRIGHT !
Ignoring the daggers she shot at him with her stared Ryan passed next to her heading for his bedroom , if he thought that for one second she wouldnt followed him he was dead wrong .
NAT: EXCUSE ME !
Sighting Ryan kept his back to her shaking his head at the many headaches the womens in his life were giving him .
NAT ; ON WHAT PLANET DO YOU THINK IM GOING TO LET YOU YELLED AT MY SON !
Swirling around Ryan faced her and responded to her accusation .
RYAN ; I DIDNT YELL !
Now Ryan was sure he was done for her eyes squinted further and he was sure she let out a very mother tiger growl .Stepping into his room she closed the door behind her before he knew it she was right in front of him poking his chest has she spoke.
NAT; Listen pal ...i know things between us have been weird but dont take it out on my kid alright !
RYAN ; I DIDNT TAKE IT OUT ON HIM OK ...I ASK FOR FIVE MINUTES AND HE DIDNT LISTEN !
NAT; HES THREE YEARS OLD RYAN !
Overwhelmed and feeling guilty Ryan sat on his bed his hand between his hand .
RYAN ...I GET IT OK ...I FEEL BAD AS IT IS !
NAT ; AND YOU SHOULD ...YOUR HIS HERO RYAN !
RYAN ; I GET IT ALRIGHT ..ITS...ITS THAT BLOOD SUCKER JASMINE'S FAULT !
Clenching his fist Ryan paced the room he did everything he could to keep himself in check but Jasmine had made his life miserable one too many time..
NAT: jasmine? what does she has to do with any of this ? i thought ...
RYAN ; THOUGHT WHAT? THAT SHE WOULD JUST LEAVE LIKE THAT ?
NAT: No ... maybe ...i dont know ?
RYAN ; SHES A PSYCHO WHO'S WHOLE PURPOSED IS TO RUINS MY LIFE !
Ryan anger getting the best of him he grabed his head with both hands grunting loudly and kicking the floor with the heels of his boot.
NAT: hey hey ..stop that ok !
Reaching for him she put her hand on his shoulder squeezing lightly , a gesture that a week ago to her would have seemed nothing but friendly , but then he looked up at her and the loved that she use to not see she could clearly see now .
Giving his shoulder another squeeze she took a step back with a faint smile looking down at the ground she immediatly regreted the awkwardness between them , but at least Ryan had calmed down .
NAT: dont get yourself all work up for her Ryan shes not worth it .
Sitting back down on the bed Ryan gave a long sight rubbing his tired eyes , he knew Natalia was right , but enough was enough.
Sitting next to him she kept a reasonable distance between them and ask ...
NAT: you ...you want to tell me what happened .
After a long silence he took another breath looking at the floor he began to tell Natalia how jasmine had once more ruined his life .
RYAN : i had seen this add for an appartment near coconut drive ...
Gving him a faint nod Natalia couldnt looked at him and kept her eyes straigth on the floor , she should have known that their roomate situation would be temporaly but she'd come to enjoy to have Ryan in her house , but also she couldnt blame him to want a life of his own .
RYAN: so after work i went there ...and i dont know how ..she must have followed me , she completly ridiculed me in front of real estate agent , told her i was a lowl life drug addict who gamble and abandonned her ...
NAT: ohh god Ryan ..im so ..sorry ...
RYAN: thats not worst she scratch my car from back to front ...i mean ..i know it's just a car but ...
NAT: hey you dont need to explain yourself to me ok ...i know she made your life miserable...
RYAN:IM JUST SO TIRED OF FEELING LIKE A VICTIM ...LIKE THOSE VICTIM WE GET WHO HAD BEEN IN A ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP FOR YEARS AND DIDNT LEAVE THAT PERSON UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE ...IM SMARTER THEN THAT ...I SHOULD HAVE LEFT HER THE MOMENT SHE BECAME ABUSIVE...BUT NOOOO I BELIEVED HER EVERYTIME ...IM JUST SO STUPID ..STUPID TO GET CAUGHT IN SUCH A POISONNOUS RELATIONSHIP !l!
has the words left his mouth in anger Ryan hadnt realised that they were hurting Natalia , taking her back to a life she once had herself with her ex -husband Nick .
Clenching her teeth she refrained from saying anything knowing that Ryan wasnt in his rigth state of mind but the words had hurt deep and brought back a surge of emotion in her .
The phone rang through the house but both of them ignored it for a moment when Ryan noticed Natalia heavy silence he looked at her and noticed thats she had turned her face away from him , it struck him then that his words said in a pang of anger mostly directed toward Jasmine might have hurt her has he tried to reach for her she stood from the bed ignoring him and with her voices choking she said has the phone kept ringing .
NAT: I ...i...better get that .
Has she walked away ryan slapped himself in the face hard shaking his head at his also knew he should make better with Joey and then her apologised for taking his anger out on them.
Pushing himself on his feet with one last effort he still had in him after this long day , week even . Ryan was making his way toward Joey bedroom when he heard Natalia called out to him in such a panic that made his heart twist in fear has too why such a painfull cry was coming out of her .