Long ago
A/N: I own nothing...
"So, Jay, I ran into Tino the other day." Jordan and Shane are sitting together in the studio a couple days before Christmas. When Shane built his house, he had turned the whole basement into a studio so they wouldn't have to travel to record. They all liked the thought of being home every night.
"Why're you telling me? I could care less." Jordan closes his laptop and starts packing everything in his bag.
"He said he's been back in town for a while. He asked about everyone. You know, wondering how that old gang was and all. He says maybe we could all get together or something." Shane gets up and stretches.
"Uh, no, I don't think so. I don't want to hang out with that fucker. I don't even want to see him." Jordan stands, grabbing his bag and tossing it over his shoulder. "I don't care what he's been up to." Walking toward the door, he calls out. "I'm outta here. Be sure to come by in the next few days, Angela has a present for you."
"Yeah, ok. Hey, why you still holding a grudge against Tino, anyway? That was a long, long time ago. What could it hurt for us to all hang out?" Shane follows Jordan up the stairs. "We were all friends back in the day."
"Drop it, Shane. You know why. I have nothing to say to him. Later." He walks out to his car, throwing his bag into the back seat. He gets behind the wheel and rests his head back against the seat.
Jordan VO: Who cares if Tino's back in town? I have nothing to say to that asshole. I mean, he did something that friends aren't supposed to do. You just don't hit on your friend's girl.
May 1996
In the middle of a song, Jordan looks over to where Angela had been sitting on the floor all through practice. Noticing Tino sitting beside her, he forgets his next line. Still staring at them, he struggles to concentrate on the words. Having completely blown it, he stops playing and turns to the guys. "Hey, lets take a break. I need something to drink, anyway."
He sets his guitar down and walks to the fridge to get a bottle of water. Walking over to where Angela and Tino are sitting, he stops in front of them. Angela looks up nervously. Tino stands up beside him.
"Hey, Catalano. How's it going?" Tino smirks and walks away.
Jordan drops down on the floor beside Angela, handing her the bottle for a drink. "So, what were you and Tino talking about?" Trying to keep his jealousy from showing, he reaches over and tucks her hair behind her ear. "I haven't seen you talking to him before."
Biting her lip, she looks away. "Nothing, he just came over to sit with me." She starts picking at the label on the bottle. "Are you guys almost done? Can we get out of here?"
"I think so, I told them I needed a break. I wanna get through this one song, then we can leave. Wanna come over to my place and help me pack?" Watching her face, he can see the sadness start to take over. Pulling her into him, she rests her head against his chest. "I want to spend as much time with you as I can before we leave next week."
He hears her sniffle, so he holds her tighter. He's thought about what would happen when he left for LA, but he still wasn't ready to face the fact that he was leaving her behind. Even though he was graduating on Saturday, she still had a year left to go. He wished he could take her with him, but he knew her parents would never allow that to happen. Besides, since she was the reason he was graduating in the first place, he didn't want to be the reason she didn't.
Looking over her head, he sees Tino watching them. He kisses the top of her head and gently pushes her back. "Hey, let me get back to that song. Then I'll get you outta here." Wiping the tears from her cheek, he gives her a lingering kiss. "I'll be back in a few." Getting up, he walks back over to his guitar.
Trying to block out Angela's tears and his jealousy over Tino talking to her, he makes it all the way through the song. Packing up, he looks over to see Angela standing by the door. Tino was standing in front of her, partially blocking her from his view. He stares at them, willing her to look his way. She darts a glance toward him and he can see the look of panic on her face.
Shoving his guitar in the case, he walks over to where they're standing. "Angela, you ready to go?" Tino turns to look at Jordan, before stepping around Angela and heading out the door.
Angela looks toward the floor, not meeting his eyes. "Yeah, lets go." She reaches for his hand, but still doesn't look up.
"What's going on with you and Tino?" Walking down the steps behind her, he sees her stiffen.
"Nothing. I mean, I don't even know him." Walking around to the passenger side of the car, she opens the door and gets in.
Getting in, Jordan looks over at her. "So, he just decided to talk to you, like outta the blue or something? What did he say?" Grabbing her hand, he pulls her closer.
"He was just talking to me, that's all. I don't wanna talk about Tino anymore." Turning to face the door, she pulls her legs up in the seat and leans back into him. Putting his arm around her he hugs her to him.
"Ok, babe, but I just find it weird that he's talking to you all of a sudden." They sit quietly for a little while, enjoying the closeness. Both lost in their thoughts.
Jordan VO: How am I supposed to leave her? Can I even do it? How am I supposed to survive if she's not with me? Maybe I shouldn't go. Maybe I should just say to hell with it all and stay here with her.
So lost in his thoughts, he barely realized Angela was speaking. "...propositioning me."
"What did you say, babe?" Frowning, he looks down at the back of her head.
"I said, he was propositioning me." Turning to look up at him, Angela tucks her hair back.
"Who was propo... What does that mean?" He looks confused.
"It means he, Tino, was offering to, um, comfort me after you leave." She starts biting her lip again, tears welling in her eyes. "I wasn't going to tell you, but I can't keep anything from you."
"WHAT? Like hell he will. What did he say to you?" Jordan sits up straight and turns her around to face him. "I'll kill that son of a bitch!"
"I don't want to repeat it, but I told him I wasn't interested. Don't worry, after you leave, I won't be hanging around any of your friends." Looking down, she starts to tear up. "It hurts so bad, and you aren't even gone."
"Ah, babe, come here." Wrapping his arms around her, he turns her so that she's laying across his lap. Cupping her face in his hand, he kisses her before looking down in her eyes. "Red, believe me when I say that leaving you will be the hardest thing I will ever have to do. I'm starting to think I should just stay here. What's one more year? I can wait until you graduate."
"Jordan, no. I won't be the reason that you give up on your dream. I know how much this means to you. You, Shane and Tommy have been planning this all year. I promise you that no matter where you are, where I am, we will still be together. I'll be fine." Closing her eyes, tears start to leak out.
"Angela, babe, I hate to see you cry. This is tearing me up inside. I wish I could take you with me." Laying his forehead on hers, he sighs. "And now, I have to worry about my friend like making the moves on my girl while I'm gone."
"Jordan, you have nothing to worry about. Whether you're here or there, it doesn't change my feelings. I love you. I'm not interested in anyone else. I wasn't going to tell you, but you knew something was up. I don't want to come between you and any of your friends." Continuing to lay in his arms, Angela starts playing with Jordan's hair. "Let's go to your place. We can start packing, or whatever."
Understanding that she wants to be alone with him, not in the front seat of his car, he kisses her again before sitting her up right. Starting the car, he heads toward home.
A few hours later, after having dropped Angela off at home, he sets out to find Tino. After riding by his house, then the loft, he finally sees Tino's car in the parking lot of Let's Bolt. Jordan parks his car and starts walking toward the entrance. As he gets to the door, Shane, Tino and Joey are walking out.
"Hey, Catalano. What are you doing here? I thought you would be with Angela." Shane walks up and pushes him.
Ignoring Shane, Jordan walks up to Tino. "Tino. We need to talk."
"What's up, Catalano? Whatcha wanna talk about?" Tino takes out a cigarette and lights up. Shane and Joey walk over to stand beside Jordan's car to wait on him.
"Come off it. I think you know what I wanna talk about." Stepping closer to him, Jordan says, "Stay away from my girl, Tino."
Smirking, Tino grins. "What's it matter? You're gonna be gone in a week anyway. I just told her I'd keep her company while you're gone. She's gonna get really lonely with you being on the other side of the country and all." Taking a drag, Tino blows the smoke out before saying to Jordan, "You'll go find you another piece of ass and I'll be here to comfort her."
"FUCK YOU, Tino! You better not go anywhere near her! Just stay the fuck away from her." Jordan, not wanting to fight his long time friend, takes a deep breath, trying to gain control. "I mean it, Tino. She's off limits."
Tino, having had a few, gives a short laugh. "Well damn, Jay. How do you plan to stop me? You're gonna be all the way out in LA. Don't worry, she won't be sad for long."
Having had enough, Jordan shoves Tino backward. Advancing on him, Jordan shoves him again. "Tino, I swear to God if you go anywhere near her, I'll fucking kill you." Tino shoves Jordan back.
"What's the big deal, Jay? She's just another piece of ass, right? You'll forget about her in no time." Tino, who is taller than Jordan stands above him. "Besides, it's not like you're married or anything."
Jordan completely loses it, punching Tino in the mouth. Tino falls back a little, before straightening and wiping his mouth. "You know what, Tino? I'm done with you. I mean it, stay the fuck away. I might not be here with her, but she's still mine. I won't be gone forever."
Turning away from Tino, Jordan walks back to his car. Shane, knowing that Jordan would never fight with out being provoked, waits for his friend to tell him what's going on. Jordan, who had quit smoking months before, asks Shane for a smoke.
After a few minutes, Jordan throws his half smoked cigarette on the ground. Motioning for Shane and Joey to get in, Jordan gets behind the wheel and pulls out. Heading toward Joey's, they drop him out. Shane, letting his curiosity get the best of him starts to talk. "What was that, Jay? What happened?"
"You know when we were practicing tonight and I like forgot the words or whatever? Well, I looked over and Tino was sitting with Angela on the floor." Looking straight ahead, Jordan goes silent again, expecting Shane to connect the dots.
"Well, ok, but is that a reason for you to punch him? I mean, c'mon. We talk to her all the time. You know it's not like that. Dude, she's like a sister to me." Shaking his head, Shane waits for Jordan to continue.
"Yeah, well, I asked her about it. She said it was nothing. I went back and we finished the song. When we were packing up, I looked over to where she was standing at the door and Tino had her cornered. She looked like she was scared or whatever. I asked her again and she said nothing. We sat out in the car for a little while talking and that's when she told me he like hit on her." Jordan, pulls to a stop in front of Shane's house and shuts the car off.
"What? He hit on her? What did he say?" Shane looks at Jordan in shock.
"She wouldn't tell me exactly what he said, but it had her shook up. He said something like he would comfort her while I was gone or some shit like that. That's not cool. I mean, we're not breaking up. Just because we're going, doesn't mean I don't love her anymore." Running his hands through his hair, he blows out a breath. "Shane, I would take her with us if I could. I don't want to leave her behind."
Seeing how upset his friend is by all this, he tries to comfort him. "Look, Jay. We won't be gone forever. You know how much that girl loves you. She'll be here when you come for her. And as far as Tino goes, I wouldn't worry. She only has eyes for you, man." Squeezing Jordan's arm, Shane grins at him. "Dude, I wish I had a girl that crazy over me."
Jordan turns his head to look at Shane, giving him a small smile. "Yeah, I know. I know how she feels about me. But don't you see? That's what's gonna make it so damn hard to leave."
Present day
Angela looks up as Jordan walks through the door. She and Madde are sitting on the floor on a blanket with Justin between them. Trying to let go of his foul mood, he smiles at the picture they make. Dropping his bag in the chair, he kneels down on the floor beside them.
"Hey. What're you guys doing?" He reaches over and tugs on Maddie's hair.
"Hey, Dad. We're just playing with Justin. Mom says we don't need to hold him in our arms all the time. We're letting him lay down here and wiggle around." Smiling sweetly at her little brother, she coos to him.
Angela gets up on her knees in front of him and gives him a kiss. Sensing his mood, she gives him a look. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just been a long day." Getting to his feet, he pulls her up with him. "Hey, Maddie, can you keep an eye on Justin for a few minutes?"
"Sure, Dad. It's not like he can jump up and run off." So engrossed in the baby, she doesn't even look up.
Jordan takes Angela by the hand and pulls her out of the room. When they get around corner, he pulls her against him and kisses her hungrily. Pushing her back against the wall, he leans into her and shoves his hands through her hair, holding her head in place while he ravishes her mouth. Pulling back, he starts kissing down her throat and running his hands down her body, before pulling her hips against him.
"Mmmm, I've missed you, babe." Biting at her neck, he buries his face in her shoulder, hugging her close.
"Wow. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but what brought this on?" She starts to toy with his hair.
"It's been too long, that's all. I don't know how long I can wait before I die of frustration." Kissing her jaw, he separates himself from her.
"Are you sure that's all it is? You seemed a little distracted when you came in." Knowing when to push and when not to, Angela gives him a minute to explain.
"Damn, woman. I can't ever get anything past you." Chuckling, he pulls her in for another kiss. "Shane says he ran into Tino. He wants us all to hang out, or something. I told him to forget about it."
"So, you're like still mad about that? It was what, 15 years ago?"
"Well, yeah. It still pisses me off to think about it. That shit's not cool. You don't do that to your friends." Wrinkling his brow, she can tell his starting to get pissed again. "He like broke some guy code, or whatever. You don't hit on your friend's girl."
Rolling her eyes at him, she laughs. "Oh, whatever. That was sooo long ago. And besides, you are the one that made me forgive Rayanne. What she did was way worse. I say you get over it and go hang out with your friends. Catch up a little bit. I think you'd enjoy it."
Looking at her crazy, he says, "What, I'm not supposed to angry that someone propositioned my girl? And we weren't apart. We were very much together at the time."
"But don't you see, Jordan? It was just some words. You obviously took care of it, right? Rayanne said Tino walked around with a busted lip for a few days afterward. He never tried to talk to me again after that." Rubbing his cheek, she smiles at him. "Do I need to remind you who I'm with, who I've always been with?"
"Uh, yeah, that would be nice. You can also remind me what day you're supposed to go back to the damn doctor. I've been walking around in pain for what seems like months." Sighing loudly, he rubs against her. "When can you put me out of my misery?"
Before she can answer, Justin starts to cry in the other room. Standing on her toes, she kisses him and pulls back. "Hold that thought." She peeks around the corner to see Maddie pick the baby up, cradling him to her. She turns back to Jordan. "I have to feed him. Sorry, babe."
As she walks toward the den, he grabs her and pulls her back to him. "Angela, you didn't answer me."
Smiling sweetly, she pulls his head down and whispers in his ear, "Do you think you'll make it until we get the kids in bed?"
She leaves him standing there, grinning like an idiot.