Chapter Nine: I Will Go Down with this Ship

Angela

I was elated. It was sickening that he didn't even like truly compliment me. All he said was that my hair was different. Was it a good different or a bad one? My mind was racing. My heart had sped up so quickly, but I just stayed silent.

While thoughts of Jordan Catalano were skating through my mind in circles, it was my mom's reaction last night that had really gotten to me. After the banquet she came home crying and dad … he wasn't there. I couldn't understand it.

"Angela." Jordan almost whined.

"I'm sorry, were we talking about something?"

"No. Forget it." He started to turn away, obviously hurt by something that I had done.

"Wait. I'm sorry." I ran after him. I kept doing these really desperate things, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to save him. I wanted to have him in a way that no one else did. "Forgive me." I breathed, being bold and hugging him tightly. "Why did you ditch me?"

"My dad … he … never mind." Jordan shrugged it off. Instead, he caressed my hair carefully. "Beautiful …" He breathed simply as my chest nearly burst. I'd never heard those words from him before.

"Rayanne did it." I answered, partly because it was true and I wanted to see him react. It hurt him. His eyes widened and then he pulled away a little.

"Angela … I can't … I'm so…"

"I know. I know you can't take it back." I finished for him. Even with his incoherent fragments, I seemed to understand all that he wanted to say. "But you can let me get to know you Jordan. Like… I want to know everything." I gushed, holding onto both of his hands as once again, everything was meaningless compared to being here with him.

"Come to this party. Tonight." He hung his head so I couldn't see his eyes. "The band's playing and …"

"I can't." I whispered, wanting to slap myself as soon as it was said. "I…"

"It's okay." He started to back away.

"Wednesday night … I'm going out with my friends. You should come!" I screamed out, but had no idea of knowing if Jordan heard me. If he did, he didn't make any gestures to let it be known.

Danielle

Parents can be really stupid sometimes. They think just because they talk in riddles and hide behind dark corners, that their children won't notice.

Things have been rough at home for a couple of months and I could just see my parents drifting apart. They were playing up the happy upper middle class suburban role well, but anyone who lived in suburbia knew that we were the most disturbed people there were.

Drug addicts. Secret children. Secret lovers … that was our world. I had a feeling that our home would be the next to do down in flames.

Whether or not Angela noticed or even cared was to be determined. I was going to find out why.

"Hey mom." I greeted her casually Tuesday afternoon after band practice. Angela was out with one of her friends, so it was just us two.

"Danielle. How was your day sweet heart?"

"Fine … can I ask you something mom?"

"Anything." She paused for a moment as I continued talking.

"Why were you crying last night and where was dad?"

"I was just a little sad honey. Mood swings." She answered with a smile. Mood swings.

"That excuse worked when I was four. You never cry mom and dad's always here."

"There's nothing going on for you to worry about. Your dad and I have just received some shocking news and he's just giving me a couple of days to think about it."

"Oh." I knew when to give up. "Later mom." I ran back upstairs. Plan B was to snoop around until I found out the real deal.

Ricky

"You did what?" I yelled.

"Yesterday I invited Jordan, but he probably won't even come. He seemed disinterested." Angela justified as I put the finishing touches on her look for tonight.

"That wasn't a good idea Angela." Rayanne chimed as our red-headed bombshell gave her the most evil look that could come from such an innocent mind.

"He's not coming." She repeated, seeming sadder every moment those words were said.

"And that's perfect. You will love Hayden."

"Sure." Angela smiled, the mixed-matched colors and patterns thrown to the side and a simple black dress being worn instead.

"Okay, you totally look twenty. At least." Rayanne gushed happily. "You look amazing."

"Thanks."

Brian

"Where's Angela?" Jordan wondered, coming so close to me that I backed myself into one of the lockers. He smirked. I was afraid and he knew it.

"How would I know?"

"You know everything she does."

"Well … maybe she's like … going to this thing tonight with like … some friends."

"What time … where?" Jordan asked desperately. I knew I should've lied and told him someplace else, but I wasn't that type of person. Lying to Angela about my feelings for her was bad enough. So, I cowardly divulged all of the details, minus her having a date and the college guys.

I watched Jordan wonder away, perplexed as to why she like …liked him. I shrugged and decided to get ready for tonight. I was technically on babysitting duty since Danielle was there, but I wouldn't miss a moment to spend with Angela for anything.

Rosalie

"You don't understand mom. I don't want another father. The ones that I've had have been horrible enough." I protested in half Portuguese, half English.

"Rosa, listen. There's something you need to know."

"Oh God no." I sat down at our kitchen table, dismayed. "You're pregnant. Again mom? We don't have enough money for another abor--"

"No. Your father … your real father--"

"Is dead." I finished for her. "Dead since I was seven. Where's the story there?"

"That, wasn't your father Rosa. Your real, biological father is here. In town. And … he wants to take us to dinner tonight."

"You're joking?"

"No. I'm not. I lied all those years because this man, your real father is taking out to dinner tonight. His name is Gr--"

"I don't care. I'm not going."

"Rosa, please. This is my fault. I hid it from him." Mom explained.

"Look Dores, let me guess the real story … it's one of two things. Either you were 'involved' with so many people that--"

"Don't go there Rosa. I don't judge you with these high school punks you hang around." She shook her head, disgusted and I instantly felt sorry. "The real story is that he was married to someone else."

"And he's not anymore?" I sat down, interested. Mom was trying to having her own Brady Bunch ending.

"No, he is." She sighed. "But it's not working for him anymore. I've been seeing him Rosa. Since this summer. I've been meaning to tell you--"

"Don't. I'll go to this stupid dinner, for you, but after this you don't get to ask me for anymore favors." I stated, strongly. I hated infidelity. I hated when married people cheated. Why would you do that? Why spend the time and money to promise yourself to one person forever just to turn on them when you get bored? That's why I liked what Jordan and I had. We used each other, made no commitments so at the end of the day, no one got hurt.

Angela

Everyone crowded around at the local pizza place, Vinny's. When the guys walked in, Rayanne nudged me enthusiastically. "There's your man." She whispered, referring to the tall blonde who walked in last. Blonde? Definitely not what I was used to.

"Hi. I'm Jacob."

"Angela. Nice to meet you." I reached back to tuck my hair behind my ears before realizing that I had a cute angular bob. Throughout the whole time at Vinny's, Jacob was completely … nice. He was cute, but I was expecting someone else to walk through that door.

At one point I watched it for a few minutes straight until Rayanne nudged me.

"We changed the venue, remember? He's not coming because she doesn't know where you are." She explained. This somehow got through to me as we finished up our pizza and Jacob took my hand. Bold.

"I've noticed that you've seemed a little distracted tonight."

"Yeah, I've got a lot on my mind … but it's not like this isn't on my mind because it is. This is so important …I'll stop."

"No, it's cute." He smiled at me. "So, the guys want to go to a party."

"A party?"

"My thoughts exactly. There's a party every night. I want to go somewhere where I can get to know you better." He stated.

"Yeah." I nodded. "Umm … My friends and I were going to go bowling afterwards." My eyes wondered to the clock on the wall. It was after eight. I had to get home before ten unless my mom would freak out and Danielle was here too …

"Hey Ange, we're going to the party." Ricky announced as Rayanne made it obvious that she was going too.

"Danielle and I … can't." I answered firmly. "We're going bowling." Ricky rolled my eyes. He knew and I knew that Jordan already knew about the bowling alley. If things were going to turn out like I wanted them to, he'd be there. He would be waiting for me.

"Bowling? Kwool. Let's go!" Danielle yelled happily as Brian pouted.

"You could always take her home." I whispered to him as we started to leave.

"No. I don't trust this Jacob dude."

(A/N: Finally, an update! The last chapter was so long … sorry about that one. This one should be finished soon. I guess 3-4 more chapters or maybe less. I might even finish this year. If anyone is still reading, let me know about it. –NL)