Chapter 2: New Romances
"So Laura, who's your new man?" Cali, Laura's friend since birth, asked excitedly with a devilish grin on her face. Laura knew that was Cali's way of saying: 'I'm curious and you had better tell me!' "Well, his name is Peter…and he's in our chemistry class." Cali thought for a moment. "Wait! The same Peter who framed Sean with drugs?" Laura winced. She hated when everyone referred to him like that. "Yeah. But he's different now. And believe it or not, Emma doesn't hate me because I'm dating him!" Cali looked shocked. "Wow! That is amazing! Normally she would be lecturing you on how bad he is for you and that you need to dump him and she'll never talk to you if you don't." Laura laughed along with Cali. Cali had always known how to make her feel better. "I guess Peter wasn't horrible…just did something really stupid that Emma couldn't forgive. That's how he put it." Laura said, shutting her locker. Cali just nodded but Laura could tell their conversation on lovers wasn't over. "Laura…what about Jay?" Laura sighed, leaning her head back against the locker. "Funny you should mention him…He called me this morning." Cali gasped; covering her mouth dramatically. Laura couldn't help but grin at her friend's reaction. "He called you! Oh, tell me more!" Cali exclaimed. Laura sighed again, Jay's name felt like Taboo. "Well, he asked if I would meet him after school. Cali's eyes were the size of plates when Laura paused. "Why Laura…what else did he say?" "Same thing he's said for the past month! He just wanted to talk Cali, nothing else. But I said no and hung up on him." Cali just nodded, studying her shoes. Laura smiled. "Cali, you can chase after him if you want…I'm not possessive you know." Cali's face lit up with glee. "Really? You wouldn't get mad if I started banging your ex?" Laura nearly fell over at Cali's blunt question. "Cali! I don't need to know why you want to chase Jay! God…" Cali quickly covered her mouth, blushing. Apparently she hadn't meant to say that either. "Sorry…that slipped out…but seriously, it's ok?" Laura pulled Cali into a hug. "Yes Cali…I don't mind you dating Jay…just don't tell me about it ok?" Cali giggled and nodded. Then the bell rung and they headed for chemistry class.
Jay's head had been in the clouds the entire day. Joe had to yell at him more than enough times to get back to work, but Jay just couldn't focus…he was just too depressed. Ko finally had to step in. "Jay, go home and get some rest…you are way too spaced from this morning to focus on cars right now." Jay tried to protest but Ko wouldn't let him get a word in. "Ko, are you sure you want my shift?" Ko smiled and gently squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Go home kid…I'll see ya later." Jay sighed in defeat. But he was relieved to be away from noisy customers and screeching machinery for an afternoon. Jay clocked out and started for his car when someone grabbed his arm, stopping him. He turned to see a pretty girl with short, black hair and a strip of purple swept across her left eye smiling devilishly at him. "Leaving so soon Jay? I was hoping to see you working a bit more…" Jay just stared at the girl. "Um, excuse me but…do I know you?" The girl laughed and brushed her purple bangs from her eyes. "Don't you remember me? Either I'm not very impressionable or you have short-term memory loss!" Jay suddenly realized that the girl was Cali, Laura's best friend. "Oh crap! I'm sorry Cali I…I didn't recognize you." Cali just laughed, patting Jay's shoulder. "That's ok Jay…I'll admit I have changed my look a bit since…well, since the last time you saw me." Her mood suddenly shifted, focusing her brown eyes on his blue ones. "Jay, I came here today to ask you something…can we talk in your car?" Jay nodded but was still a bit lost. What would Cali possibly want with me?
Once they had gotten inside Jay's Honda and closed the doors Cali began her chattering. "Ok Jay, I'm just going to be frank with you…I've had a secret crush on you ever since I met you. But I've been a good little girl and contained my emotions throughout your and Laura's relationship…but now…I just want to see what you can really do. So, what do you say?" All Jay could do was smile at Cali. She was quite an upfront kind of girl. "What the hell…It's worth a shot." Cali nearly deafened him with her excited squeal. "Really? Oh this is amazing Jay! Thank you!" She pulled him into a kiss before she could think…right in front of Jay's co-workers! Normally, Jay would be a little embarrassed about something like that…but now, he just didn't care. Hey, maybe they'll leave him alone now that he's got a new girlfriend…and then Cali pulled another surprise from her bag of tricks. "Ok Jay…let's go somewhere…you know…quieter." Cali's lips brushed Jay's ear, sending a shiver up and down his spine. She pushed further, softly kissing Jay's neck and jaw line. Jay suppressed a moan and pushed Cali back to the passenger side of the car. Cali looked only a bit surprised. "What? You don't like PDA in front of these guys?" Jay smiled and turned on the ignition. "I only wanted you to wait…till we're alone." Cali smiled devilishly again and put her seatbelt on. "Ok babe…I can wait."