A/N: Here's the next installment! Thanks for the reviews! This fandom needs much love ;)
Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1
Chapter 4: That's Just the Way We Are
Hugging herself, Tiffani watched the tide sweep onto the cool sand. She was thankful to be outside and away from the frenzy of Sharkey's. She smiled sadly. Her prediction had been right, Jake had made it to the top. But this was his life and she knew deep down, his life just wasn't meant to have her in it.
Tonight in this light
You look like an angel
We will never be strangers again
Love plays hide and seek
Your love makes me weak
But I don't want this feeling to end
At arm's length, Jake kept his eyes on her silhouette. A cool breeze ruffled her wavy blonde hair and the hem of her lavender silk skirt. He wasn't sure how long he had been standing there just staring at her. She was even more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. Noticing that she was shivering, Jake shrugged off his jacket and draped it around her bare shoulders. At the same time, Tiffani turned around to face him.
The way we are together
Is so much better
Than we are apart
You have my heart forever, 'cause
That's just the way we are
"I'm glad we're finally alone," he said softly. "I've missed you."
He clasped his hands around hers and grazed her fingers with a kiss.
"I've missed you too, Jake," she replied, when she was able to speak.
"You didn't return my calls."
He sounded insecure, his voice laced with disappointment. If there was one thing Tiffani knew about Jake Sommers, it was that he was always sure of himself.
"I was trying to let you go," she said hesitantly. "I needed to move on."
"What if I don't want you to move on?"
Even if the future finds us far away
The feelings that we share will always stay the same
Reaching out, he gently swept a loose curl out of her face. Tiffani looked away from Jake's piercing gaze and swallowed hard. This was exactly how she imagined they would get back together again. The only difference was that her practical side was kicking into overdrive, reminding her that this fairy tale reunion would only last briefly. In the end, they would both be left heartbroken. She took a deep breath, fighting back the overwhelming sadness that was threatening to percolate throughout her entire body. If she had to be the strong one, so be it.
"We can't keep holding on like this. I mean, after tonight, we go back to our lives," she pushed on. "You've got your life and I've got mine."
Tears glossed her eyes and hung in dangerous limbo from spilling down her cheeks.
"So when you were singing the song I wrote with Matt, you weren't thinking about us?"
The way we are together
Is so much better than we are apart
You have my heart forever, 'cause
When Tiffani didn't answer him, he took her hand and pressed her palm against his heart.
"I-I still love you, Tiff and I'll always love you. But if you can look me in the eye and tell me that you don't feel the same way, then I'll let you go. I'll let you go for good this time."
Bravely lifting her chin up, Tiffani stared right at him. They stood completely still in each other's arms, for what felt like an agonizingly long moment in time.
"I'm sorry, Jake."
He searched her large brown eyes for something to betray her words.
That's just the way
That's just the way
"Me too," he replied, disappointedly. "There's just one more thing I need to do."
Cupping her face, Jake pulled Tiffani towards him and pressed his lips against hers in a tender kiss.
That's just the way, we are…
"Hi."
Lorena looked up from her drink and smiled.
"Hey, Sly."
"May I?"
Nodding her head, she watched as he took the seat across from her.
"Some night, huh?" he said.
"You could say that again. By the way that stunt you pulled…"
"Yeah, yeah, I was just trying to help."
"You made it worse. Matt, Mark and Tony had to make a human wall to stop the teenage mob from practically attacking Jake."
"They were just a bunch girls."
"You obviously have no idea how strong an obsessed fan can be."
"They're gone now, that's all that matters."
She shook her head and took a sip of her coffee.
"You should be glad Jake didn't maul you right in front of everyone."
"Nah, he was too busy making googly eyes at Tiff."
"I wish everything works out between him and Tiffani."
"Me too. But, I won't be surprised if it doesn't."
Lorena frowned at Sly's comment.
So many places to go now
So many people for me to know
Don't even have time for missing you
There's just so much to do
"Don't jinx it."
"I'm not trying to. Maybe five years is just too long."
"We're talking about Tiffani and Jake here. It's so obvious, except to the two of them, that they belong with each other."
"People change," he said off-handedly.
"Have you seen the way they've been looking at each other?"
"You're forgetting how sensible Tiffani is. She won't just drop everything and follow Jake around like a love-sick puppy. I mean, she has her own life and Jake has his."
"I don't care what you say. They're going to make it," she countered.
"Even though we didn't?"
It's really not so hard living without you
Had it figured out right from the start
From morning till night
There's so much for me to do
But what will I do with my heart
Sly gazed through the candlelight dancing across Lorena's face. The expression she had in her deep caramel eyes was unreadable.
"Yes, even though we didn't," she replied softly.
"What changed, Lorena? Was it me?"
Reaching over the table, she covered his hand with hers.
"No, of course not. You meant…" she paused and corrected herself. "You mean the world to me. But I, I had to grow up. I just couldn't be some rich spoiled brat who lived off her parents."
"You've done that now," he said in a barely audible voice. "So what's stopping us from being, well, us again?"
Lorena calmly removed her hand from Sly's and unclasped the gold chain around her neck. Setting it on the table, she took the circular pendant and slid it onto her ring finger. It didn't take Sly long to understand what she was trying to tell him.
"You're married."
His question came out more as a statement, but it was the way he said it so dejectedly that broke Lorena's heart.
"I wanted to tell you," she began to explain. "I-I just couldn't. My heart couldn't take not knowing where we stood with each other. We were on one minute, off the next and then we'd fall back together…"
She looked down at her lap.
"I'm really sorry."
Sly gently lifted her chin up so that they were staring right at each other.
"As long as he makes you happy, I'm happy."
"He does," she replied.
Leaning forward, Sly brushed his lips against her cheek.
"Goo ga moo," he whispered into her ear.
Sly stood up and gave Lorena a wink before leaving her alone once again.
Last night I read a good book
And yesterday I took a walk
Don't even have time for missing you
There's just so much to do
It's really not so hard living without you
Had it figured out right from the start
From morning till night
There's so much for me to do
But what will I do with my heart
Lorena fiddled with her wedding ring while she watched the band performing. From the corner of her eye, she could see Sly leaning against the bar. She waited a moment before throwing a quick look over her shoulder, only he was gone. All she could do was watch as the front door swung shut.
Hey, you know me
I can really be pretty smart
And now you can see
Why losing you won't tear me apart
Tiffani's heart was pounding so fast, she had to keep her balance by leaning into Jake. That was her second mistake. Her first, not pushing him away when she had the chance. She had almost forgotten how right it felt to be in his arms and to be kissing him. Almost. Reluctantly, she pulled back, although his lips lingered on hers for few seconds longer.
"Jake…"
"I know," he conceded.
Jake affectionately rested his forehead against hers.
"So, this is it," he said, choking back the tears.
Hearing his admission caused a single tear to roll down Tiffani's cheek.
"I guess it is," she replied.
It's really not so hard living without you
Had it figured out right from the start
From morning till night
There's so much for me to do
But what will I do with my heart…
It's really not so hard living without you
Had it figured out right from the start
From morning till night
There's so much for me to do
But what will I do
With my heart…
Mark turned the corner and scanned out the passenger side window.
"Where are you Sly," he muttered to himself as he cruised down the side street.
With one hand on the wheel and the other dialing his cell phone, Mark slowed down and pulled to the curb. She picked up only after one ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey Cate. Sorry for calling so late."
"Mark, hi," his wife replied. "No big deal I wasn't sleeping anyhow. How's California?"
He let out a deep sigh.
"Let's just say I really wish you were here."
"Why? I thought you were going with Sly to visit some friends."
"We were," he started unsteadily. "It's, it's just Sly, he's missing."
"What? What do you mean by missing?"
"He just took off without telling anyone. I'm worried."
"You know your cousin. He's quite resourceful when he wants to be."
"Yeah but he… he found out Lorena was married."
"Married?" she exclaimed. "When did that happen?"
"Sometime last year, I'm not too sure."
"Oh poor, Sly."
"Which is why I have to find him."
"Knowing you Winkles, my guess would be the pier. He always did love it there."
"The pier, why didn't I think of that? Thanks."
"No problem."
"Kiss the boys for me."
"I will. I'm sure Sly is fine."
"You're probably right. I love you."
He could picture her smiling on the other end.
"Love you too."
He snapped his cell shut with a determined look on his face. Checking over his shoulder, Mark made a u-turn and headed straight for the water.
Tiffani walked into the bathroom in a daze. She should have just hopped into her convertible and drove back home but that wouldn't have been fair to the others. It wouldn't have been fair to just take off without a word. Besides, Jake already beat her to it.
"Tiff?"
She spun around at the sound of her name.
"Lorena, hi."
"Hi. Where's Jake?"
"He, uhm, he left."
The words surprisingly came out rather calmly, a far cry from what she was feeling inside.
"Sly left too."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, so am I."
"You know, it'll be okay," she reassured Lorena.
"Right, it'll be okay."
Tiffani frowned as Lorena wrapped her arms around herself.
"Lorena, what's wrong?"
Stepping towards her, Tiffani noticed that her cheeks were stained with tears.
"What happened?"
"I think I made a mistake."
She looked up trying to keep herself from crying again.
"Is this about Sly?"
"He told me he wanted to get back together."
"What's stopping you?"
"Connor."
"Who?"
"My husband."
Lifting her left hand, Lorena wiggled her ring finger.
"Oh, oh, wow."
"He's incredible, Tiff. He's kind and wonderful and he swept me off my feet. It's just…"
"He's not Sly," Tiffani filled in.
Lorena sighed.
"Is it possible to be completely in love with two different people?"
Tiffani thought for a moment.
"I think it is."
"When Connor asked me to marry him, we were standing under the Eiffel Tower," she laughed. "It was so cheesy that I just couldn't say no."
"He seems like a great person."
"Yeah, he is and God, he's handsome. He's got the most perfect blonde curls and blue eyes."
"That doesn't sound like your type."
"I know. I told him that, but he was just so stubborn."
"Where did you meet him?"
"You're going to laugh at me."
"I won't, I promise."
"It was midnight in Madrid and I really wanted a cheeseburger so I went into this fast food place and as I was walking in, I tripped over my feet. Connor caught me as I broke my favorite pair of stilettos."
Fighting back a laugh, Tiffani faked a cough to save herself.
"See you're laughing."
"I'm sorry, it's funny."
Lorena smiled through her tears.
"It is kinda funny," she admitted.
"So I guess the rest is history?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Lorena fidgeted with her hands.
"I guess I wanted someone stable. Then why am I unhappy?"
"You know I can't answer that for you."
"I shouldn't be telling you this, but Jake found you in Fiji."
After the news sunk in, Tiffani shook her head.
"He did? When?"
"Sometime after his second record. He said you were with someone."
Tiffani shifted uncomfortably from side to side.
"I was. It was extremely brief like every other relationship I've had. They just…"
"They weren't Jake," Lorena finished.
"Yeah. We're pathetic, aren't we?"
"We are."
Covering her eyes, Lorena let out a frustrated sigh. When she looked up again, Tony was standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Dios mio, Tony this is the women's bathroom!" she exclaimed.
"I can't say I'm surprised this happened twice in one night," muttered Tiffani.
"What was that?" Tony asked.
"Nothing. What do you want Tony?"
"Oh, right, can I borrow one of your cells? I was talking to Mark when he completely cut out."
Tiffani reached into her pocket and pulled hers out and handed it to Tony.
"Thanks. Oh, pretty unicorn."
Rolling her eyes, Tiffani sighed.
"It's a dolphin."
"Really?" he asked as he took a closer look at the screen.
"Tony, focus," Lorena interrupted. "Call Mark."
"Right."
He quickly dialed. The other end picked up almost instantly.
"Mark, sorry, my battery di…"
Tony trailed off as he listened attentively to what Mark had to say as the two ladies crowded closer.
"Is he… no, no… sweet Mother Mary. I'm with Lorena and Tiff."
Tiffani tensed at the serious look etched on Tony's face.
"We'll be there in a few."
Ending the call, Tony silently handed the phone back to Tiffani.
"Well, what did Mark say?" asked Lorena worriedly.
"He's at the hospital with Jake and Sly. There's been an accident."
TBC