It's Friday afternoon and Angela and her sons are at the cafe helping to set up for the party. Angela is in the kitchen whipping up the last of the pastries. While Tommy is mopping the floor for what seems to be the 100th time.
"Ma the floor cannot get more clean than this" he complained.
"Well if you didn't leave yesterday in such a rush we wouldn't be have this problem right now would we?" Angela said while pushing the doors to the kitchen open with force.
Tommy rolled his eyes and mumbled a smart remark under his breath. Angela didn't hesitate to hit the back of his head even if she didn't know what he had said.
"Thankyou Frankie and Nina for setting up the lights. I'd be a lost cause without your help" she said as she made her way around each booth wiping them down one last time.
"Not a problem Angela, with Frankie and I DJ Business we got this in the bag." Nina said confidently and slapping Frankie's butt making him jump and almost falling off the latter.
Angela and Nina laughed. Jane barged in a minute later with a big box filled with decorations. "Here Ma, sorry I couldn't drop it off this morning." Jane made her way to the bar and plopped the box onto it.
"It's okay Janie. Where's Frost with the drinks?" Angela said while taking out the white table cloths.
"He should be getting here, I think he was picking up Susie from her house."
"Frost and Chang are a thing?" Frankie asked and he walked back down the latter.
"Well sort of. He's incredibly shy, Tommy you should give Barry a pep talk" Jane laughed at her own joke while Tommy scuffed.
"Okay Janie, what did I say about teasing your brother about his love life?" Angela scolded
"Yeah, it's not like you have a better one. Unless you want to count you drooling all over the hot science teacher." Tommy said getting a look from Angela.
"Oh shut up Tommy." Jane rolled her eyes and walked over to Nina to help her tape up some garland.
"What teacher Jane?" Frankie was curious, him and Nina have been traveling a lot so he isn't in the loop anymore.
Angela looked at Jane. She knew that her daughter felt a way about Maura but she wanted confirmation. Jane noticed how her mother's ears opened and brushed off the question.
"Maura is this really good friend of mine, that's all." Tommy rolled his eyes and started to set up the bar.
Before Frankie could ask anything else Susie opened the door to the cafe with Frost following behind with a box filled with beer.
"Just in time Frost! Bring the box over and help me ice everything." Tommy said.
"Hey Susie!" Angela said enthusiastically followed with Jane, Nina and Frankie with their hellos.
…
The party has begun and most of the faculty is already there. Some in the booths eating while others party it out on the dance floor. Frankie and Nina at the Dj stand bumping to some freestyle they got playing while Donna and Angela are sitting behind the counter gossiping.
"Donna, do you know if there's anything going on between Jane and Maura?" Angela asked taking a sip from her Diet Coke.
"Well I mean it's so obvious they like each other, I even hear students talk about them. But Maura is with that jerk of a man." Donna rolled her eyes and Angela scuffed.
"I've met this man once and I already don't like him, you should've seen the change of attitude in Maura the other night when he walked in." Angela watched as Frost finally got up to ask Susie to dance.
"FINALLY!" Both of the woman said and started to laugh.
"It was so much more simple when we were dating Angie, now these kids can't even say that they like eachother." Donna shook her head.
"I'm worried for Janie, I've known since she was a teenager she liked girls. She thought I was too oblivious to realize which of her girlfriends were an actual girlfriend." Angela took a bite of her cannoli and offered some to Donna.
"I know, I mean I am her godmother." Donna took another bite of the cannoli.
Jane was sitting in her regular booth that she shared with Maura this past week just watching everyone having fun. She wasn't in the mood tonight but she had to come. With her helping set up and literally everyone not letting her leave she was stuck at the party. The music changed into some R&B and Frost and Susie started to really dance close now. Tommy started to get friendly with one of the teachers which made Jane gag.
Jane happened to look at the entrance when Maura and Jack walked in. Maura's arm linked around Jack's. Jane didn't hesitate to walked up to them, she wanted to be the first to greet Maura. But with her being on her fourth beer she got a little dizzy from her quick uprising.
"Jane!" Maura said immediately letting go of Jack to hug her. "Hey Maur." Jane said softly, then sticking her head out to see Jack.
"What's up man!" Jane shouted through the loud hip hop music. Jack just nodded before making his way to a booth where most of the math department was sitting.
"Ooh! I like this song, let's go dance." Maura practically dragged Jane to the dance floor. At first they were face to face just jumping around with the music. Then Maura turned around and got her back side against Jane's, they started to dance slowly to match the music.
Everyone noticed and started to cheer them on. Jane got a little dizzy though with all the lights and well with Maura pressed against her. She grabbed Maura's hand and made their way to the bar.
"Here have a beer!" Jane said already opening a blue moon for Maura.
"I don't really like beer." Maura scrunched her nose.
"Oh C'mon Maur, drink this for me." Jane got really close to her that Maura smelled the alcohol from her breath.
"Okay okay!" She laughed at Jane's puppy eyes and took the bottle from her. She watched as Jane smoothly took off the cap of her beer. They both took long chugs while never breaking eye contact.
Jane looked down at hands. Maura tilted her head and grabbed one of them. "Jane, what's wrong?"
Jane looked back up to Maura. She opened her mouth then closed it again. She didn't know what was wrong. She doesn't understand why she feels so down. Before anything else was said Jack took Maura's hand from Jane.
"If you'll excuse us." Jack said started to pull Maura away. Jane was too drunk to argue about the way he grabbed Maura, so when they walked away she took a bottle she had stashed behind the bar and went into the kitchen.
Jack and Maura sat back in their booth, the music was so loud she couldn't hear what everyone was talking about at her table. She looked around for Jane but she couldn't see her anymore, she's not friends with any of these teachers. Susie and Frost are dancing and now she's alone.
Maura was looking down the hand that touched Jane's when Jack turned her by her chin and leaned in to kiss her. She immediately pulled away though, almost pushing him out of his seat.
"What are you doing! Get off" Jack scuffed and chugged the rest of his beer before turning to his colleague to ask her to dance.
Maura rolled her eyes and picked up her phone or at least she thought it was. The phone was Jack's, so she opened it anyway remembering his passcode from watching him enter it that one time. A message appears on the screen of a nude woman, the face was cut off though so she couldn't tell who it was. She opened the messages and reads how Jack and this Woman were planning to meet and have lunch together. She literally laughed. How could she be so foolish to give this guy another chance.
Maura got up from her seat and headed to the bathroom. Wanting to get away from the loud music and everyone. But she noticed the lights to the kitchen were on. She was curious and went through the doors to see Jane sitting in front of the large fridge. The italian had a large bottle of whiskey in her hand. Maura slowly made her way towards her.
Then letting her back hit the fridge she slid down to be hip to hip to Jane.
"Why did you give him a second chance Maur?" Jane basically whispered
"Actually this was like the fourth chance he was getting… he's cheating on me." Maura choked up with tears. Jane passed her the bottle and she took a long swig coughing afterwards.
"I'd never cheat on you Maura, ma-matter of fffact I would never do anything to hurt you." Jane was obviously drunk as she try to sound sincere.
"I guess I was afraid of being alone. He's dealt with me for this long." Maura shrugged and put her head on Jane's shoulder.
"Mauraaaaa Islessss does not des-deserve this." Jane paused to hiccup then continued. "You deserve the world Maura." Jane tilted her head to try to make eye contact with Maura.
"You're drunk Jane." Maura said looking at Jane's lips. Did they always look this big and soft? She wondered.
"Yeahhhh I ammm. But that does not mean I'm not lying. I like you Maura, like allloottttttt."Jane put her arm around Maura to bring her closer.
" I like you too Jane Rizzoli." Maura smiled softly.
Jane hummed happily and started to close her eyes. Slowly starting to fall asleep. Maura looked at Jane and giggled.
"Whyyyy are y-you laughing at me." Jane whined but snuggled herself more into Maura.
"Because you're very entertaining when you're drunk." and very touchy Maura thought.
"Maura let me tell you something ." Jane whispered pulling Maura head impossibly closer to hers.
"Okay okay tell me." Maura was laughing she couldn't help herself.
"You smell like candy." Jane sniffed Maura's neck which made her jump.
Maura pulled back to have her eyes meet Jane's. She leaned in slowly and Jane closed her eyes. They're lips grazed but before they could have that magical moment the kitchen door swung open.
"Maura! Sweetie, Jack is looking for you. He almost came in here but I said I'm only allowed back here." Angela said frantically making her way to where they were sitting. Jane looked up and frowned, she was almost there. So close.
"Oh, Angela thank you. Tonight was fun." Maura stood up and fixed her scrunched up dress.
"You don't have to leave. The party ends in like two hours. No rush." Angela got a hold of Maura's wrist, trying to have her slow down.
"Maurrrr you just got hereeee." Jane's voice echoed throughout the kitchen.
"No I think it's time I leave. Goodnight ladies." Maura said quickly making her way back out to the loud music. Angela looked down at her very wasted daughter.
"Where did you get this?" Angela said snatching the whiskey bottle from her. Jane didn't fight and let her mom win.
"I asked Frost to buy a bottle for me. Tommy and him hid the bottle from you." Jane said then rubbing her face, trying to wake herself up.
"Janie please talk to me, you were finally getting better." Angela flinched she knew she should not have said that.
" I'm perfectly fine Ma." Jane snapped and got herself up. She got really dizzy though and fell backwards but Angela caught her in time.
"Wait Janie, let me get Donna so we could take you home." Angela struggled to keep Jane afloat.
"Let go of me Ma. I can handle myself." Jane pushed herself out of her mother's arms and went back into the party. She squinted her eyes to focus her vision. Walking towards the door was a challenge with her walking side to side. Frankie and Tommy noticed and ran outside to her.
"Janie, want a ride home?" Tommy asked out of breath with Frankie right behind him.
"N-no I do noootttt." Jane was upset, all she wanted to do was go home. Frankie knew his sister was stubborn even worse when she was drunk, so he tried a different approach.
"Let's take a ride in my new car Janie. I haven't shown it to you yet." He said already leading her to his chevy escalade.
"This super nice Frankie!" Tommy said excited and opened the back door for Jane, she smiled small and slowly climbed in. Tommy went into the passenger seat. Frankie quickly hopped into the front seat and drove away.
…
Frankie pulled up to Jane's apartment building. The brother practically carried all the way to her apartment.
"You know, you two are very good little brothers." Jane slurred and plopped onto her couch. Frankie looked at the clock, it's one in the morning. The party is over.
"Anything for our big sister." Tommy said then put a blanket over her.
"Listen Janie, hopefully you remember this but come to Ma's house tomorrow. The family is going to be there." Frankie said and watched how she slowly closed her eyes.
"C'mon Tommy let's head back." Frankie opened the door and Tommy followed.
Jane woke up from hearing the door closed and quickly ran to her bathroom to vomit. It was going to be one long night for Jane Rizzoli.