2 comments/ 19011 views/ 4 favorites Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 01 By: bleedout "Hey.. it's um, me…. Janey. Look, it's.. it's been long enough. I miss you. Still. I just wish you would at least tell me—" Ted sighed as he pressed the 7 key on his cell phone, effectively cutting off the message and deleting it. He swallowed hard, it had been almost two years since he had walked away without looking back. He cast his cell phone aside to the passenger seat, pulling off the highway into the small scenic rest stop off the Parkway. They had come here often in high school, sitting in the dark listening to music and smoking pot before opening the sunroof and lying back to watch the stars, discussing their latest conquests, their futures, and the day-to-day bullshit. When he closed her eyes he could almost hear her. "Ted, seriously, you need to finish that application. I've filled out most of it, and it's free if you get in, and you will." "Janey, you know it's not that simple." "Yes it is! You could work part time and still give your family money and get an education so you could get out of school and make real money." "Let's drop it." She sighed at the words, taking the blunt from him and pressing it between her lips. Her fingertips had brushed his, electricity barely crackling through his veins before he turned to gaze at her for a moment. She was a bit round, but well-proportioned, with chipmunk cheeks and soft curves. Hair was kept short, and currently black with streaks of hot pink. A hand lay on her ribcage as she puffed on that cigar, the orange glow of the cherry illuminating her face, sparkling off her green eyes. He turned away quickly, it was Janey. She wasn't interested, and even if she was, it wasn't worth risking moments like these. Sex only complicated things, as Adrian and Alexia had gone out of their ways to prove. A knocking at the window of the car brought him back to reality. Suddenly it was light out, he was alone, in his own car, and there was an officer knocking at the glass. He quickly opened the glass barrier, looking up. "Is there a problem, Officer?" The cop chuckled, shaking his head and removing his aviators. "Steve? Are you fucking kidding me?" "Yeah, I know, Janey gave me shit all the way through the Academy." The words slipped out of his mouth without thought. He watched as Ted shifted his weight, uncomfortably running a hand through his rust colored curls. "So, Mike told me about the comic book, how's it coming along?" "Graphic novel, and it's going great, it should be out in stores in the fall." "Oh, sorry. But that's great. How long are you in town for?" "A few weeks, visiting the family, closing out a few last things out here before I make the move out west a permanent thing." Steve nodded, and sighed. "Well, a bunch of us are getting together over at Jake's place tonight if you want to come by." He thought bettering of mentioning the fact Janey was in town. Maybe if Ted would just show up he would get over whatever it was that had ended their friendship, not that anyone knew what that was. "Yeah, maybe I'll stop by. It'd be nice to see everyone." Steve nodded. "Well, I should get back out on the road, it's nice out, so the speeders will be out and about." Ted nodded. "Have a good one." Ted sighed, settling back in his car. Being out west he had forgotten that Janey still existed in this place. She had moved up north several years ago for school and slowly faded from the day-to-day scene. From her freshman year with multiple phone calls a day, to the summertime once more, when he couldn't take it any longer. He shook his head once more, starting the vehicle and pulling out onto the Parkway to head home. There would be time for this insanity elsewhere. Fingertips moved to turn up the volume on his car stereo only to turn it back down as his cell phone chirped for his attention. He reached for it, looking at the caller ID. Janey. When he had first stopped talking to her, the phone calls had been frequent, but they quickly disappeared after… he sighed, his mind drifting. "Um, Hey." The look of surprise on Janey's face as she stepped out from behind the heavy metal door and into the dormitory's hallway almost hurt him. She had been positively bewildered to find him wandering her hallway towards Mary's room. They had all been friends back in New Jersey and Ted hadn't even thought about the fact that Janey lived just down the hall. In fact, Mary had told him she probably wouldn't even be there, as a sophomore, most of her friends lived on the far side of campus, and that was where she spent most of her time. "Oh, um.. hey" Janey looked at him, teeth sinking into her lip. She had lost some weight, and was wearing a wife beater and a pair of shorts, despite the fact her make up was done. It was apparent she was getting ready for something, her hair was it's natural brown now, and down to her shoulders, loose curls pulled into a bun. "We're kind of in a hurry, but I'll… um, stop by and say hi later." She smiled then, a bit of her discomfort relieved. Even if it was a lie, at least she looked less upset. He waved, disappearing down the hall. He jumped a bit as his CD skipped, attention brought back to reality, he was almost home. He sighed, taking the final rights and lefts before pulling into the parking lot next to the small city run complex, jumping out before waving to Mrs. Smith across the street, her dark skin shining with sweat. He laughed, as she yelled to him, her thick Jamaican accent obscuring words. "Ah, the young one's finally come home. You're mama said you'd be in soon. Koffe is excited to see ya." "Thanks, Mrs. Smith. I'll stop by later." He chuckled, dashing inside the house. There was the mandatory hugging, you'd think after a 6 hour plane ride, dealing with a rental car, and sitting in traffic for another two hours would be an excuse to just go lie down. He chuckled at thought as his niece tugged at his belt loops, leaning to run a hand through her hair before excusing himself for a nap. It was going to be a long trip, especially when it came to telling everyone he wasn't planning on coming back. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 02 Janey sighed as she dialed the first 6 digits of Ted's cell phone before hanging up. Why she had even asked 'Los for it was beyond her. She just thought that maybe by now he'd be himself again. Head hung as she hung up the phone. It was over. There was no more hope. A tear stung her eye before she shook it off. It had been over two years ago, she was just entertaining some stupid high school fantasy. If she wasn't so close with his brothers she probably wouldn't bother leaving her house at all on these trips. This would probably be the last of those for a long while though. Eyes rolled towards the clock. 5:45 it was time to shower and get ready for dinner and then Jake's. It'd been far too long since she had spent the night drinking with her high school crew. It was a 40 minute process from start to finish, if only because she spent a full 20 minutes just standing under the warm spray of the shower. Make up was applied quickly and sparingly before she moved back to her room, pulling on a pair of wide leg blue jeans, tattered and paling from wear, followed by a vintage t-shirt from some town in New York's recreational soccer league. She was number 12, sponsored by Donny's Pizza. Denim jacket completed the outfit, she checked herself in the mirror. Hand moved to scrunch curls, making sure they bounced before heading down the stairs, only to be tackled by one squealing 8-year-old and then another. "JANEY!" She giggled as the dog rushed over to lick her face as she squirmed on the entryway tile. Fingers moved to tickle both boys' sides, squeezing rhythmically as they began to squirm and laugh hysterically. She finally managed to incapacitate them, sitting up with a grunt as her mom peeked out from the kitchen. "Boys, get off of her, I need her help in the kitchen." Janey grinned, springing to her feet and making her way into the kitchen. She sat unceremoniously at the island in the center, lifting raw snap peas from a bowl and nibbling. "What are you doing tonight?" "Heading over to Jake's." "Oh good, just around the corner, so if you drink you don't have to drive." Janey nodded and rolled her eyes, as though she needed to be told. She set the table as her mother rambled off random gossip about everyone she and her sister had grown up with, which teachers were retiring from the elementary, middle, and high school, who needed her for a job this summer if she would only stay home for the summer. It was always the same. "Oh, and I heard a rumor that Ted has a graphic novel coming out soon." Janey stopped, looking up at her mom. Her silence encouraged her mother to continue. "Okay, so not a rumor, there's an article on him in the paper." Janey's parents had never really made an effort to get to know her friends after she had abandoned the crowd in her own town, the fact that her mother knew Ted's name was somewhat surprising in and of itself. "Well, that's, um, great to hear." She smiled. "I'm glad to hear he's doing well." It was true, she was. But just the mention of him made her chest feel heavy. His two years of silence had been a slow arrival at the truth for Janey. First she was angry, and then she was sad, and then angry once more, and now finally, she was simply vacant when it came to him. She helped her mom set out the food before gathering all three boys, her sister, and her stepfather. Dinner was rather uneventful and delicious and soon Janey was headed out the door to her car. She had promised Jake to pick up booze before coming over, the large and diverse order demanded a trip to the liquor store two towns over, and it seemed like everytime she went she caught every red light, it was almost ten before she got to Jake's, all the regulars from years before were there and already half way drunk. She made her way to the kitchen, it would appear that she had arrived in the nick of time, with the bottle of vodka almost drained and a single beer left. "Hey there, hunni!" Arms wrapped around her waist as a chin fell to her shoulder. She giggled, head falling backwards. "Jakey my love! How are you?" "Much better now that you're here, or so I thought. Where's the booze?" She laughed, elbowing him in the rib. "Sorry, I only have so many hands, I brought in the case of Molson and the sour mix, everything else is in the trunk." She pulled her keys from her pocket, jingling them in his face. It was only after he had walked away, when she was bent over pulling a beer from the fridge, that she heard that laugh, throaty, soft, coming from the landing. Oh G-d, why hadn't anyone warned her? She cracked her first beer, throwing her head back and chugging half of it. At least if she were drunk enough and stupid antics were explicable if not entirely excused by everyone. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 03 Janey sighed heavily as she sat on the edge of her bed to slip out of her knee high boots. She loved the things to death, the tan wool weave moving up her leg, bunching in lines along the way to imitate a set of leg warmers. But they were so warm and getting out of them now was nearly better than sex, the air conditioning swirling between her toes. Getting home had been a bit heinous, she had forgotten how rough the walk up the hill could be. Even worse when you were on the verge of tears and half-drunk. It would be one thing if there was a reason for Ted just disappearing from her life the way he had,but to still have nothing to say, to offer no explanation, 3 years later was cruel and unusual punishment. Everyone had begged her to stay after the incident, Steve and Jake and Charlie had chased her into the driveway and told her to stay, that they would make Ted apologize, that things would be alright. In truth, she simply couldn't stomach it. All she had done was make a simple request to talk at some point. His response had caught her offguard, and still echoed between her ears. "I don't have anything to say to you." She pulled open the lemon yellow accordian doors of her closet, standing on her tip toes before growling in frustration and hauling over her desk chair. Tiny hands wrapped around an oversized shoebox, carefully pulling it from the shelf and carrying it to her bed. She paged through it's contents, weepy-eyed. "I'm so friggin pathetic." The words were a harsh whisper. Plane, train, and show tickets lingered in the box, along with tags and pictures drawn on menus, placemats, napkins, and any other scrap Ted had gotten his hands on over the years of their friendship. Pictures of her and all the boys were disorganized and scattered between the pages. The handwriting of a sea of friends come and gone on notebook papers passed inbetween and during classes. Her first driver's license. Sobs overtook her as she curled up in a ball on her side, arms wrapping around the teddy bear the girls had all given her sophmore year when she was in the hospital. Ted had sent her a funny comic strip of herself, recapping her tonsillitis, which she had spent a week playing off as laryngitis to avoid the doctor. She wiped at her eyes furiously, trying desperately to regain control. She wasn't going to cry anymore. She would leave at the end of the week and then only come back to see her family, this chapter was closing. It wasn't sad, it was just fucking fine with her. Eyes fluttered shut as she reassured herself, falling asleep still fully clothed amidst the record of her life. ************ "Ya know, Ted, it's really not that much to ask to just give her reason. No one said you have to tell her the truth, Lord knows you haven't let any of us know. But she was never anything but a friend to you." Charlie sounded more like a father than a brother. Ted hated it when he got like this. "Yeah, a friend who fucked my best friend and a kid I fucking hate." "Is that what this is about?" "No, this is about everything. She changed." Charlie shook his head, it wasn't worth fighting with Ted over, not until he was ready to be honest. "No, really? You mean, she went to college and grew the fuck up? She didn't change, Ted, she's just not 16 anymore." Ted growled, swinging open the back door and letting it slam behind him. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now. Hands dug in his pockets, recovering a pack of newports before sliding one between his lips and lighting it. This wasn't how this week was supposed to go. He didn't need the distraction of Janey. He was closing out on the East coast, why reopen old ties? She seemed just fine without his friendship, anyway. Better than ever judging by how she looked. Chocolate brown curls hung low on her back, those blue-green eyes wide and bright. And that body. In high school he didn't even think Janey was capable of looking like that. Not that she was America's next top model or anything. But she was well-proportioned, and that little extra chubbiness seemed to only add to it. Made her seem like she could bounce off anything. Resilience had long been one of his favorite qualities in the girl. She was undoubtedly fucking someone. Janey was always fucking someone, or so he heard. If she didn't have anyone, there was always Matt to fall back on. He growled at the thought of it. Of all the people, she had to have picked his best friend. He was so wrapped up in his pacing that he didn't hear the door creak open and shut. "Hey." The voice was feminine with a sultry rasp, which meant Michelle. He turned with a sigh. "Hey." "She just left." Michelle half-grinned at the relief on Ted's face. Janey might have sunken her claws into Matt, but she had lost Ted. It was at least somewhat comforting. "It's good to see you." Ted just nodded, taking a long drag off his cigarette. Had he been more observant, he might have noticed the way Michelle's eyes flared followed quickly by lips screwed in determination before she forced a smile. She didn't understand how that little chubby thing had everyone's attention. They had once been friends, sure, Janey was a nice girl, but she wasn't exactly a sexpot. Michelle had never imagined that she might grow into the role that was her own. Michelle was the leggy blonde tomboy who could hang out and smoke blunts and then go home with the boy of her choice, Janey was supposed to remain the obnoxious younger sister. Worse yet, Janey acted all innocent in the situation, claiming ignorance. "So how have you been?" Ted was looking at her now, she stepped closer, the alcohol in her blood exaggerating the sway of her hips. "I've been okay, how about you?" "Alright. You don't have any trees on ya, do ya?" She chuckled and shook her head. "Come on, Ted. Let's walk back over my place and smoke a blunt." He nodded, offering his arm and stepping off the porch. There was no need to say good bye, they'd be back soon enough. "Lead the way, m'lady." Michelle grinned, excepting the arm to walk beside him. Despite the three inches height she had on him, Ted was an attractive guy. She would put Janey Abramowitz back in her place. On the sidelines. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 04 Ted sighed into his beer as he watched Michelle walk towards him. Over the course of the past 2 days she had insisted upon being everywhere he was. When he woke up, she was hanging out with his sister or his mother, when he went out, somehow she was already there. Enough was enough, really. It was bad enough avoiding Janey, but now Michelle, too? Maybe if he just didn't look at her. He cast his eyes to the left, even better. Janey was sitting at the bar her head thrown back, a giggle bubbling past her throat. He didn't want to look at that either. His last chance. He rose, making a beeline for the far end of the bar, nodding to the tender when he appointed to the appropriate tap. Even after being away for months, a regular was still a regular. The warmth of another body made his skin crawl. Someone was behind him. He wouldn't turn. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction. He wanted to be left-- "Yeah, lemme get a margarita on the rocks and a Red Bull and vodka." The voice was unfamiliar, but comforting. Smooth with sentences ending with what sounded like a hint of a giggle. He turned slowly, from what he could see with his peripheral vision, beside him stood an Asian woman with hair the color of honey mixed in with thicker platinum blonde chunks. Her eyes were a deep brown, and her smile was enough to shut out any thoughts of... of... he smiled to himself, distraction was a good thing. "Can I buy those drinks?" The voice was low and gentle, with a hint of amusement. "Thanks, but no thanks." He turned fully then, looking up to her. Blue eyes the color of ice were locked on her own. he barely turned his face towards the tender, his eyes still on hers as he smiled. "Ramon, make sure those two go on my tab." The tender nodded and was gone before she could speak. "Ted, and your welcome." She laughed at his audacity, shaking her head. "You think you're pretty fucking smooth, don't you?" He couldn't tell whether her smile was a good thing or a bad, it just seemed honest either way. "I don't know." He entwined his fingers, resting them on the bar and leaning his weight forward upon them before looking up over his shoulder at her. "Do you?" "Not really." "Then, no. Relatively not smooth. Somewhat rough. Are you smooth?" She laughed again. "No." "Then who are you?" He seemed a bit strange, perhaps socially nervous? She extended a hand. "Mika." "Mika?" "Yes, Mika." "I'm Ted." "You told me that already." "But this time you were listening. It felt better. Can I buy your next round?" "You bought this round." "But this time you were receptive." "Fine, whatever. Thanks." She turned to walk away, lifting her drinks. "Where are you going?" "Away." Reached his ears as she barely twisted her neck to yell over her shoulder before disappearing into the crowd. * * * * * * "Janey, girl. You will not believe what happened!" Mika settled on the seat across from Janey and Matt, straddling the back of the chair to lean across the table and hand Janey her drink. The two were positively adorable, she was glad she had made the trip to meet the boy who Janey spoke of incessantly. He was tall with an olive complexion and dark hair and eyes. But most attractive, perhaps, was his oversized nose and delighted smile, when he looked at Janey he just lit up. "What happened?" Janey jumped a bit, Matt had undoubtedly pinched or poked her under the table. To watch them pretend they were just friends was amusing. She wasn't sure who they thought they were fooling. Janey had forced Mika to swear on her life not to tell Matt that she knew anything at all about him. She shook her head and giggled, sipping at her drink. "This guy just made the bartender put our drinks on his tab, I swear, he was soooo weird." "Weird like creepy I'm gunna rape in you in the back of my van weird? or weird like socially dysfunctional but still cute weird?" "Borderline socially dysfunctional and very much cute?" "Very good. We like borderline socially dysfunctional." "That we do. And he has our next round." "Well, I'll drink to that." Janey lifted her glass, clinking it against her friends. "Um, does borderline socially dysfuncational boy have a car?" Mika rolled her eyes. "Going home already?" "We both drove all day yesterday." "I was in the car with you, Janey." "Yeah, and you slept for 6 hours, right through when I stopped for lunch." The girls giggled. "I'll find a ride, I know the address, Charles is around here somewhere to watch out for me." Janey grinned, kissing Mika's cheek. "Call me at close and lemme know what yer doing?" "Okay, mom." "Later, daughter." She watched the two disappear, walking just close enough with hands floating beside each other. Maybe someday one of them would grow some balls. They weren't even gone ten seconds before the boy from the bar settled in one of the empty chairs. "All by yourself?" "Yes. and enjoying it." "No, you were missing me." "I thought you weren't smooth." "Didn't I just prove it?" She giggled and shook her head, catching a glimpse of the two drinks on the table. "I didn't know which one was you, so I brought both." She grabbed for the margarita. "Only fucking Abramowitz would shell out the seven bucks for one of those at the bar. 'Gawd, Mika, it's just money. You can't take it with you.'" Mika threw back her head and laughed, oblivious to the split second of shock that rumbled through and unsettled him. There were a million different Abramowitz's around here... it wasn't, it couldn't... Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 05 Janey rode in quiet excitement, barely surmounting the courage to glance over at Matt sideways. Perhaps her favorite part of their relationship were these moments. These uncomfortable school girl crush moments when she was still unsure of whether or not she was allowed to just grab him and kiss him. It was strange, after two years of not quite friends not quite more he still kept her guessing. Not really, it was only her own self-doubt. She had barely shut her car door before he was behind her, hands on her waist, nose buried in her curls as he pressed his lips to the top of her ear. "I missed you." The words warmed her down to her toes. She shut her eyes, leaning back into him. 'I miss you' had previously been a phrase that belonged to the forbidden zone, the overly attached for living half a country apart zone. "I always miss you." Matt smiled, gently turning her before pressing his lips to hers. Slowly he opened his eyes to look down at her, barely taller than the roof of the small car, tiny form leaned up against it with head tilting back to look up at him. The orange and white of the street lamps and the moonlights shone in her pupils, her hair illuminated in such a way that it made her look angelic. His hand rose involuntarily to brush a few tiny curls behind her ear, her head fell almost automatically to press her cheek against his palm. He leaned in once more, pressing his lips to hers more hungrily this time. It had been six months since he had seen her last, tasted her, felt the way her small soft form felt underneath his as she squirmed and rolled. Tiny hands rose to either side of his neck as he felt Janey's height shift onto her toes. Her tongue prodded his mouth, begging him to follow it's lead. The shaking breath that passed her nostrils to brush past his cheek was about all he could take. Strong hands reached beneath her, lifting her by the round of her ass, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as her arms encircled his neck, her kiss becoming all the more insistent. He carried her towards the fence around the pool in the back yard and then further out into another. Local law, of course, had to be a pain in the ass. Janey grinned, breaking the kiss for a moment. "You wanna get dirty in the yard?" He laughed, kissing her once more. "I wanna get dirty everywhere." She laughed as he pressed her back against a large maple tree at the back of the yard, kissing her harshly to silence her. Hands moved to roughly squeeze her breasts through her shirt as his head sunk, nipping and nibbling at the soft flesh of her neck. She pressed her hips to his with a quiet groan. The sound rumbling past her throat was enough to make him impatient. He whipped her body away from the tree trunk, settling her below him on the ground as he made quick work of the tie on her halter top. She giggled as he fumbled for a second with the double knot. Her hips were rolling against him, teasing him through the layers of denim and cotton that separated them. She groaned as his lips found the tightening bud of her nipple, the cool, wet, softness of the plush grass beneath them concentrating with the heat of lips and tongue. Fingertips ran through his hair before sinking down his back to grip the bottom of his t-shirt and tug. He broke from her only to toss his shirt aside, her fingertips moving along the surface of his now bare chest. Somehow she always managed to seem like she was seeing him for the first time. Like his skin was as new now as it was two years ago. Lips found hers, kissing her with an intensity he never had before. It caught her offguard, her arms automatically moving back around his neck to hold him close as she felt his hands dip beneath the waist of her pants. He teased her gently, barely brushing those lips with the tips of his fingers, the hot wetness of her center radiating through her body as she groaned against his mouth, hips gyrating beneath him. Fingertips found her clit, playing with it with a level of skill only a bass player could have. He grinned as she moaned, groaned, and whimpered. He knew how to play her, his lips sinking into her neck as he teased her entrance with the tip of a finger. He couldn't help a chuckle at her obvious frustration as she tried to press her hips to his hand, forcing him inside her. He continued with his teasing for what seemed like an eternity before he shocked her with two fingers knuckle deep. She groaned loudly, arching her back hard. "Oh, G-d, Matt!" The way her voice cracked in the middle of his name drove him to move those fingers all the faster. He didn't want to give in as she pushed him onto his back, kissing and licking her way down his torso before unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. She licked her lips as she fished out his erection, tongue moving up and down his length, alternating between the large flat wetness of it's top and the tease of it's tip. He groaned, sucking air through his teeth as his head rolled back, hand moving to smooth her hair. "MMmmm, Janey, that's fantastic." The compliment only stirred her to want to hear it again, quickly wrapping her mouth around him and beginning to bob. She was so caught up that she didn't realize why he was pushing her away until she saw the rubber. She took it from him, rolling it down his length before moving to straddle him, hands resting on his chest as she slowly slid his length inside her, gasping as he spread those velvet walls. The pain of his invasion was positively delicious, forcing her to lean forward and nip playfully at his lips. The odd position gave matt the perfect opportunity to roll atop her, forcing her onto her back as he pinned her hands above her head, thrusting into her repeatedly as he watched her face. The way it twisted and her head rolled as he hit the right spot. It happened more suddenly than he could ever remember it, her arms flying around him as she tensed and shudder, body moving with each gasp for air, it was too much for him, the vice of her cunt squeezing his throbbing member as he sprayed into her before collapsing atop her. They were both panting so hard for air that they almost didn't hear the slam of the car door in the driveway. Janey grinned devilishly, pressing her index finger to her lips to sign to him that they should remain silent. * * * Two AM found Mika settled in the passenger seat of a beat up volkswagen, an uncomfortable silence making her tongue too heavy to speak. When she had given Ted the address he had grunted something about knowing exactly where it was before falling into this uncomfortable quiet. She was over it now, though. Bored of watching the side of the highway fly by, full of gas stations and Starbuck's and random strip malls. "Why so quiet?" Mika's voice was quieter now, and even though it carried a hint of disappointed rejection, it was still cheerful overall. Leave it to him to find the one girl in the place who was a friend of Janey's. "Just thinking." Lame. She was right, he wasn't smooth. "So, um, do you know Janey?" How did you answer a question like that? Did he know Janey? Did he know Janey Abramowitz? Did anyone know Janey Abramowitz better than he did was the real question. "You could say that." She sighed. Her friend had sunk her teeth into all the good ones, hadn't she? "Yeah, she always manages to sink her claws into the cute ones." He turned off the exit ramp and pulled over, putting the car into park. "Janey Abramowitz has no claws sunken, okay?" She looked to him, confused for a moment, before her face was painted with some sort of recognition. "Oh my G-d. You're Teddy." He glanced at her, no one called him that but Janey. "Yeah, I guess." He sighed, pulling back onto the road and continuing on his way. "Ya know, Janey never has anything but good things to say about you. She misses you. You should really talk to her." "I don't have anything to say to her." "Oh." Mika stopped herself from pressing further. This wasn't any of her business. The drove the rest of the way in an only slightly more comfortable silence. Ted switched off his headlights as he pulled into the driveway. The place hadn't changed. A large house with a basketball hoop at the end of the driveway and enough flowers to kill an allergy sufferers between the front and the back yards. "Um, thanks for the ride." He watched as she scribbled something on a piece of paper before handing it to him. "Abramowitz is kind of all wrapped up in Matt all week and I know I'm going to be sitting on the couch watching TV by myself a lot until Monday. So, um, you should call me sometime." The speak of Matt and Janey made Ted cringe a bit. Even after two years, the news still bit into his skin. "Yeah, definitely. I'll give you a call tomorrow. Matt has that family luncheon, I think he mentioned something about taking Janey." "Yeah, call me. I have free access to the pool back there and everything. Thanks for the ride." He watched as she slid from the car, shutting the door beside herself before moving to the garage and letting herself in. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 06 Ted sighed restlessly, eyeing the clock. 7:30 am and his bedroom was flooded with light. He had barely slept a wink. Mika had been too drunk to realize, but he had seen the movement in the yard, recognized a tall slender shadow and a far short, curvier one beside him. Why couldn't he just be happy for them? And how could he set things right without ever admitting to what made him upset in the first place? He could make up another reason.. but no, how could you lie while apologizing? He growled, pushing himself off the mattress to wander down the stairs and start a pot of coffee, unfortunately, his mother had already beaten him to it. "You're up early." He ran his hand through the strawberry blonde mess atop his head before letting the same hand fall to scratch at his chest. "Couldn't fall back asleep." She sighed. Ever since Ted had seen Janey the other night he had been visibly bothered. Even if he didn't tell anyone else, she knew what shook him to the core. She had seen the way Matt and Janey looked at each other across the room, the things they thought they kept secret from everyone else. And whether or not Ted would admit it, he had always been absolutely smitten with that girl. "Are you coming with us to the Fabrizi's brunch?" How to sidestep this question? Every year the entire family went to the Fabrizi brunch, but he knew Janey was going. Mika had told him, before she knew he was 'Teddy.' Mika... the thought of he made him feel only slightly better. He only wish he had met her in San Diego, he wouldn't have found out she knew Janey for months. She was a good excuse. "Actually, I was going to go hang out with this girl from the bar." He heard his mother sigh as she stepped away from the coffee pot, now making that popping sound that could only mean that everything was percolating. "I'm sure Andrea and Anthony will be upset not to see you." "I'm going to stop by there tomorrow afternoon, they're so busy at the brunch every year, anyway. I think I'm gunna go change and go for a run." She shrugged and yawned. "Okay, sweetheart. We're leaving at 11. I'm going to hop in the shower now before I have to deal with the troops." Ted just laughed to himself. Their entire household had to be up and dressed and ready a full hour and a half before they had to be anyplace to go wake up his sister and her family. Sometimes he wondered why they didn't just move in next door. He made his way up the stairs behind his mother, turning into his room to pull on a pair of shorts and t-shirt and grab his walkman off his desk. He stooped to pick up a piece of paper that had slid off along with it before shaking his head. His name was written on the front in Janey's funny hand, mostly capitals, with only i's as lowercase, occasionally descending into a half-assed cursive scrawl. It never ceased to amaze him just how well it fit her. He flipped it, the piece of tape holding it closed had never been broken. He thought he had thrown them all out. Ted didn't know why but he sat then, slowly opening and unfolding it. The note was two pages long. He couldn't help but read it. "Teddy- Look. You've made it apparent you want nothing to do with me. And that's fine. But I only wish you would tell me why. Our friendship kept me going through a lot of hard times, and to know that I don't have that support system anymore, well, it's breaking my heart here, Teddy. There's only one thing I can think of that could make you do this sudden 180, to just one morning wake up and not be my friend. And it's me and Matt. I know it's probably weird that two people who you had kept as separate friendships for so long have created a friendship of their own. But it doesn't mean either of us are any less close to you. Someone tried to tell me that you were jealous of Matt and I told them they were being ridiculous. I mean, we've been friends for 4 years, if anything was meant to happen, it would have by now. Don't get me wrong, there was a time when I would have given anything for you to do something, say something, just give me a sign that maybe there was something more. But I grew past it, and I was so glad I did. Because you're a wonderful person and I love you. But I don't think I could ever be IN love with you. So please, if you read this, just know, I'm not mad with you. I just miss you. I really wish we could, ya know, be okay again. Maybe smoke a blunt for old times sake? I don't plan on changing my number anytime soon, and besides, if I did, your brothers or your mom would have my number anyway. So, if you ever change your mind, I'll be okay with that. Always a friend, Janey." He stared at the words on the page. She knew him so well. She had known it all along. He sunk his teeth into her lower lip. She was right. They weren't right. She needed somebody practical and combatitive... and... Matt. and he needed someone who was organized and always joyful who would avoid confrontation... not Janey. Not that it didn't still sting. Maybe it was time to move on. He sighed. A run would help him think. He could clear his head and come back different. He rose once more, placing on his headsets, he bit his lip and stopped, turning and grabbing a CD off a tack in the wall. "Mix of Awesomeness. Last summer. I She turned when a song came on the radio, manicured fingers gently pressing the volume up just a few notches and smiling to herself. Since she let him drive her car, he thought it only appropriate that she be allowed to choose the radio station. The soul and blues mix she had chosen had impressed him. She sang along quietly to a female covering an old Al Green tune... "If I gave you my love...I tell you what I'd do-oo-oo.. I'd expect a whole lotta love from you..." He grinned as she let the music carry her away a bit, her face changing with what she sang as head moved along with the rhythm, fingertips patting against her thigh in time. "Who is this?" She blushed. She had forgotten he was there. She was bad that way with the music she loved. "Guess." "I have no idea." "Queen Latifah" She giggled as he looked at her. "Really?" "Yeah." She smoothed her hair behind her ear as he turned forward once more, turning into the parking lot and finding a space. She smiled at him sheepishly, a bit out of character for her. She didn't know how to explain this nervousness, nor could she seem to get past it. It wasn't that she had never met Matt's family before. She knew his parents, his sisters, a few of his cousins. It was different this time, somehow. They were walking in together. And they had to leave together, as Matt had left his car at her house. "Ready?" He turned to look at her as he unbuckled and stepped out. She nodded, getting out her own side of the car and taking a deep breath. She followed him, trying to calm the nerves that made her stomach seem to do flip flops. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 07 Matt smiled at the curled up ball on the passenger seat. Janey had spent much of the day playing with the kids and they had tired her out, given, 10 children between the ages of 3 months and 8 years would have tired out anyone. It was quite amusing, the way she looked happy and tired as she fiddled with the dial on the radio. Always with the music. She finally stopped on the classic rock station, humming softly along with Van Morrison before losing herself in the music. "I can hear her heart beat from a thousand miles..." He grinned at her sideways, her head was moving in rhythm with the music, her eyelashes barely kissing each other. He pulled into the driveway, leaving the radio on so Janey could enjoy the song. "She gimme love, love, love, love, crazy love..." It was too much not to kiss her, a hand reached to hold her cheek as he moved her to face him, leaning over the console to kiss her softly. He felt tension in her lips and then they melted, soft and sweet. His eyes fluttered softly shut as he focused on the feel of her. She was lost, the music and the light and the taste of him enveloping her as her hands moved to his neck. It was so pure for them, a kiss without a request. The surprise had caught her first, and then it was as always. She sighed as he pulled away from her, reluctant to move, afraid it would fade away into the oblivion of memory, her only chance for the words that stuck in her throat now. He watched her eyes flutter open, her lips slightly parted, he brushed his against hers once more, not ready for the sweet contact to end. He sighed, resting his forehead against hers as he whispered the last verse of the song. "And when I'm returning from so far away she gives me some sweet lovin', brightens up my day. Yes, it makes me righteous. Yes, it makes me whole. Yes, it makes me mellow down to my soul. She give me love," he allowed Janey to catch his lips for a breath before continuing, "love, love, love, crazy love. She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love." He sighed, falling into kissing her a bit harder. He felt her moan against his mouth and he reluctantly pulled away, looking into her face. "Why don't we go inside?" She blushed and smiled, unbuckling her seat belt and opening her door before swinging her feet around. He followed suit, shutting off the car before walking behind her as she opened the garage. He watched as she moved to scurry towards her bedroom, grabbing her wrist and stopping her. She turned on him with brows knit in confusion, he smiled as he stepped onto the first step, regaining his height advantage and his proximity. His hand fell to her lower back, kissing her firmly as he leaned her head back, accepting his lips and tongue. It was then the giggles found their way down from the bathroom. Not just Mika, but a male set as well. Janey broke the kiss, turning. Rage and confusion bubbled in her veins as strawberry blonde curls ontop of a medium frame stumbled backwards into her view. She blinked, utterly confused. "Come on, I just wanna make sure you don't miss a spot. Plleeeaassse." She was pathetic, she should be furious. But no, she would let it slide, because even after all this time he was still a hopeless loser. "Hey, Teddy, if you want a sexy shower you gotta have it at home." Janey bit her lip as he turned, he was obviously mortified. Perhaps playing it cool was better, the look of embarrassment was priceless. "Oh my G-d! Janey!" Mika came running out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her waist, her bikini top a jet black. "I'm so sorry, girl. I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how and i was afraid you'd be mad and I didn't want to fight like so soon before..." Janey simply lifted a hand with a smile, abruptly cutting off her friend. "Don't stress it, girl." Eyes turned on Ted, "He should stress it. He's the one who has apologies to make." Ted gulped hard at her words, only more embarrassed by the fact that Matt was standing directly behind her with possessive hands on her hips. He took a deep breath. He and Janey weren't right for each other, and then there was Mika, and... another deep breath. But there was pride here. "I'm sorry for coming here, Mika, call me." He wrapped his towel tight, heading down towards the living room to grab the clothes he had discarded on the way into the yard. Quick footsteps carried Janey across the dining room and into the living room, "FUCK YOU!" Ted turned around startled, staring at the eruption from the usually mellow Janey. "I said I was sorry, I'm fucking leaving." He rolled his eyes, balling his clothes beneath his arm and walking in Janey's direction and towards the door. He stumbled when she blocked his way, pushing him rather roughly. "What the fuck? Are you fucking crazy?" "No, I don't want you to leave, I want you to sit the fuck down and give me an explanation." The stern look in her eyes wasn't one he was used to seeing. "For what? I met Mika at the bar, sorry." He tried to pass again but she blocked his way. "No, for the last two years. Look, Ted, if I did something to piss you off, I'm sorry. But I have racked my fucking mind and I can't think of anything that makes sense. So I'm only left with one explanation. If you're jealous of the fact I fucking slept with Matt-" "I'm not fucking jealous." "You're not fucking jealous? Why did you stop talking to me then?" "We grew in different directions." "Shut up, we were friends for years and you NEVER made a move, nothing. I gave up on that, I realized that wasn't what we were. Aren't you glad that of all the people in the world I could've slept with it was Matt? Aren't you fucking happy that maybe for a couple of hours once in a while I can be happy? No, you're not, you're too fucking busy crying for yourself. Fuck that, Ted." She was rambling, babbling, but she was right. "You're two best friends sleep together, so what? It's not like you weren't out sleeping with random girls I hated. I never walked away, though, no matter how fucking jealous I was. I was a friend to you, and I think I deserve at least the same. If nothing else, I deserve a legitimate explanation for why you can't stand the sight of me." He waited a moment. "Are you done?" His words were met with Janey shaking her head, sighing and rolling her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Guess so." He sighed, swallowing hard, he could see the tears shining in her eyes. It was time to fess up, this wasn't fair. "I'm sorry, Janey. You're right." He walked around her quickly as the shock held her in place. She simply stared at the wall, had she heard him right, was he still just walking away? She took deep breaths, trying to force back the tears. The opening and closing of the front doors left her with no option but to let her legs fall out from beneath her and let the tears roll down her cheeks. All these years, and he couldn't just say something. And it was all her fault. "Janey?" Matt's voice was quiet, and far softer than normal. She quickly wiped her eyes before turning to look at him with a forced smile. "Hey, babe." He sighed, he knew her too well for this. He took small steps, finally settling in front of her on the floor, legs spread apart with knees bent so he could fit her between them. Fingertips pushed the hair that hung to frame her face back behind her ears. "Don't 'Hey, babe' me." He half-smiled, tilting his head and looking into her eyes. "How long have you thought that the problem between you and Ted was me?" She bit her lip, looking down. "How long have you?" Matt shook his head and looked at her. "You're too smart for your own good you know. I figured it out about six months in, New Year's Eve, Ted didn't want me to invite you down to the shore with us. You're turn." "A month in, when he first asked me if we were... ya know... and I said yes, and he was silent the whole way home." She hung her head. "I guess he kind of does have a right to hate me, I mean, I knew, and I just kept going with it, I put this before the friendship." Fingers on her chin lifted her to eye level with him, "He didn't say anything, it isn't your job to figure out the puzzle." She laughed, "You always had the benefit of being Ted's buddy, I was his confidante, his shrink, his mom. My job WAS to figure out the puzzle." "Janey?" "Yeah?" "I'll fix things with Ted for you if you make me a promise." "What?" "Promise me that you're willing to give this," he pressed his lips to hers gently, "a real try." He watched her face swirl with confusion and then excitement. "This has been much more than us sleeping together for a long time, and you know that." She simply nodded, leaning forward with her chin on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his fingertips on his back. "How are you going to fix things in three days?" "I forgot he was leaving so soon. Well, at least on the third day Mika will be gone-" "Mika! Oh my G-d!" Janey jumped up, Matt chuckling as she scrambled upstairs. He sighed, rising from the floor and moving towards the front door. He shouted a good bye up the stairs before moving out the door, he had things to take care of. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 08 Ted heaved a heavy sigh, knees bent to nearly his chest with freckle heavy arms sitting atop them. Eyes glanced to a tree to his left, in it the intials J.A., M.F., and T.T. were carved above a pot leaf with 4/20/99 written beneath it. He remembered that Easter Sunday. Janey had still been a relatively new friend, but a promising one who could roll blunts and smoke them. Matt had driven to the dead end street and parked before they hopped the fence at the back end of the Nature Center and found their way off the trail to this secluded boulder at the edge of the cliff. The view was always beautiful, the cliff dropping off into a field and then a slowly rising hill littered with trees that were probably older than their great grandparents. It had been more simple then, Janey was just some pudgy tom boy in huge jeans and a t-shirt with hair too short for her features and all the obnoxious tendencies of a younger sister. Ted's line of thought was broken by a twig snapping near by. Although the quiet of the woods was given to every small sound on the trails that wound through them, this one seemed to close for comfort. He sighed, turning for a moment before looking straight ahead again. Matt was just about the last person he wanted to see right now, but he knew there was no deterring him. "Yo." Ted lifted a hand in a half wave in response. "Yo." Matt stepped onto the boulder, settling beside him and assuming a similar pose to look out over the view as well. "This place doesn't change, does it?" "Nope." Matt was ready to turn and leave. He was in way over his head and Ted's monosyllabic responses weren't exactly boosting his confidence, either. "Look," Matt let his head drop so he was looking down at the rock between his legs before they lifted again to stare out at the view, "you really need to talk to her. You know I've kept my nose out of this on both ends, but couldn't you guys just clear the air, for my sake?" "We just talked." "No, the shit just hit the fan." Ted laughed and shook his head. "Seriously, Ted. I don't know, man. I just can't stand to see her sad like this. I don't know. Things have changed. This isn't what it started out as." Ted turned then to look at his friend. There was something in his eyes... mature emotion. This wasn't devil-may-care Matt who came up with plots to take over the world, or ran through the woods in the pitch black of midnight in all black with a paint ball gun. This was Matt who would soon don a suit and sit in traffic for two hours at 6:30 in the morning before spending a 12 hour day at the office. "Do you love her?" Matt swallowed hard at the question. Any hope for looking Ted straight in the eye during this conversation was gone, and he quickly turned back to the woods. "Remember when we used to come up here all the time?" "Yeah, you and I had a lot of good times up here." "No, I mean the three of us. I couldn't stand her. She annoyed the crap out of me. I wanted to push her off this fucking cliff. She would babble and babble and babble, but she always had trees, and she was always with you." "What's your point?" "It's just weird, coming full circle." He turned to look at Ted, the sets of intials in the tree catching his eye. "Oh man!" He laughed, sliding off the rock to walk towards it, studying it. "I had forgotten about this. I remember I was sitting up on the rock when she did it and I thought it was the stupidest thing anyone had ever done." Ted just shrugged. "Yeah. You still haven't answered my question." "I'm moving, Ted." "What do you mean? Your lease up on your place?" "Yeah, but I mean, I'm really moving.... Up north... she doesn't know yet." "Wait, what?" "Ted, I really need you two to settle things." Matt turned to look at Ted. "Until you do, there's this... this dirtiness hanging over everything. This guilt of, what if, and I can't live with that, and it's tearing her up. Even when she pretends to be okay, I mean, I've known her for years. I can tell when she's faking." "You ever think maybe she just needs to get over it? I'm not angry with her, I don't hate her, I just have nothing left to say." Ted shrugged, looking towards Matt. "She'll get over it." "It's been what? Two, three years? She isn't getting over it. I don't know what it is. Anytime your name comes up, she just... you can see it in her eyes, she's trying to tune it out because she's given up on thinking she won't care." "What do you care? You guys are just fucking." Perhaps it was the wrong thing to say, but Ted had never known Matt to be one to carry much affection for the flavor of the month. Matt jumped up quickly, with balled fists. "Is that what this is about? You don't think I fucking care about her? Is that why you're being such a prick, because she didn't pick you, she picked someone who would just drop her when he got bored?" Matt's voice carried that scary form of anger, the one that forced him to speak in something just above a whisper, so controlled and monotone that it couldn't only mean anything else was uncontrollable. "I'm not just fucking her. You think I'd just fuck her for two fucking years? I haven't fucked anyone else in 8 months." "Oh, so before then you were?" "She's not my girlfriend, we lived 1,000s of miles apart." "Do you know that she didn't want to tell me I was right when I figured you two out? She BEGGED me not to tell you that I knew, she was so petrified you would be angry with her." "Ted, I can't change what happened back then. I can only move forward. I'm moving so I can try things for real with her. I need you to give her your blessing." "I can't do that unless you answer my question. Do you love her?" Matt sighed and looked at his feet and then into Ted's eyes. There was a heavy pause in the air as Matt hung on to his silence just staring at his friend. He hadn't even told Janey how he felt, and now he was putting the information out there. It wasn't how he wanted things to be. It was something she deserved to hear first. But this was for her own happiness. This would take away that sadness that danced at the edge of her irises. It was worth her hearing second if she never had to hurt like that again, as long as she heard it from him. He swallowed hard and managed to find his voice. "Yes." Ted matched the sigh, looking down before back up. "Really?" "She's just so..." Ted shook his head, lifting his hand. "I know." "So will you talk to her, please?" Ted simply nodded. "Give me an hour or two more though?" Matt nodded and stepped back, turning to go before turning back around and resting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Ted, if I had known how you felt I wouldn't have -" "I never said anything." "I'll talk to you later." With those final words Matt turned and left, twigs snapping beneath his feet. So this was it. It was time for things to be... okay, again. He needed to get his head straight, needed to know what to say. His mom would know. Ted slipped from the rock and down the path, hopping the fence and getting back in the car. It was going to be along evening. Broken Hearts & Busted Stereos Ch. 09 Janey sighed. Mika was in the shower, her family otherwise gone off to eat dinner. She felt like she had barely seen any of them in the time she had been home. The TV was on but she was staring past it, a jumble of bright color and muffled sound. Her mind returned to the incident with Ted this afternoon, her chin resting on her knees which were curled to her chest with arms wrapped around her shins. She wanted nothing more than to take it back. Not the fact she had said something so much as the way she had chosen to say it. The intercom chirped, breaking her line of thought. 6:15.. too late for a delivery. She shrugged and stood, she was never much of one too worry about her appearance when she got into one of these melancholy moods of reflection. Brown curls hung loose and wild, a tank top and a pair of boy shorts hugging her hourglass curves. She swung the door open without checking and could only bite her lip and stare when Ted appeared on the opposite side. She took a moment to collect herself before speaking. "Ted.. um... I didn't realize that you and, uh, Mika, had plans tonight, she's still in the shower, but um... I'll let her know you're here." She went to vanish up the stairs, leaving the door open for him. "Janey... wait." She stopped, turning to look at him standing barely within the door, uncomfortably. "I'm, um, I'm here to see you." She turned fully then, staying on the stairs as though she were afraid of startling him. "Can we, uh, talk for a hot minute?" Janey simply nodded descending back down the stairs. It didn't help the whole situation that she was basically in her underwear. The only time he had seen her in so little was a bathing suit, he could see why Matt had such a hard time keeping his hands to himself. "Wanna go in the living room?" Her voice was so small and childlike, he knew that voice, it was the voice she always took on when she couldn't read a situation. He nodded and followed her as she walked, watching her grab a seat on the couch Indian-style and pull a throw pillow into her lap to lean on. He sat on the opposite end, looking at her for a moment before speaking. "I'm sorry about the way I ran out of here this afternoon. I just-" "Don't worry about it. I, um, shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It wasn't fair." He sighed and continued, "Janey, when this whole you and Matt thing started, I thought it was just this casual, one time, drunken thing. I thought that I would be able to tell him the truth about how I felt and then he would back off and I could step in. But then you both seemed so happy, and so, I don't know. It was like every time I saw you two it was more obvious that behind closed doors it wasn't so casual and.." he paused as Janey looked at him with her lip back between her teeth. "Ted..." She was trying to stop him but she had nothing to follow his name. "No, let me finish. You're right. You and I aren't right for each other. But I can't be your friend right now." "But you can be Matt's?" He sighed, "He's not what I can't have. And as long as I don't see you two together it's like..." "Like what?" "Like you don't exist." She looked down then. He hoped she wasn't crying. He didn't want to make her cry. In truth, she didn't know which stung more, the fact Ted wished she didn't exist, or the fact that Matt didn't talk about her when she wasn't there. "It's like, you're this made up girl he talks about, I can distance you, make you someone else." She hid the small smile that curled her lips when he put her fears to rest. "So should we say good byes now?" She looked up at him. Her sadness made her eyes shine with unshed tears, it was quite beautiful, the way her blue eyes shimmered. He wanted to kiss her now more than he ever had. He rose then, walking to her and kneeling in front of her, his eyes fixed on hers before fluttering shut as he brushed his lips against hers. It was something pure, the way her lips barely returned his attention. Chaste. Loving but not passionate. There was a finality to it. A kiss good night, or good bye. When he reopened his eyes a tear was sliding down her cheek, he wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "Janey, how about we see where life takes things instead. I can't be your friend right now, but maybe someday I can be." He wasn't sure if it was the truth, but he wanted it to be. He wanted to be able to laugh with her again. Her silent nod was all the agreement he needed, he stood then, surprised to see Mika standing in the doorway diagnolly behind them. How long had she been standing there? Her face was difficult to read, as though she was arguing with herself. He stopped dead, frozen to the spot he stood in. Janey looked at him puzzled before turning to look over her shoulder. Mika stood there, simply staring, and by the look on her face she had been there just long enough to see exactly the wrong part of this whole interaction. "Mika..." her voice was quiet, afraid to break through the wall that seemed to be holding her friend together. Mika simply turned and walked away. How was it that Janey could just do that. And why was she so upset. Mika barely knew Ted, he was just some boy. She didn't get attached, she always just enjoyed things until they fell apart. Besides, this was a whole weird love triangle thing. And how could Janey do that to Matt. She gushed about him non-stop and the second she got a chance to cheat on him were lips were glued to... she shook her head, trying to block the thoughts as she made her way upstairs to the guest room. She jumped a bit when she felt a hand on her wrist and turned, and was even more surprised to see that it was Ted who had chased after her. He tugged her close, holding her body firmly against his with one arm as the other lifted his hand to bury itself in the hair at the back of her head, pulling her lips to his and kissing her hard. She sighed into his lips, as much as she wanted to resist his kiss felt too right. When he broke it she found her lips chasing his, only stopping when she felt his forehead against her, her eyes fluttering half open. His voice was soft and soothing. "I'm sorry. I just had to do that once, to make sure." "To make sure of what?" Her anger flared as she pushed away from him. "That you didn't need to run off in the sunset with Janey?" "No, to make sure what I thought was true." "What?" He grabbed her then, kissing her again. "That it could never feel like that." Mika blushed. "I'm sorry. I had to know. But if you want me to leave, I understand." She sighed. She should make him leave. But she couldn't. She looked at him. "How about you come back in a half-hour? I need to get dressed." He nodded and smiled, kissing her once more. "Okay,"