MORE THAN THAT
Chapter Twenty-One

December 20, 2003

"I wish I could've hung out with you guys and Hannah for my birthday!" Christina said, walking with Jack to Bridget Fitzgerald's house party. "By the way, thanks for the present! I've been dying to play the new Smackdown game!"

"No problem. You owe me a game, though." Jack winked at her. Christina gave him a weak smile. He knew she was dying inside, wanting so desperately to be with Tommy. It was just like him wanting to be with Rose.

They'd been passing each other in the hall as if nothing had ever happened between them. It killed Jack to see Rose standing by her evil, sadistic, rich asshole of a boyfriend. What did she see in Cal? He had no idea. Rose didn't even look happy. What was the point in staying with someone who treated them as if they were nothing?

"I wonder if Fabri and Hannah are here yet," Christina said. She took a deep breath, knowing that if they were here, then Tommy surely was. He was their ride to the party. Ever since their break-up, the group had gone to parties separately. Jack and Christina always went together, since they didn't live far apart. Sometimes Tommy tagged along with Fabrizio and Hannah.

"They did leave before us," Jack mentioned.

The two friends entered the house filled with people they did not know, and some that they did. The music blasted, with some already drunk kids hanging around on the porch. No matter how cold it was, people still partied in or outside of the houses.

"I see them over there with Danny and Cameron." Christina spotted her friends. "Come on. Let's go talk to them." Christina grabbed her friend's hand and made her way to Fabrizio and Hannah.

"Hey, Chris!" Hannah yelled her name and gave her a hug, Fabrizio doing the same.

"Did you guys just get here?" Fabrizio asked.

"Yeah. My mom let me use the car tonight, since she is hanging out with some friends from work," Jack answered.

"So, it looks like everyone here is sixteen now! Our little Christina is finally able to get her permit," Hannah stated.

"I know! I'm excited. Watch me not get one until I'm eighteen. By the way, thanks for the presents," she said to her friends.

"Ten minutes at this party, and already out of soda," Tommy said, coming into the circle of friends. "Hey, Jack."

"Hi, Tommy."

There was an awkward silence among the group. Christina stood there with her arms folded across her chest. Tommy coughed, trying to keep his eyes off of her. Fabrizio, Jack, and Hannah weren't sure what to say to break the ice. Most of all, they couldn't believe a stupid argument would lead to this.

"So, I hear the weather in Florida is nice." Fabrizio finally spoke up. Hannah rolled her eyes at him, knowing that it was a way for him to break the silence. "What?"

"I'm going to the bathroom," Christina said. She hurried away, walking right past Tommy. She practically bumped into his shoulder and ran off.

"She can be such a bitch," Tommy stated, and stormed away in the other direction.

"Boy, what's up their asses?" Fabrizio asked.

"Those two need to get back together. I don't know about you guys, but they are driving me crazy. We don't even hang out together like we used to," a worried Hannah said.

"Definitely! The whole car ride, I heard her talk about nothing but him," Jack informed them.

"Tommy couldn't shut up about her, either," Fabrizio said.

"We both know how stubborn they can be," Hannah continued on. Jack listened to his friends, but soon he wasn't paying any attention. He stared into space when he saw the form of Rose walk into the room.

*****

Again, Rose let Cal drag her along to another dull party. She didn't know why she let him continue to boss her around. Rose was sick of it, but she was weak when it came to him. Mostly, she was frightened. It had been a while since he had last hit her. Lately, it had just been him shoving her around. It was nothing that would get her bruised up.

It seemed like everything was getting better, but it wasn't. Cal was able to see how easy it was to manipulate her. He forced her to sleep with him, or he'd threaten her. What was worse was that Lovejoy was always around. He never went away. Rose hated the creep. For once, she just wanted a night alone with her boyfriend, but that seemed impossible.

When she wasn't with Cal, her mind wandered off and she'd think about Jack. She always wondered what he was doing. She wondered if he still thought about her. Then she'd think to herself that, in an alternate universe, they might have a chance. There was no way they would be together in this lifetime.

After falling into a deep sleep thinking about him, those terrible dreams would come back. She always woke up before she could finish. Rose didn't tell anyone of her dreams. She wanted to figure them out for herself. They were so real. She couldn't understand why.

"Sweetpea." She jumped at the feeling of Cal's hand touching her back. "I'll be back. Lovejoy and I are gonna speak to Landon Tate. He is leaving for Italy tomorrow night." Rose simply nodded and smiled. She closed her eyes as he kissed the side of her head and held her breath. When she reopened her eyes, she saw that Lovejoy had noticed the unpleasant expression on her face. He gave her an evil grin and followed Cal.

Rose rolled her eyes and walked around. She couldn't stand Lovejoy. She didn't know what he held against her. She shook it off and saw Christina standing by herself in a corner. Once knowing the girl, who had been her best friend, she seemed depressed and lonely. Christina looked lost as she stood there with her arms holding herself and her head leaned against the wall.

If Rose remembered correctly, it was her birthday yesterday. To be nice, Rose decided on wishing her a happy birthday.

Slowly, she walked up to her former best friend and softly said her name. "Christina?" The girl looked at her with cold eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked rudely.

"I just wanted to say happy birthday. Finally, sixteen." Rose gave a weak smile.

"Wow. You remembered," Christina said. "Thanks, but let's get back to reality. We are from two different worlds," she simply said, and walked away.

That girl is so stubborn! Rose said to herself as she looked after Christina. When Christina was out of view, there was a clear view of Jack in her path. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him. She gasped when he looked back at her.

"Sweetpea!" The shriek in Cal's voice distracted her gaze. "Come on. Let's go say hi to Marcus!" Cal grabbed her hand and led her away. Rose turned her head to take a look at Jack, who was staring back at her.

*****

Most of the night, Hannah had been trying to persuade Christina to talk to Tommy. So far, it hadn't been working. Christina would immediately change the subject. Her mission was to avoid Tommy as much as possible.

"Just talk to him! What have you got left to lose? You know you miss him!" Hannah yelled to her friend.

"I do not! I'm perfectly fine without him!" Christina argued.

"Oh, really? Why do you keep staring at him?" Hannah asked.

"I am not!"

"Are, too! Talk to him!" Hannah noticed her friend staring at him again, and she wasn't paying attention. "Christina!" She snapped her fingers in front of her, bringing Christina back to her attention.

"Huh?"

"You and Tommy have been driving us crazy! You two keep ranting about each other, yet won't admit that you are still in love. You guys seem completely dead to us because you are without each other. You miss him! He misses you!"

"No, he doesn't."

"Yes, he does. He couldn't shut up about you on the way over here." Hannah smiled when she noticed Christina blushing. "So, will you please talk to him?"

"Fine!" Hannah giggled and hugged her. "Where did he go?" Christina asked, not seeing him in the same spot. Hannah followed her as she went looking and asking around.

"Have you seen Tommy?" Christina asked Fabrizio, who was talking to Jack.

"Yeah. He went into the kitchen," he replied. Christina smiled and made her way there.

"What does she want with Tommy?" Jack asked.

"She is gonna talk to him," Hannah answered. The three friends smiled and followed Christina into the kitchen.

When they went in, they noticed Christina standing still in the middle of the room. They followed her gaze and watched as Tommy spoke to Maria Palermo--Tommy's ex and Christina's arch enemy. His hand was on her chin as she smiled.

Christina had her hands clenched into fists as she looked at them. Her eyes were beginning to water, but she held back the tears.

"You okay, Chris?" Jack asked her, but she did not answer.

Tommy turned around and looked straight at her. The expression on his face was blank. Without a thought, Christina turned around, grabbed Jack's shirt, and crushed his mouth with hers. Fabrizio and Hannah had their jaws open in disbelief. Tommy quickly grew infuriated.

He couldn't believe his eyes. Was Christina really kissing Jack?

Christina finally pulled away from Jack. He looked at her, with his face as red as a tomato and his blue eyes staring blankly at her.

She looked around, noticing that people were watching. When she looked at Tommy, she felt ashamed. Impulsively, she brushed by everyone and ran out of the house.

"You bastard!" Tommy yelled at Jack. He walked up to Jack and punched him to the ground. Fabrizio held him back before any more damage could be done. Hannah rushed to Jack's aid, who was holding his jaw. With her help, he got back on his feet.

"Sorry. I'm gonna go check up on her," Jack said. He turned around, coming face to face with Rose. They gave each other a look so that only the two of them could know what it meant. Jack walked past her, knowing she had witnessed everything, including the kiss Christina had given him.

Jack pushed Rose out of his head and ran out of the house, worried about Christina. He saw her sitting there on the grass, her back to him. Jack knelt down beside her, placing his arm around her shoulders.

"Chris?" He called her name. She turned to face him, tears drenching her face.

"I'm so stupid."

"No, you're not. You're just heartbroken. You miss Tommy and love him."

"I'll probably never get him back now. I ruined your friendship with him."

"It's gonna be okay. Let's go back inside. It's freezing out here."

"I don't wanna go back in. I wanna go home," Christina said through her sobs.

"All right. Let's go," Jack said. He picked her up off the ground and placed an arm around her shoulders. He turned around, facing the house, and saw Rose standing there watching him. He turned his head back around, hoping that everything would be okay.

*****

Rose walked back into the house. She was unsure whether to believe she had really witnessed what she had seen. Christina and Jack kissing? Had her eyes deceived her?

What should I care? He isn't my boyfriend! she screamed in her head. Rose frowned, the thought in her head breaking her heart.

"Where were you, Sweetpea?" Cal asked her.

"Just getting fresh air."

"Well, it’s good that you're back. We're under the mistletoe," Cal said, looking up. Rose gave him a fake smile and let him lean in to kiss her. The kiss was absolutely penetrating, but it gave her no emotion.

Chapter Twenty-Two
Stories