Silence prevailed in Jamie's house. The clock chimed midnight, but no one seemed to notice. Zac was lying on the floor, propped up on his side with pillows, staring at the carpet and thinking. Taylor and Monica sat at the kitchen table uncomfortably. Even though they should have been thinking about what to do about Karen, their minds both wandered to each other. Taylor noticed that Monica didn't seem so angry towards him anymore, and was willing to cooperate. He glanced up at her and saw she was watching Jamie and Isaac.
The two were sitting on the couch. Jamie was staring blankly out the window, and Isaac was looking at the TV. Their hands were barely touching, but Monica didn't think either of them knew how close they were getting to each other. Isaac was worried for Jamie's safety and Jamie....well, Jamie was just worried, what she did best.
The phone rang, and Jamie jumped. Isaac put a hand on her shoulder and motioned for Monica to answer it. "Hello?" Monica said carefully.
"Is Jamie there?" a woman's voice asked.
"Who's calling, please?"
"Diana Hanson."
Monica's mouth dropped open and she put her hand over the receiver. "Ike, it's your mom!" she hissed. "She wants to talk to Jamie."
Jamie slowly got up and went to the phone. "Good evening, Mrs. Hanson....yes, I am aware of that....she did WHAT?!...I see...No, we're not....this whole thing is blown so out of proportion that I'm not really sure...we're trying to think of something....are you sure?...all right, we'll be there. Thank you so much, Mrs. Hanson....I'm sorry. We'll see you soon, Diana." Jamie hung up and looked at the rest of them. "Diana wants us over at the house. She wants to meet me and get the whole story."
"Do you want to do that?" Zac asked.
Jamie shrugged. "It's better than staying here alone in this house. My parents are gone, and Moni's parents think she's sleeping over here."
"Then come home with us. You guys can have the guest bedroom," Isaac said. Jamie nodded.
"It's the only way."
They left Jamie's house and got in the cars parked in front of the house. Taylor decided to ride with Jamie and Monica, so he could "direct them to our house," as he put it. Jamie didn't mention that they could have just followed the other car. She knew Taylor just wanted to be with Monica.
The ride was silent in Jamie's car until Taylor spoke. "So Monica, how long have you and Jamie been friends?"
"A long time," she replied briefly from the front seat. Jamie looked over at her quickly; Monica sighed inwardly and turned to Taylor. "We met at school a few years ago...seventh grade, I believe it was. I didn't know very many people, never having been a very social person. Jamie, though, was so friendly that she always had lots of people with her. We were in some of the same classes, but I didn't really know her. The school year went by. That spring, though, was when we really met. I had become a Hanson fan when MMMBop came out, but I hadn't really told anyone. One day in April, I just happened to be humming MMMBop when Jamie passed me. She stopped and asked if that was MMMBop. I wasn't sure if she was another fan, or she just wanted to ridicule you or me for listening to you. But I admitted that yes, it was MMMBop."
Jamie continued, "When I heard that there was another Hanson fan, I was totally ecstatic. You know by now about my experiences with boys. When I first heard of you guys and saw Isaac, all that seemed to just...disappear. I thought...I thought he would be different." She couldn't continue as a tear rolled down her face.
Taylor thought for a second and then made his decision. He had to tell her. "Jamie, he is different. I know this is probably going to be hard to accept, but Ike really does like you."
"If that's how he treats the girls he likes, I'd hate to see how he treats the ones he doesn't like," Monica said scornfully.
"Moni," Jamie warned harshly.
"Turn right, Jamie," Taylor warned. Jamie expertly turned the wheel into Hanson's driveway. Isaac jumped out of his car and came to Jamie's side of the car.
"Hey, Jamie, could you park in the street? My parents have this thing about too many cars in the driveway," Isaac said carefully.
"Sure, no prob," Jamie said, looking behind her and waiting for everyone to get out. Taylor closed Monica's door and they went to stand beside Isaac, who was watching Jamie back out into the street.
"Watch out!" Isaac started to say, but it was too late. Jamie's car almost collided with a crazy black car screeching down the street. Monica ran down to where Jamie was getting out of the car.
"Jules, are you all right?" Monica asked worriedly, knowing that her friend was very shaken up. She looked very pale.
"Moni, Karen was in that car," Jamie whispered nervously. "She knows. She's set Diana and me up for something. I don't...."
"Jamie!" Isaac called, coming over to her side. Monica watched as he started to reach out for her, but pulled his arms back. Jamie looked up at him and gave him a careful hug.
"I'm all right, Isaac. Don't worry," she said upon pulling away. "Moni, let's go on in. I want to meet Diana and tell her, okay?"
"You're sure you're all right?"
"My neck is a little stiff, but I'm fine," Jamie smiled. "Come on."
Monica followed Jamie up to the door, knowing her friend wasn't a complainer and probably wouldn't say anything even if she was hurt. But Monica had to admire the way Jamie had handled herself with the car and with Isaac. They were definitely made for each other, she thought to herself.
Chapter 12
Forbidden Angels
Story Page
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