Angel Unawares

Jade Loses Both Ways

"It was really awesome to see you again," Aaron told Danny as the two brothers were saying good-bye to one another. "That's something I thought would never happen."

Danny grinned. "Life's full of surprises, isn't it?"

"It sure is," Aaron agreed. "What's amazing to me is that you're still the same little brother I had as a kid, only you're a lot more mature now."

"Of course I am." Danny laughed. "What were you expecting, some kind of freak?"

"To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm awfully glad you're still you."

A few moments later, Danny materialized inside Jade's apartment. "I'm going to have to ask you to please stop contacting my family members," he told her. "All you're doing is upsetting them. I've already told you it's over between us. No amount of begging and pleading is going to change that."

"You love her now, don't you?" Jade's voice was sullen.

"We've become very good friends," Danny acknowledged.

"I guess it'll make you happy to know Gideon left me," Jade replied.

"Only because you refused to let go of the past and insisted on hanging on to it."

"I thought that if I left you a message telling you how I felt, you'd realize how much I still love you," Jade whined.

Danny shook his head. "All it showed was how stubborn and childish you can be."

"So there's no hope that we can ever be together again?" Jade asked forlornly.

"I already told you that once, Jade. It's time you accepted it."

"But I don't know what I'll do!" Jade wailed. "I miss you so much!"

He vanished, leaving her to wallow in despair.

"Amber?" Mrs. Williams asked as the students left to go to their next class. Amber obediently stopped by the teacher's desk.

"I just wanted to tell you that a girl named Annabelle Schneider won the district poetry contest," Mrs. Williams continued. "But your poem came in second place, which I thought was pretty good, considering the number of contestants there were. I'm proud of you. You did really well."

"OK, well, that's great...I guess." Amber gave a half smile. The only cash prize had been the fifty dollar award for the first place poem.

Swallowing her disappointment, Amber shoved the poetry contest to the back of her mind and went on with her day. Danny was waiting for her when school let out. As he'd spent the previous weekend in Virginia with Aaron, she was really happy to see him.

"I'm sorry your poem didn't win first place," he told her. "I really liked it a lot."

Amber sighed. "Just the breaks, I guess."

"Hey." Danny gave her a quick embrace. "Second place is something to be proud of, girl, and one day, you're going to win first place at something."

"That would be nice," Amber replied. "So, how did your weekend with Aaron go?"

"Really swimmingly, thanks. I'd forgotten how much fun we used to have together. Say, since you were such a good sport about last weekend, how about if I take you somewhere really special this weekend?"

Amber thought of something. "Can you take me to heaven and introduce me to those guys you hung around with up there?"

Danny looked amused for just a minute, then sadly shook his head. "Sorry. Has to be somewhere on earth."

"Hm." Amber propped her chin on her fist, deep in thought.

"Hey, no pressure. Just think about it and let me know later."

"Is Gideon here?" Jade asked Noah.

"He just went to the store to pick up a couple of things," Noah told her. "He'll be back in a minute or two, if you want to wait."

Jade sat down on the sofa, which was strewn with dirty clothing, and watched whatever random reality program was on the television. She was just becoming interested in the show when Gideon appeared.

"What are you doing here?" His voice held a note of unmistakable hostility.

"I just wanted to tell you that I realize now that I made a horrible mistake," Jade replied. "I swear to you, Gideon, you're the only man I'll ever love. What I had with Danny was nothing compared to what you and I had together."

Gideon held his palm up to her. "Talk to the hand."

"Please, Gideon, I really mean it!" Jade's voice held a note of desperation.

"Forget it, Jade." Gideon turned and walked away. "There's nothing left to talk about."

Amber thought long and hard about where she wanted Danny to take her for the rest of the week, and when he met her after school Friday afternoon, she had an answer for him.