Nick knocks on Ali’s door for the third time and then checks his watch. They’re supposed to go have dinner tonight but she’s not answering. He sighs and knocks again.
“NICKY!” Ali yells behind him and he turns round to see Ali and Jay walking towards him. “Hey babes,” she kisses his cheek. “Did we say 7pm?”
“Uh huh.”
“Sorry. I just went to the beach with Jay. Gimme ten minutes to get changed and we can go,” she runs into the house, leaving the two guys to eye each other.
“You ok?” Jay asks.
“Uh huh. You?”
“I’m good. Had a good day with Al.”
“Al?” Nick feels himself get angry over the other guy’s casual use of his name for her. “Well that’s good,” he says calmly. “What’d you do?”
“Went swimming, stuff like that,” Jay shrugs and walks into the house. Nick follows him. “Drink?” he asks as though he owns the place.
“I think I’ll wait,” Nick mutters. “I’m takin’ Ali to a Mexican place for dinner.”
“Mexican?” Jay raises an eyebrow. “Y’know Ali doesn’t like real spicy stuff.”
“Actually, she does.”
“Really? Gee, she’s changed lately.”
“She’s changed a LOT,” Nick says firmly.
“That’s good. So, how’s Brian?”
“I saw him earlier. We had a game of b-ball. He seemed good.”
“Seemed?”
“Well, we both know he still loves your sister,” Nick shrugs. “Not that she deserves it.”
“Sorry?” Jay asks dangerously.
“Jade fucked up both Brian and AJ,” Nick says angrily. “As far as I’m concerned this place is a damn sight better without her!”
“That’s my sister you’re talkin’ about,” Jay reminds him.
“And you are SO alike,” Nick shoots back. “Seein’ as you tried to break me and Ali up.”
“You did that all by yourself!” Jay yells.
“Well, she chose me over you,” Nick smirks.
“I love her but she has god awful taste,” Jay responds.
“Whatever. You’re just jealous.”
“Of YOU?!” Jay chuckles. “I don’t think so. I’ve moved on Nick. I suggest you do the same. And if I ever hear you diss my sister again, I will personally ram those words back down ya throat. Get me?!”
“Whoa,” Ali walks into the room. “What’s goin’ on here?!”
“Just havin’ a friendly chat,” Jay says and kisses her on the cheek. “Go have fun.”
“C’mon Al,” Nick grabs her hand and practically pulls her outside to his car.
“Calm down Nick,” she pulls her hand out of his grip. “Why are you guys fighting?”
“We’re not!”
“I gotta go,” Jay walks past them to his own car.
“Where?” Ali asks him.
“The Samba,” he replies and drives away.
“The Samba?!” Nick sneers. “Well I guess he will feel right at home in that dive.”
“Cheap shot Nick,” Ali tells him with a hard look. “Why are you so down on him?”
“You know why!” Nick yells. “You guys are too damn close!”
“He’s my friend.”
“He fuckin’ LOVES ya! This is Brian, Jade and AJ all over again and I’m not standing by to watch that happen to me!”
“Nick, trust me!” Ali yells. “I love you. I don’t love Jay. He doesn’t even want to be with me anymore!”
“Oh, so if he did you’d be with him?!”
“No! Oh for fuck’s sake Nick, grow up!” she yells and storms back into the house.
“Hey we got a date!”
“Not anymore we haven’t!” she responds, slamming the door in his face.
“ALI!” he yells and hits the door hard.
“Fuck off!”
“FINE!” he marches back to his car and drives away. He is so mad at Ali but he is even madder at Jay. He decides to go find him and the Samba club and have it out.
Twenty minutes later, Nick walks into the dark club. He looks around and soon spots Jay talking to a guy at the end of the bar. He marches straight over.
“Hey Jay, I’m not done with you yet,” he says angrily as the two men look at him.
“Not now,” Jay hisses as the other guy gives him a hard look.
“Jay? What’s this Jay business?” he asks him. “You said your name is Paul.”
“Jay is a nickname.”
“What the fuck?!” Nick blusters, totally confused but refusing to back down.
“Go away Nick,” Jay says angrily.
“No way,” Nick shakes his head. “I want to know what’s goin’ on with you and my girlfriend.”
“You been screwin’ with this guy’s girl?” asks Jay’s companion amusedly.
“Well, ya know…” Jay puts on a swagger, making Nick madder than before.
“Oh I KNEW it!”
“Nick, calm down!” Jay hisses. “This is not the time or the place.”
“Oh you just think you’re so much better than me,” Nick rants angrily. “Mr big FBI man, Mr I-singlehandedly-rid-the-streets-of-drugs, Mr big cop guy…” he trails off as he realises Jay’s companion has gone slightly red.
“You’re a COP?!” he spits at Jay who backs off slightly, pushing Nick behind him. “You’re a goddamn COP!”
“Hey, this guy’s been drinking,” Jay laughs lightly. “Just relax man and I’ll sort him out.”
“What’s to sort out? You’re a cop!” he yells and the entire club goes quiet.
“Uh,” Nick mutters behind Jay.
“Shut up!” Jay tells him angrily.
“You shut up!” the guy tells him, pulling out a gun.
“Fuck,” Nick whispers, feeling his legs go weak. A gun. Why the hell had he let his temper carry him here? Now he had put himself and Jay in serious danger.
“Just calm down,” Jay says calmly, holding his hands out to show that he has no weapon. “It’s ok. Just put the gun down and I’ll just leave.”
“You’ve been watching me!” the guy yells.
“Put the gun down,” Jay says firmly. “Don’t make this any worse than it already is.”
“FREEZE!” a voice behind Nick yells and he whirls around to see three guys in the doorway, wearing flak jackets and holding guns.
A shot rings out and Nick looks back just as Jay flies back into him. They both land on the floor as the police officers run in to disarm the shooter.
“Jay?” Nick whispers as he crawls out from underneath him. “Jay?” he looks into his wide open eyes and shakes him hard. “C’mon man, say somethin’!”
“Move!” a police officer yells, pushing Nick out of the way and kneeling by Jay. “Shit. Start CPR…” his voice fades out as Nick looks down at his clothing and notices a big spot of blood over his chest. He lifts up his shirt and realises he isn’t hurt. It is Jay’s blood. There’s also blood on his hands and the floor. Such a lot of blood he thinks as he slowly crumples to the ground.
Nick comes round in an ambulance. He stares up into the face of a paramedic. He tries to sit up as he remembers what happened.
“Lie down,” the medic tells him gently.
“But I… Where’s Jay?” Nick asks. “The FBI guy who was shot in the club, where is he?!”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes!”
“I’m very sorry but there was nothing we could do. He died immediately.”
“Oh my god…” Nick mutters and shakes his head. “No, he can’t be dead…”
“I’m sorry.”
“I need to see Ali. Does she know? And Jade and Brian?”
“Please, just sit back. We’re nearly at the hospital. You can speak to them there.”
“I don’t need hospital treatment.”
“You hit your head when you passed out. We just need to check you over.”
“Jay’s really dead?” he whispers as he lies back on the stretcher.
“I’m very sorry.”