The Sopranos: Caliper Story

EPISODE TWO (Part Two)

EPISODE TWO (Part Two)

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The “backyard” is what we call our little upgrade to the safe house. Basically it’s where Jess does her mechanic stuff, where I paint cars, and where all of us could just test drive new mods newly installed into our vehicles, for example, my muscle car’s tire grips.

     It’s like a large open-air court enough to be a small parking lot. The light of day hits me when I walk out the back doors, and I spot Jess, twirling around in her Ford. Even as she drove wildly, leaving skid marks on the concrete, she still manages to give me a little wave.

     I smile back, although I looked ridiculous doing it while squinting from the sun. Beside me, against the wall was a work table, riddled with splatters of random paint and rusted tools. There was however, a walkie talkie just sitting there.

     I take a hold of it and press a button to speak into it. “Where’re the others?” I ask, and I see Jess craning her head to get better audio from her speakers because her window was open, the rushing wind was louder than them. 

     I had to put the walkie talkie to my ears to hear properly. Her Ford GT might not be a muscle car, but damn, that exotic is loud. “Court and Ryan are on a date, I think. Ross, well, I don’t know. Eddie’s training around in the city. You’re standing in front of the back door,” I chuckle. “And Jay is behind you.” She says cheerily.

     I tilt my head. “What?” I lift an eyebrow. 

     “Hey,” A low voice whispers, then I’m grabbed from around my stomach and lifted off my feet. I stifle a shriek and chuckle. 

     I feel a small kiss on my cheek, and his light laugh vibrates on my back. “Put me down.” I try to act irritated so I wouldn’t seem so pathetic. I push him back playfully and side step him. 

     “Is everything ready?” I ask, walking into the safe house and checking the wall screens.

     Jay grabs me again, digging his chin into my shoulder, the stubble on his chin tickling me. “Come on, forget the event for a minute.” He said, “Court and Ryan went out. Why can’t we?”

     I stretch my arms out to get his arms off me. “Nothing.” I say, it sounded more defensively than I meant it to.

     “Did I do something?” He licks his lips,

     I lift an eyebrow at him. “Really? Licking your lips? What do you think I am? Some kind of crazy, love struck-“

     And he shuts me up with a quick pull towards him and a deep kiss. I breathe in his smell. Oddly, he smelled musky, like gasoline. He pulls away and I end up looking him in the eyes. But the thing is, it was like they had no effect.

     Like they didn’t have any depth to me, anymore. And his kiss. Was that even a kiss? I didn’t remember feeling anything.

     I turn and look away, the disappointment and confusion visible on his face. “Can we talk about this?” He follows me around even though I wasn’t really going anywhere.

     I shrug and head over to the mini fridge, getting myself some soda. Our relationship hasn’t been . . . as great as Court and Ryan’s. No denying, I’ve been having nightmares about the whole Helena thing. Even until now, and I still wake up in a pool of my own sweat.

     And in some dreams, Helena just suddenly turns into Jay. For months before my birthday, I’ve refused to kiss him or let him hug me. The crew’s been noticing, but they never thought anything of it.