Outside her house, on a warm summer day, Angela climbs into Jordan's parked car. She's grinning, and he smiles at her, sedately, and sincere. "Happy birthday." She smiles, and kisses him, slow and sweet. When she pulls away, she's smiling.

"Thank you."

"Sixteen."

Smiling, "That's right."

"So," eyeing her, "what's the plan?"

"Um, Rickie and I are going into the city tomorrow night. And dinner with the family tonight. Sharon's coming, I think. Maybe sleeping over."

Taking her hand, repositioning their fingers several times, "What about today?"

Smiling, "Nothing."

"Can I have the day?"

"Of course."

"Beach?"

Smiling wider with a decisive nod, "Sure."

Jordan watches her a moment, studying her face, then he breaks his gaze to take something from the glove box. "Here." He passes her a small plain box. She beams, and looks him steadily in the eye, then smiles again, and opens the box. In it are two guitar picks. She smiles a bit, tucks her hair, then looks back at him. Watching her, "You said you wanted to learn."

Smiling again, "Thank you." She leans in and kisses him. When she's returned to her side of the car, she quietly conjures enthusiasm, "I'm excited."

Still watching her, Jordan offhandedly adds, "Oh, and that." He jerks his head towards his rearview mirror where a small necklace hangs. She looks, then looks back at him, hiding her surprise with a head tilt and her sincerest smile. Pulling her eyes away from him, she takes the delicate silver chain down from the mirror, and holding it lightly in her hands she runs her fingertips over the small, hand-hammered silver hoop and blue enamel disc within. Looking back to him, she speaks softly, "Wow. _ It's great." Jordan's uncomfortable by her reaction. He hadn't meant it to be a big thing, which it turns, out is what touched her. "Thank you." He shrugs; but watches from the corner of his eyes as her hair falls around her face, partially shielding her lingering smile as she fastens it around her neck.

"No sweat." He stops, and censures himself. "I mean, 'Yeah; you're welcome.' Happy birthday."

Peeking briefly into the rearview mirror, she places her hand over the pendant where it rests on her collarbone. "Okay; give me five minutes to grab my stuff." He nods and smiles.

…

At the beach, Jordan and Angela lay, enjoying the sun. Jordan turns to her, "So why no party?"

Angela lifts her head and purses her lips to the side, "I don't know…" Fingering her necklace she smiles as she jokes to change the subject, "You know you wear more jewelry than I do?" He promptly throws a handful of sand at her bronzing legs.

"Do you want to go to a party?"

"And what, pretend that it's for me?"

He makes a face at her; sometimes she says the strangest things. He continues, though to him it should have been obvious, "And have a good time."

"Is there a party tonight?"

He shrugs. "It's summer."

"So, there's automatically a party?"

He shrugs again. "Wanna?"

Angela's squints one eye, "Sharon's supposed –"

"She can come." This gives Angela pause.

"You want to go to a party with Sharon Chirsky?"

"I wanna hang with you - on your birthday. _ I don't mind Sharon."

Smiling, "You don't?" Her dubiety amuses him.

"You going in?"

Shielding her eyes she looks out to the water, "Yep."

…

That evening, Sharon, Angela and Jordan enter the backyard of a house party. The yard, lit with colored string lights, is crowded with people. Music blares from speakers sitting on the ledge of an open upstairs window. Sharon leans in in order to be heard, "So, who's party is this?"

Jordan answers while he surveys the scene, "Klepper." The girls don't know the name. "Uh, Lucas Klepper. You know, the guy who—" Both girls shake their heads.

"No." They look around as Jordan grabs three beers. Jordan pops the lids, handing one to Sharon, and pausing before handing one to Angela; she too's not sure she wants it, but momentarily she accepts it. Jordan glances at her as he drinks his, then once more scans the party. Offhandedly he mentions, "I called Brian." Sharon laughs.

Incredulous, Angela questions him, "You did?"

Jordan shrugs. "He's cool. And Tino likes him. Plus, he's gotta get out more."

Sharon mocks emphatic enthusiasm, "Aw, Krakow outreach." Angela and she laugh.

Jordan looks at them in surprise. "You two are mean." His hand in her hair at the nape of her neck, he kisses the side of Angela's head, then walks into the party.

Sharon watches him leave, "I hate when he's sweet." Angela rolls her eyes. "'Cuz, when he's sweet—"

Eyeing her best friend wryly, "It makes it hard to continuously, relentlessly, and unforgivingly hate him."

Shooting Angela her sassy and knowing look, Sharon concedes, "Something like that."

"He's not bad."

"He likes Brian Krakow."

"We like Brian Krakow. Now."

Reluctantly admitting it, "I don't, hate, the necklace." Angela laughs. "So, what do you do at these things?"

"You go to parties."

"Not, 'Jordan Catalano and company' parties." Angela chuckles.

Taking a step off the deck further into the yard, she takes on the demeanor of a seasoned, good-natured tour guide. "Well, I chit-chat a little, with people who only know me as Jordan's girlfriend; walk around a bit; wait for decent music; then hang out with Jordan. Oh, and be on the look out for stage divers. Don't ask."

"Doesn't sound all that crazy."

Considering, "I've never seen him anything but mellow. _ Mostly." The girls observe as a guy runs past them and tackles another guy to the ground. It's unclear whether this is a friendly or hostile act. Sharon and Angela walk past, detached and unfazed. "They're not all like that."

Sharon sips from her drink as they walk on. "I'm assuming he kisses with more enthusiasm than he does anything else." Angela chuckles.

Posted 9/2/12