The Fork in the Road (Chapter 1 of 2)
title: The Fork in the Road
author: jacquelin825
rating: Pg-13 (for language)
chapter(s): 1 of 2
an: This is based on my Possibility video.
This is my OC Jordan Vaughn!
Here the vid!fics (as I am calling them) that led me to create her, and her story:
Down (Jordan/Ben)
Carry Me Through (Jordan/Adrian/Matt)
In My Arms (Jordan and Matt Vaughn)
Possibility (Jordan Vaughn)
--- Matt is a LOST OC from ciaimpala . Me and her have been semi-collaborating and creating this wonderful brother/sister relationship. Please go read her story HERE. Jordan is mentioned in it as well :)
------------
The Fork in the Road
Pt. 1 - The Funeral
Jordan sat awkwardly in her living room with Kara, Matt's good friend and ex-girlfriend in high school.
Also in attendance was Mrs. Graham the attorney for her parent’s estate, and her trust fund. It's not like Jordan was rich, but her parents did set aside some money for school before they died. Matt was in charge of the account. She wouldn't be able to access it till she was eighteen, and then she was only allowed to use it for college.
She dropped out two weeks ago, Jordan saw no real point to anything now a days.
"Ms. Vaughn we need to deal with your brother's belongings" Mrs. Graham snapped Jordan out of her dazed thoughts.
Jordan didn't respond. She just sat there, pretending to ignore what was being said to her.
Kara took Jordan's hand into hers. "It's best if we donate most of it to charities and other places like that. Matt would have wanted it that way. You can keep the things that mean the most to you"
Jordan scoffed, "He is going to be pretty pissed off when he comes home, and finds that all his stupid shit is missing. Don't you think?" Jordan stood up and walked of the living room.
"Everything stays" she finished.
Kara followed her to the front door, where Jordan had opened it. It was a gesture saying you may leave now.
Jordan was being a bitch, she knew. Mrs. Graham was always very nice to her and Matt. Mrs. Graham really helped Matt when he was fighting to gain full guardianship, but it didn't really matter anymore to Jordan. None of it.
Kara let Mrs. Graham step out first. She turned her attention back to Jordan, "So everything is finalized. Matt's coffin will be buried next to your parents, there will be the 21 gun salute, and you will be handed the flag. The limo will be picking you up at...."
"No need" Jordan interjected
"And why is that?"
Jordan looked up to meet Kara's eyes, "Because I am not going"
Before Kara could argue, Jordan was closing the door in her face.
____
Jordan carefully placed her outfit for the day across her bed, a matching pair of lacey blue bra and panties, a black skirt that would land just above her knees and a blue halter top. She stood there for a couple minutes admiring her handy work.
"Are we going to be making an appearance anytime soon, Jordan Marie?" Jordan giggled at her brother shouting at her from the kitchen.
"Beauty takes time" she shouted back "We all can’t be as naturally pretty as yourself"
It never took her long to get ready for the day. After she finished dressing, Jordan quickly ran her fingers through her wet hair and put some lip balm on.
She stepped into the kitchen where Matt had prepares some breakfast.
"Toast and fruit? Revolutionary" Jordan teased with a smile.
"Hey, you take what give you and like it"
Jordan saluted Matt, and laughed, "Yes, sir"
Jordan woke with a start. It was the third night in a row that Jordan dreamed of Matt. She looked over at her bedside table. The beer bottle she placed there the night before was still standing in the same spot. She reached over and began to take a drink, only to find the bottle’s contents was empty.
“Fan-fucken-tastic” She willed her body into an upright position.
Jordan palmed at her bedside table for her cell phone. When her fingers finally made contact with the piece of technology she began to dial.
The call was placed, and Jordan waited and waited for someone to answer.
Ring.
Pick up.
Ring.
Shit!
Finally Jordan got the answering machine, “Hey, its Jordan…kind of running low on, ummm….supplies. Give me a call back. I won’t be home…. Oh, and I have 20 dollars….that should be enough, right? Well anyways, call me back. Bye.”
Jordan got herself ready for the day, and headed out. She decided it was about time to put some food into her body. It was going on three days of nothing but pills and booze. She figured there was nothing but rotten milk and some old casserole that had been sitting there for two weeks.
Jordan spent the next hour feeling like a normal girl her age, for once. She stopped by Wrappers, the vegan dive a couple blocks from her house. Then she spent some time in a small park across the street from Wrappers. Kids were playing and smiling. She remembered not too long ago who brought her here once upon a time…
Matt was trying to keep up as his 6 year old sister dragged him the two blocks to the park. She desperately wanted to swing. He didn’t mind at all. He was seventeen, and while most of his friends were off scamming girls at the mall, he would rather spend his free time with his little sister. Matt was getting ready for his last year in high school, and then he would leave the house and start a new life on his own. Why wouldn’t he want to spend all the time he could with Jordan? The next time he would get to see her, she will probably be a young lady ready for make-up and boys.
“THE SWINGS” Jordan shouted. Before he could stop her Jordan had slipped from his grasp and was running at full speed to the swings.
“Slow down Jordan Marie” he shouted, but it had no effect on the six year old.
In a blink of an eye Jordan tripped and fell on the concrete surrounding the playground. Matt rushed to her side and bent down to see what damage was done.
It was nothing more than a scraped knee, but Matt saw the tears welling up in Jordan’s eyes.
“Hey, no crying. I warned you, Jord.” Jordan still looked like she was on the brink of crying. So instead of a lecture, he opted to extend his arms out and let Jordan crawl into his embrace. They sat there for a little while before Jordan spoke up again, “Can we swing now?”
“What’s up lollipop?” Jordan looked up; only one person on this planet called her lollipop, and lived to tell the tale.
James Cook. That name alone would send her brother into a fit of anger. Jordan met him right before Matt decided he needed to leave town for a while. Right around the time that her and Ben ended their relationship.
Jordan gave him a week smile “Hey Cookie”
“Tried your house, but no one was home. Figured this would be a good place to find you”
“Here I am”
James always had a way of making her forget the pain…
Jordan sat in the student lounge, doodling random things into her notebook. She skipped her first class of the day. It was intro socioeconomics. A class she had no real interest in, but was there to keep Matt off her back about all the art course she signed up for this semester.
“What’s wrong lollipop?” A stranger with a British accent asked, and Jordan looked up from her trance
He is cute, was her first thought. A crooked smile and tattoos that cover both arms, dirty blonde hair and pretty green eyes.
“Do I know you?” Jordan asked, hoping her rude tone would scare him off for the time being
“Ah come on now, is that any way to treat a stranger?”
Jordan just looked up at him skeptically. He flopped his body right next to her on the couch.
“James Cook” he extended his hand, and slowly Jordan reached out to meet with his
“Jordan”
“See there, we’re not strangers no more, yeah?”
“Yeah”
“Well on with it lollipop, what’s the matter”
“Fine, if I share my problems with you will you stop calling me that?”
“No promises” Cook said with a grin “Now get on with it; I’m late for a class”
Jordan took in a deep breath. She didn’t know why she was about to bare her sole out to this complete stranger, but all she wanted was to tell him. Maybe get some perspective.
“Ever wonder how you got here?
“Took a train and bus to get here”
“That is not what I meant. Never mind”
“I’m not an expert on life. Not the person to be asking”
“I thought I knew what the future held, but now…”
“Fuck the future” His response shocked her. “You keep on planning for this future and your life will pass on by. Live in the moment, Jordz. Sex, drugs, Rock n Roll…all that jazz”
“Fuck the future?”
“Yeah” he nodded with a grin
“I don’t know about that one, James”
Cook leapt to his feat, “Come on” he reached for Jordan’s hand “Live in the moment”
Jordan rose to her feat. “You are late for your class”
“What class?” he laughed and Jordan followed suit
“Lead the way James”
“Call me Cook”
“Okay, Cook. Let’s get out of here”
Jordan and Cook made their way back to the house.
They stayed together for a couple more hours; took pills and began drinking whatever alcohol Jordan had left in her cabinets. Cook invited her to yet another party across town, but Jordan declined.
“I have somewhere to be tomorrow”
“Oh really” He smirked “A place better than getting fucked with me, tonight?”
“Matt’s funeral thing is tomorrow” Cook looked down at the ground.
“Sorry Lollipop. Want me to go with you?”
“No. I’ll be fine”
It might have been the handful of white pills James gave her, but at that moment she really did feel like everything was going to be alright.
____
The next morning Jordan rolled out of bed only to realize she was already 15 minutes late for Matt’s memorial service.
“I’m going hell” she murmured to herself.
She had a headache that would slay an elephant, and no clean clothes at the moment. Okay she would be going to her brother’s service looking a complete mess. But it’s the thought that counts, right?
She gathered what clothing seemed clean enough, and headed to the shower. It only took her ten minutes to bathe herself, and another ten minutes to get out the door.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw the limo waiting for her.
Kara. Of course.
____
The limo took her to the St. Mary Cemetery. The same place were her parent’s were laid to rest.
Rest. What a fucken joke. No one truly knows how much unrest comes with death. I hate this. I hate my Parents. I hate Matt.
Just when Jordan was about to tell the driver to turn around, a tall man in a penguin suit opened her door. As she stepped out, she could see the rather large gathering down the hill. It hadn’t looked as if they started the service. The priest was no where in sight just a bunch of people looking sad and morose.
What did they have to be sad about? She was the one who lost everything.
Everyone seemed to turn and look at her arriving. It was as if Jordan had a huge red sign taped to her back. The stares for the most part seemed sympathetic. Understanding.
It was Ben that stood up and greeted her. He pulled Jordan into a warm embrace, and it wasn’t as awkward as Jordan thought it would be.
“Glad you decided to come” he whispered into her ear.
“Yeah me too” she lied.
Ben could still smell yesterday’s party on Jordan’s breath but he decided not to say anything. Not now, anyways.
As soon as Jordan was seated in the front row of chairs, the Priest came out and began. It made her think that they were holding up the show just on her account.
It was a boring hour and a half of the Priest blabbing grief and love.
It was at this point the priest said something that made Jordan’s blood boil. Something about God wanting to take his son back to be with him. And how we should all feel better knowing he is in a better place.
Who the hell was God to take anything away from her. Hasn’t he done enough?
Jordan stood up and walked away from the service and the crowd.
Ben followed her, “Jordan” he called out, not caring that the many people behind him could probably hear him loud and clear. When he caught up with her Ben grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around.
“I did my part. Okay Ben. I came I grieved so everyone could see. I played my part perfectly. But if you really think that service was for Matt or even me, you aren’t the guy I thought you were!”
“Are you finished?” Ben asked but didn’t wait for an answer “I know this isn’t for Matt or even you. I could care less if you decided to lock yourself in your room for a month and just cried. But this…” Ben motioned wildly towards Jordan “…is no way of grieving your brother. Are you trying to join him Jord? Do you want to die?”
“Maybe I do. So what?” Jordan started to walk away, but Ben grabbed at her hand.
“Don’t…” Ben still had a grasp on Jordan, but she pulled away hard enough and continued to walk in the direction of the limo.
Instead of getting a ride back to her house, Jordan opted to walk there instead. She pulled her cell phone out and began to dial Cook’s number.
“Hey it’s me…..is there a party tonight?……Okay great, pick me up at 10?”
TBC…
up next...Pt. 2 - The Party
author: jacquelin825
rating: Pg-13 (for language)
chapter(s): 1 of 2
an: This is based on my Possibility video.
This is my OC Jordan Vaughn!
Here the vid!fics (as I am calling them) that led me to create her, and her story:
Down (Jordan/Ben)
Carry Me Through (Jordan/Adrian/Matt)
In My Arms (Jordan and Matt Vaughn)
Possibility (Jordan Vaughn)
--- Matt is a LOST OC from ciaimpala . Me and her have been semi-collaborating and creating this wonderful brother/sister relationship. Please go read her story HERE. Jordan is mentioned in it as well :)
------------
The Fork in the Road
Pt. 1 - The Funeral
Jordan sat awkwardly in her living room with Kara, Matt's good friend and ex-girlfriend in high school.
Also in attendance was Mrs. Graham the attorney for her parent’s estate, and her trust fund. It's not like Jordan was rich, but her parents did set aside some money for school before they died. Matt was in charge of the account. She wouldn't be able to access it till she was eighteen, and then she was only allowed to use it for college.
She dropped out two weeks ago, Jordan saw no real point to anything now a days.
"Ms. Vaughn we need to deal with your brother's belongings" Mrs. Graham snapped Jordan out of her dazed thoughts.
Jordan didn't respond. She just sat there, pretending to ignore what was being said to her.
Kara took Jordan's hand into hers. "It's best if we donate most of it to charities and other places like that. Matt would have wanted it that way. You can keep the things that mean the most to you"
Jordan scoffed, "He is going to be pretty pissed off when he comes home, and finds that all his stupid shit is missing. Don't you think?" Jordan stood up and walked of the living room.
"Everything stays" she finished.
Kara followed her to the front door, where Jordan had opened it. It was a gesture saying you may leave now.
Jordan was being a bitch, she knew. Mrs. Graham was always very nice to her and Matt. Mrs. Graham really helped Matt when he was fighting to gain full guardianship, but it didn't really matter anymore to Jordan. None of it.
Kara let Mrs. Graham step out first. She turned her attention back to Jordan, "So everything is finalized. Matt's coffin will be buried next to your parents, there will be the 21 gun salute, and you will be handed the flag. The limo will be picking you up at...."
"No need" Jordan interjected
"And why is that?"
Jordan looked up to meet Kara's eyes, "Because I am not going"
Before Kara could argue, Jordan was closing the door in her face.
____
Jordan carefully placed her outfit for the day across her bed, a matching pair of lacey blue bra and panties, a black skirt that would land just above her knees and a blue halter top. She stood there for a couple minutes admiring her handy work.
"Are we going to be making an appearance anytime soon, Jordan Marie?" Jordan giggled at her brother shouting at her from the kitchen.
"Beauty takes time" she shouted back "We all can’t be as naturally pretty as yourself"
It never took her long to get ready for the day. After she finished dressing, Jordan quickly ran her fingers through her wet hair and put some lip balm on.
She stepped into the kitchen where Matt had prepares some breakfast.
"Toast and fruit? Revolutionary" Jordan teased with a smile.
"Hey, you take what give you and like it"
Jordan saluted Matt, and laughed, "Yes, sir"
Jordan woke with a start. It was the third night in a row that Jordan dreamed of Matt. She looked over at her bedside table. The beer bottle she placed there the night before was still standing in the same spot. She reached over and began to take a drink, only to find the bottle’s contents was empty.
“Fan-fucken-tastic” She willed her body into an upright position.
Jordan palmed at her bedside table for her cell phone. When her fingers finally made contact with the piece of technology she began to dial.
The call was placed, and Jordan waited and waited for someone to answer.
Ring.
Pick up.
Ring.
Shit!
Finally Jordan got the answering machine, “Hey, its Jordan…kind of running low on, ummm….supplies. Give me a call back. I won’t be home…. Oh, and I have 20 dollars….that should be enough, right? Well anyways, call me back. Bye.”
Jordan got herself ready for the day, and headed out. She decided it was about time to put some food into her body. It was going on three days of nothing but pills and booze. She figured there was nothing but rotten milk and some old casserole that had been sitting there for two weeks.
Jordan spent the next hour feeling like a normal girl her age, for once. She stopped by Wrappers, the vegan dive a couple blocks from her house. Then she spent some time in a small park across the street from Wrappers. Kids were playing and smiling. She remembered not too long ago who brought her here once upon a time…
Matt was trying to keep up as his 6 year old sister dragged him the two blocks to the park. She desperately wanted to swing. He didn’t mind at all. He was seventeen, and while most of his friends were off scamming girls at the mall, he would rather spend his free time with his little sister. Matt was getting ready for his last year in high school, and then he would leave the house and start a new life on his own. Why wouldn’t he want to spend all the time he could with Jordan? The next time he would get to see her, she will probably be a young lady ready for make-up and boys.
“THE SWINGS” Jordan shouted. Before he could stop her Jordan had slipped from his grasp and was running at full speed to the swings.
“Slow down Jordan Marie” he shouted, but it had no effect on the six year old.
In a blink of an eye Jordan tripped and fell on the concrete surrounding the playground. Matt rushed to her side and bent down to see what damage was done.
It was nothing more than a scraped knee, but Matt saw the tears welling up in Jordan’s eyes.
“Hey, no crying. I warned you, Jord.” Jordan still looked like she was on the brink of crying. So instead of a lecture, he opted to extend his arms out and let Jordan crawl into his embrace. They sat there for a little while before Jordan spoke up again, “Can we swing now?”
“What’s up lollipop?” Jordan looked up; only one person on this planet called her lollipop, and lived to tell the tale.
James Cook. That name alone would send her brother into a fit of anger. Jordan met him right before Matt decided he needed to leave town for a while. Right around the time that her and Ben ended their relationship.
Jordan gave him a week smile “Hey Cookie”
“Tried your house, but no one was home. Figured this would be a good place to find you”
“Here I am”
James always had a way of making her forget the pain…
Jordan sat in the student lounge, doodling random things into her notebook. She skipped her first class of the day. It was intro socioeconomics. A class she had no real interest in, but was there to keep Matt off her back about all the art course she signed up for this semester.
“What’s wrong lollipop?” A stranger with a British accent asked, and Jordan looked up from her trance
He is cute, was her first thought. A crooked smile and tattoos that cover both arms, dirty blonde hair and pretty green eyes.
“Do I know you?” Jordan asked, hoping her rude tone would scare him off for the time being
“Ah come on now, is that any way to treat a stranger?”
Jordan just looked up at him skeptically. He flopped his body right next to her on the couch.
“James Cook” he extended his hand, and slowly Jordan reached out to meet with his
“Jordan”
“See there, we’re not strangers no more, yeah?”
“Yeah”
“Well on with it lollipop, what’s the matter”
“Fine, if I share my problems with you will you stop calling me that?”
“No promises” Cook said with a grin “Now get on with it; I’m late for a class”
Jordan took in a deep breath. She didn’t know why she was about to bare her sole out to this complete stranger, but all she wanted was to tell him. Maybe get some perspective.
“Ever wonder how you got here?
“Took a train and bus to get here”
“That is not what I meant. Never mind”
“I’m not an expert on life. Not the person to be asking”
“I thought I knew what the future held, but now…”
“Fuck the future” His response shocked her. “You keep on planning for this future and your life will pass on by. Live in the moment, Jordz. Sex, drugs, Rock n Roll…all that jazz”
“Fuck the future?”
“Yeah” he nodded with a grin
“I don’t know about that one, James”
Cook leapt to his feat, “Come on” he reached for Jordan’s hand “Live in the moment”
Jordan rose to her feat. “You are late for your class”
“What class?” he laughed and Jordan followed suit
“Lead the way James”
“Call me Cook”
“Okay, Cook. Let’s get out of here”
Jordan and Cook made their way back to the house.
They stayed together for a couple more hours; took pills and began drinking whatever alcohol Jordan had left in her cabinets. Cook invited her to yet another party across town, but Jordan declined.
“I have somewhere to be tomorrow”
“Oh really” He smirked “A place better than getting fucked with me, tonight?”
“Matt’s funeral thing is tomorrow” Cook looked down at the ground.
“Sorry Lollipop. Want me to go with you?”
“No. I’ll be fine”
It might have been the handful of white pills James gave her, but at that moment she really did feel like everything was going to be alright.
____
The next morning Jordan rolled out of bed only to realize she was already 15 minutes late for Matt’s memorial service.
“I’m going hell” she murmured to herself.
She had a headache that would slay an elephant, and no clean clothes at the moment. Okay she would be going to her brother’s service looking a complete mess. But it’s the thought that counts, right?
She gathered what clothing seemed clean enough, and headed to the shower. It only took her ten minutes to bathe herself, and another ten minutes to get out the door.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw the limo waiting for her.
Kara. Of course.
____
The limo took her to the St. Mary Cemetery. The same place were her parent’s were laid to rest.
Rest. What a fucken joke. No one truly knows how much unrest comes with death. I hate this. I hate my Parents. I hate Matt.
Just when Jordan was about to tell the driver to turn around, a tall man in a penguin suit opened her door. As she stepped out, she could see the rather large gathering down the hill. It hadn’t looked as if they started the service. The priest was no where in sight just a bunch of people looking sad and morose.
What did they have to be sad about? She was the one who lost everything.
Everyone seemed to turn and look at her arriving. It was as if Jordan had a huge red sign taped to her back. The stares for the most part seemed sympathetic. Understanding.
It was Ben that stood up and greeted her. He pulled Jordan into a warm embrace, and it wasn’t as awkward as Jordan thought it would be.
“Glad you decided to come” he whispered into her ear.
“Yeah me too” she lied.
Ben could still smell yesterday’s party on Jordan’s breath but he decided not to say anything. Not now, anyways.
As soon as Jordan was seated in the front row of chairs, the Priest came out and began. It made her think that they were holding up the show just on her account.
It was a boring hour and a half of the Priest blabbing grief and love.
It was at this point the priest said something that made Jordan’s blood boil. Something about God wanting to take his son back to be with him. And how we should all feel better knowing he is in a better place.
Who the hell was God to take anything away from her. Hasn’t he done enough?
Jordan stood up and walked away from the service and the crowd.
Ben followed her, “Jordan” he called out, not caring that the many people behind him could probably hear him loud and clear. When he caught up with her Ben grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around.
“I did my part. Okay Ben. I came I grieved so everyone could see. I played my part perfectly. But if you really think that service was for Matt or even me, you aren’t the guy I thought you were!”
“Are you finished?” Ben asked but didn’t wait for an answer “I know this isn’t for Matt or even you. I could care less if you decided to lock yourself in your room for a month and just cried. But this…” Ben motioned wildly towards Jordan “…is no way of grieving your brother. Are you trying to join him Jord? Do you want to die?”
“Maybe I do. So what?” Jordan started to walk away, but Ben grabbed at her hand.
“Don’t…” Ben still had a grasp on Jordan, but she pulled away hard enough and continued to walk in the direction of the limo.
Instead of getting a ride back to her house, Jordan opted to walk there instead. She pulled her cell phone out and began to dial Cook’s number.
“Hey it’s me…..is there a party tonight?……Okay great, pick me up at 10?”
TBC…
up next...Pt. 2 - The Party