Until The End Of Time - Chapter 4
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© Jessica v.N.
published by us
rated : R
General warnings apply ! No stealing, copying or changing and then publishing it as yours ! It´s ours and only ours !
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*ding dong*
Kevin opened the door, "Jessica!" he gave her a hug, "I'm glad you could make it!"
"I told you I'd be here," she said, smiling, the first sincere smile she had smiled in days. Then she handed him a gift wrapped box.
"Jess!" AJ exclaimed from inside. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, probably because she hadn't, but he was glad to see her finally smiling again.
"How you been?" Nick asked, "I haven't heard from you lately."
"Yeah, well, ya know. I just started a new job, and I've been kinda busy. I meant to call... forgive me?"
Nick pretended to glare at her, then grinned, "Of course!"
"Hey Jessica," Howie said, walking out of the kitchen.
Jessica inhaled deeply, "What smells so good?"
"Ah, it's a surprise," Howie said.
AJ leaned over and whispered in her ear, "It's supposed to be dinner, but I wouldn't eat it if I were you."
Jessica laughed, then stopped when she saw Tricia and Brian walk in from the kitchen.
"Hey Jessica," Tricia said warmly.
"Hey Tricia, how ya been?" Jessica said quietly, "Hi Brian."
Brian didn't respond, and this hurt Jessica. He could've at least said hello. She felt the tears start to well up in her eyes, "Ah, I just remembered... I left something in the car." Turning around, she walked quickly out the front door.
*five minutes later*
"So there you are," Nick said, opening the door and sitting down on the porch next to Jessica, "You should go back inside. Kevin was afraid you had left."
"Ya know," she said, "I was just thinking about leaving too, but then I thought, 'How would that make Kevin feel?' Probably as bad as I feel."
"I know it's hard seeing him with someone else," Nick began.
"No," Jessica shook her head, "That's not what's eating at me. Tricia is sweet and funny as hell."
"Then what is it?" Nick asked, confused.
"Brian and I used to be such good friends, you know that," she began, "And now... now he won't even say hello. It's like he's completely alienated me... like we never even knew each other, like I was the one acting strange when I said hello."
Jessica broke out into tears and Nick hugged her.
"He's trying to make it easier for you," Nick said, "He thinks that maybe if you hate him, it will make it easier for you."
"It doesn't," she said, trying to collect herself, "You wanna know something? When he told me he was in love, it was the happiest day of my life... even though he said it was someone else, and that we couldn't date anymore. I was so happy, because he is my best friend; he's always been my best friend, and all I ever wanted was for him to be happy..."
Jessica continued to cry for a while as Nick hugged her and they sat in silence. Then she stopped.
"Are you ready to go back inside?"
"Yeah," she said, trying to smile, "Yeah, I think so."
Jessica whiped away her tears and Nick walked back inside, followed by Jessica. Both tried to act as if nothing had happened, but the guys saw right through it, and AJ wanted to know what was going on.
"So what was it you left in the car?" AJ asked, knowing she really hadn't left anything in the car.
"Uh, nothing," Jessica covered up quickly, "I actually left it at home, but it's not worth driving all the way back to get."
"Oh, cool," he said, then turned to Nick, "Hey, help me out with something?"
"Sure," Nick said, and both retreated up the stairs.
"So what happened?" AJ asked, after making sure they were alone.
"Nothing," Nick said, "I mean... well, promise you won't tell?"
"You know me," AJ said, then, when Nick looked doubtful, he added, "Come on man, you know I wouldn't say nothin' about Jess."
"Alright," Nick said, almost whispering, "Really though, it wasn't anything. She just got a little upset when Brian ignored her and she didn't want to start crying infront of everyone and ruin the party, so she went outside to be alone for a bit."
"And?" AJ asked.
"And nothing," Nick said, "She said she still loved him and was happy for him, it just hurt that he ignored her."
"Oh," AJ said, "Poor Jess."
"Yeah," Nick said, "Look, you p --"
"Hey guys, what're you doing?" Brian walked into the room, "Kevin said you went to do something and told me to see if you -- hey, what're you guys talking about?"
"Nothing," they said in unison.
Brian raised an eyebrow, "Sure, whatever. Just hurry it up, ok? Kevin wants to get the party started."
Brian left the room, followed shortly after by AJ and Nick.
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"...happy birthday dear Kevin, happy birthday to you!"
Kevin looked thoughtful for a moment, then blew out the candles on his cake -- all twenty-eight.
"Wow," Howie said, "That's some serious lung power... how old are you now? Eighty-two?"
"Haha, very funny," Kevin said sarcasticly.
"Yeah," Jesisca said, giggling, "Everyone knows he's ninety-two!"
Kevin just shook his head and started to cut the cake.
"Wait!" Jessica suddenly shrieked. Everyone turned to look at her. "He hasn't opened his presents yet!"
"You're right!" AJ said, jumping up and bringing in a tower of presents from the other room.