Chapter 3

"Hey Jess, A.J.!" Brian said as we pulled
up to Nick's house. We decided after our diabolic
scheme…we needed a little fun for a while.

"What's up bro," A.J. said slapping his hand and
grabbing the basketball from Brian.

"Hey I was using that!" Brian whined as I sat on
my car.

I just loved the feel of it, just sitting there
watching A.J. and my best friends was heaven for me.

When they were halfway into their game, A.J. took
his shirt off, making me smile at the site of his chest.

"Break!" Brian said as A.J. ran over to me.

"You okay just sitting here?" He asked panting like a
dog.

"Just seeing you sweat is heaven for me," I
said as a grin came upon his face.

"Hmm, I remember that," he said kissing me.
He threw his shirt in the car and ran back to play.

"Hey Jess!" Nick's neighbor Belle yelled running
over to me.

"Hey! Check out my new car! It was a grad
present," I said as she sat down next to me.

"It's so beautiful!" She said as I smiled, my ego boosting.

"Thanks! Hey check it, they're going to 300 points
and they're in the 100's," I said as she laughed.

"You'll be here forever!" She said as I shrugged.

"I have my car, A.J.'s shirt, and all
day just to sit," I said as she nodded.

"You know, I have nothing to do either," she said
staring at one of the guys. As soon as Nick
took off his shirt she smiled bright.

"Aww!" I said as she looked at me.

"Huh what?"

"You have a crush on Nick!" I said as she giggled.

"Shh! Don't tell, he doesn't need to
find out," she said as I nodded.

"Are you guys real good friends?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, kinda. When the guys aren't here I'm the
one he comes to, I guess that's cool," she shrugged.

"Hey baby can you get me some water?" A.J.
asked as the guys all yelled.

"Us too!"

"Fine!" I said hopping off the car. "Wanna
come?" I asked as she shrugged.

"Yeah sure."

We stood in front of the court waiting for them to stop or
anything! We couldn't get by! Nick flew to
the ball as it went out of bounds.

"So sad!" Brian said as we made a run for it across the
court. I felt A.J. touch me as I ran past but I didn't pay
attention to it. I filled up 5 glasses of water and
gave three to Belle and got two in my hands as we walked
outside.

"Break!" Kevin yelled as the guys ran toward us.
They all grabbed a glass as A.J. gave me a sip of his.

"Let us get by first before starting!" Belle and I said
running across the court and back onto my car.

"Thanks for the water," A.J. said walking over to me.

"No problem…Alex," I said as the guys all
started laughing.

"What?" He said as I got ready to run.

"Nothing…ALEX!" I yelled as he dumped his cold
water on me. "Oh my God!" I screamed
as the guys, and Belle busted out laughing.

"Whoops! It slipped," A.J. said laughing
at my misfortune. I grinned and grabbed A.J.

"Come here," I said to him hugging him. The sweat
and water collided as the guys groaned.

"EWW!" They said as I squirted the water
in my hair at his face.

"HEY!" He yelled as I giggled. I put my
hand on his bicep as I smiled.

"Oh wow, you are…buff," I said giggling.

"Oh you're changing your mind
about going with Kev over there?" He asked.

"WHAT?" Kevin asked as I smiled.

"Of course, you're so much better than them," I said as
he picked me up and put me back on the car.

"That's what I thought, just remember
that next time," he said before kissing me.

"UGH!" Nick said as we kissed longer.

"Game's on!" Brian said as A.J. let go.

"We'll continue this later," he said as I nodded.

"Wow Jessie!" Nick said as the guys looked in
surprise at my shirt. I looked down; the
water must have been a little too cold.

"Oh God!" I said covering my chest.

"Hey you guys! That's something
only I can look at!" A.J. said as I giggled.

"You can take a better look at them later," I said
kissing him lightly.

"Oh A.J.! Shake it buddy!" Howie said
as the guys laughed.

"Hey at least I get some!" He said running back
into the game.

"You love him don't you?" Belle asked me as
I took A.J.'s shirt out of the car.

"Uh huh," I said sitting back on the car and putting
his wife beater on over my shirt.

"I'm happy for you," she said as I sighed.

"Shouldn't be, everything's gone
wrong," I said as she looked concerned.

"What? Why?"

"You know the guys are going to Europe in 3 weeks,
and I'm going to Yale, and our parents are…
engaged," I said dreading having Denise as a mother.

"WOW! You're going to Yale!?!" Belle
asked as the guys overheard.

"You're going to Yale?" Kevin and Howie
asked. Nick and Brian just stood there in shock.

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"WOW! Are you proud of your
little genius Boner?" Nick asked.

"Yeah," he said quietly. They continued
their game as I sighed.

"See, he isn't exactly thrilled," I said wringing
out my hair.

"I'm sorry Jessie," she said as I nodded.

"Maybe everything that's happening is for the best,
I mean, maybe we should break up," I said kinda
loudly. I looked over at A.J., he was
looking right at me.

"You think he heard you?" Belle whispered as I
nodded.

"I have that feeling," I said.

"Hello??? Earth to A.J.?" Nick asked.

"Sorry," A.J. said taking the ball.

"Oh God," I said sighing.

"It's okay, everything will be fine," Belle said.

"God I hope so," I said brushing my hair back
with my hand. I took off my butterfly
necklace and looked at it.

"That is so beautiful!" Belle said as I let her see
it. "WOW this must have cost a fortune
who got it for you?" She asked as I pointed. "Nick?"

"NO! A.J.," I said as we both laughed. "Hey wanna see
what I did get from the guys?" I asked as she
shrugged.

I jumped off my car and opened the trunk, pulling out
the skates and staring at them for a second.
I handed the box to Belle and sat back on the hood.

"Wow these are beautiful!" Belle said handing
me my necklace back. "You ice skate?"

"Not professionally or anything, but I hope to be
really good some day," I said as she smiled.

"They're nice," she said as the ball flew at us,
knocking my necklace out of my hand.

"HEY!" I yelled looking on the ground
for my necklace, I couldn't find it!

"Where did your necklace go?" Belle asked as I got
down on my knees looking for it.

"J what are you doing?" Brian asked as the guys
came over to us.

"That ball knocked my necklace! I can't find it!" I said
looking under my car.

"Jessie?" A.J. asked as I continued to look for it.

"Belle do you see it?" I asked her as she said no.

"Jessie?" A.J. asked again as I crawled
over to the other side of my car.

"Baby?" A.J. asked as I looked at him, he was
holding it in his hand as the guys laughed.

"Shut up!" I said as Brian helped me
up and Nick helped Belle up.

"You guys that's not funny," Belle said.

"Where was it?" I asked as A.J. handed it to me.

"Honestly?" He asked as I nodded. "On the
hood of your car," he said as the guys laughed harder.

"Ha ha, this necklace means everything! What if
I did something to what you cared about?" I
asked as A.J. kissed my forehead.

"They'll get over it, it's okay," he said as I nodded.

"Thank you for finding it," I said as he put it on me.

"Thank you for caring about it," he said
as I turned and kissed him slowly.

"Hey! Unless you're quitting the game you
need to come back!" Brian said as A.J. shook
his head.

"I'm out," he said as I grinned.

"Thank you," I said kissing him lightly
and sitting back down on the car.

"Hey A.J., that's a beautiful
necklace you bought her," Belle said as A.J. grinned.

"It cost me a fortune but it was worth it," he
said as I kissed his cheek.

"Every penny!" I said as Belle and I laughed. A.J.
grabbed me and tickled me as I squirmed
and fought for dear life, smacking his arm.

"OW! You've got an arm baby!" He said as I giggled.

"Yeah, so watch it Mister!" I said holding up
my fists like I was ready for boxing.

"Hey Jessie I got some money, wanna go out
somewhere? It's a grad present," Belle said
hopping down off my car.

"Yeah sure! Baby where do you want to go?" I asked
as he thought, I knew exactly what he was going to say.

"How about McDonalds?" He asked as Belle
and I rolled our eyes.

"I have eaten there more than ever since I met
you," I said as he picked me up and put me
down on the driveway.

"But that's a good thing, it will put those McDonalds
people into some rich money!" A.J. said as
Belle and I sighed.

"Where do you want to go Vala Dictorian?" Belle
asked as A.J. stuck his tongue out at Belle.

"Hmm…how about Ryan's?" I asked as they nodded.
We yelled to the guys that we were leaving
and got into the car, A.J. in back and me and
Belle in the front.

"Wait my shirt!" A.J. said jumping out of
the car and grabbing his shirt.

Ryan's was a local food bar type restaurant; it was a
sit down place that my father and I used to
eat at all the time with my mom…

"Hello?" A.J. asked kissing my cheek.

"Hmm what?" I asked looking at him.

"I said, when are you going to Yale?" He
asked as I shrugged.

"I paid for the fall, but I'm probably going to start in a
month," I said stirring my coke with my straw. "I have
nothing here, so I might as well go
early right?" I said as Belle shrugged.

"Good point," she said as A.J. sighed.

"What about my mom and Johnny? If you're gone
they might get married by the time I get
back," he said as I shrugged.

"I really don't know. My dad would never get married
without you and me there, so it won't happen," I said
taking a sip of my coke.

"You mean your mom and your dad don't know you
guys are…are dating?" Belle asked absolutely
clueless about what was happening.

"It was her idea," A.J. said pointing to me.

"Yeah it was!" I said looking at him. "I thought it would
be best since my dad and Denise were dating not to
date each other, I mean, that sounds fair right?
I mean if my dad ever found out I was dating
A.J. he'd kill me!"

"What? Why?"

"Well for one, he's 21! And the other, he's
Denise's son, so he would kill me," I said looking at A.J.

"And if my mom found out I was dating
someone who was…"

"Hey! Stop you guys, I was just asking one question
geesh!" Belle said as I sighed. I was so glad I
didn't hear what he was going to say.

"Sorry," we both said to Belle.

"I'm going to use the restroom, if anything happens
I'm going to beat both of you! I mean it! This is
your last days together, enjoy it," she said getting up.

"She's right," I said as he nodded. He kissed
my forehead gently.

"We both have short tempers, thank god
she stopped us in time," he said as I laughed.

"Uh huh," I said as he took my hand and kissed me gently.

"I would kiss you better but I'm
eating," he said as we both laughed.

We took Belle home shortly after and
stopped at the Nick's house.

"Who won?" A.J. asked taking my hand.

"Brian and Nick of course, if you stayed
we might have had a shot," Howie pouted.

"Sorry D, I got priorities," he said as Brian walked over.

"Hey your sister called," Brian said as I
looked at A.J. funny.

"You have a sister?"

"Half, she lives with my dad," A.J. said as I nodded.
I was surprised to realize we still knew very
little about each other. "Hey B? What did
she want?" He asked.

"She said that she wanted to talk
to you about Europe," Brian said as A.J. nodded.

"See you guys tomorrow," A.J. said as we walked away.

"Wow I didn't know you have a
sister," I said stopping at a stop sign.

"I don't consider her my sister much, she's more
involved in my life though more than my dad is.
We're more like friends," he said as I grinned.

"I wish I had a brother or sister. Then again if it's
going to be you then there's
limitations," I said pulling into A.J.'s driveway.

"Aren't you coming in?" He asked as I smiled.

"You want me to come in?"

"Of course! You've never been inside before, and
my mom is staying at your house tonight
remember?" He said as I nodded dreadfully.

When we entered I looked around, it was so cozy!

"I like your house A.J.," I said as he shrugged.

"Thanks," he said leading me upstairs to his room.

He opened the door as I smiled, it was so A.J.!

"Gee, I never expected this," I said as he smiled.

"It's nice isn't it?" He said as I laughed. I looked over
at the nightstand and saw pictures of him and me
all over it. He had more than I did!

"Wow, I didn't even know we got that many!" I said
looking at them. One was at the prom,
which's where he first kissed me…



"Thanks for taking me A.J., I don't know
if I could have gone by myself," I said as
we swayed to the music.

"My mom told me about it, and I just couldn't
help but take you," he said as I smiled.

"She didn't pay you did she?" I asked as we
both chuckled.

"No, I'd go out with you whenever you'll ask
me," he said as I looked at him in shock.

"You would?"

"Ever since I met you I can't stop
thinking about you," he said as I smiled wider.

"Me either," I said as he pulled closer
to me and kissed me deep…



"What are you thinking about?"
A.J. asked sitting down next to me on the bed.

"When we told each other we liked each
other," I said setting the prom picture back
on the nightstand.

"That one's my favorite," he said pointing
to one that looked unfamiliar.

"I don't remember this one," I said looking puzzled.

"It was at Brian's birthday party, his
mom took it," he said as I thought…



"Mrs. Littrell you make the best cake! I love it!"
I said taking another bite as I felt hands reach behind me.
I felt a big piece of cake splatter on
my face as all the guys laughed.

"HA HA!" A.J. said as I wiped my eyes.

"Oh yeah?" I said smacking him in
the face with my piece of cake as they laughed harder.

"EW!" He said picking me up as I squirmed.

"I'll never apologize!" I said as he put me
down. I wiped his eyes for him as we both smiled.

"You realize we have cake splattered all over our
faces?" I asked as we both started laughing. He
wrapped his arms around me and kissed me as the
tastes of his mouth and the cake came
together as we kissed harder…



"You mean Brian's mom took a picture of us
doing that?" I said pointing to our tonsil hockey.

"Yep, I like it myself, my favorite kiss," he
said as I smiled.

"I need some cake then," I said as he smiled.

"Hmm…I like the way you talk," he said kissing
my cheek as I looked at the other pictures of us.

"I like this one," I said picking it up.

"That was your birthday wasn't it?" He
asked as I nodded…



"Are we alone?" A.J. asked as I nodded. He picked
me up and held me. "Happy birthday
baby," he said as I giggled.

"Baby?"

"That's my new saying for you,
you're my baby," he said as I smiled.

"I like that," I said as he kissed me.

"Hey you guys?" Brian asked
coming back to where we were.

"Yep?" I asked.

"Johnny called he's going to be late
he's in traffic," Brian said as I smiled.

"Good, more time with you," I said
kissing A.J. again as Brian groaned.

"Get a room," he said.

"We did!" We both said as we
started laughing as we saw a flash…



"Who took that picture?" I asked setting it back down.

"Kevin, you know how he is 'Kodak
moments are what makes life worth
living!'" He said as I laughed.

"A.J. how did you get this?" I asked
pointing to a portrait of me.

"I asked Belle for it," he said blushing.

"But I gave this to her before we
started dating," I said as he nodded.

"I wanted it because I liked
you before…" he didn't have to continue.

"AWW! Baby that's so sweet," I said kissing
him lightly. The phone rang as I let him go.

"He…hello?" He said breathless. "Yes sir
she's here," A.J. said handing me the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey princess," my dad said happily.

"Hey daddy, I'm going to stay here
tonight," I said explaining why I was so late to
come home.

"Okay Jessie, come home in the
morning then," he said as I hung up.

"I'm staying here tonight," I said with a smirk.

"He let you?"

"Mmm hmm," I said kissing him lightly.

"A.J. why did you keep this?" I asked opening the
letter.

"Because you gave it to me of course!" He said as
I sat down and read it…



"I'm going to miss you," A.J. said hugging me tightly.

"A.J. I'm only leaving for a week!" I said with a small
grin on my face.

"This is the first time we've been apart
since we got together," he said kissing me lightly.

"A.J., it's a band concert in New York, I'm not
going to Europe or anything," I said laughing.

"I know, but I can't stand not seeing
you," he said as I smiled.

"I'll write you from New York," I said kissing him.

"Overnight delivery right?" He asked as I nodded.

"For you, always," I said hugging him lightly.
"I gotta go," I said kissing him lightly.

When we got to New York I immediately
sat down at the hotel lobby and wrote him a letter:

A.J.,
I now know what you were talking about with
missing you, I miss you so much! I'm writing you
from our hotel lobby, I had to write you as soon as I
got here. It's so noisy here! Lucky for
us our teacher put us in the hotel next to the
New York airport.
I can't wait to see you again, to touch you and kiss you,
I hope my whole trip isn't all about missing
you. Wait, nevermind, I want it to be.
Love always,
Jessie
'Baby'



"Gee I'm a great writer aren't I?" I said putting
the letter back in the envelope.

"I didn't care, you wrote me, I was glad for
that," he said as I got up and wrapped
my arms around his neck.

"Remember when I got home? You were all
over me for a week," I giggled as he grinned.

"Of course I remember, best week ever," he said as
he kissed all over my neck playfully.

"Mine too," I said as his eyebrow lifted.

"I hope it will be like that when I get back
from Europe," he said as I lifted my eyebrow in
the same fashion.

"Maybe better than that," I said as we
both laughed. "I'm so tired," I said yawning.

"Wanna go to bed? We can pack some stuff for
my trip in the morning," he said as I nodded.

"I'm having impure thoughts about
that bed," I said as he grinned.

"Hmm, I'll let you have it then," he said as I giggled.
"Let me get you something to sleep in," he said going
through his drawers. He handed me some
boxers and a wife beater as I changed and
hopped into bed.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he
walked over to the door and locked it.

"Just in case my mom comes home
and I'm not awake," he said as I smiled.

"Good idea." He took off his shirt and pants as
turned off the light, sliding under the covers
next to me. He grinned and
brushed the hair out of my eyes.

"I just love it when you wear
my clothes," he said as I giggled.

"I just love you," I said as I felt his
hands wrap around my waist.

"I love you too," he said kissing me
lightly as he got on top of me.

"I never knew you were so buff," I said laughing.

"You didn't?" He asked as I
shook my head. "Well what did you think?"

"You were just really skinny!" I said as he
shook his head.

"Feel that, it's ALL muscle baby!" He said as
we laughed. I felt his biceps and smiled.

"My boyfriend's buff," I giggled as he nodded.

"That's right! I am!" He said as we laughed.

He brushed his hand across my
cheek as we both stopped laughing.

"Do you know how much I'm going to miss
you?" I asked as he sighed. "6 months without
your hair," I said brushing my hand through
his jelled blonde tipped hair. "6 months without
your eyes," I said staring into them. "6 months
without your lips," I said kissing them
softly. "Without you I feel so empty," I said as
he brushed my hair.

"I won't go then," he said as my mouth dropped.

"WHAT?" I asked.

"Well I love you and I know you love me
and the only way we won't miss each other is to
stay together then I'll stay here with you," he said
as I sat up, he sat in front of me brushing his
fingers on my thigh.

"Baby you don't know how bad I want that," I
whispered as he smiled. He came in to
kiss me but I sighed, "I won't let you do that."

"What? Why?" He asked confused.

"Your whole life you've been wanting a big break,
and now that you've got it you're going to throw it
all away for an 18 year old who's leaving soon
too? Baby, listen to me," I said cupping his face with
my hands. "I love you and I know you love me, believe
me I know that. But if I made you stay here you
would never forgive me, ever. I'm not going
to ruin us, each other, for that," I said kissing
his cheek.

I waited for an answer, an anything! He just sat there,
staring off out the window as I looked at the
pictures of us for another time. I looked at him
as he sighed.

"You're right," he said as I nodded. "I probably
would hate you for it, and I don't ever want to
hate you. I just, I don't want to miss you," he said
as I kissed him softly.

"I know, me too," I said as he laid
down, he put his head in my lap as I stroked his hair
softly.

We didn't speak for at least another hour, just being
there with him made him feel better, stroking his
hair and kissing his cheek every now and then made
him feel better. He knew that if he went it would
tear us apart, and he knew if he stayed it would
too. I understood what he was going through,
I was there for him.

"Promise me something?" He asked as I kissed his
cheek lightly.

"What?" I asked softly.

"Stay here with my mom and Johnny until I get back.
I don't want them to get married while I'm gone
and I know you could stop them from doing it,
for a while anyways," he said as I sighed.

"You know I will," I said continuing to stroke
his hair softly.

We stayed that way for a little while longer until we
both got under the covers and decided to go to
sleep. I rolled on my side as I felt A.J.
put his arms around my waist. I turned to face him
and smiled.

"This is the first time we ever slept
together in the same bed," I said as he nodded.

"Definitely not the last," he said as I put my head on
his chest and my hand on his stomach.
He brushed my hair as I felt his heart pound fast.

"Nervous about something?" I asked.

"No, just scared," he said as I closed my eyes.
I fell asleep and dreamed of the day when I came
back from New York, how much we
were together and hoped, it would happen again.

Index

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