Chapter 12

"J!" Ryan yelled jumping on top of me.
I was still asleep; I missed the whole school day!

"AHHH! Ryan you dork!" I said laughing as he got
off me.

"What up J? Skipping school huh? Yeah I've
been there," he said taking off his shades.

"I just overslept. I thought you weren't coming till…"

"Friday? J…it is that special day! Now get out of
bed!" He said pushing me off the bed.

"Ryan! I'm gonna get you for that!" I said chasing
him around the basement.

"Get so defensive!" He said as he jumped onto my
bed.

"Ryan are you on drugs?" I asked as I threw
a pillow at him laughing.

"Jess you weren't supposed to tell! God!
Now I'll just have to go visit Nicky boy instead.
How is he by the way? Mom told me you like him," he
said looking out the window.

"She did?" I said angrily. That was our personal
conversation and she had to tell my brother of all
people.

"Yeah…but don't worry about it. I always knew," he
said putting the pillow I threw at him behind his head.

"How come everybody already knew?" I asked out
loud.

"Well, he told me once that he thought you were…nah
nevermind," he said.

"Are you trying to torture me? Tell me already!" I said
pleading.

"Well last time I was here, about 2 or 3 months ago I
showed him your picture of what you looked like now.
He said you were beautiful and stuff like that," he said
picking at his fingernails.

"Wow…" I said smiling. It was like an adrenaline rush.

"I'm gonna go get the full inside scoop about you
guys," he said running up the steps. I chased him as
fast as I could. Unfortunately he used to be on track
and was too fast.

"No Ryan! Damn YOU!" I said as Ryan walked over
to Nick's house. I watched from the window as he
knocked on Nick's door.

Nick looked better and better everyday; this day was
one of those everydays. He slapped Ryan's hand and
sat down on the steps as they started talking, I sighed
nervously and called A.J.

"Hey Boner!" I said trying to act calm.

"Hey Jess, who won last night?" He asked curiously.

"Actually we haven't finished. Aaron got upset
with the noise and we had to stop. But my brother's
home, wanna come and meet him?" I asked pacing
back and forth nervously.

"Yeah sure! Want me to bring the guys?"

"If you want! I gotta go though, Ryan's talking to Nick
about…stuff," I said sighing.

"I know what you're saying Jess. I'll be over in a
hour okay?"

"Uh huh." I said hanging up the phone.

I decided to make up an excuse for Ryan to come
back over. The old 'dad is on the phone and wants to
talk to you right now' trick.

I looked at myself in the mirror before walking over to
Nick's yard.

"Ryan dad is on the phone," I said folding my arms
angrily.

"So…" he said as Nick's laughed.

"So he wants to talk to you, he said right now," I said as
Ryan and Nick got up. Ryan slapped Nick's hand.

"See you later," he said walking away.

Nick and I exchanged glances.

"I have to go back inside," Nick said pointing to his
house.

"Yeah me too. Bye Nick," I said starting to walk
away.

"Hey Logan!" I stopped dead in
my tracks. "Why weren't you at school?"

"Overslept!" I yelled as we both smiled.

Even though we didn't do anything it sure felt like it did.
Well, in my mind anyways. I turned around and ran
home before Ryan could go back over to Nick's house.

"J I know he's not really on the phone. You wanna
know what he said don't you?" He asked me as
I nodded.

"Guilty as charged judge Ryan," I said smiling brightly.
I wanted to know so bad…

"Well…"

"Tell me everything!" I interrupted.

"Shut up so I can J…"

"Sorry."

"Okay so anyways, before I was so rudely interrupted,
I sat down next to him on the steps so we could talk
quietly. At first we talked about regular stuff and then
I asked him what he thought of you now that you're
here and changed. He told me that…wait," Ryan said
scratching his head.
"Oh yeah! He just shrugged and changed the subject.
Maybe because he likes you and didn't want me to
blab or he just doesn't give a damn," Ryan
said shrugging.

"Oh thanks. You're such a sweet big brother," I said
rolling my eyes.

"I know," he said with a cheesy grin on his face.
I laughed and threw a pillow at him as we started our
pillow fight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Ryan more peas?" Vicki asked as she showed him a
big spoonful of them.

"No thanks Vicki. Hey dad mind if I take J out
tonight?" Ryan asked as I looked at him puzzled.
What is he doing?

"Sure son! It is the weekend so you guys can stay out
as long as you want, no time importance
okay?" Dad said stuffing a big hunk of bread
into his mouth.

"Thanks dad. We're going to go get ready," he said
taking my hand and leading me downstairs.

"Where are we going?" I asked curiously.

"Well when I met A.J. and the guys, they invited
us to go to a party they were throwing at their
apartment complex. The whole complex is having
the party! Cool huh? Now go wear something skimpy
for that Nick of yours…" he said as I shut my door.

I screamed in happiness in my pillow and looked
through my closet. Something green,
something…green…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Nervous?" Ryan asked turning his Jeep off.

"A lot," I said nodding.

"You sure you want to come? I can take you back
if you want."

"That's okay really. My friends are probably here
too knowing them. I'll be fine really. But if I need
to go home like out of the blue can you take me?"
I asked.

"Of course! You're my baby sister I'll do basically
anything for ya," he said getting out of the car.
He opened my car door for me and stuck out his
hand. "Madame," he said as I got out.

"Thanks Ryan," I said hugging him lightly.
He's the best brother I could ever have.

As Ryan and I walked into the apartment complex,
it looked just like Melrose Place! The pool,
the apartments, everything!

"Do I look okay?" I asked Ryan.

"You'll kill em'," he said as I smiled.

I was wearing a green spaghetti-strap
silk halter-top and a really short green silk skirt.

"Thanks," I said kissing his cheek. "I'm going to go
find my friends, I'll see you later k?" I said walking
away.

So many people were there I couldn't even count.

"Jess! Over here!" A.J. yelled over the blaring music
aside the pool. All the guys were sitting in beach
chairs playing poker at the table.
I nervously walked over as the guy's mouths dropped.

"Wow J," A.J. said hugging me lightly.

"Hey guys," I said waving. They were still in
awe at the sight of me. "What?" I asked.

"You look hot that's there problem," A.J. said in
my ear. "Come…sit," A.J. said sitting down.

"I don't want to interrupt your game," I said shaking
my head.

"Actually, I think you already did. Come on,
bring me good luck," he said as I shrugged.
I sat on his lap as the guys resumed their game.

"Where's Ryan?" Kevin asked as he threw in 2 chips.

"Actually he was looking for you guys, I have no
idea where he is now though," I said taking a sip of
A.J.'s beer.
I gave a glance over in Nick's direction, as did he.
He looked so good. He was wearing a kind of mint
greenish suit and his hair slicked back.

"Hey get your own!" A.J. said interrupting my trance.

"I have my own," I said taking another sip of his.

"That's mine!" He said as we fought over it.
A.J. was one of my good friends, I could tell we were
going to be for a long time.

"Not anymore!" I said drinking the rest.
The guys laughed as I stuck my tongue out at A.J.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to go get MY OWN
beer!" He said as I got off his lap. I sat down in his
chair and peeked at his cards.

"Jess!" Cindy yelled running over to me with Ashley.

"Hey you guys! I knew you would be here!"
I said hugging them as the guys rolled their eyes.
"You guys remember Cindy right?" I asked as they
nodded. "Ash this is Brian, Kevin, Howie, A.J. running
over with 2 beers, and you know Nick," when I said
his name I said it quietly.

"Hi!" She said waving.

"Here Jess I got you your OWN beer!" A.J. said
handing it to me.

"Oh you're playing poker? I wanna play!"
Ashley begged.

"Me too!" Cindy pleaded.

"What do ya think guys?" Kevin asked.

"Whatever," Nick said looking at me.

"Hey A.J. can I talk to you for a second while
Howie deals?" I asked pulling at his arm.

"What?" He asked as we walked over to the side.

"Is he still mad at me?" I asked sadly.

"I think so Jess…I'm sorry," he said as I nodded.

"Last night…we almost kissed A.J.," I said as he
grinned.

"Really? That's great!" He said taking a sip of his beer.

"I guess so…do I look okay?
You think he likes it?" I asked putting my hand
on my hip.

"You look hot are you kidding! Look at him, he can't
stop looking at you," A.J. said as I looked over at him.
He was looking at me…a lot actually.

"Thanks A.J.," I said hugging him. I held onto him for a
little bit then let go as we walked over to the
poker game.

"Took you long enough A.J.," Howie said as
A.J. picked up his cards. I sat on his lap as Cindy
and Ashley pulled two chairs up to the table.

I looked at Nick as I sipped my beer. He was so
adorable and so fine. I just wanted to kiss him on
that very table!

Hours past, maybe too many. Ryan was a no
show, where he went everyone wanted to know.
Nick and I exchanged glances every now and then,
which made me want him more.

"Hey Jess play my hand I'm gonna go find
Ryan," A.J. said as I got off his lap.

"Okay," I said as he walked away. I pushed my
hair behind my ears and picked up the cards off the
table.
Ace, 2, 3, 4, and another 2.

"Let's start this at 20 bucks," Howie said
throwing in 2 chips.

"Hit me," Cindy said as I concentrated on my cards…

The hand went by slow, only Nick and I were left.
Everyone else folded at least an hour ago. A.J. and
Ryan stood by as A.J. bit his nails. The money was
up to 1200 dollars and it was finally time to show what
I had.

"Royal flush," Nick said putting down his cards.

"Full house," I said as everyone whistled.
A.J. lifted me up and danced me around
hugging me happily.

"I got 1200 dollars! I got 1200 dollars!" He sung.
I laughed as he put me down. I looked at Nick,
he didn't look too happy. Half of that 1200
dollars was his from the talent show.

"I'm sorry Nick…it's just a game," I said
standing over him.

"Fine whatever," he said gulping down his beer.

"Nick are you upset over a silly game?" I asked folding
my arms over my chest. There were only the 8 of us
left, so all silence was around as we started
fighting again.

"Whatever you say Logan," he said getting up.

"You're so immature," I said as he walked
away. He turned and faced me.

"Oh yeah. Believe what you want okay? I'm not going
to the prom with a loser," he said as I walked
over to him angrily.

"Eddie is not a loser!" I yelled.

"You don't even like him! I mean how stupid is that?
Oh I forgot, you don't understand what stupid is.
You don't understand anything except what a
loser is," he yelled.

"Because that's what you are?"

"No because that's what you are and always have
been! I've won everything against you, because you're
a sorry airheaded loser!"

"You never deserved anything you won!"

"Bull shit! I deserved everything. Especially winning
against your sorry ass in 8th grade!"

"You know what? Fuck YOU! You're not
worth this," I said turning away from him angrily
and walking over to Ryan. "Can we go home?" I
asked with the angry tone still in my voice.

"Yeah sure," he said nodding. I hugged the guys,
Cindy, and Ashley and walked out of the complex.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"That was a bad fight. You okay?" He asked on the
way home.


"He said such mean things," I said wiping my eyes.

Tears were coming out so fast I couldn't stop them.

"You did too," he said turning a corner.

"I said mean things because he did Ryan! What are
taking his side?" I asked looking at the blurred person
in the driver's seat.

"No I'm not saying that! Not at all. I remember
when you were in 8th grade and that happened to
you. I got so mad at him I punched him in the nose
remember? Blood everywhere. I got
grounded for months," he said as I smiled.

"Yeah I remember," I said sniffing.

"I knew you deserved it more than he did, anyone
could tell you that. I bet if we beat it out of Nick
he'd even tell you! I'm just saying, it was a 50-50
fight there, you said things too."

"Well what am I supposed to do now?" I asked in
desperate need of help.

"Apologize?"

"No way! He started it!" I said shaking my head.

"That's all I can say Jess, there's nothing else you can
do. Unless he apologizes to you first," Ryan said as he
stopped in the driveway.

"Okay, thanks for taking me to the party," I said as we
walked downstairs quietly.

"No problem. You really do look nice," he said as I
hugged him. Not letting go for a long time.

"I'm so glad you're hear," I said as my tears
came out again.

"Me too," he said letting me go.
"Goodnight J," he said kissing my forehead.

"Night Ryan," I said as we shut our doors. I looked
out the window as I saw Nick coming home.
I stared as he got out of A.J.'s car.

"Thanks A.J.," Nick said as he shut the door.
A.J. sped off as Nick took out a basketball from
the garage. He started bouncing it and sat down on
the driveway in the same spot as when we
talked the night before. Tears flew down my face.
I let them flow freely as I sat at my desk
writing a letter to my mom.

The window was next to my desk so I glanced over
in his direction at times.

Mom,

Nick and I last night almost did it, we almost kissed.
I don't know what happened in that time, but we
went to a party (Ryan and I). Nick as I had the
worst fight we've had since the 3rd grade with the
name-calling. I haven't cried this much since
you and Dad got divorced. I don't know
what's going on anymore with him and me, I'm so
confused.
Ryan's here to help though as usual. You have
to meet A.J. some day, he's just like Ryan! He's
become one of my really good friends. The prom
is this Friday and I'm still planning on going with
Eddie. Vicki and dad are chaperoning, can you
believe it? I have to go, say hi to grandma for me.

Love you with all my heart,

Jessica
P.S.-I'm coming up to see you as soon as spring
break comes okay?

As I closed the pen top, I looked up to see
A.J. right in front of my window, causing me to scream.

"Dammit A.J.!" I said as he got inside.
Nick looked at us as A.J. shut the window.

"What wrong?" Ryan said bursting threw the door.

"I wanted to talk to Jess without waking anyone
else up…" A.J. said as Ryan nodded.
He shut the door as A.J. took me in his arms.

"God A.J. I don't know what to do!" I said as he
held me.

"I tried talking to him on the way home,
he wouldn't say anything. But he did seem more sad
than mad," he said as I held him a little softer.

"You know him well…what should I do? Ryan
says I should apologize," I said as we let go of each
other.

"Do not apologize, it will give him an even larger ego.
I think you should just not talk to him for a while,
let him cool down. Sooner or later he'll talk to
you," he said as I sat on my bed.

"But I feel responsible for what happened," I said as
he sat down next to me.

"It was you and him both that fought, not just you.
Don't worry about it okay, really. He'll be fine
in a few days, hours, depends on how mad he is."

"Thanks A.J.," I said hugging him again.
"You're like a second brother," I said kissing his cheek.

"I hope that never changes," he said as he
opened the window back up. "I'll call you
tomorrow," he said as he walked out.

I wiped my eyes and looked at Nick, he was
shooting the ball in the hoop.

A.J. sped off as I sat back down at my desk
and finished addressing my letter to my mom. When I
finished I walked outside and started walking
down the sidewalk as Nick and I made eye contact.

My eyes were puffy and tears were still running
down my face, when he saw them his face went from
sad to even worse. I had a feeling he didn't want
to make me cry…but he did.

I opened the mailbox and saw a letter and a rose in
it addressed to me. I picked them up and put the letter
in the mailbox, putting the flag up. I started walking
back to my window as I stopped and read what it said,
hoping it was from Nick.

Jessie,
Call me, I've missed you.
Love,
Eddie

I sighed and started walking again. I shut the
window behind me, looking at Nick one more time.
He was looking straight at me as I looked at him.
I reached for the cord and pulled the blinds down
and I started crying again.

Everything in my body was in pain, even my soul.

Index

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