(written by Michelle) Brian and Jess crossed the backyard from Nick's house to the house Jess and Jade shared. Jess held onto Brian's hand as tight as she could, she didn't want this feeling to ever go away. She looked up to Brian in the dwindling moonlight to see the biggest smile plastered all over his face. "You know, if you keep smiling like an idiot, they're all going to know what we did," Jess said. Brian stopped walking and turned to face her, "You know what, I don't care. I'm happy and I don't care if the whole world knows it," he said, kissing her gently. As brief as the kiss was, it still left Jess breathless when he pulled away. "Come on," Brian said, dragging her towards the lighted kitchen. When the two entered through the sliding doors they were met with the smell of peperoni pizza, the wetness on the floor, and the chants of Brian's bandmates. As the boys tried to pump Brian for some info over their dinner of pizza, Jade motioned for Jess to follow her. Grabbing a slice of pizza and kissing Brian's head, Jess took off after Jade, which found them back outside on the hammock.
"You know, it's been awhile since I was out here," Jade said, laying back letting the hammock rock gently. "I know what you're talking about. It's been awhile since we've sat down and talked lately," Jess said, following Jade's example. "We have a lot to talk about girl," Jade said, pushing the hammock. "You first. Something's bothering you, what is it?" "How do you always know? Why am I never not surprised about how much you know?" "It's a gift, now spill girl."
Jade told Jess all about her boss's intentions and then Jess told Jade what had happened with Brian a few minutes ago. "Looks like we're both getting some action lately," Jade said, forcing a smile. "Yeah, but your's is the wrong kind, kiddo," Jess said. "What do you think I should do?" Jade asked, twirling a stray piece of hair around her finger. "I think you should report this, maybe if you do you'll get your job back with some added bonuses," Jess said. "I'm afraid to though, what if no one believes me?" "I believe you Jade, that's all that matters," Jess replied. "Yeah, but if I lose my job again, then we'll have to go home early," Jade whispered.
"We don't have to, we can always stay with Nick and the guys for the rest of the time," Jess said, stretching. "Yeah I guess you're right, what have I got to lose?" Jade said, standing up. Jess reached up and pulled her best friend back down, "Where do you think you're going missy?" "I was going back inside, we're done talking aren't we?" Jade asked, puzzled. "No. When are you going to tell Kevin about your crush?" Jade looked at Jess in disbelief, again she could hide nothing from Jess.
"Never, and neither are you." "What are you so afraid of?" "Regection, for one thing. I don't want anything to change between us. What if he doesn't feel the same way? That would totally screw things up," Jade said, once again rising to her feet, this time far away from Jess's grasp. "I heard from a little birdy that he feels the same way. Maybe it's time you made your move Jade." The girls entered to find that the guys had cleaned up the dinner mess and were just about ready to start a video in the living room. Nick was pushing "The Mummy" into the vcr as Jess found her way to Brian's lap and Jade, the floor. Jess watched Kevin throughout the whole movie, looking to see if anything Brian had told her was true.
Kevin sat behind Jade on the couch, and his eyes never left the back of her head. Jess watched as Jade occasionally turned around to "see where the popcorn was," even though it was right in front of her half the time. Jess knew that this couldn't go on forever and that with the short time they had left here, those two were going to need a little help in the matter. Jess couldn't understand why though. Jade had never needed anyone's help in getting guys before, why should Kev be any different? The only explanation that ran through Jess's head was that Jade saw a long term relationship in Kev and that scared her. The movie ended all too quickly, and Jess soon realized that she, Brian, Jade, and Kevin were the only ones still awake. Jess quickly pulled Brian upstairs before he could say anything; she wanted Jade and Kevin alone together, maybe someone would show their true feelings.
Jess quickly pushed Brian inside her room and shut the door. "Honey, a little anxious aren't we? Ready for another round huh?" Brian asked. "Will you be quiet please, I want to hear what is happening down there," Jess said, silencing Brian. "I think we should just let nature take its course with them. Besides, we have more important things to do than to worry about those two," Brian said, inching his way towards Jess. "Oh yeah? Like what?" "Like this," Brian said, bringing his lips to meet hers. Jess broke away quickly and walked to the balcony. Stunned, Brian regained his composure and followed her out onto the balcony, "Did I do something wrong?" he questioned Jess, slipping his arms around her waist.
Jess tried her best to keep her face straight ahead so that he wouldn't see the tears that threatened to fall, "No," she managed to squeak out. "That's not what it sounds like to me. Tell me what's wrong, I'm a big boy, I can handle it." When he got no response from Jess, he turned to leave. "Brian, wait." He stopped dead in his tracks, but didn't turn around to face her, he didn't want her to see that she was breaking his heart, "What?" he asked, his tone rising. Jess fingered the ring that Brian had given her earlier, What's with me? she questioned herself. Brian has to hate me, one minute I'm all over him and the next I'm doubting his love for me, what is wrong with me? "Nothing," she answered him, and then all she could do was stand by and watch as he walked out of her life. Letting the tears fall on their own now, she stepped out onto the balcony and watched Brian's retreating figure wander through the bushes that seperated the two yards, it was the same path they had taken together earlier. When she could no longer see him she let the heavy tears fall, she was so sick of crying over her life.
She looked down at the ground beneath her and thought about how easy it would be to end it all. She closed her eyes and saw her body falling to the ground below and imagined a life without pain. Her hand gripped tighter onto the railing as she lifted her foot onto the stool she kept out there, the next foot followed and she soon found herself standing upon the stool completely. Again, she looked down to the earth below, only this time her knees trembled and her knuckles turned white as she still held onto the railing. Realizing how stupid she was, Jess stepped back down off the stool and collapsed onto the steel beneath her. She glanced over at Brian's window to see a shadowy figure retreat into the bedroom, a light smile spread across her face as she realized he was watching her. "Now I'm getting as crazy as Jade," she told herself, going back into her bedroom to change for the night.
Brian had left her bedroom door opened a crack and the laughter of Jade and Kevin wound its way up to her room, bringing a smile to her face. "I hope at least Jade is having some fun tonight," Jess said, climbing underneath her covers. Little did she know it, but she would have a visitor that night.
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