Chapter 12

(written by Michelle)

Jade ran after Kevin and threw herself in front of him just as he was walking out of the backyard. "Wait, I need to tell you something," she started, taking the beginning steps for what would be the rest of her life.

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Jess watched part of the scene unfold before carrying Scott upstairs to take a nap. "Not tired, Aunt Jessie," the youngster shouted and squirmed in Jess's arms. "Scott your Mommy and I need for you to be a good boy, okay?" she asked of him, looking down at his sweet innocent face, which was already fast asleep. Jess carefully placed him in his big-boy bed and sat there, stroking his hair and watching his chest rise rapidly and fall just as quickly. Scott always amazed her with his childhood humour, but he also had this grown-up charm. Jade often said he got that from his father.

It was surreal for Jess to see Kevin with Scott outside. It was like a bond had formed the instance the two met; it was incredible. She looked out of Scott's window to see his mother in tears at the feet of his father, no doubt confessing all of her sins to him. Jade deserved to be happy; Jess had said that a number of times, but it seemed like this time it was actually going to happen. It had to happen... for Scott's sake.

Jess sat in the living room reading the magazine she was flipping through earlier with still no sign of Jade or Kevin when a thought crossed her mind -- she hadn't thought of Brian in hours. At first, Jess was a little confused, but then she realized something: maybe she was getting over him. She took a deep breath and proclaimed that breath the first one of her new life -- without Brian. The doorbell rang, interrupting her first happy thoughts since Brian's visit. She noticed that when she walked to the door there was a new spring in her step. Jess swung open the door expecting to see Howie or AJ looking for Kevin. It wasn't. The person standing in the frame of Jade and Jess's house was Brian. So much for a new life.

"Jess, hi. Is Kevin around? We're late," Brian stuttered, placing a fake smile on his face. The truth, was he was miserable. All he did was think about Jess since their last meeting. He thought about her in the shower, in rehearsal, while he played basketball, and even while he was with LeighAnne. What really had upset him was seeing how upset he made her; he knew that Jess didn't deserve what he had done to her, but it was better if he ended like he did; Jess didn't need to know the real reason.

"He's out back with Jade, but I wouldn't disrupt them," Jess told him, also faking her best smile. "You could come in and wait; I'm not sure how long they're going to be," she told him, hoping he would say yes so she could see if she was really over him or not. "That's okay, LeighAnne's in the car and she gets real impatient," Brian could have slapped himself right there. How stupid could he be to bring LeighAnne up in front of Jess like that? At that moment, he felt about 4 inches tall. It couldn't possibly get any worse. "Oh, how nice," Jess said, waving to the knock-out blonde sitting in the passenger side of the Beemer.

Brian had lied, it did get worse... Jess was over him. "Well, I'll tell Kevin you stopped by," she said, closing the door on his face. When she shut the door, Jess expected the tears to fall, but they never came. "Good-bye, Brian," she said to herself and the door. Brian stared at the door for a few more seconds before Leighanne beeped the horn, indicating that she was ready to go. He walked down the porch steps before turning and speaking to the window, "Goodbye, my Jessica."

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"AJ like I said before, Jade and Kevin are still talking in the backyard and I don't want to interrupt them," Jess spoke through the receiver to AJ who desperately wanted to talk to her friend. Jade and Kevin had been out back for hours now, long after Scott had woken up. "Alright, fine," AJ told her, "I'm just calling to invite you and Jade to the barbeque I'm holding tonight. It's going to be huge, so you can bring anyone you want. Just promise you'll both come?" he begged her. "I love it when men beg," Jess laughed, "I'll see," she told him. "That's not good enough," AJ said. "Alright, Jade and I will be there," Jess reluctantly caved in. "With bells on?" AJ asked. "With bells on," Jess replied.

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