SOMEWHERE IN TIME

by:peach83

A/N: I don't own Jessie and Katie and all the other O&A characters.

PROLOGUE

Harvard University, Boston, Massachussets…

It was Friday, and was almost dark outside. Unlike most days, the library wasn't packed. The only people left were those really serious to ace their upcoming final exams.

"You sure you don't want to go grab a bite or something? What's the point of acing your exam if you're not gonna eat? Come on, let's go grab something to eat." Katie said, her tone full of concern.

Katherine Singer, 22 years old, Architecture student, she may not be a genius, but she's more than average, she was popular and charming, the sultry girl-next-door type. She's definitely the kind of girl you'd want to take home to meet your parents. Not that Jessie thought about her that way. She's too straight to risk their friendship. She met Jessie in highschool and became friends with her since then, and now she lives in a dorm across Jessie's, they weren't bestfriends, but almost.

"I have to finish this now. I don't really have much time to study this weekend. I told you, I'm going out of town with Paul. And I'd love to go have dinner with you, but he's coming to pick me up tonight. Thanks, but no thanks." Jessie looked up at Katie apologetically.

Jessica Sammler, a.k.a. Jessie, 19 years old, Fine Arts student, majoring in Photography, student extraordinaire. She had won photo contests, had internships at the biggest magazines in the country, became president of their departmental club, and was graduating with Honors. Though she has exceptional talent and the perfect eye in capturing moments in her photos, she was still like any other typical university girl: shallow and superficial.

Well, she IS a photographer, of course she's shallow and superficial.

Jessie didn't notice the change in Katie's face after she mentioned Paul's name.

"That's great Jessie, but I don't really want to see you starve yourself to death." Katie said sarcastically. Jessie just smiled at her.

There was this guy in her class, his name was Paul. Imagine Brandon Routh with the charms of Orlando Bloom. No wonder girls pined over him. And why not? He was hot.

When Paul noticed Jessie's existence, she felt like the prettiest girl in the world. He flirted with her, so she flirted with him. Actually, she flirted with him a lot. He even posed, almost naked, for the university calendar, featuring the hottest guys in the University, and was released for the pleasure of the student body.

Jessie didn't notice it then, or maybe she was just too overwhelmed by the attention Paul was giving her to even realize the mixed signals that Katie had been sending her way. At the times when she was making out with Paul, Katie was writing poems for her. She preferred Paul's kisses than Katie's flowers. Katie could only take so much. It's never easy to fall in love with a friend.

And tonight, while studying at the library together, Katie took her time to look at Jessie's face. She looked extra-beautiful tonight, despite the lack of make up, and she even forgot to put on some lip gloss. Ah, Jessie forgets everything except her camera, she swore she was born holding it. Katie chuckled to herself. Jessie will never look bad in her eyes. She once saw her early morning, when she was still wearing her pajamas with animal prints all over it, and her long blonde hair flying in all places, and her face unwashed, and she thought Jessie never looked prettier. She wished she could tell her, but in their years of friendship, she never had the guts. Sometimes, she just had to smack herself in the head for being too chicken to tell her, and to her dismay, there came Paul. It was tough competition.

Tonight, she just had to take her chance.

Jessie was still busy reading, serious about acing the written exam that will basically shape her future in the field she had chosen. Well, that with her talent, of course. She wouldn't have a problem with the practical exams. That was too easy for her.

Meanwhile, Katie sat quietly beside her, just watching her, which she always does and Jessie had gotten used to it.

She turned around to smile at her friend, and was intrigued to see Katie staring intently at her. She met her gaze.

"Uh… Is something wrong?" Jessie asked. But was taken over by surprise when she leaned over and kissed her. She was too shocked to pull away. Jessie didn't exactly respond to the kiss, but her lips remained in contact with Katie's. She wasn't sure about what she felt. The mixed feelings that surged through her were confusing. After the kiss, they both sat in silence, just looking at each other, not knowing what to say. Until Katie said something that definitely caught Jessie off-guard.

"I love you Jessie." Katie whispered, breaking the ice that was built between them after the kiss…

Jessie didn't say anything. Heck, she had no idea what to say. She never thought about dating Katie, or any other girl for that matter 'coz she's straight, and she always had her eyes on Paul. They weren't serious to the point of exchanging I love you's but she believes that she loves him, and actually hearing someone else say that to her was… Confusing.

And then Paul came.

"Ready to go?" Paul's voice suddenly came out of nowhere, and Jessie's head snapped to look for the owner of the voice. Ah, the charming smile of her gorgeous boyfriend caught her attention. Her eyes shifted back to Katie, who didn't seem to pay attention to Paul's presence. She turned her eyes back to Paul, who was too cheery to notice the tension between the two people sitting before him.

Imagine Jessie's dilemma. Does she leave with the guy she shared so much excitement with, or does she stay with the girl who just admitted that she loves her? I told you she was shallow and superficial, didn't I?

Throwing one last look, she saw the hopeful expression in Katie's face. Then she took Paul's waiting hand, and made the biggest mistake she had ever made in her life.

SHE LEFT KATIE.