1 EN ROUTE TO THE FUTURE

** Jess' point of view**

Jess sat down on the plane next to Jules. It was going to be a long 12 hours. They sure don't make economy that comfortable at all… Oh well, she had other things on her mind keeping her from noticing the small uncomfortable seat she would be stuck in for the next 12 hours. Namely one thing. Joe. She still could believe what just happened!

Him showing up at the airport… his declaration…their kiss! She was lost in her romantic reverie for a while.

Eventually she noticed Jules had her head on her palm and was staring at her. "What?" She asked her, her lips still curled up in a dreamy smile. Jules eyes held all the amusement that Jules voice couldn't hide: "Care to tell me what happened back there?". Jess just gave her another dreamy smile as she hadn't fully processed herself and was not capable of putting anything into words yet. "Okay, well, I'll have to guess then" said Jules, "I bet my money it's because a certain bloke showed up… you know… his name starts with J… and ends with oe…" she was nudging her friend while she was pronouncing those last letters. She had no idea what just happened but it must have been something big, and interesting, to bring such an expression on her best friend's face. Curiosity was really biting her now and she was going to plead with Jess to get it out of her.

"Well…" Jess started, unsure of how to put all that she was feeling into words, "so Joe called me… and…" "aaaaaaand?" Jules pushed her to continue, "and he said that he couldn't let me go without knowing that even with the distance, and even if it concerns my parents, we might still have something". Jules exited face what all Jess needed to hear. "And then we kisses" Jess continued in a very dreamy tone. Jules almost shrieked at that and was over the moon hearing about it. She hugged Jess and said she couldn't have been happier for the two of them!
The two friends continued talking for hours, first about Jess and Joe, then about Jess and Joe and Jess' family (a point that concerned the Indian girl extremely), and finally their minds turned to what was laying ahead of them in the States. After several hours they finally gave in to sleep (much to their neighbours pleasure) and stayed in that comatose state that intercontinental flights put you in until just before the landing. At the pilot's announcements they looked at each full of excitement and enthusiasm about what was waiting for them and decided that they were going to make the most out of the next four months. "If I have to be away from Joe for that long might as well make sure it's for a good cause!" Jess thought to herself. And with that last thought they touched American ground.

** Joe's point of view***

He couldn't believe it! He was ecstatic! He kissed her! She kissed him! They kissed! And it was epic! He wish he could have never let her go. Knowing that they were going to be 4 months apart was already depressing him. And the idea of facing her parents after those 4 months could literally make him hyperventilate on the spot. Thank god they didn't see him kissing their daughter at the airport! Although, maybe if they had they wouldn't have let Jess get on that plane…

He shouldn't think things like that. It was an amazing opportunity for Jess and he was so proud of her. He knew well what she had been up against and knowing that she somehow managed to turn her parents around on her playing football gave him hope she could manage something like that for the two of them. Not that it mattered that much, he was never going to let her go, parents approving or not. Of course not having to sneak around would be a great bonus and it would have been nice to start well with Jess' parents, he already had a long and complicated relationship to mend with his father… That was going to require enough work on its own.

Joe's thoughts were interrupted by Jess' father, Mr Bhamra came to shake his hand and to thank him for what he had done for his daughter. Baba looked at him with a stern and strong stare that made him feel very uncomfortable in his shoes. Maybe Jess' and his kiss hadn't gone as unnoticed as he had thought… however, Baba didn't bring it up. Instead he insisted that Joe would join the Bhamra and the Paxton for dinner, as their were all going to the Indians' house to share a meal and get together as to not feel their daughters absence too much.

He tried to politely refuse but Baba was unmovable and Joe decided it could be good, it could give them a chance to get to know him before they were gonna try kill him for dating their daughter. "Tony, why don't you get in the car with Joe, so that he won't get lost getting to our house?" Baba suggested. "Sure Uncle-ji, that's a good idea" said Tony. They started walking towards the car and Tony and Joe easily stroke up a conversation about football.
The car ride was going very well and Joe was really enjoying Tony's company. The Punjabi man was also pleasantly surprised by Joe and decided that he was not that bad at all. He could definitely see what Jess saw in him. He wasn't just hot, he was also a very nice and polite young man who would make a good boyfriend. They were nearing the Bahram's house when Tony breached the subject of the kiss: "So, Joe, I have seen you kiss Jess at the airport". Joe had a mini heart attack. Oh shit, he thought, we are busted! He started mumbling some muffled excuses "It's not what you think, we were just, I was just, she is.." Tony decided to put him out of his misery, "Relaxed," he laughed "I already knew how Jess felt about you and what had happened between the two of you. I am just happy you finally got together! Although the timing is kind of awkward.."

Phew, Joe relaxed instantly, it was good to know Tony already knew about them, to him it made it a little bit more real. Jess had strong enough feelings for him to talk about that with her best friend. He decided it was a good sign. "Yes I know, I wish I had done that weeks ago and not just minutes before she boarded her plane" He assumed a serious and thoughtful expression and Tony understood right away why. It was not going to be easy to be in a long distant relationship, and these two had literally just got together! His thought reached out to them and to Jess, who she hoped would still manage to have a good time in the States even though she had left Joe behind.