Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except Kyle. He's my creation of what I wish MY brother was like, hahaha.

Author's Note: Yeah duh, I got the name from that song, doesn't mean I think the song goes with Jessie and Katie, I just really like the name. I don't even care for the song much, just like the name. So I had major writer's block with this chapter, so I'm not extremely happy with it. I really know where I'm going, it's just the fillers that are killing me. Well, regardless, I hope everyone's liking it so far. Again, apologizing for any OOCness.

Bittersweet Symphony

One Week Later

"I think I want to tell my parents when school starts up," Jessie explained to Katie as both girls walked back to her mother's home from the mall, "I just can't decide if I should tell them together at the same time or separate. What do you think I should do?"

"Hmm," Katie paused, "That's a predicament. I guess I would tell them separately. I told my parents at the same time I was gay and it was a little overwhelming for me. But then again, we're different so I dunno."

Jessie playfully slapped Katie on the arm, "You're suppose to help me, not make me more indecisive."

"Where in the rule book of dating does it say that?" Katie playfully shot back.

"Um, I think as the official girlfriend, you need to help me out once in a while." Jessie smiled.

"Again, where in the rule book?"

"Oh, so you don't want to be owed any favors huh?"

"Ohhhhh, well then," Katie smiled and linked her hands with the younger girl as they continued on toward Karen's house.

Once the girls arrived, Jessie walked into the house with Katie following closely behind, "Mom! I'm home!" she placed her bag against the wall on the floor, "Mom? You here?"

Then came a call from up stairs, "Here, sweetie!" Karen emerged from her bedroom and began to descend down stairs, "Did you girls have a good time?"

"Yeah, we did," Jessie replied, "And Katie spilled her smoothie all over this security guard."

"Totally an accident," Katie defended herself.

"I almost find that hard to believe," Karen added with a smile.

Jessie continued, "So yeah, and I got these shoes," she picked up the bag and pulled out a box, opened it to reveal a pair of black converse shoes, "Been wanting to get a pair for a while now."

"Well good. I'm glad you girls had fun." Karen began to walk into the kitchen, "So I've got a date with Henry tonight," she called from the kitchen, "I'll leave some money for pizza." Karen re-emerged with a glass of water in hand, "Unless you have any special plans tonight?" She took a sip.

Shaking her head Jessie replied, "No, nothing special. Just hanging out really."

Later in the night, the girls sat on the couch together, not letting hardly any room between them as they supposedly watched some made for T.V. movie on Lifetime, but neither were actually paying any attention as both were preoccupied with each other's lips. At first, it hadn't occurred to Jessie, but ever since they had officially had sex, they had been much more physical with each other, always kissing when the opportunity appeared, playful poking, sneaky caressing, etc; now, however, she noticed it more and more. Katie on the other hand, had expected this. Her experience prepared her for the rise in physical activities for she had done it previously in her passed relationships. However, never before had she been more excited by it than with Jessie.

For a second, Katie pulled away and looked directly at Jessie and smiled as her hand and fingers tangled themselves in her hair. "I love you so much," she said with a smile, then a thought crossed her mind, "And thank you for putting up with my slight immaturity."

"Slight?" Jessie questioned.

"Okay, my massive immaturity," she laughed before placing her lips on the younger girl's again.

That's when they heard the door open and Karen enter. Both girls separated and pretended to be involved in the movie.

"Evening girls, did you have a good night?"

"Not too bad, mom," Jessie replied.

"Well, that's good."

"How was your date, Mrs. Sammler?" Katie asked.

"It was fun and enjoyable." Karen smiled.

Some time later, when it was time to sleep, Karen had bid the girls a pleasant night before retiring into her own room leaving Jessie and Katie alone in Jessie's room.

"So," Katie started as she stood closely behind Jessie, wrapping her arms around the younger girl's waist, "Whatever shall we do now?"

"I could think of a few things," Jessie replied seductively as she turned her head and met her lips with Katie's. They kissed, passion growing. This time, however, when the girls were finished with their private activities, they made sure to dress so to avoid a similar event as with Lily the week before.

When morning came, the girls woke, smiling and slightly rejuvenated, and began to get ready for their new day.

"I think today," Katie started, "I'm going to spend some time with my parents and brother. Ever since Steve got married and moved away, Kyle's been all mopey. Besides, this is the first weekend both my parents are gunna be home at the same time."

"That's cool, I hope you have a good time with them."

"Well couldn't be worse than last time when I saw my dad for an hour then he left," Katie said with a smirk on her face, "I swear, he's like Batman, the moment his boss contacts him, he's out to fight crime, only not really. Well, you get what I mean."

"Before you go," Jessie began, Katie looking at her expectantly, "How did you parents take it? When you told them you were gay?"

"Well, first of all, Jessie, do you think you're gay?" Katie looked at her seriously.

"Um," Jessie bit her lip.

"Because I know I am. But I also know there are cases of girls just falling for other girls as people. And they are totally straight."

Jessie closed her eyes, she wasn't exactly sure if she was gay or just had deep feelings for Katie the person. But she had been thinking about it for a long time, and she had come to realize she had never felt anything for a boy even before she ever met Katie. Did that mean she was gay? In all honesty, Jessie never saw herself with a boy, ever. If by chance her and Katie didn't work out, and she prayed to all the powers that be that they would never break up, she couldn't see herself with a male, yet she could see herself with another female if it ever came down to it. That and she had recently realized she had always checked out Katie since she had first met her. "I am," she finally said after a long internal debate.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I can't ever see myself with a guy. And I never felt even the slightest bit attracted to one."

"Not even Tad?" Katie asked with a smirk.

Jessie smiled and shook her head, "No."

Nodding her head, Katie began to answer Jessie's original question, "My dad was a little more accepting than my mom. I think he liked the idea that I didn't want any man touching me or something. My mom though, well, I am her only daughter and I guess she wanted me to have this big traditional wedding type deal. So she was a little freaked, asked me a bunch of stupid questions like 'Did some boy hurt you?' and things like that." Jessie nodded while listening, "My brothers were kind of like 'duh!' so I guess they saw it coming."

"How does your mom act now?"

"She doesn't really talk about it much. But after I told her about you, she tries to be a little more open so, I guess it's definitely progress."

"Thanks for that," Jessie said as the girls rose and began their day.

Katie decided to walk home as the morning was quite nice, not too warm, but no where near cold, she enjoyed her walk and hoped Jessie would enjoy her time with her mother. On the walk, Katie began to remember exactly how her "coming out" to her parents went. She had told Jessie her father was more accepting than her mother, which was true, but he also grew paranoid; Katie supposed her mother was to blame for that. Putting in ideas of discrimination into his head, that she wouldn't be accepted among her peers and that it would possibly shame the family. Of course, none of that ever truly happened. Still, her mother was slowly beginning to accept the fact her daughter was a lesbian, but still no where near where Katie would like it to be since Jessie still had yet to come over and have dinner with her family.

Once home, Katie called out "Family! Your amazing and absolute favorite daughter is home!" When there was no answer she mumbled, "Figures." As she began to head for the stairs she was tackled to the ground by her brother, "Kyle!" she shouted as she tried to struggle away from him, "Get off!" She laughed as he began to viciously tickle her.

Pinning his sister down, Kyle stopped tickling her and said, " Man, you've barely been around. Jessie's hogging you."

"Well, duh!" she tried again to pull free from his grip but to no avail. "Oh my god! You weigh a ton! Get off of me, tubby!"

"Hey! I'm not fat! It's all muscle little sister." Which was remotely true. Kyle was once to join the military, but after a major hip injury during his senior year on the track and field team, he was rendered handicapped for some time and his muscles had, as Katie would affectionately say "turned into jelly" and any hopes of serving in the military had been shattered. Therefore, he became a nurse.

"Uh huh," Katie stared at him blankly as the memories went through her head. She remembered her brother being in a wheelchair and not active, yet not sad because of his optimism of finding a new path in life, that same optimism that had helped her when she had her accident. "Can you get off of me now?"

"Fine," Kyle said as he laughed and rose up to his feet and helped his sister up, "How was last night?" he asked as he walked into the kitchen with Katie following.

"Fun. Made out a bunch and other stuff." She grabbed the carton of orange juice from the refrigerator and drank directly out of it.

"That's disgusting!" Kyle exclaimed as he grabbed the carton from her hands, "Use a frickin' glass! I don't know where your mouth has been!" he laughed.

"Ha ha!" she retorted sarcastically, "No where you don't wish yours to be." She smiled.

"Handle it, little sister, handle it!" he said.

"Hey, so where's mom and dad?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Uh, out."

"Out?"

"Yeah, out."

"What the hell? They said they were going to be here today!" She grew agitated.

"Relax, Katie. They left about an hour ago. They should be back soon." He avoided eye contact with her.

Katie looked at her brother knowingly, "What are you hiding?"

"Huh?"

"You're hiding something. I can tell. You know you've always been a pretty bad liar, right?" She inched closer to Kyle.

"Whatever Kaitlyn."

"Kyle!" He looked at her; she looked back at him with piercing eyes.

Finally breaking he spilled, "FINE! They're at the car dealership."

For a moment Katie froze. It took a few seconds to process what her brother had just revealed and her reaction finally came, "WHAT?!"

"Yeah," he mumbled as he looked away.

"Whoa! That's… Oh my frickin' god! Why?" she asked, despite the answer being fairly obvious.

"Your 17th birthday, dummy."

"But that was a while ago."

"Yeah but still."

"Oh wow, that is so cool! What kind of car?"

"No, that I am not saying."

Katie laughed, "Okay, okay. But wow."

Then the door opened and the sound her father's voice was heard, "Kyle! Is Katie back yet?"

"Yeah dad," Katie called out as she walked into the living room, "Right here."

"Good," he looked at her harshly which surprised her, "Go help your mother."

"Sir, yes sir!" Katie shouted and saluted military style and walked passed her father. There she saw it, a beautiful jungle green Jeep Wrangler with a light brown rag top with plastic windows. "Oh my god!" She turned to her father, who stood with a smile on his face as she flung herself into his arms, "Thank you, Daddy!" She let go and ran to her mother and engulfed the older woman in a hug, "Thank you so much!" She looked at the vehicle in awe.

"It's a '97, four wheel drive, and it's a manual. Good thing Kyle taught you how to drive using his car. Oh, but there's no CD player though."

"How dare you! Worst father ever!" Katie exclaimed, jokingly prompting a laugh from her father, "Seriously though, I don't care about the CD player. Wow. And all the windows are plastic! God this is awesome! But why?"

"Well, honey, we didn't get to do anything for your 17th birthday," her mother started.

"And this is your senior year of high school. You'll be going to college next year," her father added.

"Yey! I'm going to be the coolest girl in school!" she exclaimed, joking about being "coolest girl" remark; everyone knew Katie had a sarcastic sense of humor.

Meanwhile Jessie was at her mother's home spending some quality time with her mother, watching random television. At this moment, Jessie was quite content. The only trouble on her mind was her wanting to come out about her relationship with Katie and that she is gay. Scenarios kept playing in her head; she was pretty sure her father would be more accepting than her mother, only because she took after her mother in the fact that she was overly sensitive at times.

"How's life? Overall?" Karen asked suddenly, breaking Jessie out of her trance.

"Huh? Oh, uh, pretty good."

"How's Tad?"

'Weird, she hasn't asked me about him in a while,' she mentally thought before answering, "He's okay, I guess. Haven't seen too much of him over the summer."

"I noticed." Karen shifted, "You spend a lot of time with Katie."

'Uh oh,' Jessie grew nervous.

"She's your best friend, huh?"

"Um, yeah."

"Listen, Jessie," Karen began as she changed her position on the couch to better face her daughter, "I have this feeling you're hiding something and I want you to know you can tell me anything, whenever you're ready." Jessie shifted seemingly uncomfortable; Karen continued, "It's okay if you don't want to tell me now. But know that whatever it is, I'll love you no matter what. Okay?"

"I know, Mom." Jessie gave her mother a small smile. After hearing these words coming from one of the most important people in Jessie's life, she felt a lot better about coming out to her parents. But despite this, she still felt that now was not the time, she was encouraged but still not ready to take that step. "Thanks," she said and hugged her mother.

"School is starting very soon. You excited?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Excited to be a junior?"

"I think I'll be more excited to be a senior."

"Well, that's true. Just please don't get a case of senioritis."

Jessie chuckled, "Don't worry, Mom, that won't be me. Senioritis will be Katie's specialty."

Karen smiled, "Something tells me that girl had senioritis as a freshman."

"Yeah," Jessie laughed, "Probably."

Karen smiled again as she looked at her daughter who had the most dreamy face. The older woman noticed this a lot more lately, especially when her daughter's best friend was mentioned. 'Can't deny they've got a strong bond,' Karen thought. The thought of something more laid dormant in her subconscious, not quite ready to reach up to the surface. It didn't matter, deep down, all Karen ever wanted, wants, is for Jessie to keep that glow around her. Whatever the reason for the glow, Karen was grateful.

Three days later

"So how's the car working for you?" Kyle asked his sister as he laid on the couch, channel surfing.

"Awesomely good," Katie replied as she walked into the living room from the kitchen with a small bowl of pretzels; taking one from the bowl and eating it.

"Good." He turned his attention back toward the television.

Katie sat at a chair angled slightly toward the television and slightly toward the couch. She put one last pretzel in her mouth before a smirk appeared on her face. Grabbing two pretzels, Katie flicked them at her brother, successfully hitting him on the forehead with one, and grazing his nose with the other. "Ha ha! A point and a half for me!"

After a few seconds of being completely frozen, Kyle turned to his sister slowly and looked at her intensely, "What… Is… Your… PROBLEM?!" he shouted as he darted off the couch and grabbed his sister pinning her to the floor tickling her.

Katie dropped the bowl of pretzels and began to dry heave she was laughing so hard, "Oh my god," she heaved, "Kyle stop!"

"Say what I want to hear," he stopped tickling her, but kept her pinned down.

"No!" Katie struggled but to no avail.

"Say it, Kaitlyn."

Katie continued to struggle, but knew there was nothing she could do to release her brother's grip on her, so finally, she swallowed her pride and said, "Fine. Kyle is the most amazing brother in the whole world. He is the number one person, and the coolest piece of awesome you'd ever meet. Happy?"

Kyle smiled, "Ya know, it never gets old." He rose to his feet and held a hand out to Katie, who didn't take it, then sat back down on the couch.

"Once day, you're going to have to grow up." She raised an eye brow at him.

"Hmm," he made a serious and thoughtful face, "Touché."

Katie laughed, "Ass." Both siblings picked up the pretzels that had fallen to the ground. When she was done, she set the bowl on the coffee table and sat back down on the chair and picked up the book she was reading; right as she opened to the page she left off on, a thought popped into her head; this would be the last weekend of freedom until she graduated. She wanted to take Jessie out on a very classy date before school would be back in session, especially now since she had her own car and didn't have to use her parents BMW or Lexus, or as she called them "classy old people cars." Sure she and Jessie had been on dates before, but it was always the same thing; dinner at a diner or making food at home. Watching a movie or cuddling to a rental at home. Going out for walks and making out among the trees. Even other stuff such as batting cages, museums, etc. She wanted to do something mature, she had decided. She had decided she would do a traditional, mature, date. Something, classy.

Opening the book to the page she left off at, all she read was "it was a terrible blow," then she blinked and then her eyes darted further down the page, "Mina Harker" was the next thing she read. She blinked again as it hit her; her eyes widened and a smile formed on her face. "Kyle!" she called her brother, when she saw he was looking at her she continued, "Remember when I was talking about doing something special for Jessie?" He nodded, "Well I was thinking about doing something classy and adultish. You know, expensive, sort of, dinner, maybe see a play or something rather than some movie. Ya know? I think there's a production of The Cherry Orchard playing at the Boston Court Theatre. Jessie would probably like Chekhov."

"Okay," he said, squinting his eyes a little.

"Well, what do adults do on dates? I'm tired of taking her to the same places and doing the same things! I want to do something different, and more mature." She grew a little agitated.

"You've already had sex with her, that's pretty mature," he smirked.

"Kyle." She glared daggers at him.

"You're seriously asking me this? I mean, me?" he turned off the T.V. and moved so that he was sitting up, "What's up with this, Katie? You weren't like this with Sarah."

Katie looked up at him, "I loved Sarah, but not like this. With Jessie, it's different. I can't explain it, but I feel it. It's just different."

"I see," he said, then took a moment before looking back up with a gleam in his eyes, "I got it! Okay, you really like this girl right?"

"I frickin' love her."

"Okay, why not give her the rings."

"Rings?"

"You know! The rings of our heritage? The were a big thing on "Buffy" when Angel was on there." He paused as his sister gave him a blank stare. "The Irish commitment rings? The one with the crown, hands and heart?"

"OH!!!" She nearly jumped out of her seat, "Oh my god! That's an amazing idea! Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you're not as awesome as me."

"Shut up," she said. Then she got quiet, she needed to plan. She wanted to make it an all day thing, or maybe a half day thing. Yes, that would work out better. "I have an idea forming in my head. Think you can help me, big brother?"

"Of course, little sister. What do you need me to do?"

"I've got the money; get me the rings, yeah?"

"Alright."

"What do you think about this, for Friday," she began, her eyes beaming as she told her brother of her plan.

The rest of the week went by relatively normal, the adults spent time at work, kids spent the week enjoying what they could: hanging out, window shopping, visiting the traveling carnival. Anything they could do to stretch out their last days of summer vacation.

While at the park, Jessie, Katie, Grace, and Zoe were all together got a little outdoor activity going and decided to play some soccer.

"Alright, what are the teams?" Grace asked.

"I want to be with Jessie!" exclaimed Zoe.

"Guess that settles it," Katie said.

"No," Grace interjected, "It's not fair for them. You and I are older and have experience with running. Zoe, you're with Katie."

"Now who's not being fair, you get the Kung Fu master on your team and you were the one who actually played soccer. What do I get? This little runt," Katie said with a smile so that Grace and Zoe knew she was teasing her.

"Tae Kwon Do, thanks," Jessie interjected and received an apologetic, yet humorous look from Katie.

"Oh right, Katie, stop being modest. You know you're a way better runner than me, I mean, c'mon, you were the only Freshman to make varsity Track."

Katie's eyes went wide, "What are you talking about?"

"Track?" Jessie asked.

"I really have no idea what she's talking about."

"Katie, it wasn't that long ago," Grace insisted.

"Whatever, fine, I'm with Zoe." She quickly grabbed the soccer ball, "C'mon, runt, let's teach your sisters a lesson!"

"Yeah!" Zoe exclaimed with a jump.

Watching both Zoe and Katie running away from them, Jessie turned to Grace with an inquisitive look on her face, "Grace? She was on the track team?"

"Well, yeah. Freshman year and part of Sophomore year from what I heard."

"Why just part?"

"Well-"

"Hey! Are we gunna play or what? Forfeit already?!" Katie laughed as she kicked the ball and her and Zoe began running at them.

"Ask Katie," Grace said then she ran leaving her step sister with wonder, "Jessie! Get over here!"

That snapped her out of her thoughts as she ran forward making a mental note to talk to Katie about this later.

About an hour and a half was spent playing soccer, the final score being Grace and Jessie with 6 goals to Katie and Zoe with 2 goals.

"We got stomped on, Katie," Zoe said dejectedly.

"I realized that. Remember, I said I wasn't soccer material."

"Yeah, Grace cheated! Again!"

"I did not. No one objected."

"Except me," Katie interjected.

"Well, you're opinion doesn't count," Jessie said with a smirk.

Katie leaned in, "We'll see about that," she smiled, "Let's see how smug you are when I refuse to kiss you," she whispered.

Jessie made a shocked face, playfully slapped Katie on the arm, and laughed. Once back at the Manning Manor, the girls piled into the kitchen and got water noticing there was no one home. Grace and Zoe went into the living room expecting Jessie and Katie to follow them, which they planned to, in a few moments Katie decided. Just as Jessie began to walk, Katie grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her and with a smile place her other hand behind her neck and kissed her; she was especially happy to feel Jessie kiss back. After a moment the girls pulled away from each other and just looked into each other's eyes. Jessie leaned in once again but this time, with a knowing smirk, Katie leaned away and turned her face shaking her head "no."

"Huh?" Jessie asked confused at her girlfriend's sudden disinterest in affection, "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing," Katie said all too calmly, letting go of Jessie and stepping toward the doorway.

"What?" Jessie grabbed Katie's wrist, using her eyes to plead with her girlfriend.

"Well, you said my opinion doesn't count, remember?" Katie explained all too innocently.

"Oh god," Jessie smiled and pulled Katie toward her again, "Shut up, you dork." Then she kissed Katie once again and internally smiled when she felt Katie kiss back.

After a moment, the girls separated and leaned each other's foreheads together smiling. It was Jessie who broke the silence, "So, what was that about track that Grace was talking about?"

For a moment, Katie was taken back and Jessie could clearly see the look in her eyes were surprise and almost resentment. Katie dropped her arms from around Jessie and turned away from her, "Jess, just drop it, please?"

Jessie was confused, 'Why doesn't she want to tell me?' she thought as she walked up behind Katie, "Why? You were on the track team?"

Katie turned around, feeling agitated, "Jessie, it was a long time ago."

"But why haven't you told me?"

"Jessie," Katie said sternly, "Just drop it. It's not something I want to talk about."

"Katie-"

"Look," Katie began, by this time she was growing very impatient with her girlfriend, "I was on the track team, then I wasn't. End of story!"

"Why haven't you ever told me?"

"Because I'm allowed to have my secrets! Must you really know every little aspect about me? Like the things I was into but no longer? Really? Do I go probing with you? No, I let you tell me whatever you want if your comfortable or if I can sense you're having a hard time."

"Um," Jessie was shocked, "I'm sorry."

"I have to go," Katie said, realizing she was over reacting she became extremely embarrassed, "I'll call you later." And without another word, Katie grabbed her bag, quickly kissed Jessie on the cheek, and walked out the back door leaving Jessie bewildered about what had just occurred.

"Jess, Katie, you guys coming," Grace walked in then noticed that there was one girl missing, "Or what…? Where's Katie?"

"She, uh," Jessie paused for a moment coming to terms, "Left. She left."

"Why?"

"Because she did, okay?" Jessie said then left the kitchen and headed toward the attic.

"What just happened?" Grace asked to no one in particular.

TBC…

Author's Note: I just realized that on The OC (a show I couldn't stand), Alex Kelly (Olivia Wilde) who dated Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton), also had a jeep wrangler. I didn't do it on purpose, I just LOVE jeep wranglers. So can ya guess Katie and Kyle are close?!?! By the way, the book Katie was reading was the original Dracula by Bram Stoker.