Chapter Two: Home

Annie Thelen played with the ends of her long blonde braided hair. Jack used to call her Heidi when she wore it in braided pigtails, secretly she never minded. It was a pet name that was romantic to only her ears. Her baby blue spaghetti strap tank top and short shorts set off her newly tanned skin and the hue of the bandana she wore matched that of her eyes. Standing on the tips of her cork platforms she searched the crowd yet again for Molly or Jack or anyone from the tour. No one was here to pick her up and she was seriously jet lagged. Suddenly a flash of brown hair and white teeth caught her attention.

"MOLLY!" Annie screamed throwing her arms around her surrogate mother. "I was so worried where were you?"

"Oh, Annie sweetie I'm so sorry. I lost the paper I wrote your flight number on so I've been searching all over the airport for you."

"Well, at least you're here now. Where's everyone else?" Annie picked up her two duffel bags as Molly picked up the remaining suitcase.

"The kids are on a camping trip and Ned and Irene are on a sort of second honeymoon. So it's just you and me kiddo until Tuesday night." Molly lead the way through a set of double sliding doors.

Annie tried not to let the frown show on her face. She LOVED Molly but there was someone else she desperately wanted to see. She pressed her lips together and could almost FEEL Jack's lips in place of her own. She had spent many a sleepless nights remembering that kiss. She could wait to talk to Jack. Especially since he had never said the L word back. That was her only regret. Having said it without knowing he would say it back. It wasn't a big regret though since Annie liked playing with all the cards on the table.

"So where to first?" Molly asked as she and Annie loaded the luggage into her blue Jetta.

"Ah...um... well the thing is I'm sooooooo tired. Could we just put the fun on hold until tomorrow? I promise we will boogey like no others then but for now I'm just too weak to party." Annie said quietly leaning her head on the car window as they started the ride back to the Phillip's residence.

"Sure, sweetie, I can only imagine how tired you are." Molly turned the radio down and concentrated on the road.

"Thanks Mol you're the greatest." Annie yawned and curled into a little ball falling fast asleep. She had a dream, a very familiar dream. It, of course, starred both her and Jack. But this dream wasn't really a dream it was a memory.

Dream/Flashback

Annie stood alone in the corner of the crowded dance club. She looked around for a friendly face but saw none. It was funny, ever since they had gotten back to Hope Springs all of her "friends" had decided they liked Fi better and hung out with her. Clu had been uber annoying; following her around, complimenting her on EVERYTHING she did, constantly wanting ALONE time. She had actually sought out this corner to hide from him.

"Hey there Heidi, whatca doin'?" The low sexy quality of Jack's voice this particular Saturday night was sending extra shivers up and down her spine. She whipped around to face him fast hoping he hadn't noticed her involuntary shiver, sending her braids flying. "Watch out, you could take someone's eye out with those things."

Annie laughed and leaned in close to Jack's ear whispering, "It's my secret weapon to keep ewwy guys away but it doesn't seemed to have worked on you." Her whole body was on fire with sensation. She hadn't actually realized how close they were standing until she tried to pull back.

Instead of growing farther apart, they grew closer as Jack wrapped his arm around her small waist pulling her closer. "Two in a Million" by S Club Seven began and they swayed slowly. "That's because I'm not an ewwy guy, I'm perfect."

They still hadn't made eye contact during this little flirting session so Annie pulled back far enough to see his beautiful brown eyes. "Perfect, huh? So I guess that makes me a goddess."

"You are to me." Jack whispered tracing lazy designs into Annie's bare back. She had on black leather pants and a white spaghetti strap tanks top that had no back just criss-crossed strings. The weight of Jack's words finally penetrated Annie's lust filled skull and before she could say anything he placed a gentle finger over her mouth. "Not a word, Aphrodite, just listen to the music and sway with me so I, a mere mortal, can fly in the heavens with you.

Speechless Annie had cradled herself into Jack's arms and spent most of the night playing with the fabric of his black wifebeater and white button down shirt and sitting in his jean clad lap whispering softly in their secluded portion of the club.

The dream always ended the same way, with a revision of later that evening when her parents came to take her away and the very sweet and the very passionate kiss Jack and her had shared.

End

"Annie, wake up, we're home." Molly's chipper voice interrupted Annie's dream.

Annie glanced at the fairly large Hope Springs house and smiled, "I AM home."