Later that night Becca yawned as she walked to the back with the nights takings, yawning again she smiled as Donald came towards her "that was a crazy night huh?"
"Yeah," he chuckled "I thought those two chicks were gonna rip each other apart."
"Remind me never to put myself in front of two drunk girls fighting over shoes," Becca laughed.
Donald laughed too "how's your face now? You should have seen their faces when you grabbed both of them by the ear."
Becca shrugged "always worked on me and my sister, it's fine I think she scratched me is all, anyway thanks for tonight and I'll see you Monday."
"Do you want me to wait and walk you home?" he asked.
"No, you get off, I think Mel would like you to walk her home," she smirked.
"Bec," he laughed "stop trying to play cupid."
"She's at the bar, be good!" she called as she walked into the office.
A few minutes later she had finished locking up the office and walked across the floor glancing around to make sure everything was done. Getting up to the door she smiled as one of the bouncers turned to her "I told you to go home Eddie," she said as she jumped to reach the shutter.
"This is why I wait," he chuckled and reached over her to pull it down.
"Hey, I took off my heels already," she said and bent down to slide the lock on "but thank you anyway."
"No problem Ms Mitchell," he smirked.
"Hey," she scolded "that's my mom, I'm just Becca, okay?"
"I'm kidding," he laughed "do you need a ride? I saw Don and Mel head off already."
"Nice," she laughed "thanks, but I'm okay, I don't mind the walk."
"You're sure?" he asked, "it's pretty late and it's Saturday, more creeps on the streets."
"I'm three blocks away, I've done the walk a million times before, you head off, I'll see you during the week."
"Okay, night Becca," he replied and walked off to his car.
As she rounded the corner she pulled out her phone and smiled as a message from Jesse was waiting for her, Breakfast had gone so well-ran over by two hours, but who's counting?
Reading it she chuckled and gasped as she bumped into someone. "Sorry," she said gripping her phone and bag tighter.
"Make this a habit, are we?" came Jesse's voice.
Becca looked up and chuckled "I think you're the one making it a habit…what brings you here this late?" she asked.
"Why else would I be hanging around at this time of night?" he asked, "why are you walking home on your own? And what happened to your face?"
"Aww, you came out for me? I can take care of myself," she smiled "bar fight with two chicks," she added.
Jesse shrugged and started to lead her to his car "not for you exactly, I fell asleep earlier so now I'm wide awake, I thought the walk would tire me out."
Becca laughed "outside the club I work at? At the same time I finish?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
Jesse laughed "fine, you got me, I'm taking you home," he said and nudged her into his car.
….
Pulling up at her complex Becca pulled off her belt "so," she drawled "thanks for the lift."
"No problem," he smiled.
"Okay," she said when he didn't say anything else "I'll see you soon?"
"Sure," he nodded and smiled again.
Becca stared at him for a few minutes "night Jesse," she chuckled and climbed out.
Jesse waited until she was at her door before he climbed out "Becca!" he called and walked up to her.
"Yeah?" she asked turning back to him.
Without a word, he leaned in and kissed her sweetly "night," he murmured and stepped back.
Becca raised an eyebrow and grabbed his collar before he could walk off "did you come all the way here just for a kiss?"
"Maybe," he chuckled and looked away from her.
Becca laughed and pulled him back to her "better make it a good one then," she said and kissed him hard.
As the kiss heated up Jesse walked her backwards until she hit the door "Jesse," she mumbled and pulled back "I'm sorry, this can't go any further. Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not ready to take things to the next level…sorry," she mumbled and looked down.
Jesse chuckled and tilted her chin up "it's okay, that wasn't my intention, I just got carried away," he said and stepped back "enjoy your day off tomorrow."
Becca groaned "more studying," she said and pulled out her key.
"I'll be around if you want a break from studying," he said casually.
Becca chuckled and kissed him quickly "I might take you up on that, goodnight," she said and slipped inside.
Jesse had just got into his car when Becca ran down the path "Jesse!" she called waving her hands "Jesse! Wait!"
"What is it?" he asked climbing out, she didn't look too good.
"My phone is dead can I borrow yours?" she asked frantically.
"Becca what's wrong?" he asked as he handed it over.
"My apartments been broken into, none of the girl are home," she said and put the phone to her ear.
"What?" he yelled "is it bad?"
"It's trashed, I can't tell what's been taken though…hello, police please?" she asked and walked back up the drive.
Jesse followed her and tugged her back as she went to walk in "they could be still here," he said as she raised an eyebrow.
"There's no one here," she muttered and pushed the door in.
Jesse followed her and looked around "wow, they really did a number on the place."
"Yeah," she sighed "on the upside I can see mine and Chloe's laptops."
"Sorry Becca, I hope they didn't take anything valuable," he said and rubbed her arm.
Becca sighed again "me too, anyway you can head on police are on their way."
Jesse shook his head "I'm not leaving you alone."
An hour later the police had come and gone leaving Becca to get on with the cleaning up. She had charged her phone and had called Amy and Chloe, Chloe had been the only one to answer and was on her way from her mom's house.
Jesse walked to her with a cup of tea "sit down and drink that," he said leading her to a chair.
"Thanks," she sighed and sat down "at least they didn't get much right?"
"As long as you're all okay everything can be replaced," Jesse replied.
Becca nodded and looked at the clock "wow, Jesse, its six am you better go home and get some sleep."
"I'll stay until Chloe gets here," he said.
"Becca!" Chloe shrieked as she tried her key in the door.
Becca laughed and stood up to let her in "she's here now."
Jesse followed her and stepped back when the door flew open "Becca! Oh my god! Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Did they take everything?" Chloe yelled.
Jesse walked to the door "I'll leave you to it, call me if you need anything."
Becca nodded and turned to Chloe "go see what's missing from your room, I'm just gonna walk Jesse out."
"Are you gonna be okay?" Jesse asked.
Becca nodded "I'll be fine, thanks for staying with me."
Jesse leaned in and kissed her on the cheek "go get some sleep."
Becca pulled him back and kissed him "thanks again…I better get back into her."
Jesse nodded and started to walk backwards "I'll talk to you soon."
"See ya," she smiled and closed the door.
Chloe walked out of her room and sat on the sofa "nothing is missing from what I can tell."
Becca nodded and sat beside her "yeah, my room too, they must have been looking for something…rent money is gone though," she sighed "but I called my dad, he'll call back when he wakes up," she said gloomily.
Chloe rubbed her back "Bec, I know you hate asking you parents for money why don't I ask my mom?"
"No, it's okay we've all exams we don't have time to worry about this, my dad won't be looking for it back so it's the easiest solution," she replied.
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked, "because my mom will give it and we can pay her back whenever."
"My dad won't want it back, that way we don't have to struggle to pay anyone back," Becca said and stood up as her phone rang "that's probably Amy."
"Uh, it's my dad," she said and bit on her lip, "hey dad," she answered.
"Hey, I have a missed call from you earlier did everything go okay at the club?"
"Uh, yeah," she said and glanced at Chloe "um, I was wondering if I could borrow seven hundred dollars?"
"Seven hundred dollars?" he yelled "Becca you never ask me for money, has something happened?"
"Uh, forget about it," she said quickly and hung up.
…
"Did he get mad?" Chloe frowned.
"Uh no, he asked me what if was for and I panicked," she said and looked at her phone "that's him again."
"Answer it," Chloe chuckled.
"Hey dad," she said slowly.
"Becca," he said calmly, "we'll try that again, shall we?" he asked, "why do you need seven hundred dollars?"
Becca blew out a breath "my apartment was broken into and our rent money was taken, it's due tomorrow," she said quickly.
"What!" he yelled "your apartment was broken into? Are you okay? Did you call the police?"
"I'm fine, I wasn't here and police are just gone."
"I'm coming over to see for myself, I told you living there was a mistake, it's not safe," he said angrily.
"Dad you don't need to come over," she said pinching the bridge of her nose.
"I'm getting ready now," he said, "I'll be there soon."
"Fine," she sighed "just don't bring mom," she said and hung up.
"Do you want to go hide in one of the apartments and I'll tell him you had to go somewhere?" Chloe asked.
"No, I better just get it out of the way, you know my dad, he'll stay here all day if he has to…I better get some sleep, I need to study later," she muttered and walked to her room.
"I'll start cleaning a bit more," Chloe said.
Becca groaned "I better help, don't want to give him anything else to moan about," she muttered and walked to get the black bags.
"Anything else taking?" Chloe asked as they put things back on order.
"Um, I don't think so," Becca said looking around "all I noticed was the rent money a crappy ring I got in a pawn shop and ten dollars Amy left in the kitchen."
"They took my radio," Chloe replied, "my good Bon jovi cd was in it," she groaned.
Becca chuckled "you can have mine I'll copy it."
"Here's your dad," Chole said from the window "he has one of your brothers with him."
"Which one?" Becca groaned.
"Uh, the lawyer," Chloe replied
"That doesn't help Chlo," she chuckled "I have two that are lawyers."
"Okay, the cute younger one."
Becca groaned "I am so not in the mood for him, he is the worst when It comes to being protective."
Chloe opened the door "hi, Mr Mitchell," she said and moved to let them in "Justin," she nodded as the brother followed.
"Hi Chloe," Becca's Dad replied and looked around "is Becca about?"
"Here," she said coming from her room "hey, dad," she said next not knowing what else to say.
He looked around and looked at the locks on the doors and window "no wonder someone broke in, a child could break this," he sighed.
"We're college student's dad, we don't have cash for the fancy apartments," she replied rolling her eyes.
"Pack your stuff," Justin said, "you're going back to mom and dads."
Becca scoffed "I am not, I'm staying right here."
"Yes you are Becca, you're not staying here in this dump any longer!" Justin yelled.
"Don't you tell me what to do!" she yelled back.
"Enough!" their dad yelled.
Becca sighed heavily "dad I'm okay nothing valuable was taken, this is the first thing ever to happen here, right Chloe?"
"Yes," Chloe replied coming to stand beside Becca "we've always been pretty safe here and our landlord is always very good to us when we need anything."
Mr Mitchell walked around the windows again "it's easy to get in by the fire escapes, I'll have someone out to install an alarm and sensors."
Dad, there's really no need, I don't think the landlord would be happy about that either, we'd have to ask."
Mr Mitchell turned to her "the safety of my daughter comes first, if he was such a good landlord he would have taken more messures to make sure these places were safe and had an alarm system. He can call me if he has any complaints."
Becca groaned and looked over at Chloe for some help, she shrugged back and linked their arms together. Becca sighed again "dad we've studying to get on with our exams start tomorrow, so thanks for coming but really everything is fine."
"Becca," Justin started.
"Go wait in the car," his dad said cutting him off.
Justin sighed and walked to her "I'll be checking in on you," he said and kissed her on the cheek before he nodded at Chloe and walked out the door.
"Um, I'll be in my room," Chloe said when Mr Mitchell looked at her.
He walked to Becca and reached out for her, pulling her into a hug her rubbed her back "you must have been scared."
"A little," she nodded against him.
"Bec, I don't like the idea of you being in a rundown block like this, I get you want your own independence and everything else and I've been fine with it."
Becca pulled back and looked up at him "you haven't called me Bec in a long time."
He chuckled "I haven't seen much of you."
"Dad really, I love living here, I have all the Bella's around me we're two feet from the metro. I can walk to and from the club and my other jobs," she replied.
He sighed and stepped back "I don't want to take your independence away from you Becca, you and Jamie are the only two that fend for themselves and I'm quite proud of the both of you. I still worry about you though so here's the deal, I'm getting a top notch alarm system put in here today."
Becca nodded deal, but I'll have to check with the landlord."
"I'll call him myself, send me on his number."
Becca nodded "thanks dad, and thanks for the money you really got us out of a hole."
He kissed her on the cheek and walked to the door "money is already in your account and a little extra to replace what was taking love you," he smiled and slipped out.
…
Later that day Becca dropped her pen and looked down at her phone as it rang "hey Jesse," she yawned.
"Hey, just checking in," he replied.
"I'm fine thanks," she said, "nothing was taken on me or the girls, well nothing of value apart from our rent money."
"Ouch, did you call your landlord and explain?"
"No, we got the money together it was due today," she replied, "we did tell him what happened and he had an alarm system installed today," she lied.
"Sounds like a nice guy, how did you come up with money like that so quick…sorry, you don't have to answer that, I wasn't thinking."
"No, it's okay Chloe and I had a bit of savings and Amy gave what she could…um, don't take this the wrong way, I'm studying here, did you call for something?"
Jesse chuckled "sorry, I forgot your exams were tomorrow, I was just calling to see how you were and to see when I could see you again."
"Um, I'm busy tomorrow but you can meet me after my shift at the diner on Tuesday if you want," she replied.
"Sure, what time do you finish?"
"Ten," she replied, "I know it's late so you can leave it if you want."
"No that's fine, I'll be working in the club anyway so I'll just leave at ten, where will I meet you?"
"Um, the corner of the street, I'm on the street beside the club so I'll only be a minute walking around."
"Okay, now that's settled I'll leave you to study, good luck with your exams and I'll see you Tuesday," he said.
"Thanks, I'll see you Tuesday then, bye," she smiled and hung up.
"You're totally smitten," came Chloe's voice.
Becca turned in her chair "excuse me?" she asked, "were you watching me?"
"No," Chloe laughed and walked to her bed "okay, I totally was, so you can't lie I saw your face."
Becca laughed "so I like the guy, what's the big deal?"
"The big deal," Amy said dropping beside Chloe is you like a guy and he's gotten more than one date, we thought this would never happen again."
Becca laughed again "why don't you both focus on your own love lives and get back to me."
"I'm going out with Dylan again," Chloe said, "I have been dating, you haven't in about six months, not even a once off thing."
"Yeah Becca when was the last time you got some?" Amy asked as she licked ice-cream off a spoon.
"Oh god," Becca groaned "a while now, never ask me that again."
"I think you should let Jesse give you one," Amy laughed.
"Dear lord, save me," she chucked "just get out, I've to finish my studying."
Amy and Chloe stood up "I agree with Amy, let your hair down, he's not going anywhere."
It was now Monday afternoon, her first two exams out of the way, Becca made her way into the mall. Once a month she would meet her youngest brother to catch up, Jamie was twenty-four and by far her favourite brother. He didn't get all protective as much as the other two, sure he had his moments but nothing near as bad as them. Thinking about her family she chuckled and took the escalator to where she'd to meet him.
"Becca!" he called from a table and waved to get her attention.
Becca smiled and hurried to him "hey, it's great to finally see you," she said happily and hugged him tight.
"Good to see you too Becs, how did the exams go today?" he asked.
Great," she nodded I actually knew a lot," she chuckled.
He chuckled too and shoved a cup to her "drink up, dad called me a while ago, he told me your place was broken into."
"Yeah, they didn't get much apart from our rent money a crappy ring that I got here years ago and Chloe's radio and a few other not important nick knacks."
"That silver ring with the black stone?" he asked.
"Uh yeah, how did you remember that?" she chuckled.
"Because I remember when you got it," he laughed "you bought it because you couldn't get it back off your finger after you tried it on."
Becca burst out laughing "yeah, that's it, the woman on the till was trying her best not to laugh, my bad for trying to put it on my index finger."
Jamie laughed again and stood up "come on I'm gonna treat you today."
"You don't have to, I'm fine," she said and stood up.
"I'm treating you, no arguments," he said and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Not far away Jesse walked out of a shop with his friend and stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Becca with another guy wrapped around her laughing away. His heat sunk a little, he really though she was into him just as much as he was into her.
"Dude, what's up?" his friend asked and nudged him.
"Nothing," he said and tore his eyes away from them "just thought I left my wallet on the counter," he said and walked on throwing a glance over his shoulder.
Jamie stopped outside a shop "wait here, I'll be two seconds," he said and ran inside.
Becca chuckled and walked to the window od the record store and started to look at the cds, seeing the one that was taken on Chloe she made a mental note to go in and pick it up before she went home.
"Boo," Jamie said coming up beside her, chuckling when she jumped.
"Ass," she laughed and slapped him.
"Here," he said holding out a small bag.
"What's this?" she asked peering in at the small box.
"Your cheer me up present," he chuckled.
Becca narrowed her eyes and opened the box "wow, Jamie where did u find this?"
"Uh, in the store I just came out of," he chuckled.
Becca laughed and smacked him again "thank you, it's nearly exactly the same as the one that was taken," she said looking down at the ring.
…
Tuesday evening Becca had just finished her shift, walking to the back of the diner she groaned "shoot," she sighed remembering she hadn't brought a change of clothes. She normally just walked home in her uniform.
"What's up honey?" he older co-worker asked as she got her own stuff.
"Nothing Gloria, I just forgot clothes, I'm supposed to be going on a date now."
"Wow, you kept that quiet, where's he taking you?"
"I don't know it was kinda planned at the last minute, he'll probably just drive me home and we'll sit and talk for ages," Becca replied.
"Girl, you'll be fine, if he's really into you he won't care what you're wearing," Gloria chuckled.
"True," Becca chuckled "you're right, I'm not gonna worry about it…see you Thursday!" she called and slipped out the back door.
Getting to where she'd to meet Jesse she frowned when he wasn't there, she was already fifteen minutes late. Puling out her phone she sent him a quick text, she knew he was working maybe he got held up.
Getting no reply five minutes later she tried calling him, she frowned again as he cancelled her call and it went to mail "hey, I'm here waiting, guess you're busy…I'll just see you another time," she said and hung up and started to walk home.
A few minutes later Jesse pulled up beside her and beeped, pulling the door open she bent down "I didn't mean you had to leave work, you could have just called me."
"I know, sorry I got held up," he lied "get in," he added. Truth was he was still gutted about seeing her with another guy that he was going to stand her up, his mom dropped by for a visit and knocked some sense into him when he finally told her what was bothering him.
Becca climbed in and pulled her belt on "what do you want to do?" she asked as he pulled away.
"I'm pretty tired is it okay if I just drop you home?"
"yeah," she nodded, remembering neither Chloe or Amy were home she decided to try make the next move, "you can come up for a while if you want," she added.
Jesse pulled in at her complex "sure, but I don't want to keep you up all night."
"Maybe I want to be kept up," she replied and cringed at how corny that sounded.
Jesse raised an eyebrow as he followed her up the stairs "what was that?"
"Um, nothing," she replied and fiddled with her keys as her cheeks lit up.
"Coffee?" she asked as she let them in.
"Please," he said and walked to the sofa "shopping?" he asked pointing to the bags on the floor.
"Yeah, I met my brother at the mall yesterday so I replaced a few things that were broken when the place got robbed, moisturisers and stuff like that."
"So that's who he was," Jesse said out loud, he was so relieved…and now felt kinda bad for acting like a jealous twat in the first place. His mom was right, it could have been anyone, she was allowed to be seen with other males, and his mother reminded him that they weren't officially dating so she could see who she liked.
"What?" she frowned as she handed him a cup.
"Nothing, thanks," he said quickly.
Becca chuckled and sat down beside him "I heard you Jesse, who are you talking about?"
Jesse groaned "you're gonna think I'm an idiot."
"I won't, tell me?" she asked and nudged him.
"Okay," he sighed and looked at the floor "yesterday I saw you at the mall with some guy wrapped around you…I kinda got a bit j-"
"Jealous?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah, jealous," he said and looked away from her again "I was so pissed that I left the mall to avoid doing something stupid."
"You weren't held up tonight were you?"
"No," he groaned and threw his hands over his face "Becca I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me, I'm such an idiot."
Becca put her cup down and moved closer to him "why did it bother you so much?"
Jesse looked over at her "because I like you…a lot," he mumbled and looked away quickly.
Becca bit on her lip and thought for a moment, standing up she pushed him back and slid her knees either side of him and scooted onto his lap "I like you too…a lot," she said hoping her cheeks didn't light up again.
Jesse slid his hands onto the back of her legs "you don't think I'm crazy for acting that way? By the way, wearing this dress is not helping," he chuckled.
Becca chuckled too and leaned back "no, I don't think it's crazy, I think I might react like that if I saw you with another girl," she said as she pulled her dress over her head "dress is gone," she smirked.
Jesse bit on his lip to stop the moan that wanted to escape "what are you doing Becca?"
Becca shrugged taking things to the next level…unless you don't want to," she added quickly.
Jesse sat forward and kissed her sweetly "you weren't ready for this a few days ago, what's changed?"
"You, and what you told me there, I see this going somewhere…do you?"
He nodded and pulled her closer to him "I do, I'm not going anywhere Becca," he whispered and kissed her hard.
She moaned into his mouth as his hand slid onto the back of her head and he slowed the kiss down. "Bedroom?" he panted between kisses.
"On the left," she panted back and grabbed onto him as he lifted her onto his hips without braking the kiss.
…
A while later Jesse lay behind her trailing kisses up and down her upper arm "you okay?" he asked and pulled her into him.
"Yeah," she said and tilted her head "that good for you?" she giggled.
Amazing," he chuckled and kissed her deeply, pulling back he lay beside her so we've taking things to the next level, what's next?"
Becca shrugged "uh, we go on a few more dates and see if we still like each other."
Jesse laughed "I don't think you have anything to worry about there."
"So me letting this happen so soon didn't scare you away?"
"No," he said honestly "Becca, I respect you more because it didn't feel right the last time it almost happened and you stopped it. I'm not a guy that sleeps around, I don't just sleep with anyone, if you had have asked me to stop at any stage tonight I would have, and I still would have been here tomorrow."
Becca chewed on her lip "I've been burned by a guy before Jesse, I thought he loved me, it took me months to let him in and after he got what he wanted he humiliated me and knocked my confidence…I haven't been near a guy or on a date since."
Jesse scooted closer to her "Becca, if you want to take this slow that's fine by me, if we don't have sex for another year that's fine by me too. I'm here because I like you, I wanna know more about you, I wanna know you."
Becca looked down at her sheets "I haven't had sex in like seven months, I'm a little messed up and low on letting people in," she said and looked over at him "I don't know what it is about you but I trust you a little, I'm a little more confident with you."
Jesse smiled and leaned in to kiss her "we've all the time in the world."
Becca rolled out of the bed and grabbed a sheet better lock my door, the girls like to come and go," she chuckled and walked back to the bed.
"Do you want me to go?" he asked as she climbed back in beside him "I don't want to make things uncomfortable for you in the morning."
"No," she smiled "you can stay if you want to. They know I was out with you tonight and they'll see your car when they get home," she chuckled.
Jesse leaned in and kissed her again "just say the word and I'll be gone down the fire escape…night Becca," he said and lay back.
"Night Jesse," she chuckled and settled back into her pillow "Jesse?" she said after a minute
"Mh?" he mumbled sleepily.
"You should have come over to me in the mall," she giggled.
"Noted," he chuckled and pulled her into him "get some sleep, more exams tomorrow."
Can't wait," she said sarcastically and closed her eyes loving the feel of him around her.