hey guys! sorry for the wait but my personal life has been hell of late! anyway i just want to thank you for the awasome reviews they really mean alot and keep this story alive! so please keep reviewing for more more! *SPINNY BEAR HUG* to all my reviewers and *TAP ON HEAD* for all readers!

Love ya's JJ Xxxxx

I sit up in my large pale green; cushion filled soft queen bed as Rick shouts for breakfast. I get to my feet sleepily and go over to my dresser in my new room, the fumes of paint still lingering from the pale mint green walls, my name hung with white letters above my bed, facing the built in wardrobes and shelves now cluttered with book, CD's, videos, pictures, a TV, VCR and CD player. My dresser is next to the bedside table, near the bay window, the seat covered in mint green cushioning.

I start brushing my hair in the mirror and quickly pick out something to wear, choosing my blue jersey t-shirt, my three quarter navy combats and a pair of white sketchers, then I jog down the stairs, pulling my hair into a messy bun.

I smile as I enter the kitchen and snatch up a piece of toast taking my seat "morning!" I mumble through a mouth full of toast

They each smile at me as I finish my bite, I never did tell them about calling mom and she hasn't called back, so I think I'll just leave it be "so princess, what are your plans for today?" Rick smiles

I swallow the overly buttered toast and answer "was going to hang with Jess, what about you guys? We still on for tonight?"

"Well Mel's going into town for a meeting and I have work but I'm leaving early to spend the night with my girls! So yes we are! Hattie your still picking up the video right? " he asks as he pours milk into his cereal

"Sounds like a plan!" I smile as the tone of the doorbell rings echo's the house.

Bouncing out of my seat I kiss the blond beauty and my slightly greyed father on the cheek as he hands me twenty bucks "love ya's!" as I run out to the front door

I smile to my friend standing there, looking perfect as usual "hey babes"

He smiles coyly as we link arms and start walking "so what do you want to do today?"

As we make the walk into town I answer thoughtfully "I need a summer job! Rick just offered me a twenty, but I don't know it just feels wrong taking money from him!"

He looks at me in wide eyed amusement "you, Hattie Redding, turned down free money?"

I give him a look and scoff "please, I took the money! It just feels strange you know!"

"Same old Hattie!" he chuckles lightly as we enter the town square

As we make our way round he pulls us to a stop and I nearly trip over my shoes!

"Jessie! Are you trying to break my neck?" but he doesn't look at me, rather past me

"So you want a summer job?" I turn to see what he's looking at, only to see the 'help wanted' sign and turn back to see the grin on my best friends face as he pulls me by the hand over to Doses market.

As we walk into the small store we see a long line of customers down the aisle, the counters missing a bagger and on older man fussing about, telling people off and apologizing to customers.

I walk over to the older man, with a smile "excuse me?"

He looks at me with a forced smile "yes, can I help you?"

"Well, I noticed that your shorthanded at the moment and was wondering if I could get an interview for the job" I smile sweetly

The man just eyeballs me disapprovingly "I'm sorry I don't think you're what we're looking for"

As he goes to turn his back on me I ask "what? Why?"

He makes a huffing sound and answers "well here in Doses our customers want to feel welcome not scared! I mean really what self-respecting young woman has bright red hair and a piece of metal through their nose?"

Before I have a chance to say anything Jess storms in front of me "hey Taylor is there a problem here?"

"I should have known this had something to do with you!" The cardigan wearing old guy just scowls

"Look why don't you just cut her some slack Taylor, she just wants a job for the summer, just till Dean comes back!" my friend defends me

The man just looks at me with a snarl "any 'friend' of yours has to be nothing but trouble! Just. Like. You!"

I grab Jess's arm as his face fills with anger and he inches closer to Taylor "Jessie chill!"

The man seems intimidated as Jess takes a step back "don't you ever talk about her like that again!"

The grey haired man's eyes widen in fear as I pull on Jess's arm out of the shop "come on Jessie let's get out of here! I don't want to work for a pretentious asshole like you anyway!"

He looks at us in shock and yelling after us as we leave and I give him the finger on my way out.

Running off with Jess away from the market I say "so that's Taylor? Have to say you were to kind in the description!"

He chuckles lightly with a shrug "yeah tell me about it! So…pancakes?"

I smile at his sudden change in mood and topic "god yes!"

And we smile, joke and laugh on our way over to Al's Pancakes

We sit in a booth as I gorge on my strawberry and powdered sugar pancakes and Jess eats his sausage and eggs, I wave to the blond waitress who flirted shamelessly with Jess and snarled me 'Shane' her nametag read, who calls a child, let alone a girl that! But Jess just sits there, a small smile on his face as he glances at me.

"Good to know your appetites the same!" he smirks at me, taking a bite out of his sausage

I just shrug with a mouth full and mutter "what? I like food!"

He just laughs at me happily as we eat and I ask "Sssooo….any word from the town princess?"

He bites the inside of his cheek at that question and just looks at his plat instead "no"

I reach over and take his hand in mine "you really like this girl don't you?"

His hand flinches slightly at the question, but his thumb strokes my hand and his fingers overlap mine

"She's just a girl Hats!" He shrugs lightly, trying to brush it off, drawing back his hand

"Liar! The way you talk about her….this is the girl of your dreams Jessie!" he just does what he always does and gets defensive

"Can we drop this please? Let's just go back to getting you a job ok?" I sigh in annoyance, but I know that I can only push him so far before he withdraws, like now!

"Hey maybe Gypsy will have a job for you?" he quickly changes the subject, already seeing the pout forming on my lips

"Well what dose Gypsy do?" I ask and he just grins slyly

Later after finishing our meal he walks me over to the town garage and over to a woman about my height and in overalls

"Hey Gypsy!" he says blankly

"Jess, Jess's friend" she nods and starts working on an engine

"Gypsy this is Hattie and she's looking for a job" he says leaning against the car, but she doesn't get back up from her work

"I don't have any jobs." She says robotically

I lean under the hood of the car to face her and smile "hey, Gypsy right? Listen I really, really need a job ok, and that Taylor guy has already said no, just because of my hair, stud and friendship with Jess which is total bullshit! So I would really appreciate a shot, at anything, I can sweep floors and desk-work, phone calls, wash cars, anything…please?"

She stops then at looks up at me "you want a job that badly? And Taylor really turned you down?"

I simply nod and she signs "ok, fine, I suppose I could find something for you to do!"

I jump up and down happily and start hugging her tightly "ok get off me!"

I smile at her as she says "come by tomorrow and we'll work something out, but only if you never do that again!"

"Scouts honor! Thanks Gypsy" I raise my hand as some solute as Jess and I back away

We walk away and Jess asks "so what now?"

"I need to head the video store, then I was thinking we go the park after and I kick your ass shooting hoops!" he laughs as we run over to the video store, enjoying the summer's day and each other's company. I can honestly say I missed this, wasting time with my Jessie, I guess after twelve years of friendship you can get a little attached!

After hanging out for the day Jess walks me home and I smile as we reach my porch "home sweet home!"

He takes a bite out of the banana he stole from Luke's kitchen after I beat him at basketball, he says he lets me win, but I'm not so sure "yeah, so how are things here?"

"There good, I'm happy Jessie, I'm real happy." I just smiles that half smile and nods to me

"Well I should get back the diner before Luke sends out an arrest warrant!" I laugh lightly and give a quick peck on the lips to my friend

"Later Jessie!" he just waves back with a mouth full of banana

I walk into the house with a smile at the site in the living room, Mel and Rick curled up on the sofa, chips, dips, soda and a corn and BBQ meat feast pizza, my favorite, laid out of the table

"wow, you guys this looks amazing! What are you having?" they just laugh at my small joke

Mel sits up in her overly large grey sweater "so what movies did you get sweetie?"

I go into my small paper bag and say as I pull out the tapes "for you Mel, Legally Blond, for Rick, Die Hard 2 and for me, oh yes, The Faculty!"

They each smile at me and Rick says "thanks princess! Why don't you go change and we'll put the first movie in!"

I simply nod and run upstairs, changing into some black sweats and a blue halter-top, I never have been the PJ type. When I come back down stairs I sit on the large cream chair with a matching plumb cushion and a purple blanket put there for me as we start watching Die Hard 3.

As the hours pass, all dishes and pizza box mostly empty par two slices that I intend to have for breakfast, Mel yarns sleepily as I watch my movie "you guys can go to bed you know, it's cool."

"No, you watched our movies, we watch yours!" Rick says half asleep, Mel crapping it as she watches the screen, for all her good qualities, she's not much of a sci-fi fan!

"You guys are wiped out! Go to bed, I'll just watch the rest of this and head up." They both give a sigh of relief and stand to head up

As the pass Mel leans down to kiss my cheek "night honey, just put the dishes in the kitchen and I'll do then tomorrow!" and heads upstairs

Rick leans down and kisses the top of my head "good night princess, love you."

I watch as he goes for the stairs "love you to daddy." I feel my heart stop as the words leave my mouth, words I never meant to say.

He also stops at the word slip and turns to me with a small smile and a sparkle in his eye, then head up to bed.

I sit there for a moment pondering what just happened, I look over to the clock that reads eleven thirty and lean over to the table, awkwardly grabbing the phone and then dial.

I wait until the ringing stops and a voice says groggily "hello?"

"Oh I'm sorry did I wake you up?" I ask nervously

A small chuckle comes from the other end "a little but its fine, I was have a nightmare about Miss Patty again!"

I can't help but giggle "aaww you poor thing, do you think they'll ever stop?"

He signs deeply and answers "god I hope so! So tell me…what's up? It's only been a few hours since we talked last!"

I smile and nod to myself "I just called Rick 'Daddy', it just slipped out and I don't know it felt…right!"

"That's good, right?" he asks unsure

"Yeah, I think so, he seemed happy about it." I answer honestly

"Good, I'm glad" he says sincerely and there's a long moment of silence, but it's not strange or awkward, just comfortable and safe.

I quickly snap out of it with a smirk on my face "so, how has Chicago treated you today?"

I hear Dean laughs on the other end of the line as we start talking. This is how things have been lately; I spend the day with Jess, happy and content, but eager to get home for my phone calls with Dean. I no it's wrong to be so happy to hear him laugh and just to talk to him, I know he has a girlfriend he loves and is loyal to, but I can't help how I feel he and makes me feel this way, butterfly's smacking at my stomach.

Dean Foresters become not just my friend, but my little obsession, my secret, my dream and my never-meant-to-be!