A/N: Same disclaimer, I don't own anything except the storyline and the other characters. By the way, those who keeps reading my fics, thanks a lot. I just posted another story. I know it's another start… But I have gone a long way with it since I've been writing it for a long time. So I will be posting the chapters weekly, that's a promise. It's called Somewhere in Time. Hope you guys would read it too…
CHAPTER 4MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
Carla stirred upon hearing the raucous ringing of her celphone. She opened her eyes, and immediately searched for the wall clock hanging somewhere in the room.
It was 4:30 a.m….
Who the hell is calling me at this hour? Carla rubbed her eyes off of sleep, then extracted herself from Katie's arms, and got up from the bed. Lazily, she reached for the celphone which was idly rested on top of the vanity table.
"Hello…" Carla answered groggily. She didn't even bother to look at the caller ID.
"Farrell, get your hot ass back here in LA now!" The demanding voice of her female agent echoed through the early hour of the morning, nearly causing Carla momentary deafness. If she isn't as good as she claims to be, Carla would have fired Sarah Grasso years ago. But the said agent is the reason why she is where she is now.
"Sarah? What the hell? I'm on vacation!" Carla answered in exasperation. She doesn't feel too sleepy now. Throwing a short glance at her sleeping girlfriend, and trying not to wake her, Carla walked away from the bed, and headed outside of the hut. She stood on the lit porch, with her celphone on her right hand.
"Well, your vacation is officially over, 'coz you have to come back!" Sarah was sounding more frustrated than ever. Something must have came up.
"I'm not coming back now. We've talked about this. You're not even supposed to call me while I'm here." Carla was getting apparently annoyed now. Not only did Sarah wake her up in a middle of a really good sleep; she was also asking her to come back to LA right that instant. Of course, that's not gonna happen. She hasn't had a vacation for years.
"Want to hear about the Pirelli Calendar?" Sarah knew exactly how to perk her client up. Carla paused, anticipating what Sarah would ask her to do next. Sarah, on the other line, grins at the lack of response from Carla. Silence usually means positive on her part.
"You need to board the first plane out of that country and start shooting as soon as you arrive. Your entourage will be waiting for you at the airport." Sarah said in a tone that Carla couldn't complain. But Carla is about to.
"I'm not leaving before this vacation is over, Sarah. I deserve this break." Carla said firmly, making sure that Sarah understands she had already made a decision.
"Farrell, you have no choice."
"Of course I do. It's not my fault they kept changing the schedule and failed to set a definite time. And now you're calling me to tell me that we're doing the photoshoot today, when I'm halfway across the world? Forget it." Carla gruffs. Sarah paused. The supermodel is as feisty as her.
"You signed a contract."
"Are you threatening me? 'Coz I'm not scared. Did you totally forget? I'm about to marry the best defense lawyer in LA, and probably the country." Carla said proudly. Sarah paused; Carla has a point. Katie Singer didn't become a celebrity lawyer for her looks. There is something more about her than just her twisted brains…
Sarah knew she's the one who has no choice. She needs to find a solution, a compromise.
"Okay… We need to find some sort of a middle ground here. We need to meet halfway." Sarah was drumming her fingers on top of her desk now, running different possibilities in her head.
"If you're thinking about LITERALLY meeting halfway and flying me and the photographer to Singapore or somewhere nearer to shoot, you can hang up now." Sarah was actually thinking that, but Carla forced her to drop it before she could even start. Now, that's not an option anymore.
Carla was almost starting to get sleepy again. She yawns, and she yawns again, exaggerating it so Sarah could hear on the other line. Sarah knew she has to give into Carla's demands this time… Or they lose the contract and get an injunction. The ironic truth is, Katie Singer could actually win the case for her girlfriend, and worst case scenario, Carla Farrell is surely going to fire her… So…
"I'll talk to the Pirelli team. Is there any good photographer there?" Sarah was already scribbling notes and numbers on a paper, mouthing instructions to an already rattled secretary. She handed the secretary the note.
"What exactly are you planning?" Carla narrows her eyes in suspicion.
"Can you find a team who can help you facilitate your own photoshoot?" Sarah waited agitatedly for her secretary to come back.
"I don't know, I'm not sure. I'm in an island, Sarah. They don't even have a decent hospital here. They have clinics." Carla was starting to get interested at the idea.
"You have cameras, right?"
"Everyone here does."
"Professional digital ones?"
"Yeah. Katie brought hers. I think my friends brought theirs too." Carla replied. In LA, the secretary finally came back, and signaled an okay to Sarah. Sarah nods.
"Great. The Pirelli team is on the line now. I'm going sort this thing out with them, and give them a suggestion where both you and their team will benefit. Okay?"
"Can I go back to sleep?" Carla asks in a hopeful tone.
"No. I'm calling you again soon. Ciao." And the line went dead. Carla let out a deep sigh. She stared at her celphone for a few seconds, then she heard a sound of a door that closed. From where she stood, she saw Jessie coming out of their hut.
"Jessie?" Carla calls out. Meanwhile, it was only then that Jessie realized that Carla was standing in their porch.
"Hey…" Jessie greets back. She wondered why Carla was awake. It was dark and really cold. The perfect time to cuddle up with someone… If she was Carla, she definitely wouldn't be up this early and pass up the opportunity to cuddle with Katie… She herself wasn't able to sleep, because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get Katie's face out of her mind…
"How are you?" Carla asks in concern. She peeked at the clinic that fateful afternoon when Jessie was brought in, and saw the said doctor writhing in pain. The jellyfish had done a really serious damage. They had to bandage Jessie's leg, because it was so red and swollen.
"Better." Jessie replied. "Why are you awake?"
"My agent called and wants me to go back to LA right now." Carla chuckles. She could just imagine Sarah's face right now. Jessie's face almost fell. Carla going back to LA means Katie going with her…
Then Carla continued.
"But the hell with her. I'm not about to end this amazing vacation to work, though that decision might burden you and the rest of my friends instead." Carla chuckles. Jessie's face contorts inquisitively.
"Meaning…?"
"You guys have no choice but to become my temporary photoshoot crew for the day…" Carla smiles apologetically at Jessie… And for the first time, she sees why Katie had fallen in love with Carla…
Jessie let out a chuckle, her envious stare going unnoticed…
"The thing is, we need to find some professional photographers in this island to help us. 'Coz I can't be the model and the photographer at the same time." Carla laughs. Jessie smiles.
"Well, maybe Adrian can help you." Jessie suggests, remembering how her artistic boyfriend spends his free time in different continents in-between flights. Photography is his hobby.
"I thought he's a pilot?" Carla perks up, but asks in curiosity. Any help would be deeply appreciated right now.
"He is... But he takes photos as a hobby."
"Is he good?" Carla asks eagerly, ready to sign Adrian in for this unexpected high-paying side job. Jessie chuckles.
"I have to say that he's great." Jessie smiles. Carla grins.
"Awesome! As soon as he wakes up, tell him that he's my official photographer for the day. And warn him not to complain, okay? He doesn't have a choice." Carla winks at Jessie, and Jessie slightly blushes...
Carla mirrors Katie in a way... Jessie couldn't help but think.
Hours later...
"Tell me, why are we awake so early again?" Nikki whined, as Kim pulled her out from the couch. She was dragging her faineant friend out of the door. Kim even had to force her to get dressed that morning.
"Weren't you paying any attention at all?" Kim said irritatedly, throwing a deadly look at Nikki, who realizes it's better not to argue with Kim this morning. She isn't feeling too cheery. Ah, Nikki hates Kim's mood swings…
"Hey, chill. I was just asking. Besides, it's our vacation. Why do we have to work?" Nikki shrugs. Kim stops dragging her, and Nikki follows her friend out of Fridays in her own will.
"Carla is our friend and we're going to help her. That's what friends do." Kim said seriously. She doesn't fancy being woken up so early either, but she values friendship above all.
"Can't she secure the services of the professionals? Some people actually do this for money, you know."
"Nikki, will you shut up for a moment, please? You're really making a generous contribution to my headache." Kim sighs. Her head really felt so heavy when she woke up, but it didn't stop her from getting up. Nikki moves a step away from Kim. Her friend is acting unusually cranky today. Better keep her distance than get lashed on by an irritated psychologist who might actually go psycho on her.
"Fine, just relax." Nikki raises both her arms in defeat.
"And don't worry, you're gonna get paid, big time." Kim increases her pace. Nikki, who happens to be smaller, manages to catch up with her.
"Good."
In Katie and Carla's room at Saigon Huts... Carla had already packed all of her swimsuits and was contemplating to buy new ones for the impromptu photoshoot. Sarah, as promised, had called again and informed her that the Pirelli team agreed on her proposal of an impromptu photoshoot in the Philippines, as long as they follow the specified theme of the photoshoot. Sarah, consequently, relayed the information regarding the theme.
They haven't found any location yet, but they'll do the location hunting at the same time. So, basically, they would be moving around, setting up the sets and taking photos wherever it looks good. That's why she needed all the help she can get from their friends.
And as soon as they are done, Carla could send the digital photos through email. If the Pirelli team rejects it, she could just re-shoot. Well, Carla hope they won't have to. The reason why she came to this vacation was to spend all of her time with Katie... And so far, Sarah was making it impossible.
"Katie, come on, wake up. We're about to set up. Sarah is really giving me a hard time. We need to finish this shoot soon so I could get her off my back then we could go island hopping as we planned. Come on." Carla calls out to her still sleeping girlfriend, but Katie didn't move in the bed. After another few calls, Katie still didn't answer. So, Carla headed to the bed and sat beside Katie, nudging her to wake up.
"Katie, Katie?" Carla shakes Katie out of sleep. Katie merely stirs on the bed. Then she finally opens her eyes.
"Hmm?" Katie looks up at Carla.
"We're doing an impromptu photoshoot for the Pirelli calendar." Carla smiles at Katie. Katie smiles back. But she feels so heavy, she barely moved.
"But I want to stay in bed…" Katie whines and closes her eyes again. Carla smiles. Then, she runs her hand in Katie's right arm. She paused. Katie's skin felt hotter than usual. Carla then lifts her right hand up Katie's forehead.
Katie has a fever.
"Oh my God… Katie, you're sick." Carla slightly panics.
"So, can I just stay in bed?" Katie opens her eyes again and looks pleadingly at Carla. Carla frowns.
"Of course you can stay in bed. Why didn't you tell me earlier that you're not feeling well? I'm calling this photoshoot off. Sarah could just shove the cameras up her ass. I'm staying with you." Carla gets up to find her celphone. Katie grabs a hold of her right hand before Carla could walk away.
"No…"
"What?" Carla asks in almost disbelief.
"I'll be fine. You need to do this. You signed a contract. Go." Katie assures Carla. Carla stares at her.
"I don't want to leave you when you're like that. Who's gonna take care of you?" Carla said worriedly. She sits on the bed again.
"You'll be back in time to take care of me." Katie smiles. Carla caresses Katie's face again.
"Someone has to stay here with you. I wouldn't be able to concentrate if all I could worry about is you. I have to think of something." Carla gets up from the bed again and walks out of the hut before Katie could even argue.
At the other hut opposite theirs, Jessie was alone in the bedroom while Adrian was excitedly setting up his laptop and camera equipments in the small living room by the front door. Jessie was standing by the closet, and pulls out a purple colored bottle, about 8 inches long, containing a parchment, sealed with a cork. The cork visibly had been opened many times before, indicated by its torn edges.
This was the reason why Jessie was so eager to attend this reunion-vacation: to throw that letter back into the water where it belongs; to clear some things with Katie that kept bothering Jessie for years, and to be able to move on… She had been holding on to something she knew she was better off letting go… 'Coz even after years of being scared, she never got used to the fear; or to the feelings that she had been so scared to admit…
But when she saw Katie again, it just all came slapping her in the face… She couldn't let it go… Because no matter how many times she denies it, she could hardly convince herself, more so, her heart… And on the verge of death, when life was almost taken away from her, she could only think of one person…
Katie Singer…
Jessie stares at the bottle for a while. She lifts up a hand and begins to pull the cork. Then she pulls the parchment out, which has her name scribbled on it… JESSIE ELIZABETH SAMMLER, Evanston, Illinois… Droplets of dried tears apparently caused some parts of the used ink to fade… Whether it was Jessie's tears or of the one who wrote it, Jessie couldn't tell anymore.
The letter was written almost 11 years ago… When Jessie was only 16 years old… Or at least that's what the date in the letter implies; the 19th day of February 2002… Besides, the letter does really look that old…
Dear Jessie,
I'm not sure why I'm writing this… This probably wouldn't even reach you… I must be driving myself crazy already, 'coz that's what I've been doing lately, it's just that… I'm in love with you…
A part of me wants to let you know how I am feeling, but the bigger part of me is just wanting to run away, 'coz I know, you and I can never happen… It's just not meant to be…
We agreed to be friends, I know… But as time passes by, I don't think I'm capable of dealing with this friendship anymore… Don't get me wrong, I love being with you. Hell, I'd give up everything just to be given a chance with you, but that's not possible either… Unless I sold myself to the devil, I don't think I'm ever getting that chance with you… So I might as well stop dreaming… Friendship is good, right? 'Coz there's no break up, no jealous rage, no expectations, we can always stay in each other's lives. But it's not good enough anymore…
What I'm saying is that, I can't be just friends with you. I just can't. It's pure, sweet torture just hanging around you… Look, I'm not asking you for something more. I don't want anything you don't want…
I'm not trying to hurt you, 'coz somehow, I know how important this friendship is for you, but I want to move on and forget you… Okay, so forgetting you is impossible, but at least you have to let me try… Seeing you everyday is just not gonna help…
I'm such a coward… I can't tell you in person how I feel, now I can't even say goodbye. This is probably the lamest goodbye ever, in the history of mankind, 'coz I had to stuff this stupid letter inside this stupid bottle in a really old-fashioned way, and it's even crazier to hope that somehow, someday, it reaches you… But I told you, I'm not brave enough, and hope is all that I have…
I really need to let you go…
I love you… God, I've never felt such incredible feeling… You have no idea what your smile can do to me… Or when you're looking at me… Sometimes, I wish that you'd never look at anyone else… But then again, that's another wishful thinking… I'm afraid I'll never be good enough for you…
Please don't think I'm selfish for doing this… I want you to be happy, that's all I want for you… But this time, I want to be happy too… I'm not saying that I'm not happy when I'm with you, but the pain always goes along with it… And it kills me inside everytime…
I'm sorry… I didn't mean to complicate things… Trust me, I didn't fall in love with you on purpose, 'coz if I can control my heart, I wouldn't be writing this letter, believe me… I don't want to come to the point that I would blame you for this pain that I know nobody else caused, but me… Though I'll always love you, and I'd probably never gonna love somebody else like I love you, I need this time away from you… And I'm hoping that I'd find the strength to do that this time…
Goodbye, Jessie…
Love,
The one person you've always believed to be destined to do great things…
She just arrived in Australia back then, with her dad, stepmother, and Zoe. Eli could already support himself, and their mother Karen let him stay with her in Evanston, so he got to stay. Meanwhile, Grace got accepted in Northwestern, and there was no way that she's flying all the way to Australia and just drop her bright future waiting in the said university, that she had worked hard for years. Grace lived in a dorm anyway.
It was her first week in Australia, and she felt so depressed, and she felt so alone. So she went to the nearest beach, stayed in the sand for hours, and waited for the sunset. While sitting at a build up of rocks and watching that sunset, she heard a clinking of something not so far away from where she was sitting. When she looked around to find the cause of the noise, her eyes fell on something that was floating on the water, hitting the side of the rocks so hard due to the strong current. She picked it up. It was an ordinary bottle with a letter stuffed inside it. Jessie couldn't help but laugh in amusement. Some people are actually taking this message-in-a-bottle thing too seriously. So, she opened it. And imagine her shock upon seeing the name scribbled in it…
JESSIE ELIZABETH SAMMLER, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS…
Australia was amazing: the animals in the zoos, the unbelievably picturesque sceneries, the beaches. It was all great, like going to a permanent vacation. But it wasn't as great as Jessie thought it would be. Her heart kept longing for something… For someone… But she tried to fight it, because it wasn't expected of her; in one way or another, despite the liberation of the world from intolerance and chauvinism, and then the beginning of the 21st century, bigots remained, and what they think always mattered to Jessie. Besides, she already hurt that someone, and she knew she would keep hurting that someone, even if she tried not to…
So, the writer of the letter didn't leave her name. HER… Jessie was pretty sure it was a 'her'. No doubts about it. The handwriting was all too familiar to her. She knew she couldn't be wrong, even if 'her' didn't leave that one last clue as to her identity. Jessie always believed in this person, in everything that she did; and believed that that one person truly is meant to do great things in this world, to make a difference, to make the world better… And that she will become the best LAWYER the world would ever see…
And she believed right…
"Hey Jessie, I was wondering if you could---" Before Carla could finish her sentence, the loud crashing of a bottle falling on the floor surprised her. She obviously surprised Jessie with the sudden intrusion, 'coz she didn't even knock and just opened the bedroom door. Jessie hastily went down on her knees and started picking up the pieces of the broken bottle, the piece of parchment lay on the floor along with the shreds of glass. Carla ran over to her to help her.
"Oh my God, are you okay?!" Carla panics again.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Jessie forces a smile.
"I'm sorry, Adrian told me I could find you here so I went straight over, I really need your help. Are your bleeding?" Carla couldn't help but blame herself. She should have knocked! But she was too worried about Katie.
"I'm okay. Don't worry. What can I do for you anyway?" Jessie was still picking up the shreds of glass, and Carla was helping her.
"Well, first, I want to thank you for convincing Adrian to help me in this Pirelli calendar thing…"
"Oh, he doesn't need much convincing, believe me." Jessie chuckles. Carla then picks up the parchment paper, and she hands it to Jessie.
"Uhm, here… What's this?" Carla was about to look over the letter, and Jessie, looking like a deer caught in headlights, immediately snatches it from Carla's hands. Carla was surprised at what Jessie did, but let it pass. She wouldn't want anyone to pry with her things either.
"It's a draft of my stepsister's wedding invitation." Jessie lies. Zoe Manning is nowhere near getting married. The rebellious younger stepsister even vowed never to get married. The feisty brunette doesn't believe in commitments. Anyhow, Jessie loves her, and hopes Zoe doesn't choke, and that she would forgive her for using her name in this one white lie.
"Zoe?" Carla had heard about Zoe from Grace. But she hadn't actually met the famous Zoe yet.
"Yeah…" Jessie steers the topic away from the parchment she was clutching in her hand. Carla couldn't know about it.
"Okay."
"So, what's the second reason why you're here?" Jessie inquires from the other blonde. Carla suddenly remembers Katie.
"Katie's sick. I think she has a fever. I don't really have any idea what to do. I want to stay and cancel the photoshoot, but I can't. And Katie wouldn't let me breach my contract. So, I was hoping that you could help me with this." Carla says almost apologetically at Jessie.
"You want me to check on her?"
"That. And to take care of her until I get back." Carla was a bit hesitant to ask Jessie a favor, and was a bit embarrassed that she has to go to a photoshoot instead of take care of her girlfriend, but she has to go. Jessie's heart almost jumped out of her chest. Alone time with Katie would be much appreciated now, since she couldn't seem to stop thinking about her lately.
"I mean, if that's okay with you." Carla continues.
"Yeah, of course. No problem." Jessie smiles.
"I don't want to leave you or burden you with this. But you're the most qualified. And I would feel secure knowing that Katie is safe with you." Carla smiles. Jessie almost chokes. Carla trusts her more than anyone. It's a good feeling, but at the same time it puts her in a very difficult situation. Carla Farrell doesn't seem to be as nasty as the tabloids described her on her pre-rehabilitation days.
And that makes Jessie feel guilty about thinking of Katie Singer the way that she is thinking of her right now…
And she doesn't want to like Carla. Because the more she sees how nice she is, and how beautiful she is, inside and outside, Jessie becomes more and more insecure. Having the gorgeous blonde supermodel in front of her, her insecurities are taking its toll.
Katie is obviously happy with her. Jessie thought.
So, the whole 'crew' set out to their mission, with Carla leading them, but without Jessie and Katie. Kim wondered where the two were, but after Carla informed them about the 'Katie situation', Kim wasn't a bit relieved. Leaving Katie with Jessie just doesn't sound like a good idea… Well, for Carla's sake. She has no idea what kind of situation she had put her girlfriend into.
Hours passed…
"Carla…" Katie calls out. Jessie, who is sitting at a nearby chair watching Katie, felt an invisible squeeze in her heart upon hearing Katie call out Carla's name. Thinking that Katie might be needing something, Jessie, despite of feeling her voice being caught up in her throat, managed to pull some of her vocal chords.
"Uhm, she's already left… Katie, do you need anything?" Jessie asks in concern. She gets up from her seat and stops beside Katie's bed. The dirty blonde was asleep when she and Carla came in, and she decided it would be better not to wake her up. The medicines could be taken when she's awake. She lifted a hand on Katie's forehead and estimated her temperature to be about 38 degrees.
Katie's eyes shot open at the sound of a different, but familiar soft voice on her right. Her eyes fell on a blurry vision of another blonde, but she was sure, in her groggy state, that it wasn't her girlfriend.
"Feeling better?" Jessie smiles. She walks to the small kitchen to fetch some water and food. When she got back, she pulled out a breakfast tray and put the water and food over, along with a medicine Jessie had brought with her from her room.
"Jessie?" Katie could swear she's dreaming. She had dreamed of Jessie as the first person she sees when she wakes up in the morning. And now, she could only think of it as a dream…
Damn dream… Katie sighs and closes her eyes again. Only to have it shot wide open upon feeling Jessie's soft, delicate right hand on her forehead. She could swear she felt something! Like some sort of want, desire, whatever it is…
"Jessie?" Katie repeats in disbelief. Now this couldn't be a dream. Jessie is definitely in her room.
"Yeah, that's me." Jessie chuckles. She sits on the bed, still holding the tray of breakfast for Katie. "Come on, get up. You need to eat."
Katie gets up, slowly. Her head still feels so heavy. She looks around, and Jessie notices.
"I told you, she has left already. If you need anything, feel free to tell me." Jessie smiles, and Katie almost passed out when Jessie reached out to touch her forehead again. Katie grows visibly stiff while sitting on her bed, while Jessie, oblivious as to the effect she made on Katie, puts the tray on the bed. She then pulls something from the bedside table. Katie looks mortified.
"What's that?" Katie flinches in the bed, her eyes widening without looking at what Jessie was actually holding.
"It's a thermometer." Jessie replies. But Katie remained distant. Jessie looks up at her and sees the expression on her face.
"Thermometer? Are you sure?" Katie finally loosens up, letting out a deep breath. Jessie watches her in amusement before realizing why Katie flinched. Katie has a phobia on syringes.
"Singer, you are such a kid. I'm not going to inject you with anything." Jessie laughs.
"Who are you calling a kid?" Katie replies indignantly. She then takes a bite of the ham and cheese on the breakfast tray. Jessie merely shakes her head in amusement.
"Now, where do you want me to put this?" Jessie ignores Katie's defensive remark and lifts up the thermometer on Katie's face. Katie frowns.
"Huh?"
"Do you want it on your mouth or on your butt?" Jessie tried to make a straight face as another horrified look crosses Katie's face. She missed this: making fun of Katie. Katie swallowed the bite of ham and cheese without even chewing it.
"What difference would it make?" Katie grabs the bottle of water and gulps it down.
"Nothing really. They would produce the same results." Jessie smiles toothily. "Now open your mouth."
Katie does as ordered, and Jessie puts the thermometer in her mouth.
"I was going to choose 'butt'." Katie said, or more like gargled. She spoke with the thermometer in her mouth. Jessie laughs.
"Really? You looked scared as hell." Jessie pokes Katie on the shoulder, and Katie couldn't help but giggle. "Keep that on your mouth or your dead." Jessie says in mock warning.
"Is this even clean?" Katie gargled again. "Or have you used it on someone's ass already?" Katie narrows her eyes playfully on Jessie, and Jessie shrugs. Katie's eyes widen. Jessie, satisfied with the look on the dirty blonde's face, plasters a grin on her own.
"Do you realize how funny you look now?" Jessie laughs, grabs Katie's spoon and fork, and gets a bite of the ham and cheese.
"That's not so amusing, Jessie." Katie frowns.
"Haha." Jessie mocks her even more. The doctor glances at her wristwatch. 30 seconds.
"Why would someone even want anything like this on their ass?" Katie frowns. She plays with the hem of her blanket.
"Well, nobody actually likes it. It's just that they have no choice."
"Oh."
"Open your mouth."
Katie follows as ordered again, and Jessie pulled the thermometer out of Katie's mouth. She reads the thermometer, and it reads 37.5 degrees.
"You'll be fine." Jessie assures Katie.
"Who said I wasn't?" Katie frowns. Jessie puts the thermometer back to the nightstand and grabs the medicine.
"Well, your girlfriend was pretty worried." Jessie says quietly. Somehow, the mention of the 'girlfriend' suddenly created a tension in the atmosphere. Katie paused, thinking of what to say, and later spoke again.
"Yeah, I have to say she's a worrier… She came to you?" Katie inquires at Jessie, who wasn't looking up at her.
"Yeah…"
"Sorry to bother you…" Katie said apologetically. Jessie finally looks up at her again.
"You're not bothering me." Jessie reassures Katie.
At the photoshoot… The group had already taken a couple of shots of Carla, mostly in the sand, then in the water. But Adrian wasn't satisfied, neither Carla. For a moment, while being lost in her world of modeling, she forgot about Katie. It's usually her getaway, her escape from everything… Not that she needs to forget Katie… It's just that, even when Katie was not in her life yet, this is her haven… And it still hasn't changed…
"Aren't you guys even hungry? I haven't had anything since Kim dragged me out of bed this morning." Nikki complains while walking in the sand, pulling a bag of bikinis they bought from the beach stores for Carla's shooting outfit. They are walking on search for another location. She was walking behind Adrian and Carla, side by side with Kim, and behind them were Grace and Tad.
Carla turns around but continues walking, giving Nikki a death glare.
"Is that all you could ever think about?" Carla snarls at Nikki. Kim, who still wasn't in the mood, merely glares at her whiny friend.
"What, food?" Nikki mock smiles, and acts ignorant. Carla rolls her eyes.
"You can eat later, you know." Carla sneers at Nikki.
"Easy for you to say… You're a model." Nikki insults Carla purposely, which made Carla's ear turn visibly red. She stops walking. Kim looks alarmed, and shifted her eyes back and forth Carla and Nikki. Nikki looks dismissive and imperturbed.
"Girls, we need to go now." Adrian tries to mediate to avoid a possible girl fight. Carla could feel her jaws tightening while staring back at Nikki, who wasn't a bit affected at all. And it kills Carla to know that Nikki could beat her with her insults. Carla turns around and starts walking again.
"Stop stereotyping me." Carla says loud enough for Nikki to hear. She tried to think of something to say, but couldn't think of anything smart. She throws a look at Kim, who was giving her a don't-you-even-dare-say-anything-stupid look.
"And no one forced you to be here." Carla growled. Nikki lets out a sarcastic laugh, which earns her a slap at the back of her head from behind. When she turned around, it looked like Grace wasn't so amused with her either. But Tad was. He just couldn't say anything out of fear of getting beaten by his own wife.
"I'm not here on my own free will either." Nikki growls back.
"Nikki, will you just shut the hell up?" Grace finally speaks up. She was tired, and hungry, but she knew this isn't the time to complain. Nikki needs the photos as soon as possible. And as soon as they finished this shoot, the faster they could do whatever the hell they want. But Nikki isn't helping.
Nikki, who isn't a bit scared of Grace, turns her head around, mockingly drops her jaw in fake scare, then grins. Grace could swear she could have hit Nikki again in the face, this time would have been harder, if Tad didn't squeeze her right hand.
"Let it go Grace… You're just tired." Tad smiles at Grace.
"The hell I am…" Grace replies. Tad moves closer and gives Grace a kiss on the cheek, then a smile slowly forms in Grace's face. Nikki, who was purposely listening to the newlyweds behind them, exaggerates a shudder.
"Geez, get a room, will you?"
Back at Saigon Huts…
"So, how did you meet?" Jessie asks Katie. She was still sitting on the bed, helping Katie finish her breakfast, which the dirty blonde found hard to finish. So, Jessie decided to join her. Jessie isn't sure why she was asking, she's in between wanting to know and not knowing. It probably would even be better if she doesn't know, but the curiosity is killing her.
"What?"
"You and Carla…"
Katie stops munching her ham and cheese. She looks up to meet Jessie's eyes, to find out why she was asking about Carla, but couldn't find any clues. Jessie half-smiles, then takes another bite of the ham and cheese she prepared for Katie.
"Uhm… Fashion week, in LA." Katie smiles. It was funny how they first met. Carla had just gotten out of rehab for the third time, and she found the blonde supermodel at the bar in the after-party, trying to decide whether to gulp the glass of Smirnoff in her right hand, or the glass of coke in her left.
"Wow…" Jessie tried to mask her jealousy with her cheeriest voice.
"Yeah, I had to follow her everywhere so I could make sure that she doesn't drink a drop of alcohol that night…" Katie chuckles at the memory. Carla even tried to hit her in the head with her pouch, but luckily, she dodged it quite effectively. The supermodel tried to get rid of her all night, but Katie didn't leave her alone. Not once… And since then, not ever.
"Oh…" Jessie doesn't exactly know how to react. Katie looks amused.
"I could have said the same." Katie said, which made Jessie blush. "It was Carla's post-rehab days…"
"You saved her." Jessie says, realizing how painful that truth was. She almost choked just by saying it. She picks up the glass of water from the breakfast tray and takes a sip.
"No I didn't."
"Yes, you did." Jessie says with a bit pride. Despite how much it hurts, Katie still, is the person she had always been.
"Or at least the tabloids said so… Not that I have anything against it. Their publicity earned me more clients and more admirers than I could ever imagine." Katie jokes, then grins. Jessie laughs. Katie might have joked about it but she knew perfectly that it was at the same time, factual.
"How do you keep them off?" Jessie was half-curious. Even long before Katie was a famous defense lawyer, back in Evanston, she already had a band of admirers willing to give their life for her.
"Oh I don't. I just try to be discreet." Katie plasters an evil grin. Jessie smiles, then it fades as fast as it appeared.
"Come on, you wouldn't do that to Carla."
Ouch… Deep inside, Jessie could feel a stinging in her heart… Even worse than the stinging caused by that jellyfish that almost killed her. Katie and Jessie fall into silence.
"Yeah… I wouldn't…" Katie says sincerely… They locked eyes, but Jessie was the first to look away before tears could actually form in her own eyes. "Like you wouldn't do to Adrian…"
Jessie decided not to say anything. The lump in her throat was preventing her from speaking anyway. She took a moment, reached for the medicine that was rested on the breakfast tray along with the plate, and she opened it. After successfully shedding the medicine off from its protective wrapper, she looks up at Katie.
"Open your mouth." Jessie commands the now frowning lawyer.
"Again?" Katie's forehead contorts.
"It's only paracetamol." Jessie raises the medicine in her right hand so Katie could see it.
"I puke medicines out. I'd rather have a bottle of Jack Daniels." Katie whines. Jessie raises her eyebrow.
"If you puke it out, I will make you eat everything back." Jessie looks seriously at Katie. Katie, for a moment, was scared at the authority Jessie was projecting in front of her. In real life, she is scared of Jessie, for a lot of reasons.
"Euuw, now I want to puke." Katie's jaw drops.
"Katie."
"What?"
"Do you want me to use force?" Jessie narrows her eyes on Katie. Katie slightly blushes, but then grins.
"Would it involve handcuffs and blindfolds?" It was too late when Katie realized she had said it out loud for both of them to hear. Simultaneously, both their faces flushed bright red. Jessie was smiling, but red; and Katie was looking apparently embarrassed, and too red.
Casual flirting… Katie tried to convince herself.
"No, but it might involve my hands forcing your mouth to open." Jessie chuckles.
"But I don't want to drink any---" Katie was cut off, as Jessie moved closer, reached out with her left hand clasping both sides of her cheeks, and forces it to open. Katie tried to fight Jessie, but Jessie was stronger, or maybe Katie actually let her be the stronger one…
Jessie managed to pry Katie's mouth open, and tossed the medicine into the dirty blonde's luscious mouth…
Quit fantasizing about her mouth, Jessie… Jessie lets out a deep breath.
"Uhm… You should go back to sleep. Get some rest. I'll be here." Jessie motioned to the small couch sitting not so far away from them after giving Katie her glass of water. Katei gulps the water down. Jessie then picks the breakfast tray and brings it back to the kitchen. When she got back, Katie was looking intently at her.
"But the couch is too far away. What if I had a nightmare, or if I go on seizure… Wouldn't you be too far away from me?" Katie displays her puppy dog eyes. Jessie chuckles in amusement and crosses her arms.
"It's barely 10 feet away." Jessie narrows her eyes on Katie.
"It's still 10 feet."
"You wouldn't have any nightmare, and you're not epileptic so you're not gonna have a seizure." Jessie shakes her head.
"Stay beside me."
"Doctors don't sleep with their patients…" Jessie says, then realizing how that might have sound, she rephrased. "I mean, doctors don't sleep beside their patients." Jessie chuckles again at her own silliness.
"Yeah, but friends sleep beside their friends… Come on Jess, for old time's sake." Katie smiles. She isn't sure why she wanted Jessie by her side. She really wasn't feeling good since she woke up that morning. But having Jessie around was making her feel better. And she loves feeling that way.
Jessie remembered that day when she came back to her mother's house, in highschool. She ditched class, and Katie went with her. They stayed in her room, with nothing to do but stare into each other's eyes. She isn't sure why they do that. Sometimes, they just get lost at each other's eyes to even notice they were lost. Okay, that's pretty confusing, but that's what it was to her.
"Okay, for old time's sake." Jessie smiles. Katie then makes a room for her, and moves to one side of the bed. Jessie takes her slippers off, and climbs into the bed, beside Katie.
"Be there when I wake up, okay?" Katie smiles.
"Okay… Get some rest, Katie…" Jessie smiles back. Katie closes her eyes, with the smile still plastered in her face…
Meanwhile, Carla's group had already assembled another set at another part of the island. Adrian was already making calls, trying to locate the best private resorts in the island so they could do more shoots in new locations. So far, he isn't satisfied with anything that they have done.
It took them another few hours before Carla decides that they should head back to their rooms. She was tired, and she could see all of her friends are tired too. Well, except for Adrian. The guy seems too thrilled to even recognize exhaustion. Carla wanted to go back to their hut so badly. Katie might still be sick, and her girlfriend needs her.
So, they walked back… They all decided to drop by Saigon Huts, at Adrian's and Jessie's place to see the shots they have made.
"Why don't you all stay here? I'll order us something." Adrian suggests with a charming smile on his face.
"Good idea. How about pizza?" Tad's stomach grumbles, and everybody starts laughing.
"Tad's obviously hungry. I'll have anything you want. I don't care. As long as it's edible." Nikki grins.
"You'll anything, even if it's not edible." Carla frowns at Nikki. Nikki throws a flying kiss at Carla, and Carla winces.
"Yuck." Carla glances at her watch. "Guys, I'll see you later, okay? I have to go check on Katie. And besides, Jessie might also be hungry."
"I'll go with you." Grace gets up from the couch and follows Carla to the door. Kim throws a look at Nikki, and catches her staring at the direction of the door. Nikki notices Kim's stare and growls defensively.
"What?"
"Nothing." Kim shrugs, but looks suspiciously at Nikki.
Meanwhile, Carla and Grace were walking back to the opposite hut, where Katie and Jessie were supposed to be.
"I hope she's okay now." Grace says.
"Me too… Well, she's being guarded by a doctor, so, I can be assured that she is." Carla smiles. Then she opens the door. But she and Grace stops in the threshold. Jessie and Katie were sleeping side by side on the bed. It wouldn't have bothered Carla, knowing Jessie and Katie were friends.
Except that Jessie's head was resting on Katie's right shoulder, while Katie's left hand unconsciously rested in Jessie's stomach, both fast asleep.
"Oh…" It was the only word that Grace could utter at the moment.
This wouldn't have disturbed Grace and Carla, if the two didn't look so adorably perfect together. Carla knew it was for no reason, but she felt the green-eyed monster being woken up inside of her.
Grace and Carla stood by the door, watching the two sleep. Grace isn't really sure if they should do anything. If they should wake them up or they should just let them sleep.
Eventually, after a few seconds of stunned silence, Jessie stirs on the bed and open her eyes. She almost froze guiltily, upon seeing the two people standing by the doorway. Carla and Grace were watching them in confusion. Jessie bolted up from the bed, nearly knocking Katie in the face… Jessie gets out of the bed.
"Guys, you're here." Jessie said, trying to sound as casual as possible. She smiles at Carla, which Carla luckily returns. Jessie, for a moment there, was a bit scared that Carla might go on accusing them of something after catching her and Katie in bed together. Well, not really together, but you know.
"Aww…" Katie touches the side of her head that Jessie accidentally knocked with her own head. She slowly open her eyes, and finds her girlfriend, and Grace, walking into the room now. Trying to not look so guilty, she smiles at them.
"Baby, you're here…" Katie smiles at Carla. Carla walks to the bed and gives Katie a kiss on the lips. Jessie immediately tears her eyes away from the scene.
"How are you feeling?" Carla asks, while caressing Katie's cheeks.
"I'm okay… My doctor here took a really good care of me." Katie glances at Jessie. Jessie smiles sheepishly.
"Thanks." Carla said sincerely to Jessie.
"Yeah, well, I had to shove the medicine into her mouth. She gave me a hard time." Jessie chuckles. Carla chuckles with her.
"Forgive the kid." Carla jokes.
"I'm not a kid." Katie says indignantly. Grace laughs at her friend who was acting stupid right now.
"Well, anyway, I should go. I left the rest of the medicines in that drawer." Jessie points to the nightstand. "Let her take it every four hours."
"EVERY FOUR HOURS?" Katie's eyes widens.
"Make sure she takes it. Use force if you have to." Jessie instructs Carla. Carla laughs.
"I will. Thanks Jessie."
"You're welcome." Jessie smiles. Let's go Grace.
"Okay. See you later guys." Grace waves at Carla and Katie, and follows Jessie out of the door. The door had already closed behind them, but Carla was still staring at the place where Jessie had disappeared.
She couldn't explain it, but something suddenly scared her…
"Carla, you're not really gonna use force on me, are you?" Katie says cutely at Carla. Carla then was snapped out of her trance, and smiles at Katie.
"I will, if I have to."
Katie pouts, then decides she still wants to sleep…
