Monday morning came sooner than expected and Jess was less than enthusiastic to be at school. Detentions in the mornings were fine. She didn't know what to think regarding Tim Riggins, and she wasn't getting her hopes up about what happened the night before. She's hoped that he would remember, and she wouldn't care that it happened; but if he forgot, it would definitely hurt.
Jess walked down the hallway as the sun shown through the windows. As she continued down the hallway, she made her way into Ancient History. She kept to herself and did her work; she paid no attention to Tim on the right of her. When there was a short time span of working together, Tim scooted his desk over right next to Jess.
"Hey Daniels, you know what we're doing?"
"Yes Tim, unlike you, I was paying attention."
"Well, in that case, you can help me out."
"Fine Tim, how was your weekend; full of rally girls and booze?"
"Exactly," he laughed, running his hand through his hair.
"Oh..." Jess sighed; mentally beating herself up, knowing that getting her hopes up would hurt.
"Why, what did you do this weekend?"
"Oh nothing special, I learned how to strip and helped a drunk asshole home."
Jess got up from her desk just as the bell rang, "I knew it, I fuckin' knew It." she whispered, exiting the classroom. She caught up with Matt who was a couple strides ahead.
"Hey Matt, look, I'm sorry about Friday."
"Nah, don't be. It was a bad night anyway, thanks though"
"Ha, no problem tiger," Jess flaked a fake smile and continued onto independent study.
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Independent study was productive. Landry and Jess finished up her song. They had the rest of the band play it a couple times through and were all hyped up on the excitement.
"Jess, you have to sing this."
"What, I thought that we would have Devin sing it."
"Oh no, this is your song Jess, and besides, I feel there is something behind it."
"Well maybe, but fine, I'll sing it. But be ready to catch me if I pass out... if we ever find a place to play" she laughed.
"I'll work on it," replied Landry, putting their instruments away heading off to lunch.
Another hallway trip actually made Jess' day; walking past a bunch of girls she noticed Lyla. Lyla was still sporting a black eye from their fight the week before. It gave Jess a slight sense of joy and she smirked as she continued on to lunch.
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The next two days consisted of normal school activity. Jess worked hard, detention in the morning, getting her work done, and avoiding Tim Riggins was becoming a habit. Peeking into her locker, there was a knock on the other side.
"Guess what..." Landry said, slightly smirking,
"Oh I don't know Landry, you've solved world hunger?" Jess laughed, putting a book on the shelf."
"We have a gig, Saturday; we need to spread the word."
"Landry, that's awesome. I have some time during lunch; I can make some flyers and post them."
"Sure, sounds like a plan."
Jess spent her lunch, doing what she intended to do; she posted flyers everywhere; on lockers, in the bathrooms, even on the field house and that was daring.
As she left the field house, she noticed a couple football players eying it and chatting amongst themselves. Jess found Landry and they went around town, continuing to paste their flyers everywhere; eventually Jess got a ride home.
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Friday night came and Jess made her way to a party, personally invited by Bradley. It was another excuse for Jess not to be cleaning up her act. She found a spot at the coffee table located in the living room. She challenged anyone and everyone to shots. Naturally she won, getting more and drunk and more pissed at herself. She was here to change her ways, not to continue fucking up and driving people away.
"Well look what we have here, a drunk bitch with no friends. How depressing."
Jess looked up from her spot in the easy chair that she coveted for the past 2 hours to see Lyla, hands on her hips leering. Jess rolled her eyes and got up, standing directly in front of her, nose to nose.
"Do you EVER give it up Lyla?"
"I don't know what you mean Jess"
"The same bullshit, trying to make everyone else miserable when your own life is so pathetic."
Lyla stood stunned for a moment, taking in to account the Jess was probably right.
"Well," she spoke quietly, so only Jess could hear. "at least I'm not trying to make everyone sorry for me, I have Jesus, what do you have?"
Jess pushed Lyla away and stormed out of the house. She made it to the front yard; slumping down in the yard Jess pulled her knees in close and hid her face, silently crying. Lyla was right, that was Jess' life. She needed to fix it, and soon.
As Jess continued to sob into her knees, Tyra drove by and hit the brakes on her car. She picked Jess up and hugged her. She carried to her truck and brought her home. Pulling up into the driveway, Tyra turned to Jess and grabbed her hand/
"Who ever made you cry, they aren't worth it. If it was a boy, I'll beat him up. If it was a girl, we'll figure it out. Now go to bed, you got a show tomorrow."
"You're coming to the show?" Jess sniffed, rubbing her face on her sleeve.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world sweet cheeks, now go to bed."
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Saturday was a new day. Entirely different, Friday seemed far far away. The sun shined through her window as Jess got up and took a shower. She put her hair in rollers and planned to keep them in the entire day until the show. She and aunt Lori had a nice breakfast and chilled around the house. An hour before the show, aunt Lori helped Jess get dolled up. Jess donned a jean skirt with fishnet tights. She donned her knee high converse sneakers; she found it was an appropriate occasion. She slid on a black v-neck shirt with some cleavage. aunt Lori did her makeup accordingly.
aunt Lori drove Jess to the bar that they were going to be performing in. Landry was already there, tuning and making sure that everything was all set. People were already waiting for the show to begin. It felt as most of the school population was there and Jess started to get nervous.
The lights dimmed and Landry took the stage with the band and played thru set and it was about time for Jess' song. Landry took the microphone.
"Well how y'all doin' this evening?"
The crowd cheered.
"Alright, alright, we're gonna bring up Miss Daniels here, and she's gonna sing a song she wrote by herself, with a little help from me."
Jess took deep breath and grabbed a shot from the man next to her. She downed it and walked up on stage. She fluffed her hair, smiling.
"How y'all doing tonight?"
The crowded cheered.
"Well then, let's get goin'."
Jess looked at Landry and swiped the mic. She took a deep breath again and counted off and began to sing:
Oh the clever
things I should say to you
They got stuck somewhere
Stuck between me and you
Oh I'm nervous
I don't know what to do
Light a cigarette
I only smoke when I'm with you
What the hell do I do this for?
You're just another guy
OK, you're kind of sexy
But you're not really special
But I won't mind
If you take me home
Come on, take me home
I won't mind
if you take off all your clothes
Come on, take them off
'Cuz I like you so much better when you're naked
I like me so much better when you're naked
I like you so much better when you're naked
I like me so much better when you're naked. Yeah!
Oh the clever
things I should say to you
They got stuck somewhere, stuck somewhere
Stuck between me and you
Oh I'm nervous (I'm so nervous)
I don't know what to do
Light a cigarette
I only smoke when I'm with you
What the hell do I do this for?
You're just another guy
OK, you're kind of sexy
But you're not really special
But I won't mind
If you take me home
Come on, take me home
I won't mind
if you take off all your clothes
Come on, take them off
'Cause I like you so much better when you're naked
I like me so much better when you're naked
I like you so much better when you're naked
I like me so much better when you're naked. Yeah!
Wow! Alright! Hey!
I won't mind
If you take me home
Come on, take me home
I won't mind
if you take off all your clothes
Come on, take them off
'Cuz I like you so much better when you're naked
I like me so much better when you're naked
I like you so much better when you're naked
I like me so much better when you're naked.
Yeah!
Jess beamed as the crowded applauded at the end. She thanked them and made her way to the bar. She squeezed through the crowd, only to be pushed into Tim, with one girl on each arm.
"Nice song Daniels, who's it about?"
"Very funny Riggins, now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go home."
"You gotta ride?"
"Nope, I'll figure something out."
"Come on, I'll bring you home," Tim raising his voice over the crowd, exiting to outside on the sidewalk.
"Why, you have ladies you need to attend and I wouldn't want to impose."
"Come on Daniels, knock it off," Tim continued, almost begging.
A truck pulled up next to Jess, windows rolling down.
"Need a ride pretty lady, oh hey Timmy" spoke a familiar voice from the driver's seat.
Tim looked into the cab of the truck and felt sick. Guy Raston giving Jess a ride home just gave him the skeeves. He grabbed Jess by the wrist, so she would turn and look at him dead in the face.
"Jess please...." Tim begged, "Don't go with him."
Jess shook her wrist free and stepped into the truck without saying a word, driving off in the direction of home.
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"So, how do you know Tim Riggins?" Jess asked, looking out the window.
"Oh me and Timmy? Long story..."
"Oh, well you can just drop me off here, I can walk..."
"Now wait just a second, I'm not done with you just yet"
Guy leaned over to run his hand up her skirt. Jess leaned over and clocked him in the face, throwing the door open and running. She ran as fast as she could to the closest place that seemed safe; as she rounded the corner, she saw a looming #33 on sign in the front lawn. Running to the door she knocked feverishly.
"What do you want?"
"Billy, can I just hide here for a bit?"
"Huh?"
"You're Billy, I'm Jess, a friend of Tim's. I'm being followed. Can I just hide here?"
"Yeah, uh, sure. Why don't you just go in Tim's room, he's not home yet, but oh well..." Billy breathed, pointing to the door on the right.
Jess made her way over into Tim's room, still breathing heavily from running. She sat down on the bed and looked around his room. Everything was pretty messy and Jess just smiled. "Well I'm not surprised," looking on the bed side table and a pack of condoms strewn next to the lamp, "well at least he's being safe."
She sat on the bed and looked up at the ceiling, contemplating what to do next. The door opened.
"What are you doing here Daniels?"
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Song of the Day: I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked- Ida Maria
Hope you liked it, Tell All Your Friends
SoCo in a flask on me!!!!