We stared at each other for what seemed like hours. The odd thing is it was only a few seconds of Jessie staring at me making me more and more self conscious. She would look at the ground, to me and back to the floor.

"I'm sorry for coming over so late…"she started slowly.

"It's ok," I reply calmly, reaching for a blanket to wrap around me. Jessie eyes me slowly and shivers as if the idea of a warm blanket reminded her that she's cold, which wasn't that surprising considering it was a cold night and she was only wearing a sweater.

"Come here," I say calmly yet edging on a demanding tone. She walks over unsure of herself and sits beside me in the corner of the couch facing me. Once she's settled I toss her part of the blanket to cover her. She gets comfortable and takes a deep breath then exhales in a slow manner that makes it seem as if she has some respiratory problems, which she doesn't.

"Ok so…I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking that you…forgot to eat because you have so much to do and it's just not good for you to..do that or right that you have to do so much with everything. And then I kept thinking about how I'm not a good friend because I should have noticed or something and I could have talked to you and reminded you. But I know you'll never ask me for help so I don't know how to help you," she said in a nervous rush, though the last part was said hesitantly.

Rather than get defensive about her statement I thought about it for a moment, staring at the wall…she was right. I wouldn't have asked for her help. My stubbornness would have gotten in the way. Anyway, it's too much of a burden and really no big deal. I'm not saying Jessie is overreacting, just that I'm forgetful.

"Jessie," I say trying not to sound condescending, "it's really not a big deal. It's…"

"It is a big deal. It was to me. I should have noticed. What sort of friend am I to not.." she says cutting me off as tears start to fill her eyes.

"Stop saying that," I say cutting her off in return, knowing what she was going to say next, "I just forgot," I say growing annoyed at the notion that Jessie was blaming herself somehow. Her expression quickly changes once my tone shifted. She seemed to think I was annoyed at her.

"Well Katie, I'm sorry that's all I can say, I'm sorry, ok!" she replied almost screaming.

God I wanted to kiss her then, which was confusing to me cause she was getting angry at me but I just wanted to calm her down. Its not going to happen again and although I'm really grateful that she's worried she doesn't have to be.

"Whoa Jess," I say softly moving a little closer together, "that's not what I meant. You're an amazing friend. You're the only person I ever told…about my parents, my family, what I want after high school, my thoughts. You know how hard it is to tell someone the truth? I trust you with that. I trust you not just because you actually listen unlike everyone else, but because you're a real friend. You're honest, you actually think. You're not afraid to show your feelings, even if you don't know it…you're just real. I love that about you. Do you get that Jess?" I ask, explaining myself while gently touching her knee. She calms down, looks at me for a long time and lightly smiles.

"Ok, but Katie, swear to me if you ever get tired of everything call me over to do..whatever..to just watch a movie, anything. A little break in the day, I'm there," she says happily and almost threatening as if I don't agree we'll have this conversation over again and one is good enough for me.

"I will," I say with a smile. We quickly hug which turns into a relaxed embrace. It certainly isn't a hug anymore, but its not awkward, its comfortable. Jessie rests her head on my shoulder and I close my eyes, wrapping my arms around her waist a little tighter. The clock chimes softly telling its midnight. Jessie's parents will flip if they knew she was out. I quickly release my arms around her, she does the same from around my shoulders though more slowly and looks at me confused.

"It's midnight. I have to get you home Cinderella," I say with a wink. "You know your parents and if they knew you were over here they'd think I was a bad influence and all that since I already made you skip school. And your mother! Your mom won't let me come over anymore and I really like her," I say babbling.

Jessie just stares at me and starts to laugh.

"What?!" I say in an astonished tone. This is not a laughing matter.

"You're talking really fast and it's amazing you're actually making sense for a change," she says with more giggles slipping out even though she has her hand over her mouth.

"Hey now!" I say growing content knowing Jessie isn't laughing at me, "Keep making fun of me and we'll see who drives you home," I say teasing her in a mock tone.

"Yeah right. You wouldn't be that mean, plus you have to drive me home cause it gets colder after midnight and I'll freeze to death if you don't and if I freeze to death then you won't be able to pick me up and drive me to school which I know you looove to do because it gives you an excuse to think you're cool because you have a car and I don't" she says with a witty tone.

"You know. You're absolutely right. I am the more superior one and with great power comes great responsibility," I say in my most powerful tone.

"Wow Katie, you saw Spider-Man way too much," she says laughing and throwing the blanket off of her.

"What can I say? Any super hero that gets his power through love isn't so bad. Though Tobey Mcquire is incredibly annoying," I say getting up from the couch. Jessie is almost half way to the door, she shivers again and I stop.

"I'll be right back," I say quickly and dash up the stairs to get a sweater for Jessie to wear in the car since the heater won't kick in until we get to her house. I come back downstairs and hand her the sweater, a thick dark purple zip up with a hood. She thanks me and puts the sweater on over hers. It looks better on her than me, go figure. Once I get my shoes on and a scarf for the hell of it since my hair is still somewhat wet we hop in the car. The ride is silent but we glance at each other as my Imogen Heap cd plays. It only takes about five minutes to reach her house so we sit in the car a little more.

"Katie…" she says shyly.

"Jess, get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow and give you a hug for being random and coming over to my house at odd hours," I say with a smile, "Oh and for being a great friend," I finish.

Jessie smiles wider at me and doesn't say anything but gets out of the car, turns and waves goodnight then walks inside. After I know she's inside and her dim room light in the attic turns on I drive off.

Ten minutes later I'm back at my house, laying down in my bed, thinking of school tomorrow, hopefully no one will know I was in the hospital…and how I owe Jessie a hug. I begin to drift off into a peaceful, dead sleep.