An Everlasting Love

An Everlasting Love

Flirtation101

Author's Note: I rewrote this one because half of the stuff I wrote did not save in the document, and I desperately need to re-write the ending that I actually wanted. Sadly this means that there is no new update tonight, as I originally planned because people would not understand it. I really hope you like this, and I hope that it will be as good as I intended it to be.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

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Chapter Ten: Walk On Water or Drown.

Oh, but everybody knows this is the part
Of breaking down in anybody's arms
I'm reaching down and hoping this one's ours
God, please let this stay

And then I fell into pieces and she fell into me
Saying, "Play me a song. It's been too long since I've heard you sing."

- Mayday Parade

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Jessica did not know why, but she ran after Jesse. Rick looked at her as if she was going crazy when she said, "I'll be right back." But Winnie was desperate. Desperate to find out what Jesse had meant. Desperate to know what he knew. Desperate to find out what the hell was going on with her life.

"Wait!" Jessica called out as soon as she was in ear shot of Jesse. He turned around to find her and had a completely shocked look on his face. His anger seemed to disappear at once, and he smiled at her. Out of breath, she ran up to him and said, "What did you mean? When you said that you knew me better than I knew myself?"

He didn't answer her right away. "I'm sorry." He said instead, "I was such a jerk back there. I never meant to say those things." Jessica had to suppress a laugh; he was like a lost puppy. But Jesse must have seen her expression because he too started to laugh.

"But what did you mean?"

"I can't explain it here," Jesse said, looking around at the people who were still walking around the town square. "People might hear. Can you come back to my place for a while? We'll have to explain it to you there."

Jessica bit her lip as she looked back at Rick. He was staring at the two of them, his eyes fixed upon Jesse. Jessica could tell that there was distrust going on, but curiosity got the best of her. "Sure, but meet me here in a half-hour or so."

Jessica turned her back in Jesse without saying anything else and walked back to Rick. "What the hell was that about?" Rick asked as Jessica came up to him. Jessica shrugged, "I just felt bad. I wanted to make peace with him."

Rick scoffed, "I don't know why you even bothered to apologize. It's not like he actually matters or anything." Nothing more was said on the subject. Instead, Rick put his arm around Jessica and he began to walk her back to her house. Jessica gave one last glance at Jesse before letting Rick lead her in the opposite direction.

--

Jessica made sure that Rick was a good deal away from the house before she set out to meet Jesse. She didn't know what Rick would do if her saw her going to sneak out with someone who was considered to be a complete stranger. Walking down the sidewalk ten minutes after Rick had kissed her goodbye, she began to feel guilty. It seeped into her skin and was running through her bloodstream like a drug. Rick had been good to her; she should have at least told him where she would be going. He may not have liked it, but he would at least know the truth. But Jessica didn't tell him, and now she had to live with that fact and with the guilt.

When Jessica reached the center of town, Jesse was nowhere in sight. She sat down on a lonely bench on the sidewalk and closed her eyes. Doubt filled her mind like a raging river, filling every corner of her brain. This was a mistake. Jesse was probably with his family, laughing about how they had messed up some random girl's life. She couldn't believe that she had ever even wanted to come here. It wasn't like her to be this irrational, or to let her curiosity cloud her judgment like it had done earlier in the day. Minutes had, and Jesse was still nowhere in sight. Jessica sighed; she should have known something like this would happen to her. She got played by guy she hardly even knew.

"I didn't leave," Jessica heard a voice say, "If that's what you're thinking." Jessica's eyes shot open to see the speaker, whom she instinctively knew was Jesse. She looked up at him from the bench, and the setting sun hit him, casting millions of rays to come out from his sides and head. He was glowing like an angel.

Jessica couldn't help but notice him in the moment. The way his eyebrows were furrowed with worry and concern, but seemed as if years had weathered his young face out. The way his lips were slightly parted, and formed neither frown nor smile. This was the Jesse she had met on their first night, the way that, despite all good judgment, she felt something. What that something was, Jessica did not know, nor could not begin to comprehend. And he must have known that Jessica was staring at him, because he titled his head to one side and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Dumbfounded, Jessica nodded. She stood up, hoping that she would feel more comfortable in his presence. But he still towered over her, having a good foot or so on her. He gave her a small smile, as she tried to speak, "Wh- What are we going to do?"

Jessica was curious. After all, what he had said to her earlier had sparked her interest greatly. Questions flooded through Jessica's head like a raging river, constantly coming up with more and more for him. She could hardly contain her excitement, and her worry. Her life might not have been the same after this, and Jessica was not sure if she was ready to deal with something as life altering as that. But as Jesse took her shoulder, warmth flooded through her body and she felt herself calm a little bit.

"I can't explain it here," He said in a low voice, so no one around would be able to hear him speak. Jessica nodded, understanding his reasons. He sounded if he had a deep dark secret instead of being an old childhood friend that Jessica knew ages ago.

Jesse put his arm around Jessica's waist, motioning to his motorcycle. Jessica stared at the familiar bike, and suddenly it seemed much scarier than it had before. Her heat was pounding, and her face must have turned whiter than paper, because Jesse began laughing. "What's the matter?" He asked between chuckles.

Jessica didn't say anything; she didn't know if she could. She simply looked from the bike, to Jesse and than back to the bike. Jesse, still laughing, a helmet from under his arm. "Here," Jesse threw it at her, and Jessica's fingers fumbled to catch it.

"What about you?" She asked, looking at Jesse. "Don't you need a helmet too?"

Jesse shook his head, letting his dark hair shake around him.

"But what if something happens to you?" Jessica didn't even want to think that simple thought. She was too terrified to picture Jesse hurt, although she couldn't really know why? Wasn't this the very boy who scared her half to death, and accused her parent's of being liars? So why, after all that, did she care about his well being? Jessica tried to shake the thoughts from her mind.

If Jesse thought that her expression before was funny, then her question was priceless. He began laughing even harder, but his face grew serious as Jessica frowned. "It's not funny."

He gave her a smile, "Trust me, nothing is going to happen to me." He said it with such confidence, and Jessica wanted nothing more than to believe him.

"You don't know that," She said, looking at him in the eyes, "You could be riding that thing, and the next thing you know, you could be dead!" She had not intended for her words to come out as sharply at they did. But they must have, because Jesse's eyes grew serious, and then suddenly sad.

"It won't happen," Jesse whispered. Jessica looked away, letting the subject drop. It was obvious that she struck a nerve, and she did not want him to be upset with her. Jesse seemed to let it drop as well, and motioned for her to take a seat behind him on the bike. Jessica did so, throwing her left leg over, trying to steady herself on the bike.

Jesse roared the engine, which caused Jessica to let out a small scream. She was not sure if it was the engine again, or some other part of the bike, but Jessica swore that she heard a faint laugh coming from Jesse. The bike began moving, which caused Jessica to jump in her seat. She held tightly to Jesse , and as she did she smelt the faint smell of his cologne.

She had smelt that somewhere before.

--

Jessica and Jesse arrived at an old hotel completely unscathed by the motorcycle, much to Jessica's relief. "I am never doing that again," Jessica said, looking at the motorbike. Jesse laughed, putting his arm around her. Only hours ago, Jessica would have probably flinched at his touch. But now, she could not get rid of the comfortable feeling that she had when she was thing him – not that she would ever want to in the first place.

They had gone up to the room, having to climb the stairs to reach the floor. Jessica heaved and heaved the entire way their. They were not even halfway up the building when Jessica paused, in need of taking a breath.

"Sorry," Jesse said, and Jessica could tell that he was trying not to laugh, "We probably should have taken the elevator. I've just missed all the walking. It's always usually up and down elevators these days."

"Not with me… You'd take of your shoes and walk up every single, solitary step." Jessica said in a barely audible whisper. Jessica hadn't known where that had come from, as if it came from a distant memory.

"Huh?" Jesse asked; he did not hear her.

"One thousand, six hundred-and-fifty-two steps to the top." Jessica said, this time a little louder. Jesse turned to her, wide eyed. There was a look of excitement in his eyes, which was beginning to frighten Jessica. Jessica closed her mouth tightly; afraid that more nonsense words or phrases would come out. "I don't know what it means," Jessica said, defensively, "It just seemed to come out!" She did not want Jesse to think that she was a crazy person.

But Jessica determined that her sanity was what was going through Jesse's mind. His face fell a little, as if he was getting his hopes up. Jessica looked down at her shoes, walking up the stairway more. Jesse stayed a few feet behind her, and Jessica could feel that his eyes never left her.

They reached their floor. "It's this way," Jesse said, in reference to their room. The room looked like any other hotel room. It had yellow walls, matching the floral curtains and bed sheets. It looked like anything other hotel room in the world, completely nondescript.

"So!" Jessica said, with a sudden eagerness in her voice, "Can we talk now?"

Jesse smiled, "What do you want to know?"

"Did you know me?" She asked, trying to choose her words carefully, "Before the accident, I mean." Jesse's smiled straightened out, and now his face was expressionless. He nodded once, giving the indication that he did.

Jessica practically jumped for joy. Finally, there was someone there that would answer all of her questions. The questions that were in her mind before vanished, making way for a thousand other questions then. "How did we know each other? Where did I live? Did I have any dog, cats, friends?"

Jesse's voice was quiet, "Why don't you sit down for a moment." It wasn't a question. Jessica took a seat next to Jesse on the bed, looking up in his eyes. She waited for him to continue with his answers. "I can't answer that right now," But before Jessica could open her mouth to protest, Jesse continued, "I will. I just need my family here with me when I do.

Jessica frowned; she did not understand why he needed his parent's permission to tell Jessica about her own past. But she didn't argue, she didn't want Jesse to all of a sudden decide that he did not want to tell her. Jessica could handle waiting, but not knowing Jessica could not stand to do. Jessica nodded, barely able to stifle a yawn.

Jesse's eyes searched hers, "You should law down a while."

Jessica could not argue. Jesse pulled her towards the headboard, and propped her up against the pillow. Her eyes were closed as he did so, and she was barely conscious. But she was able to feel Jesse get off the bed.

"No," Jessica said, half asleep. She felt Jesse pause – his knee was still on the bed. "Stay," She said, grabbing the fabric of his shirt.

Jesse did not argue with her. Instead, he positioned himself so Jessica was leaning on him, and using him a pillow. Jesse smiled to himself; memories came flooding back to him as he did. It was great, as it should have been. And when he was sure that Jessica was asleep, he kissed the top of her head.

He might have been imagining it, but he swore he felt her curl up against his body even more as he did so.

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Author's Note: It's not a good as the original, but I hope you like it! Thanks, and please review!