Chapter 9.

Jessie slowly walked into the mall, looking around in amazement. She had been there before with John and Randy but she didn't really pay attention she was too wrapped up in the shopping and talking. She walked around and looked at each store looking for something that caught her attention. Suddenly she saw a store hat did just that, Hot Topic. She smiled a wide smile and practically ran inside. Jessie shopped in Hot Topic for about 20 minutes and used $40 of the $60 she had. She decided to go and get a coke. Walking out of the store she bumped into someone and dropped her bags. She looked up and saw the most attractive face she had ever seen besides Randy of course.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going" the guy said helping her gather up her bags.

"It's ok neither was I really I was preoccupied" Jessie said kind of offhandedly seeing as she was too busy checking out the guy.

"I'm Josh" he said sticking out his hand for her to shake. She shook his hand and gazed at him "so do you have a name or shall I just call you gorgeous" Josh flirted.

"Well my names Jessie but I don't mind if you call me gorgeous" she flirted back, inside she was shocked at how much she was flirting even if it was a little bit because she had never flirted before.

"So gorgeous" Josh said making Jessie smile "what are you doing in the mall this late? Shouldn't you be at home getting unneeded beauty sleep?"

"My dad and his best friend are working out at the gym and brought me here to pass the time" she said still looking at him in awe.

"Ahhh I see, well do you want some company to pass the time" Josh said and Jessie realized he was still holding on to her bags. She thought about it, it was kind of risky but Josh seemed like a good guy so what's the harm? She thought.

"Sure why not" she said smiling at Josh, Josh held out his arm for her to take and they began walking around the mall. They talked and Jessie found out a lot about Josh and vice versa. Jessie found Josh easy to talk to, he seemed so sweet and sincere.

"Hey do you want to go somewhere more private and continue our conversation" Josh said looking at Jessie with his big green eyes and making Jessie feel like she turned to mush.

"OK" Jessie said not thinking. Josh smiled brightly at her and led her to the back of the mall. They went out and Jessie saw a few picnic tables scattered around a sitting area. Josh led her over to a table and they sat down side by side. Jessie noticed that Josh sat kind of close to her but brushed it off.

"You know you're very pretty" Josh said to Jessie, leaning in and kissing her. Jessie felt a flash of panic but brushed it off. Josh leaned in a bit more and Jessie leaned back to make up for it, Josh started roaming his hands around her body, groping her breasts and caressing her butt. Jessie pushed Josh up and broke the kiss.

"I have to go I have to meet my dad soon" she said in a panic. Josh looked at her and brushed a small kiss on her neck.

"Ok gorgeous I'll give you my number and you can call me and we can meet up again" he said handing her a small card, she pocketed it and stood up. She grabbed up her bags and went inside, not looking back at Josh.

She went over to the fountain where John said to meet him and sat down. She started looking at her stuff to pass the time and to calm her nerves. She was staring at one of her thoughts when she heard a voice call out.

"Babygirl I am so sorry we lost track of time and all" she jumped, startled, and the shirt went flying.

"Oh babygirl I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" John said leaning down and grabbing the shirt before giving it to her and hugging her slightly. She stood up, bag in hand.

"It's ok I guess I was just preoccupied" Jessie said, looking up at John.

"Babygirl are you ok? You look kinda pale and upset" John said putting a hand to her forehead unconsciously. She waved his hand away and moved nearer to Randy who had been silent the whole time, almost studying her.

"I'm ok, kinda tired though since I got up early and all" Jessie said, feigning a yawn and a stretch.

"Oh ok well lets be on our way then, we'll have you home and in bed before you can say 'supercalifragilisticiscpealadoscious'". Jessie smiled as much as she felt like it and followed the two men. She noticed John stayed at a quicker pace while Randy slowed his to match hers, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye when he thought she wouldn't notice.

They made their way out to the car and Jessie got in the back seat as soon as John unlocked the door. Randy and John got in and John started the car, backing out of the space and heading toward home.

Jessie didn't feel like talking so she leaned against the door and feigned sleep. John noticed that she was 'asleep' and asked Randy to put his jacket between her head and the door so she'd be more comfortable. She felt Randy lean to the backseat and do as John asked. She felt the cool leather under her head and smelled the calming fragrance of Randy's Obsession cologne. It made her feel better, safer. Pretty soon she was really asleep.

She was awakened when she felt the car jerk to a stop in the driveway; John carried her inside and laid her down on the couch, while Randy took her bags upstairs. She laid there for a few minutes, her eyes still closed, when she felt someone pick her up and carry her upstairs to her room. She was held for a minute then placed in her bed. She felt two pairs of lips kiss her head and then she fell back into slumber.

DREAM SEQUENCE JESSIE'S POV
I was in the car again. I knew what was going to happen. The crash happened and I knew instinctively that my mom and dad had died. I raced from the car and saw the same man on the cell phone. I went over to him 'please please help my parents they're in the car'. The guy turned around and it was Josh. He had this sick smile on his face ' I can't help your parents gorgeous but I can however help you...well rather help myself to you'. With that he pushed me to the ground and put himself on top of me. He undid my pants and I felt him push into me. I screamed.
END DREAM SEQUENCE

Jessie shot up out of bed; she was sweaty and wide eyed. She was freaked out over the dream. Why would she dream something like that? Josh wasn't like that. Was he? Jessie knew she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore tonight so she decided to go to the kitchen and get a glass of milk. She got it and sat down at the kitchen table. She couldn't make heads or tails of why she dreamed about Josh the way that she did. It wasn't like he gave her a reason to think it. Sure he kissed her and kind of...groped her, but that was what boyfriends did to their girlfriend's right?

"What are you doing up" Jessie heard a voice say, bringing her out of her thoughts. She looked over and saw Randy leaning against the wall; hair messed up and half asleep. She smiled at him and shrugged.

"Guess I just can't sleep. I had another nightmare and didn't want to bother anyone with it so I just came and fixed some milk hoping that it would put me back to sleep".

"What was the nightmare about" Randy said getting a coke out of the refrigerator and sitting down opposite Jessie at the table. He popped the top and took a sip of it. Jessie looked at him a minute before speaking.

"Same as last time" Jessie said, not wanting to tell him about Josh just yet. She sipped at her milk and she and Randy sat there in silence.

"You know it's not your fault right" Randy said surprising Jessie a bit. She didn't know what he was talking about at first but then she clued in.

"Yea I know its just hard you know I mean I've gotten used to staying here with you and dad this past week but that doesn't mean I'm completely over it" Randy smiled at the fact that Jessie had called John daddy. Maybe she was finally opening up and coming around.

"I know sweetie" Randy said putting his hand on top of hers on the table "you just gotta take it one step at a time, why don't we head back to bed" Randy said standing up.

"I think I'll stay down here for a bit, not tired really" Jessie said looking down at the table.

"Do you wanna go and sleep with me...that didn't come out right...what I meant was do you wanna go to bed with me...shoot no not that either...sleep...just sleep" Randy was stuttering and rambling so Jessie decided to stop him before he couldn't stop.

"I know what you mean and I don't want to impose" Jessie felt as if she was enough of an annoyance and wanted to keep it to a minimum. She sipped the last of her milk and stood up to take the glass to the sink.

"You wouldn't be imposing and don't be thinking your an annoyance either because its not true, I'm offering and I know that the only reason that you don't want to go to bed is because your freaked by the dream and I know that you sleep better after you have a nightmare when your with someone and you probably feel as if you have annoyed John enough with the dreams so I ask you again do you wanna be my bed buddy tonight" Randy looked at her, pretending to be looking at a watch, tapping his foot a smile on his face.

"Ok ok I'll be your bed buddy" Jessie said making her way out of the kitchen, before she left the room though she looked back at Randy "I better not feel something sticking me in the back in the morning though if you know what I mean" she left to go to Randy's room then, leaving Randy standing in the kitchen with a slack jawed expression on his face, once he shook himself out of his shock he shook his head and made his way up to his room chuckling to himself.