Dinner was worse than Jessie guessed it was going to be. The twins enjoyed kicking her under the table for the first portion of the meal until Jason complained that his back was hurting slightly and asked if he could switch seats with Jessie. Giving the twins a knowing look, Jason switched seats and the kicking ceased.

However, not even Jason could shield Jessie from the stares she received from the other patrons. Everyone there was wearing their best, and Jessie was keenly aware of the disdainful stares directed at her jeans and simple top. The waiter even sniffed and asked if she was eating, clearly asking, "Can you afford it?" in his disguised question.

"Of course," Jason said, sniffing as well and indicating that he thought that the waiter was being ridiculous. "And might I suggest the filet mignon?"

Jessie nodded dumbly, feeling foolish. She hadn't even managed to look at the menu. "Yes please," she said softly.

"How would you like your baked potato?" the waiter asked her.

Jessie finished ordering and looked up, finding herself face to face with Mrs. Grey, who smiled encouragingly, the smile telling Jessie that she knew exactly what the Davises had done to her by not dressing her up more. "Tell me a little about yourself," Mrs. Grey said congenially, winking so that the Davises couldn't see. "What do you like to do?"

Jessie felt herself start to clam up as every eye at the table turned to look at her. All of the Greys were smiling encouragingly at her, Nate and Shane especially since they knew exactly what she had done for their brother. The Davises, however, were not so kind. Diana was glaring holes into Jessie's head, which was now bending towards the table in embarrassment.

"I-" she started hesitantly, and then felt Jason's hand reach for hers under the table so that no one could see it. He squeezed her hand comfortingly, and that gesture gave Jessie the courage to continue. "I like to write." Her eyes flickered around the table, as though asking for approval, and all the Greys smiled.

"About what?" Mrs. Grey asked, prompting the shy girl in front of her to open up a bit more.

"Anything," Jessie said broadly, though inside, she knew that the answer was, "A better life." Casting a glance at Jason, she knew that he understood as well. An almost imperceptible shake of his head signaled his mom that writing was not a good subject to broach while the Davises were present.

"Do you like music?" Nate asked quietly, having seen the exchange between his mother and brother.

Jessie nodded. "Yeah," she said, but her eyes told the young Connect 3 member that "loved" was closer to the truth.

Their dinner arrived soon after, and the Greys began to talk to Diana instead of Jessie, leaving the younger girl to enjoy her meal in peace. Jessie noticed that, though she was no longer nervous, Jason continued to hold her hand under the table, and she continued to have those same butterflies flutter around in her stomach.

When their dinner ended, the Greys and the Davises went to leave, and the Davises politely invited their guests back to their house for coffee and dessert. The Greys agreed and so Jason took Jessie home while the Grey and Davis vehicles drove ahead.

"That was really awkward," Jason said with a laugh as a red light separated his car from the other two.

"Yeah, it was," Jessie agreed, thinking back to Diana's sneer throughout the night.

Jason was quiet for a moment before he said, "You know, when I was still in the hospital, all I could think of was going to the beach together. How does that sound to you?"

Jessie smiled at him as the light turned green. "Sounds perfect. What time should I meet you?"

"I'll pick you up," Jason offered. "It's only polite when I'm taking you out."

Jessie chewed on her lip and shook her head. "I think I should meet you somewhere. I don't think anyone will like the fact that you're taking me out on a date, and Diana might even get her parents to forbid me to go out with you." She thought for a moment and then offered, "How about a compromise?"

"Like what?"

"I'll head over to the library for a day of studying, and you can pick me up there," Jessie said with a mischievous smile. With any other family, she would have felt horribly guilty for lying, but she felt absolutely no remorse with this foster family.

"Sounds perfect," Jason agreed. "How about at ten? That gives us almost eight hours together."

Jessie could only imagine what Diana might say when they were alone, so she glanced sheepishly at Jason and asked, "Would you mind terribly if we made it at nine?" She shrugged. "I try to spend as little time in that house as possible."

Jason laughed, completely understanding. "Sure," he said. "That works out better for me." He winked at Jessie as he pulled up to the house. "I get more time with you."

Jessie blushed and allowed him to open her door for her as she stepped out. She and Jason walked up to the front door, only to be met by Diana, glaring again at Jessie. "Where did you two go?" she asked.

Jessie was about to protest that they were only a few minutes behind everyone when Jason spoke up and said, "Sorry Diana. We were caught in traffic."

"Oh," Diana said, her attention riveting back to Jason. She giggled and simpered. "You're here now."

"Yup," Jason said, and leaned in to kiss her cheek softly. "Thanks for looking out for us." Diana was still standing in the same spot when Jason and Jessie slipped past her. Jason winked again at Jessie and whispered, "Works every time." Jessie grinned and slapped his arm.

When the Greys left, they gave each of the Davises a hug. As Mrs. Grey hugged Jessie tightly, she whispered in Jessie's ear, "Thank you."

Nate, Shane and Mr. Grey did the same, but the rest of the Davises were too preoccupied to notice the thanks Jessie was receiving. Jason said goodbye just like the rest of his family, but Jessie felt a small thrill fly through her when he smiled promisingly one last time before he got into his car and left.

"The Greys are so sweet," Diana sighed from the bathroom, taking even longer than usual.

Jessie rolled her eyes, stuffing her head under her pillow in the vain hope that she could block out Diana's voice. Her foster sister had been going on and on…and on about the Greys since they had left, and Jessie was getting tired of hearing the same praises sung repeatedly.

"Don't you think so?" Diana asked, poking her head out from the bathroom.

"That you should shut up?" Jessie thought. "Absolutely," she said aloud, knowing that Diana couldn't hear her thoughts and would not recognize that she and Jessie were not talking about the same thing.

"So what did he say to you?" Diana asked, and her tone turned from dreamy to nosy in a split second.

Jessie tensed, knowing that she had to play down Jason's kindness to her or else Diana would suspect something. "Not much," she said flippantly. "He was rather quiet and boring."

Diana scoffed and stepped out of the bathroom. "Jason Grey could never be boring," she said and added with a sniff, "it must've been his company."

"Undoubtedly," Jessie muttered, forcing her temper back down. In less than ten hours, she would once again be with Jason, and the Di that wouldn't die would only be a distant memory. As Diana switched off the lights, Jessie let her thoughts carry her off into dreamland, where thoughts of Jason Grey holding her hand reigned supreme.

A/N: Hope you guys liked it!! Sorry it's taken me so long! Please review, because your reviews are awesome and just totally make my day! :D