Finally I got home, how I got there unscathed is beyond me, I still felt like I was in a euphoric state. I'm giddy with excitement about my plan and nearly jumping as I got out of the car and walked in.

After I shut the door I looked around and noticed the dismay. The furniture was moved everywhere, a couple of plants had been knocked over. In the kitchen a few dishes were smashed. This is not good, I thought quickly…I need to get what I need and get out, now! My head was screaming at me to run on auto pilot, to get in get out, as smooth as possible and then I turned to my room.

Once I turned I didn't realize something had hit the side of my face until I fell onto the stairs. I shook my head thinking I ran into a wall or something but then I heard the voice.

"Where the hell have you been?" she asked in anger, her tone resentful. "The house is a mess, you were suppose to pick up the groceries, I've been starving the past hour!" she said with sheer bitterness. I slowly got up from my fallen position, so I wouldn't provoke her into hitting me again.

Maybe it's a mess because you caused it and maybe you would eat something if you weren't always drunk and angry I screamed in my head, but remained silent and just stared at my mother. She slapped me then, in the same place where she had hit me and for a brief second I felt my head spin and the pain snapped in my brain.

I guess she didn't like my silence, but really there's no way to win with her. So instead I turned and headed for the attic. Reaching what I had come here for I found the heater and grabbed it, carrying it back down to the hallway. But instead of heading straight to Jessie's I decided to rush through my room to find some cover up and I applied it to the side of my face in a hurry, trying not to wince at the pressure I had to put on it, right near my eye and cheek bone…luckily it wasn't my eye. What am I thinking? Luckily? This shouldn't happen at all. God, I can't wait to leave and go to college just a few more months…just a few more and I won't ever have to come back here…unless I want to see Jessie. Jessie! Oh I have to go and give her the heater!

I smiled finally and then headed back downstairs, putting the concealer in the pocket of my sweater. I looked in the mirror and decided it was a good enough job. It'll do. No one will notice. I turned and grabbed the heater, descending the stairs cautiously.

Let's hope I can just make my way to the door and it'll all be fine once I reach my car, I said to myself. But in my rush the last stair creaked and my mother was there in 2 seconds.

"What are you doing?" she asked with more anger and bitterness.

"Going out," I stated calmly, but without any emotion in my face.

"I'm hungry and you aren't going out." She said with fury. I took a deep breath.

"You can make yourself something or you can walk down the street to any restaurant you want, you have the capability, I am going out, I have every right to." I stated trying to sound like how I imagine Jessie's mom would with her lawyer-like controlled tone.

"I made you, you came from me, you are going to do what I say." Yeah, that really works. You tell that to any teenager and they're going to revolt. Rebellion is in our veins damn it, I said sarcastically in my head. I looked around the house again, when I get back I'll have to clean this up and go grocery shopping and laundry…I sighed, thinking about it was tiring.

Instead of being overwhelmed I took the nearest escape route and headed towards the door. My mother saw that as a challenge and hit me again, just as hard as the previous times and magically in the same spot. Tears came to my eyes but I wasn't going to let her see that so I headed almost at a run to the door and then sprinted to the car knowing full well she wasn't going to be able to catch up to me.

Feeling safe as I opened the car door I set the heater inside it on the passenger seat and started the car, pushing the peddle and moving two feet forward I was already buckled and then I nearly sped to Jessie's house.

At the last stop sign before her house I put the car in park and pulled out the concealer as I pulled down the mirror. As I had expected a stronger more definite bruise was forming. I let out an annoyed, tired sigh and began to put on more makeup. One more glance in the mirror and I was satisfied. Without any hesitation I drove to Jessie's and then smiled to myself thinking how happy she'd be to have my little present. It might even be rewarded in kisses now. I put the car in park and thought happily about how so much had changed between us…I mean I might be able to kiss her more…that alone is mind boggling…just how I have a beautiful, amazing girlfriend. Girlfriend…I can't believe I can think that with Jessie in the same relation.

I stopped thinking and grabbed the heater then skipped to the door. Before I could knock on it Zooey opened the door and started laughing at me. "You are such a dork, you skipped to the door…with a…heater. Wow…Katie…that's so sweet you shouldn't have," she said with merry sarcasm.

"You know for such a small child you're wicked. You're on your way to becoming Grace." I said with a smile knowing quite well that would make her pale. She turned to leave in response and I stepped inside.

Lily said hello and Jessie turned her head around to see me from the living room.

"Hi," I said to Lily, "How are you?"

"Great Katie…what have you got there?" she asked curiously.

"Oh you know, nothing like an electrical appliance to say thanks for being my crazy friend," I joked. "I guess it's just as bad as receiving a waffle maker or toaster for a wedding present," I said pretending to think it over.

Lily just laughed and said "well that's very nice of you. If you want to stay for dinner feel free Katie, you know we always like to have you over." Lily said kindly.

"Thanks, I'm just going to go put this in Jessie's room…for fear the next time we find her she'll be an ice cube."

With that Jessie laughed and then pulled me towards her room. "Come on Miss Comedian." Jessie said laughing but pretending to be annoyed.

I complied willingly. We got to her room quickly as she assisted in basically pushing me up the stairs. When we were inside she closed the door and made me put down the heater before she placed her arms on my shoulders and her hands resting gently near my neck. I'm pretty sure she could feel my pulse which had quickened immediately. I smiled and placed my hands on her hips, my fingertips trailing slowly along her skin.

"Thank you for bringing the heater, now I won't freeze to death up here. You didn't have to but it was really sweet. I hope you didn't buy it." She said calmly.

"No, no, it was sitting in my attic and no one's going to miss it," I smiled, "besides I had to do something or I'd be worried for your well being." I said truthfully.

She smiled in response, "You're ridiculously charming." She stated.

I smiled crookedly.

"Would you mind if we lay down, I'm kind of tired." Jessie said as she pulled me a bit closer. "Ok," I said calmly, happy to be so close to her, amazed that it was happening at all. She turned and began to get into the bed. I turned away and knelt down in front of the heater winding the cord off of it and attempted to search for an outlet. I set it on low and then plugged it in. it wasn't very cold but it was cold enough in my head. I went back to Jessie, staring at her before I decided to get in next to her. She lifted the blanket and let me inside. We were a little farther away from where I wanted to be but I swore I would make sure Jessie made all the moves. I scrunched up my face trying to focus on getting warm without Jessie's body heat but soon realized I didn't have to because Jessie was right against me, her hand on my hip gently pulling me closer. I opened my eyes and she was staring at me, intensely, looking at my eyes, my nose, my mouth…she lingered on my mouth longer and I bit my lip.

"Stop doing that," she said suddenly in an annoyed tone.

I stopped breathing then I was so scared, I must have looked like a deer caught in front of headlights because then Jessie laughed.

"When you bit your lip that makes me want to bit your lip," she said calmly explaining.

I let out a visible sigh not thinking about how I had held my breath up until that point. Jessie smiled happily and then kissed my cheek gently and then moved to my neck and then my jaw. At this point I was laying on my back and she was half on top of me, simply resting half of her body on me. She moved to the other side of my jaw and kissed my neck too and lingered, occasionally nipping at my neck and sucking at my skin.

I placed my hand on her lower back and pressed her closer to me, enjoying the contact. She went back to my jaw and kissed it again, barely grazing my skin and she blew on my neck. She then went back to my face and kissed my cheek and then right near my eye. I winced and took in a sharp intake of air.

She stopped abruptly and looked scared. The eye that she had kissed near started to tear and Jessie looked so sad.

A very small tear fell from my eye and Jessie instantly, very gently began to wipe it away. As she wiped it away she looked at my face and then brought her finger up. She looked at it and I did too trying to ignore the pain that the little bit of pressure cause by Jessie's thumb and more tears came.

Right now I hate nerve endings, it was just a gentle touch and there's no reason to cry. It's just a stupid, instantaneous reaction, I thought as Jessie then pulled at her sleeve and again wiped away another tear, just barely touching my skin but still making sure to get all the droplets. "Katie…"Jessie said worried. She looked at her sleeve and noticed the makeup on it. She then looked scared as she looked at my face.

Damn it, I cursed in my head. I forgot I put concealer on…damn it…she looks so scared. Quick Katie…do something saying something! I scream in my head.

"Jessie, it's fine," I said calmly to calm her down as well.

"Katie, this isn't fine," she said her voice raising. She kind of sounds like her mother I thought, scared but still in control. "You have a huge bruise and you're telling me you're fine. Katie you can't always be fine." She stated in the same controlled tone.

I nodded, knowing that I couldn't reason with Jessie when she had that tone, but tried anyway. "I'll be fine as long as you don't touch it, ok, it's…"

"Don't you dare say fine," Jessie said interrupting me and completely sitting up, taking my heat away.

I shut my mouth and looked away. She placed a gentle hand near my jaw and placed her other hand on my neck, turning my head forcing me to look at her. "Ok," I replied defeated. "You know…we could forget this ever happened and you could, maybe go back to kissing me," I joked, smiled and pleaded.

"Katie." Jessie said in a very serious, sad tone.

"Thought I'd try," I replied shrugging. "How am I suppose to kiss you or touch you without hurting you?" she asked with worry.

"There's…my lips" I replied blushing.

"Katie…it's huge" Jessie said incredulously. "and you still have concealer on…I can't even imagine what it looks like." She said with a shiver.

"Hey, you don't have to be so worried, Jessie, it'll be ok…It's not going to keep going on forever, there's summer and college right after, just a few more months." I said calmly.

"That's your solution? To just wait it out? Katie, it shouldn't happen at all," she said gesturing with her hand for emphasis.

"I know," I whispered. "But trust me Jessie…it's better to just wait and be passive. Confronting her doesn't work that well, trust me…I know," I mumble the last part and smiled bitterly but then cursed at myself because it made my face hurt. I drew in another sharp breath. Jessie looked like she was about to cry. "Please Jessie…don't look so sad…if you're dad comes up here…he's going to think I upset you and I can't stress enough how I don't want him to hate me." I said joking but with a serious undertone to it.

"Stop changing the subject. And you are upsetting me," she said in a rush.

I must have looked like I had been slapped again because Jessie came closer to me and put her arms around me.

"No, no I didn't mean it like that…you aren't…what happened to you is upsetting me. Katie…this can't keep happening, we have to stop her." Jessie finished with force.

I got up out of the bed, away from her embrace and began pacing the room. "Oh no, Jessie, no…last time I said anything back to her she broke 2 of my ribs…no thank you, you know I don't like hospitals and that's a near guaranteed visit." I stopped to look at Jessie, now she looks like the one who got slapped. I rushed over to her and placed my hands on her arms. "I'm sorry…Jess, I'm sorry but those are just the facts and anyways she's lessened her, um, temper over the last couple months."

She nodded slowly looking far off and then finally my face. Then slowly drifted towards the bruise. "I knew something was wrong when you first came in. You were happy and charming and funny…and it was too perfect. You really should go into acting because Lily had no idea." Jessie said trying to think through her thoughts.

"That's the point," I said with a small crooked smile.

"Katie. Let me call my mom." Jessie said suddenly.

"No." I replied firmly.

Jessie just continued to stare at me.

"No," I said again this time with less control.

"Please Katie. I have to help you. What kind of friend would I be, let alone girlfriend if I didn't at least try?" Jessie said her voice controlled.

I stared at her and her beautiful blue eyes, believing that everything will be ok.

"Please," Jessie pleaded with raw emotion. I looked away from her at the floor, her eyes were making this difficult. I weighed out the cons…those seemed to be more important. Physical pain, hospital, people talking, people knowing, possibly not having a home anymore…then the pros…Jessie's mom is a good lawyer…I wouldn't get hurt, I'd have a new life…the cons still won because Jessie's mom might not win. There's always that option.

I looked back at Jessie. She was waiting patiently and then I looked in her eyes and held her gaze. "Ok," I whispered finally, giving in. she came closer to me and hugged me tightly, almost crushing me. She let go of me and then suddenly got up very smoothly and headed for the door. "Where are you going?" I asked scared. She could tell the desperation in my voice and stopped.

"To call my mom." She said in a set tone.

"Jess, please not now, not tonight, it's getting late. I don't want to go through it all now, it's a lot to deal with and I don't want to bother her." I said pleading.

"You wouldn't be bothering her, it's her job and you know she'd do anything for you." She stated factually.

I let out a deep sigh, "Jessie…please I just don't have the energy to do it tonight." I watched her and she let all the tenseness run out of her.

"Ok," she said gently, "but first thing tomorrow," she said with a warning tone.

I nodded. "Will you please come here?" I asked, close to a whine. She complied and came closer to me, placing her hands again on my shoulders and pulling me closer, her lips gently finding mine.

We briefly broke away from the kiss minutes later and we stared at each other, living in every second of it, not wanting to have it end, trying to commit every touch and every texture to memory. "Thank you," I said finally.

"For what?" she asked curiously.

"Everything…and. .being with me…kissing me…it helps a lot and makes my head stop spinning." I said with a light smile.

"Your head hurts?" Jessie asked, the worry coming back into her voice.

"No," I said quickly, clearly lying. She looked at me as though an annoyed wife looks…which was really cute coming from Jessie.

"Katherine Singer I am going to call my mother-Now!" and she turned and headed to the door. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back gently, my arm wrapped around her waist. I hugged her tighter and let my lips brush her neck as I spoke. It was selfish but I wanted and on some level needed her to stay with me.

"Please Jessie…kiss me," I said as I left small kisses on her neck. I needed the escape and she was the perfect distraction, she's the aspirin to my headache.
She put her hand on my neck and guided my face to her lips. We kissed again and she pushed me towards the bed. I fell onto the blankets as my legs hit the mattress and Jessie slowly got on top of me, not in a sexual way, no. Just perfectly sweet, in Jessie's way, where it was simply wanting to be close to one another.

I pulled her closer to me and kissed her harder. She moaned and licked my bottom lip asking for entrance. I let her and we kissed and held each other until Grace knocked on the door telling us dinner was ready.

I glanced at the clock. An hour had passed. I smiled at Jessie who got up and helped me as well, stopping to kiss me again before I stood up. My legs weren't used to standing so I shifted my weight back and forth.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and found the makeup; wonderfully reminding me to cover up any evidence before dinner. I knelt down in front of Jessie's mirror and began putting it on. Jessie studied me as I did it, making me feel somewhat uncomfortable, after all this was a new experience. Someone actually seeing the effects of living in my house. It was like being naked and completely raw, it was making me feel tense knowing that I wasn't in control of my life and that Jessie was witnessing it. I darted my eyes back to the mirror in front of me, happily finished with what the reflection showed me I turned and looked at Jessie who stood there sadly and patiently. She waited for me to be directly behind her and then we headed downstairs to be actors before her unsuspecting family.