"You two did what?!"
Jessa and Petey both cringed at the boom of Coach D'Amore's voice as it swelled, the sheer volume filling the room entirely. Jessa wriggled in her chair and twisted the rings around her finger.
"Coach... we just thought... it was a good idea. It wasn't totally impromptu, Petey did ask me."
D'Amore eyed Petey. "Your parents..."
"Are gonna kill me, I know, Coach, I know. But they love Jes. Yeah, they'll be disappointed that they weren't there... Coach, trust me." Petey said.
"I just wish you two had given someone a clue. There are people here that would have wanted to know."
Jessa crossed her arms and bit her lip against a disbelieving snort. "Coach. I really think it's best we did it this way. It's easier for us to have done it and then told people, that way we can tell who we want."
D'Amore sighed. "Well if you two are set in your ways, then I suppose there's really nothing we can do about it. I'm happy for you, honestly. I just wish we'd had some notice," He grasped each of their shoulders and smiled. "Congratulations, kids."
The couple smiled as D'Amore left the room, Jessa glanced at Petey who let out a long sigh and brushed his hands over his hair.
"Well... it could have gone worse."
Jessa shook her head. "Thank goodness it didn't. ...The only people I really have to tell are Johnny and Christy. How about you?"
Petey shrugged. "Well, my parents, for starters. Chris, probably, and Bobby, Eric..."
"Right. I guess I'll go track down Christy and Johnny... he's gonna go ballistic," Jessa laughed lightly. "Petey... ...do you really think we did the right thing? I mean, I don't regret anything at all... but do you think we should have told people before we went?"
"To be honest... I wasn't sure if I was actually going to attempt to ask you or not. I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it. But I'm glad I did, and I don't regret anything about the when and where we did it."
Jessa smiled and kissed Petey before heading out of the room to find her friends. She found Christy in a lockeroom along with Traci and So Cal Val. Christy quickly excused herself, wanting to keep any explosion between Jessa and Traci from happening. The two were quick to find Johnny inside the X-Division lockeroom and headed outside. Christy and Johnny both leaned against the side of the building, while Jessa paced in front of them. The blonde nervously twisted her rings again before coming to a stop in front of her two friends.
"Guys. I have something to tell you."
"You're not pregnant, are you!?" Christy blurted.
"No," Jessa blinked, the question setting in. "No! Oh God, Christy what would make you think that?"
"Sorry, it was the first thing I thought of. Every female friend I have that's ever started off a conversation like that usually ends up telling me that they're pregnant."
"Well, no. That's not what I have to tell you guys. What I have to tell you is..." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Petey and I got married over the weekend."
"You did what?!" Johnny and Christy chorused.
"How come we weren't invited?" Johnny pouted.
"Because it was a really spur of the moment thing. Petey... he had had this crazy cool helicopter ride to Vegas planned for like a year or two and it was originally planned with Alex and everyone and since everything happened, he didn't want it to go to waste. So he surprised me with it and we went and the second day we were there he asked me. And I said yes, so we did it. Coach has already freaked out, Petey's parents are gonna have a fit, I know. But it was just something we had to do for us."
Johnny smiled and grabbed Jessa into a hug and kissed her forehead. "Honey, you don't have to explain. I just want you to be happy. So even though I didn't get invited," He pretended to pout. "I'm happy for you and Petey. Congrats, sis."
Christy stepped up to Jessa next, giving her a tight hug. "You guys were just speeding up the inevitable. Congratulations, girl. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks guys. It means a lot, really."
Jessa beamed as the two squashed her into another hug before heading inside. Jessa said she'd join them shortly and leaned against the closed door, sighing happily. Shutting her eyes, she was barely aware of a door slamming shut somewhere to the far right, around the side of the building. She was caught in her thoughts until the heavy awareness of someone next to her pulled her into reality and she whipped her head quickly around to the source.
There she spied Alex, hand poised to tap her shoulder and recoiling quickly now that he'd been spotted.
"Hey." He said.
"Hi."
"Um... please don't kill me but... I was over there," He gestured to the side of the building with his thumb. "And... I... I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise! I couldn't help but hear... Jes..."
He paused and Jessa almost felt sorry for him. In all the years she'd known Alex Shelley shy and nervous were two traits she thought he didn't possess. He scrubbed a hand over his face and blew out an agitated breath.
"Congrats, Jes. I'm glad you're happy."
Jessa frowned. "Don't look so miserable, Alex..."
"I'm not. I just... I never thought that the girl I felt so much for... well I never thought I'd be congratulating her on marrying someone else."
Jessa sighed heavily. "Alex please don't start this again..."
"Jessa come on!" He rubbed his face again, leaning against the building beside her. "Won't you just believe me? I'm sorry. I'm eternally fucking sorry for everything I did to you. Please trust me. I know it's hard because I've fucked up a lot, but I-I really mean it, Jes. I just wanna be your friend. I need you in my life, and not hating me, not even it being the way it used to. I just wanna be friends again."
The blonde rung her hands, mind racing. "Alex... I want to believe you..."
"Then do it, dollface! I swear to God Jessa I didn't mean to do this shit to you! I don't know why but I know I'm wrong and I know it's me, not you. I'm sorry. I can't make you any promises because I'm scared I'll break them and hurt you again. But I swear I'll try, I'll try Jes that's all I've got."
Jessa rubbed her eyes, feeling like she was about to cry. She'd been waiting for that sort of genuine apology since he pulled the 'I'm sorry' card. The look on his face was pleadingly honest and it frightened her to her soul. He meant it.
Hesitating, Jessa reached her hand out and patted Alex's shoulder. She wasn't sure what to say to him, how to react. Her gesture was awkward at best.
"Alex... I'm not going to forgive you that easily... but I'm not going to hate you. I... I think I'm still going to have some trouble trusting you... but you've gotta understand why. And Petey..."
"Jes this isn't about..."
"If it's about me then it's just as much about Petey! He's a huge part of my life, just like you were. I'm married to him for goodness sakes, Alex! If you want to really convince me, then you're going to have to do right with him, too."
Alex sighed and nodded. "If it means you'll talk to me again. I'll do it."
---
"Hey Christy... do you think you could do me a big favor today?"
Jessa paced in the hallway, her cell phone nervously pressed against her ear.
"Sure, babe! What's up?"
"Petey's out training with the boys this afternoon so... would you be able to take me back to my apartment? There's a bunch of stuff there that I need to get, there's no sense in leaving it there since I'm living with Petey."
"You're just moving stuff out? Are you keeping the apartment?"
"Yeah... I called and I can't get out of the lease or I'll owe a lot of money so I'm just gonna keep paying my rent on it until the lease is up, it's just easier that way."
"I understand. That's cool. So I'll come get you in ten?"
"Yeah, that'd be awesome. Thank you so much, Christy."
"No problem, babe. I'll see you in a few."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
After hanging up with Christy, Jessa headed downstairs to wait. The redhead arrived promptly ten minutes later and the pair headed back to Jessa's empty apartment. As she approached the front door, Jessa shivered at the memories that flooded back when her fingers curled around the doorknob. Shaking her head, she unlocked the door and pushed through with a sigh.
Naturally, everything was just as she had left it. A water bottle half full on the coffee table, an old newspaper hanging off the end of the table. White sandals were next to the door and a light jacket slumped on its hook. Jessa sighed and walked into the living room towards the stairs, motioning for Christy to follow.
"I'm sorry if it's a complete mess in here, I haven't cleaned since I last left."
"Don't worry, babe," Christy smiled. "Your little apartment is so cute!"
Jessa forced a half-smile. "Thanks," A pause. "So... did I tell you what new happened with Alex?"
"No! What happened now?"
"He apologized... again, and profusely. He looked like he was about to cry. I've never seen Alex like that, like he really meant it. He said he wanted to be friends again. That he couldn't stand that I hated him and he was sorry for everything he did. That he didn't want to make me promises because he was scared that he'd break them but that he'd try and change. I told him I wasn't going to forgive him but I... I wouldn't hate him. But he'd have to do it right, not just to me, but to Petey as well."
"Oh Jes. Be careful, girl. I don't wanna see you getting hurt by Alex again."
"I know. I'm treading lightly on this. I'm not sure how much I trust him."
"That's a good idea. I'm glad you're not gonna rush into it. Make sure he's genuinely about being a better person first."
Jessa nodded and pushed her bedroom door open. The mattress was still bare from where she left it, the old sheets in a heap in the closet. After pulling a bag from the top shelf of her closet and filling it with various outfits, she and Christy plunked down on the floor while Jessa dug various pairs of shoes from under her bed. In the search for the missing twin to a white platform flip-flop, her hand bumped against something square shaped and smooth. Raising an eyebrow, she pulled at it and slid it out from underneath the dust bunnies and other shoes.
"Jes... is that...?" Christy started.
"Oh God... It's the box. Full of crap Alex gave me... Why do I still have this?"
"Every girl has one."
---
Jessa thumped down onto the couch, dropping her bag by the door. Alex soon followed, repeating the action. The two had just come from an intense training session with their fellow students at Can-Am Wrestling Academy. Jessa kicked off her shoes and curled up on the couch and Alex pulled her over to lay in his lap.
"They seriously weren't fucking around with us today. Did any of us do something to piss Coach off? He was grinding us extra hard today," Alex rubbed his neck. "I hurt."
"You hurt? My rope burn is gonna be outrageous and my back is killing me!"
Alex chuckled and stroked her hair. "You can crash in my bed tonight, then. It may feel better on your back."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, don't even worry about it. I'll take the pull-out couch or the floor or something."
"Alex, the pull-out has been my bed for months now, you don't have to give up your bed because I complain about my back."
"Dollface, don't worry about me. I promise I'll be fine."
Jessa sat up. "We could share," A giggle. "But that may be a little too weird."
"Well, y'know, I've been meaning to talk to you about that..."
"About sharing your bed?"
"Sorta," Alex turned towards her. "Jes... look. You've been living here for a while now... and shit, I may as well just say it straight out. I've got some pretty hardcore feelings for you. I've really been pretty attracted since you walked into Can-Am and having you stay here for all that time... well it's only natural that I practically love you. So... yeah that's it. In a nutshell... I really like you a lot, Jes and I'd like it if you'd be my girlfriend."
Jessa turned a deep shade of red. "R-really?"
"Shit yeah. I mean if you're not into me like that then that's totally fine..."
"No, Alex... I like you. A lot. I'd like to be your girlfriend."
Alex gave her a lopsided grin and kissed Jessa gently. The blonde smiled on the inside, she'd never had time to dream about what her first kiss would be like but now at eighteen years old, she didn't have to dream because the one she shared with Alex was perfect. His mouth was soft on hers, his fingers pulled softly at her hair. Jessa, however, had no clue what to do with her hands and fingers and her arms laid almost limp at her sides. Alex pulled back with a soft chuckle, brushing her hair away from her face.
"You really are new at this whole relationship thing, aren't you?" He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "Don't worry, dollface, we'll fix that."
---
Two-and-a-half months into their relationship and everything was going fine. Everyone at the school knew and said they'd expected it, but when it came to Jessa and Alex... they weren't quite sure what they were talking about. Alex himself was surprised that he'd worked up the guts to finally tell her, and a little more than ecstatic that she felt the same way. If it hadn't been for him, Jessa would never have made the move to express her attraction to him and they'd still be in the same boat they started in.
As time drew on and their relationship grew, Jessa decided for what marked their six month anniversary together to give Alex a present that could only be given once and was impossible to return. She surprised him with the mere decision to give him her virginity and he treated her like a princess. He never expected to fall so in love with the girl he shared his house with, but now that he had, it was a little scary. He adored her as his girlfriend and a lover but he also adored her like a little sister. The conflicting emotions and long suppressed internal issues had him battling himself constantly and trying to keep proving to her and himself that he loved her and would really do anything for her.
Alex went through a short period where he showered Jessa with random gifts. Stuffed animals, little notes with song lyrics on it, and even sometimes clothing. She was sometimes hesitant to accept the things he bought her but ultimately was flattered by Alex's displays of affection. The two were very clearly in love so when Alex made the decision to break up on both their parts had their closest friends reeling and scratching their heads. Jessa downplayed her feelings of disappointment and abandonment, feeling awkward staying at Alex's house after they'd broken up drove her to save enough money to move into a place of her own. The couple remained friends after the breakup but Jessa never felt the same. A large portion of her heart constantly ached for him. He after all, was her first boyfriend, her first love. So when the decision between the two of them to get back together went sour, it was all she could do to remember the good times between them, and spy upon the box full of gifts she'd collected that he'd given her. Every time the memories came back they flooded in faster and more viscous than each time before.
---
Author's Note: Flashback! Aww, weren't Jessa and Alex cute at some point? So, to explain, the sentences that begin and end in italics means the beginning and the ending of the flashback, just in case it was a little confusing. More coming soon!
