As it turned out, Jesse and Sam never got to have their conversation the next day.
Or the next.
Or the next.
By Thursday, the entire second floor was whispering in the hallways, exchanging stories and, more often than not, rumors that only seemed to expound and swell to overwhelmingly unbelievable proportions.
"She was hit by a car after that Halloween party."
"…in the hospital."
"…in jail!"
"Expelled!"
When he heard these mutters, Jesse would just shake his head and continue on his way. Bunch of gossips, the lot of them. He wouldn't trust anything he heard until he knew that the information was factual. He knew that Alex liked to throw in her theories when she was over, most of her tales ending with Sam eaten by a dragon. Why she wasn't a creative writing major, he couldn't figure out. But she added a shade of amusement to the situation that the inhabitants of 217 found refreshing.
It wasn't until Friday afternoon that factual answers finally came, in the form of a slender upperclassman filling their doorframe. His brownish-blonde hair was swept casually back from his face, like he spent a lot of time running his fingers through it. His pale green eyes held barely contained enthusiasm, and his mouth quirked into a half smile. He dressed impeccably, in loose dark jeans and a red long-sleeved button-up polo.
"Hey," the upperclassman greeted Cory casually. "Mind if I step in for a moment?"
"Uh, sure?" Cory stepped back, allowing him entrance into the dorm. The other three looked up at the newcomer from their various positions in the room. He gave a little wave.
"Hi guys, I'm Anthony," he said with a flippant smile. "I'm going to be your new RA for the rest of the year."
Jesse's eyebrows shot up, and his weren't the only ones. Perhaps there was more truth to some of the more exaggerated speculations of Sam's sudden absence than he thought.
Cory, of course, was the first to regain his composure (aside from Jamal, who never really lost his composure – ever – but he wasn't the talkative sort) and immediately launched into introductions.
"Hey, I'm Cory, and that's Jesse, Matt, and Jamal," he pointed to each of them in turn, and they sent some form of acknowledgement back. "We're all freshmen."
Anthony nodded. "It's very nice to meet you all. I just wanted to introduce myself, and let you know that tomorrow night I'm having a karaoke competition down in the lounge. Just a friendly get together, really, for me to get better acquainted with everyone." He threw out that easygoing smile again; Jesse could see how he got the RA position – an all-around friendly guy, how often does that happen? And Jesse spoke from experience.
"Sounds good," Cory said, returning the grin. "It'll be hard to top Jess, though. He's got a great voice."
"Oh yeah?" Anthony turned his attention to Jesse.
Jesse shrugged. "Musical theatre major. I was in Vocal Adrenaline through high school – "
"Oh hey, four national titles, right?"
He looked to Anthony is surprise. "Yeah. You keep up with high school glee clubs?"
The older man smiled. "My glee club placed third at Nationals my senior year. You would've been a sophomore, I believe. I watched Vocal Adrenaline compete. You were a great group – maybe a little too focused on the dramatic flair instead of vocal talent, but you won, so I guess it worked." He gave a little chuckle that took the insult out of his words.
"Thanks," Jesse nodded. "So what are you studying now?"
"Musical theatre, same as you," Anthony replied, eyes dancing. "I'm also involved in FAST – Fashion and Student Trends. Unfortunately, UCLA doesn't have a fashion major, or I'd be double majoring."
Jesse looked surprised. "Musical theatre? You didn't happen to audition for the musical a few weeks back, did you?"
"Mhm. Didn't get a callback or anything. It happens. Some days are better than others," he shrugged.
"Oh."
"Well," Anthony addressed the room again, oblivious to Jesse's introspection, "that's all I have to say. Hope to see you guys down in the lounge tomorrow night." He gave a little wave and left their doorway, headed down the hall.
"Jess," Cory nudged his friend lightly. "Sam?"
"Oh!" Jesse snapped from his reverie and bolted through the door. "Anthony!" he called as he ran up the hall. Anthony turned his head and grinned at him.
"Jesse, hey. What can I do for you?"
Jesse skidded to a halt and looked up; Anthony had a few measurable inches on him. "I'd like to know what happened to Sam. The previous RA."
The smile had turned into a slight frown. "I know who Sam is. I just don't know that giving out that information is pertinent to you."
"We were sort of dating," Jesse offered as an explanation. It was a stretch, really, but he wanted facts, not the speculations of bored college students.
"But she hasn't called you?"
"It was rocky near the end."
Anthony hesitated for a long second and sighed. "Sam got her second MIP charge over the weekend. The laws aren't incredibly overwhelming – fines to pay and such. But her parents told her after the first MIP that if she pulled another stupid stunt that they would take her out of UCLA and put her in a community college. Apparently, her parents don't bluff." He gave Jesse a humorless smile. "She would have had her RA privileges revoked anyway, but the decision was taken out of the University's figurative hands. Sorry, Jesse."
Jesse sighed deeply. "Well, I figured something had happened after this weekend." He shook his head abruptly and shrugged. "Okay. Thanks, Anthony. It's good to know the truth."
"No problem. See you at karaoke?"
"Yeah, sure."
He trudged back to the dorm, hands shoved deep in his pockets. Sam was gone.
Well that sucked.
He let himself back in the dorm room to find his roommates whispering conspiratorially. They shut up briefly, then Matt, surprisingly, blurted out his thoughts.
"Where's Sam?"
Jesse shrugged. "Her parents pulled her out. They're sending her off to a CC, I guess."
"Just because?"
"She got another MIP after the party this weekend."
"Ah," Cory nodded, "that'd do it."
"Yeah," Jesse sighed. He straightened. "Still, not like I'm missing out on a lot, huh? Football player has it worse than I do."
"Way to look on the bright side," Matt chuckled.
"Indeed," said Cory with a slight smile. "Now, let's move on to a much more interesting subject…"
Jesse raised an eyebrow. "And that would be?"
"Anthony!" Matt interjected with a shy grin.
"What about him?"
"Oh, c'mon, Jess," Cory scoffed. "You're a musical theatre major. You know the signs."
Jesse rolled his eyes now. "Yes, because there's a set list of exact qualifications."
"Just one, really," Matt giggled.
"I thought California was supposed to be less conservative," Jesse smirked. "Why is it so shocking to you all that Anthony likes his own team?"
Cory shrugged. "Just 'cause we're from Cali doesn't mean we actually know any gays."
Jesse laughed. "At least he's subtle about it. One day I'll have to bring out this kid I know from Ohio…"
"Who invited you?"
Alex spun around to face Jesse and laughed. "C'mon, hotshot, it's an open event. And for the record, Tiffany invited me."
"And guess who invited me!" the girl in question giggled, suddenly appearing from nowhere.
"Couldn't fathom," Jesse replied, shooting a glare over her shoulder at Cory, who had the decency to adopt a guilty little smile.
"Let's get this thing started!" Anthony called out over the crowd. He stood up on what passed for a makeshift stage, next to the karaoke machine and some speakers. "C'mon, everyone, take a seat."
About two dozen college students found spots in the lounge – some in chairs, a few cross-legged on the tables, most on the floor. Jesse went to the floor by Cory and Tiffany, already wrapped around each other like they were a single entity. Alex gracefully sat herself next to Jesse, ignoring the narrowing of his eyes and smirking slightly. He shook his head; it was just an Alex thing to do.
"Hi guys," Anthony spoke from the stage, quieting the group down effortlessly. "For those of you who I didn't get to, I'm Anthony and I'll be the RA for the rest of the year." He threw out an easygoing smile that made a mini-clique of girls sigh. Jesse snorted. "This is my little shindig, so we'll jump right in. Rules: individual or group singing is allowed. You get one song. At the end of the round, everyone will vote – one vote per person and you aren't allowed to vote for yourself." Anthony grinned. "Makes it interesting, don't you think?
"Now, are there any questions?" He paused and looked around. "No? Awesome. Let's get to it, then. Who wants to go first?"
The clique of giggling girls immediately raised their hands – definitely freshmen, Jesse thought with much rolling of eyes. Anthony smiled like the good guy he was and left the stage, allowing the girls to scramble up and grab for the mikes.
As some pop-like song started from the speakers, Alex leaned over.
"What happened to Sam?" she whispered conspiratorially and with a wide grin.
"Does it really matter?"
Alex looked thoughtful. "No, I guess not, but until my curiosity is satisfied I will continue to hound you until you give it up, so…"
"She left."
"Just like that?"
"Okay, well, her parents took her out, but yes, that's the general idea."
"It was the partying, right?"
"Pretty much."
Alex nodded knowledgably. "It was probably for her own good. Closer to home, her parents can keep better tabs on the girl. Keep her out of trouble." Her voice had taken on a wistful quality, and Jesse shot her a raised eyebrow.
"You sound like you know what you're talking about."
"Maybe I do." Her tone booked no argument this time, so Jesse simply turned his attention back to Blondie One, Blondie Two, and Brunette Friend. They had no appreciation for pitch or rhythm, and he winced as they warbled out the last few notes of their song. He joined in the half-hearted clapping out of societal necessity, but on the inside he was cringing. A glance to his left revealed that Alex didn't feel the need to be subtle; her cringe was real and on her face. He chuckled.
"Thank you ladies," Anthony nodded and they tittered back. "Who'd like to top that?"
"Allow me," Alex called as she stood. "Shouldn't be difficult," she muttered to Jesse as she headed toward the stage; he covered his laugh with a faked cough, but couldn't keep the grin from his face.
Guitar flowed from the speakers and Alex grinned out at the crowd as she raised the microphone to her mouth.
Right right, turn off the lights,
We're gonna lose our minds tonight
What's the dealeo?
On his right, Tiffany burst out laughing. An appreciative murmur ran though the group – not only was the song perfect for Alex, but she was killing it, accompanying the lyrics with gestures and dancing.
Who knew? Jesse thought with a smirk.
So raise your glass if you are wrong,
In all the right ways,
All my underdogs,
We will never be never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,
Just come on and come on and raise your glass
Alex continued through the song with gusto, punching the air and jumping around the stage like a rock star. She wasn't bad, Jesse admitted to himself grudgingly. Oh, some of the notes were off, but she had a voice, for sure. And she was way better than the giggling gaggling trio. The fervent applause started before she even got the last note out, and after that a few shouts of encouragement filled the air.
Alex grinned as she hopped off the stage, making sure to catch Jesse's eye. On her way back, Jesse swore he saw her get a number from some random guy in the second guy, and she took it with a laugh.
"How was that?" she smirked when she plopped back into her place on the floor.
Jesse shrugged. "Not bad," he replied with a smirk of his own.
She nudged him with her elbow. "I'm sure."
They watched disinterestedly as a blue-eyed, blond-haired boy took the stage and sang out a ballad clearly meant for the equally blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl in the front row. Alex rolled her eyes and leaned back on her hands, shoving her shoulder against his.
"You next?"
"No!" Tiffany leaned over Jesse, speaking in a whisper. "Cory and I are going next!"
"We are?" Cory looked slightly alarmed as he gazed at his girlfriend with wide eyes.
Tiffany chuckled and whispered in his ear; Cory relaxed, his mouth curling into a tender smile. The Brit giggled. "See? You won't even have to sing that much."
Cory sighed with exaggeration. "Well, if you insist."
"And I do," Tiffany grinned.
"You've been hanging out with Alex too much," Jesse shook his head, amused.
"No such thing," Alex smirked as Cory helped Tiffany to her feet, leading her to the stage by a hand. "They look so cute together, don't you think?"
"The boy's whipped."
Alex laughed. "Just you wait, Jesse St. James. You'll get there one day, God willing."
Up at the microphone, Tiffany was tugging at the cord and smoothing down her hair, nervously smiling out at the group. Cory reached over and took her hand, grinning down at her reassuringly as the first few guitar notes plucked their way through the speakers. Tiffany lifted the mic to her face and began to sing, her accent warbling through the air.
You were in college working part time waiting tables
Left a small town never looked back
Alex sighed and leaned back on her hands again, looking up at her friends with an expression of bliss on her face. Jesse surreptitiously watched her watching them, and frowned slightly. She never talked about ex boyfriends, he'd never seen her with another guy, and she never expressed an interest in dating. Was that something else that tied into the past she wouldn't talk about?
Cory's voice chimed in, singing a chorus slightly off-key. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Tiffany, however, completely rendered that fact irrelevant.
I remember how we felt sittin' by the water
And every time I look at you it's like the first time
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter
She is the best thing that's ever been mine
The applause was loud as they hopped from the stage; Tiffany blushed fiercely but grinned and waved as they headed back to their place on the floor. Jesse almost swore he saw the giggling gaggling trio in the front wiping tears from their eyes and gushing to each other, but that definitely had to be a trick of the lights.
"Okay," Tiffany said with flourish as she plopped down next to Jesse, "now you can go." She grinned devilishly, catching Alex's eye over his shoulder. He turned to the girl and raised an eyebrow. Alex shrugged.
"Better sooner than later."
Jesse shook his head, but stood and leaned against the wall while he waited for the current participant to finish her soft ballad. As soon as the last note went past her lips, Jesse strolled to the front of the room and took the microphone from her hand.
"Our very own Jesse St. James, ladies and gents!" Anthony called over the din.
Jesse gave him a nod and a smile before selecting his song. Waiting for the music to start, he stared out over the crowd and scanned the faces. The girls were watching him closely, already leaning forward in anticipation. Jesse smirked and caught a few of their eyes, stirring up giggles. This was where he belonged – up on a stage, up before an audience, using his voice to tell his story. His eyes came to the back of the room and he relaxed as he met Alex's gaze. She threw a smirk his way as the first hints of music reached his ears.
A little early in Spring
A bonfire ring, she's shivering alone
I bumped into you somehow
He watched Alex's grin widen as she took in the lyrics. This had actually been one of her suggestions for his audition, but eventually they had agreed that it didn't showcase his musical talents as well. But now, his voice sounded great even to his own ears – although, admittedly, he was biased toward himself. What artist wasn't?
If nothing else I am myself
It's all I have to give
Everything's changing now
By the time the song reached its end, the sheer happiness on Alex's face was so brilliant that it almost hurt to look at. Cheers erupted around the room, and more than a few girls smiled flirtatiously as he passed on the way back; he wasn't much interested, though, especially because the flirting was outrageous and not at all subtle, the way interest should be played. When he sat down, Alex wasted no time turning to him, studying his face with unusual intensity.
"What?" Jesse raised an eyebrow.
"You really are amazing," she murmured. "You know that?"
Jesse shrugged. "Of course."
The strange look disappeared from Alex's face and she laughed. "Smooth, hotshot. Very clever," she gave him a friendly punch as she turned her attention back to the competition.
It wasn't a real surprise when Jesse won the king-size chocolate bar for a first place finish, but Alex appeared decidedly more shocked when she was voted into the silver medal spot, accepting her candy with a slightly glazed expression. And later that night, when Jesse was staring up at the ceiling in his bed, he wasn't thinking about the chocolate or winning.
He was thinking about the rare smiles he got from Alex and why, oh why, he felt like he'd do just about anything to see that look on her face more often.
Raise Your Glass, Pink
Mine, Taylor Swift
Bonfire, Third Eye Blind
A/N: Hello, readers who are not upset enough to continue with this story! Yes, I realize it's been FOREVER since I've updated. I blame four things: college, work, dance, and a bit of writer's block. But no worries – this was more of a filler chapter, and things get interesting from here… who's ready to meet Alex's family?
Thanks go out to Elsiebelse, egyouppt, jesse lover, ChronoNomad, and vicky for reviewing my last chapter, however long ago that may have been!
Speaking of reviews… please do so! Many thanks!
