A Life Rescued
Part 5

Chapter 49 – The Compensation (Part 1)
(Please read and review, it makes us better writers.)

Disclaimer: The world of Terabithia belongs to Katherine Paterson and her publishers.
I'm just playing around in it for a while. No profit was, or will be received from this story.

Less than two weeks before spring break and the long anticipated holiday - somewhere - with his parents, and friends, Jesse's mind was far more focused on seeing his eldest sister for the first time in a fortnight. Even Leslie could not distract him from the forthcoming reunion, a fact that she found both amusing and touching. Two years earlier, Jesse would not have given Ellie the time of day, now they emailed daily and he spoke with genuine affection of the woman who was becoming an important part of his life.

Mary Aarons had noticed the shift taking place with her son, too, as he moved from seeking her advice to her recently married daughter's. At times this hurt, even more than Ellie and Brenda's move to independence over the years, because Jesse had needed so much more from her. She also felt a sting of guilt that her attentions to the gifted boy had been so late in coming, and she pondered the possibility that her neglect was largely responsible for his mental issues now two years past. As recently as a year ago, he would come to her for advice, comfort, and even simple conversation. That was now gone, replaced by Ellie and even Brenda, now and then. He had also come to enjoy the companionship of May, Joyce Ann and Brian. But it was the bond he had created with Leslie Burke that pleased and concerned her the most.

Judy and Mary discussed their children almost daily, whenever they met for a morning cup of coffee, a walk in the forest, or, as in recent weeks, while reviewing Lamaze for the birth of Judy's fourth child. In years past, this time of sharing had focused solely on Jesse and Leslie, but at the women's friendship and children grew, their conversations came to include their entire families. There remained, however, an unspoken awareness – an elephant in the room - they could no longer ignore, and the conversation always returned to Jesse and Leslie. Both mothers were recognizing the transition of the two from best friends and boyfriend/girlfriend to something more permanent, possibly.

In reality, both Judy and Mary suspected - and secretly hoped for - a lasting bond between the kids for over a year, and in that respect were terribly disappointed when the couple broke up over the summer. Judy was ashamed at not having seen the signs of a medical problem earlier and blamed herself. Mary, still believing her boy could not have caused the rift, tended to blame Judy and Leslie. Afterwards, both realized the impromptu trip to Europe had been fortuitous or they might have said and done things two adults should know better than to say and do. Emotions run high in those situations, but, in the end, all worked out for the best.

Now, half a year later, as they awaited the arrival of the Walsh family for Sunday dinner, they were discussing (for what seemed like the hundredth time), what to do about Jesse and Leslie's obvious move towards a deeper physical intimacy. As usual, Judy had broached the subject, and as usual, Mary was less concerned about what she considered the inevitable and more about avoiding a situation that would damage or destroy the kids' friendship.

It's very odd, Mary Aarons considered, that as the devout Catholic, I am more open about the realities of teen life. She smiled.

"What are you thinking, Mare?" asked Judy.

"Ellie...about Ellie. When she was fifteen, she started having sex with some upperclassman from High School. It lasted only a few months." She laughed and shook her head. "She never suspected I knew about it."

"How did you know?"

"By watching her. It was pretty obvious after a while: Her expressions, mannerisms, habits all changed. In a way, it made her more assertive and self-assured. Of course, that was also about the time she started ragging on Jesse."

Judy thought about this for a moment. "Interesting."

"Brenda, on the other hand, for all the problems she had a few years back - I don't think sex was ever a part of it. I'm not so sure now, with Anton, but she is old enough to know how to handle the pressures of intimacy. I think."

This last qualifier made Judy laugh. "Well, all I can say is I hope I recognize that change in Leslie as easily. She's matured a lot over the past year, and her behavior towards Jess has also."

"They're quite the pair. Jude, Jack has talked to Jess a couple times about sex...at least he says he has."

"Oh, he has; Leslie told me that Jess told her. I'm glad. I do hope Bill and I didn't focus too much on the mechanics and not enough on the philosophy."

"But really, Jude, what else can we do? We've given instructions, incentives, threats and promises..."

"I know, I know. Maybe I'm just being old fashioned about virginity and that stuff."

"It isn't 'old fashioned'," Mary sighed, "it's just...difficult."

Walking on a little farther, Judy, normally the more talkative of the two, was quiet and acted nervous. More than once, Mary saw her glance her way but turn back before speaking. After the fifth time, she told her friend, "Spit it out, Jude."

"Bill and I have been talking about...him."

"Jess?"

"No, my, uh, our first child. The boy we gave up for adoption when I was fourteen." Mary stopped and faced Judy, but said nothing. "We've been thinking about contacting him, or trying to. It was a closed adoption, so we would have to go through the courts, but..." she trailed off, shrugging uncertainly.

"Why, Jude? You both did what you had to, and out of love. I know you've come to terms with what you did. I'm sure he's fine, wherever he is."

"I know, but it's because of our success. We never imagined we would be wealthy, and maybe we should share some of our good fortune with him."

Mary was impressed. "Hadn't thought of it that way. Are you sure these are the true reasons?"

"We think so. I mean, he's going on twenty-four now, so it's not like we want custody."

That's reasonable. Mary took Judy's arm and started back towards the house. "Have you talked to your lawyers yet, to see what options you have?"

"No."

"How about Les? What does she think about this?"

Judy's look told Mary that the topic had not been broached.


Dinner went off superbly. Mary and Jack Aarons comfort level with Brenda's boyfriend continued to grow as they learned more about his past and future life in the military. Moreover, their daughter's obvious affection towards the tall, thin, blonde man was reassuring, too. Anton was also praised effusively on his berry pies and took home two empty plates as a testament to their tastiness. Following dessert, he and Brenda excused themselves from the families and went out for a walk, bundled up against the cold March evening.

Jesse, May, Leslie, Ellie and Toby went into the kitchen to clean while the other adults and children retired to the family room to talk or play. For the most part, Toby stood aside, not wanting to get the cast on his arm wet while his wife and Jesse made a mess washing the pots and pans. May, turning twelve in the fall but acting fifteen, put the leftovers away and chatted with Leslie, feeling privileged to be included amongst the two couples. When finished, the five sat around the small kitchen table. Jesse, Leslie and May tried to pry some war stories from Toby, but he instantly became serious and refused to talk about it, to the point where he snapped at Jesse for even bringing up the topic. When the adolescent apologized, Toby just grunted and hobbled out of the room.

Ellie turned to her brother but he spoke first. "What's eating him?"

"He's a little depressed about things right now. He received his preliminary discharge notice and wants to fight the Army to stay in."

"But he's blind in one eye," Jesse pointed out reasonably.

"He's not completely, Jess. And he's going to volunteer for one of those stem cell studies at Bethesda to see if his retina can be restored enough to be able to fight the discharge on better grounds." Ellie's explanation came as a surprise, but not as much as her next piece of information. "We also found out that his radiation exposure probably made him sterile. I think that's what's bothering him more."

Jesse, Leslie and May all said "Wow" at the same time; Ellie frowned.

"How do the doctors know?" asked May innocently.

"They checked his sperm, May Belle," Ellie answered, more harshly than she intended.

"Don't call me..."

"I know, sorry, May."

The girl set her face impassive, but her eyes were a bit watery. Jesse continued the line of questioning.

"How do they check his, um, sperm?"

Next to him he heard Leslie snort back a laugh. Ellie looked at him sharply.

"How do you think? They put some under a microscope and count how many of the healthy little buggers are practicing the backstroke in a square millimeter."

Still confused, May returned to her line of questioning. "But how, Ellie? If the sperm are in his tentacles..."

"Testicles, May," Leslie whispered.

"Yeah, there. How do they look at them under a microscope?"

The other three could tell that May was trying to envision her new brother-in-law lying on some sort of evil-looking device with a giant lens focusing on his nether regions. Jesse looked to his older sister and smiled. "You tell her."

"C'mon, May, I'll fill you in," Ellie said, and led her to another room. Jesse ventured a look at Leslie and they both giggled.

Donning their jackets, Jesse and Leslie went outside to sit on the porch swing. In the distant woods, Brenda and Anton could be heard laughing about something. A few minutes after the sounds died down, and all that could be heard was the whisper of the wind in the dead autumn leaves, Leslie snuggled up to Jesse.

"One week, Jess. Are you excited?"

"Yeah, some. It's hard to know what to feel without knowing what I'm doing. Have your parents said anything to you?"

"Not one word, but I do know it cost a bundle. And did you know our fathers are meeting in secret about something? I overheard Bill and Judy talking about contracts and construction."

"Dad said we were going to be working on a big project after the holidays, but wouldn't say what."

Leslie's reply was aborted when she gave a shiver; Jesse pulled her closer.

"I'm going clothes shopping Tuesday evening with Mom. Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I think I'm set, but thanks."

"What size shoe do you wear?"

"What? Why?"

"Because I want to know. Those are nasty," Leslie said a little accusingly, pointing to Jesse's very worn-out sneakers. "Color preference?"

"Les, these are ok. Don't..."

"Fine, I won't!"

Leslie's sudden termination of the discussion confused Jesse and he remained silent. Shortly thereafter, she scooted away from him and folded her arms across her chest.

"Wha'd I do?" Jesse asked quietly.

"Nothing, Jess, sorry. I just wanted you to look a little nicer for the trip."

"Oh...do I embarrass you?"

"No, never!" Leslie slid back next to her boyfriend. "I want you to have the best, that's all."

"Ok," was all Jesse could think of saying. He recalled clearly the problems his father and Leslie's had when they first met at the hospital years earlier, when Mr. Burke tried to pay Jesse's medical bill. Even though he had done it out of gratitude for saving his daughter's life, Jack Aarons was furious at the assumption that he needed help. Now, for the first time in their relationship, Jesse experienced a little of that same resentment and understood how his pride could be hurt.

But there was far more to it than dealing with this unfamiliar feeling. Leslie's offer was genuine, and generous, and...something more; caring, perhaps? Jesse knew she cared for him, but that was a type of caring based on affection. This was different. And the same. It was more as if she wanted to take care of him. Not like his mother took care of him...it was a new and not altogether unpleasant feeling and his resentment rapidly vanished.


Grace Jacobs went home with Leslie after school and drama practice Wednesday, and was immediately paraded up to her bedroom where she found her friend's suitcase open on the floor and P.T. sleeping comfortably on a small pile of clothing inside. On the bed were a dozen bags and boxes from a variety of stores. Leslie explained them as remnants of her shopping spree with her mother the evening before. The girls changed and fetched a snack before the older girl revealed her reason for asking Grace over.

"You got to see this, Gracie," Leslie said, pulling a small bag from under her mattress and running to the bathroom. She returned a minute later wearing a robe, then closed and locked her bedroom door. Her guest was sitting at the desk with an expression of mixed curiosity and caution. Surprises by Leslie Burke, lately, usually stretched the boundaries of what Grace felt was appropriate behavior, and when Leslie dropped the robe, she saw this occasion was no exception.

She gawked, suppressing a wave of jealousy.

"Why bother?" Grace finally said with a frown, as Leslie spun around to show off the new two-piece, white, strapless bathing suit.

"Why bother what?"

Why bother wearing anything? At least it's not French-cut...

"Les, you can't wear that! It's – it's...wow. I hope you didn't pay much for it; there can't possibly be more than a couple dollars of fabric in the entire thing."

"Come on, Gracie, it's not that bad," replied Leslie breathily, having completely missed Grace's message. "Jess's eyes will pop out when he sees me in it."

Right, and so will Tom's...and every other male's. And eyes probably won't be the only thing popping out...

"You don't think it's a little too, uh, skimpy, Les?"

"Of course it is, that's the whole point. Besides, it's just for show. I don't dare wear it in the water – if there is any where we're going."

"Let me guess, Judy doesn't know about this?"

Leslie smiled shrewdly. "Judy couldn't keep up with me so she gave me the platinum credit card and told me not to exceed the limit, which is kinda hard when the limit is unlimited."

Then Leslie walked over to her bed, picked up a small box and handed it to Grace.

"This is for you." Seeing the girl's disapproving look, she explained further while tugging on the edge of her top. "Don't worry, as much as I wanted to I didn't buy you one like this."

Grace opened the box and pulled out a similar suit, wondering how Leslie had thought she would wear an outfit that revealing. She started to undress to try it on.

"You can use the loo, Gracie."

"Why? This will hardly cover up anything anyway."

Leslie shrugged and looked away while her friend changed. When finished, Grace announced that she was ready.

"Wow! It looks great on you!" Leslie exclaimed truthfully.

Walking to the full-length mirror, Grace looked for a few seconds and found she was not altogether disappointed with the gift. It was the same white materiel, but cut like a traditional bikini. Leslie stepped up next to her and put an arm over her shoulder.

"Sisters! God, we do look alike. Turn around." Grace and she both turned and looked over their shoulder. Except for Grace's slightly longer and wavy hair, and her more muscular shoulders, they were identical from behind.

"Not from the front. I wish I had your boobs," lamented Grace, cupping her hands under her smaller mounds, trying to form some discernable cleavage.

"They'll grow more, you're only fourteen. You're mother was, uh, built, wasn't she?"

"Yeah."

"There you go, give it a couple more years. Besides, I'm not a B-cup yet, and I've only gotten smaller since last summer."

"What?! How did you get smaller?"

Leslie reminded Grace of the birth control implants she'd used and how they had increased her size for a few months. "And bigger isn't always better, Gracie. Look." To Grace's astonishment, Leslie pulled up her top, completely exposing her chest. "Notice anything?"

Grace laughed. "Besides the obvious? No."

"Look," Leslie insisted, pointing at each side, but Grace shook her head. Sighing, Leslie removed her top completely, picked up a ruler from her desk, and held it level with the bottom of her breasts. "See? One's lower than the other. It's not much, but..."

"Leslie Burke," Grace interrupted. "I guarantee you that that will be the very last thing Jesse Aarons notices when he sees them...or has he already?"

"No, not yet. So...it's not too obvious?" she persisted, tossing the top on her bed and pulling on a t-shirt.

"Les, you're fine, really. And thanks for the gift, I think I will wear it," she said brightly, and hugged Leslie before changing back into her clothes.

The girls looked through the other far less controversial purchases, including a number of items Leslie had purchased for Jesse. Grace found this amusing, but kept quiet. And while she had long ago come to terms with her relationship with Jesse, it still pained her a bit to know he and Leslie were probably together permanently.

"You really love him, don't you? I mean, like, really love him."

Leslie smiled dreamily. "Yes, I do. More than anything."

"I'm glad. You two were made for each other."

Leslie didn't respond, but Grace could see she agreed.


Bill and Judy Burke kept nearly every aspect of the trip secret from the kids, and even Jack and Mary Aarons refused to reveal anything before it happened. With these secretive measures, the four adolescents were informed Thursday that they would meet at the Burke house at five in the afternoon that Friday, packed and ready to spend a week in a warm climate with suntan lotion, bathing suits, and sunglasses, but that was about all the four knew. And that they had to bring one change of semi-formal clothes.

Thus gathered, the six travelers bade goodbye and thanks to their benefactors, receiving in return the usual admonitions to behave and so forth. Al Jacobs, unable to accompany the others, arrived at the Burke's just before a limo pulled up to carry the six on the first part of the adventure. He too wished all a wonderful trip, taking Tom aside and gesticulating warningly. The boy looked disappointed about something, but the other three teens found this quite amusing.

Then it was time to go.

Bill handed Jack a zippered leather folder, ostensibly with their tickets, money, and other travel documents. Jesse noticed his father take it hesitantly, but he thanked Leslie's warmly and even embraced Judy before turning to say goodbye to their other children and give final directions to Ellie and Toby who would be staying at the house and (hopefully) keeping things under control. The six climbed into the limo, saw Bill tip the man, and the journey was on.

"Ok, you four, here's how things are going to work," Mary Aarons stated, as soon as everyone was buckled in and settled. "Tonight we're driving to Roanoke and staying at the airport Holiday Inn because our flight leaves very early tomorrow."

"How early, Mom?"

In answering, Jack Aarons grimaced. "Have to be at the airport at four...in the morning."

Not unexpectedly, the kids groaned; so did Mary Aarons before telling them, "If it makes you feel any better, this is the only real early morning activity all week."

"Next. We have two rooms at the motel tonight. Mary and I will take the suite with Jess and Tom in the other room. Leslie and Grace will have the second room. Stop moaning, Jess. Ok. Mr. Burke made dinner reservations for us at eight tonight, so when we're checked in, be in the front lobby at seven-forty." And with that, the instructions for the first day were complete.

An hour later, the limo arrived at the Holiday Inn and was greeted by two bellhops with trolleys for the luggage. To Jack and Mary's surprise, a clerk appeared, too, handing them their room keys with instructions that all was taken care of, even tips for the two boys bringing the luggage. Sharing a look with his wife, Jack took the keys, thanked the clerk, and suggested they go straight up to their rooms. The procession followed the two bellhops.

Not surprisingly, the Aarons/Burke/Jacobs party soon found they were staying in the best rooms in the establishment. The 'suite' was more like a flat and reminded Jesse of their hotel in Glasgow years before. A man met them inside and stated he would be at their call for the short stay. The Aarons parents and Jacobs children had never experienced this sort of opulence and stood in a mild state of shock for a minute while Jesse and Leslie ran around in delight. Jesse was particularly happy to find that he would not have to share a foldaway bed with Tom: Their room contained twin beds. Shortly thereafter, Grace and Leslie went to their room and returned a few minutes later with praise for their accommodations, also.

Dinner was at a city restaurant Jack knew by reputation, though more for its excellent food than its formality. Nearing ten o'clock, they were returned to the inn and instructed to go straight to bed, which, of course, no one did. All the teens were too excited about the next part of the trip to sleep: Grace and Leslie stayed up talking, Tom and Jesse were on the phone with the airport trying to figure out what flights departed so early on a Saturday morning. Two did, one to Dallas/Fort Worth, the other to Miami. Tom was betting on the first, it had a connecting flight to Cozumel, Mexico. Jesse said he thought the Miami flight could be the first leg of a trip to the Caribbean. Both were wrong, in part.

Following a very short night, the six met the same limo and driver in front of the motel (looking just as tired as they felt) at three-fifty the next morning for the ten minute drive to the terminal. They were almost the only ones present at that hour, as few but the wealthiest could afford to travel due to the extreme cost of fuel. Only a handful of airlines had survived the economic hardship of the past three years, and they continued to struggle, kept afloat only by huge government subsidies and almost yearly bailouts. Ridership was barely a quarter of what it was in the previous decade.

When their bags were checked in, the kids learned their next destination: Miami. Jesse had won the bet with Tom, but also learned that the southern city was not just a layover to points further south, they would be staying there for an unspecified time.

The next surprise, though Jack and Mary were quickly learning that the Burke's were reliably generous in their travel plans, came when they boarded the new mid-sized commuter jet, one of a recent model built for fuel efficiency. Holding only forty passengers, the eight seats at the front of the cabin were their home for the next two hours, along with a prosperous looking elderly couple who seemed affronted by the presence of adolescents in first-class. Breakfast was served immediately following takeoff, though Grace and Leslie decided to forgo the excellent cuisine and sleep more. Tom and Jesse feasted on steak and eggs covered with a hollandaise sauce, rolls, juice, fruit, and a large tumbler containing a bubbly red-orange drink. They were later to learn it contained a generous portion of Champaign. Jack and Mary noticed the boys' silliness as the trip progressed and spoke to the flight attendant. It turned out she had accidently delivered the mimosas intended for the elderly couple to the boys. Jack found it amusing, but Mary frowned the rest of the flight. When Jesse and Tom exited the plane in Miami, they had burgeoning headaches worthy of a mild hangover.

Even at eight in the morning, the Miami weather was warm and humid, far closer to their hometown weather in August. But they had hardly felt the steamy heat when Grace noticed a large sign with AARONS PARTY written upon it and held high by a liveried chauffeur pulling a luggage trolley. It appeared to be like the Roanoke limo service all over again. Jack went up to the man and shortly gave him the baggage claim tickets whereupon he walked to the luggage carousel to find their bags.

Leslie smiled at Mr. Aarons as he approached her. "Dad can get a little carried away at times, Mr. Aarons."

"I noticed that," he grunted in reply, though he did not seem too terribly put out, he appeared more embarrassed.

An hour later the limo pulled up to the South Seas Hotel and the party found themselves checked into similarly regal accommodations as the previous evening, but this time the views were of the turquoise waters of South Miami Beach and its wide, white sands instead of the brown Appalachian Mountains. Amid 'ahs' and 'wows' from the children and adults alike, the day was just starting below. They were invited to breakfast by the 'butler,' but only Jack and the two boys sat to eat the proffered freshly cooked meal; Grace and Leslie worked on Mrs. Aarons to go for a walk on the beach before it became too hot. She agreed, needing little enticement, and the lotion, sunglasses, and hats were immediately unpacked, and cooler clothing donned. In five minutes they were heading out. Having only visited Virginia Beach once, and when she was fifteen, Mary Aarons appeared as excited about the ocean as the two girls.

When finished with breakfast, Jesse and Tom left to explore the hotel and ended up spending an hour in the video game arcade. Then going outside they checked out the rectangular twenty-five meter pool surrounded by towering palm trees and comfortable chairs. Bars at either end of the pool deck were already open but both felt a little queasy just looking at them, the Champaign had not sat well with their stomachs.

Five minutes had not passed when three girls looking about their age walked over and began talking to them. Jesse listened little, mostly impressed by his friend's ability to easily gab with almost anyone. But all three girls made him uncomfortable. They were very well dressed, in their bikinis and flimsy jackets, with expensive looking jewelry and Prada handbags. And as Jesse observed them more closely, he noticed heavy makeup and a glassy look in their eyes. Distracted by his own investigation, he almost missed Tom telling them to get lost, but his friend's comment about them being, "Not worth ten bucks, let alone a hundred," finally told Jesse what was going on.

The three girls gave Jesse and Tom the finger and walked away; a moment later two hotel security guards ran by and, based on the shouts, curses, and scuffling noises, apprehended the three hookers. Tom gave Jesse and amused look and said, "Why should I pay when the twins give it..."

Jesse cut him off. "NO! I don't want to hear it, Tom!"

Laughing, the older boy said he was joking, but Jesse wasn't too sure.

"Look, Jess, around two or three in the afternoon, the local colleges let out and the beach is full of girls. I'm gonna go back to the room and sleep for a couple hours. Let's go back out then, ok?"

Jesse laughed. "Sure, sounds good, except today is Saturday." Tom rose, shaking his head a if to clear the cobwebs, and Jesse followed. He had heard the stories of South Beach and was far more interested in the legendary top-optional beach than he had been in France with Leslie three years before. As they rode the elevator to the penthouse floor, Jesse, red-faced, asked Tom, "What happens if we see some, um, some girls and we get, um, you know...?"

"Just run into the water, it'll be cold this time of year," he laughed.

Jesse wasn't convinced, however, that that would help. "If you didn't notice, the water's crystal clear."


Mary, Leslie, and Grace returned from their own excursion just before noon carrying a number of bags and each wearing a large straw hat. They found Jesse and Jack talking on the balcony, and Tom sleeping soundly on his bed, drooling onto the pillow. Leslie fetched her digital camera and took a couple pictures for future incriminating purposes. Grace tried to wake him for lunch but he told her to save him a PBJ.

The penthouse cook offered to make lunch, and was nearly turned down until Jack discovered he could cook Cuban dishes such as ropa vieja and tamales en cazuela. He stopped everyone as they were about to walk out and ordered up the two dishes, guaranteeing his wife and the teens satisfaction. "I had these as a kid and there's nothing better from the Caribbean!" Jack exclaimed in a tone of rapture neither Mary nor Jesse had heard from him in years. The cook beamed with delight and served petite Cuban sandwiches to hold everyone over while he scrambled to prepare the ordered fare.

Over the next two hours, Jesse's father would pace in and out of the kitchen, sampling the rice, beans, steak or pork, then return to the large sitting room rolling his eyes and smiling. Each time he came back the party would laugh, but Jack ignored them. When the lunch was finally served around two, no one had anything bad to say about the meal. Jack looked to be in heaven and ate serving after serving of the spicy dishes. Even Grace, never one to care for heavily seasoned food, had seconds and earned Jack and the cook's affection.

Tom awoke after the dishes were cleaned from lunch and suggested a trip to the beach. The weather predicted thunderstorms in about four hours and not knowing the plans for the next few days, he recommended they take advantage of the sun while it lasted. Then he winked at Jesse. Jack and Mary told the kids to head down and they would follow later. As the four teens traveled to the beach, Jesse told the others that his parents wanted some time alone. Tom smirked, Leslie smiled at her boyfriend, and Grace looked confused.

Tom's earlier prediction of cold water was correct, but all four braved the chill and jumped in after playing Frisbee in the hot, humid, salty ocean air. Once in, all marveled at the clarity of the water and visible marine life, even though none were seeing it for the first time.

Jack and Mary appeared around five and were doing something Jesse had never seen them do outside church: holding hands. Both beamed, almost ignoring the teens, and ran into the cool ocean surf without hesitation. They acted like two teens themselves, splashing, touching, kissing. Both were totally relaxed and Jesse pulled Leslie from the water and sat on the sand to watch them.

"I've never seen them so stress-free, Les. They're like different people."

"I know. I'm happy for them. Mom and Dad said they needed this kind of holiday."

Jesse put his arm around Leslie and sat silently for while. The late afternoon crowds were thinning some, but the beach was still moderately crowded. True to Tom's prediction, the occasional topless female or group walked by, but still far fewer than he and Leslie had seen in France. More than once Leslie saw Jesse staring.

"I thought you said it can get a guy in trouble, looking at girls like that," she teased playfully.

"Um, yeah...but, um, I hate to waste the opportunity. Who knows? I might die tonight never having really seen, um, that." Jesse stumbled at the last word, a teenage girl splashed out of the ocean just then, not five yards from them, bare from the waist up. Jesse looked towards Leslie, his face bright red.

"She's cute, don't you think?" kidded Leslie mercilessly.

"Uh-huh, too cute. Let's go in the water for a while." Jumping up, he pulled Leslie into the surf and dove into a wave the second he felt the water was deep enough. When he surfaced, Tom was walking his way and Leslie was headed towards a very abashed Grace whose face was the color of the Barbara Keane's hair.

"What's wrong, mate?" Tom said, and too loudly for Jesse's liking.

Jesse blushed. "Sssh! Jeez, Tom!"

"Enjoy it while you can, Jess."

"It's kinda hard right now."

"I'll bet it is!" Tom said knowingly, which caused Jesse's face to turn four shades darker.

The two friends splashed around for a while after the girl was out of sight, then bodysurfed in the small waves for a while. Seeing Leslie and Grace off with his parents, Jesse led Tom a bit further down the beach and asked discretely, "Are the twins as good looking as that girl?"

Tom appraised his friend for a few seconds. Jesse Aarons had never really broached such a topic with him. He nodded. "Yeah, but bigger on top."

"Are they, um, really identical, um, you know?"

With a wry smile, Tom asked Jesse why he thought he might know the answer to such a question.

"Les told me about her party last week..." He explained about the brief game of Truth or Dare.

"My sister is an angel, isn't she?" Tom sighed exaggeratedly. "They are identical in every respect, except the left-right mirror thing."

Jesse gawked. "You've seen everything?"

"Seen or felt."

Pausing, and with a look of disbelief, Jesse saw Tom wasn't kidding. Or he wasn't acting like he was kidding - much. "Have you, um, done it with either...or both?"

"Nah, not yet; but pretty much everything else."

Jesse felt rather insignificant. "Really? Like...oral?"

"Yeah, what's the big deal? It's the first time for all of us so we don't have to worry about STDs, and ..."

"Wait! What do you mean, 'all of us'?"

"The twins and Mikey and me. It's more fun in a group. Sometime we have contests to see who can..."

"STOP!" Jesse almost shouted. "Shit, Tom, I thought I knew you. You guys are having group sex?"

"You know I'm yanking your chain, Jess, don't you?" Tom finally said as he watched his friend's face turn pale green.

"I – I don't know when to believe you," he admitted seriously.

"Jess, Carol and I fool around some, but no sex. Sorry." He sounded faintly disappointed, like it was an admission of failure.

Not certain if he was relieved, Jesse just nodded. Then he looked over to Leslie and considered how his thoughts towards her had changed as Tom was bragging. He found himself becoming both physically aroused and mentally disgusted. Closing his eyes, he brought up the image of the girl, probably not even Leslie's age, and saw how pleasing her body was. Then he let it fade back into his mind. But what would not fade away was a deeper curiosity, a mysterious yearning, a base desire to see Leslie run out of the water like that. He strongly suspected she would, if he asked her. She certainly had been hinting at it! The thought both excited and terrified him; but unlike earlier points in their relationship, he was now more interested by the idea than frightened.

When he looked up at his surroundings again, Jesse saw that everyone had headed in except his father who was just a few strides away. He was smiling, and it made him a little uncomfortable; he suspected he was about to get another lecture on chastity.

Jack Aarons stopped in front of his son. "Quite a day, Jess. Having a good time?"

"Yeah, Dad. It's great being with Les, Tom, and Grace...and you and Mom, too," he added hastily.

"Don't worry about us, we old farts can take care of ourselves."

Father and son chuckled.

"Jess, I have some good news and some bad news. No, no, nothing bad has happened. Your mother and I were watching you a while ago when that girl ran by you and Leslie."

Groaning, Jesse just nodded.

"The good news is that we're leaving tomorrow afternoon." so you won't be subjected to that type of pressure again...here." Jesse looked up and saw his father smiling sarcastically. "The bad news is that you'll probably run into it again this week."

"I'll be ok," Jesse mumbled unconvincingly.

"Son," Jack began in a tone far more gentle than Jesse could recall him using before, "the human body is a wonderful thing. God and evolution made it pleasing to us for a reason..."

"But Father Kelly always says it's rejecting that stuff," he pronounced stuff as if it were a dirty word, "that makes us better than animals."

"No, Jess, we aren't better because we reject it, we're better because we control it. There's a big difference."

In frustration, Jesse threw his hands up in the air. "Then what am I supposed to do, Dad? Every time I see something like that I want to...um, you know, see Leslie like that!"

"Jess, we've talked about you and Leslie waiting until..."

"I don't mean I want to do it, um, have sex with her, Dad. I guess I just want, um..."

"I know that, son. Believe it or not, I was your age once and had the same desires and curiosities. I can't tell you what to do any more, you know right from wrong. I can only guide you and help when you ask for it." Jack sighed, seeing his son was still troubled, and pressed on in spite of his own discomfort. "Leslie Burke is a very beautiful young lady, Jess. I'd be a fool to think you wouldn't be physically attracted to her, especially at your age. Your mother and I know you two love each other deeply and...things might happen. That's part of being human too son: making mistakes, even ones that don't feel like they're mistakes at the time. Let your conscience guide you, and if you slip, pick you ass up and start over."

"Yeah, I know. The thing is, Dad, when I get, um, in that situation, I kinda forget about the right thing."

Jack Aarons gripped his son's shoulder firmly, producing a small chuckle as he thought back twenty-five years. "Yeah, it's called it thinking with your prick, not your head."

Laughing, Jesse thanked his father and after a few seconds of silence started walking in to the beach. He'd gone only a couple steps, however, when his father stopped him one last time.

"Um, Jess, do you need anything...like, um, rubbers?"

His father's face was very red, Jesse noticed, and he also realized that every other time they had spoken about sex it had been while walking outside at night. Blushing a little himself, Jesse told him he didn't have to worry. "Les has some." Then he ran to the beach where the others were collecting their things. Shaking off his momentary shock, Jack started after his son, calling out good-natured threats, but found he could no longer keep up with the laughing young man.


Later that evening, following dinner and receiving directions to be packed and in the hotel lobby no later than one o'clock the next afternoon, Jesse and Leslie walked out to the beach for some time alone. A brief thunderstorm an hour earlier had done little to lessen the heat, and had actually made the atmosphere more humid. But there was a breeze off the Atlantic to cool the couple as they sat in two borrowed beach chairs. On the horizon, twinkling like stars in the night sky, were a number of vessels plying north and south; the closest was an enormous cruise liner that appeared headed towards the Fort Meyers port facilities.

Very few people were on this particular section of the beach, it was a rectangular, roped-in area on the oceanside of the hotel, exclusively for guests. Latin music played softly at the large bar behind them, and the patrons next to the more crowded pool were hardly noticeable. Farther down the beach, maybe a quarter mile, Jesse's mother and Grace were slipping into the hazy combination of nautical twilight and a gathering haze. Tom and Jesse's father, when last seen, were heavily engaged in an air-hockey game with some other tourists.

The ocean was far rougher than it had been that afternoon, the storm having whipped up five and six foot breakers that crashed noisily on the coral and sand. A few hearty surfers in wet suits were braving the cold water. Most were pretty good. One man, about twenty, appeared to be showing his sister how to surf, and with little success. Jesse noticed, upon her giving up the effort, that it was the dreaded topless-teen from earlier. The young brunette jogged right by them, apparently staying in the same hotel, and slowed for a second to wave in recognition. Cursing his courteousness, he waved back. Seeing Leslie was also greeting her made him feel a little better. But ten minutes later the girl reappeared and stopped to talk – fully clothed – even wearing a windbreaker. Jesse said little, but Leslie invited her to join them and kicked her boyfriend when he didn't immediately echo her offer.

Her name was Claire (she supplied no surname) and was on vacation with her older brother and sister, and parents. After only a minute, Jesse recognized her as a chatty, extraverted sort of girl, like Grace and Barbara. He also learned she was thirteen, with her fourteenth birthday just a week after Jesse's fifteenth: April nineteenth. She hung with them for a while pointing out how her brother loved to surf and swim, and that her brief topless romp in the surf was done on a dare from him, much to her parents' disapproval. They were from Ohio, Claire went on to explain, though Tim, the brother, was studying at UCLA where he picked up the surfing bug. This was their first family vacation in years and they were leaving the next day for a cruise, she added. Jesse caught Leslie's brief look; both had suspected that a cruise was the big secret her parents had planned. A sense of déjà vu fell over Jesse as the three talked, but he couldn't pinpoint what had triggered it. Thus distracted, he didn't hear Claire's comments leading up to her yelling at a man looking their way from the bar.

"What?"

"He's a pervert. I saw him taking pictures of me earlier, when I ran out of the water."

"Oh," Jesse mumbled, trying to sound sympathetic. That was difficult for him, however, as he honestly felt that anyone prancing around topless was fair game for cameras; and in itself, that was quite a shift in personal values over the past two years.

"Claire," Leslie said, leaning closer to their new friend and in front of Jesse, "look over there." She gesticulated discreetly at a low gnarly hedge where three men were trying to act casually disinterested. Jesse, however, immediately saw what Leslie was pointing out.

Claire shrugged. "What about them?"

"They, uh, might be here because of, well, me."

"Why, were you swimming topless, too?"

Jesse coughed and Leslie punched him.

"No. My father's kinda famous and they follow me around at places like this." Leslie's tone made it clear she hated the attention, but Claire's interest was raised.

"Who's your father?" the brunette asked softly, curiously, as if she was about to learn a huge State secret. And even more quietly Leslie told her. For a moment Jesse thought Claire was going to jump up and draw attention to them, but she managed to restrain herself, though her eyes were wide in amazement.

"Wow! I'd love to meet him, I'm reading One Plus One right now…well, not right this second, obviously…can he autograph it for me? I won't tell…" This went on for another minute, much to Jesse's amusement, until his girlfriend quieted her down.

"Sorry, my father isn't here."

"Oh, I see," Claire sighed in obvious disappointment.

"But Jess can autograph it." Leslie thumbed in his direction and earned a nasty look in return. Claire didn't understand the comment, however, until it was explained further. When she heard the story she ran off to get her book; but, as Jesse pointed out, not as fast as she would have done were Bill Burke present. Leslie laughed and went to kiss Jesse until she saw one of the Paparazzi swing his camera up for a picture. Instead, she stuck out her tongue at the photographer and told Jesse in a whisper she'd give him something special later.

When the teen returned, Jesse autographed the picture on the first chapter, and then had to endure more questions about his drawing, and if he was rich, and so forth. Before he knew it, his parents and the Jacobs had come out looking for them and it was approaching ten o'clock. Tom was game for more chatting, particularly after meeting Claire's older sister, Mel, but the parents of both parties ushered their charges back to the hotel. Jesse wasn't annoyed, either, he was exhausted, having been up since three that morning. He and Leslie gave Claire an awkward pat goodbye on the arm and completely missed Jack and Mary tell her parents that they would see them tomorrow.

Showered and nearly asleep on his feet, Jesse shuffled into the sitting room and said goodnight to his parents. He then headed to the girls' room and found Leslie wearing an excessively large t-shirt of his which Brenda and Ellie had given him as a joke years before. Leslie had pilfered it from his room the previous fall and he'd seen her wearing it a few times. The shirt looked absurdly large when draped over the wiry blonde, to the point where it usually fell completely off one shoulder, which, Jesse had come to realize, was her whole point in wearing it.

He rapped on the door softly and Leslie motioned him in. Checking that his parents were still in the other room, he nearly jumped across the room and pulled Leslie into a tight embrace. She then leaned back and kissed him deeply, continuing until they heard Grace come out of the bathroom and give a little squeak in surprise: She was wearing only a towel wrapped around her, and after giving Leslie a pleading look ducked back into the bathroom and waited for the all-clear.

"Time to go," Jesse could barely say through their pressed lips. Leslie nodded and released him.

"Night, Jess."

"Yeah…" Jesse whispered back, staring at Leslie's shoulder. The shirt had slipped down to her elbow on one side exposing the upper quarter and side of her right breast. She saw this and slipped a finger into the collar, pulling it down further – but not too far. Suddenly weak-kneed, Jesse backed out of the room and went to his own. Despite the rush of adrenaline, and a racing heart, Jesse fell asleep after only a minute, much to Tom's disgust. He wanted to sneak out to meet up with Mel, and he needed a distraction for Jesse's parents.

Revision 1.1, July, 2008