School had been going on for two weeks. Jessie had tried out for the cheerleading squad. The results were going to be posted tomorrow. Jessie was in her backyard in her bikini with her feet in the pool.
"Boo!" John said coming up behind her.
"Ahhh!" She screamed. He sat down next to her. She smacked him in the arm.
"Ow!"
"You're a jerk."
"I love you too."
"No Liz today?"
"They asked her to fill in at work."
"Wanna go for a swim?"
"Yeah." "I brought my trunks." "I just have to go change."
They were in the pool. Jessie was on a raft.
"When are they posting the try out results?" John asked.
"I think after fourth period."
"Make sure you come find me to tell me you made it."
"I don't know if I made it yet."
"Of course you did."
"You have to much confidence in me."
"You should have that same confidence in yourself."
John stayed for dinner. After he was helping Jessie do the dishes. John smiled.
"What?" Jessie asked.
"You have suds on your nose."
"Thanks." She wiped it off.
The next day Jessie checked the school bulletin board for the cheerlead try out results. Her name was second of the list. She was so happy.
The next period she was at lunch. She and Liz had the same lunch period. Liz was behind her and tripped her. Everyone in the cafeteria laughed.
Before going to her last class of the day Jessie saw John.
"Did you make it?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"See." "I told you." "Congratulations."
"Thanks."
John had just finished football practice. One of the guys on his team was so annoying. His name was Ryan Brenner. He looked at women as nothing but sex objects. John turned to his friend Toby.
"Can you believe that asshole?" John said.
"I know." "I can't stand him." "Are you going to the party this weekend?"
"Yeah I'm bringing Liz."
"You ever think about getting with Jessie?"
"Me and Jess?" "No."
"You're will her all the time."
"We've been friends since we were babies."
"You don't think she's pretty?"
"She's beautiful but we could never be that way."
"Why?"
"Well, I love Liz."
"And?"
"Isn't that enough?"
It was around one o'clock in morning on Saturday. Jessie was asleep in her bedroom. She was awakened by a knock on her second story window. As he often did John climbed up the rose trellis that led up to Jessie's window. As soon as she opened the window she could tell he was drunk.
"Hey." He said.
"Hi." He climbed in.
"Liz and I got in a fight."
"Again?" Jessie wasn't surprised. It happened a lot.
"Yeah."
"What about this time?"
"She accused me of looking at other girls at the party." "I wasn't."
"I know." "You're drunk aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"You didn't drive here did you?"
"Toby dropped me off."
"Good."
"Come on, let's get some sleep."
John got into bed with Jessie fully dressed.
"Thanks for letting me stay." He said.
"It wouldn't be the first time."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." As they slept John grabbed her hand and held it.