Due to popular demand...28 hours later and we get an update, lolz

Jessica Stanley, GOAT

Part V

Jessica's confidence for her date tonight plummeted exponentially as she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She was the queen of first dates. She could pull out all the stops with the right outfit and makeup. But all her eyes could focus on was the missing chunk of hair from her scalp.

"Ahhhhhhh! Who wears a baseball cap on a date?!" Jessica screamed at her reflection. A baseball cap didn't make anything look hot or sexy. It was the opposite of sexy. And how could she allow that to happen after how she left Seth earlier?! Some first date queen she turned out to be after all.

Jessica wished she could ignore the knocking coming from the other side of the bathroom door. After the second round, Vicky began to call her name. Jessica's stomach twisted as she finally responded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a mini crisis moment."

"Would you mind opening the door?"

Begrudgingly, Jessica complied with Vicky's request. Jessica just knew her strained smile could very well alert icky Vicky that she was in fact not fine. But she didn't waver in her act as she took in Vicky's concerned face. The petite blond just tried too hard to be a mother and Jessica resented that. But she reminded herself she was trying to be nicer. A tweak opportunity just presented itself.

"Oh Jess, your hair," Vicky mumbled while extending her hand to mime a patting motion over the patch of non-existent hair. "It will grow back, hun. And I noticed the new cap you bought. Just keep wearing it until it grows back."

Jessica downplayed her annoyance at Vicky giving her advice she was already following from herself. No shit, Vicky, Jessica resisted from retorting.

"When did you see the baseball cap? I haven't seen you since I bought it."

"Oh, when I went to check on you last night. It looked uncomfortable to sleep in, so I slipped it off your head. You didn't even notice."

It must have been a trick of the light, but Jessica swore she saw for a brief second a gold, shiny halo shimmering above Vicky's head. Jessica pretended she didn't feel a tear or two well up in her eyes because an adult showed her that they cared. It had been awhile. Her parents were too caught up in their own drama to parent her for a long while now. But here comes 35-year-old Vicky showing the most compassion, in the smallest way, between the three of them. Isn't life funny sometimes?

"Oh, well thanks. Unfortunately, didn't save me from waking up with bad hat hair but a shower fixed that right up. So, uh, I think I am going to go back to getting ready." Jessica was mid turn when Vicky continued the conversation she was trying "politely" to opt out of.

"I can help you get ready. I mean, I know how hard it can be to pair a cute outfit with a baseball hat." Jessica didn't want to pry but her curiosity got that better of her to understand what Vicky meant.

"How so?"

"Cancer. I lost all my hair from chemo. When the wigs got too itchy but I didn't want to look bald, I used a baseball cap." Jessica was humbled. Like drop an anvil on your head kind of humbled by her petty need to cover the wound on her head that wasn't that bad after all.

"You're better now, right?" Jessica was trying to play it cool, but she was in fear of Vicky's would be answer. She had hair, so she must have been cancer free. But you never know for sure…

"Yes, cancer free since I was 13. Let's see what you got in your closet." Jessica let Vicky touch her back as she guided her to her room. It wasn't like a bonding moment. Jessica was just allowing Vicky to play dress up with her as a trade for that sad bit of her past she just revealed.

And after an hour of time spent together, Jessica looked decently cute for a chick covering up a minor bald spot. Vicky guided her to wear a jean skirt (Vicky made Jessica put on the one that stopped at 4-inches above the knee and not that one that Jessica preferred that stopped at 6-inches) with a preppy white polo. Just cute was the look. Not sexy. But whatever, it wasn't like Jessica was going into this date expecting to get laid and break her virginity. She did delight in how Vicky curled the hair in her pony tail that was looped through the back of the baseball cap. Vicky also had the genius idea to dig out two strands of hair in the front to give her heart shaped face more dimension. They were the perfect wispy curls that framed her face that didn't look like she tried too hard (despite Vicky recurling and combing each stand like ten times over before they were just perfect).

The timing at which they finished getting Jessica ready was impeccable. When Jessica added the finishing touches of her lip gloss, the doorbell rang.

Seth was here. And she ripped off the wings of each of the butterflies wanting to take flight in her stomach.

When Jessica opened the door, she swooned. Sah-wooooon-ed. Hard core. How could someone be so handsome? It boggled her mind. Made her knees weak. And crumbled her resolve to show Seth just what a bad idea it was to date her.

"Hi Seth," Jessica greeted him with all the cool as a cucumber facade she could muster up in this moment. Peeling her eyes from his handsome mug and the fact he undid the top button of his black button up shirt, she observed roses in his hands. Like, real, red Valentine's Day level roses. On the cusp of blooming. Mike had once gotten her a bouquet of white dandelions where the back half of the bunch were wilting. Not that she should have been picky since she was gifted flowers then. But this, this fucking bouquet of red roses made Mike look like he didn't put in an ounce of effort of trying.

"For you." Seth handed over the bouquet into Jessica's grasp and she was all but frozen into place. What was she supposed to do with them? Oh yes, right! A vase, duh! She mumbled "I'll be back" before scrounging the kitchen cabinets for a vase. She also took note that Vicky was peculiarly absent. Like it was intentional, and she didn't want to ruin the mood for Jessica. Ugh. Jessica knew she would have to be nice to Vicky once again now. As payback, you know?

Once that task at hand was accomplished, she returned to Seth still waiting at the front door, handsome as ever. Sheesh. She needed some perspective. She couldn't fall for someone who...well to be honest she didn't know much about him other than he was hot, had saved her life, and had some random ass crush on her. She would proceed with caution this evening despite having a goal in mind on how the evening would end.

...

"You cheated!" Jessica insisted as Seth scored a hole-in-one for the fourth time during their game of putt-putt.

"How can one cheat at putt-putt?" Seth smirked and Jessica hated admitting she had no evidence. But it was a hunch! No one is that good at putt-putt golf.

"I'll be keeping my eyes on you, Clearwater. I'll figure out your gimmick." Jessica was dead serious as her competitive streak was starting to come out in full swing when their game was only half way through.

"The night is still young and once again you have reverted back to calling me by my last name? That hurts, Jess," Seth teased.

"You earn first name privileges with me. And don't call me Jess," Jessica snapped and immediately regretted it. But in the end, it just drove home her point she was not a sweet girl. She was a rose with thorns.

Seth, however, didn't seem bothered by her little outburst. He walked up behind her and asked if she would allow him to help her get a hole-in-one as well. She didn't buy it but said, "I'll allow it".

Seth wrapped his tall and muscular frame around Jessica's. He first repositioned her hips and instructed her to bend more in the knees. Then when her stance was right, he wrapped his arms around hers while correcting her grip. The whole time, Jessica was just trying to breathe.

In a fluid motion, their arms swung back together and then hit the ball. Jessica watched it spring around edges and direct itself right into the hole on the putting green. Jessica's jaw slackened by what she just observed. She was thrilled but also pissed that Seth was a freakin putt-putt pro. And just showed her up. And allowed her to snap at him and not say anything back. Yes, she hit an all-time low feeling like a chump with the sweetest guy ever. But seriously, why on earth did he even like her? They were on opposite spectrums!

Jessica shrugged out of Seth's embrace and thanked him for the help.

"Not going to lie, I expected more of a reaction out of you than that. Maybe excitement? Or resentment?" Seth waggled his eyebrows, but Jessica was not in a mood to be amused or give in to Seth. "But you seem down though. What's wrong?"

Why was he so nice and concerned about her? Why? It made no sense. Zero. Zilch. She wanted to accuse him of something, but she had nothing in her arsenal. She was a jackass and the one making a full of herself.

"I...I have to go. Sorry, Seth." Jessica began to back away from Seth.

"What? Why? Did I do something wrong?" Jessica instantly regretted looking into his eyes. The brown orbs sucked her in. Maybe it was her soul they sucked in? And once she stared into them, she felt like hurting him for some reason would kill her. Which was INSANE. She must have been going crazy. The head injury was more serious than she once thought. Yes, that was it. Winner winner, chicken dinner. Case solved. Time for her now to go home and perhaps take those meds that Dr. Hottie had prescribed her. She was in dire need of relief from this pain of being an awful person. Small tweaks couldn't begin to erase how far she had to go to be a better person.

"Not you, Seth. It's all me. Look, I meant what I said. I am a mess. And right now, I just don't think I am cut out for doing this."

"Doing what? A date?"

"Correct. I am not nice. Why don't you get that? I just snapped at you for no reason." Jessica balled her hands into fists at her sides. She was cracking but Seth was as unphased as ever. It was vexing.

"Really? For no reason you want me to not call you Jess? Because I am pretty sure there is a story behind that. Or maybe you don't like your name shortened? Or maybe just let only close friends and family call you that? I don't mind sticking around to figure out the reason. And you met Jake. He is one of my good friends. I think I can handle your little outburst. You wouldn't be the first person I know that has a temper."

What. The. Hell. Who was this nice? And understanding? What was he a saint? Or maybe she was on a Fork's edition of "Punked" and it was all set up by Bella.

"Stop being so nice! Be mad at me! Or irritated I am being a pain on our date!"

"No thanks, I am good."

Jessica's fury skyrocketed from threat level soft yellow to rage red. And because she was still in control, she decided to stomp off versus becoming the biggest raging bitch on earth to the most undeserving person.

"Jessica, wait up." Jessica threw down her putter as she was sprinting down the courses to find an exit. She didn't forget that Seth had drove her, but she would find a way home or just hoof it.

Of course, Seth easily caught up to her and cut off her path.

"Leave me alone, Seth!"

"Don't you want a ride home?"

"Ugh, not from you. I'll try my luck."

"No."

"No?" Jessica was perplexed by this rare occurrence of pushback from Seth.

"No. I am taking you home if you're done with this date, but I am not letting you walk home."

"Oh good, so you do have some balls. I was wondering where they were."

"Oh no, I am not letting you dupe me."

"Dupe you?!" What the hell was Seth smoking? And Jessica wanted to know if she could have a hit off of it too.

"Yes, this tough girl act isn't going to scare me off, Jessica. I see more in you. Even if you don't see it yourself. Also, I can decide what's good for myself. You don't get to make that decision for me."

Seth drew closer to Jessica and Jessica gripped the rim of her cap to half-heartedly hide her face as she felt exposed by Seth. She was...always becoming more and more impressed with Seth. Why couldn't he just run away though?

"Right now, I am not even going to ask you if I can kiss you. I am just going to go for it." Jessica muffled a laugh because a real Casanova wouldn't have even announced his intentions. Jessica tilted her head up with puckered lips awaiting the kiss because god damn she couldn't at least deny herself this one moment tonight.

She could practically feel the heat radiating off Seth's mouth when someone shouted, "Woooooh! Get some, Clearwater!"

Flushed with embarrassment, Jessica turned to identify the scoundrel who ruined their kiss. The scrappy kid Jessica identified as the source was wearing a La Push High School letterman jacket.

"Looks like you're having a good break, Sethy!" That time, the acknowledgement came from a different kid also wearing a letterman jacket. Jessica took a jump back and reassessed her panicky thoughts. What college did Seth go to? She had to confirm this right now to push out the ridiculous idea he was in high school. Because there was absolutely positively no way he could be in high school with the way he looked. He looked like he was in his early twenties!

Jessica cleared her throat before reviewing Seth's impassive face. He was not fazed by his "friends" which she hoped to god were not classmates as well.

"Seth, what school do you go to?"

For the first time, Jessica saw Seth struggle and she knew what answer he was avoiding saying.

Holy shit!

"You're still in high school?!" Jessica screeched while her eyes bulged.

"I am 18 though..."

She almost kissed a little boy. Oh my god what the hell, she wanted to scream. She actually felt a little something for Seth, but it was ruined because he was too young. No not a minor or jail bait, but if she wasn't mature at 21 how on earth could she expect maturity from an 18-year-old-boy who hadn't even graduated high school yet? HOW? She was relieved tomorrow and for the rest of the break she was staying at her mom's. When this date was over, she was going to pull a Houdini and pray no one from her college or Forks ever found out. Good lord she hoped Seth or Jake didn't tell Bella. How humiliating!

This time when she ran away, Seth didn't run after her. But she ran into Jake before clearing the parking lot and he strangely offered her a ride home. She didn't pass on this opportunity and remained silent on the whole drive back to her house.

Sneak preview for Part VI:

"Thought you looked familiar."

"Should I know you?"

"My brother has the hots for you."

"Be more specific, there is an ever-growing list."

"Geez, could you be more full of yourself?" Jessica shrugged at the stranger as she lapped up the chocolate ice cream dripping down her waffle cone. "I think you're perfect for him. The wimp needs a challenge." Jessica's right eyebrow arched in questioning who this young man was. But if she was more with it and less focused on eating her ice cream before it melted in the sun, she would have connected that the stranger had the same eyes as a boy who recently captured her attention.

"Seth Clearwater." She stuck out her hand. Jessica eyed it and offered her non sticky left hand not currently handling an ice cream come. "Name is Leah Clearwater. I think we are going to be good friends Jessica Stanley." Jessica began to choke on her ice cream as she was certain as of last night, she was 100 % positive she never intended to see baby Clearwater again.

Author's Note:

Seriously these are supposed to be short. Why haven't I been keeping to that?! Welp, here it is. Quick turn around time to thanks to the reviews. It reminds me others enjoy reading this too and inspires the mojo to think what happens next. But even with no reviews, i promise this story will get written. :) – Lalaland972

Response to review:

angelacorus: hi! Glad you like the pairing of the two! :) I love writing their interactions. They are like fire and ice haha Thank you for your review!

Lily: Update is here! Thanks for your excitement to see how this plays out