"Hey," Rick said, turning around to greet the kids. "Did you have a good day?" He turned back to face the TV. Lily was still facing them with a smile.

"I got the lead in the play," Grace said, slowly, but happily. Lily smiled.

"That's great honey," Lily rose up to give her daughter a hug. She turned to the others. "And what about you two?"

"I got another job," Eli shrugged. Again, Lily smiled.

The other two walked over and parked themselves in front of the TV. "What about you Jess?" Lily asked before Jessie quite made it to the steps.

Jessie stopped dead in her tracks. "It was okay," she smiled weakly. She bolted before Lily could continue.

Upstairs, Jessie was just laying on her bed, listening to her headphones. She was staring at the ceiling with the music blaring in her ears. When Grace came up, she didn't hear her.

"Hey," Grace aid, her face appearing over Jessie's. Naturally, Jessie jumped up, missing Grace by mere inches. She quickly reached over and paused her CD player.

"What do you want?" Jessie grumped.

"To see what you were up to," Grace replied. "What were you listening to?" She asked, motioning to the CD player.

Jessie looked over at it. "Third Eye Blind," she said distantly.

"Oh," was all Grace said before she sat down on the bed next to Jessie. For her part, Jessie gave Grace an uncertain look. Grace quickly turned to Jessie. "Jess, is there anything you want to talk about?"

"What?" Jessie asked, shocked. Regaining her composure, she answered calmly. "No, nothing I can think of."

Grace knew otherwise. "Because if ever need to talk to anyone, I'm here. You can trust me."

"Oh yeah?" At this point, Jessie was thinking of her conversation with Katie the other day. Grace gave her a questioning look. "What did you tell Tad about me yesterday?"

Grace's jaw about fell off her face. "I...uh...I. What do you mean?" She was hoping it wasn't what she thought it was.

"Cut the crap! Katie told me about Tad pumping you for information!" Jessie yelped.

Grace felt about three inches at that point. "I...um...told him that you were anorexic," she mumbled, almost inaudibly, almost.

"You did what!?!" Jessie shrieked. "I can't believe...why would you...Arghhhhh!"

Jessie was flipping out. "If you don't leave my room right now, your own family won't be able to identify your body," she ground out.

"I...Jessie...I didn't-" Grace tried to approach Jessie. She stopped and was cut off by the murderous glare Jessie was sending her.

"Just go," she growled. Grace threw her arms to her side and left. On her way down, she saw Jessie turn and sit back down, putting the headphones back on. However, Grace missed the tears because she was looking at Jessie's back.

Jessie crawled under the blankets and threw them over her head. She closed her eyes and focused on Third Eye Blind. Ironically the song was "Jumper". She sang along quietly as she let the tears slide down.

I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend/ You could cut ties with all the lies/ That you've been living in/ And if you do not want to see me again/ I would understand, I would understand/ The angry boy, a bit to insane/ Icing over a secret pain/ You know you don't belong/You're the first to fight/ You're way too loud/ You're the flash of light/ On a burial shroud/ I know something's wrong...

Jessie drifted off to sleep, all the while mumbling the words with tears sliding down her face.

She woke up, still mumbling the words. The CD player had gone off automatically a while ago. Jessie pulled the covers off of her, removed the headphones and looked at the clock. It read 4:43. Great. Now she would never get back to sleep. So, she just put in another CD.

The next morning slowly crept up on the Manning household. Grace's alarm went off and she got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. Eli smelled food, so he woke up and went to the kitchen. Zoe came running in as soon as Lily finished cooking. Rick was on the phone with Sam before going to work.

"Hey Jessie," Lily smiled. "You want some bacon?"

Grace could have shot her mother. She looked over and saw Jessie's incredulous look. But before Jessie could respond, Grace spoke up. "You're kidding, right Mom?" Lily looked confused. "Jessie's a vegetarian, remember?" Grace rolled her eyes and Jessie just sat down.

Poor Lily looked at her daughter, she then looked at everyone else, who nodded to confirm it. She stood there dejectedly a moment. "Oh, yeah. I forgot." Jessie rolled her eyes and walked out the door. "What?" She asked, looking at Grace and Eli staring at her after Jessie left.

"Nothing," they mumbled simultaneously, turning their attention back to their food. After they finished Eli asked, "Are you ready?" Grace just nodded and picked up her things.

"Hey, guys," Rick called before they were gone. "Why isn't Jessie getting a ride with you anymore?" Recently he had noticed Jessie taking the bus instead and he wondered why.

Grace shrugged. "She doesn't want to I guess." Then they both left, leaving a puzzled Rick and Lily behind.

Rick and Lily shared a worried look, but then Rick realized he had to leave. "I'll see you later," he turned to leave after kissing her on the forehead.

"Oh, Rick," Lily said and he turned around. "Is Jessie coming here after school or is she going to Karen's?"

"Um...I'm not sure. I'll call Karen when I get to work." He smiled then left.

"Hello?" Karen asked, distractedly picking up the phone.

"Karen, hi. It's Rick. I just wanted to see if you knew whose house Jessie is going to after school." Rick was looking over some blueprints Sam had just handed him, so he was also a little distracted.

"No, I'm not sure. I guess we'll just have to wait and see where she ends up later," Karen said, rolling her eyes. How am I supposed to know?

Rick didn't have a problem with it, he was indifferent. "Okay, thanks." He hung up and called Lily to let her know the plan.

Jessie was sitting in History staring at the wall in front of her. The teacher was going on about the Romans. Since she isn't too fond of the Romans, she tuned him out.

"Jessie," someone whispered. Jessie looked around the classroom, trying to figure out who said it. She focused on the doorway where Katie was trying frantically to get her attention. "Jess," Katie whispered with a grin, she moved her hands to suggest that Jessie get out of the class.

Turning to the teacher, Jessie raised her hand. "Yes Ms. Sammler," the teacher said, obviously annoyed at the interruption in the lecture.

"I need to go to the bathroom," she said in a hurried tone.

"Do you need to go right now?" He asked, more irritated than a second ago.

"Yes sir. My bladder feels like it's about to explode," she grinned at him. He nodded and she got up and left.

"What's up?" Jessie asked once they were out of the teacher's earshot. Katie just turned to her with a strange expression. "Why did you want to get me out of class?" She asked slowly.

"Oh, that," Jessie rolled her eyes at that reply. "Well, I was passing by and saw you looking totally bored. So, I decided to rescue you," Katie grinned. Jessie followed suit.

"Where are we going anyway?" Jessie asked as they were going up the stairs.

"Nowhere in particular," Katie shrugged. "I just had to get out of my class," Katie grimaced. "English. I just don't see the point. We already speak the language, so why continue subjecting us to another hour of school over it." Jessie laughed at the comment.

"I see your reasoning," Jessie said, mock-supportively patting Katie on the shoulder, shaking her head.

"Besides, I really didn't feel comfortable being in there with Grace. She kept turning and glaring at me. I wonder what that was all about," Katie said, puzzled.

"I got in an argument with Grace. I said that I knew she was talking with Tad. And I told her it was because you told me. She told me what she said," Jessie was half expecting Katie to be upset, she wasn't upset at all.

"She did?" Katie asked. Jessie nodded. She knew Jessie wasn't going to bring it up, so she did. "Why don't you talk about being anorexic?" Jessie was so shocked, her head almost snapped off when she looked up. "Tad told me Monday night," she aid quietly.

"I...uh...well. I guess because it isn't anyone's business," she replied, it sounded more like a question than an answer. "I can't believe Grace would say that," Jessie said, sliding down to sit on the floor in the middle of the hall. She paused, then corrected herself. "Yes I can."

Katie looked down at Jessie, then joined her on the floor. "You can?" She was really interested now.

"She hates me, remember?" Jessie looked up smiling weakly. She looked down at her watch. "We better get back to our respective classes," Katie looked at her, "The bell is about to ring."

"Jess, why don't we not go to our next class," this earned a confused look from Jessie. "Let's just leave early. We can go to my house and hang out." Jessie still looked skeptical. "It seems like the last thing you need is some asshole teacher harassing you."

"Okay, I just need to get my stuff from my class," Jessie relented, with a smile.

"I'll go with you. I have all my stuff with me," Katie said, excited. This day really seems to be looking up.

Katie was watching Jessie sleep in the car with a smile on her face. They had a good time at her house. All they did was watch TV and make fun of the people on Jerry Springer. Katie did, however, want to try and get Jessie to open up, but it didn't work.

The way to Manning manor, was really easy. Katie really didn't want the afternoon to end, but she knew that Jessie needed to get home. Looking back over at Jessie, she smiled again. She liked watching Jessie sleep, she looked peaceful. They pulled up just seconds after Grace. Uh oh! Katie knew this wasn't a good situation to be in. I hope Grace didn't find out about Jessie skipping. She knew that if Grace knew, she would tell Rick.

Grace saw Katie's car pull up and she was pissed. She walked over to the car as Katie was getting up.

"Hey Grace," Katie said in her most friendly tone without trying to sound too upset. Grace just glowered at her. "I am just dropping Jessie off," Grace's gaze shifted to Jessie in the car. "She fell asleep on the way here."

"So, where'd you go when you left school after second period?" Grace asked with her hands on her hips. Katie started to take a defensive stance, but Grace continued. "I know you left early because you didn't come back after leaving during English."

Katie was about to start screaming at Grace, but Jessie woke up and had been listening. "Grace, shut the hell up," she said yawning and stretching, not sounding the least bit threatening. It still caught them off guard. Jessie climbed out of the car and walked to the other side.

"But Jessie, you skipped school today and-" Grace was cut off.

"And it's none of your God damn business Grace!" Jessie yelled. Grace was about to protest, but was stopped. "I am not your sister, I will never be your sister. Therefore it is none of your damn business what I do. You have no claim over me, so stop trying to be so damn protective," Jessie said calmly, but forcefully.

Katie looked at Grace with a smug 'so take that' expression. Grace was taken aback by Jessie's comments. She was genuinely hurt, she turned and walked inside.

Then Jessie turned to Katie, who was still grinning. Jessie wrapped her arms around Katie, pulling her in for a big hug. "Thank you," Jessie whispered softly and sweetly into Katie's ear before letting go and turning to go inside. Katie was left standing there, with a goofy grin, not knowing what to make of the gesture.

Grace had seen it all through the window. To say she was curious would be an understatement to say the least.

Jessie was laying in her room when Rick came upstairs. She turned at hearing the footsteps. "Hey Jess," she turned back to her CD player. "Is everything okay?" He asked.

"Why wouldn't it be?" She replied, avoiding the question entirely.

"I don't know. Is there anything you want to talk to me about?" She shook her head. "Oh," he paused. "How about why you skipped school today?"

"Oh my God! I am so going to kill Grace!" Jessie yelled as she headed for the stairs. But Rick stopped her.

"Sit," he instructed. She obeyed. "Now, tell me what happened."

"I don't know. I just...I didn't want to be there," she said, calming down.

He looked at her. "Why not?" Rick encouraged her with a smile.

"I was just feeling so...claustrophobic," Jessie sighed. "I had to get out of there." She looked up at Rick, who was giving her an endearing look.

"So, where did you go?" He asked, maintaining the expression.

"To Katie's," he looked confused, so, she clarified. "She's a friend of mine."

"Why did she skip?" He asked.

Crap! What am I gonna say? "She didn't want me to leave alone. Besides, I wasn't going to get that far on foot," she smiled.

"Oh, I see. She drives?" Damn it Dad! Enough with the third degree.

"She's a Junior. She's in Grace's English class," she said.

"Alright honey. Don't let it happen again, okay?" He smiled.

"Are you going to tell Mom?" She asked, suddenly very nervous.

"I already talked to her," he said. "She was a little upset, but I think she handled it just fine."

"Oh," Jessie said, trying to cover the anxiety building up. Rick left.

Grace was sitting in her room trying to do her homework. She couldn't focus, her thoughts kept going back to Jessie and Katie. What exactly is going on between those two? I mean, they have been getting really close lately. She looked back to her book. Okay. Trigonometry. Focusing now.

Jessie was sitting in the kitchen, getting something to drink, then phone rang. She let it ring, she knew Grace would get it. Seconds later, Grace has hauled ass into the kitchen and picked it up. "Hello," she gasped, breathlessly into the receiver. "Hey Tad," she smiled. "Yeah," her face fell as she glared at Jessie, "Right here." She handed Jessie the receiver and grumbled, "It's for you."

"Hello?" Jessie asked. She hadn't been paying attention to Grace's conversation.

On the other side, "Hey Jess. It's me, Tad." He said, sounding somewhat nervous.

"Oh, hi Tad. What's up?" He was definitely the last person she expected to hear from.

"Nothing. I...um. I was just seeing how you were. I mean, I really haven't seen you that much. I just wanted to know what you were up to." He babbled, still completely nervous.

"I'm fine. What were you talking about with Grace the other day?" She wanted to know if he would be honest with her.

"I was just asking her about what you were like. She can be a total bitch, can't she?" He asked tensely.

"Well, what did she tell you?" Jessie was getting impatient.

"She told me you were...um...anorexic," he said quietly and slowly.

"Oh," Jessie said. That confirmed it for Tad that it was true. "Hey, I have to go. I'll see you later. Bye." She hung up before he could reply.

Jessie went back upstairs, forgetting her drink. She was too pissed to remember and too upset to argue with Grace, so, she went to her room.

She put Third Eye Blind back in. She continued where she left off. Jessie threw the covers over her head, trying to sleep.

...Well everyone I know has got a reason/ To say/ Put the past away/ I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend/ You could cut ties with all the lies/ That you've been living in/ And if you do not want to see me again/ I would understand, I would understand/ Well he's on the table/ And he's gone to code/ And I do not think anyone knows/ What they are doing here/ And your friends have left/ You've been dismissed/ I never thought it would come to this/ And I want you to know/ Everyone's got to face down the demons/ Maybe today/ We can put the past away/ I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend/ You could cut ties with all the lies/ That you've been living in/ And if you do not want to see me again/ I would understand, I would understand/ Can you put the past away/ I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend/ I would understand

Jessie just laid in her bed under the blankets, crying. She just let go, and started crying.