Jessica and Jeremy sat together at a night club that evening. Jessica
had ten minutes before she had to meet Ryan. She sipped her water.
Jeremy smiled over at her. The music was pretty loud but Jessica was happy
just being with him. She had never been here but Jeremy had assured her
that it was one of the coolest clubs around. She opened her mouth to
ask Jeremy to dance when a pretty girl danced up next to Jeremy. Jessica
noticed that Jeremy was staring at her, especially her large chest
which moved freely cupped in her black lace bra.
Jessica's face grew hot. Ryan never noticed other girls and Jessica
hated to be ignored. She gave Jeremy a hard stare and he shifted
nervously.
"Would you like to dance?" the girl slurred leaning up against him.
Jeremy blushed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but can I have your
drink?" Jeremy rushed pointing to her hand. She giggled and handed him the
drink and bounced away.
Jessica glared at him. "So what? That's what turns you on?" she
sneered.
"Of course not," he said grabbing her hand. "I just like to keep my options
open."
Jessica pulled away. "I have to go...meet...Ryan." she blindly ran out of the
club. What was wrong with her? She leaned against the cool brick wall of the
club and sobbed.


Elizabeth and Jessica sat facing each other. Neither of them knew what
to say. Jessica had invited her sister over to talk but she hadn't
talked to her sister in over four years.
"Liz," she said carefully. "I'm really glad you came back. Although in
college it would appear that I didn't care about you, I really did. I
missed you so much. Whenever something bad was happening or I had big
news, I still had this desire to tell you. Because I told you more than I
ever told my friends or boyfriends."
Elizabeth smiled. "I missed you too. It seemed like a part of me was
missing."
"You probably had a dull life without me there to drag you into my
schemes."
Elizabeth's eyes twinkled. "I'd like to think of it more as normal. But
you are so full of life, Jess. There's no one like you."
The two sisters stood there grinning through their teary eyes. They
knew that they were on the road to recovery. They both knew that they
would probably never again be as close as they were in high school.
Jessica got up and started pacing. "I'm in huge trouble, Liz."
Elizabeth smiled wryly, "I guess not everything has changed."
"I'm having an affair with Jeremy!" Jessica blurted out.
Elizabeth stared at her in shock. "Jeremy? You mean Jeremy Aames?"
Jessica nodded. "Ryan doesn't know about Jeremy but Jeremy knows about
Ryan. And I like them both!" Jessica said sobbing.
Elizabeth walked over to her sister and sat her down. "You know you're
going to have to end it with one of them. What about Ryan?"
"I can't!" Jessica sobbed. "I've been dating him for over two years and
I can see myself with him. And Jeremy makes me feel so good."
Jessica wiped her eyes. "What am I going to do Liz?"
Elizabeth stroked her sister's hair. "I don't know, Jess. I really
don't know."
"Listen," Jessica sniffled. "How would you like to go out with Ryan and
get to know him? I'll invite Jeremy over and make a decision about what
to do."
Elizabeth sighed. "I don't know Jess," but when she saw her sister's
face, she gave in. "Okay. I would like to get to know Ryan. But are you
going to end it with Jeremy?"
Jessica shook her head. "I'm not ready."
"I'm only helping because I want you to make up your mind. I don't
approve what you're doing. You're lying to Ryan and being unfair to
Jeremy."
"Don't I know," Jessica sighed.

Jessica pulled a thick sweater over her head and put on her baggiest
jeans. She didn't want Jeremy getting the wrong idea. They were meeting
to talk. Something they didn't usually do. Jessica wanted to see if
Jeremy was still the same guy that she had fallen in love with back in high
school.
The doorbell rang suddenly bringing Jessica back to reality. She went
downstairs and let Jeremy in.
Jeremy smiled down at her.
"What?" she said self-consciously.
"You look so beautiful," he told her.
Jessica glanced down at her outfit. "No I don't."
"You always look beautiful."
Jessica blushed and gestured for him to come in.
They sat down together on her living room couch. "Jeremy," she started.
"We've been uh…seeing-"
"Cheating," Jeremy supplied.
"Uh, yeah." Jessica blushed. "But I'm so unhappy, Jeremy! I hate lying
to Ryan and to you. And this is destroying us."
"Jess," Jeremy said softly. "I thought being with you made me happy."
"Being with you makes life happier for a little while." Jessica sighed,
knowing what she had to do. "But Ryan really cares about me and he…he
loves me."
Jeremy looked at Jessica confused. "What are you saying?"
Jessica looked down at her hands. "When you broke up with me to be with
Melissa Fox I was devastated. I didn't think I could go on and I spent
so much time hoping that you would come back."
"But," Jeremy supplied.
"But, I moved on." Jessica said looking at him. "Ryan has never hurt me
and I can't stand hurting him like this."
"So don't tell him," Jeremy said.
"I have to!" Jessica burst out irritated. "Doesn't it bother you?"
"Not really," Jeremy said shrugging. "If I make you happys, then I make
you happy."
Jessica stared at him in disbelief. Had he really changed this much
since high school? He used to be so sweet and sensitive. Jessica felt like
she was finally seeing him for the first time. The Jeremy she had seen
for the past few weeks had been the Jeremy from high school.
"I guess I shouldn't have expected you to still want me," Jeremy said
softly.
"A part of me will always want you Jeremy. You were a really important
part of my life."
"But not anymore," Jeremy finished.
Jessica nodded and put a hand to his cheek. "I'm sorry."
Jeremy smiled disappointedly at her. "I knew all along. If Ryan makes
you happy then that's good."
"He does," Jessica said.
They both knew that there was nothing left to be said and Jessica
leaned over and hugged Jeremy.
Suddenly Jessica heard the door opened and Elizabeth and Ryan walked
into the room.
Ryan saw her and Jeremy hugging and went pale. "Jessica?" he said
hoarsely.