Mark woke up to the sound of someone singing. Jessie had the radio on as was singing along while she got her stuff together. "Someone's in a good mood this morning." Mark grumbled. Jessie turned around and smiled at him. God she was beautiful when she smiled Mark thought. "What's not to be in a good mood about? I'm free of that asshole and I'm about to start a new life." She said. She came and sat on the bed beside him. "Thanks for the clothes and the room and well everything, even the talk last night. I would have to pay a therapist a fortune to listen to all that shit." Jessie said smiling again. She took her hand and put it in his large hand for just a moment. "I really mean it thanks. It means a lot that you didn't try nothing with me." She said. She pulled her hand away and got up. She grabbed the bag with the clothes in it. "Well I'm off. I'll try to track you down some day and pay you back." Jessie said. She walked out the door and shut it. Mark looked at his hand and remembered her soft touch on it. "Oh Hell!" he said jumping out of the bed. He went and opened the door and looked around. He saw her heading toward the highway. "JESSIE!" Mark yelled and took off after her. Jessie turned when she heard her name. She waited for him to catch up. "Jessie I'm just basically traveling around from town to town sort of a vacation. Want to tag along with me?" Mark asked. Jessie looked up at him. She wasn't sure if she should or not she already owed him so much. "Well I don't want to be a bother." Jessie said. "Listen kid. I'm not really giving you a choice. Hitchhiking is dangerous. I assume that's what you were going to do. And the way you just go around climbing into complete strangers vehicles lord knows what would happen to you." Mark growled at her. Jessie smiled. "Well since I don't have no choice I guess I will go will you peacefully." She said. "Real funny little girl." Mark mumbled. They walked back toward the room. "Mark." Jessie said. "Yea?" he answered. "I'm glad to see your overcoming your shyness and she burst out in laughter. Mark looked down and realized he was out here in nothing but his boxers and t-shirt. Mark flushed and hurried toward the room her laughter following him. Jessie ran to catch up with him. She heard him mumbling something about 'smart mouthed little girls'. She followed him in the room and shut the door. Jessie watched as he pulled on a pair of jeans. She went to stand in front of him. "I'm sorry Mark." She said as she tried to unsuccessfully to suppress an fresh round of giggles. Mark looked at her standing there her wild curls gone crazy all over her head and laughter dancing in her eyes and on her lips. "If you're going to apologize at least do it without laughing." Mark said. She saw the amusement in his eyes which were so expressive. "Okay I'll remember that for next time." Jessie said. "I'm going to go get us some breakfast and then we'll take off." Mark said. "Okay." Jessie said. Mark opened the door. "Get over here and lock the door." He said. Jessie came over and locked the door behind him. She leaned back against the door thinking about Mark. He wasn't like other guys she had met. He was different. She hadn't known men like Mark existed. She went and got Mark's bag out of the closet. She decided she would pack his stuff up for him.
Jessie and Mark sat and ate the fast food he had got. "Jessie what are your plans for the future I mean?" Mark asked. "Well the first thing I'll have to do is get a GED and then get a job. I'm real good with computers I kept up all Davies's computer files for him. Or maybe I'll be a writer or maybe a famous singer." Jessie said smiling. "That's on my have to do list. Then I got my want to do list." Jessie said. "And what's on that list?" Mark asked smiling at her silliness. "Well stuff like Skinny dipping. I mean it sounds like fun. I just have to do that someday. Seeing the ocean. I never have and I just gotta do that. Umm riding a rollercoaster, seeing a baby born, going for a walk in the mountains in the fall. Oh hell I got a million of them. Most people go through life and don't take the time to do stuff like that but I am." Jessie said. Mark watched Jessie in amazement. Her zest for life was a miracle considering what she had been through. "Can I ask you something Jessie?" Mark said. "sure." She said shrugging. "How can you be so upbeat after all you been through? I mean you're covered from head to toe in bruises." Mark said. "Well hell Mark what do you think I did in between the times he was raping me, beating me, or making me carry around drugs. Sit in a room and cry? Nope. I was reading or listening to music or dreaming about all the stuff I would do someday when I got away from him. I'm free now I'm going to make the most of it." Jessie said. "I'm sorry if I upset you." Mark said afraid he had brought up bad memories for her. "No you didn't. Remember I told ya I don't cry sometime I don't feel nothing at all it's like I'm numb. It comes and goes but I don't ever cry. Hey I watched some really depressing movies just to see if I could cry, but I can't. If a person don't cry watching 'steel magnolias' they aint never going to cry." Jessie said laughing. Mark got up to pack his bag and seen it was packed and sitting on the bed. "Jessie you didn't have to do that." Mark said. Jessie grinned at him. "It aint like I birthed a child for ya. I just packed up your bag." Jessie said. Mark couldn't help returning her smile. "Come on kid let's hit the road." Mark said. Jessie jumped up and ran out the door with Mark following. She was standing in front of the truck jumping up and down. "Come on Mark open the door it's cold out here." Jessie said. "Keep your shorts on kid." Mark grumbled at her. He could see she was going to make an interesting road companion.