Okay, sorry about the long wait, I'm suffering from something I like to call finals. Yes, it is the end of first semester and I believe my teachers have decided now is the time to pile us with all the work they wanted to give us earlier. But, hang in there, only two more weeks then I'll be able to update much more frequently. Regardless, here is another chapter: let the games begin.

Chapter Five

Three Days Later

The days following the dinner at the Burlingame home had passed quickly for Jessie and, before she knew it, it was Friday. Friday meant that Chris could finally take a break from his job at Dr. Keller's and she could put off her college work without feeling too bad about it (not that she ever really felt bad.) But, as Jessie sat in her last class of the day, she realized that it didn't feel like a Friday; it felt like any other day of the week, complete with work and worry.

Jessie tapped her pen upon the surface of her desk and tried to force herself to pay attention, though she wasn't really succeeding; she found the only thing that she could think about was her little sister and that today was the day that she was supposed to take her planned camping trip. The one that she had promised not to take.

Sadie had never lied to her, not even when she had spilled paint all over her favorite pair of pants, yet Jessie couldn't help but wonder...would her sister keep the most important promise she could ever make?

* * *

Sadie shifted uncomfortably as she regarded Richard Corman, her boyfriend of four months, who was staring at her with a mixture of anger and hurt upon his face. Finally, unable to take the silence anymore, she spoke, "I promised my sister I wouldn't go."

Richard sighed, shifting and crossing his arms across his chest. "You could have told me sooner, why did you have to wait until the hour before we leave to let me know that you don't want to go camping?" He questioned, clearly trying to keep the anger that he felt from seeping into his voice.

"No, it's not that I don't want to go camping, I do. It's just that I promised Jessie that I won't go; it's very important to her that I don't go." Sadie defended as soon as the words were out of her boyfriend's mouth. She really did want to go camping, for it was one of her favorite things to do and she had really warmed up to the idea of spending a weekend alone with Richard. Not completely alone, for Richard's sister, best friend and his best friend's girlfriend would be there as well, which was the main reason her parents had agreed to let her go in the first place.

For a moment, a look of confusion replaced the look of hurt upon Richard's face. "It's because of those rednecks isn't it?" He muttered, though he didn't need her to confirm his statement. "Sadie, that probably happened miles from where we've decided to go camping. I understand that your sister means a lot to you but you can't let her stop you from having fun."

"Her friends died in those woods, Richard." Sadie retorted, wondering where her conflicting feelings were coming from. "I understand where she's coming from."

Richard sighed once more, running his fingers through his hair and trying to reason inwardly with himself; he loved Sadie, this he already knew even four months, and he wanted for her to be happy but he could tell that she wasn't going to be happy if she agreed to stay home with her sister. His girlfriend loved to go camping and it was she who had suggested the idea in the first place; he wasn't going to let her back out. "I understand too, but she doesn't want you to be unhappy does she?" Richard questioned, raising an eyebrow when Sadie didn't disagree. "You can't let your sister control you, Sadie."

"She's not controlling me, she's just protecting me." Sadie snapped, knowing that was all Jessie was trying to do. She had lost her friends and she didn't want to lose her sister too. "If those rednecks still are in the woods, she doesn't want me to get hurt."

Richard moved closer to his girlfriend and slipped his arms around her waste, trying her against him. "Nothing will happen to you, not with me around." He assured her, kissing Sadie lightly upon the tip of her nose. "I promise."

Sadie smiled, cheeks reddening unconsciously. "And I promised her that I wouldn't go." She pointed out, raising an eyebrow and wondering what her boyfriend would say next. He clearly wanted her to go camping just as much as she wanted to go and she was interested in what he would do next.

Richard titled his head slightly and kissed Sadie's lips, parting with a smile upon his face. "Then don't tell her you're going, she'll never know." He said, waggling his eyebrows, knowing that he had his girlfriend convinced.

Sadie rolled her eyes and said, "She'll never know."

* * *

When Jessie arrived back to the small apartment that she shared with Chris, she was surprised to see her boyfriend home all ready. He was sprawled out on the couch with one arm draped over his head, looking much like he was sleeping. When she shut the door gently behind her, however, Chris said, "I was wondering when you'd get home."

Jessie smiled and sat down beside Chris, leaning against his chest. "I took the long way home, thinking that maybe I could collect my thoughts." She answered, shutting her own eyes and wishing that she could drift away.

"What's been on your mind?" Chris questioned, kissing the crown of Jessie's hair before trailing his fingers down the nape of her neck.

Jessie leaned closer against him, not opening her eyes. "A lot of things: Sadie, college, mostly what happened in the woods." She answered, sighing deeply as she thought about her words. "It seems like lately, that's the only thing I've been able to think about, even more then usual."

Chris kissed her cheeks, wrapping his arms around her and embracing her tightly. "Jess, it's okay to think about those things, it's only been five months."

"Really?" Jessie questioned, opening her eyes suddenly. "It seems like it's been a lifetime."