Moonlight danced on the windowpanes of the Chase home, creating eerie
reflections across the lawn. One window was illuminated; though everyone
other window was dark. Jesse, the only one left up, was lying on the floor
in her room, her yearbook open in front of her. She was reading all the
signatures people had written in her freshman year, before the accident. It
seemed as if the blank pages reserved for signature couldn't have been more
full. The problem was, back then, Jesse hadn't cared about half those
people, and she could remember even less. Two years ago Jesse couldn't have
cared less about anyone other than the jocks and cheerleaders, and was
quite frankly, at the top of the popularity food chain. But now...things were
so much different, she felt disgusted even thinking about the girl she once
was. Popularity, at least as far as Jesse was concerned, really wasn't all
that it was cracked up to be.
Her eyes drifted to a note scrawled on the final page of the book.
Hey Jess! This year was the best! I know we've had our ups and downs, but this year couldn't have been better! Your such a great friend, and I hope you don't change a bit! We've been best friends for as long as I can remember, and I know that won't change, even if we do. LYLAS! *AMY*
P.S. HOES OVER BROS!
"Yeah right," Jesse laughed to herself, "I can't believe I ever believed any of that crap." Jesse's playful mood suddenly turned sour as she hastily shoved the book back into the box that was sitting in front of her. "Don't open" was written in sharpie marker on the side of the box, but Jesse figured it was time she did just that. After the accident, Jesse had packed up a lot of her things and shoved it in the corner of her closet, left to collect dust and cobwebs until she was ready to open it. For some reason, Jesse felt the time had come.
Looking deeper into the box, Jesse picked out a small photograph album that read "Friends Forever" on the front. Carefully, she opened it up, flipping it to a page in the middle. A glossy photograph sparkled in the dim lamplight. It was a picture taken the week before the day Colin and Bright got into the car accident. Amy was getting a piggyback ride, and Bright was holding Jesse playfully. It was hard to look at, knowing Colin was gone, and so was the person who had taken the picture. Jesse shoved it back into the box along with the yearbook, and a few other items (including some saved movie ticket stubs, a t-shirt she had bought at American Eagle that summer, and an old cheerleading trophy).
"Jesse?" Jesse whipped around to see Jay leaning against the door frame, a huge bruise on his face.
"Whoa, what happened to you?" Jesse asked, standing up as Jay entered the room.
"You know Madison's new jailbait boyfriend?" Jay inquired, sitting down on the candy apple red vintage couch Jesse got for her 14th birthday.
"Yeah," Jesse nodded, eager to find out how the bruise and Ephram were linked.
"He started a fight with me after our gig tonight," Jay said, a very un- amused look on his face.
"Your kidding me," Jesse replied, her jaw nearly dropped. Ephram just wasn't the type.
"Nope," Jay shook his head, "Luckily the kid'll be getting a taste of the county jail."
"Wow," Jesse said, practically to herself. Not knowing what to do, she grabbed her coat off her bed, and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Jay asked confused.
"I just remembered that I was supposed to pick up some things for Erin," Jesse lied, "I'll be back later, okay?"
***
The sound of the doorbell rang through the house, and thinking everyone else was asleep, Andy got up to get it. When he opened up the door, he found a strange looking girl standing at his doorstep. She was dressed in a pair of old, worn out looking jeans, and a short-sleeved baby tee mostly covered by a sheer ling jean jacket.
"Hi, is Ephram home?" She asked nervously, brushing her dark hair out of her eyes.
"He is, but I don't think he's accepting any visitors," Andy told her sympathetically. She looked so tired yet determined.
"Please," She replied, "It's important."
"Alright," Andy nodded, moving so she could step inside, "Upstairs, second door on the right."
"Thanks," She said with a small smile, before running up the stairs. She made her way down the hallway, and stopped in front of the second door. Bracing herself, Jesse reached out and knocked on the door.
"Come in," She heard Ephram groan from inside. Jesse pushed open the door, finding Ephram sprawled out on his bed, holding an ice pack to his head.
"Hey," Jesse greeted softly, moving so Ephram could see her.
"What are you doing here?" Ephram asked, sitting up hastily.
"Jay told me what happened," Jesse began.
"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry, but he was asking for it," Ephram explained, as Jesse sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I don't doubt that," Jesse replied, "I didn't think you would have started a fight unless you had a good reason too."
"Oh," Ephram sighed, a little surprised by her attitude towards the situation.
"How are you? I heard you got arrested," Jesse brought up the topic carefully.
"It was...exciting I guess you could say," Ephram laughed, "But I'm alright, they let me off with a warning."
"That's good," Jesse smiled, "No "Oz" moments or anything?"
"Thankfully, no," Ephram grinned, "They didn't even put me in a cell."
"Then what good was it?" Jesse asked, "What's the point if you didn't even get any prison stories to tell your grandchildren?"
"You've got a point," Ephram chuckled, "So how was your night?"
"I had a big mope fest," Jesse responded, "Basically I sat around, feeling all depressed as I went through my old stuff."
"Sounds like fun," Ephram replied sarcastically, "I would have traded places with you though."
"Really? Why?" Jesse questioned, inching closer to him.
"I think the whole bar fight ended things between Madison and I," Ephram answered, turning his attention to the window.
"I'm sorry," Jesse offered.
"It's okay," Ephram replied, "Maybe it's for the best."
"You know what this means?" Jesse said quickly, trying to lighten the mood.
"What's that?" Ephram questioned.
"You and I are going to tear up this town as singles," Jesse laughed.
"Really now," Ephram grinned playfully.
"Yep," Jesse said, as they both leaned in. Before she knew it, they were kissing. Both of them knew it was a bad idea, but neither could stop. Finally Ephram pulled away.
"Wow, that was..." Jesse began, "Um...yeah." Jesse stood up, and began to shift nervously, "I should probably go."
"Yeah," Ephram agreed, leading her to the door, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Jesse assured him, "It was..."
"Nice," Ephram finished her sentence.
"Yeah, in a platonic way," Jesse completed his thought.
"Exactly," Ephram nodded, "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure," Jesse smiled, "Night." Jesse turned, and walked down the stairs. Her head still felt all tingly, and she swore she felt butterflies filling her stomach. On the long walk home, she kept telling herself it was a one- time thing, even if she longed to re-experience that moment.
A/N: ALL FEEDBACK IS WELCOME! Please review! Please! If I get 5 reviews, I will update, I promise!
Her eyes drifted to a note scrawled on the final page of the book.
Hey Jess! This year was the best! I know we've had our ups and downs, but this year couldn't have been better! Your such a great friend, and I hope you don't change a bit! We've been best friends for as long as I can remember, and I know that won't change, even if we do. LYLAS! *AMY*
P.S. HOES OVER BROS!
"Yeah right," Jesse laughed to herself, "I can't believe I ever believed any of that crap." Jesse's playful mood suddenly turned sour as she hastily shoved the book back into the box that was sitting in front of her. "Don't open" was written in sharpie marker on the side of the box, but Jesse figured it was time she did just that. After the accident, Jesse had packed up a lot of her things and shoved it in the corner of her closet, left to collect dust and cobwebs until she was ready to open it. For some reason, Jesse felt the time had come.
Looking deeper into the box, Jesse picked out a small photograph album that read "Friends Forever" on the front. Carefully, she opened it up, flipping it to a page in the middle. A glossy photograph sparkled in the dim lamplight. It was a picture taken the week before the day Colin and Bright got into the car accident. Amy was getting a piggyback ride, and Bright was holding Jesse playfully. It was hard to look at, knowing Colin was gone, and so was the person who had taken the picture. Jesse shoved it back into the box along with the yearbook, and a few other items (including some saved movie ticket stubs, a t-shirt she had bought at American Eagle that summer, and an old cheerleading trophy).
"Jesse?" Jesse whipped around to see Jay leaning against the door frame, a huge bruise on his face.
"Whoa, what happened to you?" Jesse asked, standing up as Jay entered the room.
"You know Madison's new jailbait boyfriend?" Jay inquired, sitting down on the candy apple red vintage couch Jesse got for her 14th birthday.
"Yeah," Jesse nodded, eager to find out how the bruise and Ephram were linked.
"He started a fight with me after our gig tonight," Jay said, a very un- amused look on his face.
"Your kidding me," Jesse replied, her jaw nearly dropped. Ephram just wasn't the type.
"Nope," Jay shook his head, "Luckily the kid'll be getting a taste of the county jail."
"Wow," Jesse said, practically to herself. Not knowing what to do, she grabbed her coat off her bed, and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Jay asked confused.
"I just remembered that I was supposed to pick up some things for Erin," Jesse lied, "I'll be back later, okay?"
***
The sound of the doorbell rang through the house, and thinking everyone else was asleep, Andy got up to get it. When he opened up the door, he found a strange looking girl standing at his doorstep. She was dressed in a pair of old, worn out looking jeans, and a short-sleeved baby tee mostly covered by a sheer ling jean jacket.
"Hi, is Ephram home?" She asked nervously, brushing her dark hair out of her eyes.
"He is, but I don't think he's accepting any visitors," Andy told her sympathetically. She looked so tired yet determined.
"Please," She replied, "It's important."
"Alright," Andy nodded, moving so she could step inside, "Upstairs, second door on the right."
"Thanks," She said with a small smile, before running up the stairs. She made her way down the hallway, and stopped in front of the second door. Bracing herself, Jesse reached out and knocked on the door.
"Come in," She heard Ephram groan from inside. Jesse pushed open the door, finding Ephram sprawled out on his bed, holding an ice pack to his head.
"Hey," Jesse greeted softly, moving so Ephram could see her.
"What are you doing here?" Ephram asked, sitting up hastily.
"Jay told me what happened," Jesse began.
"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry, but he was asking for it," Ephram explained, as Jesse sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I don't doubt that," Jesse replied, "I didn't think you would have started a fight unless you had a good reason too."
"Oh," Ephram sighed, a little surprised by her attitude towards the situation.
"How are you? I heard you got arrested," Jesse brought up the topic carefully.
"It was...exciting I guess you could say," Ephram laughed, "But I'm alright, they let me off with a warning."
"That's good," Jesse smiled, "No "Oz" moments or anything?"
"Thankfully, no," Ephram grinned, "They didn't even put me in a cell."
"Then what good was it?" Jesse asked, "What's the point if you didn't even get any prison stories to tell your grandchildren?"
"You've got a point," Ephram chuckled, "So how was your night?"
"I had a big mope fest," Jesse responded, "Basically I sat around, feeling all depressed as I went through my old stuff."
"Sounds like fun," Ephram replied sarcastically, "I would have traded places with you though."
"Really? Why?" Jesse questioned, inching closer to him.
"I think the whole bar fight ended things between Madison and I," Ephram answered, turning his attention to the window.
"I'm sorry," Jesse offered.
"It's okay," Ephram replied, "Maybe it's for the best."
"You know what this means?" Jesse said quickly, trying to lighten the mood.
"What's that?" Ephram questioned.
"You and I are going to tear up this town as singles," Jesse laughed.
"Really now," Ephram grinned playfully.
"Yep," Jesse said, as they both leaned in. Before she knew it, they were kissing. Both of them knew it was a bad idea, but neither could stop. Finally Ephram pulled away.
"Wow, that was..." Jesse began, "Um...yeah." Jesse stood up, and began to shift nervously, "I should probably go."
"Yeah," Ephram agreed, leading her to the door, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Jesse assured him, "It was..."
"Nice," Ephram finished her sentence.
"Yeah, in a platonic way," Jesse completed his thought.
"Exactly," Ephram nodded, "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure," Jesse smiled, "Night." Jesse turned, and walked down the stairs. Her head still felt all tingly, and she swore she felt butterflies filling her stomach. On the long walk home, she kept telling herself it was a one- time thing, even if she longed to re-experience that moment.
A/N: ALL FEEDBACK IS WELCOME! Please review! Please! If I get 5 reviews, I will update, I promise!