Katie Singer sat alone in her room thinking about her afternoon at Jessie's house. Before Grace had interrupted them, they were talking about the Junior Prom. Jessie had asked Katie whether or not she was going, and Katie was trying to work up the nerve to ask Jessie to go with her. But then Grace had to barge in and ruin everything. Katie wasn't even sure if Jessie would've said yes, but it was still worth a shot. Katie sighed as she wondered whether to pick up the phone and call Jessie. Just as she reached for her telephone, it rang, startling Katie. She sighed and silently laughed as she picked up the receiver and said hello.

"Katie? Hey, it's me, Jessie," she said, her heart skipping at the sound of Katie's voice.

"Oh, hey Jess, I was just thinking about you," said Katie, smiling and absentmindedly playing with a strand of her hair.

Jessie's smile grew, "Oh really, and what were you thinking about me?"

Katie's eyes grew wide at Jess's flirtatious comment, "I was actually thinking about a specific thing...but I would rather talk to you in person."

Jessie grew nervous. She had actually been happy earlier when Grace had interrupted her and Katie's conversation. She wasn't sure, but she thought that Katie was going to ask her to the Junior Prom, and Jessie wasn't sure what her answer was going to be. She cared for Katie, that much she knew. But how deep her feelings for the older girl went, were beyond Jessie's knowledge. "Well," she started, "Well, my mom has a date tomorrow night so."

"Wait.a date? With who?"

"Henry. It turns out that innocent crush is being acted on. Anyway, Mom will be gone so you could come over then?" Jessie said, half hoping that Katie would be busy.

Katie grinned, "Yeah, I think I can pencil you into my oh-so-busy schedule. 8:00ish?" she asked, biting her lower lip in response to her nerves.

"Sounds great," Jessie replied. "We can order a pizza or something. And you can talk to me then?"

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow Jess. Goodnight."

"Night."

Katie Singer hung up the phone and sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. Most people at school already knew that Katie was gay. After the whole debacle with Sarah, they all pretty much figured out that Katie was into girls. But Jessie.Jessie was different. She had her own image and she had made it pretty clear that she did not want to jeopardize it. There was only one person that Katie trusted enough to talk to, and she hoped that he would keep her secret. Katie picked up the phone and dialed. Ring.Ring.

"Hello?" said a sleepy voice on the other end.

"Tad, its Katie."

"Singer? What do you want?" Tad rolled over and looked at the clock, sighing he said, "Can't this wait till morning?"

"Look, can I see you. I need someone to talk to."

"Is this about your dad?" he asked, his voice rising a bit.

"No, no, its about.someone else. Someone important.I just really need a friend right now."

There was silence on the other end and Katie's heart began to pound. "Tad?"

"I'll meet you at the park in fifteen Katie." The line clicked as he hung up the phone. Katie sighed; it was time she talked to someone about what she had been feeling lately. She threw on her jacket and started the long walk towards the park.

*****

Tad sat on the swing, rubbing his hands together in an attempt to stay warm. He never would have came out here for anyone else. But Katie.he and Katie had been through some tough times together. She meant more to him than anyone in the world.

"Hey there Frosty," said Katie, emerging from behind the tree. "Cold night, isn't it?"

"What's this all about Katie? What was so wrong that you had to call me out here at midnight?"

Katie sighed, "Well, you know the truth about me being gay."

"Did someone say something to you? Just give me a name Kat," he said enraged.

"No, no Tad. It's nothing like that. There's someone.someone that I care about."

Tad unclenched his fists, "You dragged me out of my warm house and bed to tell me gossip about your latest crush?"

Katie sighed, "It's not that simple Tad. See this girl, she um.there's something between us, but there are other issues that have come up and.I don't know what I am trying to say."

"Katie, is this girl gay?"

"I don't know. I mean, I think so. Sometimes when I'm looking at her and she's looking at me its like, the whole world has disappeared and it's just us. Alone, together, and happy."

"And you don't think that Jessie feels the same way?" asked Tad, a quiet and knowing grin crossing his face.

"It's not that I don't think she cares for me, cuz she does it's just." Katie stopped and stared at Tad. "Oh my god."

"Come on Kat, like I wouldn't figure it out. You two are so obviously right for each other. Even a pig-headed, stubborn, jock like me can see it. I'm not blind to love, you know."

"Tad, you can't tell anyone, please, it would kill her."

"I promise, Katie, I promise. Besides, you and Sammler go good together. I wouldn't jeopardize that." He walked over and put his arm around her shoulder, squeezing lightly, "It's just good to see you so happy again Singer. Everything with your dad, ya know, that was rough. I just.like to see you smiling again." He grinned at her and then looked back up at the stars.

Katie too gazed at the sky with a wide-eyed wonder of the great beyond. The sky was an endless blanket of hope, she thought. Whenever Katie looked up at the stars, she was always reminded of Jessie. The stars shimmered in the sky just like Jessie's eyes sparkled when she laughed. She sighed and looked at Tad, "Well, it's late. You should go back to bed. Thanks for coming out here and listening to me though. I kind of needed someone to talk to."

Tad smiled at his best friend, "Anytime Singer, anytime." With that said, he patted Katie on the head and headed towards home. Katie however, continued to gaze up at the stars and think of the younger girl. She closed her eyes and lay back further on the tree trunk, and there she stayed until morning.