Chapter 3

Jessie lay snuggled comfortably in her warm bed, wrapped in the blankets. The light of the sun coming up over the horizon woke her from her slumbers. She very much wanted to go back to sleep, but first decided to visit the kitchen to get some iced tea. Her throat was unusually dry.

"Mmm… what a beautiful morning…" she yawned, as she gazed out her window at the golden clouds. She stretched, and quietly opened her door and padded down the hallway.

Suddenly, she stopped. James was standing a few feet in front of her, leaning against the wall. And he was smiling at her.

"What… what are you doing up this early?" she asked.

"Actually, I came to see you."

She blinked. "Huh?"

"I said, I came here to see you."

She tried to regain her "tough as nails" attitude, and turned her head up in annoyance. "And whatever would you want to do that for?"

James smiled again. "Let's see… should I run down the list?" He took a few steps toward her.

She backed away. "James, what are you doing?"

"I need you, Jessie," he whispered. "I need you badly." He put his arms around her. "Kiss me, Jessie."

She felt her will crumble, and she kissed him. He held her tighter, and as they kissed, she ran her hand through his soft purple hair. God, she felt like she had been waiting for this forever!

"Jessie?" he whispered in her ear, "Jessie? Hey, Jessie! Yo! JESSIE!!!!!"

Jessie blinked several times, and left her trance-like state. James was there, standing against the wall a few feet away from her, yawning and scratching his head. It took Jessie several seconds to realize that none of the kissing had gone on, that she was only imagining it. However, her body still felt like she really had just made out with somebody.

"Jessie! Are you deaf? Hello??" James was repeatedly calling her name.

"Um, oh, James! Yes, I'm… I'm fine. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just can't sleep, that's all. I'm trying to get some fresh air. Are YOU okay? You kind of left us for a bit."

Jessie laughed nervously. "That… that was nothing. I'm fine. I'm just going to get a drink, so I'll see you in the morning. Bye!" she dashed off to the kitchen.

James stared after her curiously. "Poor girl… she's been so high strung these days…"

Jessie's mind was in turmoil when she returned to her room. She tried to sort things out. Why did she start envisioning that? Why did she have those ideas? Did she WANT that? No, of course not! She didn't look at James that way! But now, every time she pictured James in her mind, she felt him wrap his arms around her, and kiss her…

"This is ridiculous!" she cried, standing up and flopping down on her bed. "A one-time thing! That's all it was! It's over!" She soon fell into a fitful sleep.

James and I are dancing in an elegant ball room. There is romantic music playing, and the lights are low. He holds me close to him. And then he whispers in my ear, "What do you want more than anything, Jessie?"

I am breathing heavy, and I gaze into his eyes and reply, "I want you!"

We kiss, a passionate kiss that spins out of control. I can feel it. I want this to be real. I'm spinning. I'm falling… falling…

Jessie bolted awake, sweating and short of breath. It took several moments for her senses to come back to her. Most of her realized that it was only a dream, that she was okay now. But there was that small part of her body that had loved it, and was aching for more. She had to fight it! She turned on all the lights in the room and fell on her back on the bed.

"I think I'm in trouble," she said.