Chapter 3
"What"? Katie asked, baffled. Jesse hesitates for a moment, then bursts into laughter. "What's so funny"? She asked, still confused. Jesse doesn't say anything for a few seconds, then finally gets enough air to talk. "I was just kidding" he said. Katie cocked her head slightly, "How"? She asked. Jesse still laughs moderately, "I was making fun of the movie, you know how the guy told the girl he loved her"? He said. Katie pauses, then joins him. "Yeah. Good one" she said.
They laugh for a few minutes then stop after if gets old. What the hell was that? Jesse thought to himself. Just a joke? Only kidding? Jesse, you coward, he thought again, mad at himself. They come to a souvenir shop and stop to look around. "Hey, let's go there. Let's see what they have" he said. Katie nodded, "okay, sure". The shop was rather large with many booths and toys and books. Jesse and Katie left each other and went their own way. "Hey Katie, come here" Jesse yelled. He sees Katie run around the many corners of the booths and stop right in front of him. He puts on a Mariner's baseball cap and a necklace and says in a high-pitched voice, "Hi, I'm Hannah Dippet. I like music, sports and I believe that good friends never stray away from each other" he said. Katie laughs and so does Jesse.
They both walk down the steep hill that led to their homes. "I had a good time today Katie" Jesse said. Katie smiled and looked at him. "Yeah, me too" she said, still smiling widely. They didn't speak much all the way the home. Jesse was very angry at himself, but showed no sign of it all the way home. Okay, tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll do it for sure. I'll just have to tell her the truth. The real truth, he thought again.
They come to the hill that separated them from their homes. "Well, I had good time today Jesse" Katie said. Jesse smiled widely, "me too Katie" he said. They stared at each other for a moment, then when things became too awkward, Jesse left. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow" he said. Katie nodded, "yeah, you too" she said. Jesse didn't say anything for a few seconds, "good-bye" Katie said, and walked away. "Bye" Jesse yelled back. He walked up the hill and into his home.
He lay in bed, angry at himself for acting like such a coward. You stupid little.....person! He said in his head. He didn't want anyone to hear him. You....just....ugh! He yelled in his head. He rolled over and looked outside, no moon, no stars. "Great" he said. And with that done, he rolled over again and went into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning, Jesse woke with much less anger on himself than the day before. He walked into the kitchen and saw his mom sitting there, not moving, with the phone right next to her. "Hi Mom" he said. She didn't reply. "Mom"? Jesse asked. His mom slowly looks at him and doesn't say anything. "Mom? You okay" Jesse asked, worried. She didn't anything for a while. "Mom"? Jesse asked again, this time very concerned. He sits down in front of her. "Mom, are you okay"? He asked again. His mom slowly spoke out of her small mouth. "Jesse I just got off the phone with Katie's mother" she said slowly. Jesse feels a very slight sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Yeah"? He asked eagerly. His mom broke into tears, "she uh, she got" she began to say, but her tears cut her off. "What Mom"? Jesse asked impatiently. His mom continues to cry, "she uh. She got beat up by a group of guys on her way home from after you two were separated" she said, crying harder. Jesse tilted his head back as tears began to come out of his blue eyes. "Is she all right" he asked slowly. His mom burst into more tears, making it almost impossible for her to talk. "Mom? Is Katie all right"? Jesse asked slowly, crying now harder than his mom. His mom slowly shook her head, "no son. She died" she said.