"Hey Jess, sorry about your dad." Jonny peeked in her room.
"That's exactly the reason you didn't want to get together with me," Jessie shrugged, "you knew he'd react like that to any change, I didn't."
"I'm sorry about before."
"No Jonny, I was in a bad mood, so I took it out on you."
"I'd still like to make it up to you somehow."
"Sure, come on in," Jessie smiled, "we could talk about old times or something."
"All right, I'll be right back though, you want a beer?"
"No thanks."
"And I know you drink Jess, because Athena had at least one martini." Jonny wagged his finger at her. Jessie couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah yeah yeah, but I don't drink beer," her eyes twinkled, "you do realize that dad doesn't keep any in the house and your dad only has wine?"
"Never under estimate Jonny Quest," he winked, "like I said, be right back." And in a flash, Jonny was gone. Jessie giggled to herself and Jonny walked back in, his duffel bag slung over her shoulder. He sat on the floor next to the bed where she was sitting.
"What, are you going to show me your variety of black shirts?" Jessie laughed, slipping on the floor next to him.
"Not at all Jess," Jonny reached in the bag and pulled out a beer, "not at all.
"Oh, I bet you think you're so clever." Jessie rolled her eyes.
"You know it." Jonny winked once again. Jessie pulled her own duffel bag towards her and produced a clear bottle.
"Guess you're not the only clever one." She smiled, pulling out a Yale shotglass.
"What'd ya bring?"
"Vodka, want some?" Jessie smiled, pouring herself a shot.
"I thought you hated vodka."
"I thought you didn't drink." She answered as Jonny popped open a beer.
"Hey, it's been almost six months since we've really seen each other," he took a swig of beer, "people change."
"Yeah," Jessie agreed, downing her shot of vodka, "people do change."
"You know something Jess, would you have thought a year ago that we'd be sitting in your room drinking alcohol we smuggled in the house?"
"No way," Jessie shook her head, "not in a zillion years."
"How much did you bring?" Jonny asked as he finished his beer.
"Just a couple of bottles," she poured another shot, "how about you?"
"A few twelve packs."
"How long do you imagine that'll last?" She looked him dead in the eyes.
"Hell if I know, but not long enough." He opened another beer and finished it in one large gulp.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, music?" Jessie stood up and walked to her radio.
"Sure." Jonny grinned, moving up to Jessie's bed. She turned on a local rock station then smiled.
"If I'm smart then I'll run away," she sang along with the radio station, "but I'm not so I guess I'll stay. Heaven forbid. I'll take my chance on a beautiful stranger. I looked into your eyes. And my world came tumbling down. You're the devil in disguise. That's why I'm singing this song." Jessie brushed her hair off her face as she sat down next to Jonny on the bed.
"Wow Jess, never knew you had such a good voice." Jonny looked into her eyes.
"It's nothing special." Jessie looked down as the song continued.
"You know the lyrics are right, I look into your eyes and my world comes tumbling down." Jonny pulled her face up to look at him.
"Jonny maybe you should go."
"But Jessie."
"No Jonny, I mean it, I don't want things to go too far. We're both a little intoxicated right now."
"Jessie, the lyrics say to stay."
"No Jonny, they said 'If I'm smart then I'll go away,' I want to be smart Jonny. I can't be stupid, not anymore."
"Jess."
"Please Jonny, just go."
"Fair enough," Jessie smiled, pouring herself a shot. Jonny opened a fresh beer.
"To tomorrow?" Jonny suggested.
"Tomorrow." Jessie nodded. Quickly choking back their drinks, Jessie and Jonny swallowed before looking back at each other. Jessie turned her head towards Jonny, briefly wondering if she should change her mind.
"Goodnight Jess." Jonny kissed her cheek, picked up his bag and walked out the door. Jessie turned off her radio, then collapsed on her bed, her mind traveling once again.Last Summer
Jessie turned to Eric when the waiter appeared once again.
"I am so sorry," the waiter smiled, "but I forgot to ask what you would like to drink."
"I'll have a beer." Eric said. Jessie opened her eyes in shock.
"And you miss?" The waiter asked.
"Oh, I'll just have a Sprite or something." Jessie said quickly. The waiter nodded and moved on.
"Eric, I thought you didn't drink."
"I just told you that." Eric shrugged.
"God Eric, you told me that at prom, we already were a couple, it's not like your drinking would scare me away."
"I had to be perfect for you Jessie, so if I had to go for a night without drinking, then so be it," Eric looked Jessie in the eyes, "you're worth it."
"But you didn't," Jessie realized, "when you went to get water I kissed you and you tasted like vodka, you said you tried the spiked punch, but that's not the truth, is it?"
"I wanted to have a drink, but I didn't want to shatter your image of me." Eric looked nonchalant.
"Eric, I was already going to Europe with you, going to Yale with you. What, did you think one beer would change all that?"
"It's not like I didn't have competition for you." He muttered.
"You're not the person I thought you were," Jessie whispered, then she turned to the table, "excuse me everyone, I'm going to have to go upstairs."
"Excuse me," Eric smiled his charming smile at everyone before rushing after her, "Jessie wait, let me explain."