Chapter 13

Secret Plans 

I lie awake and watch the shadows,

Dancing across

The wall

Nothing to do but thing of you,

And count the tears

That fall

Oh, how I wish it were real

I wish I could feel you holding me close

The only thing I know for sure

Is I should have never let you go ©Faith Hill

"Damn Radio," Jess mumbled into her pillow. She was at her new house all moved in, but still depressed. She rummaged around in her bed for the remote to her stereo and changed the station.

A hundred days have made me older

Sense the last time that I saw your pretty face

A thousands lives hand made me colder

And I don't think I can look at this the same

But all the miles that separate

Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face

I'm here without you baby

But you're still on my lonely mind

I think about you baby

And I dream about you all the time

I'm here without you baby

But you're still with me in my dreams

And tonight

It's only you and me ©3 Doors Down

            "What the hell!" Jess yelled as she threw the remote at the stereo and by chance hitting the power button and turning it off. "That was a once and a life time thing," Jess pondered.

            "Why don't you just call him… or even go see him?" Jess grunted at the sound of Eben's voice and his sudden presence in her doorway.

            "Don't you know how to knock?" Jess asked irritated.

            "I believe you are not answering my question, just simply asking a new one," Eben added, this time trying to annoy her.

            "He will never take me back. He poured his heart out to me, and I told him I needed more time!" Jess specified, mentally kicking herself at the memory.

            "How would you know? From what you told me, it sounded like he was in love with you," Eben shrugged.

            "Why is it that I always fall for the wrong guys?"

            "I don't think there's anything wrong with the guys. I think it's you, you stubborn wench," really pressing his limits with her temper.

            "What the hell! God you're such a rude jackass of a man. You are way more messed up than I am!" Jess declared. She'd only fallen in love once, and it was the man in front of her. She was only thankful she realized how much of a jerk he was before she truly gave herself to him. Yeah, he did all he could for her now, but that was with years of friendship. Now that she was falling in love for a second time, maybe she was afraid of fully falling in love again.

"Why do I bother to tell you anything?" she finally asked, too exhausted from her own thoughts to argue. "Did you bring Jack?" Jess asked trying to change the subject.

            "Yup, and he's in the living room watching cartoons and watching over the Chinese food I brought over for us. Now get up!" he demanded.

            "It's too early for Chinese," she whined.

            "It's 3:00 in the afternoon! Have you been in bed all day?" Eben asked in disbelief.

            "Come on," he walked over to her and picked her up from her pile of blankets.

            "What are you doing?" but her question was answered as she was plopped in the tub and the showered head was turned on.

            "Hurry up and take a shower so we can eat," Eben laughed as Jess lay at the bottom of the tub looking like a drowned rat.

            Jess returned from her shower a few minutes later with her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing her favorite 'Speed Racer' Tee and sweat pants. Plopping down on the floor, she reached for the remote and turned the TV to the Speed channel because there was a 'Speed Racer' marathon on.

            "Hey!" her little brother shouted.

            "What?" Jess asked, grabbing the closest box of Chinese.

            "I was watching 'Power Rangers!" he yelled.

            "Sorry, but 'Speed Racer' is better," Jess said filling her mouth with food. Her brother just huffed and sulked on the couch.

            "What do you want for your birthday?" Eben asked. Jess turned to him surprised.

            "When's my birthday?" Jess asked totally serious. Eben just shook his head.

            "On Friday," he reminded her.

            "Oh yeah!"

            "Yeah!" Eben mocked. "I think I'm going to take you out."

            "I don't care," Jess shrugged, engrossed in her food and cartoon.

            "Alright. Friday night at 8:00 sound good to you?" Jess nodded in agreement. Eben smiled to himself inside. He had quite the surprise for her.

The day before

            "How would you guys like to help me throw a surprise party for Jess?" Eben asked the group of guys standing in front of him.

            "Hell yeah," Sean spoke out. The rest of the guys nodded except for Brian who Eben made sure wasn't at there.

            "Great," Eben smiled evilly. "Now who wants to help me in another plan of mine?"

A/N: I really meant to update sooner, but I've just been preoccupied. I hope you guys like this chapter. The songs are "Back to You by Faith Hill" and "Here Without You by 3 Door Down." And I just have to say that I used to love the show Speed Racer when I was little so I had to add it in my fic. Because Speed Racer is the ultimate racer man! There was a marathon on the Speed channel too! My chapters should come faster now because it's too cold to go outside so I won't be able to go snowboarding for a while : (  So that should give me an excuse to write.

I guess that's good news to all of you. Don't forget to review! Thanks.