Fic: Boarding School (7?)

Author: nodoubtwywh

Disclaimer: None of the characters of Once and Again belong to me. But if they were on ebay - watch out!

Summary: Jessie goes to boarding school not knowing that her life will never be the same. (haha sorry, I suck at this whole summary thing)

Feedback: Yes, please! If you want me to continue this story, please let me know!

The next few weeks at school went by quickly. Jessie was getting used to the place, and she was finally getting into a routine. Every Monday she and Grace would have lunch together. And every Wednesday and Friday, she'd have lunch with Katie. Tuesday and Thursdays were up in the air. Her classes weren't too hard for her, but they definitely gave a lot more work than her old high school.

This particular Friday morning Jessie got to sleep in late. Her professor had to take his son to the doctor so he canceled class. And since she didn't have to get up early, she was more than annoyed by the alarm clock that went off at 5am.

"Ungh" Jessie growled rolling over.

"Translation?" Grace asked as she crawled out of bed.

"Shhhh" Jessie said as she tried to bury her face in her pillow

"Ok, ok, I'm going to be quick." Grace replied as she grabbed her shower stuff "Oh yeah, Katie doesn't have to do anything this morning either so I was supposed to remind you to knock on her door to wake her up for lunch"

Jessie turned over and tried to remember what Grace was telling her. Katie was lucky she didn't have to be woken up by an early alarm clock.

At about 10 am, Jessie decided to go ahead and wake up. Ever since Grace woke her up she just couldn't sleep right anymore. After she took a shower and got ready she figured it was late enough to go wake up Katie. Plus, they could hang out a little more than usual.

Jessie waited for Katie to open the door as she knocked loudly. Suddenly the door flew up and a very peppy Katie was there to greet her.

"Hi Billie!" Katie yelled happily as she ran about her dorm room looking for something

"Um" Jessie started as she walked in and shut the door "Are you insane? I thought you'd be sleeping. And Billie?"

"Yeah. Billie. You." Katie said as if that explained everything.

"Sure," Jessie said as she took her usual place on the other bed and watched Katie running about her room.

"Ok" Katie said finally sitting on her own bed and turning on some music

"All calm now sparky?" Jessie teased

"Yeah, sorry," Katie replied "I just woke up with energy"

"Oh yeah, sure, that happens to me all the time" Jessie replied sarcastically

Katie retaliated by throwing a pillow at her.

"Hey!" Jessie tried to say angrily. It wasn't very convincing though because she couldn't help laughing.

"So, what's the plan tonight?"

"Plan?"

"Yeah," Katie replied "It IS Friday night"

"Oh, right"

"I was thinking either hitting up one of the many parties of drunkards or a movie. What do you think?"

"Well, I guess any party we went to would have to better than the first one. But then again I want to see Closer before it goes out of theaters. I'm up for either"

"Why pick one?" Katie smiled "When you're with me anything's possible!"

Jessie laughed as Katie pretended to be a genie.

"You're such a dork" Jessie teased

Katie frowned and stared at the bed "Aw, you hurt my feelings Ms. Holiday"

"Riiiiight" Jessie said as Katie was trying to keep a straight face.

"Ok, well, then I say we go see Closer and then afterward we hit up the party. Now we'll probably have to come back here after the movie and then sneak out after checks. Or we could find a day student to sign out with for the night."

"I'd say signing out is the safer route."

"Done."

"Hey Jess, you're done with classes right?" Grace said as she opened the door to their room

"Yep, easy day for once"

"Great. You want to grab some dinner? I'm starving"

Jessie agreed and they made their way to the dining hall. Jessie wasn't that hungry so she only grabbed a salad thinking she might get something to eat at the movies later.

"So, what are you doing tonight?" Grace asked as she sat her tray down at a table in the corner

"Katie and I are going to the movies and then we're thinking about going to Mike Donnelley's party. Are you going to it?"

Jessie could've sworn she saw Grace's eyes narrow, but she convinced herself she just imaged it.

"Um, maybe" Grace finally answered "This guy Reed asked me if I wanted to go with him."

"That's great! How come you didn't tell me before?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure if he's really my type yet"

After a few minutes of silence, since they were both eating, Grace finally spoke up.

"So, you've been hanging out a lot with Katie lately..."

"Yeah," Jess smiled as she answered "It's been great hanging out with someone from back home plus she's cool"

"Careful, you guys are going to be joined at the hip like she was with Sarah Grasser"

Jessie just laughed, but again she thought she saw Grace making a strange face. She didn't know Sarah Grasser, but she though she'd heard her name before. She must have been in the same grade as Grace and Katie.

"Hey Billie!" Katie said as Jessie opened the door. "You ready to go?"

"Yep, let me just grab my money"

"So, I've got some bad news" Katie started as they made their way down the elevator. "I couldn't get us signed out."

"Oh no, what happened to my genie?" Jessie teased

"I'm sorry, but we can still go to the party. My curfew it a little later than yours, and besides you said Grace was going. So I'm sure curfew won't be a big deal"

"All right" Jessie said nervously. She wasn't normally one to break a lot of rules.

"How was the movie?" Grace asked as Jessie got home

"Really good, but I think I would've liked the play better."

"So, you're getting ready?" Jessie asked as Grace was looking through her closet wearing her robe.

"Yeah, aren't you going to, also?"

"Yeah, Katie and I are leaving in about 30 minutes."

Grace didn't say anything. Jessie decided to confront her about her weird looks.

"I don't know if I'm imagining it, but it seems like you don't like Katie"

"What?" Grace asked genuinely surprised as she threw on her clothes "That's not true!"

"Ok," Jessie replied "Then what is it? I mean, lately you seem to make a face whenever I mention her."

"I promise, it's not that I don't like Katie. I think she's great, and I'm really glad you guys are friends"

"Even if we are...what did you say? 'joined at the hip' like she was with this Sarah whatever girl?"

"Grasser. And..." Grace said staring directly at Jessie. "Even if you are"

Jessie dropped it and started to get dressed.

"I wonder why Katie hasn't mentioned Sarah. I mean, I bet she misses her friend from home being here" Jessie wondered out loud.

Grace took this as final confirmation that Jessie didn't really know who Sarah was.

"I think it's because Sarah was too heartbroken to stay friends."

Jessie stopped brushing her hair.

"What?"

Grace didn't know what to say next. She wasn't sure if she should've told Jessie, but it didn't seem fair that she didn't at least know.

"Yeah, Katie and Sarah were, like madly in love, and Katie broke up with her. Sarah was heartbroken"

"That isn't true! I'm sure that's not what happened. " Jessie snapped "You're just repeating some stupid rumor that went around school."

"No, I'm not. It was common knowledge. It's not a big deal."

Suddenly, Jessie remembered Grace's comment about her being like Sarah.

"Well, I know it's not a big deal because she isn't!"

"Whatever. Ask anyone."

"I don't have to ask anyone because I know her!" Jessie fired back.

"Whatever. I'll see you later. " Grace said as she grabbed her purse and left.

Jessie's blood was boiling as she slammed the door after Grace.

Jessie stopped getting ready and laid down on her bed.

Katie is not gay she told herself She would've told me.

Finally, Jessie got up the nerve to go knock on Katie's door.

"Hey Billie," Katie answered with her usual smile "You dressed already?"

"Actually, um...Ar-" Jessie stopped and chickened out. "I'm not really feeling all that well. Would you be really mad if I said I didn't want to go anymore?"

Katie was surprised, but she didn't show it.

"Course not. It must have been that skeezy popcorn at the theater." Katie said as she started putting away her makeup. "We can just stay in and watch some movies if you want."

"Actually, I think I'm just going to go to bed early. I'm really tired."

"Oh." Katie replied obviously disappointed "Ok. You want me to get anything for you?"

"No, I'll be fine. I probably just need some sleep"

"Ok." Katie said noticing that Jessie was acting a little strange. "Well, then, I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah," Jessie said as she left Katie's room, "night."