Title: One Year Anniversary

Author: Stress

First written: April 18, 2002-May 12, 2002

Edited and replaced: August 9, 2005

Summary: Part III of the Soul Mates Series; When Jack and Stress reach their first year anniversary, Stress tells a friend the story about how they almost didn't get together at all.

At Tibby's

Grace was sitting all by herself in the same booth she had shared with Stress, Jack and David only two days ago. "Was it only two days ago? It seems like an eternity," she said out loud to no one in particular. Grace was right; a lot had happened in two days - even more than she knew. But she was about to find out.

Grace looked up when she heard someone call her name. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw David stroll up to her booth. "Do ya mind if I sit here with ya?"

Grace shook her head and gestured to the seat opposite her. "Where's your girlfriend?" she asked, trying to keep the bitterness in her voice down to a minimum.

"Girlfriend? What girlfriend? I don't got no girlfriend. But, if ya mean Stress, then she's probably out looking for Cowboy right about now." There was no disguising the hurt in his voice.

Though she put on a supportive front, inside Grace was jumping up and down with joy. "She dumped ya for Jack, huh?"

As David nodded she reached out and patted him on the arm. "Well, if ya ask me, those two deserve each other. Did you hear that Jack and your sister broke up this morning?" Grace had seen Crutchy, who Jack had already told, and Crutchy had given her the news.

David looked up in surprise and leaned forward in his seat. "What did Sarah do?" he asked, glad that he wasn't the only one who had their heart broken that day. His happiness lasted only seconds when Grace answered his question. "Nothing really. She's dating Snoddy now."

David slumped back into the booth. "So I guess that means I'm still the only loser with nobody."

"If it makes ya feel any better, I ain't got no one neither."

For the first time since they met, David actually looked at Grace. "Wow, you're very pretty," he blushed as the thought abruptly spilled from his lips.

Grace giggled. "Ya ain't so bad yourself, Dave."

David got a crazy idea. He didn't have anyone and neither did Grace so why didn't they just stick together? "Now, don't think that I'm only asking you this cause I'm on the rebound but how's about me and you get to know each other better? I mean, unless you're harboring a secret crush on the Cowboy, too," he added with a chuckle.

Grace couldn't believe her good luck. The boy of her dreams was asking her out. She didn't care if he was only asking her because he was on the rebound; David thought she was pretty! "I can honestly say that you're the only one that I got eyes for," she said as she leaned in to get her very first kiss from her new boyfriend.

At the Bottle Alley Lodging House

After spending the rest of the day getting to know her new boyfriend, Grace returned to the Bottle Alley Lodging House to tell Martini and Stripes the news.

When she entered the bunkroom there was only three girls already inside. While Mushie was in her bunk reading a book, Stripes and Martini sat talking to each other. When Grace came in, they scampered over to her. From the look on her face, Stripes and Martini knew that she had big news.

"You guys will never guess what happened taday," she said excitedly.

"What? What happened Grace?" asked Stripes.

"Yeah! Ya look like you're ready to explode," added Martini.

"I'm dating Dave!" she bubbled.

Stripes and Martini looked at each other, dumbfounded. "How are you dating Stress's boyfriend?" questioned Martini.

"Simple, they ain't together no more. Stress dumped him this afternoon. An' ya know what the funny thing is... Jack and Sarah broke up this morning too. Now we can get them together and everyone'll be happy!"

The dumbfounded looks on their faces quickly switched over to looks of elation. "Ya mean, our plan might just work?" squealed Stripes.

Martini cut in before they all lost their heads. "Remember, our work ain't finished yet just cause Stress and Jack are both single. Now we gotta actually get 'em together and I happen to have a good idea how we can."

Stripes, who had had enough experience with Martini's wacko plans, sighed. Grace, who had only been in Manhattan for a couple of days, asked "So, what's your plan?"

"Glad ya asked Grace. What we gotta do is convince Stress and Jack to go to Irving Hall tomorrow night together. Then, after they spend the night together, they'll realize how much they love each other and everyone'll be happy."

Stripes looked up at Martini pointing out the flaw in her plan. "How are we gonna get them to go there all by themselves?"

Martini shrugged. "I think that'll be fairly simple. We tell Stress tonight when she comes in that we're all going down to Irving Hall tomorrow night for a girl's night out. Then, tomorrow, we have Spot and Blink tell Jack that all the fellas are going there for a boy's night out. Then the only one's that'll go will be Stress and Jack," she announced as she smiled, obviously satisfied with her plan.

At that moment they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. As Stress entered the bunkroom, Mushie slipped unnoticed off her bunk and left the bunkroom in search of Bookie.

As Stress walked in slowly, the three other girls winked at each other. "So what have ya been up to today?" asked Martini innocently.

"Ya mean Grace here hasn't told you guys all about it?" Stress replied in a monotonous tone.

"What do ya mean Stress?" Grace asked, trying to play it off.

"Before I came back to the lodging house I ran into Boots. He was telling me how he saw ya and David kissing all over town today."

Grace blushed. "Oh, is that what ya mean. Well, ya know, ya did break up with him. Ya don't mind do ya Stress?" She was so happy that she was with David now, but she didn't want to date her friend's ex-boyfriend if she cared.

"Naw, you can have him. I ain't made to have a boyfriend. I'm gonna die an old maid," she sighed as she buried her head into her pillow.

"What about Jack then?" Stripes asked as she gave the other girls a meaningful look.

With her head in the pillow, Stress missed the look that Grace, Stripes and Martini exchanged, but she heard exactly what Stripes had said. "What do ya mean, Stripes?"

"You're telling me that ya didn't hear? Sarah and Jack are no longer dating as of this morning. He's a free man."

Stress couldn't help but wonder if their relationship had ended for the same reasons that her's and David's did. She could only hope that the kiss she had shared with Jack had meant the same to him that it meant to her. She shrugged nonchalantly, trying to hide her true feelings. "Oh, is that so?"

Martini let out a snort when she failed at stifling her giggles. Stress didn't realize how obvious it was that she wanted Jack more than anything. Yet she still insisted on masking her emotions.

Stripes shot her a warning look. "Well, Stress, what are ya doing tomorrow?"

"Now that me social calendar has cleared quite a bit, nothing."

Martini, trying to make up for her slip, continued. "Good, cause we're all decided to have a girl's night out tomorrow at Irving Hall and we want you to come with us."

"I dunno--"

Grace picked up. "Oh! C'mon. I think that ya need some time to forget your man troubles."

Stress smiled at their persistence. "O.K., O.K.. What time do ya want me to meet you girls there?"