"Um…I'm really sorry about that," Tad apologized, "I swear Jessie is like one of the nicest people I know. Honestly she's been kinda weird all week, and today even more than usual."

Katie was nodding along, but her mind wasn't with Tad anymore. She was trying to place that oh-so-familiar-name…Jessie…hmm…Her eyes flew wide as a sudden realization hit her. She was that runner girl who (still) had her blue cross country sweatshirt. When she found out she would be moving with her dad and transfering to Upton Sinclair, Katie had been thinking about getting to meet Jessie. But since all she knew were her race times and her first name, she hadn't held out much hope for getting too close. After all, she didn't even know what grade she was in. As a senior, Katie had a strict rule about being nice to underclassmen, but she couldn't actually bring herself to hang out with any freshmen outside of track practice. With Jessie's lithe frame and girlish features etched in her pretty face, Katie had no way of knowing what category she fell into.

But why did she run away? She must have recognized me…at least a little?

Tad noticed the concerned look fall over the girl's face, and mistakenly interpreted it as new school blues. He had already forgotten about Jessie and was relatively focused on making his mark with the striking new girl.

"If you're not sure where your next class is, I could probably show you…" he let the sentence fade on its own as he searched Katie's face for answers.

"What?…oh, no, I think I'm fine. English Lit is right downstairs, right?"

Somewhat disappointed that she didn't require any further guidance, Tad sighed and replied, "Yeah, that's right. Have fun with Mr. Peratt, he's intense."

Intense? Nobody could be as intense as these past few minutes have been.

Instead of voicing her thoughts, Katie merely emitted the standard laugh and started off for the stairwell. Nearly forgetting about Tad, she turned around at the last second,

"Thank you so much for helping me out Tad," he smiled and blushed slightly, "maybe I could find you at lunch tomorrow or something?"

"Yeah, sure. Of course," Tad stammered, "I'll just wait outside your class…"

"U.S. History?"

"Yeah, I'll wait outside Abbett's room for you."

"Thanks Tad, I really appreciate it."

"It's nothing…you know, anytime."

"Can't you just wait until school is over? There's only one period left, Jessie."

"Ms. Hoskin, I'd rather puke in my own toilet…and then pass out in my own bed!"

"Well so far you've been here for ten minutes, and I've seen no signs of puking or fainting. Could it be that you're just upset about something, dear?"

"What? No, I've had a rotten day…but that's because I'm sick!"

"Why don't you go lie down until the final bell rings…I'll write you a pass out of class for today"

Jessie, seeing that this argument was going nowhere, muttered a weak "thank you" and lied down on the unforgiving leather lounge-like bed. She rolled over and faced the white wall. After a quick internal check, she sighed. Okay, so she wasn't sick anymore. But she had really thought she would throw-up for the minute that she raced down the hall away from Tad and that familiar new girl. Maybe she was hallucinating. After all, what would the girl that had been, literally, running through her mind all week be doing in the hallway of Upton Sinclair? She could definitely not be a student; if only for the reason that despite having not seen her since Districts, Jessie spent a majority of her free (and some of her not-so-free) time thinking about her concerned green eyes, about how her long body seemed to invite her to press her own against it, about how good her sweatshirt smelled…even after a week of being crumpled up on Jessie's bed.

Katie could not be here, because if she could turn Jessie's world upside down after two brief encounters, how would Jessie function with the possibility of seeing her anywhere or at anytime? She didn't know why she felt this way about this girl, but the battle inside her was exhausting and she was grateful to hear the bell that declared school was out for the day.

She smiled a tight-lipped smile at the nurse as she got up and gathered her bag. Ms. Hoskin waved back cheerfully,

"Feel better honey!"

Jessie sighed and rolled her eyes as she swung open the door to join the stream of kids rushing out of school. She wasn't sure if the woman was a wise mentor or more clueless than Tad. Thinking of Tad made her feel bad, for the second time that day, about how she had treated him. She resolved to apologize when she saw him in the morning and try her best to blame her seemingly fading sickness.

She stepped out into the brisk November air and wrapped her black pea coat a little tighter around her waist. After pulling her collar up to block the wind, she stuffed her hands in her pocket and studied the student parking lot for Grace's telltale purple jeep. It was like a hideous skyscraper among townhouses, but at least it was easy to spot. Usually, anyway…Jessie was having a difficult time finding it today.

Figures…as soon as it gets cold out, Grace finds some new hidden parking spot.

"Hey…you wouldn't happen to be hiding a blue Oakridge sweatshirt under that coat, would you?" Jessie heard the cheerful voice drifting over from behind her. She turned around, with measured slowness, not knowing what she would say or do.

She was confronted with Katie's smiling face. Her neck was wrapped in a purple and green stripped scarf that almost clashed with her rosy cheeks. Her gloved hands were loosely gripped on her backpack straps and she was still walking towards a stone-still Jessie. Jessie's stomach dropped and her feelings became all too clear. For whatever the reason, this girl made her want to do cartwheels and sing and run away all at the same time. Over her shoulder, Jessie saw Grace's purple embarrassment to society fly around the corner.

"Uh…I am really sorry," Jessie blurted out as she sprinted past the confused girl. She booked it across the lawn separating the school from the street and practically threw herself into the jeep. Katie could only look on with confused disappointment.

"Oh joy…here you are," Grace greeted her with a sarcastic smile, "what's with the breathing?"

Jessie shot a look at her stepsister, "Just drive Grace."

"Whatever your Hormones Highness," Grace seemed peeved, but she did pull away from the curb with unexpected vigor. Her new snow tires squealed and Grace lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Thanks for that, and I blame you." Jessie let her rant and turned her attention to the window. She wasn't quite sure what was wrong with her…she knew she liked Katie. And the feelings would seem good if she weren't so afraid of them. So why did she feel the need to flee every time she saw her since their chance encounter at Districts? It wasn't a question she could answer with Grace yapping in her ear, so she forced it out of her mind and pretended to care what Grace thought about nothing.