Chapter fifteen
Karen ruffles through same papers on the kitchen table, trying to find a letter she received the other week for work.
B/W Karen: Times like these I wish I could retire and go live on a deserted beach.
Karen hits the table and grumbles.
Karen hears her cell phone ringing and she searches for it.
"Hello? O, hi darling. What's up?"
Karen can hear Jessie breathing heavily down the phone and Karen frowns.
"Um, nothing Mum. Well, nothing really. I just…wanted your advice about tonight."
"Tonight? What's tonight?"
Karen scratches her face and tries to think.
"Um…"
"Sorry, Jessie! You're seeing that boy tonight, right? What's his name? Matt? Brad?"
Jessie corrects her.
"Right, right. So what advice do you need?"
"Well, Grace said I should wear my tight jeans with my pinks loafers and my creamy pink singlet top with the gold stitching, but…"
"Honey, is that what you want to wear?"
B/W Karen: My little princess is growing older…and so am I.
"I don't know. It seems a bit…childish," Jessie sighs.
Karen wants to yell down the phone and tell her that in fact she is a child.
"So, what about your black singlet with the frilly bits? You can still wear your pink shoes with that, and it will look grownup."
Jessie sighs with relief and Karen smiles.
"Thanks, mum."
"Any time, sweetie."
"Well…I guess I better get ready," Jessie murmurs and Karen can hear the anxiousness in her voice.
"Sweetie, you'll be fine. And don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want, ok?"
"Sure mum, thanks."
Jessie laughs a little and Karen smiles.
"Call me if you need me!"
"Ok, bye!"
Jessie hangs up the phone and Karen sighs.
B/W Karen: I wish I could protect her forever.
(next section)
Phoebe puts down the drum sticks and pushes her hair behind her ears. Jules is sitting down on the couch in front of her and he's beaming.
"Geez Phoebe, you've gotten so much better. Ya been practicing?"
Phoebe blushes a little and moves to the couch.
"Maybe a little…" she murmurs and Jules chuckles.
Phoebe leans back into the couch and Jules moves in closer. Phoebe feels herself heating up and bites her lip.
"I…I really like you, Phoebes," Jules murmurs.
Phoebe blushes some more.
"I really like you, too," she replies and smiles softly.
Jules lets out a deep breath and moves in even closer. Phoebe leans in towards Jules and places a hand tentatively on his knee. She closes her eyes and Jules places his lips onto hers.
B/W Phoebe: So this is what a kiss feels like…
B/W Cooper: She tastes so sweet…like strawberries.
Jules places a hand on Phoebes shoulder and pulls her in closer, when the door suddenly opens and Eli and Cooper fumble into the Eli's bedroom, laughing over a joke. They stop, notice Jules and Phoebe and nudge each other.
"Go dude!" Cooper hoots.
Jules and Phoebe jump a mile and she quickly gets up from the couch. She looks at Jules and he looks away.
"I, uh, better go see Grace. She's expecting me," Julie mutters and rushes out of the room.
Cooper and Eli crack up laughing. Jules grumbles and walks over to the drum kit.
"O, common, man. We didn't mean anythin'," Eli apologizes.
"Whatever, lets just play already," Jules grumbles.
Cooper and Eli give each other a look and shrug their shoulders.
(next section)
Phoebe walks into Grace's bedroom and throws herself onto the bed.
Grace is sitting at her desk, going over some homework. She looks curiously over at Phoebe.
"What's up?"
Phoebe sighs and looks at Grace.
"Boys."
Grace smiles and moves over to the bed and sits down next to Phoebe.
"What did Jules do?"
Phoebe sits herself up and looks at her hands.
"We…kissed."
Grace smiles and throws a pillow at her.
"Phoebes, that's great!"
"Yeah, I thought it was too, until Eli and Cooper walked in on us."
Grace mouths the word 'oh' and pats Phoebe's shoulder. Phoebe sighs.
"Then the guys laughed at us and Jules just sat there," she mutters.
"Well, he is kinda shy, Phoebes."
"I know, I know, Grace. But…it was my first kiss," Jules whispers.
Grace pats her shoulder again and a tear drops down Phoebe's face.
"I'm sure he feels real bad, Phoebes."
Phoebe lets out a sigh. Grace nudges her and winks.
"Well, was it any good?"
Phoebe shrugs.
"Did he send you over the moon?"
Phoebe giggles.
"Common, tell me," Grace prods her.
"It…it was awesome," Phoebe squeals.
Grace laughs and throws a pillow at her. Phoebe grabs another pillow and throws it at Grace. They throw a few more, collapse onto the bed and laugh.