Title: Keep It Together (3/?)
Author: Morgan
Feedback: It'd be very much appreciated at
floatingwhitefeathery... or IM me J4687S AOL Instant Messenger
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine (except Josh) and I'm just
borrowing them for a while.
Summary: I'm not good at the whole summary thing...something's up
with Jessie but she won't tell anyone what it is.
Author's Note: This is my first ever fan fic - I've never attempted
writing one. So, I apologize in advance if it sucks. But I would
really love some feedback as to whether or not you guys want me to
continue this story. Thanks
a/n #2: It's been awhile since I've written anything in this story
or posted, so for the first two parts they are message numbers 10442
and 10448.
a/n #3: When I use it means that the character is thinking...

----------------------
The next day Jessie overslept her 2 alarm clocks.

"Crap!" She yelled as she looked at the unforgiving clock. She
quickly threw on some jeans and a cute shirt. She was glad she'd
decided to take a shower the night before. She knew that any second
Grace would be screaming for her to hurry up. And just as she was
grabbing her bag, there came a yell from downstairs.

"Jessie!" Grace yelled "We're going to be late! I don't want to have
to sign in!!"

Jessie dashed down the stairs and into the car. "Sorry," She
breathed to Grace. She didn't feel like arguing, and she had
actually overslept. "I didn't hear my alarm"

"Apparently," Grace said as she quickly looked at Jessie.. "Here,
use some of my lip gloss. It's amazing what just a little gloss can
do to help you look more awake."

As Jessie floated through her classes, she was dreading the end of
the day. She knew that sticking around for Grace's soccer practice
meant that she'd have to see Katie. I wonder if I can just stay in
the library Jessie thought to herself.

She went through the rest of the day in a haze. Before 8th period,
the last period of the day, she decided to look for Grace to tell
her she'd be in the library. She finally saw her running into her
English class.

Damn it. Jessie thought to herself. She didn't want to have to go
into the classroom and tell her. Why did she have to go into class
before the bell rang?? Finally, Jessie decided it'd be better to go
tell her rather than have her freak out and wonder where she was.
Knowing how Grace is she'd have everyone looking for her.

The only thing that gave her comfort was that she knew Katie hardly
ever got into class a second before the bell ran. Jessie looked into
the classroom and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see
Katie.

She went in quickly and spotted Grace at the front.

"Jess?" Grace asked surprised to see Jess in her class "what's
wrong?"

"Nothing," Jess said "I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to
wait for you in the library instead of watching your practice. I've
got a lot of homework I might as well work on."

Grace knew right away that Jessie just wanted to avoid Katie, but
since this wasn't the place nor the time to debate Jess she just
conceded. "Ok, just come meet me in the locker room a little before
practice is over. I don't want to have to go to the other side of
the school to get you, k?"

Jess agreed and left quickly for her class.

As Jessie tried to make her quick, unnoticed exit she heard Grace
yell behind her "No excuses!"

-----------

After her own JV soccer practice, Jessie quickly changed and headed
for the library. She was glad she avoided the scene she'd had the
day before with everyone. As she walked into the library, she was
relieved to see it was empty. She didn't really have that much
homework to work on, but she decided to get a jump start on her
reading for English.

As she walked towards a computer, she was lost in her thoughts and
barely noticed that Josh was sitting at a computer nearby.

"Hey" Josh called out to her at the dismay of Miss Pruit, the
librarian.

Jessie jumped about a foot in the air. She quickly collected herself
though when she realized it was just Josh.

"Oh, hey" she replied surprised to see him. "What're you doing here?"

"My computer broke at home, and I needed to check some stuff on the
web before I went home. What about you?" He replied.

"I'm just waiting for Grace's soccer practice to be over."

"You know, I've heard they have a good team this year. I think it'd
be fun if there was a Varsity game between the guy's and girl's
soccer teams."

"Yeah, aren't they going to do that in a couple of weeks actually?"

"I heard that rumor, but so far coach hasn't said anything to
us....hey, why don't we go hang out on the bleachers at the soccer
field? That way Miss Pruit will stop giving us the evil eye and she
could go home." Josh said and then added coyly "And plus I can check
out the competition."

Jessie didn't really want to go to the field, and she knew she could
get out of it by saying she needed to study. Unfortunately, Miss
Pruit looked like she was going to kick them out.

God Jessie thought to herself How the hell do I get myself into
these situations? She didn't understand why she still thought it
even mattered to Katie if Jessie and Josh were together. It probably
didn't. Katie and her had broken up a couple of months ago, and the
longest conversation they'd had was that horrible day on the soccer
field. Why am I even thinking about Katie's reaction? Jess
thought scolding herself.

"Ok," Jessie replied hoping that she didn't regret her decision to
forgo some excuse.

--------------

"So, top bleacher or bottom one?" Josh asked as they got to the
field.

"Top," Jessie replied. This way she didn't actually have to see
anyone's face.

They climbed to the top of the bleachers, and saw the scrimmage that
was happening below them. Grace was actually pretty good. Jessie had
never really watched her play. Suddenly her eyes darted to the
person in the position parallel to Grace. Katie hadn't looked up
here because she was so intent on the game.

Good, she hasnt seen me thought Jessie This is not a big deal

Josh and Jessie went on making small talk, and Jessie was actually
grateful that he was pretty good at making conversation. She knew if
it were up to her to keep the conversation at a steady pace, they'd
be doomed.

----

"Over here!" Katie yelled to Grace as she ran forward towards the
goal. Grace kicked the ball in Katie's direction, and Katie used her
head to score.

"Yes!" Grace yelled. She and Katie hadn't been in these positions
together before, but it was actually working out. Katie's intensity
was contagious. Maybe they'd keep wining some games. The coach blew
the whistle for everyone to gather around her. As Grace was heading
back she ran up to Katie.

"Hey good shot" she said to her through gasping breaths.

"Well, thanks for the assist" Katie said.

As Katie took a seat on the grass, she saw two people watching them
in the stands. She couldn't' tell who it was because they were
caught up in talking to each other, and she couldn't make out their
faces. Probably checking out the competition She thought excitedly
to herself.

Suddenly the girl on the right turned her head, and Katie would've
recognized that blonde hair and profile anywhere. Great Katie
thought to herself bitterly That's just Jessie and Josh....Jessie and
josh... she thought it again, and it hurt her to hear their names
together. It's not supposed to be Jessie and Josh...it's supposed to
be Jessie and Katie...

"Singer!" Barked the coach. "Wake Up!"

"Sorry" Katie mumbled sheepishly. She hadn't realized that she'd
stopped paying attention to what the coach was saying.

"Run 10 laps then we're done for the day" Her Coach finally
finished.

As Katie started her laps her thoughts wandered. It made running
even harder. Normally, she can just block out all of her thoughts so
that she is completely focused on running.

Katie didn't understand what the hell was going on with Jessie. How
were things so good with them and then suddenly she decided not to
speak to her? The longest conversation she'd had with her was for 2
minutes on a soccer field....

Something has to have happened. People just don't fall out of love
overnight....do they? Did I do something to upset her?....If I did why
won't she tell me what it is?

Just then Katie realized she'd finished her ten laps, and was
already starting her eleventh. Finally as she finished her laps she
tried to calm herself down. I thought we could tell each other
anything

-------------

After Grace finished her laps, she saw that Jessie was waiting for
her in the bleachers. As she walked up she noticed that it was Josh
who was sitting with her.

"Hey Jess, I'm just going to go change...you ready?" Grace asked her
hoping that Jessie didn't mind saying goodbye to Josh.

"Yeah, sure," Jess answered and then looked back at Josh. "Well, I
guess I'd better go."

"Ok, " Josh replied "Talk to you later?"

"Sure" Jessie said as she climbed down the bleachers to walk back
with Grace

"Great practice by the way, Manning" Josh yelled after them.

Grace walked into the locker room, and noticed that a lot of people
were already starting to clear out. Jessie sat next to her on the
bench.

"Good practice?" Jessie asked her

"Yeah," Grace answered " Coach moved where I'm playing, and now
Katie and I can actually make a good enough team to score a goal
once and awhile" Grace knew she'd mentioned the forbidden K word,
but she didn't care.

"That's good" Jessie said dully.

"So, what's with you and Josh? You seem to be seeing a lot of each
other lately"

"Yeah, well, he's a nice guy, I think we're going to see a movie
this weekend"

Grace didn't know what angle she should take: Supportive of this new
relationship or that of devil's advocate.

"Well, nice is always something I look for in a loving, passionate,
romantic relationship" Grace said sarcastically.

Guess it'll be the devil's advocate role yet again She thought to
herself with a laugh

"Well, it is" Jessie replied defensively.

Just as Jessie was going to tell Grace to hurry up, Katie walked
into the locker room, obviously out of breath.

Grace saw that Katie looked beaten up "What were you trying do
Katie? Run a marathon?" She yelled to her as she came in the door.

Katie just smiled at her "Maybe." She answered trying to be as
natural as possible.

"Oh crap," Grace turned to Jessie "I left my shin guards on the
field. Give me just one second while I run and get them"

Knowing Grace probably did it on purpose Jessie objected. "No, it's
ok, let me go get them, so you can finish getting dressed"

Before Grace could argue Jessie bolted out the door onto the field.

Grace looked at Katie who was starting to change herself not far.
Katie looked up and smiled sadly at her.
"I guess she doesn't even want to be in the same room as me" Katie
said to Grace.

Grace was surprised that Katie had said anything, but she was glad
she had.

"I'd have to be the smartest person in the world...throughout all of
history...to even begin to understand what's going inside Jessie's
head...." Grace decided to press on a little further. "So, have you
talked to her at all?"

"No," Katie said "not for the past month or so. It's like she's just
erased any thought of me at all. Like we were never even together...or
had even met for that matter."

"She thinks about you" Grace said "She may not come out and say it
to anyone, but I live with her --- it's obvious."

"Then I just don't understand what happened. She never really even
told me anything. She was so vague" Katie said slowly trying to keep
her emotions in check. "And now...I guess she's with Josh..."

"Yeah, I guess," Grace said uncertainly "That's how I know she still
loves you though. She doesn't really care about him. I think she's
just kidding herself....or trying to anyway"

Katie was about to reply, but they were interrupted by the return of
Jessie.

"Grace! Hurry up I'm going to be late!" Jessie said impatiently.

"Chill, you're going to be fine. I'm just go to the bathroom real
quickly and we'll go"

Jessie sat down on the bench and waited. She hated that she felt so
nervous and awkward when she was near Katie.

Katie had just finished putting on her shoes, and was grabbing her
bag to head out the door. She just couldn't bring herself to walk by
Jess without saying anything. But she didn't know what she should
say. Should she ask her how she was? If she wanted to hang out this
weekend...as friends?
I mean what the hell do you say in a situation like this?" Katie
wondered. Why should this have to be so damn hard? How come she
can't even say hi to me anymore?" she though angrily.

"So, are we just going to go through the rest of high school
ignoring each other.?" Katie said a little bit more bitterly than
she had intended.

Jessie didn't know what to say. That's not what she wanted...was it?

Katie continued on, "How can you just pretend we never meant
anything to each other? How come it's so easy for you to not to talk
to me anymore?"

When Jessie didn't answer Katie, silent tears starting to roll down
Katie's cheeks. Jessie wanted to say something, anything, but it's
like she'd forgotten how to speak. She hated seeing Katie cry --
more than anything. Katie never cried. She was too tough for that.

"Katie..." Jessie said slowly. She couldn't say anything else - it
was too hard.

"Jess, why won't you let me know what's really going on with you?
Because right now, all I know is that the one person in the world
that I thought I could completely love and trust...is lying to me,"
Katie said through her tears "Maybe the feeling wasn't as mutual as
I thought - maybe you never cared." She swiped at her eyes quickly
and left the locker room.

Grace hadn't meant to over hear them....well not exactly. She was
walking back in when she heard Katie and she just didn't want to
make awkward situation even more awkward by interrupting.

"Ok," Grace said normally "you ready?"

TBC....???