Part 5: Friends

Manning Manor (Outside)

"Thank you so much you guys for the ride!" said Jessie, when she was out the car.

"No problem… Oh Jess, did you wanna join Sam and I tomorrow after school for a coffee or something?"

"Hmm," Jessie stood there next to the car thinking whether she should go, "I'm not sure. I'll ask for permission, and I'll tell you guys tomorrow in school."

"Okay, or you can give one of us a call or something…" Katie rummaged through her bag for a pen. "Aha!" Once she has obviously found one.

Katie then reached out the car and grabbed Jessie's hand, and wrote two phone numbers on her palm, with the initial K and S respectively next to the numbers.

"Bye Jess!" Both Sam and Katie called out before driving off. Jess waved back.

Manning Manor

"Hello honey, how was your day? How did you get home?" Lily asked once Jess has stepped in the door.

"Oh… Um, it was pretty good actually, and I got dropped off by some friends" in a very light-hearted way, with a stupid grin plastered on her face, and then she turned and headed upstairs for her room. But just before she finished walking out, she remembered, "Oh, Lily?"

"Yes?"

"Can I go hang out with some friends tomorrow after school?"

"Yea, sure. Just make sure you're back before dinner okay?"

"Thanks." Jessie said walking off now with a huge smile.

This did not go unnoticed by Lily, 'Hmm. It's rare to see Jessie smile like that. Must be that she met a boy…'

As Jess was walking up towards her room, Grace came out of her room.

"So… who gave you a ride home" asked a very curious Grace, because she had heard a car pull over just before.

"Oh. I got a ride from Sam, my soccer captain, and also Katie." Replied Jessie, trying to be as nonchalant as possible, as she continued her journey to the attic. But truthfully, inside her head, she was going crazy, and can't wait to tell Becky how she got home. I mean, who wouldn't have been ecstatic, two of the school's most popular people gave her a ride home, and also invited her to coffee after school the next day. Who on earth wouldn't be going mad?

"Hmm…" Grace mumbled, as she was trying to thinking why the two names sound so familiar. Then suddenly it clicked, "You mean you got a ride from Sam Tang and Katie Singer?"

"Uh..." Shocked at Grace's sudden outburst, "Yea. Why do you sound so shocked?"

"Well first of all, they hang out in two totally different friendship groups, though both just as well known. Second, rumour has it that they're like total rivals, Katie apparently dropped her vice-captain spot because she didn't want to be the 2nd of Sam… also rumour has it that, Katie and Sam both fell for the same girl last year, and Katie won her…"

"Well, your information is obviously really inaccurate…" Jessie stated matter-of-factly, "They're like sisters in fact, they apparently practically grew up together, and Katie didn't want to be vice-captain because she didn't want to be burdened by it…"

Replaying what Grace had said in her head a second time, Jessie realized Grace had mentioned something about a 'girl'… a girl?

Grace's Room

"Grace…" Jessie hesitantly drew out, noticing that Grace was still slowly processing all the information Jessie has just given. She then pulled Grace into Grace's bedroom and shut the door.

"Hmm?"

"Did you… uh… say something about a … girl… that Katie liked?" stressing the word 'girl' as she asked the question.

Smirking now, Grace replied, "Yea, Katie liked that girl… ehh…. what's her face… hmmm…. Why?"

After processing what Grace had just replied, Jessie was surprised, yet also shocked by the new encountered information. "Uh…" was all she got out, before she was dumbfounded again.

"Ah! I remember, Sarah! Sarah Grasser. Apparently they went out for a few months, but rumours say that they broke up during summer holiday."

'Sarah? Vice-Captain Sarah? No way... Woah… So Katie's – gay! With Sarah… Wait it doesn't matter any more, they broke up!' Forgetting the presence of Grace, Jess grinned, relieved at the fact that Katie is not with Sarah Grasser anymore.

Grace one of the two people who know that Jessie's gay, Eli being the other, catches the smile on Jess's face, and Grace couldn't help but tease Jessie. "I see that you seem relieved that they are not together anymore… Now, now Jessie, tell me the truth. Do you have a thing for Katie Singer?"

Pulled out of her thoughts, all Jessie could say was, "Uh…"

"I don't blame you, I mean she is very attractive I must say. BUT. Just to warn you, people say that Katie is a total heart-breaker."

Jessie's Room (Attic)

Feeling nervous about tomorrow's meeting after school, Jessie came up with the idea of dragging Grace along. As much as she finds Grace annoying, however she is one of the two who knows about her secret, and has become one of Jessie's 'consultant'. Whenever Jess needed to talk to someone about her feelings for someone, Grace would be the first to talk to. Mainly because Eli is not around all the time, and also it's much easier talking to a girl anyways.

Having made her way from her room to Grace's, upon reaching the closed door, Jessie knocked. Knock Knock

"Come in" a faint voice came through the door.

"Grace, I was wondering…"

"Yah" not looking up from a pile of work she was working on.

"Um… Can you …or… would you like to join me for coffee with Katie and Sam after school tomorrow?"

Finally turning around to face Jessie, Grace said, "Sure. But may I ask why?"

Considering the question, Jessie realized she doesn't really know why she wanted Grace to be there. "I don't know."

"Hmm."

"I think I feel more… safe?" Not sure of the word she has used.

"Safe… maybe more reassuring?"

"Maybe. So you coming right?"

"Yea, no problem"

Jessie turned to walk out the door, but before closing it, she said "Thanks"

"No problem" said Grace with a very sincere smile.