As Jules ran out of her room, she heard the front door slam loudly. She raced down the stairs, hoping she would catch Jess before she disappeared. But before she could open the door and follow, her mother came into the hallway.

"Jules? What's going on?" she asked, glancing from Jules to the front door. "I heard your friend leaving just a minute ago, is everything ok? She didn't even stop to say goodbye."

"Uh, yeah, everything's fine Mum..she had to rush off, she forgot she'd promised her parents she'd be home early, they can be a bit strict, you know. And I forgot to tell her something, that's why I was going to dash after her. I won't be long," Jules said, and before her mother could protest, Jules had opened the door and ran out into the night.

Jess was nowhere to be seen. Damn you Mum, thought Jules angrily to herself.

She thought about going round to Jess's house, but almost immediately dismissed the idea. There was no way, if Jess would actually see her, that they could talk about this situation in private there. I'll have to talk to her tomorrow, thought Jules. She knew there was nothing else she could do tonight, so she turned around and walked back to her house.

The next day, Jess didn't show up to training. Jules kept hoping that maybe she was just running a little late, but deep down she knew that Jess wasn't likely to show up, not after last night.

Afterwards, Joe came over to Jules. "Jules? Wheres Jess today? It's not like her to miss her training sessions." He sounds really worried, thought Jules.

"Well, I had a talk with her last night after we confronted her yesterday, and she finally admitted that she does have stuff on her mind, but it's kinda personal Joe, I can't tell you what's going on," answered Jules, sounding apologetic. "But I didn't have any idea she wouldn't show up for training." Ok, so that part wasn't quite the truth, but what else could she say?

"I understand you can't tell me what's wrong Jules," Joe reassured her. "But I think you need to have another talk with her and try and help her somehow. If this problem she has is starting to affect her football, then we know it must be serious. It takes a lot to put Jess off her footy," he tried to laugh at this statement, but it sounded forced. A serious look came over his face. "Please Jules, talk to her. I'm really worried about her."

To herself, Jules thought, I need to actually find her first, and then I need to convince her to talk to me! But to Joe she said, "Don't worry, I'll talk to her, we'll sort this out, you hear me?" She gave him a small smile and headed for the changing room, lost in her own thoughts.

On her way home, Jules didn't know what to do. Where would Jess be? She didn't fancy calling at her house, for obvious reasons, but where else would she be if she wasn't at training?

And then it came to her. The park, she thought.

In the park, Jess sat there, watching the guys play football, but she wasn't really taking anything in. All she could think about was last night, and how she had almost definitely lost Jules's friendship.

There's no way she'll want to know me after my confession, she thought miserably. Suddenly she heard a shout. It sounded like Jules was calling her, but she must have been imagining it, because there's no way Jules would want to know her anymore. But then she heard the voice again.

JESS!"

Jess looked over to find that it was Jules. And she certainly didn't look angry, thought Jess. Maybe, just maybe she doesn't hate me after all? She felt a tiny glimmer of hope inside her.

Once Jules had reached Jess, she sat down. Looking at Jess, she said simply, "Jess? Why did you run off like that last night? And then not turning up to training today...I was really worried about you. So was Joe."

Jess gave her an incredulous look. "Why? After what I told you, I thought that would have been obvious Jules. I thought you'd hate me, so instead of waiting for you to throw me out, I threw myself out," she couldn't help but grin. But then she turned serious again. "And then I couldn't face training, because I wasn't sure how you would act around me. Seriously Jules, I thought you wouldn't want to know me."

Jules was silent for a few moments, then spoke. "Jess, if you'd just given me a chance to say something last night, you would have realised that all you did was surprise me, because of course I definitely wasn't expecting what you said! But nothing you say could ever make me hate you! What sort of friend would I be if I turned on you over something like this?" She gave Jess a friendly punch on the arm.

Jess smiled. "Thanks Jules. I'm sorry about what I told you though. You don't need to worry around me though, I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise out friendship. I can just try and forget the feelings."

Jules grinned then. "Who said anything about having to forget the feelings? I never once said that I didn't feel the same way Jess!" she chuckled at the startled look which had appeared on Jess's face.

Jess blinked. "Jules, you can stop teasing me now!" She gave Jules a friendly push, genuinely not believing that her friend was being truthful.

"Jess, I'm not teasing," said Jules gently. "I like you. I really like you. A lot. I just never said anything because I was scared. But then your revelation last night made me realise that I'd been worrying over nothing."

Jess gaped at Jules, unable to say anything.

"Now we know we both feel the same way, there's no more secrets," Jules continued. Gazing at Jess, she carried on. "D'you think we can make a go of this Jess?"

Jess stared at the ground. "I want to, more than anything. But I'm scared of my family's reaction. Can you imagine the looks on their faces if I were to tell them I fancy girls? And that I have a girlfriend?" Despite her concerns, she couldn't help but let out a giggle, imagining the look of horror on her mother's face.

"Well we don't have to tell anyone anything," shrugged Jules. "It's our business, nobody else's. I really want to be with you Jess. Please say we can be together?" She looked hopefully at her friend. Jess was silent, but only for a few seconds, before turning to Jules and giving her the answer she was hoping for.

"Of course we can," Jess grinned at her friend. "Who gives a damn what anyone else thinks?"

"I'm so glad you feel that way," Jules looked happier than Jess had ever seen her. "I could kiss you! But as we are surrounded by your immature footy mates right now, I shall have to control myself!" She smirked.

"Jules!" Jess pretended to look shocked, but she was laughing. Once they had calmed down, Jules turned to Jess again.

"D'you want to come over to my house later on? My parents will be out so we'll have some privacy." She blushed a little while saying this, realising how it had sounded. "I mean, just to talk about this..I didn't mean..."

Jess cut her off, chuckling. "It's ok Jules, no more embarrassment alright?" She grinned. "Well I'd better be getting home. I'll meet you at yours later, and, well, we'll just take things from there..." she trailed off, smirking, before standing up and starting to make her way home. "I'll see you later!" she called back over her shoulder.

Jules watched her go, grinning to herself. This is actually happening! she thought happily.