Maybe
Disclaimer: Nothing besides the story idea belongs to me, and this was written for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: K+
Authors Note: Thanks to sohard2c for pointing out my mistake! It's OCS not ROTC. Thanks also to Odakota who told me correctly the first time, but apparently I can't read!
Thanks also to everyone else who has read my story and also to those who reviewed!
Authors Note 2: I am trying to keep an equal balance between Jennifer's anxiety and her acting her age and it's harder than one might think. Please, if you feel that a reaction is just not appropriate let me know!
I know that Sturgis is still missing, revision and all, but I just kept the idea that he's simply late for the party!
Again more changes coming, and new chapters as well! Just in time for Christmas!
Enjoy!
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Chapter 4
Jennifer practically collided with Mikey, this time he caught her before they bumped into each other.
"Sorry," Jennifer apologized.
"Hungry?" Mikey teased.
"Yes," Jen stole the bun from Mikey's plate and took a big bite, "thanks." Jen went to move past him and he rested a hand on the small of her back as she squeezed by. The contact was unnecessary and Jennifer felt her face flush with a blush.
"Jennifer!" A voice cried just as Jen helped herself to a large spoonful of chilly. She turned around and saw Mattie standing in the doorway; Jen put her plate down on the counter and ran over to the young woman, Jennifer momentarily forgot that the kitchen was full of people and she and Mattie embraced each other tightly, they both shrieked and laughed and when Jennifer and Mattie finally pulled away from each other everyone was looking at them.
"Oh," Jennifer said laughing. She looked at Mattie, her curly hair was pulled into a French twist and she was wearing a cream dress, that was strapless and knee length. "You look great!" Jennifer said pulling Mattie into another tight hug.
"So do you," Mattie replied, "who knew such a fox was hiding under all those sweatpants and tank-tops.
Jennifer shot Mattie a look. "You try wearing high heels and starched Uniform every day of the week and then you can get back to me."
Mattie just laughed.
Jennifer couldn't let go of Mattie for a moment, she just had to be sure something real and good was standing in front of her.
"So, how's your Dad?" Jennifer asked.
Mattie smiled, "it's been interesting, trying to get used to living with each other. But it's good," Mattie finished at the last minute.
Suddenly a loud male laugh was heard from the dining room. Mattie looked past Jennifer and saw a young man in a dress Uniform sit across from Bud Roberts.
Mattie leaned in to whisper in Jennifer's ear, she had to stand on her tippy-toes because Jen was even taller with high heels on.
"Is that the guy you were telling me about?" Mattie whispered.
"No," Jennifer replied quickly.
"Hmm," Mattie shrugged, "too bad."
"Mattie," Jennifer cried.
Mattie simply watched Jen, who was busy piling a mountain of salad onto her place.
"Hey Jen, mind saving some for the rest of us?" Mac joked.
"Sorry," Jen quipped, "I just really like my greens."
Mattie snorted. This was new behaviour from Jennifer, Mattie had seen her former roommate display a lot of emotions, but she had never seen her flustered.
"Mattie!" Harm said, coming into the kitchen just at that moment. Mattie ran over to him and flung her arms around him. Jennifer watched Mattie and Harm together and she found herself smiling without meaning to.
Jennifer squeezed some chili onto her plate and grabbed another dinner roll; she made her way over to the table and put her plate down. She excused herself and headed to the bathroom. She just needed a few moments to collect herself.
Jennifer walked into the bathroom, locked the door and looked into the mirror.
"You can do this," Jennifer told her reflection. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before putting the hand towel down and exciting the bathroom.
Mattie was waiting outside.
"Are you okay?" Mattie asked, with real concern.
Jen laughed, "you have no idea how crazy my night has been."
"Does it have anything to do with that handsome young devil who's sitting beside Bud?"
Jennifer paused, and Mattie raised an eyebrow.
"Okay," Mattie continued, "so if that wasn't the guy you told me about then who is he?"
"He's Bud's brother."
"Hmmm." Mattie said again.
"What does hmmm mean?"
"Nothing," Mattie laughed, "it's a non committal noise. Why, should it mean something?"
"No," Jennifer repeated trying to keep her voice low, "I've known him for two days."
"So what?" Mattie countered; Jennifer made her way back over to the table without replying to Mattie. Jennifer sat down when Jason walked out of the kitchen. He spotted the two girls and made his way over.
"Is this a private conversation?" He asked tentatively.
"Nope," Mattie replied, grinning.
Jason looked to Jen for her approval.
"Oh, no, not at all," she replied. "Jason, this is Mattie—Mattie, Jason."
Jason smiled and put his full plate down on the table before sitting beside Mattie.
Mattie looked at Jen, and nodded expectantly.
"Jason used to work at JAG, until he decided to go to OCS."
"So," Mattie said, "are you on leave then?"
"Yeah, for two weeks," Jason replied. "I figured I would come here for a week then head back home for Christmas Day."
"Is that a long trip?" Mattie asked.
Jennifer watched the two of them, Mattie laughed at something Tiner said.
Mattie was saying more to Jason in five minutes than she had said to him since he left. It was too depressing to think about.
Jennifer focused on her chili and scooped some of it up onto her bun, she chewed thoughtfully. She knew her mother would say just let what happened in the past stays in the past but Jennifer couldn't help the hurt feelings she still felt. Writing a letter wasn't difficult, and writing an email was even easier.
Anyway, Jennifer didn't think confronting Tiner at the Christmas party was appropriate, in fact she knew it wasn't, it could wait.
She looked back over to Mattie who was explaining her exam schedule to Jason.
Jennifer shoveled a large helping of chili into her mouth and chewed; suddenly Jason excused himself and got up from the table.
"So, that's the guy you were telling me about." Mattie said, in a hushed voice.
"I don't want to talk about it," Jennifer replied, putting her fork down a little harder than she had meant to. She was tired of talking about it, this was supposed to be a party, and it was supposed to take her mind off things, not create new problems.
"Jen…"
"He made it pretty clear didn't he Mattie?" Jen asked ripping her bun in half. "With the whole lack of any communication what so ever."
"I don't know…" Mattie said, "Sometimes it's hard to take the risk. Did you ever send him a letter?"
"…No," Jennifer admitted.
Mattie simply raised an eyebrow.
"It doesn't matter anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"He's here for a week."
"Yeah and he came to sit with you."
"He came to sit with us, you were talking with him."
"That's because you spaced out." Mattie turned in her chair to face Jen full on. "If you want to go for it Jen, why don't you? You'll only regret it if you don't." Mattie smirked, "hey, maybe you should go for that Mike guy, he was cute."
"What about you?" Jennifer countered.
"Sorry?"
"I think I recall you talking about some… James character."
"So?"
Jennifer simply raised an eyebrow and stared at Mattie.
"Okay, okay, so it's easier said than done. My point is, is that you never will know unless you do it."
Jennifer made an obvious show of rolling her eyes.
"You could always just conveniently stand under the mistletoe."
"Shut up," Jennifer muttered.
"No, it's true, you could be putting your shoe and Mike could be putting on his shoe…" Mattie folded her arms, "Okay, fine. We'll change the subject. Harm told me you've been moping around, and he wanted me to talk to you about it."
Jen blinked, Mattie sure didn't waste any time, but it was something that Jen had grown to appreciate about her young friend.
"I've been thinking about going home, to see my Mom," Jen pushed her pile of salad across her plate "and yes suddenly seeing Jason after all this time kind of threw me for a loop."
"Well maybe it would do you good to go home." Mattie said she watched Jen as she stopped pushing her food around her plate.
Jen set her fork down, "I'm done." Jennifer said pushing her chair back, Mattie watched as Jen disappeared into the kitchen.
Mattie let out a sheepish sigh; it was about time she knew when to keep her mouth shut.
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Jennifer's past is still a touchy subject, but one she is slowly working through. I've decided Jen has a good relationship with her Mom but she is not ready to go back home.
The next chapter is in the process of being re-written, so because of that I am going to delete the last chapter so there is no confusion!
Anyway, please review and let me know what you think! It makes my day!
