Chapter 35

The remainder of their housekeeping duties went very well – until the end. Maybe it was an accumulation of the heavy bedroom activity they'd been indulging in all week, or perhaps it was due to all the mental energy expended on studying and taking finals, or perhaps both, but around 11pm on the Wednesday night before Tony was due to return from the islands, Jess and Stacy indulged themselves in the bedroom one last time and then fell asleep afterward on the king-size bed with their bare limbs still entangled. The next thing she was aware of was Stacy's hand gripping her shoulder, gently but urgently shaking her awake.

"Jess! Get up! It's one-forty! We gotta go!"

She forced her eyes open and sat up, blinking in the light of the lamp that Stacy had switched on in order to locate his clothing. "You…you're kidding," she groaned sleepily. "Did we really sleep that long?"

Stacy threw her an anxious nod as he picked his jeans up off the floor and quickly slid them on, then groped around the sheets for his shirt. "Yeah, we did. God, I'm sorry. I hope your mom isn't going to be too upset."

Jess began frantically searching for her own clothes. "She's probably going to kill me. And I had just promised her I wouldn't screw up with my new curfew. Oh man…" her voice trailed off as she snatched up her underwear, jeans and peasant blouse and began dressing herself. Stacy, now fully dressed, came over to help her fasten her bra.

"Don't worry, maybe she'll be asleep and you can sneak in, and she'll be none the wiser," he said hopefully, briefly running his index finger down the side of her neck.

Jess shook her head doubtfully, but when they pulled up in front of her house almost 20 minutes later, the front rooms were all dark, and her hope increased that her lateness would go unnoticed. She let herself silently in the front door as Stacy cruised away slowly in order to keep the engine noise muted, and tiptoed to her room, not even bothering to visit the bathroom, fearing that water singing in the pipes would clue Sandie in.

The next morning she woke up early to get ready for her last final exam and discovered that her mother hadn't left for work yet. Jess softly padded barefoot into the living room, where Sandie was having a basic breakfast of cottage cheese and an apple while she watched the 'Today' show. Jess got a glass of orange juice and sat by her mom on the couch, trying to act casual and feeling like she was home free.

Unfortunately, she wasn't. Sandie finished the last bite of her fruit, then turned to look her daughter straight in the eye. "What time did you get home last night?" she asked her in an even voice that betrayed nothing of her inner state.

Jess knew that lying would be pointless and would probably get her in even bigger trouble. "It…it was after curfew," she admitted, dropping her head to study the coffee table in front of her.

"It was a good way past curfew. I woke up about a quarter past one, and you weren't home yet. And I couldn't get back to sleep until I heard you come home. And yes, I know you were trying to sneak it, but I did hear you," she admonished Jess sternly.

Starting to flush, Jess tried to defend herself. "Mom, I can explain! We fell asleep in front of the TV, honest-"

Sandie cut her off with an impatient downward slashing gesture. "I'm not buying that. Jessica, what did I tell you about abusing your curfew?"

Indignantly, Jess continued to protest. "But mom, it wasn't 'abusing' my curfew, I really didn't intend to stay out so late! Stacy and I are just tired lately from so much school stuff and it was a boring show and we just nodded off!"

"I find it hard to believe that his parents didn't notice that and wake you up," Sandie shot back skeptically.

"They were asleep already. We had the TV on really low," Jess said with a pout, once again inwardly surprised at how easily the lies came out. But if Mom learned the truth she'd probably ban me from seeing Stacy again, Jess thought frantically. I can't let that happen! "Look, I really am sorry, and I promise it won't happen again," she begged with wide eyes.

Sandie frowned as she gathered up the detritus of her hasty breakfast. "I have half a mind to ground you, then I know it won't happen again, or at least for a little while," she muttered grumpily over her shoulder as she went into the kitchen to throw her trash away.

Jess felt a sharp pang of fear resonate through her midsection. That birthday party is this Saturday. I can't miss that! God, Stacy would laugh at me so hard if I got grounded. And then he'd dump me for a girl who isn't so under her mother's thumb. "Mom, really, it was an honest mistake. If you're going to punish me, then move my curfew back to where it was. But please don't ground me. Stacy and I are supposed to go to a friend's birthday party on Saturday and I've already gotten her a present."

"What friend is this?" Sandie asked as she began washing her hands.

"You've never met her, but she's dating a close friend of Stacy's whose dad is a police officer. The party is during the day and there will be parents chaperoning," Jess explained, desperate to make the event sound as innocent as possible. Besides, that much is true, Allen told Stacy on Monday that his parents would be there and his dad is a Culver City cop, so I can't see the party getting out of hand at all.

Sandie sighed as she dried her hands with a strawberry motif kitchen towel. "Oh all right. I won't ground you, but your curfew is going back to where it used to be."

"Until when?" Jess demanded indignantly despite herself.

"Until I say so," Sandie barked as she threw the towel down and stalked out of the kitchen. "Don't push it with me, missy," she informed Jess coldly as she passed her and picked up her purse from the dining room table. "I'm going to work now and don't want to hear anything more about the matter," Sandie declared, then exited the house. Jess stuck her tongue out at the front door as her mom closed it behind her, but realized that even though her mom was being bitchy, she was also right. She could have grounded me

for the whole summer and there wouldn't be anything I could do about it, she thought glumly as she took her empty juice glass into the kitchen and rinsed it in the sink.

An hour later she was taking a seat at her desk in the Geometry classroom, preparing to take the final. As she nervously flipped through her notes one last time, she became aware of someone sitting in the desk beside her. It was Stacy, wearing a red-white-and-blue striped shirt and red shorts that didn't even come halfway down his well-made thighs. So much for having no distractions during the exam, Jess thought, then returned her paramour's bright smile. "Cramming? That's not a good idea," Stacy told her teasingly.

Jess just shook her head and sighed. "No, I'm ready. Just highly pissed off right now and trying to get in the mood to take this damn thing." She explained the earlier exchange with her mom, eliciting a sympathetic shake of Stacy's blonde mane. "Good thing she didn't ground ya," he said in a relieved tone.

"I know. Finding another girlfriend in time for the party might be tough," Jess said with a little laugh, but Stacy didn't join in.

"What're you talking about?" he asked with a quizzical look. "Find another girlfriend, ha, that's rich." Then the instructor walked into the classroom bearing a stack of blue exam books. Stacy stood up, stopping to kiss Jess on the cheek. "Don't worry – about anything," he instructed her before moving to his regular desk on the other side of the room. Jess took his advice and cleared her mind of everything but formulas as the blue books were handed out and the class instructed to start working.

Ninety minutes later Jess answered her last question, closed her test booklet, then got up and dropped it on the instructor's desk with an air of relieved finality. She gathered up her purse and left the classroom, unable to keep from glancing at Stacy as he worked away, his brow furrowed and the tip of his tongue poking out ever so slightly as he erased an answer. When he emerged ten minutes later looking slightly dazed, Jess was waiting for him in the hallway.

"Man, I am so glad that's over," he enthused, shaking his head and then pushing his hair behind his ears to get it out of the way. Jess smiled at the habit, knowing it would be swinging back into his face in a matter of seconds.

"Yep, the vacation starts now," Jess announced as Stacy put one arm around her waist and steered her toward the nearest exit.

"Yeah, until summer school starts, anyway. We got until, when-"

Jess thought for a second. "Um, registration is May 24th. And classes start on the 26th, I think. Yeah, that sounds right. Hey, maybe we could register for classes together?" she suggested as they emerged from the building into the overcast noonday sunshine.

Stacy squinted up at the light grey sky. "Guess it's too late for the waves. Maybe I'll call around and see who's skating." At an impatient noise from Jess, he remembered to answer her last question. "Sure, yeah, we can register together. I don't know if we'll need the same classes or not, but going it together would probably make the process more bearable. Definitely."

"Good," Jess replied with relief, not wanting to stand in line alone for hours either. When they got to the parking lot they went their separate ways, she to the boutique and he to find people to skate with. Stacy gave her hug goodbye. "It's too bad we can't go back to the house anymore, I was getting so used to being there," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

"I know," Jess replied, the corners of her mouth downturned in sadness. "It was the perfect place to escape to."

Stacy pressed a quick kiss on her lips. "Yeah, it was nice while it lasted. Ok, I better let you get to work."

"Yeah, call me later tonight?" Jess requested as Stacy walked away, throwing her a smile and an affirmative thumbs-up.

Jess got into her Triumph and cranked the engine. It's probably just as well that we take a little break from each other. This past week has been intense. You know we overdid it in the sex department when the guy complains that he's sore! Her train of thought made her giggle the whole time she was backing out of her parking space and exiting the lot.

About two hours into her shift Stacy came into the boutique with a guy that Jess recognized from one of their visits to the Escondido Bowl the previous month. Both had skateboards under their arms and were flushed from exertion.

"Hey, you remember Kenny?" Stacy asked as they approached the counter. Jess nodded yes and bade the slightly older skater a greeting. Tossing his feathered light brown hair back, Kenny gave her a shy smile and a "hi" of his own, then began studying the nearest rack of clothing.

Jess leaned on the counter and rested her chin on her balled up fists. "So what brings you gentleman to our fine establishment?" she asked Stacy as he propped his board against the front of the counter.

"Kenny wanted to check out this new surf shop that opened down the street."

"Yeah, and they were chargin' an arm and a leg," Kenny growled as he fingered a gauzy blouse.

Stacy grimaced. "Yeah, I don't think anyone can beat Skip's prices."

Jess gave them a sympathetic smile. "Sorry to hear it, guys."

"Yeah. Oh well, that's the way it goes," Stacy said with a little shrug. "Hey, do you think we should get Allan's girlfriend her birthday present from here? Since you said she shops here a lot," he suggested.

Jess tilted her head to one side, thinking. "Sure, I guess. I'm not sure how much I can spend, though."

"We'll go in on it together, how about that?" he replied.

"Ok, deal." Jess came out from behind the counter and began going through the racks for something she thought Mindy would like, based on her past purchases. After an intense search she pulled out a black and white blouse and skirt set that she'd seen Mindy try on but not buy, probably because it was on the expensive side. Well, if I apply my employee discount and Stacy pays for half, then it won't be so bad, she mused. Yeah, this will be perfect. She took it to the counter and rang it up, putting Stacy's crumpled up bills in the register. He always pays for everything with ones, the sure sign of a restaurant employee, Jess thought bemusedly.

"I'll take care of wrapping it, ok?" she told Stacy as he leaned down and picked up his board.

"Sure thing, and I'll take care of the card," her boyfriend told her as he turned to go. "Ok, Kenny. Later, Jessica!" And with that, he was off without any kind of affectionate farewell gesture. Jess knew him well enough at that point not to fret over it. Sometimes he's a little restrained when he's around his older friends, she thought as she got a gift box from the stockroom and carefully folded the blouse and skirt set into it along with some tissue paper. I guess he doesn't want them to see him as your typical teenager, not that he is. Man, I really lucked out with him.

Smiling with satisfaction, Jess taped the box closed and put it under the register with her purse. I can't wait for the party on Saturday. I just hope it is more of a Malibu crowd like Stacy said. And since it's going to be chaperoned and in the daytime, I doubt any of the usual Dogtown troublemakers will bother to come by. Yep, it should be a good time, and get the break started off right. Although I am bummed about not having the mountaintop house to go to anymore, she thought sadly as she began to put price tags on the new Summer arrivals. Oh well, maybe this house where the party is being held will have a spare bedroom somewhere out of the way, she thought with a mischievous smirk. So if the party's boring then Stacy and I can just…slip away for a bit and liven things up. Hey, maybe we'll still slip away even if it's not boring. I am totally addicted to that guy now. Wow, man. She shook her head in disbelief at how far gone she was in lust.

Lost in the memories of the past week and planning further mischief for Saturday, Jess happily worked the afternoon away.