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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the 1-800 characters, Meg Cabot does.

Summary: After the hospital scene in Sanctuary, Jess's parents finally allow Jess and Rob to see each other. But a mere year later, something happens that will change their relationship forever. Keep reading to find out!

Whenever

Chapter 6

"Mmm." I rolled over onto my stomach and positioned my head comfortably on the pillow under me.

Wait, pillow?

I opened my eyes. I was in my room, but something felt weird . . .

Something moved from under me and I practically fell off the bed, that I was so scared.

Then I heard someone laughing. "Mastriani, are you okay?"

I looked over at Rob, who was sitting up in my bed, trying to keep a straight face.

"Oh, laugh all you want," I mumbled and climbed back under the covers. It was kind of cold in my room then. I guess I forgot to turn the heat on last night. It gets quite cold up in the attic.

"What was that all about?" Rob whispered as I re-positioned my head on his chest.

I thought for a moment about what to say. What would make me seem like less of a head-case. "I didn't quite know where I was for a moment there." Okay, maybe that wasn't a good attempt. I'll get it down eventually though.

I hope.

Rob chuckled, pulling me more into him. But I was all ready kind of, um, close to him. The feel of his hands on me, though, made me go crazy. I don't know why, but I felt like I needed those hands to be touching me elsewhere; touching me where it would make me go crazy.

No, we couldn't do that in my parent's house. If they ever found out, they would freak. My mom especially.

But they wouldn't have to find out, just as long as we were quiet.

But we weren't all that quiet, as last night had proved.

Okay, I think there only needs to be one schizophrenic per house, and Douglas has all ready taken that role.

I felt Rob's eyes on me, so I turned my head to look at him.

Yeah, he was looking at me. Kind of . . . staring at me actually. "What?" I asked, kind of rudely.

He smiled. "Nothing."

Um, okay. Whatever you say, Robbie-o.

I turned back around and sighed.

"What?" Rob asked.

I hesitated. "Nothing," I said, like him, but then decided to give him an answer. "I'm just mad that this isn't going to last much longer."

"We have other days," he said.

"Yeah, but that's not today. Besides, I have to go work at Mastriani's today." Then I thought for a minute. "It could be worse, though, working at Joe's. Or worse, Joe Junior's."

Rob chuckled and said, "Well, I'll see you when you get off of work then. I have to work today anyway. Gary said that there was this really big project in the shop. He said that I was really the only one that could do it." Then he laughed. "He said he'd give me half the payment of that project, too."

I turned myself around so I was leaning my chest up against his. "Really? How much?"

He shrugged. "I have no clue."

I laid my head on his chest and just looked up at him. He didn't seem to mind. In fact, he just looked right back at me.

I smiled lazily. "What are you thinking?"

He moved his eyes up to the ceiling for a minute, then brought them back to me. "I guess about how much I want to stay like this forever."

My smile widened. "Really?"

"Yeah, really."

I heard a door creaking in the distance. It was Doug's. His was the only one besides mine that creaked like that. He wouldn't come up here, would he?

Oh, God.

I got up off of Rob and went to lock my door. But then that would seem kind of suspicious.

Ugh, this is confusing.

"What are you doing?" Rob asked, coming up behind me.

Then I heard footsteps.

"Shit," I said, "someone's coming up here. Go hide in the bathroom or something."

He looked at me funny and went in the bathroom. That was when Doug came in.

He also looked at me weird, saying, "Wow, you're up? But it's not even eight yet."

I rolled my eyes. "Can I help you?"

"Uh, yeah," he said, his eyes flitting to the bathroom door.

Wait, did he know?

No, he couldn't. Just play it cool, Jess.

"Um, I was - I need advice," he blurted out.

I laughed. "Advice? From me?"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Yes," he said, gritting his teeth, "I need advice from you." He walked past me and sat on the edge of the bed. If he noticed that my bed looked like it had occupied more than one person, he didn't let on.

"About?"

"Girls," he said simply. He glared at me when I let out a laugh. "I don't know what to get Tasha for her birthday. I know normal girls like jewelry and stuff, but I don't want to get her that. I want to get her something that she'll keep forever, that's not traditional, you know?"

I nodded. "Well, what does she like?" I said, coming over and sitting next to him. I hastily glanced at the bathroom, but brought my attention back to Douglas when he started speaking again.

"She . . . well, I know she likes horses. She rides them at a stable every Sunday. But what could I get her that's like that?"

"Douglas, I - this really isn't a good time, okay? I'm still really tired. I just got up to go to the bathroom and I want to go back to sleep."

He sighed. "Fine," he said, getting up to leave. "I'll ask you when you're more . . . awake." He looked at the bathroom door again and went to leave. He was about to shut the door behind him, when he stuck his head back in and said, "And I know you're boyfriend is in the bathroom."

I glared at him. "Shut up. Just - don't tell anyone, okay? Especially Mom."

He rolled his eyes. "I won't, as long as you help me later."

I nodded. "Deal. Now get out."

He did and shut the door.

- ยง -

Rob and I spent that night together after we were finished with work. Well, not together together. We just watched television and kissed a little. But we really didn't . . . you know. Unfortunately.

Nothing interesting really happened until a week later, when the Feds asked me to go to Crane. Well, asked is more like demanded, but whatever.

I did after school one day. They had me take some stupid tests and all that jazz. They asked about my progress with the psychic group and how we were all doing, since they were there too. Well, Malcolm was, at least.

To tell you the truth, Malcolm was kind of getting cute. He used to be really skinny and pale, but it looks like he's been working out and in the sun too. But I wouldn't leave Rob for him. No way. This kid has nothing on Rob, I am telling you.

Anyway, I was at Crane, getting those stupid tests done. After I was finished, I was sent to Krantz. Unfortunately. He is such a party pooper.

He had me wait in his office while he went to get the test results. I glanced around his office and noticed a lot of medals and awards on the wall. A lot of them were for cases he's solved and stuff.

Whatever.

Krantz came back a few moments later and looked over the results. "Well, Jessica," he said, "it looks like everything is in order." He looked up at me and handed me a little book.

I looked at him questioningly. "What's this?"

"I need you to look over that. There are a few pictures in there of missing people. It would help if you found them."

I nodded.

I know what you're thinking. Yes, I did swear that I wouldn't find people that didn't want to be found. But these people...they are serial killers. At least I know that they actually did do something wrong. As in killing a lot of people.

Consequences for me, though, are great. Serial killers tend to be angry people who want vengeance. So, yeah, I had to be careful when I found them.

"Jessica, how are you and Mr. Wilkins doing?" Krantz asked out of the blue.

I looked up at him, startled. That question really took me by surprise. I never really expected him to be interested in our relationship. Actually, if I knew better, I'd say he disapproved of our relationship.

And I did know better.

But not at the time.

"Um, we're fine. Thanks."

"Really?" he said. "He's not . . . interfering with your work?"

"Interfering?" I asked. Oh, I get it. "If I remember correctly, he was the one that almost died for me. Why would he be interfering?"

"It was just a question, Jessica."

"Yeah, but I want to know what you meant by it."

"I meant absolutely nothing negative. I was just asking if he was interfering with your studies."

I rolled my eyes. I so didn't need this right now.

I stood up to leave. "My session is over. I'm leaving."

I walked out the door. Of course Krantz was calling me back, but I ignored him and ran out the building, and, sure enough, Rob was waiting there for me. My Rob. The one that I knew would always be there for me.

Or that's what I thought at the time, at least.

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