It was the next day, English was just about to finish and Mr Dimitri allowed everybody to pack up early and talk whilst waiting for the next bell to ring. Katie was standing with Sarah and Grace but was not really paying them any attention, all she knew was that Grace was complaining about something… nothing new there then.
"Geez Grace, did you get out of the wrong side of the bed again this morning?" Sarah chuckled.
"Maybe you should move your bed so you have to get out the other side for a change!" Katie laughed and earned herself a high-five from Sarah but a very evil stare from Grace.
"Oh ha ha! My stupid stepsister was late again this morning, so forgive if I'm a little agitated."
And then it sunk in, Katie was starting to remember why the name 'Jessie Sammler' sounded so familiar. She spun around and looked directly at Grace.
"What?" Grace said, wondering why she was suddenly getting so much attention from Katie.
"What did you say your stepsister's name was again?"
"Jessica Sammler."
'Oh my God Manning's stepsister is Jessie, No way!!'
"Remember you met her yesterday." Grace continued.
"Yeah, I just didn't realise that's who she was… you know, you really make the impression that she's really horrible."
"That's because she is!" 'I knew she liked her!'
"No she's not!" Katie was now confused as to why she was so quick to defend this girl she didn't really know.
"You don't even know her!" Grace retorted, not only was the conversation annoying but also the fact that Sarah was obviously still pining after Katie was also what was annoying her. 'Why can't she notice me for a change!'
"Well she seemed really nice to me." Katie finished lamely, she couldn't really argue after all Grace was right, she didn't know her.
Grace gave Katie one last evil stare and then looked at Sarah, who was still completely focused on Katie. Fed up she grabbed her bag and stormed out as soon as the bell rang. Sarah just stood there with an evil look on her face, and Katie knew what was fuelling that look…Jealousy. She tried to avoid the inevitable conversation so started to talk before Sarah could.
"So Grace huh? She likes you, I think you should take her out. She's a laugh and she's good…trust me I would know!" Katie chuckled
"What?" Sarah's jealousy was now reaching new limits.
"Oh did I not tell you about us, sorry!" She was trying to act innocent but it came out more bitchy...hey Sarah just brings out that side of her.
"You…you and Grace?" Sarah was shocked to say the least.
"Well no…not really, it was when she was experimenting…you know… she wanted to confirm the fact that she was gay…and well…I think she did that!" Katie started to laugh but noticed the expression on Sarah's face so suppressed it for her own sake. "Oh come on Sarah, lighten up!"
"Lighten up, you tell me this and expect me to lighten up!"
"It's not like we're together." Katie had a good point and Sarah knew it. She would have continued arguing but then she remembered their previous conversation.
"So who's this Jessie then?"
'Oh for…' Katie was getting extremely agitated. "You know what… that's none of your business! When are you going to get the fact that you and me are in the past and NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!!"
"Katie wait…"
"No Sarah, I don't think we should be friends for the time being as it's obviously too hard for you. I'll see you around!" As Katie finished her sentence she turned around and exited the classroom. Sarah could only watch her leave and continue staring at the door of which Katie had just walked through.
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Katie wasn't in the mood for school anymore so she decided to ditch and started walking down the halls towards the parking lot. She was still caught up in her previous arguments with Grace and Sarah, but was glad to finally know who Jessie was, even if it would be slightly awkward with the…um…'family' history. However based on the information that Grace had shared Jessie didn't sound like such a nice person, but she quickly dismissed Grace's words. 'No-one who has such an innocent smile and angelic face could ever be mean.'
Katie was so caught up in her thoughts that when she rounded the corner she wasn't watching where she was going and crashed into someone causing them to both to fall to the ground with a thud. Katie, usually would have started on this person but didn't for two reasons, one, she was entirely sure who was to blame for the collision and two, she realised who the other girl was…Jessie.
"Sorry!" Katie apologised whilst getting up and offering her hand to Jessie. Jessie looked up and the look of pain she had was wiped off her face and a smile took its place.
"No…it's OK." Jessie replied noticing how this event was similar to yesterdays.
"We have to stop meeting like this!" Katie laughed.
"Yeah! One day we may actually get to meet properly and progress into a proper conversation, like over a cup of coffee or something," Jessie had meant to ramble but never dreamt of assaying something so forward and inviting. 'Shit Jessie…way to scare her away…quick say something to cover yourself' "You know either that or we'll end up in hospital at the rate we're going!" Katie couldn't help but laugh.
'Did she just ask me out? No, of course she didn't, she's straight you dumbass!' Katie mentally smacked herself for being so hopeful, whereas Jessie was actually hoping they could go for a coffee. The girls had been silent for a couple of minutes and realised that they should continue their conversation. Jessie thought about it for a few seconds and decided that casual coffee couldn't hurt. 'Right?'
"So do you want to get a coffee?" 'Please say yes!'
"Uh… No…I don't do coffee breaks during school days."
'Who was I kidding of course she didn't want to go for a coffee with me. I've collided with her two times in just as many days! Stupid Jessie!
"Oh, OK then." Jessie seemed visibly disappointed even though she tried to hide it. She went to continue walking down the hall but Katie wasn't finished.
"I could go for a hot chocolate though."
Jessie's head swung around with yet another smile plastered on her face.
"OK cool…come on!" Jessie walked quickly passed Katie in the direction of the exit.
'Did she just seem excited to have a hot chocolate with me? Oh stop it singer!' Katie shook her head and quickly ran to catch up with Jessie. Side by side they walked to Katie's car each with a goofy smile upon their face.
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At the coffee shop Jessie ordered a milky coffee whilst Katie settled for her hot chocolate. They were sat in quiet booth out of the way of the other customers and were waiting for their drinks. Secretly Katie wanted this booth, as she saw it when she first came in, but she didn't want this meeting to seem too date like, but was quite happy when Jessie suggested that they sat there.
"So how come you don't do coffee breaks during school days?" Jessie wanted to know everything about this girl.
"Oh I just wanted to keep you in suspense!" Katie joked but she half meant it.
"Really?" Katie giggled at Jessie's expression.
"No…if I have caffeine it tends to put me on a high. I mean I'm fairly hyper anyway but when I've had caffeine I just go through the roof and Ms. Lovatelli doesn't like me bothering the other students during lessons, just like this one time when…I'm sorry I'm talking too much."
"No it's OK, I like it." 'She's cute when she rambles'
'She likes that I talk too much?' "Seriously though, you should see me on coke!"
At this Jessie screwed her face up and seemed slightly disgusted.
"Oh no, not that kind of coke, Christ no! I meant cola…you know…Always coca cola!" Katie sang the little tune and Jessie let out a relieved sigh and smiled to which Katie just laughed.
The girls sat together in a comfortable silence just happy to be in each other's presence, until Jessie's phone rang. She looked at Katie apologetically before answering the call, it was a private number.
"Hello?"
"Jess, it's Tad. Sorry I'm on Steve's phone."
"Oh, hey Tad." Jessie seemed disappointed to be talking to him. In fact she was because he was ruining her date with Katie. 'Is it a date?'
Katie perked her head when she heard Tad's name, 'That must be the boyfriend…Yay! Bet she'll go running off to meet him now then!' She thanked the waitress as she placed their drinks on the table and then got up to get some sugars. Jessie couldn't help but watch her absorbing every little movement Katie made, and was slightly disappointed that she was still sat across from her. She completely stopped paying attention to Tad when Katie returned and accidentally grazed her knee against hers whilst sitting down.
"Hello? Jessie, you still there?"
"Oh yeah…sorry what were you saying?" Jessie was now listening to Tad but was still watching Katie who had just emptied her second sachet of sugar into her cup and started to drink it.
"I said do you want to meet up with me now? I know you're free and I got let out of my lesson so…"
"Oh um… sorry I can't, I'm already with a friend so I'll just have to see you later, sorry."
Upon hearing this Katie's head shot up and she stopped drinking. She had some of the chocolate foam on the tip of her nose and along the top of her mouth forming a foamy moustache. She looked incredibly cute but very surprised. Jessie couldn't help but laugh and Katie wiped it away immediately.
"Oh, OK then, I'll see you later…I love you."
"Yeah, OK bye." And she hung up. It seemed harsh but she was getting more and more annoyed which her relationship and more and more sure of her feelings towards Katie, who by the way still had foam on r nose.
"You missed a bit." Jessie giggled.
"Where?" Katie said whilst wiping around her mouth.
"Right…" Jessie stretched her arm out and wiped the foam off Katie nose slowly. Shivers went down both their spines and Katie had to shut her eyes from the unexpected contact. It was such an amazing feeling for both of them. "…there." Jessie finished and continued looking at Katie who still had her eyes shut. It was at that point that Katie's eyes shot open, much to Jessie's surprise and caused them both to blush.
"Uh…thank you." Katie was now rather speechless compared to their first half of their conversation.
"Well… it was the least I could do, I mean, it shut you up didn't it?" Jessie was starting to regain her confidence.
"Why Miss Sammler, I thought you liked the fact that I talked too much!"
The flirting banter continued between them started and continued throughout the rest of their little meeting until it was time to get back to their next lesson.
"Well this was fun." Katie began.
"Yeah we should definitely do it again sometime."
"I'd like that…um…do you think I could…um," 'Just say it for crying out loud!' "have your number? So we can arrange another…um…get together."
"Yeah sure." The girls exchanged numbers, paid and then left the coffee house. It was still cold outside as it was January, so Jessie decided to take a very brave step, she grabbed Katie's hand and pulled her in the direction of the car that was parked in the next block.
"Come on…It's freezing!"
Katie was left speechless at the contact but allowed herself to be pulled along by the younger girl until they walked side by side. They finally let go upon reaching the car and Jessie got in the car feeling warm and fuzzy. Katie drove back to school and dropped Jessie off but decided to stick to her earlier plan and went home, however not before saying goodbye and promising that she would call Jessie later. Once Katie was out of sight Jessie pulled her phone out of her trouser pocket her dialled Tad's number whilst walking to her next lesson.
"Hello?"
"Hey Tad…Listen um… we need to talk."