"Did you get the mail?" Jess peeked around the door from the hallway. She spotted Sam standing in the middle of the living room, nodding.
"Did it come in?"
He nodded again.
"And?" She approached, not able to read his expression. She felt her stomach knot, knowing what this meant to him - to them. One of the pieces of mail was open, the letter from inside it clutched in his hand.
"I... I passed..." He looked up, his face full of unbelieving surprise. Had he been that uncertain? "I passed!" A big goofy smile plastered itself on his face. "I passed!" With a big whoop, he rushed toward her and swept her up, twirling them about the room. She couldn't help laughing, she was so happy for him.
He kissed her passionately, and she more than gladly returned it. After a breathless moment, they finally parted.
"Let me see it." She yanked the letter from his hand, dancing away, eager to look at the results herself. "Oh my god. Sam!" She turned around, not believing what she read. And he'd been doubting himself? "You got a 174 out of 180! That's a 99.53 ratio. That puts you in the top one percent!" She stared at him, so proud she thought her heart would burst. "You're awesome!" She twirled around, her arms spread wide. "Sam Winchester is freakin' awesome!"
"Jess, stop. I passed. That's all." Color spread over his cheeks. He looked almost embarrassed.
"That's all? That's all?!" She turned to face him and put her hands on her hips. "Just for that, I'm going outside and screaming the news to the all the neighbors! Then we'll see if that's all!"
"Don't you dare!"
"Try and stop me." Laughing, she ran for the door.
Sam ran after her and caught up to her just as she reached for the knob. He grabbed her from behind and wrapped her in his arms, nuzzling her neck just below the ear. "Jess, you're so naughty."
Giggling, she twisted around in his arms. "And you are too darn humble. This is beyond awesome, Sam."
"I couldn't have done it without you."
"I doubt that, but I'll be happy to take the credit anyway." She gave him a smile filled kiss, then wriggled out of his arms. "Anyhow, we need to get dressed. We're going to be late. I can't wait to tell Jeff the news."
"Must you?"
"But of course." She gave him a mischievous grin. "You were his pet project, after all. He has a right to know how you've turned out." With that, she skipped back toward the bedroom.
There was going to be a big bash tonight, so it was precipitous that his letter came when it had. Sam's meeting with the faculty had already been scheduled, but they hadn't known if they would see the results before then. Now they'd be able to celebrate in earnest. She couldn't wait to tell Jeff. Jess opened the closet and pulled out the white shrouded hanger with her costume. It was a little racier than she preferred, but she was sure Sam would enjoy it. Maybe after the party they could play doctor. Just thinking about it made her all tingly inside. She might be screaming loudly enough for the neighbors to hear the celebration anyway.
Laughing, she set the clothes on the bed. Yes, Big Bad Jessica might be making an appearance tonight. She was sure she could still teach Sam a thing or two. Chuckling to herself, she removed the wrapper and dragged the main pieces with her to the bathroom.
Ruffles, ruffles, and more ruffles. She bit her lip. If the skirt were any shorter there wouldn't be one. Yes, ruffles were definitely a good thing to have today. Her Mother would be so scandalized. She smiled at herself in the mirror. That would be a sight.
White stockings up past her knees. Red platform shoes. Now where did the nurse's hat go? She found it and some pins and glanced at the clock as she stuck them in her hair. Crap, where had the time gone? "Sam, get a move on would yah? We were supposed to be there like fifteen minutes ago." She hurried out of the room, hoping the skirt wouldn't ride any higher. "Sam, you coming or what?"
She glanced back over her shoulder and saw him peek out of the room. "Do I have to?" She had to hold back a smile at his imploring tone.
"Yes. It'll be fun. And where is your costume?" She could see he wasn't thrilled, but it was good for him to be social every once in a while. Besides, she needed to spread the good news.
Sam laughed. "You know how I feel about Halloween."
Jess gave him a raised eyebrow but said nothing. When the conversation had come up last year, he'd given her a bunch of mumbo jumbo about its origins and the fact it was a time when spirits were best able to make contact with the physical world. He'd rattled it all off very fast, almost as if he were mortified to admit it. She'd never taken him for the superstitious type. It wasn't until later that she thought there might also be a more normal reason – Halloween happened around the same time as his mother's death. "Okay, no costume. But you're still going. So get your cute ass over here and let's go!"
She wiggled her short skirt as an added incentive. At least he was wearing her favorite white and blue striped shirt. The doctor's outfit could come into play later.
They went on outside.
All the houses and apartments nearby were heavily decorated with cobwebs, spiders, tombstones and skeletons for the holiday. They were coming down the walk when Jeff jumped out from behind a pole and shambled their way. His dark skin was made to look pale and gaunt, bits of green skin and goo attached all over it, his clothes appearing torn and ragged – not bad.
He turned on Sam. "Hah!"
Jess smiled. Sam has his hands in his pockets, not looking the least bit amused.
"Well, what do you think? Huh?" Jeff asked.
Sam shrugged. "Whatever." He pulled out one of his hands and held it out for hers. She gladly took it. He looked both ways before leading them across the street, zombie Jeff trailing behind.
Jeff gave Sam the once over. "At least I wore a costume. If your sorry ass was trick-or-treating at my house, no popcorn balls for you."
"You gave out popcorn balls?"
Jess laughed. She wasn't sure which was funnier, the popcorn balls or Sam's reaction to them.
Jeff ignored them. "You could have at least gone as a slutty version of something. Slutty Dorothy, Slutty Alice, Slutty Nurse."
"Hey!" She was so not slutty!
"I didn't mean you." He gave her a quick grin. Jess knew better than to believe that charmer.
"Man, what can I say? I've just never been a fan of the whole thing."
"Are you a communist?" Jeff stared at him in shock. "Who doesn't like Halloween, huh?"
Sam half rolled his eyes. Jess was just happy Sam felt relaxed enough to act like this. It was a far cry from the shy scholar she'd met over a year and a half ago at the library.
The farther they went, the more costumed people appeared, many of them going in their same direction. Being Friday night, most of the student body wouldn't be worth much by morning. It would be party central through most of the campus.
Those hosting their particular party had gone all out, decorating the bar to the nines. Fog machines had been installed in the ceiling at the corners so a nice steady stream dripped to meander about on the floor. There were enough ghost and ghoul decorations to outnumber the patrons.
They quickly convened on a tall free table from which to anchor themselves in the growing throng.
"Jeff, would you get some drinks? We have something very important to celebrate tonight."
He stared at her in surprise. "We do?" She noticed his gaze instantly drop to her left hand. She ignored the fleeting look of disappointment that crossed his face when he found it bare.
"Yeah, we do. Your pet project here got a very important letter today."
"Oh? Oh! The test scores! Yeah, okay, I'll get some. Be right back!"
"Jess, really."
"Don't spoil my fun now, Sam, or Big Bad Jessica might have to teach you a lesson." She gave him her serious look.
"Okay, okay!" He held up both hands in surrender. "We wouldn't want that!" He laughed.
Jeff came back almost immediately carrying a handful of whiskey shots.
Sending a grin Sam's way, Jess picked up hers. "Here's to Sam and his awesome LSAT victory." They clinked their glasses together. She glowed, totally proud.
"All right, all right. It's not that big a deal." Sam looked a little embarrassed at the attention. Served him right.
Jess shook her head. "He acts all humble, but he scored a 174."
Jeff gulped down his drink then looked at her. "Hm, is that good?"
"Scary good."
Sam backed up in his seat, then tilted his drink up, swallowed, and made a face. Jess shot back her own.
Jeff slapped Sam on the back. "Well, there you go!" He rubbed Sam's shoulders as he went around him. "You're a first round draft pick. You can go to any law school you want." He sat down on an empty stool.
"Actually, I've got an interview here, Monday. If it goes okay, I think I'll have a shot at a full ride next year."
Jess could hear the trepidation in his voice. When was he going to learn he was so much better than he gave himself credit for? "Hey, it's gonna go great."
"It'd better."
Jeff threw his arm over Sam's shoulders. "How does it feel to be the golden boy in your family?"
Sam shook his head. "They don't know."
Jess sent him a troubled look. Several months ago she'd tried suggesting Sam call his brother, to let him know he would be taking the test and that he was going to graduate with honors at the end of the summer, but Sam wouldn't hear of it. It would have been nice if someone from his side of the family could have attended the graduation ceremony.
"Oh no? I would be gloating! Why not?" Jeff stood up.
Sam threw popcorn at him from the snack bowl on the table. "Cause we're not exactly the Brady's."
"And I'm not exactly the Huxtables. More shots?"
Sam and Jess answered him at the same time. "No!"
"No. No!"
Jeff rushed off to get more anyway.
"Seriously, I'm proud of you." She caught Sam's gaze in hers. "And you're gonna go to that interview on Monday and get that full ride. I know it."
He stared at her and slowly shook his head, his adoration plain for her to see. Yes, he'd come a long way from that shy, hermit, scholar. "What would I do without you?"
Jess couldn't help herself. "Crash and burn." Her smile mirrored his and she pulled him forward for a kiss. He tenderly grabbed her face as they kissed several more times. Pure, sweet bliss.