The next day in school Jessie and I meet each other in the hall. She's happy to see me; a plus since I'm the reason why she's grounded. She hugs me anyway and I gladly accept. She tells me her mom and dad discussed what the punishment should be and that's how she figured out why she only got three days. She said her dad told her mom that I influenced her and her mom's response was-Hah, I knew it. Someone that charming can't possibly be all good, I knew there was a secret, wicked side to her. She apparently said all this in a light hearted tone. Jessie just started laughing while telling me all of this. I could only cross my arms and deny it all.

"I can be charming and perfectly well behaved," I reply, "I just enjoy corrupting their daughter," I continue with a crooked smile.

"Hah, well…my mom said you can come over after school today and eat dinner with us, which will of course be take-out," she says rolling her eyes at the end for emphasis.

"Alright, I'm up for it, but instead of take-out how about I cook you all dinner," I say with my usual goofy grin.

"You cook? I don't think I trust that," she says back teasing me.

"Hey now. When I was little I wanted to be a chef so I asked for books and learned form that. I'll shop for everything I need and I'll be there say around…four," I ask uncertain.

"Four would be perfect, homework will be done and mom will be getting home, she has an easy load lately, she's actually been at the house more," she says with a content smile.

"That settles it, I'll see you at lunch then," I say as the warning bell rings. We rush off to our classes in the opposite direction, both glancing at one another and smiling like idiots.

We meet at lunch and everyone is happy that Jessie didn't get into too much trouble. Tad invites her to a party at his house over the weekend on Saturday night. I of coarse am invited without Tad asking. Grace is invited and her crazy friends as well. Everyone is beyond excited; I can't wait till Jessie is ungrounded. Lunch is over and Jessie stares at me longer than usual.

"Are you ok, you're being very quiet?" she asks in a whisper.

"Yeah, just thinking, you know me," I respond in a way that only she understands what I'm implying..how I think to myself and stay out of conversations sometimes. She smiles and nods her head as if saying-what am I going to do with you. The bell rings, we all agree to go to the party and groan about the rest of the day. I promise Jessie I'll see her at rehearsal, drive her home and get groceries after. Periods pass by as slowly as possible and the last bell finally rings, but before I can stop by Jessie's locker she's already gone to rehearsal. I sneak into the back after I gather my things and take a seat without bumping into anything, which really is an accomplishment for me and Jessie knows I'm so clumsy. She looks up even though I tried not to make a sound and lightly smiles. I finally sit down and begin to write out a list of things I need for the food. By the time I'm done writing everything down and spacing out the rehearsal is over and Jessie rushes over to see me. Tad couldn't make it today because of family things and then practice. Grace goes to see Mr. Dimitri for some odd reason or another. We go into the car and don't talk much, Jessie stares at me as if I lost every ounce of sanity. I just smile and keep humming. She smiles backs and rolls her eyes and says she liked the Keane CD.

"We might as well be strangers was my favorite," she states calmly.

"That was my favorite for a few weeks until I played it too much, got sick of it, stopped listening to it for a while and now I love it again…but in moderation," I say happily.

"You're crazy, you know that," she replies with a grin. With that last comment we're at Jessie's mom's house. She's out the door and ready to get her homework done so we can do the usual…listen to music and digest the day. Just before she turns to leave she looks back at me and frowns, saying, "you really are crazy."

"You wouldn't have it any other way and plus I'd be boring and we can't have that," I reply right back. With that she closes the door and goes into the house. Only when the door is finally closed do I leave to go to the store.

The fun thing about being in a grocery store alone without parents is that you feel more independent, this is why I love shopping and why I love to cook. About half an hour later I have everything and I'm back in the car ready to go to Jessie's mom's place. I'm glad I have free time to volunteer and go to parties so I don't become too serious about life I muse to myself. I'm also really glad my parents give me money to do random things like this and I'm sure Mrs. Sammler will enjoy it or at least I hope so.

When I arrive at Mrs. Sammler's house I'm warmly greeted. She's still in her work clothes so I guess she's had a long day.

"Hello Katie, glad to see you and after school is good, not skipping," she teases and jokes but I blush anyways.

"Hi Mrs. Sammler, yeah it was a misunderstanding between me and my synapses. I thought we had half a day for a moment. Wishful thinking I've come to realize," I reply joking back, trying to make her laugh. I've also noticed the Sammler women have the best laughs I've ever heard. Heart-felt and sweet.

"Oh Katie, only you," she replies, "and please call me Karen," she smiles.

"Will try Mrs. Sammler," I say back and by now I've managed to set down the bags of food and heavily sigh just for emphasis.

"What have you got there Katie," she asks curiously.

"Jessie didn't tell you? I'm going to make you both dinner since I think Jessie is getting bored with take-out," I say setting up Jessie so she gets defensive and right on queue from the other room comes a voice.

"I am not, she bribed me into it, she just went off on a tangent about how she wanted to cook for us," Jessie replies back.

"Yeah well, true enough," I say shrugging, "but I also figure since Karen lets me come over every day and raid her fridge I should pay you back so deal with it," I say back playfully.

"I'm very happy for a free meal and a chance to not eat pre-cooked food over and over," replies Karen.

After some more chatting and joking around Jessie helps me with the bags and I sit reading a cook book over again as the door bell rings. Karen goes to get it and there's a tired looking UPS man with a small box. He greats her, asks her to sign and waits patiently as she does.

"I swear I had two packages come today," she says to him.

"I doubt it, I've checked twice and I'm also in a hurry," he replies tiredly. At this point in time I've eavesdropping which it rude but sometimes enjoyable. I lean back in my chair from the kitchen to witness the conversation because I know what's about to happen.

"Would you mind checking again please, if it isn't too much trouble," she says in her most innocent, yet controlled tone. He seems to be thinking it over but she probably smiled at him and then used the secret eye power thing and he softens. I could see it in his shoulders.

"Alright, just one minute," he says and with that he turns around and in a few minutes he comes back with another package. He seems surprised as he hands it over to her and she smiles and thanks him some more.

"Have a nice day," he says politely.

"You too and thank you again," she replies sweetly and shuts the door. Just as the door shuts…

"There!" I scream, "Jessie your mom did it right there. Don't you dare try to deny it, you saw it right from the couch. I saw you!" I say excitedly.

"Yeah yeah, keep your conspiracy theories to yourself," she says back while rolling her eyes slightly.

"What are you two talking about?" Karen says coming over in between us in the middle of the room. Jessie explains and Karen starts to frown and then starts to laugh.

"What?" Jessie asks as if she's missed something.

"I do that to your father all the time," Karen says through laughter, "where do you think you get it from, as Katie seems to think in her realistic, so-called conspiracy theory," she says with a smile to me. Jessie's mouth hangs open and I can't help but say…

"Told ya so." Ha! I'm never going to let this down.