AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the patience… This chapter is third to the last, one of my favorite chapters. Thanks for reading.

PART 11BROKEN HEARTS CLUB

So Jessie spent almost the rest of the day making Katie squirm and enjoyed it. After working on their tan and having a little swim, the two went back to the beach house. Kati reasoned that she had to go back to her writing and Jessie had to prepare for the hospital anyway. Her shift was fast approaching. Time really flies when you're having a good time.

Right after they stepped into the beach house, Katie made a run to the showers. She just had to wash away all those crazy feeling that Jessie stirred inside of her. They both had a great day together, Katie knew that. But wasn't about to admit that. It would be too dangerous for her to admit that. After all, she would be leaving in a few days and would never see Jessie ever again.

Katie didn't realize that she had herself lost in a daydream again, and didn't know that Jessie had been standing behind her, watching her, not knowing what was going on inside her head. Katie was dreaming of the days when she wouldn't have to think about Jessie anymore. That seem impossible, but that would be helpful. Moving on without Jessie in her life would be different, but easier and less painful. Besides, she doesn't have a choice. No matter how much she feels for this girl, she couldn't hope for anything anymore. She doesn't have the right. Katie snapped her head around upon hearing Jessie faking a cough. Seeing Jessie's beautiful smile just melts her heart.

"Hi." Jessie smiled.

"Hi." Katie smiled back. And then they fell into short silence. "I see you're already dressed. Leaving for work?" Secretly, Katie wished that Jessie didn't have to leave tonight, but it's Jessie's work, and she knows how important it is for Jessie.

"Not in a few minutes." Jessie walked to Katie's direction and pulled a chair beside her. She peeked through Katie's lap top computer and Katie immediately turned it away from Jessie, grinning widely. Jessie pouted. "What, I'm not allowed to see your work?"

"Not until it gets published." Katie chuckled. "You get the first copy, I promise." Jessie smiled, and Katie continued. "But you have to pay for the shipping fee." Katie joked. Then she laughed out loud after seeing the funny look on Jessie's face. Jessie laughed with her.

"What's it about?" Jessie asked in curiosity. Truth is, she have read all of Katie's works. She actually has a complete collection of Katie's books hiding inside her bedroom, but Katie didn't know that. Katie was really good at this writing thing. Oddly, Katie looked a bit mortified at Jessie's question that made Jessie frown in confusion, thinking of what she had just said. She was sure she didn't say anything that could have offended Katie.

Meanwhile, Katie wasn't able to answer Jessie's question right away. The answer was easy. It was a story based on both of them, though the characters were modified and hidden under different names, with a happy ending. It was sort of Katie's fantasy, that Jessie would just realize that she loves her and just let go of all her fears and tell her about her feelings. She's not about to let Jessie know.

"Oh, uh… It's a secret… For now." She smiled reassuringly at Jessie.

"Hmm, so I guess I'm not that special." Jessie said casually.

"Excuse me?" Katie squeaked. Jessie chuckled.

"I must not be that special since you can't even give me an idea on what your new fiction is about." Jessie was weirded out by Katie's sudden defensiveness, but it was cute, so, she let it pass.

"It's a love story." Katie said simply.

"Okay." Both of them fell into silence again. Katie focused her eyes back on the beach, and watched as the sun was setting in the horizon. And then, Jessie was sitting beside her. Perfect.

I could spend the rest of my life like this… Katie thought.

"So, you still sing that song from the play?" Katie spoke again after the comfortable silence. Jessie looked up at her.

"What?" Jessie didn't seem to hear what Katie had said.

"I heard you singing that song from the play this morning. That one you sang at the audition… In highschool, remember?" Katie asked again. Now knowing what Katie was referring to, Jessie smiled.

"Oh, you mean that song you heard me sing the day Tad DRAGGED you to watch the auditions for moral support?" Jessie joked, Katie laughed.

"Yeah, that song."

"Well, yeah, I still sing that song. It's one of my favorite songs."

"I love that song." Katie said, staring at Jessie. Jessie was doing the same thing. "When I heard you sing, nobody else sounded better…" Katie said thoughtfully. There was something about Jessie that's just so irresistible. Was it her baby blue eyes? Maybe. Katie wanted to look away but couldn't force herself to. She had been trying to avoid complicating things with Jessie since the first time they saw each other again in years. But at the moment, it's just hard to think straight.

They were having one of those infamous staring marathons they used to have in highschool that annoyed Grace to the bones, and I wonder what could have happened if Jessie's celphone didn't ring that made of them jump a feet away from each other. Jessie silently cursed, and smiled apologetically at Katie. She walked back to the living room to take the call. Katie sighed. It didn't take long when Jessie came back again. But she didn't take her former seat.

"It was Zoe." She informed Katie.

"Was there any problem?" Katie asked worriedly.

"Actually, no. She only called to make sure that I'm taking good care of you." Jessie replied in amusement. Zoe was really worried about Katie more than she was worried about Jessie. The bond that her stepsister had with Katie was unbelievable and she wasn't even aware about that bond until Grace decided to get married. She found it truly adorable.

Somehow, Katie felt her face blushing. She's not a kid, and everybodys' acting so worried about her including Grace and Tad when she already assured them that she's going to be fine. At one time, Jessie was still working at the hospital and she was the one who answered Rick's call. What shocked her was that he wasn't really calling for Jessie, but he actually called to talk to Katie. And then Jessie's mom Karen called, then there's Lily. Tad was calling every other day just to make sure and it's starting to freak her out. And now there's Zoe. Jessei's family had been acting really odd lately. Katie thought again.

"What did you say?" Katie continued.

"I said I knocked you hard on the head while you were sleeping and dumped your lifeless body in the middle of the ocean. She didn't find it funny." Jessie said in mock disbelief and Katie laughed. They exchanged meaningful smiles. "Look, I hate to leave, but I really have to go now."

"Drive safely."

"I will. Would you like me to get you anything when I get back?" Jessie moved closer to kiss Katie goodbye on the cheek again.

"Just you." Katie smiled. This time, she didn't control herself anymore. Jessie stood frozen for a moment, but she was smiling, so Katie was assured that she didn't freak her out. That's what she really wanted to say, so, she said it anyway.

Jessie finally leaned down to kiss Katie's right cheek. Katie turned her head and Jessie's lips hit Katie's. Jessie pulled away, but Katie's lips held her in place, to Jessie's surprise. And now for the first time, they kissed, really kissed. Neither of them wanted to pull away, but the need for oxygen became too great.

They looked at each other's eyes. Jessie had a smile on her face, unable to describe the intensity of her feelings towards this girl in front of her right now, and the kind of desire that the kiss gave her.

"Katie…" Jessie whispered, but before she could say anything more, Katie pulled her again for a kiss. This time, it's longer and deeper. Something that Jessie had been dreaming about for years, and something that Katie had been dreaming about for years.

They didn't realize they had already pulled themselves from the veranda to the living room. Jessie was lying on the couch, with Katie hovering on top of her. They were engaged in a very passionate kiss, a kiss that neither of them experienced in their past relationships. It felt so right, that even rationality escaped Jessie. Screw her work. She hadn't skipped work in her entire career, not once, or her classes when she was still a student for that matter, and she even did a lot of overtime work more than anyone in history. This is the first time she felt this good in her life, and she wasn't about to let it just come on an abrupt and unsatisfying end because of work. Not now.

Until Jessie's celphone starting ringing again. She intended not to pay attention to the ringing phone on the right pocket of her pants, but was disappointed when Katie slowly pulled away. Jessie looked at her questioningly, and Katie just looked at her. After a short silence, Katie decided to get off Jessie and walk back to the veranda. But before she could, Jessie grabbed her hand…

"Wait…"

"You're gonna be late." Katie said, avoiding Jessie's eyes.

"What?" Jessie's face contorted, in disbelief of what she was hearing. After what happened, Katie could still worry about Jessie's work, when Jessie couldn't even care less if she makes it to the hospital tonight or not?/

"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry… Don't worry, it won't happen again." Katie sighed, wanting to smack her own head after letting herself get carried away. She felt she violated Jessie's trust and took advantage of the situation. To avoid a confrontation, Katie went back to the veranda, leaving as stunned Jessie behind.

Jessie sat still on the sofa, pondering about the intimate moment that she shared with Katie just a few moments ago. She couldn't believe it just ended like that, and now, Katie apologized and promised it won't happen again.

NOT HAPPENING AGAIN? That's exactly something that I should worry about! Jessie glanced at the watch on her right hand. She was going to be late, but she wasn't even bothered by it. She began buttoning her white blouse, which was already unbuttoned halfway down. After composing herself again, she looked at Katie who was sitting on the chair at the veranda with her back turned on her. Then she walked out of the house. Outside, Jessie kicked the white sand and cursed.

It was going to be a long night for both of them.

Hours passed, and as usual, Katie couldn't sleep. She spent the night writing and again, scrapping most of her ideas. She couldn't seem to concentrate with what almost happened between her and Jessie. Or could something have happened if that damn phone didn't ring?

Jessie hadn't dropped a single phone call since she left for work last night which worried Katie a bit and it was already one in the afternoon. Jessie's going to be back any minute now.

Was she mad because of what happened? But she kissed me back… That should mean something, right? Katie sighed; her mind is going to an overdrive. So, Katie can be too dense at times, but she didn't want to assume possibilities especially when it comes to Jessie, because everything about Jessie can bring so much pain to her. Truth is, she had been fantasizing about that possibility that Jessie was actually starting to feel something for her, with the way she behaves towards Katie lately. But still, Katie's trying to force that out of her head, thinking that her mind was merely playing tricks on her again, trying to convince herself that she was overanalyzing Jessie's behavior. I need someone to talk to… Katie picked up the phone and dialed a number.

Meanwhile, Jessie had tried to dial her home number a hundred times since last night, but couldn't get herself to talk to Katie so she hung up even before the phone could ring. Maybe she was being too fast. Maybe she crossed the line and offender Katie. She had been worrying all night and day, and had been really cranky towards the people in the hospital. She tried her best to act nice towards her young patients and its taking all of her energy. She was resting inside her office when her celphone rang. She wasn't intending to answer it, since it was the culprit that stole her moment with Katie last night. She would have smashed it if she didn't need it. The celphone kept ringing to Jessie's irritation, so she answered it anyway.

"What do you want?" Jessie howled on the phone without bothering to look at the called id.

"Sexually frustrated, aren't we?" Grace grinned on the other line that made Jessie frown.

"Grace, what do you want?" Jessie repeated her question with a sigh, recognizing Grace's voice.

"Tad called Katie, and oddly, normally nice Katie was acting all bitchy like some STEPSISTER I know. He had to threaten her with everything before she confessed about what's bugging her. She said she kissed you and she felt sorry about it." Grace castigated her sister.

"Leave it to you guys to broadcast my sex life to the rest of the world. I bet you've already told Lily." Jessie said sarcastically. Grace laughed to Jessie's utter annoyance.

"I don't remember saying anything about your sex life 'coz I honestly don't know anything about it and thank God I don't, and yeah, I've already told mom about that kiss, and she probably have told Karen and Rick…"

"Bite me." Jessie retorted.

"You know, I hate it when you're being bitch. It doesn't suit you." Grace said seriously.

"Maybe you're rubbing it off on me." Jessie was still cranky.

"Wasn't it the other way around?" Grace joked to lighten the mood, but Jessie wasn't really coming around.

"Haha, Grace, very funny." Jessie was more sarcastic than ever.

"Jess, what really happened?" Grace's voice sounded so sincere, Jessie immediately regretted being such an ass. "Jessie?" Grace thought she lost Jessie on the line but was relieved upon hearing her again.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure." Jessie sighed.

"Of course you know, you're with her." Grace frowned. Maybe Jessie just didn't want to talk. But Grace wouldn't stop at nothing. This fiasco between Jessie and Katie has to end. If they really have to tie and gag both of them and ship them off to Asia without their passports so they wouldn't have a choice but to rely on each other, they would definitely do that. It might as well help these two successful, intelligent, and at the same time, stupid bachelorettes get into their senses and just be honest about their feelings for each other.

"You already know about the kiss. What else do you want me to say?" Jessie said in a manner that showed how tired she seemed to be by just thinking about it.

"So she kissed you. What happened after that?"

"Nothing. Nothing happened." Jessie said flatly. Grace raised her eyebrow.

"What upset her? Jess, what did you do?" Grace suspected her stepsister had done something really stupid again and she was just about ready to give her the lecture of a lifetime.

"I didn't do anything Grace. I'm not the only one who does the hurting in this relationship, you know." Jessie growled on the phone. Grace paused for a while, thinking. "She kissed me and I kissed her back. Everything was fine until some freakin' anonymous caller ruined our moment. And that's it. She pulled away. She avoided looking at me in the eye. Then, she told me I was going to be late! Who the hell cares if I'm going to be late or not? I didn't, so why would she?" Jessie paused, then sighed before speaking again. "For the first time, nothing else mattered to me. I just want to be there with her, and kiss her, and…"

"Did you tell her?"

"Tell her what?" Jessie wasn't really in the mood to think about other things.

"That you want to be with her… That you love her."

"No, I haven't." Jessie sighed.

"What are you waiting for, the end of the world?" Grace said in exasperation.

"I haven't had the chance." Jessie retorted. She doesn't need to explain to Grace. Things are as complicated as it is already.

"Jess, you had EVERY chance! She's right in front of you! You eat dinner with her every chance you get, you cuddle in the couch, you might even have slept in the same bed already! She lives in your house and you're telling me you haven't had the chance?! You've got to be the dumbest intellect I've met and you had to be my sister?!" Grace exclaimed. Jessie had to pull the earpiece of the celphone away from her ears and screamed back.

"Damn it Grace, I'm not deaf!" Jessie was trying her best to control her anger. Both fell into silence for a moment. Then Jessie spoke again. "I can't just tell her that I love her then act like I didn't ruin her life before." Jessie was feeling more and more frustrated. But somehow, she felt better now that she's able to talk to Grace, though she's annoying her to death.

"Screw the past, Jess. Who cares about the fucking past? You know what matters now? You and Katie. That's what matters. We're not blind, we're not stupid either. Maybe we're being pushy and all but we've seen you in the last years Jessie. You're miserable. Katie was miserable. If she can't pull the nerves to write you another letter and pour her heart out to make you fall in love again, not that she needs to, then you should do something. Jess, you might NEVER get this chance again. And trust me, if you don't tell her now, you'll regret this… For eternity." Grace made it a point to emphasize her last words.

Jessie wandered off to dreamland right after hearing that, thinking a life without Katie and realized that that would be empty. She's live without her, that's a fact, because she's not about to take her own life so she'd be out of her misery, but then, life won't mean anything to her anymore. Life would be a simple routine. A routine or survival: a routine of living, working and breathing, nothing more.

"Jess?" Grace know she hit something. Jessie was thinking.

"Grace, what do I do?" Jessie said in a pleading voice, tired of thinking about the right thing to do.

"Do something special. Take her out tonight." Grace suggested, mentally crossing her fingers, hoping for the best. Jessie fell into silence. "Jess, you've waited a decade to have this chance with Katie again… Don't let it slip away."