AUTHOR'S NOTE:This is a really long chapter, so forgive me if I'm taking a really long time to update. I had to split this chapter into parts again…

PART 5ATHE NAKED TRUTH

Excited would be an understatement, 'coz despite the lack of sleep, Katie woke up early the next morning. The sun wasn't even up when she got out of bed, and finding that her roommates were all still asleep, she decided to go on a jog, hoping that the exercise would clear her head. But of course, it didn't. Memories of the kiss that almost happened last night wouldn't stop haunting her. And it was driving her absolutely crazy.

Katie went straight to the shower after getting back to the penthouse apartment. She was almost finished when she heard Grace yelling from downstairs.

"Katie, don't forget to drop by the Coffee Park after you guys finished shopping at Bloomingdale's!" Grace reminded Katie. Katie scurried out of her bathroom so she could catch up with Grace. She really wanted to talk to her. Grace was about to open the door when Katie came rushing from her bedroom, wearing nothing but her white towel.

"Wait!" Katie yelled, catching her breath.

"Are you okay?" Grace turned around to face Katie, a frown plastered in her face, as she scrutinized Katie's form drenching the living room rug.

"I know what you're doing." Katie said.

"What?" Grace was obviously clueless.

"With me and Jessie." Katie said impatiently.

"What are you talking about?" Grace of course, realized exactly what Katie was talking about, it's just really fun to annoy her.

"You know, for a friend, you're not so great right now." Katie shook her head, feigning disappointment.

"Come on Katie, it's just shopping." Grace smiled innocently. Katie narrowed her eyes on her.

"Will you just cut all the bullshit? I'm not really liking this." Katie sighed. Grace studied Katie's face for a moment.

"You don't like Jessie?" Grace asked.

"I didn't say that."

"So, you do like her?" Grace grinned triumphantly.

"I don't really get it. Is there even a point in setting me up with her? 'Coz there are so many reasons for you not to. And knowing how protective you are, I really think you should consider all of it. One: she's straight; two: she's your stepsister; and three: I'm a fucking heartbreaker."

"Look, Jessie doesn't know what she wants."

"And YOU do?" Katie asked sarcastically.

"She'd been holding back from a lot of things, it keeps her from being happy." Grace said, glaring at Katie's sarcasm.

"What are you, her shrink?" Katie snorted.

"I just want to give her options."

"So I'm an option?" Katie scowled at Grace, looking offended. "Jessie isn't some kind of a science project, and I'm not a stupid guinea pig, okay?"

"Katie…" Grace trailed off. She didn't really know what to say to her friend.

"Grace, you're my friend, and I love you, and I never ever want to lose you. Jessie's great, she's nice, she's beautiful, she's perfect!... Thanks for trusting me, it's just… I don't want to put our friendship on the line by dating your stepsister, know what I mean?" Of course, Grace knew what Katie meant. She gets it. And Katie definitely had a point. Katie has a reputation, and she's perfectly aware of that. And yes, Katie would probably break Jessie's heart if given the chance to. But she's just so convinced that there's something about Jessie and Katie that feels so right… And there's definitely something with the way they stole glances of each other last night…

"Fine." Grace shrugged. She never won an argument with Katie anyway. Katie looked at her in surprise. Grace isn't the type who easily gives up without a fight. "But you are still taking her to Bloomingdale's."

"Actually, about that---" Before Katie could even finish her excuse to get herself out of spending too much time with Jessie, something, rather someone, slammed into her, which almost send her falling down the floor, if not for her strong sense of balance.

"Oh my God, I'm so---" Jessie wasn't able to finish her sentence either, as she saw how Katie's white towel smoothly slithered it's way down her perfectly tanned skin. Her jaw drops, as her eyes marveled at every inch of Katie's skin…

Katie Singer stood before her, in all her glory.

Meanwhile, Katie immediately bent down and snatched her towel from the floor and covered herself hastily and self-consciously, her face turning red, she could feel it burning. Grace remained standing by the door, watching the scene, and finding the current situation rather funny. It's not everyday that you see Katie Singer lose her poise. Jessie didn't realize she had been holding her breath, until Katie covered herself again.

"I was telling Katie to drop by the Coffee Park after your shopping stint at Bloomingdale's. We could then all hang out at The Tavern tonight." Grace said, breaking the ice. Jessie had already turned her head away from Katie, and Katie did the same thing. The two tried their best to focus their attention at Grace's invitation, which they find really hard to do. Or maybe harder for Jessie, with Katie's half-naked body standing not too far from her, she was surprised her mind still works despite of the fog it was in.

"Uh…" Jessie squeaked, which earned a chuckle from Grace. Her face turning red, Jessie cleared her throat. "I mean, I don't think I have time after shopping."

"And that's because...?" Grace said frowning.

"Well…" Jessie looked bashfully at Grace, then threw a cautious look at Katie's direction (who by the way was still holding her towel tightly around her body), which didn't escape Grace's probing eyes. "There's this thing…" Jessie trailed off again, not really wanting to explain with Katie around.

"Jess, just tell me where you're going and I'll leave you alone, alright?" Grace said impatiently. Jessie threw another cautious look at Katie's direction, which made Grace look suspiciously at her stepsister.

"I already have plans with Chris." Jessie apologetically said to Grace, purposely avoiding to look at Katie's way. She didn't see the pungent look that was plastered in the brunette's face. Upon hearing her excuse, to Grace's detriment, she continued, "I can go with you guys tomorrow," Jessie said, faking cheer. She wasn't really that excited to go out with Chris. Grace was sending her her trademark looks that could kill. Katie, meanwhile, wanted to ask so many questions, like who the hell Chris is, what he does, what he looks like. She could barely contain her curiosity. Her desire was between wanting and not wanting to know.

"With Chris? Christopher Woodward?" Grace asked in her tell-me-you're-joking tone. She wished she didn't hear right, 'coz she never liked Chris. Chris isn't the type she imagined Jessie would be with.

Christopher Woodward was so far, the most persistent of all the guys Jessie had dated. He's definitely handsome, too handsome to even describe in a JFK, Jr. sort of way. He's got a good-paying job too: he's the assistant manager of the New England Patriots. Grace would have liked him, he would have been the perfect guy, except that he's an arrogant, self-loving bastard. She never understood why Jessie kept dating him. And Jessie wouldn't give her any explanation either.

"He's in town. Their team is up against the New York Jets this weekend."

"I didn't know you're still dating him." Grace said in her most disgusted tone.

"We sort of talked about giving this another shot before I left Boston." Jessie said before letting out a deep breath, confused as to why she's having a hard time telling Grace about Chris, when she never had a problem with it before. Maybe because Katie was there listening.

The three fell into a really awkward silence. It was too quiet, you could hear the sound of a cricket a thousand miles away. Grace hated the idea of her stepsister hanging out with Chris all night. Katie was fighting the uncomfortable feeling. And unknown to the two, Jessie was apprehensive. If she had a choice, she wouldn't go with Chris. It's just that he had planned this with him a long time and felt too guilty to back out. Besides, she doesn't have any other reason to back out… Or does she?

Their reverie was broken when the phone rang. Katie and Jessie didn't make any move to answer it, despite the fact that they were nearer the phone. Katie was just too scared that her towel would fall again, and Jessie was scared she'd slam into Katie again, only this time she might do it on purpose. Sighing in disbelief, Grace walked to the phone stand and snatched the phone.

"Hello…" Grace said, sounding really bored. Her face contracted upon hearing the voice of the person on the other line.

It was Joanna Franco.

Grace listened as the actress babbled in the other line, while Jessie and Katie eyed her curiously. As if something clicked in her mind, Grace's face lightened, and the playful smirk was back in her face again.

"Okay, I'll tell her. Bye." Grace hung up, then turned her head to look at the suspicious painter.

"It's your GIRLFRIEND." Grace stated, making sure to emphasize the girlfriend part, which made Jessie visibly flinch.

Jessie didn't know Katie has a girlfriend, and and she doesn't feel too happy knowing that Katie actually has one.

Katie got more suspicious. Grace was never happy about anything the concerns or involves Joanna.

"She wants to see you tonight. Tell her I said hi." Grace turned to leave. Katie frowned at Grace's odd behavior. "Oh, never mind that. I'd say hi to her personally when you bring her with you at The Tavern tonight. We could all hang out and catch up." Grace grinned, and threw the phone to Katie's direction, and luckily, Katie managed to catch it. Before leaving, she winked at Katie, which weirded Katie even more.

Jessie fidgeted to where she stood.

This is getting more and more interesting. Grace thought.