'At least she didn't say "our" apartment,' I thought. But still, that girl feeling free to invite someone she doesn't even know into a place she doesn't own could only mean one thing.

I took off my jacket and looked around: the place was small and messy. There was a tiny kitchen at the entrance and a larger space for living room and dining room and three other doors that I figured to be two bedrooms and a bathroom. I saw a lot of books I knew Jess liked on the three crowded shelves, on the center-table, on the couch and - well, all over the place. And some I knew he hated, like poetry ones, I wondered what they were doing there. The tons of band posters on the walls and the piles of CDs on the floor reinforced the idea of chaos.

"Jess will be back in a couple of minutes, he had to buy something, but this door has a huge problem: it doesn't open from the outside, which on one hand is good because it keeps the thieves away, but on the other hand, it always needs to have someone in, and as long as Matthew has been missing this whole day, Jess called me, so I came..." I heard Anne's voice babbling on my back, "Anyways, why don't you sit?"

I lightly nodded and sat in the couch she pointed to, she followed me sitting in the other one. I started looking at the covers of the books on the center-table to avoid her stare and a possible awkward conversation.

"Jess talks a lot about you. Well, actually, he usually doesn't talk at all, you know that, right? But counting all the rare occasions he talks, it's mostly about you," either she hadn't realized I didn't want to talk to her or she simply didn't care.

"Huh..." sure I was happy hearing it. I was beyond happy and that funny sensation in my stomach was a living proof of it. I just didn't want this unknown talkative Blond girl on my side to know it.

"Let me guess - you two met at the monosyllabic club, right?" she joked.

"No." I said, raising my eyebrows and giving her a fast look. 'God, she is so insistent, maybe that's why Jess dates her - he couldn't stand her asking for it anymore,' I thought.

There was a moment of silence; I thought she had given up trying to talk to me, what a illusion...

"You know, Jess and I know each other from kindergarten. When I saw him again in California he was so different..." she tried to start a talk once more.

"Stopping believing in Santa Claus gives that effect," I interrupted her.

"Yeah, that too," she laughed, nervously, "But I meant more mature, less trouble-maker."

"'You grow up and you calm down...'" I quoted a lyric of a song. Jess would hate this reference.

"The Clash, right? Clampdown," she half-asked, half-stated.

I looked at her, her green eyes fitted mine and she seemed apprehensive, like this was her last shot to make me like her, she was even biting her lower lip. It made me feel ridiculous, I shouldn't be punishing her so much just because she was probably going out with the guy I love. I shook my head in agreement, making her smile encouraged.

A sound from the front door announced Jess' arrival. I felt myself blushing; Anne jumped off of her seat and went open the door; I stayed there, too nervous to do anything. I heard the door opening; I heard Jess greeting Anne and she greeting him back; I heard that undeniable kiss sound that broke my heart; and I heard a baby girl's voice saying "Jess bought me a cotton-candy, mommy."

"That's great, dear!" Anne answered, "Jess, someone wants to see you."

"Revenue?" he asked, making her laugh.

I stood up so he could see me. He was obviously surprised; first he blinked a couple of times, raised one eyebrow, then he smirked - I missed that smirk so much - and asked to Anne, "How long I've been out?"

I finished getting dressed and waited for Jess to pick me up. We didn't have much time to talk; as soon as he got there, Anne started to make plans for us, and alleging I needed to meet the rest of the group, she settled for a casual dinner tonight. Then, she said, I was probably too tired because the trip, and that I should probably go rest, so she picked me this hotel and after a small couple's fight (so sweet, so nauseating) about the best way to get here, I came immediately. Anne was probably trying to avoid Jess and I having some time alone; I can't blame her.

"Oh, my God!" I exclaimed when he came, taking a look at his looking-brand-new silver car, "Is that what your first car became?"

"Hello to you too. And no, that's what my fourth car became. I still have the first one."

"Really? Why?" I asked, in disbelief.

"So MTV can pimp it someday," he answered, like it was obvious.

"Very clever," I laughed, "But you do know you'll have to explain where this MTV reference came from, right?"

"Yes, ma'am. Now, shall we?" he opened the car door for me. I agreed, forgetting for a while why I wasn't the happiest person alive moments ago.

Hey! Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter, but it's finally here. Hope you guys like it, I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. So, don't be shy and tell me what you think.

Thanks for everyone who reviewed, I loved my Christmas presents :). I'll try my best to update it soon.