Title: Some New Start
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Summary: Instead of moving to Australia, Jessie and her family move to Newport Beach, where she meets Katie Cooper…
A/N: This chapter is un-beta'd. I'm running on an hour of sleep and just got done with a 9-hour work day. But since I got such good reviews, I wanted to finish this chapter tonight. So here you guys go.
The sun was setting beautifully in Newport and Grace and Zoe lay on floatable chairs inside the pool, trying to catch those last rays of light, while Jessie was reclined in a beach chair at the pool's edge, catching up on the summer reading list Harbor High School had mailed to her.
Three days had passed since fashion show night. Jessie mostly spent her time inside, or by the pool, though Eli had managed to drag her to the beach the day before, and had even given her a surfing lesson. She suspected that her dad had asked Eli to take her, so she could be more "social" in this new place.
The back door slid open and Lily poked her head outside. "Jessie, come on inside! You have a visitor."
Jessie lowered her book and looked at her step mother. "Who?"
"Seth. From two houses down. He's in the living room with your father."
"Oh…" Jessie placed her bookmark inside the book and clambered off the chair, rushing passed a curious Grace and Zoe into the house. She tossed her book on the counter and went to the living room, where Seth and Rick were sitting awkwardly on one of the couches. "Hi, Seth," she greeted.
"Jessie, hi!" He stood up and straightened out his pants uncomfortably. "Your dad and I were just sitting here in an awkward silence. Thank you for breaking it because it was really starting to hurt my ears."
Jessie laughed, and Rick smiled weakly. She was unsure whether it was because he had his boss's son in his living room that had him looking so nervous, or if it was because there was a boy looking for her. She decided on the latter.
"What's up, Seth?"
He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "It's Ryan's last night in Newport and since you guys are best of buddies, I was wondering if you would like to come over for the farewell dinner," he invited.
"Wait, you aren't actually related to Ryan?"
"Nope. He is the 'kid from Chino who stole a car' and my mother wants him out of the house…even with all the extra room…"
Her eyebrows furrowed. "Wouldn't that make dinner an awkward experience?"
"Yes! Which is why I need you to save me! Please, as my newest friend, you should do this for me…" he begged.
Jessie fiddled with a belt loop on her jeans, an unconscious habit she had developed. This is going to be so awkward…but isn't this what I wanted? Friends? "Um…sure, I guess I can go. Dad, can I go?"
Rick's eyes were open slightly wider than usual as he stared at his daughter blankly. "I guess it would be all right," he responded after several moments. "As long as you're home by eleven…"
Seth looked back and forth at Jessie and Rick before exclaiming, "Thank you, Mr. Sammler! By the way, my mom thinks you're doing a fantastic job on the new hotel."
Jessie laughed and grabbed his arm, leading him in the direction of the front of the house. "You've already won, Seth. Let's go."
How did I end up here? Jessie had no idea how a horribly uncomfortable dinner with the Cohen's had turned into her and Seth helping Ryan run away to live in one of his mother's model homes. She was heading back to Seth's house, dragging Grace's bike with her. If Grace found out she had stolen her bike, she would be murdered. Somehow, Jessie found that a risk worth taking. There was something exciting about helping a boy run away; maybe it was because she had never done anything wrong her entire life.
Ryan was standing alone in front of the gate pillar to the Cohen's driveway; Seth was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Seth?" Jessie questioned, stopping next to Ryan.
He glanced back at the house. "I don't know, he should've been out here by now."
"Okay, got it. I'll be there in, like, twenty minutes."
They both turned and noticed Katie carrying a large, wrapped box in her arms and talking on her cell phone. She was heading towards her parent's jeep when she noticed Jessie and Ryan standing at the edge of the driveway. Confusion melted into suspicion on her face as she glanced between the two as they stood nervously, waiting for her to approach.
"I didn't think I'd see you again," she said to Ryan, a little less warmly than she would have in the past. Her eyes then softened. "Look, I wanted to say thanks, for the other night…."
Jessie frowned and wondered what had happened the other night, but did not ask. She noticed that Katie avoided making eye contact with her.
"You always drink like that?" he asked.
Question answered, Jessie thought bitterly. Alcohol was one of her least favorite things, but couldn't find herself surprised at the news that Katie drank a lot.
"I thought you were leaving," she said, completely avoiding his question. A slight smile formed when she looked at Jessie, but turned into a scowl when she turned back to Ryan.
"I did, I am…"
A sprinting Seth skidded into view, carrying his skateboard. "You guys all set? You ready to…uh, hi there, Katie."
She looked at them suspiciously. "What're you guys doing?"
"Nothing, we're just hanging out," Seth said quickly. He pointed to the gift in her arms. "Oh, look, it's somebody's birthday. I guess my invitation probably got lost in the mail."
Jessie had an inkling that her and Seth were a lot more alike than she thought. She and him seemed to share the same lack of social status.
"It's my friend Summer's birthday," she said, avoiding his eyes and instead, looking at Jessie.
"Summer's birthday's not till Wednesday."
Katie tore her eyes away from her and gave Seth a weird look.
"That's what I heard. I don't know. I….that was a guess," he finished lamely.
"You guys are up to something," Katie concluded, her eyebrows raising.
"Dude, what did you tell her," Seth muttered to Ryan, even though Katie could hear clearly what he was saying.
"I didn't tell her anything," he said just as quietly. Gesturing to Seth's shirt, he added, "I think the black turtleneck in August tipped her off."
"We really need to get going." Jessie muttered, entering their conversation zone. "I have to be home by eleven, remember, Seth? And if this place is far away…"
"Have fun at your party, Katie," Seth said, very insincerely. "We have to go now."
"You should probably go anyway," Jessie said. "Newport social event waits after all."
Katie raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"
Two hours later, Jessie sat alone with Katie in her jeep, after leaving the model home quickly to get Jessie home on time. A comfortable silence engulfed the car. Jessie didn't feel the need to talk just yet; she had never done anything like this before and was quietly engraving the events of tonight into her mind (she would write them in her journal later). It was after 10:30; her curfew was approaching.
After a few minutes, Katie broke the silence. "Can I ask you something?"
Jessie looked at the driving girl and nodded. "Sure."
"Do you feel like you'll fit anywhere in Newport?" she asked after a moment.
"Um…" Jessie had not expected that. She knew the answer, but was not sure how the other girl would take it.
"Is that a totally weird question to ask?" Katie shook her head, slightly embarrassed and sighed. "I think that was a totally weird question to ask.
Jessie crossed her hands on her lap and took a deep breath. "No, no, it's just…I don't know." She looked at Katie, who glanced quickly at her but then returned to staring at the road ahead. "Well, the answer is definitely not." She did not know why, but she had a feeling that she could trust this girl.
They took a sharp right and ended right in front of Jessie's house. "I don't know why I thought I could ask that." Katie pulled up next to the curb. "Maybe cause I kinda knew the answer," she admitted.
Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, Jessie saw that she had some time to keep talking to Katie. "You fit in, in Newport," she had already decided.
Katie scoffed and shook her head.
"No, I'm serious," Jessie said.
"You don't even know me," Katie said, adding extra emphasis to the word 'know.'
"I know, but I see you. You're always talking to, like, a hundred different people, and you organize these events and everything…"
"A hundred different people talk to me," Katie told her. "And my mother makes me organize all these things…" Her tone was dark when she spoke of her mother, and Jessie realized that she had not yet met the woman. She wondered what type of person she was to make Katie sound so bitter towards her.
It was silent for a few moments, and Jessie knew that it was time for her to go; she was early for curfew, but Katie did, after all, have a party to get to.
"Tonight was fun…I've never actually done something like that…" Jessie admitted shyly.
"What, you mean you've never snuck a boy into a model home before?" Katie asked jokingly.
She has a nice smile. "Not exactly." Jessie laughed. After a moment, she added, "I don't think we even had model homes in Evanston."
"Really?"
Jessie looked pensive. "Well, actually, I have no idea," she said seriously.
Katie laughed. "Get out of my car, Sammler," she joked as she playfully pushed Jessie towards the passenger door. "We won't be able to hang out tomorrow if you're not in by curfew."
Jessie smiled softly at the other girl's indirect request to hang out the next day. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Cooper," she said playfully. "Night."
"Bye, Jess," Katie said quietly.
Katie waited until Jessie was inside before taking off to Summer's house. There was something about the innocent blonde that was making Katie fall for her…she knew she had been attracted to Jessie the first time she met her on the driveway. However, it was her interaction with the Newport social group that really made Katie start to think about her…the polite reluctance to get too involved in any conversation, the, the lack of interest in wealth; she knew Jessie was unlike the other girls here. And that was a very attractive quality; she wanted to be with someone different, who didn't come from money, who didn't care about it. Jessie was this shy-like girl who Katie really wanted to get to know. The only problem is that she seemed too straight.
The next morning, Katie was proud of herself for not waking up with a hangover. Despite the several offers to drink alcohol at Summer's party the night before, Katie had resisted. I don't think Jessie approves of alcohol, she thought. I mean, the look on her face last night when Ryan asked me that question…that was kinda embarrassing. I can't wait to see her though. Lunch at one…god, that's so far away. To Katie's dismay, Jessie could not go with her and Seth to see Ryan that morning because Rick wanted to take his family out for an early breakfast and she was unsure what they were doing afterwards, but assumed that there would be family time. Something I never get…
Katie grabbed the bag she had filled with items for Ryan and headed out her bedroom door. She tried to sneak out as discreetly as possible; however, Julie spotted her when she walked past the kitchen.
"Katie? Look who's here!" Julie said happily.
Katie took two steps backward and entered the kitchen, where she saw her mother hovering over Sarah, who was eating the pancakes Julie had made for breakfast. Ugh, great, just what I need. Katie rolled her eyes internally. Why can't Sarah just leave me alone? Haven't I given her enough hints? When she saw the sultry grin Sarah threw at her, Katie realized she had not.
Putting on her best fake smile, Katie chirped, "Sarah! Hi!" She moved forward and hugged the brunette, but pulled away when she felt Sarah's arms rise to return the hug. Julie left the room when she heard the phone ring, leaving the two girls alone.
"Hey Kat…god, this is good," she said appreciatively through a bite of eggs. Katie frowned, revolted. "So I'm just grabbing some breakfast before we take the boat out."
"Boat? There's a boat involved?"
Sarah nodded and worked through another bite. Thankfully, she finished this one before she spoke again. "Yeah, I thought we'd take my dad's DawnSea. Do a little waterskiing. Have a little lunch…"
Katie nodded her head slowly, grimacing slightly. She was unsure of when her friendship with Sarah had turned romantic. They had known each other since fifth grade, even shared their first kiss together when they were thirteen, but Katie had never been romantically attached to her. At the beginning of tenth grade was when Sarah decided she wanted to take their friendship to the next level. Katie withdrew from her after that and grew closer to Summer, who she had met working as Social Chair for Harbor. However, at the beginning of the summer, Katie decided to give Sarah another chance at friendship. Sure, that wasn't what Sarah wanted, but Katie had known her too long, and was too close to her emotionally to let something as simple as attraction get in the way. Unfortunately, Sarah was more possessive of her than ever before.
Hmm, lunch with Jessie or lunch with Sarah…Jessie for the win! …Now how do I get rid of Sarah? What does she hate to do…? Katie this for a few moments. ...Aha!
"I'm sorry, Sarah, but I can't go with you today…" Katie began.
"What?" She looked very disappointed. "Why not?"
"Summer and I have a wax appointment with Suki," she lied. Crossing her fingers behind her back, Katie prayed this would work.
"Oh." Sarah thought for a moment. "Blow it off, Kat. We haven't hung out in a while."
"We hung out last night."
"I mean one-on-one…I miss hanging out with you…" Sarah's eyes were on Katie's feet when she said this and Katie almost felt bad for her. However, Jessie popped into her mind again, and Katie continued her get-out-of-jail act.
"It's just Suki is amazing. It doesn't hurt at all when she's waxing you and it's really hard to get an appointment with her…I know, why don't you get a manicure? You could come with me," Katie offered brightly. The blank look Sarah gave her almost made her want to laugh.
Sarah ate the last bite of her pancakes and drained her glass of milk. "Um, you go. I'll catch you up later. Holly's having a…thing," she said quietly, glancing at the door to make sure Katie's parents were not around. "Thanks though. Have fun with Summer."
She stood up and wrapped her arms briefly around Katie. Katie did not return the hug.
"Later, Kat," Sarah said, retreating to the door.
"Bye."
Katie sighed with relief, happy that she knew Sarah so well, so she could easily get rid of her when she wanted. Glancing at her watch, she realized that she was a couple minutes late meeting Seth, and two hours away from meeting Jessie.
"So how was the big family breakfast?" Katie asked as her and Jessie settled into a booth at the Crab-Shack.
Jessie was already flipping through the menu and seemed not to have heard Katie's question.
"Jess?" Katie asked several moments.
"Hmm?" she looked at her blankly. When she saw Katie looking at her expectantly, she realized that the other girl had asked a question. "Sorry, not much of a multi-tasker," she apologized. "What'd you ask?"
"No worries. Breakfast. How was it?"
"Eh…it was breakfast," Jessie answered, taking a sip of the water the waitress had just poured for them.
Katie blinked. "What lovely imagery you've given me. I think I'll write a book on it," she joked.
Jessie laughed. "Well, I ate chocolate chip waffles with a side of bacon and eggs, and drank a glass of orange juice. My dad then proceeded to talk about how proud he was that Grace and I were accepted into Harbor."
"Wait, you're going to Harbor?" she questioned, ignoring the curiosity to find out who Grace was.
Jessie nodded. "Mm hmm. Do you go there?"
"Yeah. I'm…social chair." Katie flashed back to the conversation they had last night and hoped that Jessie didn't think she was making up what she had said.
Apparently Jessie was thinking the same thing because she nodded her head exaggeratingly while she said, "Social chair? Nice."
Katie laughed bitterly. "Yeah, my mother convinced me to join back in freshman year. But I guess it wasn't too bad. It's where I met Summer."
"Summer…" Jessie began. She chuckled. "Seth is so into her."
"Yeah…I don't think she's perfectly aware of his existence though." Katie wanted to kick her best friend sometimes because of how clueless she could be when it came to Seth. They'd gone to school together for years.
"She does seem rather…"
"Clueless?"
"Yeah. I know she's your best friend and all…"
"No, no, she really is one of the most clueless people I know. But I love her to death anyway."
They talked through the entire meal, and the more Katie got to know Jessie, the more she realized that this really wasn't another rich princess moving in; this girl actually had character and a heart. She shared her experience about anorexia with Katie, and spoke of her mom's accident last year.
"She kept insisting that I come here, even though she knew I didn't want to…" Jessie looked so sad. Her blue eyes were downcast. "But she thinks it'll be a good opportunity for me."
Katie nodded her head sympathetically and touched Jessie's hand. "It must have been hard to hear your mother say that…" When Jessie nodded, she added, "If it makes you feel any better, I'm glad that you came."
Jessie looked up, and through watery eyes, she said, "Really?"
"Yeah…you're like the first real person that's lived here."
"What do you mean?"
Katie glanced off and thought for a few moments. "I mean, money doesn't rule your life, you're your own person, and you're just…different from everyone else here. You might care what people think of you on the surface, but deep down, it doesn't really matter…"
"How can you see all that? You barely even know me…" she trailed off. She fiddled with the napkin on her lap and could already feel the blush creeping onto her face.
"Tell me I'm wrong." Katie looked her right in the eye as she said that, noticing the fact that Jessie was playing with her napkin, and realizing that she was making the other girl flustered.
Jessie did not answer, but gave Katie a genuine smile. If she was reading the situation correctly, Katie wanted to be her friend. And badly at that. It was more than welcome.
"You want to get out of here?" she asked Katie. "We can go visit Ryan…or maybe we can just go to my house and chill…"
Katie grinned. "That'd be awesome," she agreed.
"Great."