Getting away the next morning was not as easy as Jessie had hoped it would be. Diana kept glaring at her throughout breakfast, and Jessie was beginning to wonder if her foster sister had figured out what she would be doing that day. It was only when Diana sullenly announced that she was being forced to take an extra shift at the hospital today that Jessie understood that it had nothing to do with her.
She had thought that she was safe from her sister's prying eyes, but when she had bounded down the stairs, heading for the door as fast as she could, Jessie had found her way blocked by Diana. "Where are you going?" Diana asked, her hands folded across her chest in a rather intimidating way.
"The library," Jessie told her, amazed that her voice had remained steady under such scrutiny.
"Why?" Diana sniffed. "Don't you have enough books here?"
Jessie grinned. "One can never have too many books," she said truthfully. Books were the source of her inspiration. They were what kept her going when everything else seemed to fall apart. "However," she added, knowing that Diana wasn't convinced, "today's trip is less for fun and more for school. I have a paper that I need to do tons of research on, so I'm spending my free day at the library."
"Oh," Diana said flatly, and Jessie could guess that she felt disappointed that there was no reason to keep her locked away today. "Fine."
"I'm glad you approve," Jessie thought sardonically. "See you later!" was all she said before she left, cheerfully striding down the walkway on her way to the public library that was only five blocks away.
As she walked further and further away from her foster house, Jessie felt the tension seeping out of her muscles, and even her mind. She felt lighter, freer, than she normally did, and the unaccustomed feeling brought a smile to her face. She began to swing her arms, humming under her breath.
She was in the middle of planning out the plot for another story she wanted to write when a car horn beeped right next to her. Startled that she hadn't heard a car pull up, Jessie whirled around and was met with an even better sight. "Hey," she said cheerfully.
"Morning," Jason said, returning her greeting. "Heading anywhere particular?"
Jessie noticed his grin and mimicked with one of her own. "I believe so. Would you mind dropping me off?" She nodded to the convertible that Jason was currently driving.
He laughed and ran a hand through his hair before jerking his head towards the empty seat next to him. "Hop in," he told her, and she quickly complied.
"This is a neat ride," Jessie observed as she buckled her seatbelt.
Jason nodded, merging into traffic. "It's Nate's, not mine, and I have strict instructions that it shouldn't come away from this date with even a scratch. Otherwise," he paused dramatically, as though thinking about the list of rules his brother had probably given him, "oh yes, now I remember. Otherwise, I'll wish that I had never woken up from that coma." He winked at Jessie and then both laughed, glad that they could joke about that period of their lives together.
The beach wasn't far, and even though it was a gorgeous day in Los Angeles, there were not many people on the particular section of beach that Jason selected. "Is here alright?" he asked Jessie, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the waves.
Jessie nodded. "Here is perfect," she said, sitting down on the blanket Jason had spread out.
Jason joined her, and though neither one of them had spoken, or asked for permission, Jessie found herself sitting comfortably in front of Jason, leaning against his chest. They were quiet for a long while, simply sitting there together and enjoying the sun, the freedom, and the presence of each other. It was Jason, however, that inevitably broke the silence. "You know," he said softly, "when I was in my coma, I remember thinking about being here at the beach with you, just sitting and talking like we are now."
"Is that why you wanted to come here?" Jessie asked him, touched.
He nodded. "But I want to hear about you," he told her. "What is Jessie short for? Jessica, I'm guessing."
Jessie grinned, leaning her head back against his shoulder slightly. "You'd be wrong," she told him. "It's short for Jesselynn," she said, pronouncing the name like "Jess-a-lynn."
"I've never heard of that before," Jason said softly. "It's beautiful."
Jessie smiled as she watched the waves crash onto the shore of the beach. "It is rather pretty," she murmured, almost to herself. "My mom chose that name."
Jason glanced down at Jessie and realized that she was waiting for encouragement to go on with her story. "She chose well," he said. "What happened to them?"
"My parents?" Jessie asked, even though she knew the answer. She smiled, but the smile wasn't genuine, it was pained and a little bit cynical. "Typical story," she told Jason. "They died in a car crash one night coming home from a Christmas party. The paramedics told me that they weren't in any pain, that they died instantly, but that doesn't really make me feel any better."
Jason shook his head, trying to understand the feeling of losing both his parents in an instant. "Then what happened?" he asked.
"Then I buried them," Jessie told him. "And then, right after the service, foster care took me away." She rubbed her eyes angrily, embarrassed that she had started to cry. "Everything that day was black. The mourners clothes, the cars, the flowers were even black," she told him with a sniff. She leaned back a little more so that she could see Jason's face and said softly, "That's why I hate black."
Jason nodded and hugged her a little closer. "I can see why," he said softly. Boldly, he kissed her hair, losing himself for a moment in the sweet fragrance of her coconut shampoo. "I'm sorry that you've had so many disappointments in life already."
Jessie shrugged. "It's okay, I guess," she said with a smile. "It brought me to you, didn't it?"
Jason nodded, but didn't say anything. There were no words that needed to be said. They had each other, and it was almost as though a bond had been forged between them, and nothing could break it apart.
They spent the whole day at the beach, laughing with each other and playing in the waves, or simply sitting next to each other on the blanket, talking. Jason told Jessie about his life, his struggles, and his dreams, and she did the same in return. Jason had brought a picnic fare with him and they eagerly ate that up halfway between lunch and dinner.
"Today's been wonderful," Jessie told Jason later.
Jason turned from where he was lying on his back to look at her. Her hair, still damp from the water clung to her neck, and the little droplets soaked into her swimsuit. The dying light of the sun illuminated the color of her hair, reflecting and making the strands look like living fire. Her green eyes sought his, and he momentarily compared them to emeralds before he swallowed and tried to force himself back to the present.
"I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself," he told her, rolling onto his side so that he could face her more comfortably.
"Did you have fun?" Jessie asked him, raising herself up onto her arm as well.
Jason nodded. "Today was one of the best days of my life," he told her honestly.
Jessie blushed. "Right," she murmured.
Jason put a hand under her chin and drew her face up so that she was looking right at him and then said, "I'm being perfectly serious. When I spend time with you, it's like there's absolutely nothing wrong in the world." He paused and then looked out over the ocean. The sun was setting, and he knew that he didn't have much time before he would have to take Jessie back home. It was now or never. "I realize that we've only known each other for, well technically it's been a day, but it's been more like a month, right?"
Jessie laughed and nodded, remembering the time spent together in the hospital. "Right," she said with a nod.
"However," he said softly, his hand reaching out to grasp and errant strand of auburn hair and tucking it behind Jessie's ear, "I think I'm in love with you." He blinked and then said, "And I know you love me."
Jessie's eyes widened even more, if that was even possible, and her mouth opened and closed for a few moments, but no sound came out. She wasn't embarrassed, for she knew that he was right. She was thrilled beyond words that he loved her, but she had no idea how he knew that she loved him. "How…?" was all that she managed to squeak out.
"That day at the hospital," Jason answered, guessing what she was asking. "You told me you loved me before you kissed me." He was grinning widely at her, and Jessie felt her face heat up.
"You weren't supposed to hear that," she told him, but her tone had no effect because she was trying not to laugh out of sheer relief. He loved her!
"Why not?" Jason asked humorously, but he already knew the answer. She had figured that he would be unable to feel or hear her declaration. "It was one of my favorite days when you told me that."
Jessie blushed and then looked up at him, completely serious. "It's the truth," she told him.
Jason nodded slightly and leaned in. "I know," he whispered before he kissed her very softly, his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her a little closer to his side. He knew that she had never kissed anyone besides him and so he took his time, gently guiding her through the kiss. When they finally pulled away from each other, both wore matching grins.
Jason looked back at the horizon and frowned. "I really should get you back," he said softly, sounding upset that he had to do so.
They gathered up the blanket and the picnic basket and headed back to the car. The drive back to the library was rather silent, yet comfortable, since Jason held Jessie's hand the whole way. They only time the silence was punctuated was when Jason asked suddenly, "When's your birthday?"
"Two hundred and seventy-three days away," Jessie responded immediately.
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You counted?" he asked, amazed and amused.
Jessie nodded. "I told you," she said, "as soon as I turn eighteen, I'm out of that house." She glanced out along the road and said softly, "It's been the backdrop for a couple of my stories lately."
"Would you ever let me read one?" Jason asked her.
Jessie glanced back at him and nodded. "The next time you rescue me from that house," she bargained, "I'll let you read one."
Jason laughed and drew up next to the curb outside the library. "Deal," he said softly and kissed her goodbye.
A/N: Hopefully the long chapter makes up for my long absence!! Missed you guys, but school's pretty crazy. Hope you liked the beach date, and please review!!!! Reviews bring joy to my life. :D LOL! Also, 101 reviews!! You guys are amazing! Thank you all so very much! :)