CHAPTER 7 THERAPY and FIRST KISSES

Angie had been really sick all her life. She had a weak immune system; it was some sort of genetic disorder. That winter was no different. She had started her junior year a few months back, but now she was sick in bed instead of Christmas shopping with her friends. One of said friends was on the other end of the phone.

"Angie, I hope you feel better soon! I want you to come shopping with me for Sarah's Christmas party!"

Angie gave a wheezy laugh at Jessa's enthusiasm. "I do too. Her parties are always the best and her Grandma makes amazing cookies."

"Yes and the guys next door aren't too bad either!" Angie could almost picture the smirk on Jessa's face. "Really though, are you sure you can't come? I thought you'd be happy to get outta there."

Angie grimaced. "Trust me, I would, but I feel awful. My parents are out grabbing my medicine and more soup. It feels like my brain is trying to explode."

"Haha. I hope they can see through all this. It's absolutely pouring out here."

"Where are you?!"

Jessa laughed. "Chill, Angie. I'm nowhere bad. I'm just walking to the store. Hey, maybe I'll see your parents."

"Heh. That would be cool. Hey, have you found a place to stay yet?"

"'…yes."

"Liar. Please just think about coming to live with me and my parents. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

"No way." Jessa tried to laugh it off. "I'd get all your germs… I'm thinking about getting a job. Maybe I'll find a cheap place near school."

"At least you don't have to pay for it. You have a scholarship. That's gotta help some."

"yah… It should help with a job too. Pray for me, girl."

"I will." Suddenly Jessa gasped. "What is it?"

"There was just a terrible accident. Some lunatic didn't stop and hit another car. Gosh, his car looks okay, but the other car is totaled. There's smoke everywhere. There's gonna be traffic. I hope your parents are able to get around it."

Angie's heart clenched in her chest. "Jessa? Would you mind telling me what kind of car got hit?"

"You don't honestly think…"

"I just want to know. It'd make me feel better that it wasn't my parents."

"Kay, lemme just get closer."

Angie waited anxiously. Finally Jenna's voice came back. "Um, it looks like some little car. A Honda maybe. Tan…Oh my gosh."

"What?!"

"There's a purple tie-dye blanket in the window." Jessa's voice showed a certain finality. She knew that that blanket was the one Angie had made at camp that summer.

A sob caught in Angie's throat. At the funeral, her friends wrapped their arms around her. Jessa and Angie had met Sarah and Adele at school when they transferred last week. They had become best friends.

"It's all my fault. They were on the road because of me." Angie sobbed.

"Shhh. No it's not. You didn't know…" Jessa comforted her friend. Sarah and Adele were silent. Jessa patted her on the back. "You wanna stay with me? Dumpster beds may not be your style, but…"

"I have to give up the apartment! It was my dad's employer's… I-"

Sarah looked at them. "You don't have places to stay?"

Jessa laughed. "Y-yah. It's no big deal, though."

Sarah shook her head. "No. You don't understand. Me and Adele were the same. We both left home for… different reasons. We both got jobs and we're saving up to live in an apartment. Nothing fancy. That's why we had to transfer."

She looked Adele, who nodded. "Well, if you'd like to, you both could move in when we get enough money. What do you say?"
Jessa smiled. " I say that it'll be a whole lot easier to split the apartment cost four ways."

It was the beginning of something wonderful.

Angie looked up at Leo through blurry eyes. Guilty didn't even begin to describe how he felt. "Angie,-"

"Shut up Leo. I don't want sympathy or apologies or anything. My friends were there for me. We were there for each other. That's what the movies were for, Leo. We worked through our problems, not spied on people."

He blushed. "I apologize for jumping to conclusions."

"Don't worry bout it. I'd do the same thing if I thought somebody would hurt my friends." Angie looked at Leo. Instinctively she gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for listening. I hope you understand me and my friends better."

He nodded slowly, trying to make sense of what'd happened. "Is there any chance you'd tell me-"

"No. Their stories are their own to tell, not me."

"Fair enough. Now a new problem are we supposed to get out?"

Leo frowned. He'd been so focused on Angie he hadn't thought of it. Unacceptable. "I'll find a way."

Mikey grinned. Raph and Adele were gonna be soo mad! Sarah giggled at his excited expression. It was adorable. Shaking her head, she readied her sling shot. Ready… aim… FIRE!

"What the-?" Raph turned to see what hit him. Adele was the only one there, but she was reading something.

Grumbling, he went back too work. A little bit later another projectile hit him in the head. He frowned. "That's it! I've had it with you!"

"What are you talking about?" Adele was getting annoyed by his random outbursts. "I'm getting a little annoyed-ah!"

Raph was now standing in front of her waaay too close for comfort. She backed up against the wall. They were so ticked (A/N suuure. That's what it was.) they didn't notice when the door was slammed shut and locked.

"I don't know what your problem is, but I've let you into my room and I don't appreciate you hitting me in the head-"

"Get out of my face! I don't know what your saying! You're not making any sense at all!"

"You hit me!"

"Did not!"

"Then who did?"
"I don't know, now get out of my face!"

"Not until you admit it."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

In frustration, Adele tried to push Raph back. He grabbed her wrists and slammed them into the wall. Adele winced, but shrugged it off. She'd had worse. "Admit it."

Adele glared at him. "No way! You're crazy! What now? You gonna make me?"

"Just might." A dangerous glint came into Raph's eyes.

"Bring it." She snarled.

He scoffed. "It'd be too easy."

"Ow! What the-" Adele had squirmed out of Raph's grip and shoved him backwards.

He stumbled a bit before recovering in time to dodge a roundhouse kick from Adele. He jumped up, but misjudged her response time and found himself lying on the ground.

Adele was panting hard. Normally she could go a lot longer but she was worn out from work all day. She smirked a little and made the mistake of taunting him again.

"Aw, Raph. Did the big mean girl hurt you?" She barely got a half a laugh out before she was slammed into the ground hard. She gasped for the air that had been knocked out of her. Raph grinned triumphantly above her, effectively pinning her to the ground.

Adele wanted to wipe that awful grin off his face, but for some reason she was having a problem concentrating. She sneered. "What now, almighty moron?"
"You're gonna admit you hit me."

"How? You gonna bore me to death with an account of how awesome you think you are?" She swallowed, thankful his room was too dark and depressing for him to make out the blush in her cheeks.

He smirked, leaning down closer to Adele's face. "Not quite."

"I swear Raph, if you don't let me go right now I'm gonna get Leo to kick your-" The threat was cut off as his lips came down forcefully against hers. When he pulled back Adele's face was on fire.

"Raph, what-?"

He smirked and chuckled. "Just shut up."

"M'kay." Adele said dazedly. She smiled as he kissed her again, slower this time, but longer.

He looked down at her mischievously. "You ready to admit it yet?"

What was he talking about? Her thoughts were swimming around Adele's skull. Oh, yeah… he thought she'd hit him with something. She weakly shook her head. "I didn't do that!"

He grinned evilly. "Really? Too bad I don't believe you."

"Raph-" Adele's breath caught in her throat as his lips moved to her throat. She let out a whimper.

"Admit it yet?" Adele shook her head. He grinned.

"Why don't you admit it?"

"I didn't hit you." Her voice was shaky. "Why can't you just accept that?"

He shrugged." I dunno. This is a lot more fun." He looked at her.

She blushed furiously. "So, are you giving up?"

"Maybe."

"Too bad. I was about to admit my horrible offense against you."

"Really?" He sounded disappointed.

"No."

Mikey and Sarah collapsed into giggles. They were on Mikey's bed laughing about their ingenius pranks.

"That was hilarious!" Sarah giggled.

"Yes- hey look out!" Mikey reached out to grab Sarah before she tumbled over the bed

"Oh, my great savior, Mikey, Save me, for I am a damsel in distress, in danger of falling over into the never ending chasm of doom." Sarah's dramatic monologue sent them both into another round of laughter.

Finally Mikey was able to get a good grip on her arm and yank her onto the bed. "Ah!"

Sarah lost her balance and flew into Mikey. He grabbed her waist to steady her. She threw her arms around his neck dramatically. "Oh, thank you, dear prince."

"Prince, eh? Does that mean I get to kiss the lovely maiden?" His voice was laced in humor, but his eyes were serious.

Sarah's heart skipped a beat. "I suppose so…"

She leaned down inches from his mouth, teasing him before giving Mikey a peck on his cheek. She giggled. "I thought the frog turned into a prince if he got kissed."

"I'm a turtle not a frog. Besides, that's not how the kiss goes."

"Really? Show me." Sarah didn't have time to blink before he'd sat up, nearly causing her to fly backwards. He steadied her.

He gripped the back of her neck with one hand and her waist with the other. Slowly he pulled her into a long, sweet kiss. Sarah pulled back, smiling.

Mischief shown in Mikey's eyes. "What's wrong?"
Sarah smirked. "Much better than a prince."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive but… maybe we should try again to be sure."

He grinned. "Anything for you, my princess."

Jessa pulled back a greasy hand.

"Don, I really don't see-AHA!"

She grabbed a glove and reached out. "Here's the culprit."

She showed Don the dry ice. He frowned. "MIKEY! I swear when I get my hands on him…"

Jessa shrugged and went to leave the garage, but the door was locked. "Um, Donny? Did you lock the door?"

"No, why?"

"It's locked!"

"What?! Lemme see."

He tried to unlock the door. "MIKEY!!!" He tried to kick down the door but it was no use.

"Donny! Calm down!" She put a hand on his shoulder. He sighed.

"Sorry, Jessa. I'm just reaaaally annoyed! I had plans today!"

"Hot date?"

"Nah, nothing like that." Donny blushed. "I was just gonna do some stuff on my computer…"

Jessa giggled. "I was teasing, Don."

They leaned against the car. "So, what do you think the other guys are doing?"

Don shrugged. "I dunno. Mikey probably pranked em too."

Jessa laughed. "I'd bet money that Sarah had something to do with this too."

"Probably."

It got pretty late. "I can't believe nobody's let us out yet!"

Jessa yawned. "I know. Shows how much they love us."

Donny looked at Jessa. "Are you tired?"

She nodded. "Just a bit. Sorry."

"It's not a problem. If you want, you can sleep in the backseat of my car."

"Mm'kay."

Jessa groggily got in and laid down in the backseat. Don stretched. He needed to turn in soon. Suddenly a stirring could be heard from the car.

"NO! Stop!"

Donny froze. Was Jessa talking about him? "Ricky! Leave them alone!"

Donny woke her up. "Jessa? It's only a dream. Wake up!"

"Donny?!"
Jessa looked at him frantically. "Oh thank goodness it wasn't real!"

"What are you talking about?!"

"N-nothing. It was just a nightmare. J-just a dream…"

Donny nodded. "Tell me about it?"

Jessa looked up at him. "I don't want you to think any different of me."

"I won't. I promise."

"Ok, then. Well, I grew up with my parents, if you could call them that…"