A/N:

Hi guys. Sorry, this chapter is shorter than the others. So, I'm already struggling- I'm not really reviewing my stories, just writing them and posting so I have no regrets about them. Please let me know if something doesn't make sense or if something is wrong. Be honest! Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, but don't just hate on my story or me. Thanks.

-Jules

Chapter Four: Progression

Jesse POV

Great. This loser is screwing with me. But then again, why would he joke about something like that? But I would've remembered that… I'm sure of it. Whatever. He's nuts. Maybe a nice long shower will cool him and his craziness off for a bit. After sitting and contemplating what just happened for five minutes, I forced myself out of the chair and all but sprinted to the kitchen.

Truth is, I was starving. I just didn't want to eat with the idiot around. I pulled open the fridge and he had been right. There was food. So much of it. I had never seen so much food in my li- well, at least I don't remember seeing that much. I opened the freezer and noticed a box of donuts. Donuts sounded so good right now and no one could stop me from eating them. I snatched the box, slamming the fridge closed and scampering to the living room as if I could get caught. I rolled my eyes at my foolishness and plopped down on the couch, shoving my face with donuty goodness.

I could hear the soft sound of the shower running, wishing I had thought to take one earlier. I sniffed my armpit (I know, I'm attractive) and flinched away. Wow, I am disgusting. I continued to chew and stare blankly at the wall until I heard the shower turn off and the sound of padding around. I finished off the box, (wow I'm a pig) and ambled to the kitchen. I looked around and found a garbage can under the sink to find a frozen pizza package. Oh, he must have already eaten. I hmphed before glancing down at my still bandaged hand. I unwrapped it, suspicious to why it stopped hurting.

The gauze fell to the floor silently. The wound was gone. Just gone. What the hell? I bit back panic and decided to look on the bright side of things. It was healed and I didn't have to wear a bandage anymore. I scooped up the gauze and threw it away. I shivered at the weirdness before turning around and shuffling to the bathroom. He better get out soon because I was sick of smelling like road kill. I raised my fist to knock on the door and the door blew open, warm steamy air blowing into my face. I blinked back in shock and saw Sam grinning in the doorway.

"Your turn. You really need one." He scrunched his nose up like I was a smelly hobo and stepped around me. That's when I noticed he changed clothes. Instead of the sweat outfit he was in an orange tee with blue jeans. They fit him pretty nicely. Woah- uh, I mean- He raised his eyebrows at me. I opened my mouth to rebut but a look of recognition spread across his features.

"Oh, and there's clothes for both of us in the closet in there. They're just our size." He hinted before smiling and exiting into the living room. I shook my head as if to clear my thoughts before entering the bathroom that was still warm and steamy from the previous shower. I opened the closet and sure enough there were clothes for me and him. I peeked at the tags. They were in just my size. I raised my brows and closed the closet, turning on the shower and undressing myself. I tossed my clothes into a hamper in the corner and stepped into the shower. The water was still warm from previously. There was shampoo and stuff on the shelf in the shower. Holy crap they were prepared for us.

Weird.

I took a long, soothing shower- desperate to wash away all the stress and craziness. I really wasn't sure what to do with the whole "love-Sam-or-suffer" thing. I really didn't want to know what the consequences were if we didn't "obey". I mean, as much as I would love to rebel, I knew when it was the right time not to. I mean, these people- this thing- must be the cause of our memory loss. It knew our clothing size, it obviously wanted us alive and well, and it knows our names. I wish it would tell us more, I really did.

I decided to stop my thought process before I just freaked myself out more. I turned off the warm water, instantly missing the warmth. Steam radiated off my skin as I padded out and pulled a towel off the rack on the wall. I wrapped it under my arm pits and tucked it in so it stayed put. I reopened the closet and pulled out a red "wife beater" (God, I hated the name of those things. All they are are tank tops with thicker straps.) and a pair of gray sweats. I pulled out undergarments and slipped them all on, rolling up the bottoms of the sweatpants so they were up to my mid-calf.

I walked over to the sink, tossing my towel into the hamper, and searched the drawers for something. I found a brush and ran it through my hair. I found a hair tie in the same drawer and scooped my hair up into a messy bun. I stared into my own pale blue eyes before examining my black hair. My hair was naturally shiny and smooth, I guess I was lucky like that. It was also pin straight. I blew out a rough sigh and turned away from my reflection, leaning against the counter edge, hands gripping it on either side of my thighs.

I stood there for a while.

Just thinking.

Until I heard a knock on the bathroom door that made me nearly jump out of my skin.

"Jess? You alright in there?" I heard Sam's voice through the door. Wow. I was such an ass to him but he still managed to be nice to me. It took me a second to muster up my voice.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Give me a sec." I glanced at myself one more time in the mirror before ripping open the bathroom door, startling Sam. I smirked. "I take it you don't like being scared either?" His eyes were wide. When he recomposed himself, a smirk set across his lips. He leaned down so his lips were a whisper length away from my ear.

"I take it you don't either." His breath tickled my ear. I definitely did not think he would ever have the guts to fake flirt with me. I stood there, frozen in place, as he backed away with a cocked brow. I smiled innocently as I leaned forward, my lips centimeters from his so I could feel his breathing from his parted lips, and whispered-

"I take it you don't understand personal space. Me either." I grinned as I felt his breath stop for a moment, eyes wide with surprised. I laughed before stepping around him and to the living room. I nearly had a heart attack when the robot voice decided to pop up out of nowhere.

We are pleased with your progress. We have decided to award you with time outside. Be warned, do not try to run off or you will experience a series of shocks- if you make it a certain distance, the shocks will be set to death. Thank you, and please proceed.

A door wall appeared on the other side of the living room. I whipped around to see Sam's stunned expression mirroring mine. We just stared blankly at each other before racing to the door wall.

"No way." He grinned.

"Yes way. Now let's get the hell out of here." I replied, not even thinking about the part where we would get shocked. The only thing on my mind was getting the hell out of here.