VII
December 23rd, 1999 – Albuquerque
Felicity woke up to the sound of her dog barking downstairs. She heard the faint sound of people having conversation downstairs and the thump of someone coming up the stairs. Felicity groaned and rolled over, pulling her blanket over her head.
Suddenly, her door burst open and she was walloped by a panting German shepherd. Felicity whined as she pushed the dog off of her. "No, no, down boy. It's too early, go back downstairs."
"Yo, Fissy! Wake up!" a voice suddenly said.
Jesse.
"Ugh. What are you doing in my room? It's like what? Nine AM? Why are you even awake?" she groaned, peeking out from under the covers.
They had always had such a strange relationship. As kids, they did all that they could to deny that they were friends but with her always going out of her way to help him and he always turning to her for help before anyone else, it was pretty obvious to everyone around them that it was quite the opposite. As they grew older, it was clear that they both subconsciously knew that there was no point in faking friendship. They started to hang out more often, though it was usually Felicity hanging around Jesse's group of friends. They were partners in whatever classes they had together and sometimes even sat beside each other on the bus.
Of course, as fifteen year olds, rumors began to fly. Felicity deflected them all with tact, simply reminding people that she and Jesse practically grew up together. Jesse, however, usually took such instigations badly. He would seize up and start talking about how Felicity was practically one of the guys and it would be the equivalent of banging Pete or Christian. It was true. In the time that she had known him, she would be lying if she said that he hadn't influenced her in some way. While she was still capable of maintaining her 'proper' outward appearance, she had definitely become more accustomed to cussing and using vulgar terms when she spoke. Most people associated her with Jesse's friend group but she was often seen as the 'mother' figure for just about all of them.
"Because we're going shopping, duh," Jesse quipped.
Felicity slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes. She shot Jesse a confused look. "Excuse me?"
"Yeah, shopping. Y'know, gotta pick up some presents for Jake and shit," he shrugged.
"You do realize it's the day before Christmas Eve, right? I doubt you're going to find anything good now," she reasoned.
"Well, I dunno, I may as well try right? He's my lil' bro, after all!" Jesse exclaimed.
Felicity sighed and slid out of bed. She was clad in flannel pants and a t-shirt and her hair short shoulder length hair was sticking up in every direction. She had to admire Jesse's determination though. Jake had only just turned three years old but Jesse loved the kid to bits. He was surprisingly good with children.
She stretched her arms, yawning at the same time, before scratching her head.
"Yeah, yeah, well, you need to get the fuck outta my room while I change," she chided, shooing him out. "I'll be done in like twenty minutes!"
Later that day, they found themselves walking around a Toys R Us. Jesse pushed the cart around while Felicity examined some baby toys. They had already loaded up on new clothes but Jesse suggested that they also pick up something for Jake to play with.
"Where did you get all the money to buy this stuff, anyway?" Felicity questioned, looking at a package of wooden blocks.
"Hm, just some side business endeavours," Jesse shrugged, swiping the blocks from her hands to toss them into the cart.
She raised a brow. "…What sort of business?"
He only chuckled, shaking his head. He raised a hand and squished her face. He grinned and spoke in the same way someone would speak to a child, "Don't get your panties in a bunch about it, Fissy. You're always talking about how I should get a job, anyway."
"Don't call me that," she retorted, swatting his hand away. "And my panties are not bunched at all. I'm just curious, that is. Who would hire you?"
Jesse threw her a look as he continued walking down the aisle.
"Yeah, obviously not, because we both know you only wear thongs," he snickered. "Anyway, I'm self-employed. Sorta. Either way, none of your business."
She turned bright red and whacked him on the back of the head. "We don't talk about that, for fuck's sake."
He snorted, glancing at her over his shoulder. "I always took for you the granny panty kinda chick but hey, I guess we all have our secrets. I think it's pretty hot."
Felicity rolled her eyes. "Let's just get out of here, god. I was having a good dream before someone woke me up."
"About me, probably," he said offhandedly.
"Mm, right. I said a good dream, not a nightmare," she spat.
Jesse only shrugged before pushing the cart in the direction of checkout. Felicity trailed behind him and watched as he began to unload the contents of the cart onto the counter. The cashier rang up the items quickly; two new outfits for Jake, a stuffed bear and the blocks. As Jesse rifled through his pockets for his wallet, the cashier eyed Felicity.
"Would you like to sign up for our membership card? We give new parents a ten percent discount," she offered.
Jesse froze, eyes darting from the cashier to Felicity in absolute terror.
Felicity's eyes widened. "U-Uh, no thanks! These are for his little brother, actually."
The cashier nodded slowly looking between them before speaking again. "Do you need a bag for these?"