Jess pretty much stayed in bed since she got to LA. Reece was an angel they talked about everything except the wedding. Jess had called Donnie and left a message where she was if he wanted to talk. She also her mom and talked to her. Kurt didn't want to talk to her but Goldie made him. He wasn't mad about Jess not wanting to get married he just wished there could have been a different way to tell him. He really wanted to understand but he just couldn't but he did forgive her. When Stephen finally got home Jess just curled up in his arms and cried. Finally a week after she spilt Donnie showed up on the doorstep. They took a walk.

Donnie - "So what happened?"

Jess - "I don't know. I wanted to marry you."

Donnie - "No I think you wanted to want to. You could have told me. I asked you a thousand times if it's what you wanted. You always said yes."

Jess - "I'm sorry."

Donnie - "Do you still love me?"

Jess - "Of course I do. I don't know what happened. No wait that's a lie. I've been doing a lot of thinking this past week. I want to accomplish something before I get married. I just think I'm too young."

Donnie - "I don't think I can do this anymore."

Jess - "What do you mean?"

Donnie - "You left me at the altar. If that's not a sign that you don't want to be with me anymore I don't know what is. Think about it you have been so involved with your school that you never have time for me anymore. If we didn't live together I would never see you. This is it we're done."

Jess - "I didn't want things to end like this."

Donnie - "I didn't want things to end." He kisses her cheek and walks away. She goes back to Stephen's and lock herself in her room. She stay there for three days trying to figure out what she was going to do now. Finally she did.

Jess tracked Stephen down at his agent's office.

Jess - "Stevie I have to talk to you."

Stephen - "Okay by right back Mae." They go outside. "Okay what's up?"

Jess - "I've got it figured out. I can't go back to New York with out thinking about Donnie or even worse running into him so I'm going to stay here."

Stephen - "Sis, I love you and I'd love to have you out here but what about school. You've only got a year left."

Jess - "I'll transfer out here to UCLA. Their film department's better anyway."

Stephen - "Are you sure?"

Jess - "No but I'm going to try. I really think I need to be out of New York for awhile. I'll get a job and get my own place as soon as I can."

Stephen - "You don't have to do that. I've got more then enough room."

Jess - "No that's okay. I've never lived on my own, I think it would be a good thing for me. Besides I'm sure that having your sister around has been putting a cramp on your lovelife. Reece wasn't been staying over and I feel like it's cause I'm there."

Stephen - "Yeah well...

Jess - "Yeah well nothing." She calls mom and dad and tell them her plan.

Luckily all her credits transfer with out problem so she only has one more year left. Jess took as many classes as she could cause their film courses where better. Unfortunately the only job she could find that was suitable to the hours she needed was at Fat Burger. About three weeks into college she almost had 900 dollars saved up. Jess was at work when the weirdest thing happened.

Jess - "Welcome to Fat Burger can I take your order."

Guy - "Yes I'll take a number 3 with a coke."

Jess - "Okay that's 5.57 please pull around." the car pulls up and she goes to take the money. "Gramps?"

Sean - "Take a break we need to talk."

Jess - "Okay. Peter can you cover for me?" He says okay and Jess goes out and gets in her Gramps' car. "What are you doing here?"

Sean - "I came to see you. I didn't have a chance to talk to you since July. Are you doing okay?"

Jess - "Yeah I'm okay. You could have called."

Sean - "I wanted to see you. Stephen tells me you're trying to save some money to move out. You could have called we would have helped.

Jess - "I know. I kinda wanted to do it on my own."

Sean - "Nonsense. We have more money then we could ever spend. We like helping you kids out. I've been to the real estate office and I've got a little place close to the school picked out for you. If you feel like you have to pay your own way then you can pay all the bills."

jess - "Gramps, I appreciate your help..."

Sean - "I know you do. If you didn't I wouldn't help you."

Jess - "But..."

Sean - "No buts. Now when do you get off so I can show you the house."

Jess - "You are not taking no for an answer are you."

Sean - "nope. You need to concentrate on school not paying the rent."

Jess - "Thanks Gramps." She hugs him. "I get off at 6."

Sean - "Okay I'll be back to pick you up."

The house he picked out was great it was a small two-bedroom house about two blocks from campus. Stephen was jealous but then Sean told him that he had left instructions with the agent that Stephen would be coming to go house shopping too. Cause as he put it, "You can expect that wonderful girl of yours to live in the roach motel that you are now." It was actually a very nice complex just kind of small. He absolutely loved Reece, but then everyone does.

Chapter Twelve