Chapter Twenty

Stephen - "You kissed him didn't you."

Jess - "Loren told you!"

Stephen - "No it's that twin thing. So are things like weird now?"

Jess - "I don't know I have seen him since it happened. I'm thinking about just leaving and avoiding the whole thing."

Stephen - "If you run you are just going to have to face him sooner or later."

Jess - "You think I should stay."

Stephen - "Yeah just go and act like nothing happened."

Jess - "That's not going to be easy. You don't know what he looks like."

Stephen - "Jessica the guy is all over the television."

Jess - "Okay so maybe you do know what he looks like. Have you heard about my ankle?"

Stephen - "Yeah real slick."

Jess - "I didn't do it to myself you know I had help. Speaking of which I'm thinking about bringing someone with me to the premier is that okay?"

Stephen - "You want to bring a date?"

Jess - "No I want to bring a friend."

Stephen - "yeah I got you two tickets incase you wanted to bring some one."

Jess - "Thanks Stevie. You're great."

Stephen - "yeah just call me Tony the tiger. Give me a call once in awhile to let me know whats up."

Jess - "Okay I'll probably call you later."

Stephen - "'Kay talk to ya later." They hang up and Jess gets a shower then gets dressed. It was still relatively warm in Florida so she just put on a light dress and a sneaker. She takes a cab to the arena after playing twenty questions with security she found her way to the stage. They were going through Get Down/We've got it going on. Nick sees her and waves. Jess waves back and sits in the seats, there is no way she can jump on stage or climb up the boxes to it. They go through it one more time then Fatima lets them take a break.

Howie - "Hey what are you dong the whole way back there?"

Jess - "Just watching." He jumps off stage and comes over by her.

Howie - "How are we looking?"

Jess - "Good. I'll have to actually come see you guys in concert one of these days."

Howie - "Just say when and we'll get you some passes."

Jess - "Okay, sounds good."

Howie - "Can I ask you something?"

Jess - "Sure."

Howie - "Is it just Brian or do you not want to date anyone?"

Jess - "Did he send you to question me?"

Howie - "No just my own natural curiosity."

Jess - "I don't know. I haven't really given much thought to it. I guess it's just that I don't have time for a big commitment now. And I'm too old to have month long flings."

Howie - "Hey those month long flings can sometimes be just what you need."

Jess - "Are you suggesting that I just use some guy for sex."

Howie - "If you do can I volunteer."

Jess - "Howie! You're too much."

Howie - "That's what they all say. They've got some deli trays backstage you hungry."

Jess - "yeah."

Howie - "Come on I'll help you." They get back there and everyone is making sandwiches. Jess gets some food and then goes sits on the sofa with Nick.

Jess - "Hey Nick." he's got a mouthful of food. "Hungry?" He nods. "I've got a proposition for you." He looks at her with these big eyes. "Do you want to go to the movies with me?" He swallows.

Nick - "What?"

Jess - "I'm allowed one guest to Stephen's premier and I might need help with my leg being broke." AJ joins them.

AJ - "Hey guys what's going on?"

Nick - "I'm going to the premier with Jessica."

AJ - "You're what, when?"

Jess - "It's Friday. Can you make it?"

Nick - "Absolutely."

AJ - "Why does he get to go?"

Jess - "I might need help cause of my leg and since he broke it..."

AJ - "If I break the other one can I go too?"

Jess - "Break the other one and you can get punched in the head."

AJ - "Promise. That's not fair."

Jess - "I'll take you to the next one." He pouts for awhile but it doesn't last long. He sees the wardrobe girl that he's been chasing for the past week so he goes to talk to her. Jess sits and enjoys her time with Nick. Trying not to notice that Brian is avoiding her. They then go back to work. Jess calls Stephen and tells him that she's leaving tonight.

Then waits until Kevin is practicing his solo to talk to Nick; Brian is standing in earshot.

Jess - "Nick."

Nick - "Yeah what's up?"

Jess - "Um I was able to get an earlier flight so I'm going to go to LA early."

Brian - "You're leaving early?"

Jess - "Yeah I'm going to go and help Reece get her house ready and I've got to find a new dress for the premier so I think I should just go tonight."

Nick - "Well when's your flight?"

Jess - "9:30."

Brian - "Well let us take you out to dinner before you leave."

Jess - "I don't want you to go to any trouble you all are so busy."

Nick - "No we were going to take you out before you left. We'll just do it a couple days earlier."

Brian - "We'll pick you up at 6 and then just take you to the airport."

Jess - "Alright you all are obviously not taking no for an answer. Is this like a dress up thing?"

Nick - "yeah. I've got to go it's my turn." He runs off. Leaving just Brian and Jess.

Brian - "I'm sorry."

Jess - "For?"

Brian - "Avoiding you all day."

Jess - "I haven't exactly been following you around either."

Brian - "well I'm sure we'll get past this."

Jess - "yeah. Well I'm going to go pack and get ready for dinner, tell everyone I said bye."

Brian - "Okay remember 6. And wear something besides those awful sneakers."

Jess - "Hey these are my lucky sneakers."

Brian - "Well then only wear them if you want to get lucky." He winks at her trying to play like he used to.

Jess - "okay if you consider lucky being one of them shoved in your mouth." She turns to leave and hears him chuckling behind her.

They take Jess to a seafood restaurant that over looks the ocean. Everyone has a good time. While they are sitting there a lady comes up to get Kevin's autograph on a tabloid that has that picture of him and Loren on it.

Kevin - "What the hell? Excuse me can I see this?"

Lady - "Sure. She is pretty you two shouldn't be sneaking around though."

Kevin - "We're not, she's my girlfriend. This is from the night I met her."

Brian - "Let me see whoa that does look kinda shady Kev."

They are now all passing the magazine around. Nick thinks it funny.

Nick - "Hey look there's my foot."

AJ - "Where?"

Nick - "Right there, sticking out of the door."

Kevin - "Guys let's sign her paper an give it back to her." They all sign it and she slowly walks away. "I can't believe that. They'll have you in the papers next."

Jess - "I'm sorry Kev. I think it's funny."

Kevin -"Wait until it's you then it won't be so funny." He seems to be taking this really bad. It probably would be a god idea if some on changed the subject.

Nick - "So what's for dessert?" They finished their meal.

Kevin said he wasn't feeling well so he took a cab home and everyone else took Jess to the airport in a limo. They wanted to stay and see her on the plane but she told them to go home. The airport was the last place they needed to be seen. They drive away.

AJ - "So how long are we going to have to keep doing this group thing?"

Brian - "This was the last time. She doesn't want me."

Howie - "I don't think that it's. She's just very dedicated to her job. The fact that she doesn't want just a fling with you is a good sign I think."

Brian - "No that just means she's not attracted to me." He didn't tell anyone about the kiss they shared.

Nick - "I'll talk to her on Friday."

Brian - "Don't bother she's made up her mind. Can we just drop it."

AJ - "Sure man." And no one brings it up again.