Later that afternoon.

Jess and Loren hailed a taxi outside of Macy's and piled inside with all of their packages.

Jess - "I think we might have gone over board."

Loren - "8594 Lavender Court." She gives the driver Jess's parents' address. "What makes you say that?" She tries to set a bag of shoes on the floor, but unable to find room puts them on her lap. "Okay maybe we did get a little carried away."

Jess - "Just a little. So when are you leaving again."

Loren - "Friday as soon as Tristen gets out of school. You should see him. Kevin asked him if he wanted to come visit before he said anything to me so Tristen feels all important."

Jess - "I know you told me Tristen is acting like if it wasn't for him then you wouldn't be going."

Loren - "well if you're sick of my stories maybe you should share some of your own."

Jess - "Oh no. You're not going to get all in my business."

Loren - "I just was wondering how things are going?"

Jess - "They are fine."

Loren - "Do you think he'll like the outfit you got to wear tonight?"

Jess - "yeah he is a guy. Did you see the look on that boy's face when I came out?"

Loren - "Well it would have helped if you were snapped up the whole way."

Jess - "I couldn't reach it." She smiles when she thinks of the look that will be on Lance's face when he picks her up tonight.

Loren - "What are you grinning about?"

Jess - "Nothing." She looks at Loren and keeps smiling.

Loren - "What has gotten in to you?"

Jess - "What do you mean?"

Loren - "You are all smiles these days. And the clothes you just bought are not what you normally get. You didn't even look at the men's section once."

Jess - "Well maybe I'm just ready to start being a girl."

Loren - "You like him a lot don't you."

Jess thinks for a minute. "Yeah I do. He's a lot of fun."

Loren - "But do you see it going anywhere."

Jess - "Actually a friend of mine once told me that ever now and then it's good to just have a little fling."

Loren - "I think it's more than that."

Jess says nothing and just looks out the window as they pull up to Kurt and Goldie's house. She bounces in the house. "Hey mom."

Goldie - "Hi honey." She kisses her daughter's cheek. "Aren't we in a good mood today?"

Jess - "Well it's my birthday I should be. Where's dad?"

Goldie - "Out back in his shop with Tristen." Jess sets her bags down and rummages around for the chocolates she got her dad.

Jess - "Be right back."

Goldie - "Hey tell them not to eat the whole box I'm making dinner." She practically skips to his little shed in the back yard.

Jess - "Knock knock." He looks up from sanding a chair rail.

Kurt - "Hey there's my baby girl." He gives her a hug. "And how's your day going?"

Jess - "Good. I brought you something." She gives him the candy. "Mom said not to eat them all." She hops up on the counter next to Tristen.

Tristen - "Happy birthday Jessy."

Jess - "Why thank you Tristen." He smiles up at her. "Whatcha working on?"

Kurt - "A chair for your grandma. She's been complaining that her old rocker isn't comfortable anymore so I thought I'd make her a new one."

Jess looks at the chair. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

Kurt - "Nope. But I got some books and plenty of time to learn."

Jess - "that's good cause you need it."

Kurt - "Alright smart ass why don't you just go back in the house with the other women."

Tristen - "Yeah this is man time." He nods at Kurt who nods back.

Jess - "Fine I will and I'll take my chocolate with me." She goes to take it.

Kurt - "Oh no you don't." He swipes it and puts it on a very high shelf. "Let's see you get it now."

Jess - "I'm telling mom." She turns and walks in to the kitchen again. "Hey where did you guys go?"

Goldie - "In the living room Hun." Jess walks in and Loren is showing her the stuff she had bought earlier in the day. "Oh that's very nice Loren. Is Kevin taking you some where special this weekend?"

Loren - "Well with Kevin you never know so it's good to be prepared." She folds the dress and put it back in the box.

Jess - "hey dad's out there corrupting your kid again."

Loren - "I'm not worry he can't do any perment damage."

Goldie - "I wouldn't bet on that. What did you get sweetie?"

Jess - "A whole bunch of stuff." She goes to get my bags. "I'm slowly replacing my wardrobe I'm just sick of my clothes." Jess starts to pull out something out when she notices the TV. "Mom what are you watching?"

Goldie - "Oh I always watch TRL. I like trying to find you."

Jess - "But I'm not even there today."

Goldie - "I know its just force of habit."

On the TV, Carson "And today we are lucky to have as our guests Nsync."

Jess turns to Loren. "You told her!"

Loren - "No I didn't."

Jess - "Yes you did. Why else would she be watching this today of all days?"

Loren - "Jess I didn't tell her anything. But if you keep yelling she's going to figure it out."

Goldie - "What's going on?"

Jess - "Nothing mom."

On the TV, Lance "Before we show our new video I just wanted to wish a friend of mine a happy birthday. Hope you're having fun I'll see you later."

Goldie sits there looking at the TV and Jess can see the wheels in her head turning. "Well that's odd. That boy has a friend with the same birthday as you."

Jess - "its not odd mom I'm kind of dating him."

Goldie - "Really." Kurt comes in.

Kurt - "What's going on in there I thought I heard yelling."

All - "Nothing."

Goldie lowers her voice. "Is it serious?"

Jess - "No it's not serious. We've just been out a few times. Don't worry I'm no where close to bring him home."

Goldie - "Well just be careful. You don't have a real good track record with musicians."

Jess - "Mom!"

Goldie - "well you don't. Now come on show me what you got."

Jess shows her all the clothes she bought. Kurt came in and said something about the fact that he was glad that he no longer had to pay Jess's credit card bills. She ate a light dinner with her parents, Loren and Tristen and then took a cab to her apartment to get ready.

Chapter Thirty-Eight