Chapter Fourty

Carson is wrapping up and Jess watches them wave to the kids down stairs. Then the show is over and they sign some autographs. Trisha starts ushering the kids out and then finally Brian comes over to Jess.

Brian - "So whatcha think?"

Jess - "I think you guys have watch TRL too much but it was good I really enjoyed it."

Brian - "Good so what's new?" He wants Jess to tell him about Lance.

Jess - "Not much. I'm kind of seeing someone now."

Brian - "Yeah we saw."

Jess - "Sounds like you don't approve."

Brian - "would it make a difference."

Jess - "No."

Brian - "It's a mistake."

Jess - "And why exactly is that?"

Brian - "What could the two of you have in common?"

Jess - "It's none of your business."

Brian - "Look Jess I don't know what happened on New Years and I don't care you're still my friend and I don't want to see you get hurt."

Jess - "Lance is not going to hurt me."

Brian - "You can't be serious about this he's younger then you."

Jess - "Age is not an issue with us. We just hang out and have a good time."

Brian - "And that makes a good relationship."

Jess - "Brian please don't tell me you're this much of a hypocrite. Christin'es older then you."

Brian - "That's different."

Jess - "How?"

Brian - "She's only two years older then me. He's Nick's age for crying out loud."

Jess - "Brian, save the sermon okay. I care about him and that's not going to change."

Brian - "Funny I thought your feelings changed on a daily basis."

Jess - "Just where you're concerned. You'll have to excuse me now, Lance is waiting for me." She walks past him, without even saying goodbye to the other guys. They had over heard Brian and Jess argument and wanted no part of it.

When she get home Lance was just watching a movie. She walks over and sits next to him; she didn't even take off her coat. He turns off the TV.

Lance - "What's wrong?"

Jess - "I got in a fight with Brian."

Lance - "About what?"

Jess - "You. He thinks I'm making a mistake."

Lance - "Are you?" She looks at him; he has such a beautiful face. She touched his cheek.

Jess - "No. I love being with you. Brian and I just have a confusing past."

Lance - "you guys dated or something?"

Jess - "No not exactly. He asked me out a couple times and I always turned him down. I just didn't want to date anyone. Now I'm with you and he has a problem with it."

Lance - "Maybe he still cares about you."

Jess - "No he's got a girlfriend, he's moved on. I guess he just thought I would always be there for him to go to."

Lance - "too bad for him, I'm not letting you go."

Jess - "Good." She kisses his cheek. "I'll get dinner started." She finally takes off her coat.

Lance - "We could just go out."

Jess - "Oh no you want me to learn how to cook now you have to pay for it." She gets some chicken out of the fridge. She had just breaded it and put it in the oven when the phone rang.

Lance - "I'll get it. Yeah hang on. Jessica it's your brother."

Jess - "Hey Stevie."

Stephen - "Who was that?"

Jess - "Lance I told you about him."

Stephen - "Oh yeah okay. So hey what are you doing for mom and dad's anniversary?" They talk about their parents' upcoming party for awhile and then hang up.

Jess - "okay now where was I." She starts boiling water.

Lance - "Your parents' anniversary is soon?"

Jess - "Yeah they'll be married 25 years."

Lance - "wow that's a long time."

Jess - "You wouldn't know it to watch them they act like teenagers." The phone rings again. "Now who is it? Hello."

Nick - "Hey Jess."

Jess - "Hey Nick what's up?"

Nick - "I want to apologize for Brian."

Jess - "Why did he lose his voice from guilt."

Nick - "No it's just..."

Jess - "It just that you know he won't do it himself. It's okay Nick everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions. Do you share his opinion?"

Nick - "No. I just want you to be happy."

Jess - "well thank you Nick."

Nick - "It's just going to be hard to get use to that's all. He is for lack of a better word from the enemy camp."

Jess - "You really should still be in grade school ya know."

Nick - "But I'm willing to get to know him."

Jess - "So you can be a traitor too."

Nick - "Jessica come on I'm trying."

Jess - "I know I'm sorry. Brian just really pissed me off today."

Nick- "I know he had no right to try to tell you what to do."

Jess - "Thank you for agreeing with me. I should probably go I don't want to burn dinner."

Nick - "You're cooking!"

Jess - "I'm trying to. I'll call you tomorrow."

Nick - "Okay, we're cool right."

Jess - "Yeah we're always cool Nicky. Bye.

Nick - "Peace Out." She hangs up.

Lance - "So your friends hate me."

Jess - "Nooo. Actually Nick said he was willing to get to know you better."

Lance - "Oh that would be interesting. So why should he be in grade school?"

Jess - "He was just being retarded. Dinner's not going to be ready for another thirty minutes what do you want to do?" He comes up behind her.

Lance - "What do you think I want to do?" He kisses her neck.

Jess - "We don't have time for that. What movie were you watching?"

Lance - "Armageddon."

Jess - "Again, you watch that all the time it's my turn to pick."

They sit down and Jess makes him watch Sleepless in Seattle. Dinner was actually edible, if not down right delicious. Lance stayed the night like he has done many times before.