March 1995

Donnie and Jess had been together for a year and a half. NKOTB broke up the beginning of 94 and they all pretty much went their separate ways. After being in a group for the better part of seven years they needed a break from each other. After taking some time off Donnie decided to take a shot at acting. He had a few small parts in small budget movies. Jess had moved out of the little pad she shared with Loren, by her choice. Donnie had gotten a place a few blocks from them and she moved in with him. Loren converted Jess's old room into an office. Jess was still in school going strong, actually she was home doing a term paper on Hitchcock when Donnie came bursting threw the front door carrying a big bouquet of daffodils. He spun her around in her chair and gives her a big kiss.

Jess - "Okay, what's up?"

Donnie - "Do you remember that part I was going for?"

Jess - "The one you were being so secretive about?" He nods. "You got it. Oh baby that's great." She hugs him. "If you got the part then why did you bring me flowers?" She sits back down he hands her the flowers and kneels in front of her.

Donnie - "Because I made a promise to myself that if I got this part I was going to do something about our living situation?"

Jess - "What? But Donnie I love this place I don't want to move."

Donnie - "I'm not talking about moving." He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a small box. "Jessica will you marry me?" She is caught completely off guard. All she can do is sit there and stare at this beautiful ring.

Jess - "I oh my god, Donnie I had no idea. I, oh my god."

Donnie - "Is that a yes?"

Jess - "Yes of course." Really how could she say no.

Donnie - "Really?"

Jess - "Yeah." He takes the ring out of the box and puts it on Jess's finger. They then hug and kiss. "I better put these in some water." She goes in to the kitchen still looking at her finger. "So tell me about this movie?" He then tells her all about Ransom. She completely flips when I hear that Ron Howard is directing it he is one of her favorite directors.

Donnie - "So when do you want to tell your folks."

Jess - "As soon as we figure out a date. That's the first thing they'll ask."

Donnie - "I'm thinking as soon as possible."

Jess - "Well how about this summer, I'm out of school on May 28."

Donnie - "Sounds good, I'm going to call my mom."

Jess - "Okay but tell her not to call my mom yet. I want to have dinner with them and tell them then." He's already in the other room. "Did you hear me?"

Donnie - "Yes." He gets on the phone and she sits down on the couch and looks at this huge ring on her finger.

She invited Loren and Greg along with her mom and dad and Chris to the Tavern on the Green. (That round restaurant in Central Park.) After everyone orders, Goldie looks at her.

Goldie - "Okay spill it." Now that everyone's eyes are on her.

Jess - "Um okay. Well Donnie and I are getting married."

Chris - "Ha, I knew it. You owe me five bucks Denis." They had a bet going. Chris said Jess was getting married, daddy said she was pregnant.

Goldie - "Ignore them. Oh honey I 'm so happy for you! When?"

Jess - "We where thinking this summer."

Loren - "Oh my god we have so much to do."

Goldie - "Wait until I tell your grandmother. She's going to practically move here until you get married."

Jess - "Now we want to try to keep this as small as possible."

Goldie - "Oh of course smaller is better. Have you picked a church or hall yet?"

Donnie - "No we only got engaged yesterday."

Jess - "But I was thinking about Boston. Donnie has more family up there and his grandmother would have a lot of trouble traveling down here." This is the first Donnie had heard about that.

Donnie - "Really?"

Jess - "Yeah."

Donnie - "Oh thank you." She smiles and gives him a quick kiss.

Loren - "So have you had any thoughts about your bridal party?" She hints.

Jess - "No not really I don't have any sister or girl cousins. So I might have to go with, oh I don't know my favorite aunt."

Loren - "Oh thank you. You won't regret it. We have got so much to do." Around this point is when Jess started tuning everyone out just nodding ever now and then and chewing her food even though she didn't really taste it. Kurt picked up the check, saying some thing about he might as well start paying for this thing now.

Chapter Eight