Jeremy AamesFor the first time, I have a real girlfriend.
I mean, I've dated girls before, but Jessica is everything a girlfriend is supposed to be. She's changed my entire life. I smile more. I laugh more. And not only when she's around. Just in general. Like knowing she's out there, being my girlfriend, makes everything easier.
I don't know how I would have gotten through all this stuff without her. And right now, I don't know how I would get through a regular day without her.
I hope I never have to find out.
Will SimmonsI feel like my life is mine again. I never realized how much I was tiptoeing around Melissa, censoring everything I did so I wouldn't upset her, down to what kind of pizza to order. I don't even remember what kind of pizza I like. It's been so long since anybody asked.
Most people would think I'm insane for wanting to start up another relationship right away. I probably am insane, but with Jessica, I can't help myself. Jessica is not Melissa.
Jessica is very, very different.
Jessica WakefieldGetting crushed, dissed, and generally humiliated by Will Simmons taught me a lesson. It made me appreciate a really nice guy like Jeremy Aames.
Okay. The fact that Jeremy is drop-dead gorgeous doesn't exactly hurt. But that's not why I'm with him. Really. It's because he's a wonderful person who really cares about me. The resemblance to Tom Cruise is purely coincidental.
When I was so sure I was in love with Will Simmons, I didn't know a thing about him except that he was cool, cocky, and good-looking. And look where it got me.
Well, I'm done with acting on impulse. My relationship with Jeremy is perfect. And I'm not doing anything to screw it up.
"Surprise," Will Simmons said softly. He tried to smile, but he was too nervous. A light mist was turning into a heavy drizzle. The coliseum lights shone on Jessica Wakefield's rain-slicked features, highlighting her perfect cheekbones, blue-green eyes, and glossy blond hair, and he took a step closer. Only then did he notice the look on her face.
He had been prepared for her to be angry at him. He had hoped she'd be excited. But he hadn't expected disgusted horror. He also hadn't counted on an audience. Jessica's twin sister, Elizabeth, and their friend Tia Ramirez were standing right behind Jessica. They glanced at each other, their eyes wide with wary surprise.
Well, there's no turning back now, Will thought. He took a deep breath and pulled a bunch of red roses from behind his back.
Jessica took a step back, as if he were holding out a knife. "You're kidding me, right?"
"No," Will said. "These are for you."
"I don't want them," Jessica answered evenly. "I don't want anything from you." Her narrow-eyed look of anger left him speechless.
"
You're the one who's been leaving me all those presents?" she demanded. "Is this your idea of some sick joke? Haven't you done enough to me already?" Jessica glared at him, ignoring the rain dripping down her face like angry tears.
"No! It's not like that. I just wanted to . . . talk to you." He glanced at Tia and Elizabeth, and they looked away.
"I should have known it was you!" she said bitterly. "It's like messing with my head is one of your favorite pastimes."
"Jess--"
"I can't believe you," she continued. "You said you just wanted to be friends! And the whole time you were leaving me notes, setting me up to meet you here . . . and then what? Have a good laugh with your friends because I fell for it?" She tossed her head, causing a spray of droplets to flash in the harsh fluorescent lights.
Will gave her a second to make sure she was done. She just stood there and glared at him.
"Okay," Will said. "Can I just say something?" He stood stiffly, the roses hanging at his side.
"No. You can't," Jessica said. "Just stay away from me. I've had it with you and your psycho girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," Will said numbly.
"Right. For how long?" Jessica said sarcastically. "Wait. You know what? It doesn't matter. Because I don't care."
"You don't understand," Will said, clenching his teeth. "I broke up with her because of you."
"So, now you're blaming me?" Jessica held up her hand. "I'm not getting in the middle again."
He swallowed hard and looked down at his soggy sneakers. "What I'm trying to say is . . ." He paused. He hated doing this in front of all of them, but if he didn't say it now, he might never get another chance. "Ever since I met you, I knew I had to be with you." He looked up and saw three mouths gaping at him. "Give me another chance?"
"Are you out of your mind?" Jessica looked like she was ready to spit flames. "After what you two did to me, you expect me to go
out with you? Do you really think a few presents and some cheesy poetry are going to make me forget the whole school was calling me a slut?"
"I told you I'm sorry about all that," Will said, trying to stay calm.
"And you know I have a boyfriend!" Jessica continued as if he hadn't spoken. "What did you think I was going to do--sneak around behind his back? Just because you cheat on your girlfriend doesn't mean I'm the same way!"
"What are you doing here, then?" Will demanded, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Where's your boyfriend now?"
Jessica's eyes clouded.
"I came here," she said in a low voice, "to tell my secret admirer thanks but no thanks. I thought I owed him that much. If I had known it was you, I would never have come." She spun around and headed for her Jeep, which was parked by the curb with its hazards on.
Will watched, stunned, as Jessica yanked open the car door and climbed in, slamming it behind her. Tia and Elizabeth scrambled in the passenger side, and they tore off, spattering Will with muddy water. All Will could do was stare after them, too stunned to move.
Jeremy plopped the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter and sank into a chair, rubbing his temples. At least he'd made it home. His car had been running on empty, but he hadn't had enough money for gas after picking up the groceries. If his mom couldn't come up with a few bucks, he wasn't sure his car would make it to school tomorrow.
Oh, well, tomorrow was tomorrow. All he could do was take one day at a time. At least now there was hope.
He forced himself to get up, put away the groceries, and start boiling some water on the stove.
"Jeremy." His six-year-old sister, Trisha, ran up to him. He bent down, and she gave him a sloppy kiss.
"How you doin', squirt?" he said.
She beamed at him. "Look what I drew!" she said proudly, thrusting a messy drawing at him.
"Wow! Hey, I'm putting that right on the refrigerator," he said, giving her a hug. He opened a kitchen drawer and tore two tiny pieces of tape off a slim roll.
"Are you hungry?" Jeremy asked. "I'm making your favorite, macaroni and cheese."
"Surprise, surprise." Jeremy looked up to see his twelve-year-old sister, Emma, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. "What does that make, the third time this week? Are we going for a world record or something?"
"Hey, we've got a case of the stuff. We might as well use it, right?" Jeremy answered.
"Why can't we eat something good?" Emma demanded. "I'm sick of eating the same thing all the time. Oatmeal for breakfast. Peanut butter for lunch. Mac-'n'-cheese for dinner. I can't remember the last time we had steak."
"Funny you should say that," Jeremy said, breaking out into a grin. He opened the refrigerator and whipped out a large, shrink-wrapped package. "You just guessed course number two!" With his other hand he held out a bottle of sparkling cider. "Anyone care for a little champagne first?"
"What's going on?" Emma asked suspiciously.
"We're celebrating," Jeremy said. He popped the top off the cider bottle and filled three glasses. "Here's to Dad's new job!" He clicked the plastic rim of his glass against the top of his sisters' cups, and they both giggled.
"Are we having cake for dessert too?" Trisha asked, clapping.
"No. But how about if we bake some cookies?" Jeremy said.
"Yippee! Chocolate-chip cookies!" shouted Trisha.
Jeremy opened the cupboard and examined the barren shelves. Except for the bread and peanut butter he had just bought, there wasn't much there. Splurging on steak had cleaned him out. "Hmmm. We seem to be out of chocolate chips right now," he said.
"We're out of everything," Emma grumbled.
"I know," Jeremy said. "How about peanut-butter cookies?"
"Yay!" Trisha cheered.
"Cool. We can surprise Mom when she gets home." Jeremy handed Emma the cookbook, and to his relief, after a brief hesitation she opened it.
Jeremy felt his shoulders untense. Now, assuming they had enough flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, he would be able to keep his sisters happy and occupied until his mother got home. Then maybe he could finally do a little homework before crashing.
He rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. It was getting harder and harder to keep the whole happy-family thing going. But if his dad's new job pa...
