"Almost," Jessica yelled frantically, searching through her closet for her tight, red, fuzzy long-sleeved V-neck sweater.
"Coming!" She yelled, tugging the sweater over her head carefully to avoid messing up her make-up and hair and sliding her feet into a pair of brown chunky shoes with three inch heels, pulling her light-colored Mudd flares down over them.
"Finally," Mrs. Thayer said lightly, but Jessica could tell she was extremely stressed out.
"Mama, what's wrong?" Jessica asked softly.
"Say that again," Mrs. Thayer said just as softly.
"What's wrong?"
"No, the other part."
"Mama?" Jessica asked.
"Mama," Mrs. Thayer sighed. "What is a mama? Is a mama the woman who raised you or the woman who gave birth to you?"
"A mama is both," Jessica smiled.
"Who would be more important to you?" Mrs. Thayer sighed. "If you had a woman who gave birth to you and a seperate woman who raised you."
"The one who loves me and is there for me," Jessica said. "Are you ok, mama?"
"I hope," came the sad reply.
"You're one confusing mama," Jessica laughed. "Now let's go, you look beautiful!"
"Thank you!" Iris Thayer sighed, hoping it wasn't one of the last times she saw her daughter.
They arrived at an Olive Garden and Jessica grinned. "I love this place, Mama!"
"I know," Her mother laughed. When they got to the seating waitress, her mother turned away from Jessica and said quietly, "Reservations for Thayer-Chasez."
"Thayer who?" Jessica asked, thinking she'd heard her mother say 'Thayer-Chasez'.
"Come on, Sweetie, let's go," Her mother replied absently.
Jessica followed her mother into a private back corner. Her mother turned and blocked Jessica's view of someone, to introduce her to two people. A couple about her mother's age.
"Jessica, this is Karen, and this is Roy," Mrs. Thayer said quietly.
"Hello," Jessica smiled politely and shook their hands.
"Jessica," Karen smiled, looking as if she were about to cry.
"And this is their son, JC," Her mother said, stepping aside.
Jessica's jaw dropped.
"Hi," JC said, standing up and holding out his hand.
"Hi," Jessica smiled.
"Why don't we sit down?" Mr. Chasez suggested.
"Ok," Mrs. Thayer smiled and sat down at the closest seat. JC sat back where he had been, as did Mr. and Mrs. Chasez, leaving the chair between JC and her mother. Jessica sat down and crossed her legs.
They ordered and ate, getting to know each other. Soon they were all laughing and joking around, teasing each other.
"Why don't you come back to our house for a bit?" Mrs. Chasez suggested.
JC looked up, curious as to why the invitation had been extended to them and not *N Sync also.
"Alright," Mrs. Thayer smiled.
Jessica looked up, curious as to why her mother had agreed.
"Uhm, JC, will you do me a big favor? Your father and I are going to ride with Mrs. Thayer, would you mind driving Jessica?" Mrs. Chasez asked.
Jessica's eyes widened, as did JC's. "Alright..." JC trailed off, confused but perfectly willing to. "Sure."
"Thanks, Son," Mr. Chasez said.
"Let's go," JC extended his arm to Jessica, who laughed.
"Yes, sir!" She grinned and slid her arm through JC's.
"I wonder what they're up to," JC said as he opened the door for Jessica. "Your chariot, m'lady!"
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Jessica smiled as she got into the car. "Thank you, my knight in shining armor!"
"You're welcome, Princess" JC said as he shut the door for her.
Jessica laughed as JC got in his side. They talked the whole half an hour to the Chasez house.
"Y'know, I don't know why people say you're the serious, boring one," Jessica said thoughtfully. "You're pretty funny."
"Thanks!" JC grinned crazily. "But I am the serious, boring one next to the rest of the guys!"
"Oh, wow..." Jessica said. "That's scary."
"Kinda," JC admitted, again opening the door for her. "But you'll get used to it."
Jessica grinned. You'll get used to it implied that he was going to introduce her to Lance, Chris, Joey, and Justin.
"Is this your house?" Jessica asked. "It's wonderful!"
"Nah, this is my parents," JC said. "Mine's a bit larger. Oh! I'm sorry, that sounded like I was bragging. I didn't mean for it to come out like that!"
"Wow. Well, this is a nice house," Jessica said as JC opened the door for her. "And that's ok!"
"Yeah, it is. I liked it and I figured they would, too," JC shrugged.
JC opened the door for her and kicked his shoes off, then put an arm around Jessica to support her while she took off her shoes.
"We're in the family room," Mrs. Chasez called out.
JC led her in and the pair sat on a couch together, curious.
"We need to tell you something," Mrs. Thayer struggled out. "Jessica...Meet your parents and brother."