(written by Michelle) Brian tried to close what little space remained between him and Jess as the couple swayed back and forth to the music. Jess felt a strange feeling in her stomach when Brian began to rub her back affectionately, it quickly spread to her toes and then to her head when she realized what it was. She was happy, not only that, but she was happy and in love. She smiled to herself as he brushed her hair from her neck and gently placed little kisses on it. "I love you, you know that, right?" he asked, not really a question, more of a statement. "With all my heart and soul," Jess answered, placing her own little kisses on his cheek. "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" "Only about a thousand times in the past 2 seconds, Brian."
"Well, here comes 2001. You look absolutely heart stoppingly gorgeous, and I should know, I'm the one with bad heart here," he said, laughing, which only caused his bright eyes to twinkle more. Jess laughed along with him, he could always put a smile on her face. "Thank you Brian, you don't look to shabby yourself." As the song ended he pulled her away from the dance floor to a quiet little corner where they could talk. "So, Mr. Backstreet Boy, did you bring me here to show off your celebrity status or what?" Jess asked, entranced by the man who stood in front of her. "Basically, why, is it working? Are you hopelessly overwhelmed by my star status?" he asked, pulling her closer. "Yours? No. Howie's, yes," Jess joked. Brian gave her a pathetic look which only caused her to laugh harder.
Brian watched her, he wanted to be alone somewhere, together. He wanted to be with her, with all of her, he was becoming aware of how much he needed her. He pulled her closer and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Do you have any idea of how much I want you right now?" Jess felt her heart flutter and her cheeks begin to burn. "Why Jessica, I do believe that even in this dim light you are blushing," he joked with her. When he thought the conversation was over he turned to lead her back onto the dance floor, when she stopped him.
He felt her lips on his as they connected for a passion-filled kiss with everyone watching, but not caring. "Do you have any idea how much I want you to take me right now?" Jess seductively grinned as she led him out to the floor. Brian could feel the smile on his face grow wider as she whispered her secret to him, he had never known Jess to be so wild. On the floor they grinded to Next's "Too Close," Brian all the while hoping all of that came true with Jess's body pressed so close to his own. Their dancing was too soon interrupted by a worried Nick tapping on Brian's shoulder. "Rok, yo Rok," he screamed to be heard over the music. "What is it Nick?" Brian asked, thouroughly annoyed by this little interruption.
Nick pulled Brian away from Jess so that she wouldn't be able to hear the conversation, "Jade left. Some guy wanted something from her, she got upset and left," Nick said, avoiding Jess's glare at all times. Brian glanced quickly to Jess to make sure she was still there and then turned his attention back to Nick, "What do you mean she left? Where did she go?" "I have no idea man, hopefully home. I'm sorry, but we gotta go, NOW," Nick shouted and then disappeared toward the front of the club. Brian made his way back to Jess, "What happened to Jade?" Jess asked, her own blue eyes filling with worry. "It's a long story, we need to go home now though," Brian said, slipping his arm around her waist.
"I guess I'll have to wait to show you just how much I love you, huh?" he asked, as they stepped outside into the night air. "I guess," Jess said. All of the other guys were outside waiting on her and Brian's arrival. Kevin looked sad and worried, Nick just looked worried, Howie looked satisfied, AJ looked miserable, and Brian looked disappointed. Jess fought with the notion that maybe their lives would have been better if they hadn't met Jess and Jade. After all, the only thing she and Jade had succeeded in doing was complicating their lives, which was not a good thing. The limo arrived and they all stepped in, Jess wrestled with her thoughts the whole way home, while still being worried about Jade.
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They arrived at the house Jess and Jade would only occupy for a few more days after what only seemed like 10 minutes. Jess immediately jumped out the limo with Kevin and Nick on her heels. As she turned the key in the lock, she stopped, "Maybe it's best if you all go home for tonight, I'll call if I need anything." "I want to stay," Kevin said, "Me too," Nick chorused. "I think we all want to," Brian said from behind. "No, it's better if I go in alone, I'll see you all in the morning," Jess said, retreating inside the darkened house. From her position on the inside of the door Jess silently whispered, "Some other time Brian." Making her way up the stairs, all the time calling Jade's name, she began to think that Jade hadn't come home. Having found no one in Jade's room, Jess made her way back to her own room to change out of her dress. Turning on the lights, Jess was startled by the figure on her balcony.
Making her way toward it, Jess made out Jade's shape, "Jade?" she questioned. She got no answer as she stepped out with her best friend. "Jade, do you want to talk?" "What's the use of talking, no one listens anyways. No one cares, they have their own opinions of you, no matter what you do or say," Jade said. "I don't have any opinions, you know that I'm the most un-opinoinated person on this earth," Jess said, hoping to make light of this potentially bad situation.
Jade laughed, "You're starting to sound like Brian now." "He has that effect on people," Jess said, thinking about the night they were supposed to have. "Why can't I find someone like that?" Jade questioned, stepping closer to the balcony's railing. "What are you talking about Jade? You have Kevin, he loves you very much." "That's where you're wrong Jess. He loves the sex, that's all anybody loves about me," Jade finished, placing one foot on the railing.
Horrible images of Jade doing something drastic flashed throught Jess's mind as she tried to think of something to say. "The last time I checked, I wasn't having sex with you, so I guess that means that I love something else about you," Jess said, hoping to coax her friend back down. Jade carefully placed her second foot on the railing, "You're different Jess, you always were. You saw the good in me when no one else did. You stuck by me all those times when everyone else thought I was a piece of trash. Why Jess? Why did you stay with me when it would have been easier to leave?" Jade asked, finally turning to face her friend, tears streaming down her face.
"Where would I go, Jade? Who else do I have but you? Who knows me better than anyone else? Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself. Jade you always were there for me when I needed you, that's why I'm going to sit here all night if I have to." It won't take that long, Jade thought to herself as she stared at the ground beneath her. Jess watched as Jade looked below, in the house next door she could see 5 outlines on the balcony of their own house, no doubt frozen in terror, just as she. "Jade why are you doing this?" Jess pleaded, the tears stinging her eyes as she imagined life without her best friend.
"Because I'm a slut," Jade said, barely audible above the night wind. "What did you just say?" Jess asked. "You heard me, I'm a slut and sluts don't deserve to live," Jade said, leaning closer to the edge. Something came over Jess, it felt like pure anger. Anger that her best friend would be so selfish as to not think about what killing herself would do to anyone else but her. With one swift movement, Jess leaped forward and grabbed onto Jade, just as she took her final step. Jess could hear Jade scream as she slipped from the balcony, and she felt her arm jerk as she grabbed Jade's hand.
"Jess, Jess oh god, help me. Jess please I don't want to die!" Jade pleaded, knowing that her best friend was all that was saving her right now. "I don't want you to die either Jade. SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!!!!!!" Jess screamed as she looked down to where her friend lay dangling by her hand, and the two shared a tearful look. All of a sudden, the balcony made an awful noise and it lurched toward the ground. Jess and Jade screamed, as they realized that one of the bolts had come loose and they were both now fighting for their lives. With the lurch of the balcony Jess had lost some of her grip on Jade's hand, now she was dangling 35 feet above the ground by one hand. "BRIAN!!!!!" Jess screamed. She felt the balcony lurch one last time and then pitch blackness.
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