Chapter 43

(written by Michelle)

"Everything's all set Brian," Nick said to his best friend. "Good, that's good Nick, thanks," Brian answered, shaking his best friend's hand. "What's all set?" Jess asked, entering the room. "Sweetheart, nothing why?" Brian answered, quickly breaking his and Nick's handshake. "Well, when I came in here I heard Nick tell you everything was set, what's that all about?" Jess asked, kissing his cheek and acknowledging Nick's presence. "Oh that. I'm taking you out, just me and you, tomorrow night. Nick just made us reservations, that's all," Brian quickly covered, he didn't want Jess or Jade to know about the going away party they were throwing for them. "Really? Well I'll have to check my calender, I might be free," Jess said, allowing Brian to encircle her body with his arms. "You better be free, it'll be our last night together," he stated, kissing her head softly. Jess could feel all the air leave her lungs and her heart ache slightly as he said those words, 'our last night together.'

So much would change after that, could their love stand the test? Jess broke Brian's grasp, "Why don't you and Nick see what lovebirds out in the backyard want to do about supper? I saw them heading out there a few seconds ago. I'm going to go upstairs and finish what Jade started earlier," Jess said, noticing how Nick cringed a little when she mentioned that Jade and Kevin were back together. "Sure, come on Nick," Brian said, slinging his arm over the blonde one's shoulders. Nick rolled his eyes at Jess as he passed, but Jess couldn't help but notice the sadness in his eyes. Shrugging it all off, Jess went upstairs to finish packing her own things and to clean up the mess Jade had created earlier.

Over an hour later Jess was just about finished, all she had to do was clean out her nightstand drawer and then she could join the party downstairs. Brian had come up to check on her every 5 minutes, and the two would always get caught up in a makeout session. Jess was beginning to wonder how she got anything done. Opening the top drawer, Jess found the pictures they had taken with the guys one day. The first one showed all of them outside in the backyard after one of their swimming opportunities in the lake.

Kevin was holding Jade in his arms like a baby, Brian had her in a bear hug, AJ was giving Brian bunny ears, Howie was looking far off into the distance, and Nick was grimacing at the site of Jade and Kevin. "He really likes her," Jess said to the picture. The next one was of Jess and Brian the night they decided to go clubbing. Jess had her borrowed dress and Brian had his face dug into the side of her neck, but even from that position you could tell he was smiling. The last one was of Jess and Jade on the hammock. Nick had snuck over and had snapped a picture of them while they were having one of their infamous girl talks. Putting the pictures in her journal, Jess threw it into on of her boxes and sat down on her bed.

She hadn't met for the tears to start, but once they did, she couldn't stop them. It was just that she was going to miss this place so much, and she didn't particularly enjoy the part where she had to leave Brian. Getting up enough courage, she walked out onto her balcony to observe the events below. Howie was stringing up those outdoor party lights and AJ was hollering at him that he was doing it wrong. Brian and Nick were cooking on the grill, and Kevin and Jade were wrapped up in each other's arms, laughing at Howie and AJ. Jade glanced up and noticed her friend, and even from this distance she could tell that Jess was crying. Making her way out of Kevin's grasp, she headed upstairs to her friend. "Jess, what's wrong?" Jade asked, entering her friend's room to find everything neatly packed away.

"Nothing, just a little dust in my contacts," Jess said, folding a blanket. "Bull shit, don't pull that crap with me Jessica, what's going on?" Jade said, ripping the blanket from Jess's grasp. "I was just thinking about how much I'm going to miss everyone when we leave," Jess said, noticing how her friend became extremely uneasy. "What's wrong with you Jade?" "I wanted to talk to you about that Jess," Jade said, sitting down on the bed. "About what?" Jess asked, joining her friend. "About leaving." "Oh."

"I decided I'm going to stay here with Kevin. I can get my job relocated here and that way I can be with him." When Jess didn't say anything, Jade continued. "It's just that we just got back together and I don't want to lose him again and I'm afraid that if I leave things won't work out and I really want them to and....." Jess interrupted her, "Jade, it's alright. I understand. If I had a choice I'd stay here with Brian too, don't worry about it." "Then why don't you stay here with Brian, Jess?" "I've thought a lot about it, but I can't. I just got my job and I don't want to give it up. Brian understands and we're even making plans to get together when the tour winds its way up that way. In a way I'm glad you're staying, now you can keep an eye on him for me." Jess said, holding back all the tears that threatened to spill.

"Sure Jessie-pooh," Jade said, hugging her best friend. "HEY GIRLS!!!!!!" the two heard a voice call from below. Jade ran to the balcony, "WHAT???" she screamed. "SOUP'S ON!!!!!!" Jess could tell that it was Nick yelling, "We better get down there before it's all gone," she said, making her way downstairs. "Yeah," Jade said, following her down the stairs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Brian where are we going?" Jess asked her boyfriend as they stood in her bedroom the next night. "I'm not telling, now get dressed," he said, chasing her into the bathroom to finish getting ready. "Not until you tell me," Jess shouted from the other side of the door. "Look sweetie, Kevin and Jade already left, you don't want to be late do you?" he called. "No, alright, give me 5 minutes," Jess said from her place inside the bathroom. The truth was Jess didn't feel like going out at all. After Brian fell asleep last night, she had just laid awake, thinking about tomorrow and having to leave her friends, boyfriend, and best friend behind. Putting the finishing touches of her make-up on, she headed downstairs to find Brian. "What took you so long?" he asked from behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. "Trying to look good for my man is all," Jess said, laughing as his kissed tickled her ear.

"You know, we don't have to go out tonight," Brian said. "But then we would be late, and you don't want that do you?" Jess teased. Pulling himself together Brian answered, "You're right," and pulled her out to his Beemer. After a soft romantic dinner and some dancing the couple returned home three hours later. Walking into the silent backyard Brian whispered to her, "I'm going to miss you. I wish you could stay here with me forever."

"Please don't say that baby, you know how much I want to," Jess answered, letting her silent tears fall. Brian stopped their journey and took her in his arms, "I know, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you upset," he gently wiped her tears, "Let's have fun tonight and forget about tomorrow, deal?" he said, sticking out his hand. "Deal," Jess laughed, planting a wet one on his lips. She took off running before he could catch her, "SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!" met Jess's ears as she stopped running in the backyard. "What's this all about?" she asked people in front of her. "It's your going away party," Brian answered, kissing her cheek. "My going away party?" Jess questioned, feeling more alone then she had in her whole life.

Back to "All That Heaven Allows" Index