(written by Michelle) Jess sighed as she watched her three friends sleep in her living room. Nick and Kevin occupied the two chairs that were pulled extremely close to the couch where Jade slept peacefully. She watched as every little movement Jade made caused Kevin's eyelids to flutter and for him to stir uneasily. Sighing heavily, she knew that Jade belonged here in Orlando and that if she went back to Philly with Jess that it would be a big mistake they would both regret later. Leaving the scene behind her, Jess picked up the last of her huge suitcases and placed it quietly by the front door, her taxi would be here in less than an hour and she still had to say goodbye to Brian.
Realizing she didn't know what to say just yet, Jess headed out to the hammock to think. Laying back down and allowing the breeze to push her slowly, her frustrated thoughts from last night came flying back into her mind. Jess thought about how all alone she felt last night as everyone clamored around Jade trying to help her. The feeling wouldn't go away either, Jess told herself, especially when she was thousands of miles away from everyone she loved. It was heartwarming to see though, how Jade went from having only Jess there for her, to someone who had the love of two great men, and the friendship of three more. In Jess's mind, Jade had it all.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Brian's voice floated down from her balcony. Jess raised a finger to her lips and nodded to the house, Brian shook his head in understanding, "I'll be right down," he whispered, hurrying away from the window. Jess held her breath as she thought of leaving him shortly, it was going to be hard, really hard. "Can I sit here?" Brian asked, standing above her, out of breath, motioning towards the hammock. "If you don't upset us," Jess said. "Wouldn't dream of it," he said, flopping down next to his girlfriend.
"So, when do you want to leave for the airport?" Brian asked, getting right to the point. "I'm leaving in about 15 minutes, I want you to stay here," Jess said, moving closer to his body. "I want to take you to the airport though, sweetie. I thought we discussed this, we were all going to go, remember?" Brian asked, resting his head on top of hers. "Jade isn't going back, it's not right, she belongs here... with Kevin." "I think that's for Jade to decide don't you?"
"No. She can't see how good she has it here, she's blinded and confused by love. I'm making it easy for her, she's staying here." "I don't want to argue with you, whatever you think is best, you've known her longer than any of us," he said, kissing her lips gently. "Thank you... for everything Brian. You don't know how much you mean to me, you have no idea what you've done for me and Jade. I love you so much that I can't put into words how I feel about you," Jess said, looking at Brian who loomed above her. "I know because I feel the same way," Brian said, his lips meeting with hers. The two shared one of their last kisses together before being tossed out of the hammock by the uneven distribution of their weight.
"I thought you said you wouldn't upset us," Jess asked, laughing from her position underneath Brian. "I said I wouldn't dream of it, this is reality," Brian laughed, kissing Jess's nose. A loud taxi's horn brought them from their little world and made them see how much they were in reality. After walking on tiptoes through the house so as not to disturb the threesome (for you Lace!!!!!heehehehehehehehehe), Brian had managed to help Jess get her luggage out the door. "I'm going to miss you," he said, taking her into his arms for the last time. "Ditto," Jess said, unable to say anymore, her emotions taking over. "I don't want to leave you Brian," Jess cried into his shoulder. "Then don't, stay here with me, always," he said, letting the tears fall down his own face.
"Miss, are you ready to go?" the driver asked, breaking the couple's moment. "Yes," Jess said, "Yes I am." "So you're really going then?" Brian asked, looking into her eyes. "I have to, please don't cry, please don't make this any harder for me then it already is," Jess sobbed, not looking at him, afraid that she'd stay right there with him like he wanted. "I can't help it, my heart is breaking," Brian said, tears streaming faster down his face. Jess reached up and kissed his sweet lips and brushed away his tears, "Goodbye my love," she said, climbing into the taxi. Brian watched it until it was nothing but a speck against the horizon, then he broke down and cried.
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"I can't believe she just left him like that," Jade was explaining to Kevin later that day. "I know, but Jess had her reasons, you know that," he said, tightening his grip on her. The two were lounging around in the living room of Jade's house watching TV, listening to Brian's sobs as they carried down the stairs. "I'm glad she left you here though," Kevin said, kissing Jade's lips. "Yeah," Jade said, not meeting his eyes. He didn't know that she, too, would be leaving, but not for the same reasons as Jess...
Brian's sobs ceased as the ringing of the phone was heard through the house. "Hello?" Kevin asked into the receiver. "Hold on, I'll get him," he said, rolling his eyes at Jade. "Brian," he screamed up the steps, "Jess is on the phone."
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