Jessica broke down in the middle of the hallway in her apartment building as she read the letter. Things seemed to go from bad to worse as the words 'eviction notice' rang over and over in her head. They were kicking her out for "failing to pay her rent", as the letter had said. Jessica cried as she fumbled with the key to the apartment. The key wouldn't seem to go in the lock.
She had to be so stubborn when Nick offered to help her out with money issues. She didn't tell him that she wasn't making enough to pay the rent every month. He didn't know, but he must've known that money was extremely tight. Now she had no where to go. There was no way in hell she would go home and let her mom be right. She had told Jessica when she told her parents that she was getting her own place that she'd never make it on her own. Now if she were to go crawling back, her mother would tell her "I told you so", and there was no way Jessica was going to let that happen. Jessica was angry with herself for running away from her problems by going with the guys on the 100 hour tour. All it did was cause more problems. AJ hated her and she had no home. She'd probably have no job once she went back to the dance studio either.
"Damn key!"Jessica yelled and threw her keys to the ground. She sank to the floor of the hallway and pulled her knees up to her chest and cried. She distinctly remembered Leighanne telling her that things were going to be ok, but they weren't getting any better. They were just getting worse.
She heard the apartment door across the hall open up. She quickly scrambled to her feet.
"Dear are you ok?"
"Hi Mrs.Henderson. I'm fine,"Jessica greeted the kind, elderly lady, wiping her eyes quickly.
"You don't look fine. Would you like to come in for some tea? I just made some,"she offered.
"Sure that would be nice,"Jessica said, forcing a smile for her and walked into her apartment. Mrs. Henderson had always been so nice to her. Even when she first moved in. Jessica always took her up on her offers for tea. She enjoyed talking to her and she knew Mrs. Henderson enjoyed the company. She would always listen to Jessica and treated her just like a granddaughter.
"So what happened?"Mrs. Henderson asked as Jessica sat down at her kitchen table. Jessica looked around her apartment. It was always so lovely. It was cheery and bright and always spotless.
"They're kicking me out,"Jessica said, trying not to cry again.
"What? Honey, why?"she asked as she poured them both tea.
"Money's been tight lately. I haven't been always able to keep up with the rent,"Jessica said, slightly ashamed.
"You should've told me. I would've helped you,"Mrs. Henderson scolded.
"I wouldn't have taken your money,"Jessica told her.
"What are you going to do now. I wish I could offer you a place here but I only have one bedroom,"Mrs. Henderson said regretfully.
"It's ok, I'll be fine,"Jessica said, hoping it was true. "I guess I'll just go back home." Jessica just about cringed. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to give her mother the satisfaction. But right now there wasn't any other options.
"What are you doing here??"Nick asked, opening his hotel room door and seeing Mandy on the other side. Guilt rose inside of him because he had hoped that it's be Jessica. He had kissed Jessica and that was all he could think about. Nothing felt as good as being with Jessica. It was like they fit together perfectly.
The smile faded off her face,"Nice greeting Nick. If you're not happy to see me then I'll leave." She turned around again. Nick sighed and grabbed a hold of her arm.
"Don't go. I'm just surprised that's all,"Nick said.
Mandy grinned and dropped her bags. She wrapped her arms around Nick's neck and brought her lips to his for a searing kiss. She kicked the door shut and she lifted his shirt over his head. Nick pulled away.
"Wait, you never told me why you're here,"he said.
Mandy groaned and reached for him again,"Can't we talk about that later."
"Why not now?"Nick asked her and took a little step back.
"What the hell's your problem Nick Carter? Am I turning you off or something here? And why do you look guilty??"Mandy placed her hands on her hips and stared at him hard. "What's going on?"
"Why would something be going on? Nothing's going on,"Nick said quickly.
"Whatever. Since you're not interested in me right now, I'm going to see what everyone else is up to,"Mandy said, irritated, and walked out the door.
"You WHAT?"Leighanne shrieked into the phone.
"Come on Leighanne, I know it was stupid. I know I'm irresponsible. I know I'm not ready for the real world. I don't need you to rub it in,"Jessica said, on the verge of tears once again. "It seems like all I've been doing lately is freakin crying. I can't stand it anymore."
"Jess are you ok?? Come live with Brian and me for a while. We wouldn't mind having you. It'd be fun,"Leighanne offered.
"Thanks for offering Leigh, but I really want to stay in the state. And since you and Brian moved out to Georgia, I don't think I'd like making the commute to work everyday. Considering I still have a job."
"Everything's going to be ok Jess,"Leighanne tried to encourage.
"You keep saying that Leighanne but it's not! It's not getting any better. It's just getting worse! I don't have a house. AJ's hates me. Nick probably hates me. I just feel like I have nothing,"Jessica said with a mix of exasperation, frustration, and sadness.
"You have me. You have your family. You have the rest of the guys. You have Kristin. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. I'm trying to make you feel better but I'm sick of you saying that everything's going wrong. The world will go on Jessica. The end is not coming. I'm sorry, but grow up already. You're almost 21 years old. Start acting like it. You're not a child. I'm saying this because I'm your best friend and somebody has to say it,"Leighanne said sternly.
Jessica paused. Leighanne was right. God why did Leighanne always have to be right? "I'm sorry. I know I'm acting immature. And I'll stop feeling sorry for myself."
"Good, I'm glad to hear it. You know I love ya babe right?"Leighanne said.
"Yeah I know. I love you too. Thanks for snapping me out of it,"Jessica said. "So what's going on there?"
"Well Barbie's back."
"Huh? Who?"
"Mandy."
"Oh..."
"I know what you're thinking and I think Nick blew her off or something because she came to me and said Nick was being an ass so who knows."
"Hmm that's interesting,"Jessica said, stifling a smile and twirling the telephone cord around her finger.
"Stop acting like you don't care. I know you're just about jumping for joy right about now,"Leighanne grinned, knowingly.
"I don't know what you're talking about,"Jessica said innocently.
"Oh shut up,"Leighanne teased.
"So anyway, what else is going on?"Jessica asked, scanning her apartment with her eyes. She had spent the past few hours packing some of her stuff into boxes.
"We're getting ready to leave. We're taking a flight back home tonight. Everyone's going home for a little while before rehearsals for the tour start. We all miss you here. AJ's been miserable without you. Nick's been a pain in the ass lately. Mandy is just a ray of sunshine too. I mean, the girl isn't as bad as we thought but there's only so much of her we can take, ya know?"Leighanne said. "So you ok?"
"Yeah I think I will be,"Jessica murmered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure. Same shit, different day. I'll deal,"Jessica said, kicking her dangling feet lightly from her seat on the countertop.
"We all deal,"Leighanne said softly.
"I know,"Jessica replied, with a small tired sigh, her blue eyes scanning her apartment again. How she loved it. She loved it because it was only hers. Something that made her feel independant and secure. But now it wasn't hers anymore. It was gone. Same shit. Different day.
