jessica_____louise____

[Coming to Silver Lake was one of the best decisions she made and after only being there a month felt as though it was her home. It was that evening she had been invited to a party being thrown by her new friend Thomas James Gates. She had arrived along at the party late and was sort of nervous going into it. She was inside of the house surrounded by a bunch of TJ's friends with a beer in hand. She looked around the crowd until she set her sights on him. She offered him a friendly wave but didn't walk toward him. TJ finished off his drink before putting the empty bottle down and making his way towards Jessica. She couldn't just throw a wave at him and expect him not to come by. He smiled when he approached her.]

Thomas James Gates: Hey stranger, what are you doing here?

Jessica Louise Knix: [She shrugged her shoulders.] Well Bryce told me about your party and I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to remeet while I'm not shit-faced. [She smiled hopefully at him.] Hope that's okay.

Thomas James Gates: [He nodded.] And why would I kick you out, a lot of the boys here that are scooping you out would kick my ass. [He laughed slightly.] The more the merrier, right?

Jessica Louise Knix: That's always been my philosophy. [She laughed as well.] So is there any girls that I need to look out for that might come and spear me for talking to you?

Thomas James Gates: You think I would warn you? I would like to confess that I do like a little chick on chick action. Besides...if I said yes, would you turn and walk away from me?

Jessica Louise Knix: Actually if I was to walk away I would just grab ahold of you and take you with me to an empty room....So that we could....[She grinned at him.]

Thomas James Gates: Play games? [He joked, coming up with anything, shaking his head.] I don't like games...unless it's poker. [He grinned.] Maybe you should just take me and show me what you got in mind.

Jessica Louise Knix: Actually I was going to say that we could continue our plot to take over the world. [She raised her eyebrows.] What did you think I had in mind?

Thomas James Gates: [He laughed a little, placing his hand over his mouth from the brief embaressment, trying to play it off.] Soccer..you just got here, do you want a drink or something? Though I'm not going to let you go overboard like last time.

Jessica Louise Knix: Why wouldn't you? If I go overboard then you'll really be in for a treat. [She grinned at him.] If I go really overboard I tend to get up on a table and do the funky chicken to Conduct Unbecoming songs along with the worm.

Thomas James Gates: What? [He laughed.] Are you a really big fan of them?

Jessica Louise Knix: Ehh I guess, I like their stuff well enough but their songs are just easy to get funky to; for me at least.

Thomas James Gates: [He smirked a little.] Their music huh? I'm sure you are a little crazy about the guys. My brother used to be part of the band.

Jessica Louise Knix: Actually I'm more of a Tenacious D girl but yeah I am a fan. Which one was your brother?

Thomas James Gates: Sebastian, he's my twin, surprised you can't tell, thank god. [He laughed as they made their way through the crowd to get Jess and himself a drink.] But Tenacious D huh? You can't kill the metal!

Jessica Louise Knix: [She grins at him.] Nice quotage, I'm impressed.

Thomas James Gates: That song is classic, besides it's one of the songs I can get a perfect on when it comes to guitar hero. I'm a pro at it, you know?

Jessica Louise Knix: Guitar Hero, huh? [She raised her eyebrows.] Interesting...[She shook her head.] You should know that I can totally take you down a notch on that game.

Thomas James Gates: Could you really? You lucky there isn't a system here or we would have to get it on...you know Jess, you really amaze me.

Jessica Louise Knix: Why, because of my quick-wit and my savyness?

Thomas James Gates: Hmm, it could be something like that. [He noticed the bartender waiting on them.] What you gonna have?

Jessica Louise Knix: Jack and Coke?

Thomas James Gates: If that's what you want. [He leaned over to order his drink to the bartender, the place was too loud for him to just shout it. The bartender nodded and left to prepare their drinks.] Jack and Coke how you got drunk last time?

Jessica Louise Knix: Yep as a matter of fact it was but I can't get enough of them. Perhaps that is part of the problem.

Thomas James Gates: Well don't worry, tonight I'll make sure you don't go over the edge. Besides, Bryce would probably kick my ass if she knew I let you get that drunk again.

Jessica Louise Knix: [She laughed.] So I have to ask, how is it you aren't here with a girl?

Thomas James Gates: Can't say that any girl can really handle me. [He grinned when their drinks were finally brought to hem. TJ took Jess's drink and handed it to her as he took his beer.] Things never really work out, you know?

Jessica Louise Knix: Sounds to me like you just haven't found the right girl. [She nodded] But yeah I do know what you mean. I'm kind of in the same predicament myself.

Thomas James Gates: Who knows if I am really looking to settle down right now, it's really trouble if you ask me. Last girlfriend I had didn't really trust me.

Jessica Louise Knix: Ah I see. [She wasn't quite sure what she should say.] So how about that drunk girl over there?

Thomas James Gates: [He laughed slightly looking over to the drunken girl she was pointing out.] Would you kill me if I told you she kind of reminds me of you the other night?

Jessica Louise Knix: Actually no because that drunken girl over there is a friend of mine and I kind of try to model my drunken behavior after her.

Thomas James Gates: What? [He looked surprised.] So what is that a thing you guys get into? Tell me, do you drink to drink or to get drunk?

Jessica Louise Knix: Drink to feel good and forget about whatever crap there is going on in the world. I do it because I think I'm more funny when I do.

Thomas James Gates: You really think so? [TJ decided not to say anything who was he to say anything about what someone should and shouldn't do.] Do you want invite her over here?

Jessica Louise Knix: [She shrugged] Not really, she's a cunt.

Thomas James Gates: [His eyebrow raised.] I don't even know what to say.

Jessica Louise Knix: Oh I said the C word out loud.Ooopps. [She said as she placed a hand over her mouth.] Well guess you know now that my language isn't pure.

Thomas James Gates: Yeah, you can say that again.

Jessica Louise Knix: Well I apologize for that and if you'd like to find company with a more pure lady I understand.

Thomas James Gates: Don't get crazy now, I didn't say I didn't enjoy it. I like that you are real to yourself, tells me a lot of things about you.

Jessica Louise Knix: And so far what do you think?

Thomas James Gates: I don't know... [He picked up his beer, holding it to his mouth finishing his sentence.] ...plenty of time to find out, right?

Jessica Louise Knix:Yeah I auppose we do have plenty of time. I'll be honest though, I am really starting to like you TJ. [She shrugged her shoulders and looked down.] You're different then a lot of the guys I've met in a long time.

Thomas James Gates: [A little smile came over his face as he placed his beer on the counter.] Well, I can almost say the same thing about you, but let's not rush into some crazy idea now, alright?

Jessica Louise Knix: I'm not trying to rush anything TJ, I'm just telling you that I like you. Now whether it's as a friend or more, I'm not sure yet.

Thomas James Gates: Yeah, I get that.

[He didn't know what to say, TJ obviously had a lot on his mind taking his beer in his hand again. Jessica sensed there was something going on his mind. It now seemed awkward between them and she wasn't sure what she should say.]

Jessica Louise Knix: So umm I was thinking maybe if you aren't busy tomorrow night we could go to the movies. Juno's playing at the Dollar Theater and I'd love to see it again.

Thomas James Gates: Hmm, I would have to check my schedule but I don't know, that movie doesn't really do it for me.

Jessica Louise Knix: Well what if you came over and we played some Guitar Hero? [She smiled at him.] I could show you how badly I kick your ass.

[At this point a blonde comes over to the two of them that Jessica knew as Jenna Biesen, her cousin Hunter's ex-fiancee. Jenna managed a polite smile at Jess as she looked at TJ, slipping a hand onto his arm.]

Jenna Michelle Biesen: So are you ready to get going or did you want to hang out for longer?

Thomas James Gates: [He looked at Jessica, slowly putting his drink down.] Yeah, I'm ready if you are. [He looked at Jessica who looked a little surprised.] I'll call you and let you know?

[Feeling like an idiot and a child, she wanted to cry. Instead she just forced herself to smile as she swallowed hard and shook her head.]

Jessica Louise Knix: You know what? Don't even worry about it. I've got studying I need to do tomorrow night anyway. [She looked at Jenna and nodded,] It's good to see you Jenna.

Jenna Michelle Biesen: You to Jess, we should get together soon and hang out.

Jessica Louise Knix: [She nodded absently and kept her focus off of TJ.] Well you two have fun, I think I'll just head on home.

Thomas James Gates:Thanks... [He wasn't sure wha to say after that standing besides Jenna.] ...I'll see you around.

[She just nodded once again and left quickly. She made it home safely and the whole time was silently crying-- letting the tears stream down her cheek. After she pulled in her drive-way and went into the house. She fell onto the bed on her side as her dog Mitzie jumped up on the bed and snuggled in beside her. Jessica put her arms around the dog and continued to cry the night away hoping that the following days would be better.]