�Jessica!�
�Mmm what?� she asked, her mind awakening.
�Phone.�
�Who?�
Jada smiled. �It�s Laaance.�
Jessica opened her eyes achingly. �Lance?�
The girls nodded.
�But it�s only 8.�
Claire rolled her eyes. �He�s on the phone you know.�
�Fine gimme it,� Jessica said sleepily.
She handed over the phone and Jessica put it up to her ear. �Hello?�
�Sorry did I wake you?� Lance asked.
�Nah. I needed to wake up anyway,� she pardoned.
�Oh good.�
�So what is it that you called for?� Jessica asked, her eyes still closed.
Ally shushed the others so they could keep listening.
�Just wanted to let you know that you left your purse here.�
�Oh yeah. I remembered that like once I got home,� she said, shifting position.
�You want me to come over there and drop it off?�
�Yeah sure. Maybe you can stay for breakfast or something,� Jessica suggested.
The girls� ears perked at those words.
�I don�t want to impose.�
�You�re not imposing.�
�Instead of staying, why don�t we go out to like McDonald�s or something?� Lance asked.
�That sounds good. Why don�t you come down in about a half hour? I�m not a pretty sight in the morning,� Jessica smiled.
�I�ll take your word for it,� Lance laughed. �If I don�t have to deal with the guys I�ll be there at about 8:45.�
�The guys? Are they bugging you?�
�Kinda. Ever since like Wednesday they�ve been breathing down my neck.�
�My friends too. They�re like security guards or something. They know exactly what you�re doing. Or at least, they WANT to know exactly what you�re doing.�
Lance chuckled. �Same thing here.�
�I came back last night and they were camping out in my room in their sleeping bags for god sake!� Jessica laughed.
Jada, Claire, Kate, and Ally frowned.
�Jeez. But you know, JC�s been the absolute worst. My god if he says one more thing I swear I�ll tape his mouth shut.�
�It wouldn�t work. God knows he�ll find a way to communicate, just as a annoying as before.�
�True, true. But it couldn�t hurt to try right?� Lance joked.
Jessica laughed. �Guess not.�
�Ooh it�s getting late. I guess I�d better let you get ready huh?�
Jessica smiled. �Yeah. Just as soon as I get my eyes open.�
Lance laughed. �I�ll see you later.�
�Bye.�
Click.
Jessica sighed and clicked off the phone. Her eyes still stay shut, for her eyes didn�t want to open. She let out a yawn fit for a lion and shuffled to her closet. Only then did she even try to open her eyelids. �I didn�t know I owned an outfit that looked like Jada.�
�Ha. Ha. Notice I�m not laughing.� Jada stood up and dusted herself off.
�What were you doing in my closet?� Jessica asked, proceeding to finding some clothes to wear.
�Nothing Jess. We�ve been here all morning.�
�Yeah. And you were here to listen to my PRIVATE phone call right?� Jessica asked knowingly, picking out a pink Abercrombie tank top.
Jada�s face stayed neutral. �I might�ve heard some of it.�
�Uh huh. And just how much did you hear?� Jessica continued, pulling out a pair of denim flares.
�Enough to know that he�s coming over today.�
�Oh.�
�Whaddaya mean, �oh�?� Jada asked skeptically. �You usually blow up about things like this.�
�Well, Jada dear, this is not the normal way of meeting somebody.�
�Get over that already!� Ally cried out.
�No.� Jessica turned and exited the room to change in the bathroom.
�This is definitely a weird, weird situation,� Claire said, shaking her head.
*-*-*
Jessica flipped through a magazine as she waited. Finally, she heard the sound of the doorbell. She nearly jumped up to her feet as she rushed to answer it. She flung the door open. Then her shoulders slumped. �Oh. It�s you guys.�
�Ok is it just me or is NO ONE happy to see us?� Justin asked.
Jessica pretended to think for a moment. �Nobody�s happy to see you.�
�Funny.�
�Ha. Two in one day,� Jessica smiled.
Justin rolled his eyes.
�So what can I do- I mean, do for you?� she asked, rephrasing her question.
�Well�� they trailed off.
�NO,� she said bluntly and firmly.
�How�d you know?�
�WE�VE been trying to figure out since last night,� Kate interrupted, along with the other girls that came with her to the door.
�And they STILL don�t know. So don�t try and get it outta me.�
Suddenly, a laugh came from behind the guys.
�Lance?�
Lance stopped to smile at the guys. �Told ya so.�
They all scowled in turn and Lance turned around. �They told me that you�d tell �em.�
�When? When heaven admits the devil?� Jessica asked jokingly.
�Some help YOU were,� Joey muttered, turning and retreating to the still running car.
�Glad to be of some assistance.�
JC and Chris trailed after Joey.
�So Justin. Still here?� Jessica asked, waiting to kick him out.
�Yeah.�
�So��
�Can I come in?� he asked, getting irritated.
�Why?�
�Do I always have to explain myself to you?�
Jessica thought about it, then opened the door. �Fine. Get in.�
Justin nodded and stepped in. �Hey Ally can I talk to you for a second?�
Her eyes widened and the others exchanged glances. �Ok?�
Justin nodded and started one direction, then stopped to look at Jessica. �Which way to the living room?�
�You see that opening over there?� she asked, pointing to the opening in the wall.
He nodded.
�You go through there and that is the living room.�
�Oh. You didn�t have to make me feel like a stupid fool. I just asked just to make sure I don�t stumble upon some unearthed secret,� he said, stressing �unearthed�.
�Well I guess it was nice of you to ask,� she considered.
He smiled then started walking into the living room.
�Sorry about that,� Jessica apologized, letting Lance in.
�It�s ok. Justin can be kind of a�never mind.�
She laughed. Then she looked at her friends. �Ahem?�
�Gotcha,� Claire smiled, going upstairs, followed by the leftover girls.
Jessica smiled and turned back to Lance. �So��
�Oh yeah,� Lance said suddenly. �Here�s your purse.�
�Oh thanks.� Then she searched the purse. �I swear I had another ten in here.�
Lance groaned. �Joey, Chris, or Justin probably took it.�
Jessica rolled her eyes. �Oh great.�
�Here I�ll pay you back.�
�No. I don�t want YOUR money. I want revenge,� she smiled.
�I don�t like that look,� Lance said, shaking his head.
Jessica�s smile grew wider. �You shouldn�t.�