Title: A Unique Gift

Author: Camisha

E-mail: [email protected]

Category: J/H

Rating: PG-13ish

Disclaimer: I’m not even going to bother.

Summary: Quasi-sequel to “Unexpected Guest”. If I gave you a summary, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise, now would it?

Thanks: To Courtney (I love Courtney, don’t you?) and the readers. You make writing fan fic so rewarding.

Author’s Note: As those of you who read these Author’s Notes know, I’m in Togo, West Africa. I’ve finally got a computer with English spell check, so I guess I have no excuse for errors, except that I’m a bit rushed to get this finished while I have computer access, so I didn’t really edit. Be forgiving.

Feedback: Yes, yes, yes. Please.

It was a Thursday evening. Hamilton knocked on his girlfriend’s door and waited for an answer. There was a time when he would have just walked in, but since Jake no longer had a single, he’d been reminded several times to respect Michael’s privacy.

“Come in,” Jake called, getting up from her computer to meet him as he walked in and closed the door behind himself.

“Hey, baby,” Hamilton said smiling softly as he leaned in for a kiss. Just before their lips met, Hamilton noticed Michael typing at his desk. He turned what he had intended to be a long and leading kiss into a relatively chaste one.

“Hi, Michael,” Hamilton said as he pulled away from the kiss. His voice was notably unenthusiastic.

“Jesus, Hamilton,” Michael said with exasperation, “you could at least pretend that I’m something to you besides an obstacle to making out with Jake. You know, like a friend. A FRIEND might be willing to give his FRIENDS some privacy.”

“Michael, mi amigo, how’s it going?” Hamilton’s voice had all the sincerity of a used car salesman as he walked over to clap a “friendly” hand on Michael’s shoulder.

“Oh, come on, Keanu Reeves acts better than that,” Michael shook his head in disgust. “Although,” Michael added looking over his shoulder at Hamilton, “like him, you’re almost cute enough to make up for the lack of talent.”

At that comment, Hamilton quickly removed his hand from Michael’s shoulder. Taking an uncomfortable step back from Michael’s chair, Hamilton changed tactics.

“C’mon, Sander, you don’t know how hard it is to have to sneak around all the time, pretending to just be friends, not even being able to hold hands in public.”

“You’re right, Hamilton,” Michael countered dryly, “I know nothing about any of that.”

Hamilton flushed a bit with embarrassment, but persisted.

“Well then you should be all the more sympathetic to our…” he searched for the right word, “our plight.”

“Our plight, Hamilton?” Jake smirked. “Come on.”

“Hey,” Hamilton pouted, “whose side are you on, anyway?”

“His,” Jake said simply. “Michael’s got to finish his history paper.”

“Unfortunately, she’s right,” Michael confirmed. “It’s due tomorrow. So unless you want me to tell my history teacher--otherwise known as your mother--that I couldn’t finish my paper because you and Jake sexiled me, I’m afraid I’m here to stay.”

“Damn,” Hamilton couldn’t argue with that one.

“Of course, you’re welcome to stay here and make out while I work. Hell, if Jake stays dressed as a boy, it could be kind of a turn on for me to watch,” Michael teased.

“Okay, man, that’s just creepy.” Looking nervous, Hamilton took another step back from Michael’s desk.

“Well, if you don’t like to be watched, I could probably be convinced to take a break from my paper for a little threesome. I mean, you’re no Keanu Reeves, but…” Michael trailed off, eyeing Hamilton appreciatively.

“I’ll just let you work. Jake, I’ll be in the…the common room,” Hamilton blurted out as he all but ran from the room.

As the door closed behind him, Jake burst out laughing.

“I really ought to tell him that you do that on purpose,” Jake said when she caught her breath.

“And ruin my game? I’ve shaved minutes off my time since last month. In at 7:32, out by 7:38. I bet I could have it down to five minutes next time.”

“You’re too much,” Jake was still smiling. “He’s really not that homophobic, you know.”

“Yeah, I know, but it’s still fun to mess with his head. And so easy! You know you love to watch him squirm.”

Jake paused, trying to look disapproving and failing.

“Yeah, I do,” she admitted.

“Besides,” Michael added, “I’ve got to get him out of the room somehow. If he’d kept pleading with those irresistible eyes of his, I probably would have left, history paper or not.”

“Yeah,” Jake agreed, “the eyes are killer. Look, I’d better go find him now, drag him off somewhere, and let him reaffirm his heterosexual masculinity. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Good luck on your paper.”

“Thanks. Give Ham a kiss for me… And don’t forget to tell him who it’s from.”

Jake was laughing again as she walked out the door. She found Hamilton leaning against the railing at the top of the main staircase.

“Hey,” Jake said in manly fashion, coming up to stand beside him.

Hamilton started walking down the stairs and out of the building. Jake followed. Once they were outside, Hamilton glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot as they headed for the lake.

“Dude, could you tell your roommate to stop hitting on me?!?”

“Dude,” Jake mimicked, “he’s just flirting with you. Don’t take it so seriously.”

“Just flirting with me?!? It’s creepy. Like he has a thing for me or something.”

“Hamilton, he does not have a thing for you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I do.”

“Because you do,” Hamilton repeated skeptically. “What kind of answer is that?”

“Okay, think of it this way. Do you think Bella’s attractive?”

“Is this a trick question?” Hamilton asked suspiciously.

“No. Come on, do you think she’s pretty?”

“No,” Hamilton answered carefully, not believing he wouldn’t get in trouble for saying yes.

“Bullshit. She’s gorgeous and you know it.”

“Okay, so I think she’s pretty,” Hamilton admitted. “But YOU, my love, are stunning,” he hastened to add.

“That was unnecessary, but thanks. Anyway, you flirt with her,” Jake stated matter-of-factly.

“No, I don’t,” Hamilton was quick and defensive.

“Yes,” Jake repeated emphatically, “you do. All the guys do, it doesn’t bother me.”

“Okay, wait a minute,” Hamilton said slowly. “I’m not saying I flirt with her, because I don’t, but you’re saying it really doesn’t bother you?”

“Nope. So, do you have a thing for Bella?”

“Of course not!” Hamilton didn’t like how this conversation was going. How could Jake think he had a thing for Bella?

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what?” Damn, he was confused.

“You can appreciate Bella’s looks, you flirt with her, but you don’t have a thing for her. It’s the same thing with Michael. You can’t expect him not to notice how hot you are.” Jake smiled, hoping to placate Hamilton with the flattery.

“Well, I wish I could at least expect him to keep his mouth shut,” Hamilton grumbled. “But anyway, why don’t you tell me more about how hot you think I am?”

Their walk had taken them to a secluded clearing by the lake. Jake reached out to wrap her arms around Hamilton’s neck.

“I could do worse,” she whispered softly against his lips.

“Hey!” Jake squealed as Hamilton bit her lower lip. “Alright, you’re one of the cutest boys I’ve ever been in love with.”

“One of?!? I’m the only boy you’ve ever been in love with,” Hamilton said indignantly.

“Hey, now,” Jake objected, “let’s not discount Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Ethan…” Jake broke off as Hamilton started nipping at her neck.

“Okay, okay! You’re the sexiest, sweetest, most amazing boyfriend a girl could ever dream of. Mmm,” Jake sighed as Hamilton rewarded her by sliding his hands over her body, “and you’re good with your hands, too. Satisfied?”

“Yeah, and if you give me a few minutes, I’ll make sure you are, too.”

Hamilton had just come to the realization that, while it was kind of a hassle to get Jake out of her corset in a place where their privacy wasn’t guaranteed, he could get a hand down her already loose-fitting pants with relative ease.

“Hamilton, someone could walk by at any-- Oh my god.” Jake would have fallen if not for her arms around Hamilton’s neck. Her knees refused to support her any longer.

The sound of voices approaching, however, hit Jake like a glass of cold water thrown in her face. She pushed at Hamilton who, with his face in her neck and his hand down her pants, was oblivious to the encroaching danger. She kept pushing, but the voices were rapidly getting closer. Out of desperation, she kicked Hamilton in the shin.

“Ouch!” Hamilton cried, releasing Jake with a confused look.

“Hey, man,” Jake said loudly for the benefit of their forthcoming audience, as she straightened her clothing, “watch out for those roots. You don’t want to trip and fall.”

“Don’t worry guys,” Will said stepping into the clearing followed by Scout. “It’s just us.”

“Oh, hey. What’s up?” Jake said in a relatively normal voice, though she was still catching her breath.

“We were just taking a study break,” Scout answered. He smiled knowingly. “I won’t ask what you two were up to.”

“Your timing sucks big time, Calhoun,” Hamilton grumbled.

“Sorry, we didn’t notice the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door. Oh wait,” Scout’s voice dripped with sarcasm, “that’s because there wasn’t one… because there wasn’t a door… because you’re outside, man. What do you expect?”

“Believe me, it wasn’t my first choice.”

“So how is Michael, anyway?” Will asked, grinning slightly.

“He’s currently being tortured by his history paper,” Jake answered.

“Aren’t we all?” Hamilton added woefully.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Hamilton, it’s one evening,” Jake’s voice was full of exasperation. “Michael spends more time in the common room than any other student at this school. You should be grateful that I have such an understanding roommate.”

“She’s got a point,” Scout chimed in.

“Can I help it if I want to… spend some ‘quality time’ with my girlfriend?” Hamilton turned to Will for support. Will merely shrugged his shoulders neutrally, not wanting to get involved.

“Quality time,” Jake scoffed at the euphemism. “Is that all guys think about? ‘Quality time’?”

“Nooo,” Scout answered, pretending to give the question deep thought, “there’s also food, video games, cars… Oh, and I think Will thinks about writing sometimes, too.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Jake muttered, turning to Hamilton. “I think our ‘quality time’ is over for today, babe. I’m going back to the room to finish my homework. You can bring your work over if you want. With Michael there as a chaperone, we might actually get something accomplished.”

“Well, if all we’re going to do is actually work, I might as well go home,” Hamilton said with a smile. “I’ll walk you back though.”

“Alright, let’s go, then. Later, guys,” Jake said as they walked away.

“Later.”

On the way back to the dorms, the two ran into Kate Fleming on her way home.

“Oh, hey Mu--” At Hamilton’s glare, Mrs. Fleming stopped short in the middle of the hated nickname. “Hamilton, I’ve been meaning to ask you what you wanted us to do for your birthday next Friday. I’ve been so busy with the school this year that I wasn’t thinking ahead, but it’s not too late to put together a party if you want. It is your sixteenth, after all.”

“I think I’d rather just keep it small and simple this year, Mom. Maybe we can do something at home the day before, and I can just go out with a few friends on the actual day, okay?”

“Aww,” Mrs. Fleming couldn’t help herself, “my little Munchie is so grown up he doesn’t even want a birthday party.”

“Jesus, mom!” Hamilton glanced in Jake’s direction with embarrassment, then turned back to glare at his mother.

“I’m sorry,” Mrs. Fleming sighed contritely. Then she was all business again. “Oh, I almost forgot. There’s a new student coming tomorrow and I want you to show her around. Her name is Ashley Carter. Her sister, Cara, went here a few years ago. She was just beautiful and so smart! From the looks of her application, Ashley’s following right in her sister’s footsteps… Maybe you two will hit it off…”

“Maa-ahm, please,” Hamilton interrupted. He could feel Jake stiffening beside him and wished his mother would just shut up. “Look, I’ll be home in, like, twenty minutes and you can give me all the details, okay?”

“Well, alright. But you know, honey, if you ever want to take Ashley--or one of these other nice girls--out, your father and I can give you some money…”

Jake started walking off toward the dorms.

“Yeah, mom, I know, okay?” Hamilton said brusquely. He started off after Jake. “I’ll be home soon.”

Jake was walking quickly toward the dorms. Hamilton jogged to catch up. He looked over at her, but she was silent. He decided the discussion best wait until they got back to the relative privacy of her room. When they got there, Michael took one look at their faces and announced that he was taking a vending machine break.

“Don’t be mad,” Hamilton pleaded as soon as the door closed behind Michael.

“I’m not mad,” Jake said angrily. “Why would I be mad?”

“I don’t really have a choice, you know. It’s not like I WANT to give this girl a tour.”

“I know.” There was a silence, then, “It’s just that she obviously thinks this girl is great, you know. And I wish she was saying how smart and beautiful I was and offering you money to take ME out.”

The words came out in a rush and Jake suddenly realized that she was on the verge of tears. She turned her back to Hamilton.

“Jake,” Hamilton put a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off. “Jacqueline, look at me.” The use of her real name made Jake turn. Hamilton stepped forward and cupped her chin in his hand.

“I promise you, if my mother knew you--the real you--she would think you were just as beautiful, smart and incredible as I do. I know she would love you the way that I do.” Hamilton paused and reconsidered. “Okay, maybe not EXACTLY the way that I do. I mean, she probably wouldn’t appreciate your incredible body… And she definitely wouldn’t know what a great kisser you are…”

With that, Hamilton brought his other hand up to Jake’s face and pulled it to his for a lingering kiss. When he started backing her towards the bed, Jake realized that, for the sake of Michael’s history paper, she’d better find a way to distract him.

“So,” she asked, pulling away just as the back of her knees hit the bed, “what do you want for your birthday?”

Undistracted, Hamilton pushed Jake back on the bed and came down on top of her.

“More of this, only naked,” was his answer to the question.

“Hamilton,” Jake scolded, pushing at him without much force, “Michael will be back any minute.”

“Not on my birthday, he won’t.”

“Hamilton!”

“Oh, alright,” Hamilton reluctantly rolled off her to lie on his back on the bed. He pulled Jake over to rest her head against his chest. She snuggled up against him.

“So, seriously, what do you want for your birthday?”

“Seriously, I want my mom to meet this wonderful girl I know. And my love of ‘quality time’ aside, I just wish I could walk across campus holding her hand in front of everyone.”

“Yeah,” Jake sighed wistfully, “I know.”

“I will, however, settle for going out in another town and holding hands with her in front of complete strangers,” Hamilton added, not wanting Jake to get discouraged. “As long as she wears these killer heels she has.”

They heard Michael cautiously opening the door and got up from the bed.

“I’m sure that girl you know would love to go out with you on your birthday--heels and all. Goodnight, babe,” Jake said as she gave Hamilton a kiss and pushed him out the door.

As she closed the door behind him, Jake leaned against it and let out a woeful sigh.

“Okay, what was that all about?” Michael asked getting back behind his computer.

“Nothing new, really. Don’t worry about it. Get your paper done.”

“Paper, schmaper. It’ll get done. I work better under pressure anyway. So come on, spill it. Maybe I can help.”

“I highly doubt it,” Jake said hopelessly.

“Hey, don’t underestimate my powers. My people are very creative.”

Jake laughed at that one, then proceeded to recount the evening.

“My dear Jacqueline,” Michael began smugly when she had finished, “you do not even begin to challenge me with this tiny problem.”

By the time Michael had explained his plan and the two had worked out the details of its implementation, it was midnight and Jake couldn’t stop smiling.

“I must admit,” Jake said admiringly, “you’re damn good.”

“Yeah, well let’s see how good I am at pulling an all-nighter to finish this damn history paper.”

“Oh my god, Michael, I totally forgot. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. This’ll be worth it. Go get some sleep. One of us should. Oh,” Michael added, sitting back down in front of his computer, “and since I doubt I’ll be very with it when you’re getting dressed in the morning, may I recommend a turtleneck for tomorrow’s ensemble?”

“What?” Jake was confused by the random fashion advice. She looked questioningly at Michael, who simply pointed to her mirror. Looking into it, Jake found that the side of her neck now possessed a rather sizable hickey.

* * *

Getting up in the morning and looking in the mirror, Jake was rather pleased to see the hickey. She’d never had a hickey before and it was kind of cool. And if she wore a turtleneck (which she realized she’d have to borrow from Michael, as she didn’t actually own any), it would be like her naughty little secret from the world. She couldn’t wait to get Hamilton alone and show him.

Looking toward Michael’s bed, Jake saw that he had fallen asleep fully dressed. She went over to his desk and saw that the finished history paper was sitting on the corner, printed out and ready.

Careful to be very quiet, Jake went to Michael’s closet and extracted a ribbed gray turtleneck that she had admired on him last week. After she was dressed and ready for class, Jake crept over to Michael’s nightstand and set his alarm clock for 9:30. She figured he deserved to sleep through the first two periods, and that would give him just enough time to make it to third period history and turn the paper in. She wrote him a note:

Hey babe!

Borrowed your gray turtleneck. Didn’t want to wake you. Glad you finished the paper. See you this afternoon.

~Jake

P.S. Can’t wait to put the plan into action!

She left it on top of the finished paper and headed to class.

Hamilton was late for the third period co-ed literature class that he and Jake shared. Jake frowned when he walked into the classroom with a beautiful new girl. Her perfectly golden blond hair fell almost to her waist. She wore a tight blue V-neck sweater that showed off her ample chest and small waist to full advantage. Her slim gray skirt fell just below her knees, accentuating full hips and long legs.

“This is Ashley Carter, a Freshman transfer,” Hamilton announced to Finn and the class as the boys in the room stared and drooled.

“Hey, y’all,” came Ashley’s soft Southern drawl. The male population’s jaws dropped another inch at the sweet sound of her voice.

As Hamilton took his usual seat next to Jake and Ashley sat in an empty desk on his other side, Jake felt a sudden need to ensure that Hamilton’s complete attention was on his girlfriend.

She quietly pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled a short note. She passed it to Hamilton.

Hey Sexy,

There’s a big hickey under this turtleneck, thanks to you. Meet me in the second stall of the bathroom across the hall after class and I’ll show it to you.

Love and French kisses,

Jacqueline

Unfortunately, just as Hamilton finished reading the note with a smile on his face, Finn noticed.

“Would you care to read that for the rest of the class, Mr. Fleming?”

Fortunately, Hamilton was thinking quickly that morning.

“Oh, well… Jake was just, uh… expressing how, uh… nice he thinks it is that the, uh… lovely Miss Carter here has joined our class,” Hamilton told Finn, making it seem that his hesitation and embarrassment had been caused by the need to reword a crude comment about Ashley on Jake’s part.

“I see,” said Finn sternly, as Ashley smiled nervously. “In the future, Mr. Pratt, let’s try not to write things about people that we wouldn’t want them to hear, ‘complimentary’ or otherwise.”

“Yes, sir,” Jake said quietly, trying to sound contrite for something she hadn’t actually written. When Finn’s lecture once again held the class’s attention, Jake snuck a glance in Hamilton’s direction and saw, to her delight, that the note had had the desired effect--Hamilton was staring at her neck.

When the bell rang for lunch, Jake left the classroom quickly while Hamilton was still speaking to Ashley.

“Excuse me, Ashley, I just need to use the bathroom and then I’ll give you a little tour and take you over to the girls’ campus for lunch,” Hamilton said as he ducked into the boys’ bathroom. It had become relatively full by this point, but the second stall appeared empty. Hamilton was wondering where Jake was and how she was planning to get into the stall with him without anyone noticing, when he entered the stall to find Jake perched on top of the toilet smiling at him.

He smiled back as she pulled down the turtleneck to show him the hickey he had created. His smile widened and he turned to lock the stall door. Silently, he walked to Jake and lifted her off the toilet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as their lips locked together. Still holding Jake, Hamilton turned around and sat down on the edge of the toilet so that Jake was now straddling his lap. They continued to kiss voraciously as if trying to consume each other’s mouths for a good minute. (A VERY good minute). Finally, Jake broke the contact, sliding her lips over to Hamilton’s ear.

“You should be getting back to Ashley,” Jake breathed, gently biting his earlobe.

“Ashley who?” Hamilton whispered back.

“Good answer. Now, seriously, you’d better go.”

“I’ll be thinking of you,” Hamilton promised softly as he stood up with Jake in his arms, turned around and set her back on top of the toilet. He flushed the toilet for appearances and slipped out of the stall.

“Mission accomplished,” Jake said to herself with a satisfied smile as she waited for the bathroom to empty out so she could leave unnoticed.

* * *

That night, Michael went out with friends and Jake and Hamilton stayed in to spend some “quality time” together. When they weren’t otherwise occupied, they discussed plans to celebrate Hamilton’s birthday the following Friday.

They decided on a small Thai restaurant three towns over that Hamilton’s mother had once said was excellent. They would take Jake’s bike, Hamilton could drive (as it was his birthday), Jake would wear a dress and heels, each person would order his or her own food, and Jake would pick up the check (as it was Hamilton’s birthday). Plus, Jake promised, there would be a very special surprise. Afterwards, they decided, so as not to be too anti-social, they would meet the rest of their friends for dessert at Friendly’s--minus the dress and the heels.

Hamilton tickled Jake mercilessly in an effort to get her to reveal the surprise. She would only tell him that she and Michael would be shopping for it all day the next day, Saturday. Hamilton was not placated by the answer, but Jake was rescued from further torture by Michael’s return to the room at midnight.

As they were saying goodbye, Michael informed them that they both ought to consider turtlenecks for the following day’s ensembles.

* * *

Jake and Michael had a fabulous shopping trip on Saturday. They returned with several shopping bags, which Jake quickly hid in her closet, away from Hamilton’s prying eyes. More curious than ever, Hamilton bugged Jake about the surprise all weekend, but she just kept telling him that she was like a Swiss vault.

The trouble came Monday evening when Hamilton was at home having dinner.

“Hamilton?” Dean Fleming began.

The sound of his father addressing him surprised Hamilton. In fact, he was surprised his father was eating dinner with them at all and not working in his office as he did most evenings. He looked up.

“Yes, Dad?”

“I received a very important call today. There is a prospective student coming to campus on Friday. Her name is Susie Primerst and I need you to show her around.”

“Friday,” Hamilton repeated slowly, “that’s my birthday.”

“So it is,” Dean Fleming didn’t sound as if he’d remembered… or particularly cared. “Is that a problem?”

“No, Dad,” Hamilton answered obediently, “as long as I’m free by seven. We have plans… for my birthday.”

“We?”

“yeah, uh… my friends and I. We’re going out.” Hamilton thought it best to keep things vague.

“Well, you’ll just have to take her with you. Her father specifically asked that she get to spend some social time with the other students. That’s why he’s having her stay until Saturday. Your little party will be perfect.”

“But, Dad, we don’t even know her. What if we don’t like her? What if she doesn’t like us?” Hamilton normally knew better than to argue with his father, but he’d really been looking forward to his date with Jake and knew she would be upset to have it cancelled. It was the wrong thing to say.

“Then you’ll just have to fake it, Hamilton. For Christ’s sake, do you think I like all the students at this school? Or all their parents, for that matter?” Dean Fleming didn’t pause in his lecture to let Hamilton answer. “Of course not. But it’s called diplomacy, son. I care about this school and it’s reputation, and as long as you’re living under this roof--paid for by this school, may I remind you--then I damn well expect you to care about it, too!”

Hamilton knew there was no point in trying to reason with his father. Her turned to his mother for one last try.

“But, Mom, it’s my birthday.”

“I know, honey,” Kate Fleming said sympathetically, “but your father is right--it has to be done. I talked to Mr. Primerst, too, and he was very insistent that Susie be taken out. Come on, it can’t hurt for a boy your age to take a date to his birthday party.”

Hamilton knew it was hopeless and that he had best be gracious in his defeat to sooth his father’s temper.

“Of course, Mom, you’re right.” He turned to his father. “I’m sorry, Dad. I was being selfish. I’m sure Susie will be perfectly lovely and I’d be happy to take her out with us on Friday. If I may be excused now, I’d like to go study in the dorms for awhile.”

“Of course, honey, go ahead,” Kate answered quickly, understanding that he needed to get away from his father.

* * *

“Are you mad?” Hamilton asked half an hour later, when he had finished telling Jake about his father’s edict.

“At you? No,” Jake answered quickly. “But, generally, yeah, I’m disappointed. I guess we’ll just do the whole thing at Friendly’s with everyone. And I’ll go as your good pal, Jake. Of course, I see no reason why two guy friends can’t make out at a birthday party.”

“Me neither,” Michael chimed in. “If I can find a date before the party, we could give you two an opening act.”

“Are you still here?” The hostile question showed Michael that Hamilton hadn’t appreciated his offer.

“Hey, man, don’t take it out on me. It’s not like I’m the insistent Mr. Primerst,” Michael said indignantly.

Jake laughed suddenly.

“What?” Hamilton snapped irritably.

“Nothing,” Jake sighed, “just the ridiculousness of being.”

“Well, whatever,” Hamilton echoed her sigh. “It’s just one night, right? We’ll do it some other time.”

“Right.”

“Do I still get my surprise?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Jake assured him with a small smile, “you’ll definitely be surprised.”

* * *

Thursday night, Hamilton’s mom reviewed the schedule of Susie Primerst’s visit… again.

“Okay, so she’ll arrive around 10 a.m. You’ll meet her on the girl’s campus and take her to your third period co-ed class.”

Hamilton smiled, wondering how Jake would react this time.

“Have lunch with her. Girl’s cafeteria, please. I don’t think she needs to be exposed to the chaos you boys call lunch. Or you could go eat outside by the lake if it’s not too cold. See what she wants. Your fourth period class is co-ed, right?”

“Yes, Mom,” Hamilton said impatiently. “You know, I’ve done this before…”

“Great, so you take her to your fourth period class, too, then bring her to my office and I’ll give her the administrative rundown during my free period and take her to my sixth period girls’ class. You can arrange a place to meet up with her after that, show her around, answer her questions, and then take her out for your party.”

“Sounds great,” Hamilton said at his mother’s expectant pause, but he was actually thinking that a root canal wouldn’t sound much worse.

* * *

The following morning, Hamilton went by Jake’s room before class to see if she wanted to walk the dogs with him.

“Sorry, man,” Michael informed him, standing in the doorway, “she’s not here.”

“It’s 6:30 in the morning, where is she?”

“Not that you automatically have the right to know,” Michael clarified, “but she happens to be at Bella’s preparing your surprise.”

“What kind of surprise is this? It’s 6:30 in the morning. She’s not a morning person.”

“Well, I guess she figured she’d have to get up pretty early in the morning to pull something over on you,” Michael quipped.

“Ugh.”

“Hey,” Michael shrugged, “it’s 6:30 in the morning, my humor is still waking up.

“Alright, then,” Hamilton said, looking past Michael into the room, as if expecting to see Jake hiding there. “I guess I’ll go.”

“Trust me, she’s not here. Happy birthday, by the way. And say ‘hi’ to Susie for me!”

Hamilton walked away without responding.

* * *

Waiting alone on the front steps of Rawley Girls, the first thing Hamilton noticed about Susie Primerst as she walked up was her hair. It was hard not to. For one thing, it was bright crimson. For another, the shoulder length layers were falling over her eyes, completely obscuring her face. He briefly wondered how she could see like that before his mind was completely occupied by other thoughts.

The second thing he noticed was her body, which was clearly her intention based on the seductive way she swung her hips as she walked toward him. She was wearing a short, sleeveless sweater in emerald green with a skirt of the same material that hung low on her hips, clinging to her thighs and offering a tantalizing glimpse of incredible abs. Brown suede boots covered her slim calves and she carried a matching hip-length coat over her shoulder.

Hamilton couldn’t help but think that she looked incredible. He felt guilty for his sudden strong desire to see this girl’s face. As she continued toward him, he wondered if her seductive walk was for his benefit. With more guilt, he realized that he was hoping it was.

“Susie Primerst?” he called out questioningly as the distance between them rapidly closed. He was half hoping she’d say no and spare him this temptation.

“That’s me,” she said confidently, close enough now to offer him her right hand. “And you must be Hamilton.”

As he reached out to shake her hand, Hamilton tried desperately to picture Jake’s face. When Susie lifted her left hand to her forehead to sweep her hair out of the way, Hamilton was shocked to see just that--Jake’s face. For a moment, he thought he’d conjured it from his imagination. Then recognition slowly dawned. “Susie” grinned at him, still holding his hand.

“If it wasn’t me,” she said laughing softly, “I’d be really jealous of the way you were looking at ‘Susie’ a few seconds ago.”

Hamilton was dumbfounded. His mouth opened and closed, but he didn’t find words.

“Happy birthday,” Jake winked at the still speechless boy in front of her. “My father tells me you’re taking me out tonight to celebrate.”

Hamilton finally recovered.

“And what,” he asked already suspecting the answer, “is your father’s name?”

“Michael.”

“Well, Miss Primerst,” Hamilton said smiling broadly, “your father is right. But first, we’d better get to class.”

Hamilton offered his arm, Jake took it, and they began walking toward the class.

“So, Susie,” Hamilton began as they walked, “how do you feel about Thai food?”

“Oh, I love it. I hear there’s this great place a couple of towns over…”

* * *

At lunch, Hamilton received his “gifts”. He and “Susie” ate together outside, making goo-goo eyes at each other and thoroughly enjoying each other’s company with no concern, for once, of what others might think. Just as they finished, Kate Fleming walked up.

“Mom,” said Hamilton proudly, “I’d like you to meet Susie Primerst. She’s a wonderful girl. We’ve been having a great time. I think you’ll really like her.”

Jake’s face turned the same color as her crimson wig at the glowing introduction.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Mrs. Fleming said, glowing with motherly satisfaction. She reached out to shake “Susie’s” hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Susie. I look forward to talking to you this afternoon.”

“As do I, Mrs. Fleming,” Jake answered genuinely. “It’s great to meet you, too. Your son has been doing such a wonderful job of showing me around.”

“I’m so glad. Well,” Mrs. Fleming said, glancing at her watch, “it’s almost time for class. I’ll see you kids in my office in an hour.” She hurried off.

“Well, that takes care of your first birthday wish,” Jake announced as they started walking across campus. In full view of many students, she took his hand firmly in her own, linking their fingers. “And here’s your second.”

“You, my love,” Hamilton’s voice was full of admiration and wonder, “never cease to amaze me.”

After the fourth period class, Jake got her own gift--a lovely conversation with Hamilton’s mother. She tried to be as truthful as possible, given the circumstances, when telling Mrs. Fleming about her life and found that they got along well. When Hamilton came to get “Susie” from his mother’s classroom after the last period, Kate Fleming took some money from her purse and pressed it into Hamilton’s hand.

“Now make sure you show Susie, here, a wonderful time tonight. We wouldn’t want to let a girl as smart, talented and, of course, lovely as her get away from us here at Rawley.”

“No,” Hamilton agreed, offering Jake his arm to escort her from the classroom, “we definitely wouldn’t.”

* * *

After a wonderful Thai dinner, Hamilton and “Susie” joined their friends at Friendly’s for dessert. Scout, Will and Sean were very impressed by Jake’s transformation. She gave Michael and Bella all the credit.

“I’ll be over in the morning to become ‘Jake’ again,” Jake reminded Bella at the end of the evening as she and the others left to head back to the dorms.

Back on campus, Jake and Hamilton separated from the rest of the group so Hamilton could walk “Susie” over to the girls’ dorm where she would be spending the night.

“Well, Hamilton, thanks for showing me such a good time. I’ll definitely have to consider Rawley for the spring semester,” Jake joked.

“Thank you, Jake,” Hamilton said seriously. “That was a better birthday surprise than I could ever had imagined.”

“Believe me, it was my pleasure,” Jake said softly, wrapping her arms around Hamilton’s neck to meet his lips in a deep, lingering kiss.

“I love you, Jacqueline,” Hamilton vowed, looking into her eyes.

“I love you, too, Hamilton.” Jake turned and walked up the stairs to the dorm entrance. Hamilton’s voice stopped her.

“Oh, I almost forgot, one question.”

“Yeah?” Jake asked, turning.

“Why on earth did you choose the name Susie Primerst?”

“Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you. It’s an anagram.”

“Is that where if you rearrange the letters it says something else?”

“Yep.”

Hamilton waited for her to continue, but she just stood there smiling at him.

“Well, what does it stand for?”

“Aren’t you going to guess?”

“Come on, I have no idea.”

“Surprise, it’s me.”

THE END