I Want Some Stuff Like That There.....
and Maybe a Donut
by Emily

Summary: Nicki's challenge use at least 3 of the following.  (I'm all over the map so pick anything)
-Krispy Kreme donughts
-Jessie's obsession with American Idol (Kelly in particular) and it has to be before she won. (and other reality shows if you want)
-Jessie giving Katie crap over her diving or a driving incident
-Katie & Grace minor bonding while shopping for something for Jessie
-Issues while ordering at a drive-thru
-Jess & Katie taking (or contemplating) somekind of outside/extension class together

Disclaimer: Duh. If I owned them, I wouldn't be posting this on some measly message board, I'd be using it to make television history!
Dedication: for Nicki, my hero and my Kelly pimp--hee!; for Heather, who's sick and needs to feel better; for Marie, my girl, who tried her best to help me with this, but I stubbornly refused and had to plow ahead myself, because though I always bitch for help, I never take it. I'm an ungrateful brat. But I love you, Marie!
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Well. I don't really know if this story is good or bad. Just read it. But make sure you've seen Kelly's performance of "Stuff Like That There," because if you read this without having seen it, I'm gonna be very upset.

**********

"Come on; come on; it's starting!" Jessie whined impatiently. "Where's the popcorn?"

"You are incredibly demanding," Katie remarked, setting a bowl of popcorn on the table in front of her girlfriend.

"You're the best," Jessie said sweetly, as Katie sat down on the couch beside her.

"S—"

"Shh! It's on," Jessie hushed her immediately.

Katie just shook her head, baffled, as Jessie stared intently at the television set. Ever since school had ended, she had spent every Tuesday and Wednesday night on the couch with Jessie in front of tv—either at her house, the Manor, or Karen's place. Why, you ask? Two words. American Idol. Actually, now that the show was progressing, it was becoming clear that there were two more accurate words to describe the reason Jessie was forcing Katie to sit in front of the tv with her: Kelly Clarkson. Jessie was completely enthralled by the Texan girl next door, and as Katie watched Jessie become enraptured by this girl, she wondered if she should be jealous. But, really, she rationalized, who could help falling in love with Kelly Clarkson? She was so damn adorable and talented, and Katie decided that she even had a crush on Kelly—not like Jessie's though. But that was okay.

Anyway, the theme for this week was "Big Band," which Katie was looking forward to. However, the beginning performances were slightly disappointing, except for Tamyra's, and she had to deal with Jessie's pissed-off-ed-ness that Kelly was apparently performing last. "Just chill, baby," Katie said. "They save the best for last, right?"

How prophetic of Katie! Kelly was performing "Stuff Like That There," and as soon as she started singing, Jessie lunged forward, her eyes glued to the screen. Usually, when Kelly performed, Katie watched Jessie instead of the tv, because she was just so damn cute when she was all wrapped up in watching this girl perform, but tonight, Katie found herself staring as intently at the screen as Jessie was. [Now, I can frickin' not do justice to Kelly's performance, so all of y'all who missed it, download the video here (http://videos.kellyclarkson.ca/KellyClarkson-StuffLikeThat.zip),   dammit! I don't even care if you have a pathetic internet connection—it's worth it!]

After Kelly had finished singing, she gave the band props and turned to the judges, who, at this point in the show, had become completely useless, since it was the people—the people!—who were picking who got to move on and who had to go home. So, needless to say, Jessie and Katie never paid much attention to them. Plus, Paula Abdul is a blithering moron.

"Wow," Jessie breathed, leaning back against the couch. "That was the most amazing thing I have ever seen," she said, awed.

"Should I be jealous? I should be jealous. You love Kelly Clarkson way more than you love me," Katie teased.

"Well, duh," Jessie returned, teasing her girl right back.

"Hey!" Katie laughed, beginning to tickle Jessie. "Take that back!"

"Never!" Jessie squealed, wriggling to get away from Katie. "Okay, okay, I take it back!" she panted, just to stop the tickling.

"Good," Katie said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Aw, Katie, you know I love you more than Kelly Clarkson. She's not even real—she's the fantasy. You're real; you're my girl."

"Well, all right," Katie said, quirking a skeptical eyebrow. "But if you just happen to meet her, I will not let you leave me for her."

Jessie burst out laughing. "Oh, come on, Katie! Like that would ever happen. Besides, she's too old for me."

"Well, that's true," Katie said thoughtfully. "All right, now it's my turn," she insisted, turning off the tv.

"Well, what shall we do tonight?" Jessie asked sweetly.

"Donuts."

"Right, donuts," Jessie deadpanned, but giving Katie a `god, you're weird' look. "Oh my god!" she shrieked, suddenly diving for the phone on the end table. "You bitch! You made me forget to vote!" She turned huffily from Katie and punched in the toll-free "Vote for Kelly" number.

Katie sighed, defeated, and slumped back against the couch. "Jess, you can't single-handedly make sure Kelly moves on. You can press that damn redial button a hundred times, and then we're going to get donuts."

"Fine," Jessie snotted, sticking her tongue out at Katie. "One…Two…Three" she counted slowly, and Katie sighed again, resigning herself to wait for Jessie to finish obsessively voting for Kelly. "Ninety-nine…One hundred," Jessie finished finally.

"Okay, donut time," Katie said eagerly, hanging up the phone for her girl.

"All right. Do we really have to trek all the way out to Krispy Kreme? Dunkin Donuts is so three blocks away."

"Yes! Krispy Kreme is so worth it," Katie said adamantly.

"Okay," Jessie sighed. She had no idea what was up with Katie's new obsession, but since Katie put up with her American Idol craze, she figured it was the least she could do, going to Krispy Kreme with her. "But not the drive thru. You totally spazzed out the last time."

"Oh, come on. That was a fluke," Katie whined, following Jessie outside.

"Mm-hmm," Jessie said, somewhat patronizingly.

"I am totally proving you wrong," Katie said defiantly, climbing into her car.

"I hope you do."

**********

"Bwa! That was just like the last time!" Jessie giggled, as Katie peeled away from the god damn drive thru window.

"Oh, shut up! It is not my fault that the damn thing is so close to the curb."

"At least you didn't hit the speaker this time," Jessie smirked.

"But now I have a cracked side-view mirror from the side of the damn building. I have a feeling Austin is not gonna love that."

"But you got your donuts," Jessie offered, trying to lighten Katie's mood a little. She had warned her about the dangers of the drive thru window, but still. She couldn't always say "I told you so"—that just gets mean.

"Yup, got my donuts," Katie sighed. "Next time, I listen to you."

"Aw, so you've learned your lesson?" Jessie grinned.

Katie leaned over to kiss Jessie's cheek. "Yup," she replied.

"Katie! You're supposed to be driving!" Jessie freaked.

"Oh, chill! We're at a stoplight," Katie retorted.

"Well, it's green now," Jessie observed.

"Oh, yeah, right," Katie realized, stepping on the gas. "You wanna go to the Manor? I'm in the mood for some hammock lounging."

"Yeah, sure."

"I bet if you were older, you could've been on that dumb show," Katie remarked, as they lay in the hammock, Jessie's head resting comfortably on Katie's shoulder, the donuts long since devoured.

"Huh, yeah right," Jessie said modestly. "Although, then I'd be living with Kelly Clarkson. Damn age requirements!"

Katie laughed and kissed Jessie's forehead. "Maybe one day you'll get to meet her," she offered.

"Yeah, when we're both old and have kids, and she's not famous anymore." [look at that—I gave myself a shout-out! I am such a loser…]

"Oh, but if I know you, you'll still love her," Katie grinned.

Jessie laughed, snuggling closer to her girl, while Katie stared contemplatively up at the stars. "You're staying over tonight," Jessie announced. "I say we sleep out here."

"Sure," Katie yawned agreeably. "Rick and Lily won't mind?"

"Not at all."

"Can we go put pajamas on?" Katie inquired, hating, more than anything, to fall asleep in her clothes.

"Yeah, sure," Jessie said, reluctantly climbing out of the hammock.

They headed inside together, making their way up to the attic to put on soccer shorts and old t-shirts, grab a blanket, brush their teeth, and head back outside to spend the night sleeping out under the stars. Katie loved that Jessie felt so comfortable with her to be able to fall asleep outside in her arms.

"Hey, there's the Big Dipper," Jessie remarked absently, as she and Katie stared up at the sky.

"D'you know any of the others?" Katie asked.

"Nope," Jessie laughed.

"Well, see those three stars—right there," she asked, pointing. "That's Orion's belt."

"Oh…yeah."

"And that, down there—there's the Little Dipper."

"Oh, cool. So you know the constellations?"

"Mm-hmm, Bailey had a thing for astronomy; he was always showing me things with his telescope."

"Show me something else."

And so Katie spent a good half hour pointing out all the recognizable heavenly bodies to an enraptured Jessie. It thrilled her to see her girl so interested in something she knew. Usually, it was Jessie who enraptured Katie, and Katie had only seen Jessie enraptured by one person. Her name starts with a `K' and ends with an `elly.'

"This is amazing," Jessie breathed, after taking in all that Katie had shown her.

"Tomorrow night, I'll take you up onto my roof and show you all this through Bailey's telescope," Katie said.

"After American Idol."

"Right. After American Idol."

**********

[Serious time lapse!!!]

"Hey, Grace."

"Hey, Katie, what's up?" Grace replied absently, as Katie took a seat across from her at her table in the library.

"Um, I was…I need a favor," Katie said, feeling uncomfortable about asking Jessie's stepsister to help her.

"What kind of favor?" Grace asked warily, looking up from her work.

"It won't involve anything illegal; I promise," Katie charmed, and Grace just quirked an eyebrow. "Okay, anyway," Katie continued, foregoing the lightheartedness and getting straight down to business. "Jessie's and my sixth month anniversary is coming up, and I have no idea what to get her, and I was hoping you might be able to help me out."

"You have no idea what to get her?" Grace asked, blinking in shock. "Katie, what has she become maniacally obsessed with these past three months?"

"I can't get her Kelly Clarkson!" Katie said, exasperated.

Grace rolled her eyes. "But you can get her tickets to the American Idol concert."

Katie's face lit up. "That's brilliant! Thanks so much, Grace." She grabbed her bag and booked it out of the library, to run almost straight smack into Jessie.

"Hey, what's your rush, Billie?" Jessie laughed, grabbing Katie's arms.

"Oh, I just…I have a present for you," she announced, whipping something out of her bag.

"What's this?" Jessie asked curiously, her eyes shining—Katie gave the best presents. She took the small, squarish object Katie offered her, and, realizing what it was, she let out a squeal that echoed throughout the hallway. "How did you get this?" she demanded, jumping into Katie's arms. "This doesn't come out till tomorrow!"

Katie grinned. "Austin's best friend manages the Tower Records in Chicago—he snuck a few copies from their shipment, and Austin passed one along especially for you."

"Oh, you're the best!" Jessie said, giddy, placing a quick kiss on Katie's lips. "Come on; let's go; we have to listen to it!" she said eagerly, taking Katie's hand and tearing off down the hallway.

"Hey! Slow down!" Katie laughed. "There'll be plenty of time for that." It amazed her—even though she'd long ago burned her own CD of all the Kelly Clarkson songs that existed, Jessie was still so unbelievably thrilled by owning a copy of the American Idol's single. But whatever made her happy. [I would just like to say that this behavior of Jessie's is in no way similar to my own. So how was that? Did y'all believe me?]

**********

"Austin, Austin, Austin!" Katie practically screeched into the phone.

"Whoa, Katherine, chill out!" her brother begged.

"I need a favor," Katie said winningly.

"Another favor?" Austin sighed.

"You love me, right?"

"The jury's still out on that one, Tripper."

"Well, you love Jessie, right?"

"Yes, Jessie I am quite fond of."

"Okay, so this is for Jessie. Does Randy still work at the Allstate Arena?"

"Yeah, in the box office. Why? Who's playing?"

"The kids from American Idol."

"Oh, of course."

"And I tried to get tickets, but they were all sold out, and I need tickets, because Jessie's and my anniversary is coming up, and this would be the perfect present ever, and you are my last resort, Austin!" Katie babbled, sounding all high-strung.

"All right, all right, Katherine! Just stop the screeching!" Austin begged. "I'll see what I can do. And I'm totally taking your firstborn child."

"But I already know your name, Rumplestiltskin," she snarked adorably.

"Katherine, do you want my help or not?"

"Yes! My firstborn child is all yours. Provided you get me tickets. Preferably on the floor."

"Now there are conditions? You take what you get, Katie, and you like it."

"Yes, darling brother. So you'll talk to Randy?"

"I will talk to Randy."

"Thanks, Aust; you're the best. Love ya!"

"Yeah, you'd better, Kat. Talk to you later."

"Bye!" Katie hung up the phone and danced out of the kitchen.

"Katie! What's gotten into you?" her mother demanded.

"I just had a good day at school," Katie grinned, bouncing up the stairs.

"That girl," her mom murmured, smiling fondly at her daughter.

*************

"Hey, guys, it's Austin. I suppose this message is specifically for the baby. I have two floor tickets to the American Idol concert at the All State Arena on October sixteen for you, Katherine. Call me back when you can come get them. Later."

Katie shrieked as the answering machine beeped. Finally! Jessie's and her anniversary was that very day, and she had spent the school hours freaking, because she wouldn't have a present for her if Austin didn't come through. And now he had, and Katie had exactly three hours to get into Chicago, get the tickets, and get back to get ready for her date with Jessie.

She grabbed her keys and ran back out the door to drive into the city to her brother's apartment. When she got to the door, she buzzed his intercom impatiently.

"God, Katie, just get up here," he said over the intercom, and the door unlocked.

"How'd you know it was me?" she demanded, before opening the door.

"No one else can press the buzzer seventy-seven times in five seconds!"

Katie smirked and headed inside and up the stairs to Austin's door, where he was standing in the doorway, holding the tickets. "Here, take `em," he said, shoving them in her face.

"You're the best, Austin!" she cried, taking the tickets and throwing her arms around his neck. She kissed him, jubilant. "Hey, man, did you get donuts?" she demanded, smelling something on his breath.

"You're unbelievable," he sighed, shaking his head.

"You have to one left," Katie begged.

"Get in," he said reluctantly, heading into the apartment, his sister following eagerly.

He shoved the box of donuts in her face, and she grabbed one happily. "Thanks, big bro, you're the best!" she grinned, kissing him again, before waltzing out of the apartment with her tickets and her donut.

"Oh, and Kat! You owe me a hundred and twenty dollars!" he called.

"Oh, sure, no problem, check's in the mail, Aust," she assured him, half-turning to grin at him, as she kept right on her way.

"That girl," Austin muttered, unable to keep the fondness he felt for his sister out of his face as he watched her flounce out the door.

************

Katie was nervous. She hated when that happened, but she couldn't help it. Sixth-month anniversaries were very big deals in teenage relationships, and she was imagining all this pressure to impress Jessie. Of course Jessie needed no such impressing; she'd love Katie no matter what, but Katie was smitten, you see, and felt as though she had to do something extra-special for her girl. And that's why she was nervous. She'd carefully planned this date: a movie of Jessie's choice and dinner at her favorite restaurant, where she'd  surprise her with the tickets. Nothing fancy or anything, but she knew Jessie would love it, as it was a date very similar to their first one.

Eli opened the door to the Manor, greeting Katie with a bemused look. "You're twitching, Singer—are you on something?"

"What? Eli, shut up," Katie said, rolling her eyes. "Is Jessie ready?"

"I'll go get her. Come in," Eli said, letting Katie into the house.

While she waited for Eli to return with his sister, she nervously clutched the stem of the white gardenia she held in her hands, soon discontinuing that practice so as to preserve the actual gardenia-shape of the flower.

"Hey, you," Jessie said, appearing in the kitchen, looking very cute in dark jeans and a purple hooded long-sleeve shirt.

"Hi," Katie said, the nervousness completely melting away. This was Jessie, after all. The one girl in all the world… born with the strength and skill to hunt vampires and other deadly creatures—oh, wait, that's the Slayer. Jessie was the only person who could possibly make Katie feel comfortable just being Katie. "You look adorable."

Jessie laughed and kissed Katie's cheek. "You look nice too," she told her, smiling.

"Oh! This is for you," Katie said, remembering the gardenia, which she secured in Jessie's hair behind her ear.

"You're sweet," Jessie told her, taking her hand.

"Don't keep her out too late, Katie," Eli warned, trying to act stern.

"I promise, Eli," Katie returned dutifully, and the two girls left the house giggling.

"Girls," Eli sighed, shaking his head, as he closed the door behind them.

"So, what's on for tonight? Movies? I wanna see Tuck Everlasting," Jessie said immediately.

"Excellent. Tuck Everlasting it is," Katie grinned, opening the passenger door to the car for her girl. [I do realize that for them to be seeing Tuck Everlasting on their sixth-month anniversary, they would've had to get together in April, and "GSA" aired in March, but who knows when that was on the show's timeline, so just go with it, okay? I've never been good with chronology.]

"Aw, look at you, being all chivalrous tonight," Jessie teased. "Thanks, Kat." She climbed into Austin's truck and buckled her seatbelt.

"Well, anything for you, darling," Katie said, exaggerating some kind of accent—it was probably supposed to be English. Or like the Baroness's accent in The Sound of Music—Jessie couldn't tell. Maybe she was English. Who knew? Anyway, it was funny, Katie's exaggerated way of speaking.

They drove to movie theater, chatting pleasantly, and Katie came to realize this was just like the myriad other dates they'd been on.  Jessie needed not to be impressed, and for that, Katie was insanely pleased. The movie was adorable. Jessie loved it—she was clearly smitten with Alexis Bledel, and really, who wouldn't be? Those blue, blue eyes and that smile…Okay, so Katie got a little smitten herself, but no one could ever smite her the way Jessie had. [I know `smite' usually means `beat over the head with a stick' or so, but,  technically, "smitten" is a form of "smite," so it works here. Okay? Don't argue with the English major.]

"Alexis Bledel is the second most adorable girl in the world!" Jessie declared adorably, taking Katie's hand as they left the theater.

"And who's first? Shakira?" Katie teased, winking.

"Yeah, Shakira," Jessie giggled. "So where to now?"

"Dinner. My treat," Katie said, because Jessie had insisted on paying for the movie.

"Can we go to Margarita's?" Jessie asked eagerly. [Margarita's is a Mexican place in New Hampshire—there's one in my hometown and one in Manchester. I couldn't think of an inventive name for a Mexican place, so I stole this one.]

"Of course," Katie granted.

So they drove to the restaurant, which was quite crowded as it was a Friday night, but Austin was friends with the head waiter, so Katie was able to wrangle a table pretty quickly. "I love your brother's connections," Jessie remarked, grinning, as they sat down.

Katie smiled in return. "Oh, I know," she said, pretty sure Jessie was gonna love her brother's connections even more before the night was over.

They ate dinner, enjoying each other's company, and when the food was gone, Jessie initiated the gift-giving by handing Katie a black box, which she opened, gasping at what she found inside. It was simple silver necklace with a solid silver heart pendant. "Jess," Katie said, speechless for one of the only times in her life.

"I know this is cliché and all, but I really…I wanted everyone to know that you have my heart," Jessie stammered, blushing.

"Oh, Jess, it's beautiful," Katie breathed, admiring the necklace.

"You have to wear it all the time now," Jessie said, smiling shyly.

"Oh, believe me—I will," Katie assured her, grinning. "It's perfect." She undid the clasp and put it around her neck.

"It looks very nice," Jessie said fondly.

"It is very nice. Thank you." Katie leaned across the table to kiss her girl gently.

"Okay, your turn," she grinned, and Katie laughed.

"All right, I've got something for you right here in this envelope, but since we're in a public place, you have to promise not to shriek when you see what it is," Katie warned, taking the tickets from her jacket pocket.

"Is it really that good?" Jessie teased.

"Well, I hope so," Katie said.

"Okay, no shrieking, I promise," Jessie swore solemnly, and Katie handed her the envelope.

Jessie opened it slowly, and Katie watched for changes in her facial expression eagerly. As soon as she read what was printed on the two tickets, she looked about ready to die—and like the only thing she wanted to do was shriek. But Jessie possesses any amazing amount of self control, and all she did was drop her jaw and look wonderingly at Katie, who figured she herself was probably grinning wider than that stupid Cheshire Cat at Jessie's reaction.

"How did you get these?" Jessie whispered.

"Austin has many, many connections," Katie replied, in a faux-conspiratorial tone.

"These are floor seats, Katie!" she said disbelievingly.

"I know. So are you excited?"

"Yes! Very!" Jessie assured her, her voice still only a whisper. "And if I hadn't promised, I would be shrieking and jumping up and down and hugging you like there was no tomorrow."

"Save it for the parking lot, babe," Katie advised, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"I love you," Jessie said seriously.

"I love you too," Katie returned, beaming.

"You know, there's no way I can ever repay you for this."

"Oh, I think there is."

"And what's that?" Jessie asked, probably thinking Katie was insinuating action was the way to repay her.

"Donuts—Krispy Kreme donuts."

THE END.