The Best Summer of All
by Katie

PART 2

Inside DREAM SEARCH

Katie and Jessie, still walking hand-in-hand, stroll up to the door. Katie opens it and leads Jessie inside.

Katie looks over at Jessie to see her wild eyes soak in the surroundings, still confused at why they're here. This place is really interesting, she thought to herself.

The place isn't too crowded. There are two different levels to the building. The first level has a bar to the left with old/rustic looking bar stools. On the right side there were loads of comfy looking chairs and coffee tables scattered between every four chairs. Each table was filled with scattered magazines on them. There were a slew of books ranging from hardcover to paperback against the wall. The second level had a railing surrounding the outer part so you could stand at the rail and see the whole place. In back of the top floor, there was a little room with a sign that said Karaoke. The rest of the top level was filled with networks of computers. The whole place had this awesome vibe of new and high tech, but with a mix of classic nerd cool.

"This place is really something, ah Jessie?"

"Yeah, I love it!"

"Come on, I called in a favor." Katie couldn't control how excited she was. She knows the owner and persuaded him to find and buy the karaoke version of God Bless The Child. Katie wanted the whole world to be able to hear the sweet melodic voice that Jessie possessed. She could only hope that her girlfriend would be comfortable singing.

"What was the favor for?" Jessie was now even more puzzled.

"Well, do you really want me to spoil the surprise?" Katie used her best half whining and half sad/puppy dog attitude.

"Come on Jess, I'll show you," she replied before Jessie had answered her back.

Katie led Jessie up the stairs to the second floor and then into the karaoke room. Katie looked over to Mike, the guy in charge of that part of the warehouse. Mike was the owner's, Buddy's brother. Katie met the two through one of her older brothers. She gave him his cue. He nodded his head and hit the play button. Mike never really cared for the old classics, but he owed Katie a favor. After all, she did paint this amazing mural in his studio for a really low cost.

As soon as the music started, Jessie turned towards Katie, still not exactly sure what was going on.

"Katie, what's this for?" Jessie was so confused.

"Well," Katie started. "I was thinking the other day about how beautiful your voice is and…if you wanted to, I called around and I managed to get a local scout to come to hear you sing. I hope you're not mad or upset. I just wanted everyone to be able to hear the same beauty that I hear every time you sing." Katie really hoped that she hadn't upset Jess. She would never want to hurt Jessie in any way. Jessie meant everything to her and if she ever hurt Jess, she wouldn't know what to do.

"Wow, I can't believe you went through all of this trouble, just for me. I don't know what to say." Jessie was shocked, but in a good way. Jessie never really thought about her singing besides just doing it because it made her happy. She never thought anyone would really be interested in her voice, interested in the money aspect anyways.

"Well, do you want to sing? Everything's all set, all you have to do is get up there and do your thing. Just remember that you don't have to if you don't want to." Katie wanted to make sure Jessie had every chance to step back if she didn't feel comfortable about it.

"Sure, I'll sing. Besides, whenever I hear this song, I think of you. And whenever I think of you, my life is happy." Jessie blushed a little bit as she smiled. God she loved Katie, more than anyone or anything in the world. Before Katie, Jessie never really understood what it meant to be in love. When Katie stepped into her life, it was like everything stopped in awe and then proceeded to grow beautifully and peacefully.

Katie led Jessie up to the tiny stage. Jessie picked up the microphone and started singing, never loosing eye contact with Katie. After all, it was their song.

(Jessie singing)
"…Empty pockets don't, ever make the grade. Mama may have, Papa may have, but God bless the child who's got his own, who's got his own."

After the song died out, Jessie quietly put the microphone back in its little holder. Her heart was beating so fast and she wasn't really sure why. She had sung in public before. But that wasn't it. That song touches her in a way that nothing else has ever done before. Katie. Katie was the reason why there was meaning in her life. Katie chose her. Katie was her light, her rainbow, her everything.

"That was amazing Jess."

"Oh Katie, stop it. I wasn't that good." Jessie was a little bit embarrassed. She could never take compliments too well, always finding a flaw or a tiny imperfection in herself. She was trying to let go of that part of herself, but it was hard.

"Oh, but I believe you were," said one of the men from the audience. He had on a black suit with a silver tie. He didn't really mean to cut into their conversation, but it seemed like a good way to get her attention.

"Hello, my name is Erik Lane and I'm a local talent scout for the small independent label called End of the Rainbow." Mr. Lane reached out and shook Jessie's hand. You could tell he was a little nervous, due to dampness of his hand. Still, he tried his best to keep everything under control.

"Hello Mr. Lane. It's nice to meet you. Thank you for the compliment, I'm flattered."

Erik turned towards Katie.

"Katie you were right, she's absolutely charming."

"Did you ever have to doubt me Erik?" The way Katie answered Mr. Lane made it pretty clear that they were friends, or they at least met before tonight.

"No, I guess not," he replied. Then he turned back and started talking to Jessie.

"How would you like to meet some of the producers and work on some material? You don't have to make a C.D. if you don't want to, but with that voice, I'd highly recommend it."

"Umm…I don't really know what to say."

"Here's my card," Erik said, trying to break the silence of asking a question that couldn't really be answered in a few minutes. "You can talk about it with your parents and get back to me in say, a week?"

"Alright, that seems fair enough. Thanks."

"Well ladies, I have to be going. I have to be in Chicago in less than an hour to start the graveyard shift. Gotta pay the bills somehow, right?" Being a talent scout didn't pay all that much so Erik had to work a "real" job out in the local Illinois work force. He didn't really mind it too much, at least he was able to do what he loves to do; work with people and help them have their dreams come true.

"Bye Erik, tell your mom I said hello."

"Yeah, goodbye Mr. Lane. I'll get in touch later next week."

"I'm looking forward to hearing from you again. Later Katie." Mr. Lane turned and started heading down the hall, then down the stairs, and eventually out the door. He was flabbergasted at the amount of pure, raw talent inside that fourteen-year-old girl. It was amazing.

After Erik was clearly out of site, Jessie couldn't hold in all of the excitement and happiness that raced through her body. She was going to explode, but in the most amazing way ever!

"Oh Katie, this has been a marvelous experience! You've brought me this and so much more. Thank you, for everything." Jessie then sweetly kissed Katie, pulling Katie close around her as the kiss continued on for a few minutes.

"Jessie, you're my angel. I'm so glad this has turned out to be a good experience for you." Katie was so delighted that this made Jessie happy. Whenever Jessie was happy, it made her happy. Katie wanted to spend the rest of her life with her, because life without her would now be like living without oxygen.

After grabbing a bite to eat at a little vegetarian Thai place a few miles outside of town, Katie started driving the two of them back to Lily's house.

**********

Katie's Car

"So what were you talking about to Zoë before we left, something about me spending the night?"

"Oh well, I mean if you wanted to, you could spend the night with me," Jessie mentioned, trying not to be nonchalant about it. Jessie didn't necessarily want to have sex with Katie, but the idea hadn't fully escaped her mind either. Whatever happens will happen.

"I'd love to stay the night over Jess! Do you mind if I stop at my place so I can tell my mom and get a few things?"

"Sure, I have no problem with that. Well, wait. Do you think your mom will let you spend the night? Does she know about us?" Jessie said with a little bit of uncertainty in her voice because there was a chance that Katie's mom wouldn't let her come over and there would go the fun. Not to mention the romance.

"I don't think we have to worry about my mom saying I can't go. I'm pretty sure she knows that something's going on between us but she's pretty good about trusting me and stuff."

"Oh, alright."

"Yep." Katie pulled into her driveway, leaving the car on and in park. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Jessie.

"I'll be right back. I just have to go grab a few things. Are you going to be ok out here in the car by yourself?" Katie wasn't trying to seem like a mother or thinking that Jessie was incompetent or anything, she just always worried about Jess because if anything ever happened to her wonderful, sweet, amazing girlfriend, she'd totally lose it, without a doubt.

"Katie, I think I can handle being by myself for like two seconds.  I'm a big girl." Jessie had a little smirk on her face, laughing to herself about Katie's need to protect her. It was sweet though.

"Alright, if you say so. I'll be right back."

Katie opens the car door, shuts it and heads towards the front door. In the meantime, Jessie just sat in the car, fiddling with the radio trying to find any good songs. After a few minutes of frustration due to the fact that all of the radio stations were either playing bad music or there were commercials, she just decided to turn the radio off. She kind of wished Katie would just get a car kit so they could play Billie Holiday or something all the time instead of trying to find something good on the radio. Oh well, it's not like it would be the end of the world if she couldn't find a good song or anything. Jessie kind of lounged back in her seat and then closed her eyes and a peaceful smile came over her face. She was in total and utter bliss. This had definitely been the best summer of all. She wasn't depressed or in a complete melancholy state of mind
anymore, and the world was filled with promise. Katie had helped her get through everything in her life that was keeping her down. It was amazing. A few minutes after that, Katie emerged from her house. She was carrying a small duffle bag in her right hand and there was something in her left hand but Jessie couldn't see what it was exactly because it was so dark outside. What Jessie didn't know was that inside that bag was a set of aroma candles, vanilla to be exact, a set of matches to light the candles, Katie's toothbrush and an extra set of clothes. Katie wasn't trying to be a seductress or anything because she didn't want Jessie to do anything she wasn't ready for, but Katie thought she'd at least give the attic a warm, romantic, intimate feeling. In Katie's left hand was a single stemmed red rose, for Jessie of course.

As Katie approached the car, Jessie was finally able to see what else Katie was carrying. Katie opened her door, gently placed the duffle in the back and handed the rose over to Jessie.

"I thought you might like this Billie."

"Oh Katie, I love it. You didn't have to give me a rose, but thank you. It's beautiful." Jessie was now blushing. She wasn't embarrassed but she always blushed whenever Katie gave her anything dealing with her affection.

"Well, its beauty is nothing compared to your smile." Katie was definitely trying to make some points with Jessie. But she was totally sincere and truthful; she thought the world of Jessie's smile. The rest of Jessie wasn't too bad either. Katie leaned in and sweetly kissed Jessie. Then she started up the car and started on their way to the Manning manor.

The whole way from Katie's to Jessie's the two girls rode pretty much in silence. They weren't mad or anything, they just wanted to savor every moment that had together. Plus, it was only like a three-minute drive.

Katie pulled up along the curb outside the house. She put the car into park and then turned it off. Right as Katie unbuckled her seatbelt and reached back to get her duffle bag, Jessie pulled her close and passionately kissed her, and yes, there was a little tongue involved. But it wasn't vulgar.

"Wow, you must be in a good mood," was all Katie could really get out, she was so happy everything between her and Jessie had been working out. Jessie touched her in so many ways, mentally and spiritually, that is. Just being in Jessie's presence was enough for her.

"Yeah, I guess I am. Why would I have any reason not to be? I have an amazing girlfriend and I'm finally happy," Jessie replied cheerfully.

"I love you Billie."

"I love you too."

"Let's go inside Katie."

"Ok."

The girls get out of the car and walk into the house. Lily, Rick and Zoë are inside watching a movie of some kind. Jessie tried to walk past them and upstairs to the attic without causing them to stop focusing on the movie, but it didn't work. It never really does.

"Oh hi girls. Did you have a fun time where ever you went?" Lily didn't want to pry or seem like she was taking over for Karen, she was just trying to be a friend to Jessie.

"Yeah, we had a lot of fun. Didn't we Katie?"

"Oh yes, I think it's definitely been the highlight of my summer, so far anyways."

The girls looked at each other and started giggling the way that high school girls do.

"We're going upstairs now. You know that Katie's spending the night right?"

"Yes honey, we know. Zoë gave us the message." This time it was Rick who decided to talk.

"Just don't stay up too late. Good night girls." Rick then turned back to focus on the movie. Even though he had seen it like a hundred times, he stilled loved watching it.

"Night," the girls replied in unison as they ran down the hall and up the stairs to the attic. As soon as they got out of view from the rest of the house, Jessie reached for Katie's hand. She would have held Katie's hand while she was talking to Lily and Rick, but then she was almost positive that Katie wouldn't have been able to spend the night. The girls walked up the stairs and into the attic. Jessie released her hand from Katie's and went over and put on Billie Holiday in her C.D. player. Katie set her bag on one of the chairs in the room and started getting out the candles and the matches. She then went around the room and set them down and lit each one. When she was done, she went over to where Jessie was, still trying to get her C.D. player to work, and put her arms around Jessie's waist.

"I hate this thing sometimes. I just can't get it to work like 90% of the time." Jessie was really getting frustrated because listening to Billie would be the perfect thing to start off their night together.

"It's ok Jess. Why don't you just lie down and relax. You can try again later." Katie was such a smooth talker, always knowing the right things to say. Realizing that she wasn't going to win the battle with her player, Jessie went to her bed, pulled back the covers, and lied down. Katie lied down next to her, she was on her side so she was facing Jessie.

"So," Katie began to speak. "Whatever shall we do now?" Katie said it in a way that was totally obvious that she knew exactly what she wanted to do, but thought she'd turn it into something comical, to make Jessie laugh/smile.

"Whatever your heart desires Katie. I'm all yours," Jessie said grinning from ear to ear.

"Really?"

"Yes," Jessie retorted making sure Katie knew she was 100% positive of her response. Jessie had never been surer of anything in her life.

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