PART 2

Katie rolled her eyes. She had heard this spiel a hundred times before. "I'm sure you did fine," she cooed into the receiver.

"I'm sure you're wrong," Jessie sulked, she didn't want to hear consolations.

"Come on Jessie," Katie continued, "If anyone screwed up their finals, it's going to be me," she smiled self deprecatingly.

Jessie rose to this, "Oh please," she scoffed, "You always do brilliantly without even trying."

Katie had to laugh, "So do you!"

Jessie sighed, "Yeah, well I think this year's going to be the exception."

"It won't be," Katie told her reassuringly.

Jessie was unwavering, "Don't be too sure."

Katie knew better than to continue down this path, so she changed gears, "Oh well. Just do better next year," she said lightly, "Be happy, finals are over. You don't need to worry about them anymore."

Jessie nodded, "I guess."

"And Christmas is coming up..." Katie continued, but immediately regretted it.

"Yeah, but Christmas is going to suck this year," Jessie protested.

Katie laughed, "See, I'm so good at cheering you up!"

"Well it *is* going to suck this year!" Jessie continued to whine. Katie's absence seemed to bring out the petulant child in her, she thought. "The holidays always suck when I'm not with you."

"No they don't," Katie placated, "You'll still have your family."

Jessie sighed, "Yeah, but it's different now. Mom's preoccupied with Henry, Dad and Lily are preoccupied with the four-year-old monster..."

"...who you love dearly," Katie interrupted.

"Yeah, I do," Jessie smiled, and continued, "Zoe's preoccupied with boys and starting senior year, Eli's preoccupied with himself, and I'll be preoccupied with missing you, so it's not like it'll be quality family time."

"What about Grace?" Katie asked, "You can spend time with her."

"No," Jessie shook her head even though Katie couldn't see her, "She's not even coming home this year."

"No way!" Katie was amazed, "Grace miss a Manning-Sammler Christmas spectacular?"

Jessie laughed at Katie's tone, "Yeah," she affirmed, "She's doing Christmas with Steven's family."

"Ew," was Katie's reflex response.

"They're nice!" Jessie sounded mildly indignant.

"Not them," Katie clarified, "it's just creepy that Grace is engaged!"

"It's not creepy."

"Oh come on! She's my age."

"Twenty-one's not that young..." Jessie countered.

"Oh please," Katie interrupted, "we're like *children*!" she stated emphatically, and Jessie just knew that her girlfriend was flailing her arms wildly with this statement.

"Well, *you* are," Jessie giggled, "But you know Grace, she's always been...like...Grace," Jessie paused to clarify her thoughts, "She's always been the type to settle down."

"Yeah, I guess," Katie conceded, "All I'm saying is don't you go getting any romantic notions missy!" she said with a playful chuckle.

Jessie smiled at this change of pace, "Aw! Don't you love me?" she asked feigning hurt.

Katie grinned, "You know I love you *this much*!"

Jessie chuckled to herself, in her mind she could she Katie's childish grin as she reached her arms as wide as she could to indicate the size of her love, and she suspected, knowing Katie as she did, that her girlfriend was actually carrying out this gesture on the other end of the phone.

Her suspicion was confirmed when she heard a crash and some muffled cursing.

After a moment Jessie heard Katie's voice once more on the end of the line, "Shit," she muttered, "I dropped the phone."

Jessie smiled wryly, "I noticed."

"Where was I?" Katie asked absently.

"Um, you were being all romantic and telling me that you never ever want to get engaged."

"Oh, right," Katie said, picking up from where she left off, "Okay...yeah," she gathered her thoughts, "so don't you expect too much commitment from this lone wolf..."

Jessie raised an eyebrow, "Lone wolf?" she asked amused.

"Yes," Katie nodded, trying to sound serious, "Lone wolf...let me finish."

"Okay," Jessie just nodded wryly at her girlfriends incoherent ramblings.

"Where was I?" Katie asked, her train of thought eluding her.

"I have no idea," Jessie shook her head, a smile etched on her features, "Something about don't expect commitment from you since you can't even be bothered coming home for Christmas," she teased.

Katie's face dropped instantly, "That's low," she said quietly.

Jessie cursed inwardly. They'd been over this, and they'd both reconciled themselves with the fact that they couldn’t be together these holidays, but it was still a touchy subject. Jessie was kicking herself for bringing it up, "I'm kidding," Jessie tried to reassure Katie for the hundredth time that month, "It's okay. I know why you can't come."

"I know, but I'm still sorry," Katie said glumly.

"Don't be," Jessie tried to soothe.

"I cant help it," Katie hung her head.

"Katie, it’s okay," Jessie pleaded, "We'll be together soon enough."

"Yeah, I guess," Katie conceded sadly, "It's only six months."

Jessie smiled ruefully at this, "Deja vu."

"I know," Katie rolled her eyes, "At the end of semester I'm jumping on the first plane home, I promise."

"I hope so," was Jessie's whispered reply.

"I love you, Jessie."

"I love you too."

"We'll be okay," Katie whispered fiercely, "It's only six months."

"Yeah," Jessie nodded, "Only six months."

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