Chapter 1

Jessica got up that morning and showered before getting ready for work. She worked as a chef at one of the leading Las Vegas restaurants, her home town. Her best friend; Josh O’ Connor was also in the food business, working as a bar tender at club ‘Toxic.’ A day didn’t pass where they didn’t see each other, either person or business it wasn’t long before he was in her life and her heart.

As Jessica walked down the steps of her small apartment, there was a knock on the front door. “Hey, what are you doing here?” Jessica greeted as Josh walked through the door into the living room.

“I came to gave you a ride to work.” Josh simply answered.

“Why?” Jessica asked with suspicion in her voice, it was unlike Josh to do anything that didn’t benefit him in some way.

“Can’t a guy give his friend a ride to work with out it being something?” Josh asked as he sat on the edge of the sofa arm rest, his puppy dog face in place.

“Yes a guy can. You can’t, what’s up?” she crossed her arms and waited for the answer. She knew him better then anyone else in the world, she wondered why he even bothered with the game.

“My parents are in town and they’re hosting this fund raiser, they begged me to go. I need a date.” Josh explained, it wasn’t an unusual request. He came from a very rich family, unlike Jessica. He worked as a bar tender and other various jobs because he refused to take money from his family. The money came with rules, their rules, he wasn’t willing to follow.

“Why don’t you take Lisa?” Jessica asked, mentioning his current stuck up girlfriend. She never had gotten along with any of his girlfriends and questioned if the reason was because she was jealous they had him in intimate ways she couldn’t.

“Lisa is not the kind of girl I want my parents to meet.” Josh said, making a face.

“Why? Because she’s an idiot?”

“No. She’s just--- are you gonna help or not?” Josh asked hoping she would, pouting as he grabbed her hand.

“Fine. I’ll help you. What do I get out of this? You know I’d really rather not spend an evening with your folks.” Jessica explained as she pulled her hand free and crossed her arms again. She and Josh had been friends since they were five; they’re the same age for three months out of the year. Josh’s parents had always looked down on Jessica because of the way she grew up. She had only met his parent’s twice; nanny’s and maids raised Josh more then they did.

“What do you want?” Josh asked hesitantly as he eyed her.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of it. For now, a ride to work is good. Let’s go.” Jessica said as she put on her jacket, then they both left. The whole car ride, they talked a little about work, but it was pretty quiet.

“Are you gonna be at Jason’s barbeque tonight?” Josh asked as he pulled up to the restaurant.

“Yeah of course are you?”

“Yeah. I’m bringing Lisa.” Josh said, he knew Lisa and Jessica didn’t get along but that was nothing new.

“Oh goody, that should be fun. I’ll see you later, bye.” Jessica said as she closed the car door, and then watched Josh drive off before she headed inside.

Jason was one of their closest friends. Jessica and Josh met Jason and his girlfriend Mary in high school, they’ve been friends ever since, Jason and Mary were still together. Jason worked at a car dealership. Mary worked as a waitress at the same restaurant as Jessica.

Jessica walked in the restaurant through the back. As she put on her chefs jacket, Mary walked up to her. “Hey, you do you have a minute?” Mary asked Jessica as she pulled her to the side.

“Yeah, what’s up?” Jessica asked, she could tell something was bothering Mary after all their years of friendship.

“I think I might be pregnant.” Mary said as she bit her nail out of nervousness.

“What? Does Jason know?” Jessica asked in shock.

“No. I don’t want to tell him until I’m sure.” Mary explained as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Okay, so what are you gonna do?”

“I need to make sure. But I’m pretty sure I am. Come with me to take a test at the hospital.” Mary begged as she unfolded her arms and grabbed Jessica’s hand.

“When? We can’t go now because we both have to work.”

“I know. We have the same shift, after work we’ll go.” Mary suggested.

“But we have to be at your house tonight.”

“We’ll just be late. I need to know.” Mary explained as she looked down. It wasn’t planned but she was warming up to the thought but before she let her self get too deep she needed to be sure.

“Ok, after work.” Jessica said as she gave Mary a hug, and then got to work.

Mary went out to the customers. The whole day she had been nervous she even broke two glass cups. “Okay. Let’s go.” She said as she grabbed Jessica by the arm after their shift and pulled her outside to small light blue car.

“Mary, you have to clam down or your gonna get us both killed!” Jessica yelled as she held on tight to her seatbelt as Mary swerved through traffic.

“I know, I’m sorry. Jess, I need to know.” Mary said as she slowed down and began to bit her bottom lip again.

“Just don’t worry about it. We’ll be there soon.”

“Oh, this feeling sucks. The feeling of not knowing what’s going on in your own body. I hope you never have to feel this.” Mary said as she gave Jessica a quick glance then kept her eyes on the rode.

“I don’t think I have to worry about being pregnant. You have to have sex for that to happen. A guy doesn’t even look at me as a type to date. I’m the girl guys hang out with not date.” Jessica explained in a frustrated tone as she slumped in her seat and fought back old memories.

“Sweetie, don’t worry about it. The right guy will come along and sweep you off your feet, when the time is right.” Mary said with a smile.

“I thought I was trying to make you feel better, not the other way around.” Jessica said as she returned the smile as they pulled up to the hospital.

Mary explained to the nurse that she wanted a pregnancy test; the nurse took a blood sample. Mary and Jessica were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for the results.

“Mar, what do you want it to say? Do you want a baby?” Jessica asked after awhile of silence.

“I don’t know. Yeah I want a baby, I just don’t know if I want it now. Can I and Jason raise a baby? I know we’re young but we have a house and two steady jobs, yeah it could work out. I would love to have a baby with Jason; I’ve been in love with him since I could remember.” Mary explained as her eyes began to tear up, the truth was, she had coped with the idea of being pregnant and it would hurt if she wasn’t.

“Miss, we have your results.” The nurse said.

“Ok, what are they?” Mary asked as she held on to Jessica’s hand for support, she felt like she was going to pass out from all of the waiting.

“Congratulations, you’re having a baby.”

With that Mary began to let out tears; happy ones. Jessica pulled her into a tight hug.

“I’m so happy for you.” Jessica said as she began to cry.

The nurse left the two girls crying in each others arms.

“Now, I have to find a way to tell Jason.” Mary said.

“Don’t worry, you’ll tell him.” Jessica said as she linked Mary’s arm with hers and left the hospital.

They pulled up to Jason and Mary’s house for the barbeque.

“Here we go.” Mary said as she got out of the car, with her palms sweating and heart racing “I’m going to go find Jason, I’ll see you later.” Mary said to Jessica as she went inside the house.

“Hey.” Josh said as he pulled on Jessica’s arm.

“Oh hi.” Jessica said as she turned around. “So where is she?” She asked referring to Lisa as she searched the crowd.

“She’s around. What happened? Why were you and Mary so late?” Josh asked, with a beer in hand.

“We got caught up at work.” Jessica said, hating the fact that she had to lie, the thing Jessica hated most was lying to her best friend but at the same time she was use to it by then.

“Are you ok? You look like you want to barf.” Josh said, searching her eyes for clues.

“I’m fine. I just realized everyone here is a couple. I am the only person with out someone.” Jessica said as she as looked over the crowd once more.

“Don’t worry about that, we’re all friends, it doesn’t matter if you’re with anyone.” Josh said as he placed a comforting hand over her shoulder.

“Yep, friends. That’s how everyone sees me. I just wish everyone would stop looking at me as a friend and look at me as more.” Jessica said as she looked down at the ground. She never complained this much. Today got to her, seeing the happiness Mary’s face, reminded Jessica that she was all alone.

“Who do you want to see you as more?” Josh asked pulling her out of her thoughts; she forgot she even said that.

“No one.” Jessica said as she walked away from Josh. She went to the front of the house and left the others in the back. She sat on the steps of the porch and placed her face inside her hands. “I just have to forget him. I need to move on. It’s never going to happen” Jessica mumbled through her hands.

“Are you okay?” A voice said from the shadow standing right in front of Jessica.

“I’m sorry, what?” Jessica asked as she looked up into the man’s deep blue eyes. She was taken back, she didn’t know the person in front of her and from being born in Las Vegas, she knew everyone.

“I asked if you’re okay. You look like you were crying.” The man said with a sweet voice.

She looked at him for a moment. He was tall, maybe 6’3. Deep blue eyes, short blond hair. He had on a leather jacket with a red t- shirt underneath, a pair of blue faded jeans and a pair of black and white sneakers. “I wasn’t crying, I just had my head down. Who are you?” Jessica asked as she stood from the steps.

“Oh, sorry. Chris Thomas and you are?” Chris asked as he held out his hand and he looked in to her big brown eyes.

“Jessica Sullivan.” Jessica said as she and Chris shook hands.

“Oh, I see you’ve met Chris.” Jason said as he walked up to them.

“Yeah, I guess I have.” Jessica said as she kept her eyes on Chris, she couldn’t move them as hard as she tried; there was something about him that made her want to know more.

“Chris is working with me at the dealership, he’s new in town.” Jason explained. “I have to go check the meats; I’ll see you guys out back.” Jason said as he left them standing on front of the porch.

“I guess we should join the crowd.” Jessica said to Chris.

“Lead the way.”

-

Isabelle A.