Jessica flicked on the light to her apartment and she looked around. The fun was over.

She sighed and put her suitcase down.

Brian ran forward and jumped for the phone. “Mommy!”

“What is it sweetie?”

“Can I call Dad?”

Jessica halted before she could sit on the couch. “Who?”

“DAD Mommy.”

“Who is Dad?”

“Lance,” the toddler said innocently.

Her mouth dropped open and she felt sick. “Who told you that sweetheart?”

“Chris.”

‘I’ll kill him!’ she thought as she grabbed the phone. She nearly pounded the numbers into the keypad as she called Lance’s cell, not having known Chris’ number.

“Hello?”

“Hey, can I have Chris on the line?”

“Uh yeah sure.”

After a muffled “Chris!” he got on the phone.

“Hello?”

“Chris? Is that you?” Jessica asked, going in the other room after surrounding her son with nearly every toy in the living room.

“Uh look I can explain!”

“EXPLAIN?! What the fuck are you thinking telling my son who his father is?! How in hell did you know?!” she demanded, shutting the door tight.

“Lance told me.”

“What?”

“Your boyfriend told me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?” Jessica exclaimed quietly.

“I thought Lance told you.”

“He didn’t.” Closing her tired eyes she sighed.

“Well, sorry.”

“Sorry? How am I supposed to know that Lance and me are going to work out? If anything ever happened, Brian would lose his father, and he’d know because someone told him,” she said.

“Who said it wasn’t gonna work out?” Chris asked.

Jessica stared at the ceiling and sighed, closing her eyes. “I don’t know…”

-;- -;- -;-

“Hey Lance how’re ya doin?” she asked, grabbing a Pepsi and popping it open with a snap.

“Pretty good, you?”

“I’m dead tired,” she said, sipping out of the can. “Aaahh…yum.”

Lance chuckled and shook his head. “Makena you are somethin else.”

“And that’s supposed to mean…?” the makeup artist challenged.

“Oh nothing.”

“You know I can make you look like shit tonight.”

“You’d get fired.”

“But it’d be worth it.”

Lance stuck his tongue out at her and she lunged forward and kicked him lightly in the shin.

“Ouch!” Lance said through his teeth, grabbing his injured shin. “What’d you do that for?”

“Sorry I didn’t mean to actually HURT you,” she said, bending down to inspect his leg.

In turn she got kicked in the shoulder.

“What the fuck?”

“Ha ha gotcha.”

“Hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

“Oh yeah I do,” Makena shot back, grabbing her Pepsi.

“Children, children, please stop this foolish behavior,” Chris said, also selecting a pop.

“Bullshit,” Makena mumbled, heading back to her bus.

“Later Makeena,” Chris called to her.

Makena stopped on her tracks and turned around. “What?”

“Makeena.”

“That is not my fuckin name!” she yelled before turning around to head to her bus.

Lance rolled his green eyes. “Chris…”

The short brunette looked up at his friend with innocent eyes. “What?”

“Don’t do that. You know she’d murder you if she wasn’t getting paid for this.”

He shrugged. “Chris Kirkpatrick. Occupation: being a nuisance.”

“That’s for sure.” Lance sighed. “Say sorry to her.”

“What?”

“Say sorry.”

“I’ve been saying that enough for one day thank you.”

“Chris you’re an idiot.”

The older man grinned impishly. “And yet you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

-;- -;- -;-

“Lance stay still,” Makena said, trying to get the makeup on the man’s face.

“Hey just so you know, Chris is sorry about calling you Makeena.”

Ok so that was a slight lie, but she’d figure that out later.

“No he’s not.”

Ok, maybe sooner.

“Well he is. I know how much that bugs you.”

“You should.”

Ever since Makena had seen the singer when she was hired, she knew that there had been something troubling him. So she talked to him and gave him an ear. In no time at all he was spilling his feelings and the story to her, and it tugged at her heart to hear the tale. Over the years they had grown to be close friends of each other’s, and agreed that that is what they would remain. Then this all had to happen and it was awkward for her, for she had never had to really “share” him with any other female.

“Hey. Forget something?” Makena asked, eyebrow cocked as the singer started walking to the door.

“How could I forget?” Lance asked, hitting himself lightly on the forehead. He turned around and hugged his friend before leaving the room.

-;- -;- -;-

“Hey.”

“Oh hey Kyle.” Jessica smiled briefly before returning to her bag.

“How was the video?”

“It was cool. How was the sub?”

“Not as hot as you.”

She stood up and eyed her student carefully. “You still haven’t changed a bit.”

Kyle grinned. “Yeah well. Did you get to meet NSync?”

Jessica thought for a moment. “I got to talk to a few of them.”

“Cool. Uh…are you going anywhere this weekend?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Oh, that’s great. Well, I’ll see you later.”

Stephanie, who was witnessing the whole thing, hurried up to her friend. “Since when have you been on friendly terms with Kyle??”

She shrugged. “I dunno.”

“Girl, your conversation went without a glare and/or a roll of the eyes.”

Jessica laughed. “Whatever. He’s actually kinda nice.”

Stephanie stared at her friend, her eyes going wide as she stepped away, hands up and palms out, as if trying to ward her off. “Oh my god…who are you?”

Jessica laughed and jokingly hit her friend with her white towel. “Serious!”

Stephanie shook her head. “I still say you’re an alien.”

The instructor raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “Class time.”

-;- -;- -;-

“I am beat,” Lisa mumbled, grabbing her bags.

“Sorry for working you guys so hard,” Jessica grimaced. “I didn’t realize it was that hard.”

Lisa shrugged as she tucked back the blonde strands of hair falling out of her ponytail. “It’s aiight. Great class though.” She turned around, paused, then turned around again. “Did you REALLY get to be in the video with NSync?”

“Who told you that?”

“Kyle did.”

“Yeah well, I used to go to school with Lance and Justin. Don’t tell anyone,” she said in a hushed voice. “If anything leaks out, I’ll be dead.”

Lisa smiled, “Secret’s safe with me.”

“Whew. Anyway, I gotta get home. I’ll talk to ya later,” Jessica smiled, slinging the duffel bag over her shoulder.

“Bye.”

“Hey Jess.”

Jessica glanced over and said, “Hey Kyle.” She was growing more uncomfortable with him every time they spoke.

“Goin home?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool. Anything exciting happen these past few days?”

“No, not really,” she said, opening to double doors to the cool air. “Why?”

“Just asking.”

“Oh.”

“Hey I was wondering if you had any free time tomorrow night.”

Jessica could swear she felt her heart stop for a second. “Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I just thought it’d be nice to get to know each other a little better. You know, without me being the jerk I am,” Kyle joked, running a hand through his sweaty brown locks.

“Not like a date?”

“No not at all,” Kyle shook his head. “Just a friends thing.”

Jessica considered this, then nodded her head. “I guess that’d be nice.”

“Great,” Kyle smiled, seemingly relieved. He dug in his bag and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, jotting down something. “Ok here’s my number and my address if you need it.” He then ripped the paper in half and handed it to her. “What’s your address?”

After exchanging information, they turned and went to their cars.

Jessica shook her head, wondering why he was being all friendly all of a sudden. It worried her somehow. He was never this nice, not even when she first met him. But she shrugged it off and started her car.

-;- -;- -;-

“Oh my god are you serious?” AJ heard Brian exclaim. He stopped, being the curious man that he was.

“No way. KYLE? The dude that bugged you to death, the one who basically harassed you?”

AJ spotted Nick nearby and waved him over. Nick sneaked over to AJ and looked at him with an expression saying, “What?”

The older man whispered, “Rok’s surprised that this Kyle dude did something, I’m not sure.”

“Ooh…” Nick said, now interested.

“That’s weird…so he’s never been nice to you before?? I would suspect something’s goin on,” Brian was saying. “So does Lance know about this?”

“Ooh love issues,” AJ snickered to himself.

“Yeah I know it’s just a “friends” thing, but he deserves to know, he’s your boyfriend!”

“I get it! This Kyle dude asked Jessie out on a friends date,” Nick said triumphantly.

“And he’s never been nice to her before…ohh I get it!” AJ said.

“Alright…love you too…bye.”

“So what’s the deal Rok?” Nick asked, standing against the doorframe.

“You were listening on me?” Brian asked, tucking away his cell phone.

“What if I said yes?”

“Then I’d whoop your ass.”

“What if I said no?”

“Then I’d whoop your ass.”

“Um…bye,” Nick said, running down the narrow hall of the bus.

AJ laughed quietly as he watched Brian chase after Nick. Their chase would soon end, for the bus wasn’t a vast space.

“Nickolas Gene Carter, were you listening to my conversation?!” Brian said loudly, holding his younger friend in a headlock, a handful of blonde hair in his fist.

“AAH YES I WAS!! LET GO!!”

Brian laughed and let go of Nick and his blonde locks. “Ha knew it. Now, if you just said so in the first place, you wouldn’t have BEEN in that situation now would you?”

“Shut it Bri.”

Kevin laughed and squeezed by. “You guys need to get a room.”

“Are you saying we’re gay Kevin?” Brian asked calmly.

“No. You guys just do waaay too many things that get in our way.”

The two men stuck their tongues out at the oldest member, which only caused the rest of the group to laugh.

“So really…what’s up with Jessie?” AJ asked, crossing his tattooed arms as he leaned up against the wall.

“Nothin. She just wanted to talk and stuff.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Aiight…but if we find out somethin else…” AJ made a motion of a knife slicing his throat.

“I get it AJ.”

-;- -;- -;-

Jessica clipped her black hair right when the door was knocked upon. She checked her appearance one more time, then went to answer the door. She had dropped off Brian at Brian’s parents’, and was ready to go.

“Hey.”

“Hey. Ready?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah I guess. Oh hang on a sec,” she said, turning and hurrying to her room. She picked up the box that Lance had given her, not believing that she hadn’t opened it yet. She tucked it away in her purse so she could open it later that night, possibly at the movies. Jessica hurried back to Kyle and smiled. “Ready.”

They both walked to his car silently.

Jessica watched Kyle in worry. His eyes kept darting everywhere, and his forehead gleamed with sweat. Surely it wasn’t that hot. She noticed he was tense, and that he was hurrying to the Jeep quietly parked ahead.

“Kyle are you ok?” she asked, grabbing his arm.

His head snapped upward and he nodded quickly. “Yeah I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”

“Ok…” she said, knowing full well she would.

Kyle attempted to give her a reassuring smile as the got in the car, but failed. “So where are we going?” she asked.

“Just a dinner and a movie, that’s all.”

“Oof!” Jessica grunted as the car jerked left. “Smooth.”

“Sorry. I just think that I’m gonna be late for my reservations.”

Well, they weren’t. They were actually 15 minutes early.

At last he relaxed during that time, and they started to talk. Boy was she wrong about him. He was smart, intelligent, and a smart ass. But she knew that. He was less tense and less worried, for he calmed down about whatever he was worried about before.

Dinner passed by in less time than they could ever think of, and they headed to the cinema nearby. They watched Pearl Harbor. In the end, she didn’t even touch the box for she was so entranced by the movie. By the time the movie was over, it was 10 o’ clock, and Jessica was in tears. Josh Hartnett DIED! It just couldn’t be more heartbreaking.

“Hey c’mon it was just a movie,” Kyle said, biting back a laugh.

Jessica sighed. “A GOOD movie… you don’t find many of those these days.”

Kyle turned around to back up the Jeep, and started the half hour drive to her apartment. They chatted a bit about the movie, and she found herself enjoying the evening. It was much to her surprise actually. Ever since two years ago, he had been the egotistical, smart ass jerk that every girl would love to go out with. But now… he was kind of a friend. She had to tell Stephanie about this. At long last they arrived at the tall apartment building and they both got out of the car, Kyle insisting that he escort her to her door. She finally agreed and they started up the stairs, being quiet so the neighbors could sleep in peace.

“So this is the end huh?”

Jessica smiled. “Yeah it is. I had a good time. I haven’t had one of those since… since… ok last week, but it was nice,” she laughed.

“If anything’s up, you can always call- I’ll be there,” he said. “Plus I have nothing else to do, so…”

Jessica laughed. “Don’t you go to the mall with your friends and “pick up chicks”?”

Kyle rolled his hazel eyes. “You just don’t LEARN do you? That’s my cover. In reality, I’m a sappy guy. I read sappy books. Watch sappy shows. I listen to sappy music. Hell I even TALK sappy if I feel like it.”

“Serious.”

“Dead.”

“Holy… the reporters’ll have a field day!”

Kyle glared jokingly at her and she laughed.

“Alright then… I guess it’s still Thursday then huh?” Jessica unlocked the door, but found it to be already unlocked. She opened it. Her smile ceased and her eyes widened in horror when she saw her home.

“Oh my god…” Kyle gasped.

Her mouth open, panic setting in, she stepped inside of what seemed like a tornado sighting. Her papers everywhere, her tables broken and overturned, her vases smashed crudely on the ground, phone off the hook and disconnected, the curtains slashed, the couch punctured and ripped, her floor covered with all her belongings. Jessica held down the bile in her throat as she hurried to her room. All her clothes were ripped, shredded and scattered, her mirror shattered in pieces on the dirtied carpet, her bed destroyed, jewelry stolen… Jessica sobbed in despair when she found her framed pictures of her family and Lance stabbed through with knives, forks, scissors, and whatever sharp objects the intruder could find. The small bed that Lance had was smashed, the mattress barely recognizable, even the light bulbs were broken. The dishes were no longer existing, now only shards of porcelain and glass, the silverware, anything was destroyed and contorted.

“Oh… Jessica…” Kyle was speechless.

It was growing hotter and hotter inside the apartment, and she was forever thankful she brought Lance to a babysitter and kept the box in her purse.

“Oh my god…” she whimpered to herself, seemingly to have forgotten the other person in the room. “Oh my god…”

“Jessica…” Kyle’s voice floated over the eerie silence to her ringing ears. “I think you might wanna see this…”

Stumbling through the debris, she made for where Kyle stood- the area around the door.

“I was clearing away some things, and I found this.” Kyle pointed to the floor. There, etched in the wood floor was a message:

YOU GOT LUCKY THIS TIME- NEXT TIME, YOU ARE MINE!

P.S. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOVIE? MUAHAHA…

For a while she wasn’t sure who was screaming, but when Kyle put his hands on her shoulders, she let out a shriek and realized it was her. Her tears flowed down slowly, itching down her face as her heart froze in fear. Not again…

She looked up from Kyle’s shoulder and spotted the door. On it was a picture of a knife… going through a heart.

“Wha?” Kyle panicked when he felt her body go limp in his arms. He pulled her back and realized- she was out cold.