Brian ran next door. "NICK!" he called out frantically. He noticed Nick with two guys out by the pool. "Nick!" he called again as he ran into the backyard.
"What's wrong, Brian?" Nick asked, turning to him.
"I'm surprised you remember my name," he said coldly. "Anyway, it's Jess." Nick's eyes widened when he head his friend's tone-of-voice.
"Oh God, I'm sorry Bri. Where is she? What's wrong?" he asked, worried.
"She's at her house. You gotta talk to her. But I'm warning you, she looks a lot different."
"Different how?" Nick asked.
"Just get over there please!" Brian pleaded. Nick nodded and ran next door. "Sorry, guys," Brian apoligized, then ran back to Jess's house. AJ and Howie jsut looked at each other, confused.
Nick ran up the stairs two at a time, till he got to Jess's room. He found her in there, sitting on the bed, sobbing. "Jess?" he asked, having pretty much the same reaction as Brian.
"Nickers?" she asked quietly.
"It's me, Jessie. What's wrong?" he asked, moving over to sit next to her on the bed.
"You, and everyone else," she replied sadly.
"What?" Nick asked, confused- as always.
"Why haven't you called? And Briana is being a bitch to me, or ignoring me. Pat, whom I love with all my heart, hasn't said a word to me this entire year. Donna is always busy. Brian is always busy. Mom is always busy. And to top it off, the whole school knows some of my most private secrets, no thanks to Anna," Jess explained.
"Oh, God. I'm so sorry, Jess. I didn't know. PLease forgive me. I'm so sorry!" Nick said.
"Just promise me you'll call or visit more often, k?" Jess asked, a smile slowly showing up on her drawn face.
"Of course, Jessica, of course," Nick said. Jess responded by hugging Nick tightly.