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"I can't believe the final test is tomorrow. I'm so scared!"
"You have nothing to be scared of, James. We studied hard and you know everything you need to know."
"Yeah, you're right, Jess. We do know everything by heart." I smiled happily. For the first time in a very long time I felt completely confident.
"So, what are you planning on doing tonight?"
"What do you mean? I'll be studying for the test."
"Studying? Don't you know that studying too hard will make you forget stuff and get them all mixed up in your head?"
"Really?" I was surprised.
"Yeah, and besides, what do you need more studying for? You already know everything..."
"Well, I really could use a night off. It's been too long."
"Great!" her eyes shined. "So what do you say, I'll take you to a really cool place. Dress up and I'll meet you out side school at 8 o'clock." And she took off happily with out waiting to my answer.
Jessie was 10 minutes late, but I couldn't be angry with her, after seeing her in her little blue dress, with her make up and her red hair pulled up. She looked so pretty!
"Evening, sir", she smiled and I laughed happily, pulled out a red rose and handed it over to Jessie. It was my little plan to charm her, and I hoped she wouldn't find it stupid.
"Oh, how cute!" her eyes lit. Good, my plan works.
It took 15 minutes to get to the little Pub, and I enjoyed walking with Jessie. A few people looked at us and I'm sure that they thought she was my girlfriend. I really liked that thought.
"Don't you think we're a bit under age?" I asked her when we were standing in front of the door, but she didn't look worried at all. She just stepped in and smiled to the doorman. "Good evening, Roger!"
"Good evening Jessie. Haven't seen you around a lot lately."
I looked confusedly at Jessie and at the tall doorman, but Jessie pulled me inside quickly before I had time to wonder. We sat near the Bar and Jessie asked me if I would like to drink some beer.
"Beer? Aren't we way underage?"
"James, don't be childish." She smiled and waved to the bartender. "Jo! How are you doing tonight?"
"All well here, Jess. And who's your friend?"
"That's James. James- that's Jo. Joey, bring us a couple of beers, ok?"
"Coming up!"
I lowered my head and whispered into Jessie's ear: "I see you know everyone around here."
She smiled. "I told you it's a cool place."
The beers arrived and I looked suspiciously into the glass.
"James! Don't tell me you've never drunk beer!" She laughed. "A rich guy like you?"
"Well, I'm a bit young..." I felt totally embarrassed. I didn't want her to think that I'm a baby.
"You're never too young for a beer." She sapped from her glass.
"Hmmm..." I sniffed the beer.
"James! Ha ha..." Jessie laughed her head off, "Just drink it!"
Ok, here goes... I took a big sip and it tasted really weird. Jessie looked amusedly at my face. "Jo, hey! Give us a second beer!"
I felt a bit high, and drinking that beer made me feel like one of those cool guys that you see on TV. Fun, fun, fun... By the end of the night we were both pretty drunk and happy. The way back seemed awfully long.
"Jessie, he he, I think we're drunk..."
"No, really? I think it's the floor, it's crooked!" She leaned on me and laughed hysterically. "I can't remember the way back to the Poke-Tech..."
"I'll lead the way!" I jumped forward, almost knocking Jessie down to the floor, which didn't stop her laughing for a minute.
"Oh, James, my hero!" she jumped forward and hopped around me.
"Stop jumping..." I laughed, "You're making me dizzy..." And suddenly I found myself kissing her, and she kissed me back. If I weren't too drunk to understand what a great deal it was, I would have probably fainted.
We looked into each other's eyes for a few moments and burst out laughing.
I don't remember much after that kiss, I just remember somehow getting back to the Tech and somehow getting into my bed. I think Teddy woke up and yelled at me for coming back so late the night before the big test, but I didn't really care.
I got to class when the papers were already handed out. I took one copy and sat in my chair in front of Jessie. She looked just as bad as I did- pale and sloppy with a strange look on her face.
"Jessie, I don't feel well..."
"Me too..."
"Jessie! James! Stop talking!" The teacher yelled.
"Ow..." Jessie held her head in her hands, "Don't yell..."
It's unnecessary to say that I couldn't answer any of the questions in the test. I could hardly read the questions, let alone remembering the right answers. I guessed most of them, hoping that I will at least pass.
"Failed?!?! We got the lowest marks in the history of the Poke-Tech! Look, they wrote our names in red marker!"
"We're doomed!" We both screamed together and hugged.
"What are we going to do?" I whined. "I can't stay another year here!"
"Shut up and let me think!"
Jessie thought of a way out of this situation, and I planned a way to jump out of the closest window. Then Jessie pulled my hand and dragged me aside.
"James, you can't go back home, can you? I can't go back either. And we certainly don't want to stay here another year, do we?"
"No!" I whined.
"Then I'll tell you what- Today all the parents are coming to take their kids home for the holiday. I don't know about your parents, but my dad isn't coming."
"Mine are, but I don't wanna go with them!"
"Then I'll tell you what we'll do. Meet me at the trains station an hour before all the parents are coming. Bring your stuff with you."
"I don't need your help." She said harshly.
"So what are we going to do?"
Jessie looked around, and then pointed at a large train. "This is our ride."
"Really? Do we have tickets?"
She gave me a don't-be-silly kind of look, and then dragged her suitcase closer to the train. I followed her, hoping that she knows what she's doing.
"All aboard!"
I looked at Jessie. She was still looking at the train and didn't move. "Well? What now?"
"Put the suitcases in the wagon, now, before anyone sees you."
I did as she said, and I threw the suitcases into the wagon.
"All aboard!"
The train started moving. "Jessie?"
she took my hand. "When I say 'now', we both jump on the wagon... 1,2,3... NOW!" and we both jumped together. Jessie hurried to close the door and sat down. I looked at her as she stretched beside me. She was an amazing girl, my best friend in the whole world. That kiss, the night before the test, was still on my mind since that night. One day I'll tell her how much I love her. One day I will.
"Where are we going, Jess?"
She looked into my eyes. "frankly- I have no idea, James."
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