New Girl in Town Pt. 25

"I'm ready to make sure that the only person kissing my boyfriend will be me," she told them.

"Does that include Staci now or not?" Shelly grinned. "I'm just wondering."

"Lord, if that girl was in drama she'd sign up then make out with my Jake just to get a laugh from the crowd," Jessica shook her head then slowly moved her finger from person to person in the group. "No one tell her if there's an open audition for this role!"

"We should make sure that we store some volleyballs backstage," Somer said. "You know, just in case Jess here needs to put the fear of God into anyone during rehearsals."

"Now we just have to worry about who signs up to be Jess's understudy because if Jess misses a practice then whoever it is will just have to step in and make out with Jake," Leeann said.

"Hmm, maybe I should see if Staci wants to try out for that," Jessica said. "At least he's used to her lips."

****

"Do you feel as set up as I do?" Jake asked Jessica as the pair worked on their homework at his parent's dining room table.

"How do you mean?" she asked after she jotted down an answer in her notebook. "You mean how you and I were the only ones that signed up for the leads and how it was decided that open auditions didn't need to be held because all the roles were filled."

"Exactly that," he nodded.

"Yes, we were totally set up," she stated.

"What were you set up for, dear?" Jake's mom asked as she joined them.

"The next play that the drama club is putting on," Jessica answered as she put aside her math book and pulled Jake's science book toward her.

"Jess and I were... encouraged to try out for the leads of the play and after we signed up for those parts no one else did so, wouldn't you know it, we're trying out unopposed," he said.

"I believe that it was you that was told you had to try out for the lead," Jessica corrected. "Once the girls saw that you had then I was told that I had to try out opposite you."

"Are you two sure that the others didn't see that you two had signed up and just felt too intimidated to go against you?" Jake's mom laughed.

"Nice try, mom, but you have to keep a straight face if you want the joke to land," Jake chuckled.

"I tried, baby," she told him. "Now I'm guessing that this might be a romantic play?"

"It's Footloose," Jake answered.

"Oh really?" She smiled.

"You know, if you want to rally some other parents to protest the school putting on such a scandalous play then I'm sure you can get them to reconsider," Jake suggested.

"Honey, I'm a fan of the movie so I'll not be leading any protest to get you off the hook. Besides, that movie is hardly scandalous," Mrs. Gibson told him. "Now is the play exactly like the movie or different?"

"We looked it up after we signed up and there's different scenes. Ms. Simpson said that we might change some things around as well so it could end up being a mix of both," Jessica answered.

"We'll know more once Ms. Simpson gets the scripts printed off," Jake added.

"That would make this a musical as well as a romance," Mrs. Gibson smiled at the pair. "Dancing as well since music and dancing are the main plot points of the movie."

"Yes to both," Jessica answered. "We'll be singing and there will be dancing."

"Do you think that you can do it with your brace on, baby?" she asked.

"It's not until early April so here's hoping that I'm done with this thing by then," Jake said as he tapped his brace with his pencil.

"I've got all my fingers and most of my toes crossed for that," Jessica giggled.

"More like you want your toes curled," Jake whispered to her with a wink while his mom rattled some pans on the stove.

"Jake!" Jessica hissed with her eyes wide.

"Is he being bad, Jess?" Mrs. Gibson asked.

"No, I wasn't," Jake answered as Jessica attempted to hide her reddening cheeks.

"Uh huh," she told him as she motioned toward the table. "I don't believe that I buy that for a minute. Now dinner is almost ready so would you two get this catastrophic filing system that you and Jess insist work for you together and get cleaned up, if you please."

"Sure thing, Mom," He said.

As Jake started to collect the books and papers from the table, Jessica washed up and started to set the table. Once he'd taken their book bags into the living room, Jake returned and helped Jessica finish up with the setting of the table.

"I'll start getting everyone's drinks if you want to go tell dad that dinner is just about ready, Jess," Jake suggested.

"You got it, sweetie," she answered then smiled. "I can't wait to tell dad that you're going to be singing and dancing in a play!"

"Wait, which..." Jake turned to find that Jessica had perfected her disappearing act, "one?"

"I'm never living this down," he sighed.

His mom ruffled his hair and smiled.

"You'll do fine," she said. "You both will and I can't wait to see you two on stage!"

****

"So how did you like it?" Marie asked as she spoke to Jamie on her cell. "They didn't give you too much grief for joining did they?"

"No," Jamie laughed. "Well, actually yeah .... but it's weirdly different than when I hung out with Patrick. Back then it was done to just be mean and bring people down, but with Jake and his bunch it's like you're in on the joke and none of it is taken seriously. Makes me feel like I'm accepted. It even helped me to forget that I was even nervous about joining because we were all laughing so much. They were getting things ready to start rehearsing a new play."

"That's always fun," Marie said. "I told you that you'd like it."

"Yes, you did," he said. "Gorgeous, smart and sweet. You're the whole package, babe. How did I get so lucky?"

"All that smooth talking, babe," she giggled.

"Aw, and here I thought it was my rugged good looks," he laughed.

"Well they certainly helped," she said. "So... tell me what's the play and did you try out for any of the parts?"

"I, uh, kinda felt obligated since Ms. Simpson said that she would like me to try out so I signed up for a part," he admitted. "I doubt I'll get it but I'll give it my best. We start try outs next meeting which is next week."

"Cool! What's the part and what's the play?" she asked.

"It's uh... well its... um... Footloose," he answered a bit embarrassed.

"The musical?" she asked excitedly. "Oh my god, that is like one of my favorite movies!"

"Okay, you sound way too excited about this," he laughed. "And no, I'm not trying out for one of the singing parts."

"Are you going out for Chuck since he's the bad boy?" she asked.

"I started to but then Jake pointed out that I might make a better Willard," Jamie said. "So I'm kinda signed up for both parts at the moment but we'll see how it goes."

"Ooo, I'm thinking that Jake is on to something," she said. "Big, strong, handsome..."

"Okay, now you're just trying to sell me on giving my all for this role," he grinned. "Don't think that I don't see through that."

"Sweetie, I already know that you'll give your all. It's in your nature to try your best at everything," Marie said.

"Just try?" Jamie chuckled.

"Mmm, trying is the funnest part sometimes," Marie giggled. "You're going to be dancing either way. I am so excited to see you on stage and dancing! It's going to be so great and you're going to be great!"

"I'm not so sure about that," he said in the hopes to temper her expectations.

"Do I know anyone else that's going out for parts? It'd be great to know the leads. Oh my goodness, can you imagine if Jake and Jess were the leads in a romantic musical?" she started and Jamie started laughing. "What?"

"Honey, you should have been there! They are the leads and how they got roped into signing up... it's was too funny," he said then explained how the sign ups went for Jake and Jessica.

"You're right. That is so funny!" she giggled. "I need to text Jess my congratulations and wish her luck."

"Not going to wish me luck?" he asked with a chuckle.

"I plan to give you a kiss for luck, mister," she stated. "So you'd better be ready to pucker up for me when I see you this weekend."

"I'll start practicing now," he laughed.

"Good," she said. "Practice that and dancing too cause I need you to nail your try out so I can see you on stage!"

"I might need a lot of help with that," he shook his head.

"I'm sure that Jake will be willing to help you out," she answered.

"I like the guy now but I'm not going to kiss Jake for practice," he laughed.

"No? From what we all hear from Jess he's pretty great at it," she said.

"She does huh? That Jake Gibson sure has got himself some purdy pouty lips," he laughed.

"Just for that, we're going to watch the movie this weekend while you show me how well you can copy the moves."

"Babe," Jamie whined. "I don't even have the part yet."

"Sounds like it'll be good practice for you then," she said.

"Then kisses?" he grinned.

"Then kisses," she agreed. "If you can be good, that is."

"For your kisses, I'll be sensational," he whispered.

"Flattery will not get you out of dancing," she said. "It will, however, get you more kisses. Now do your homework and I'll talk to you tomorrow, 'kay?"

"Sounds good, gorgeous," he answered. "Sweet dreams."

****

Friday

"Okay, so I checked with my mom," Staci said as the group gathered together on the stadium steps for lunch.

"She has the movie so we're set for the weekend," Staci finished as the group started in on their trades.

"That's good," Ray commented. "Jake needs to learn all the lyrics to all the songs he's going to have to sing."

"Shame I'm going to get a mean case of laryngitis tomorrow," Jake stated as he emptied his bagged lunch onto the seat beside him.

"I'm pretty sure that you can't predict that, sweetie," Jess said as she started to separate her items from his.

"Yeah, Jake," Bobby joined in. "Gotta get those pipes of yours all warmed up for your performances. I really want to hear you belt out Dancing in the Sheets."

"I seriously doubt that song will make the cut," Jake said. "I can't see us trying to slip that one past Principal Owen and no one wants to get Ms. Simpson in trouble. Though we could pitch it along with Hagar's 'The Girl Gets Around' then they would have to give us one by default."

"Would they though?" Shelly asked. "We did have to really censor Greased Lightning from Grease last year among other parts of the play and it still barely made it through."

"We could go with the self censoring route and see how well that works out," Jake said.

"Just change Sheets to Streets," Roxie suggested.

She leaned back, pointed at Jake and started to sing.

"I feel the need to sweep you off of your feet, You and me, we should be dancing in the streets," She sang for a moment then went back to talking. "That could work right?"

Jake led the applause and threw in an appreciative whistle as the rest of the group clapped until Roxie blushed red and waved for them to stop.

"That was great, Rox!" Jake said. "Are you sure that you don't want to join us in drama?"

"I'm good with chorus, thanks," she said.

"That was really good, babe," C.C. said as Somer, along with Jamie came down the steps to join the group.

"Are we talking about the play?" Somer asked as she sat.

"You just missed someone singing about the play," Jessica said then nodded at Roxie. "That was really awesome, Foxy Roxie. I loved it!"

"I'm red enough, Jessica," Roxie hid her blushed face in her hands.

"So awesome," Jessica said as she traded her sandwich for Jake's then halved it when he frowned. "We were discussing what songs we might have to edit so they aren't deemed inappropriate by some people's parents."

Once it was explained to her Somer nodded at Roxie.

"Aw, I hate I came in a too late to hear that, Roxie," she said. "I heard the applause so it must have been great. Have you guys downloaded the soundtrack so you'll know what songs we might be doing?"

"Jake and I have," Jessica said. "There's different ones for the movie version versus the play version. We got the movie ones."

"Hoping to make it more like the movie then?" Jamie asked.

"It's a classic," Jake said as he handed over his cellophane wrapped brownie to Roxie who smiled happily.

"Jess, kiss your man for me," Roxie giggled.

"Gladly," Jessica laughed then planted a kiss on Jake's cheek. "Oops."

"Oops, what?" he asked as he reached for his cheek.

"I left a little mustard behind," she said as she swatted his hand away so she could clean it herself. "Okay... better now. We've been trying to figure out who will have what songs."

"Most are kinda easy to figure out," Shelly said. "You and Jake will duet Almost Paradise. You'll have Holding Out for a Hero and Jake will have I'm Free and Never. Possibly one more but that's where it gets murky. The title track will be an ensemble."

"And some will just be background," Jake jumped in. "I don't want two solos."

"Three," Bobby said. "You gotta sing Hagar, Jake."

"We'll see," Jake said.

"You can get some practice in this weekend," Staci said.

"My poor ears," Ray sighed.

"Our poor ears you mean, Ray," C.C. said. "All us Misfits will be at Jess's for movie weekend."

"Movie weekend?" Somer asked.

"Yeah, we're all headed to Jessica's place on Saturday to watch Footloose," Staci explained. "You and Jamie are both invited... whoops. I guess I shouldn't be inviting people to your place, Jess."

"It's fine," Jessica said. "You both are welcome and, Jamie, please let Marie know that she's welcome if she'd like to come and you two don't already have plans. I mean, I could text her too but I don't know what your plans might be."

"We were just going to watch the movie too," he answered. "Let me text her right quick and make sure that it's cool with her but I like the idea of watching it with you guys."

As Jamie pulled out his phone and started to type out his text Somer slid closer to Jessica and whispered.

"Jess, I'll understand if you're not comfortable with me...," she said.

"Somer, it's totally fine," she cut her off. "Just be prepared for my little sister to insist on you joining her tea party."

"What?" Somer asked as the other girls laughed.

"They're excellent," Roxie said. "Until she makes you bake the cookies she plans to serve beforehand. Then she's a brutal taskmaster."

"A brutal taskmaster?" Somer asked. "That cute little mini Jess that I saw at the hospital? She seemed super sweet."

"She is," C.C. said as she playfully swatted Roxie's jean clad leg. "Rox is greatly exaggerating how much of a taskmaster Sar-bear can be. She only has herself to blame for coloring her hair, painting her face, baking her cookies and brownies and... and..."

"And... and you can stop any time now, babe," Roxie said then looked at Jake. "I blame you for this."

"You mistook blame for thanks again, Rox," Jake joked. "You love the Golden sisters as much as I do."

Roxie let out an exaggerated sigh as she nodded.

"Yes, those two have spun their spell on me... all of us really," she said. "Witchy witchy sisters."

"I'll get you, my pretty," Jessica said shrilly "and your little peanut butter cookies too!"

"That's not exactly how that goes, sweetie," Jake chuckled.

"I know," Jess grinned. "I'm just making my request for what kind of snacks we're going to need for this movie watching weekend. Besides I need Foxy Roxie to show me how to make them since they're your favorites."

****

"Jess, do you have a sec?" Somer asked as they headed to class after the lunch period ended.

"Somer, it really is fine that you come this weekend," Jessica assured her as they entered the school building.

"I appreciate that but that wasn't what I wanted to ask," she said. "I was wondering if I could bring someone with me? I can see him after but..."

"You're talking about Rick?" Jessica asked.

"Yes," she answered then looked around. "Hey, we lost Jake somewhere."

"He needed to swing by the office," Jessica said. "Mrs. Santora needed him to sign some papers."

"Did he get word back on any scholarships that he applied for?" she asked.

"Oh my gosh, with all that's gone on I guess none of us have told you about that," Jessica said.

She explained how her dad's firm decided to fund a scholarship program with Jake as it's first recipient.

"He's kind of their test run so to speak," she said.

"That is so great for you guys," Somer said. "You get to go out to California together! That's got to be wonderful for you both."

"It really is," Jessica enthused. "To answer your question though, yes, Rick is more than welcome. We're hoping to start the movie around noon but feel free to come early if you'd like to indulge my sister and join in on the tea party that is sure to be thrown."

"I wouldn't miss it," Somer said.

"Do you need me to text you my address?" Jessica asked with a slight smirk.

"No, I can get that from the office... uh, I mean..." Somer stammered.

"Somer, it's okay. I just wondered if you wanted to get it the right way this time?"

"Jessica, let me begin my twelve part apology by saying that I'm so sorry that I ever helped Patrick and..."

"I'm just messing with you. It's all in the past and I'll text you my address. Trust me, we're good, okay?" She said then paused. "Was there seriously twelve parts to your apology?"

"There were at least four parts then I was going to make up the other eight parts," Somer said. "We're really good?"

"We really are. Come on and let me walk you to class so I can get some hot gossip on Rick."

"Cool! As long as you pass along some about Jake as well."

"I would never... expect to receive and not give in return. Oh there's one thing already about Jake. He loves to give."

****

Saturday

"I'd say that this looks like the place," Rick said as he slowed in front of Jessica's house.

"Yep, it is," Somer said. "That's Jess's Mustang and there's Jake's as well."

"Whoa, so Jake got himself another classic huh?" he asked as he pulled to a stop. "I'm going to have to get him to let me take that beauty for a spin."

"Maybe you guys can do that while us girls have our tea party," Somer giggled.

They exited Rick's car, climbed the steps to Jessica's front door and knocked. From inside they heard a voice call out, I got it! then the door swung open. Sarah, emboldened by her houseful of 'sisters' being there to answer the door, looked up at the pair with a puzzled look.

"Do I know you?" she asked.

"Sarah, let me... oh... hey, Somer," Jessica said as she walked up behind Sarah. "Come on in you two. Sarah, this is Somer and her boyfriend, Rick. You've seen Somer at Jake's games."

"No, I know her from somewhere else," Sarah said. "I cheered at my sissy's volleyball games, though. Jake said I was the most valuable peanut then he broke Sean's stupid nose."

"Sarah!" Jessica exclaimed. "Sorry, someone gave her chocolate so she's on the verge of out of control and also about to lose her tea party if she can't calm down a wee bit."

"I will," Sarah promised then darted toward the kitchen.

"There's no chance of that," Jessica sighed. "It's good to see you again, Rick."

"It's great to see you too, Jessica," he said. "Thanks for letting me tag along with Somer. I swung by Jake's the last time I was in town but no one was there. I thought that they had headed out for vacation but then, on the way here, Somer brought me up to speed. So California, right?"

"Yep, UCLA," she answered. "I can still barely believe myself! It was a lot of fun! I was worn out half the time we were there but still, it was fun."

"I don't want to hold up the party but I'd love to hear about it," Somer said. "I've always wanted to see California."

"We're still prepping for the party," Jessica said. "Come with me and I'll tell you about it while we finish getting ready. Rick, you're welcome to help us out, or you can head to the back where the guys have been, and I'm quoting Jake here, exiled there until the tea party is over."