November 1st-

*Twenty Days... Can't wait to see you. Have a great day at work, and good luck with your publisher today. -Danny*

Jessica picked up her phone and smiled. Every morning and every night Danny would leave a text message for Jessica to see.

*Thank you. I'll let you know how it goes. Have a good day at work. :)*

Jessica blushed after she sent the message.

She walked into her bathroom and looked in the mirror. She fixed her hair then herd her phone ring again. This time she watched her facial expression through the mirror. Her eyes lit up and her cheeks turned rosey red. A small smile appeared on her face.

"Oh god Jessica, what are you doing!" She utters to herself

After Danny left Jessica did a lot better with not being around him. She went on with her days doing the same old daily routine. She would wake up, go to work, have lunch with Sarah, go back to work, have occasional meetings with her publishers, get dinner, go home, go to bed, and repeat. She'd always have one thing to look forward to at the end of the day which was having a nice phone call with Danny as she sat on her bean bag in her studio. It was the best part of her day.

Work was going well. Jessica hadn't seen Sam at all during work which was a relief. Jessica hadn't seen Sam since the fight. Danny didn't want to press charges, he just let it go.

During Jessica's lunch break she stopped at Sarah's shop for lunch like she usually does.

When she walked in Sarah noticed that Jessica seemed a bit pre-occupied.

"Jess, what's going on with you? Is everything okay?" Sarah says taking a sip of her drink.

"I don't know... My life, it's just so boring." Jessica moans leaning back on her chair.

"Boring?"

"Yes, boring!" Jessica rolls her eyes

"Sorry...."

"It's not your fault. I just do the same thing over and over again each day. The only real exciting part of my day is having lunch with you and face timing Danny after work. That's so lame of me! I'm twenty four."

"Adulthood isn't all that fun. We have to do the same thing over again every day to make a living."

"True, but it must be exciting for you. You can make your own hours, design different styles of clothing, go home to a boyfriend, and so much more. For me, well nothing's that exciting."

"It's not my business, but why don't you try things with Danny?"

"We live in different states. I'd never see him. It would be the same as it is now. But just with a title." Jessica shakes her head as she becomes frustrated.

"Then meet someone else."

"I can't do that to Danny."

"But you aren't dating."

"But we want to."

"Then date!"

"No!"

"Ugh, Jessica!" Sarah becomes irritated

"What?"

"You want one thing but then you don't want to do it. You need to take chances, that's why your life is so boring. You don't take chances! If you go around complaining about your life and don't take action, well damn I'm afraid I can't help you. Danny wants you and you want him. Your making him wait, and the more you make him wait the sooner he'll get away.You need to try things with him." Sarah raises her voice.

"I've taken a chance with Danny. It left me with a miscarriage and a ticket to New York. I left him broken hearted. I can't do that again. I'm afraid. The past still haunts me every damn day. I'm afraid I'll go through it all again."

It became quite between Jessica and Sarah. It was a bit awkward. They had frustrated each other. Jessica checked her watch then sighed.

"I have a meeting, I should go." She stands up and leaves.

**

Jessica tried not to think about Sarah but think about her meeting with her publisher. She was confident that today was the day he would tell Jessica the good news that her book would be on shelves.

"Good afternoon Jessica, it's great to see you." He says

"It's nice to see you too. How are you?"

"I'm great, actually. How about you?"

"Anxious. I'm hoping for good news."

He sits in his chair and sighs. "I'm afraid I can't give you any..."

Jessica's smile quickly vanished.

"Jess, I'm sorry. I hope you can accept this gift." He hands her a gift bag and gives her a small smile.

"What happen? I thought you said today would be the day." The takes the bag and sets it down.

"Please, just open the bag. I feel bad already."

Jessica looks at it and reaches her hands in the bag.

When she feels something that feels like a book her face lights up a bit.

She pulled it out and it was her book cover. A boat in Greece sitting on the water. The title was One Place To Another. She couldn't believe her eyes. She was holding her very own photography book. It was official.

"Oh my god! You scared me!" Jessica cries standing up and hugging her publisher

"Congrats Jessica. We've already got it in book stores, libraries, travel shops, you name it!"

"This is amazing, thank you." Jessica says sincerely

"Hey, you did all the work. Your images are great. You really got some talent."

"Why thank you, I appreciate it."

"I just had to pull a little prank on ya, sorry if I made you sad."

"No, it's totally fine. This is just- I'm speechless."

**

Jessica was ecstatic about her book. She flipped through it and saw all the different pictures and chapters. There wasn't much reading to do, only little descriptions. It brought Jessica back to all the fun she had in Europe. Now that it was over everything felt so boring. She was back to feeling like she had nothing to look forward too.

When Jessica got to the last page she smiled, she knew exactly what it was.

To Dad,

If it weren't for you telling me everyday to chase my dreams, no one would be reading this right now. Thank you for always pushing me to do new things.

Jessica teared up a bit. Her phone rang, it was a FaceTime call from George.

Jessica cleaned herself up then answered.

When she answered George, Ann, Jane, and Dorthy where all standing around the camera.

"Jessica! You wanted us to all call you!" George says

"Hi everybody!" Jessica exclaims

"Oh Jessica, I think I know what this is about." Ann squeals

"This better be good! I've been waiting to hear what this is about." Jane says

"I do have good news." Jessica sets her phone up and reaches for the book, but she didn't put it in the frame yet.

"What is it? The anticipation is killing us all!" Dorthy chuckles

Jessica slowly brings her book into the frame. After her family realizes what it is they all gasp.

"Oh my god Jessica!" Ann says

"That's your book?" George says

"Yes! It's officially out! I'm mailing copies for all of you."

"Jessica, I'm so proud of you, congrats." Dorthy says

"Thank you mom, thank you all."

"Jess, Dad would be really proud." Jane says softly

"I hope so. He's one of the reasons why I took the chance and tried to get this published, he's the reason why I took all the chances in my life." Jessica chokes up a bit.

"I bet he's up there cheering you on baby girl." Dorthy says

Jessica smiles then wipes her tears.

"I can't wait to see the images Jessica. I'm just so proud. My little sister is awesome." Ann says

"Haha, thank you!"

**

After talking to Jessica's family she called Danny. They were on the phone for a few hours.

"It's just so cool. My name is on shelves. What if it goes in build boards. Or am I getting ahead of myself?" Jessica says holding her phone above her.

Danny smiles

"Of course not. I love your ambition."

"Do you think I take chances?"

"Of course!"

"I mean some things I have a hard time taking chances on, but other things I just go for it, right?"

"Yea, what makes you bring up chances?"

"It's just because Sarah said something to me, but it doesn't matter."

"Are you sure?"

"Danny... Can I talk to you about something."

"Sure, what is it?"

"It's more like talk."

"Aren't we talking now?"

"It's more serious."

"Okay, go ahead."

"Though today is a good day, it's a pretty sucky day too."

"I'm sorry, Jessica. But today should be a happy day."

"The only reason part of it is sucky is because my dad. He isn't here. When I called my family today, I just wish he was there to hear me say 'I got my book published' but he wasn't. It sucks, I just miss him so much. When Sarah said I dont take chances, it just makes me think, am I really doing what my dad would want me to do, take chances?"

"Your Dad wouldn't want you to make it a sucky day. He'd want you to be super happy. I bet he's so proud of you. This is a big accomplishment. I know Sarah's your best friend, but maybe you caught her at a bad time. Don't over think it."

"He was my biggest supporter. He always told me to aim high."

"And that's what you're doing. You're aiming high."

**

April 2004-

Jessica walked into the kitchen one morning. Her mother was making breakfast and her dad was sitting at the kitchen table doing work.

"Hey kiddo, what's up?"

"Dad, I want to try out for the middle school summer basketball team." Jessica says confidently

"Basketball? What about softball and swim team?"

"Well I can still do that, can't I? Please mom and Dad!" Jessica begs

"Jess, that's a lot to juggle." Dorthy flips the pancakes and waits for Albert to say something.

"I say go for it. Take your chances. Life is only so short kid. You have to aim high and work for what you want." Albert pats Jessica on the back and smiles. They both look at Dorthy.

"I just hope it isn't too much for a little twelve year old to take on. And she has lots of summer reading and other commitments... are you sure, Jessica?"

"Yes! Please mom! If I do the summer league I can be good for the actual season. I can still do softball and swim, I just really want to try this. Like Dad ALWAYS says, take your chances."

"Alright, I guess you can. You're just such a little athlete." Dorthy chuckles

"Thank you mom, thank you Dad. I'll go tell Sarah I can do it with her."

Jessica runs up the stairs and Dorthy chuckles.

"My Jessie, she's going far in life. I have a gut feeling that she's gonna take her chances and it's going to take her somewhere. She's so ambitious. Just like her mama."

**