Two weeks later, Jessica's 17th birthday.

She walks down for breakfast, "Happy Birthday!" They all yell as she walks down.
"Anne!" Jessica runs up and hugs her.
"We're here to, Jessica!" Jane says.
"But Anne!  You're here!  When did you get here?" She smiles.
"This morning.  I couldn't miss my baby sisters birthday!"
"Why not?  You missed mine." Jane gives her a look.
Anne smiles and says, "Well anyway, I just wanted to come and see you.. And everyone's else too.  I've missed you guys!"
"We've missed you too, baby." Dorothy says before she walks up to Jessica.
"My baby!  Happy Birthday, Jessie!" She hugs her.
"Thanks mom."
"Oh I can't believe my baby girls is seventeen!  You were just this little sassy thing and now you're a beautiful young woman." She smiles and gently caresses her cheek.
"Aw, thanks mom." Jessica smiles.

After breakfast they all sit around the living room and Anne says, "So Jess.."
"What?" She looks at her.
"I wanna hear about this Danny." She smirks.
"What about him?" She smiles at the ground and blushes.
"He's your boyfriend?"
"... A little bit." Jessica giggles.
"A little bit?  How does that work?" Anne laughs.
"He's her boyfriend!" George says in an obnoxious way.
"Stop it!" Jessica throws a pillow at him.
"Can I meet him?"
"No!"
"Why not?  Everyone else has met him."
"Because.."
"Because why?"
"Fine, you can meet him!" She sighs.
"But just a quick hi and bye when he picks me up tonight."
"You're going out tonight?"
"Yeah. With him, Sarah and her boyfriend Evan."
"Oh.. I'm not invited?"
"Nope."
"Gee, thanks."

***

That evening the doorbell rang.
"That's him, be cool!" She tells Anne who is very eager to meet him.
"Please!  I'm always cool!" She laughs and Jessica just rolls her eyes at her.

She opens the door and kisses Danny.
"Happy Birthday!" He hugs her.
"Thanks, Danny!" She smiles.
"You ready to go?"
"Yep!"
Anne clears her throat loudly and Jessica rolls her eyes, "This is my sister, Anne."
"Hi, I'm Jessica's oldest sister.  I'm just here for the weekend."
"Hello, nice to meet you." He smiles and shakes her hand.
"Okay, let's go!" Jessica grabs his arm and tries to leave.
"Wait!  Where are you two going?"
"Jessica's favorite restaurant." Danny smiles at Jessica.
"Aw.. You guys have fun and drive safe."
"We will!" Jessica says walking out the door.
"And don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"Hah!  Anne, I think I did that when I got a date!" Jessica laughs.

***

When they arrive at the restaurant Sarah and Evan are already seated.
"Happy Birthday Jess!" Sarah runs up and hugs her.
"Happy Birthday, Jessica!" Evan gives her a side hug.
"Thanks you guys!"

As they eat and talk, Sarah says, "You guys, Evan's older brother said that we can go buy this party they're having tonight, and we can drink. He won't say anything!"
"I-I don't know, Sarah. My parents would kill me."
"No they won't! I'll call my mom and say that I'm staying over at your house tonight, and you can call your mom and tell her that you're at my house. It's no big deal!"
"Sarah..."
"Come on Jess, it's your birthday."
"I'll go, but I'm not drinking."
"Fine!" Sarah sighs.
"It'll be fun." Danny smiles and puts his arm around her.

***

"You see? It's easy!" Sarah says after Jessica calls her mom.
"I lied!" She says with a guilty look on her face.
"It's not lying... You said I'm sleeping over with Sarah... That's true.. I Am with you!"
"If I get caught, I'm dead and I'm dragging you down with me!"
"You won't get caught! Jesus! Just relax and have some fun!"

When they get to the party Sarah and Evan immediately start drinking.
"You okay, Jess?" Danny asks her.
"I'm fine. I've just never drank before."
".. Can I tell you something?"
"Huh?" She looks up nervously at him."
"Neither have I..."
"Really?"
"Never! I come from a huge Catholic family and I'd be dead if my mom knew where I was right now."
"Same here. I just didn't want to seem like a huge dork in front of you, who never goes out."
"I don't think you're a dork because you don't go out.. And if you are and that's what makes us dorks, then so be it!" He laughs.
Jessica smiles then asks, "So what do we do?"
"Whatever you want. We can stay here and drink together for the first time, and probably get caught.. Then killed. Or we can go to our hidden away place and just talk." He smiles.
Jessica gives him a small smile and says, "I like your idea better."
"Good." He chuckles and looks around.
"Let's get out of here."
"Alright, just let me go talk to Sarah really quick."

"Sarah! Sarah!"
"Oh HEEEEEYYY Jessie! Jess! Jess-ICA!" Sarah laughs.
"Sarah, listen to me. Danny and I are gonna head out." Jessica says looking into her eyes and holding onto her arms.
"You're what?!"
"We're going somewhere else. Now, you and Evan have fun, and be safe Sarah. Please be safe! Don't drive when you're drunk, and don't get in the car with anyone else who's been drinking. Just stay here and try not to drink too much!"
"Got it, Jess! Love ya, hoe!"
"I love you too, biotch." Jessica hugs her.

***

When Jessica and Danny get to "Their place" They just sit there and talk for hours.
"I love how comfortable I am with you, and how I can tell you anything without feeling embarrassed or ashamed of myself." Jessica says with her feet up on the dashboard and twirling her fingers in his hair.
"I feel the same... I've never connected with someone in the way that we connect. Jess, I'm falling for you... and I... I think I'm falling in love with you."
Jessica smiles and says, "Dance with me."
"Now?" He chuckles.
"Yes.." She smiles and gets out of the car.
Danny turns the volume way up and leaves it on whatever is playing.

"Can't help falling in love" By Elvis Presly plays out loud.
Danny walks up to her and wraps his arms around her waist.
"Pretty ironic for this song to be on the radio right now, isn't it?" Jessica laughs.
"Very!" He chuckles.
"Jessica?"
"Hmm?" She looks up at him.
"That thing I just said."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sure of it."
"You are?" She smiles.
"Yeah. I love you, Jessica."
Jessica smiles at him without saying a word for a little while, then says, "I love you too, Danny."
He chuckles then leans down and they share a deep and passionate kiss as the song plays.

"Some things are meant to be
Take my hand,
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you."

After they dance, they go back to his car and fall asleep cuddled up in the back seat.