Jessie was jumping excitedly on the couch. Today was the day they were going into town again, for the doctor to check on her ankle.
It had been two weeks since their moment and they had gotten even closer. They did not know much about each other, but the little they knew, they cherished it.
"Theo, are you done yet?", Jessie asked. She was already all ready and was waiting on Theo to finish whatever he was doing.
"Not yet, Princess", Theo answered making Jessie blush. About a week ago, he had taken to calling her Princess and damn if it didn't make her blush every time.
She was on his bed waiting for him to get done in the bathroom. The myth about women taking longer to get ready was definitely not true as far as Theo was concerned. He took all his time to get ready.
When he came out from the bathroom, Jessie shouted, "Finally!"
Theo just laughed and helped her up as she had difficulties standing on her own. They walked to the garage with his arm around her waist. It was like they were a couple without being a couple.
They got into the car and Jessie opened Theo's car door for him in a ridiculous but funny gesture. "I'm trying to be a gentlelady", she said jokingly making Theo laugh. He conceded though and got into the open car and watched Jessie go round with a smile on his face.
"I love being in cars. I'd love to take a road trip one day", Jessie said wistfully, admiring the scenery as the car drove past.
"You've never been on a road trip?", Theo asked, looking at her before focusing his attention on the road.
"No", Jessie replied sadly. "My... parents were not really present when I was growing up"
Theo stayed silent for some time. Though he had lost his parents early, they had always done things together. Taking trips, going to the fair– even just going for a simple meal at a fast food place.
"Tell you what, when your ankle is completely healed, we go on a road trip. Deal?", he said sincerely after a minute of thought.
Jessie's gloomy expression disappeared and gave way to a bright look. "Oh my god, really? You're the best Theo!", she exclaimed, then leaned over and gave him a lingering kiss on his cheek. Whatever Theo had been about to say stayed a thought in his mind.
***
"You're telling me to choose? Just like that? There's no catch?", Jessie asked skeptically. They had reached the parking lot of the mall after leaving the hospital and Theo had asked Jessie to choose an activity for them to do.
"Yes Jessie. Choose. And no, there's no catch", Theo answered tiredly. She had asked the question like a hundred times.
"Are you really sure–", Jessie started with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Yes Jessie, I'm sure", Theo answered wearily, before realizing she was just teasing him. He smiled mischievously and reached out towards her.
By the time Jessie had guessed his intentions, it was too late. The deed had already been done. He ahead started tickling her.
After a long tickling and laughter session, Jessie and Theo got out of the car. Jessie had decided that they would eat before going to the game arcade.
When they got into one of the fast food places in the mall, Jessie stopped abruptly, making Theo who was directly behind her almost push them forward to the floor.
"Is everything all right?", he asked urgently, turning Jessie to face him.
"Why wouldn't everything be alright?, Jessie asked, looking at him as if he was the one who had stopped in the middle of a fast food joint.
"You just stopped all of a sudden. I thought you had seen someone you didn't want to", Theo explained, pushing her forward so they could keep walking towards a booth at the far right corner of the joint.
"Ah, no I just thought of something", she said vaguely, without elaborating. Then all of a sudden she asked, "Is this a date?"
Theo grew flustered. He had never been on a date so he didn't know how exactly it was like.
"I don't know", he asked, unsure.
"I don't know either", Jessie said with a sad look on her face. "I've never been on a date"
"What if this was our own kind of date?", Theo proposed.
"Unplanned and totally crazy?", Jessie asked, grinning.
"Unplanned and totally crazy", Theo agreed, returning the grin.
Not long after they sat in the booth, a waitress came to take their orders. Theo ordered a burger with a side of fries and Jessie decided to take a burger and a milkshake.
They were laughing when another waitress came with their food. Jessie's smile left her face and the waitress almost dropped their food.
Theo looked from one to the other with a confused look on his face. The waitress had not said anything corny like Enjoy your food or anything like that. She just kept on staring at Jessie.
Jessie was breathing heavily. In front of her stood her "sister".
"Jessie", she muttered and without missing a beat, placed the food on the table, her eyes still locked with Jessie's.
"Pattie", Jessie muttered back, looking away, a cold look on her face.
"You– what are you doing here? I thought you were–", the girl called Pattie started, then thought better of it and shut her mouth.
"You thought I was what? Dead?", Jessie asked with a cold but smug smile.
"Jessie, I... Look, just– I'm still your sister, you–", Pattie started but was rudely interrupted by Jessie.
"Thank you for your services. You can leave now", Jessie said staring pointedly at Pattie, daring her to say another word.
Pattie took the hint and left their table, her steps noticeably hesitant.
Theo was thrown off guard. He didn't know whether to ask Jessie about what had just happened or to ignore it. Jessie's next words put an end to his silent debate.
"Can we just bag this and go back home?", Jessie asked and Theo's heart swelled. Sure, calling the place you lived in home was a reflex, but hearing Jessie say his house was home gave him a feeling he did not want to delve into.
"Of course", Theo answered and flagged a waitress down. As soon as their food was bagged, he carried Jessie precariously and led her to his car, much to her embarrassment.
Today his surprise, she giggled and held on tightly to the bagged food, burrowing her face into his chest and inhaling his scent.
The day had started out well and had turned sour, but a little sourness was nothing Jessie and Theo couldn't handle.