832A/N: This is my first story on fictionpress. I used to write fanfiction, but unfortunately I don't seem to ship the couple anymore... and that obviously is a problem when writing their love story. Anyway, I'm finding that I'm much better at doing my own characters anyway, and this is an older story that I wrote but I'm just going with the general idea, and I'm going to give it a major make-over.
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CHAPTER ONE- Wake Up and Go Go
As 23-year-old Jennifer Evans stepped out of the car onto the snowy sidewalk, she complained to her mother while she rubbed her hands together, trying to keep herself warm.
"I cannot believe your car broke down."
"You're telling me," her mother, Marie replied, sighing.
"It's all snowy and cold and I don't have the right shoes for snow trekking," Jenna told her.
"Oh, me either. I usually wear tennis rackets on my feet, but wouldn't you know I left them at home today."
"Sarcasm does not make me any less cold," Jenna informed her.
"Why are we whining?" Marie asked, looking over at her daughter. "We are independent women, we can fix this and find our way home."
"You're right," Jenna said with a nod. "I'll pop the hood."
"Good idea," Marie agreed.
Jenna opened the hood and and joined her mom up front to look. After all, even 40 years of life can't prepare you for the horrors that await you under the hood of a car.
"What's that, its mouth? I always thought the grill was the mouth," Marie said.
"No, I think that's where you put the oil."
"We don't have oil. Does it need oil?"
"I don't know. We covered that in driver's ed, but I didn't go under the hood, I checked tires."
Marie sighed. "Rats." She frowned. "Wait, if that's where you put the oil what's this thing?" she asked, pointing to something else.
Jenna frowned. "Oh... I don't know."
It was only a minute before Marie put the hood down, announcing, "I hope we look as good when we unfreeze this summer as we do right now, because we are definitely not fixing this car. My independent moment is over. I want my hubby."
Jenna bunched up her coat sleeve and looked at her watch. "He should be coming by any time now on his way home."
"What if he doesn't see me?"
"Your jacket is bright pink, how could he miss you?" Jenna asked rhetorically.
"I am insulted and I'm buying a new daughter tomorrow."
"Good. Make sure you buy one who knows how to fix cars," Jenna said, rubbing her arms and starting to walk away.
"Wait, where are you going?" Marie called after her.
"I'm going to walk home. Some of us don't have husbands and I am not going to fit in his truck, you will whine and I'll complain; it would be bad."
"Yeah, and he does have to cook when he gets home, so I do want him happy," Marie said thoughtfully.
"Yes, you do. Now-" Jenna stopped as Martin, Marie's husband pulled off to the side of the road and turned the truck off.
"Hubby!" Marie called.
"See," Jenna said, "there he is,"
"Oh boy," the man said, getting out of the truck. "What did you guys do?" Martin was a few years older than Marie with light brown hair and gray eyes. He was by no means a mushy man, but he loved Jenna like he would his own daughter if he had one. Jenna had always liked Martin. She had known him since she was 7, and he married her mom when she was 17. She adored Martin, so it was a very nice event for everyone.
Jenna and Marie both grinned. "Nothing," they said in unison, twin images in the falling snow.
"The poor car," he said, shaking his head.
Jenna smiled. "Well, I have to flee the scene of the crime," she stated.
"I can give you a ride," Martin said.
"That's okay," Jenna said. "It would be cramped in the truck and it would be better to freeze than be squeezed in the car with mom listening to her complain."
"I resent that," Marie said.
Jenna smiled. "You do not. Now I gotta go."
"Well, wait," Martin said. "Let me call George, he'll swing by and give you a ride."
"No," she said quickly. "That's okay."
George was the son of a family friend. He was always being shoved down Jenna's throat because her mom and Martin disliked her boyfriend immensely. She didn't really blame them. Her boyfriend since high school, Trevor Orris, was not exactly a catch. In high school he was. He had been on the football team, and of course he had been popular. He had always seemed so confident and cocky, but just underneath all the brovado was the proverbial little boy. He was no tough guy, he didn't even like football, and all the big guy on campus crap was just that, crap. Only Jenna had ever seen through it, because only she had ever called him on it. For some reason that made him determined to date her. There were never two people more wrong for each other, the quiet good girl with no social life to speak of and the big guy on campus with a letter jacket and the whole school at his feet. But there they were. When he asked her out she had agreed, and they had never stopped dating since. But they should have. He didn't seem to realize that when he started dating a good girl who didn't care about his social status he would actually have to work at the relationship. She was shy around his friends and she would never let him go as far as he wanted to when they were making out. He thought her friends were freaks and he didn't want to be around them and he didn't go for the whole "I'm not ready" thing. So, he did what his other friends did when they got bored; he cheated on her. Jenna, however, did not go for it. She had tried to confront him about it five months into their relationship. He promised it wouldn't happen again. Of course it did happen again. He cheated on her and then he would lie about it, and she would let him lie because she didn't feel like breaking up. And she didn't care. When he cheated on her he ruined their relationship, so as long as someone was keeping him entertained she was fine. When high school was over they were still dating, but he started drinking. Instead of growing up he became more of a child. He still cheated on her and then lied about it, because he liked having her around. She continued to pretend to believe him because she knew someone had to take care of him and she was used to the job.
Jenna sighed as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Bye, Mom. Bye, Martin."
"Bye hon," Marie replied. "Call me when you get home."
"Bye," Martin called.
Jenna had been walking for about five minutes when a black Ferrari pulled up next to her and slowed down, the window coming down, the warmth blasting her cold body. She glanced over into the brown eyes of her boss and fought the urge to sigh. She was cold and wet and she wanted to go home. She wasn't in the mood to see him.
"Hey, ice princess."
"Big shot," she muttered, the cold making her cranky.
"What?"
She bit her tongue. "Hi, Mr. Carter."
He smirked. "You're covered in snow."
"Thank you for noticing," she replied.
"I couldn't help noticing you walking along side the road. You have been wearing the same coat since I interviewed you three years ago. You really should get a new coat, you know."
"Oh. Well, I like my coat."
"Do I not pay you enough to buy a coat?"
"You pay me fine," she said.
"Then why won't you get a new coat?"
"I'm trying to save my money. Could you please torture me tomorrow when I'm being paid for dealing with it?"
He smiled. "I would, but I need you there in the form of a person, not an ice sculpture."
"Well, I'll try to work on that," she told him.
"That was me offering you a ride."
She glanced at him. "I can't, I'm full of snow, I'll get your seats messed up."
"The seats will be fine, but they appreciate your concern."
She stopped and bit her lip. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Get in."
She opened the door and got in, hugging herself and sucking up the warmth. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said. "So, why are you snow walking?"
"My mom's car broke down," she said, her teeth chattering.
He raised his black eyebrows and looked over his shoulder. "Is your mom back there, too?"
"No, she's with her husband. He gave her a ride home."
"No such luck for you, huh?"
She scoffed. "Not hardly," she replied, thinking of Trevor. Even if he happened to stumble across her, he would probably be too drunk to see her.
He nodded and checked the rearview mirror. It was just a minute to her apartment, then he stopped the car and let her out.
"Thank you for the ride," she said as she got out.
"You're welcome."
"I'm sorry if I got the seats wet."
"Don't worry about it," he said.
She waved and walked into her apartment building, pulling out her key as she trekked up the stairs. When she got inside she pulled her coat off and then she started yanking on her boots. Finally she stepped out of the wet area, grabbed her phone, and went to the couch, pulling a blanket around herself as she dialed her mother's familiar number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mom," Jenna replied.
"Wow, you're home already? Did you run?"
"No. Mr. Carter was driving by so he stopped and gave me a ride."
"Your boss Mr. Carter?" Marie asked, sounding a bit surprised.
"No, the other person I call Mr. Carter," Jenna replied, reaching across the coffee table for the control.
"I see what you mean about the sarcasm not keeping you warm."
"Yeah," Jenna agreed, turning the television to a music channel and turning it down, putting the control back down on the coffee table.
"So, did you two steam up the windows?" Marie teased.
Jenna rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, Trevor would love that."
"He's not there, he wouldn't know. You could hug and kiss and hold each other like spoons-"
"Mom, you're grossing me out," Jenna interrupted.
Marie grinned. "Sorry, I'm being two."
"You're very good at imitating that particular age," Jenna said.
"Although, I don't exactly think your boss is gross out material," Marie said.
"He's my boss," Jenna stated simply.
"Fine. I'll stop acting like a 12-year-old."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Oh, hey, Martin is trying to steal the phone to use it, and I would fight him for it, but he's cooking," Marie said.
"Okay, I'll let you go then."
"Make sure you tell Trevor you were sucking face with Mr. Wesley Carter."
"Yes, because men love to be lied to."
"Exactly."
Jenna smiled and shook her head. "Bye, Mom."
"Bye. Love you."
"Love you, too." Jenna hung up the phone and picked up the control, changing the channel.
Trevor finally did got there, but not until a little after 11 that night.
"Hey," he slurred as he stumbled in.
Jenna sighed. "Hi," she greeted, closing the door behind him.
Trevor was about 6'2'' with medium brown hair and eyes that were a nice shade of hazel when they weren't red rimmed. He had been sort of handsome once, and Jenna supposed that he wasn't bad looking even now, but she knew him too well to be at all affected by his looks.
"Sit down, I'll get you some coffee," she said.
"I don't need coffee."
"Yes, you do. You're drunk." She took his elbow and guided him down on the couch.
"I am?"
"When you have to ask that's usually a sign that you are," she said as she poured him a cup of coffee and put just a dab of sugar and a half teaspoon of milk in it. Then she stirred it and brought it in to him. "Careful, it's sort of hot."
He took a fairly big sip and pulled back. "That's hot!"
"I just said that," she stated, straightening.
He glanced up at her, his eyes lingering as he skimmed her from her legs up to her neck, then her face. He smiled and put the coffee cup down on the coffee table, then he placed his hands on her hips. "Come here."
"No," she said, neatly sidestepping him. He pulled her arm and tried to kiss her. She turned her head and pulled away. "Drink your coffee, Trevor."
"I don't want coffee, I want you."
"Well, you're getting coffee," she stated coldly.
He sighed and leaned back, sulking. "You're no fun tonight."
"Yeah, well, you're no fun any night. When's the last time we went to dinner, Trevor? Or the movies? When's the last time we even rented a movie and watched it without you ruining the evening by drinking and being an idiot?" She shook her head and walked down the hall.
"Where are you going?" he called after her.
"I'm getting a sheet for the couch. You can't drive home like this."
"You're making me stay on the couch?"
"You can stay on the roof if you'd rather," she said, walking back down the hall with a blue sheet in her arms.
"I could stay in your bed," he suggested
"No, I'm staying in my bed. You may have the couch or you can get a cab home, the choice is yours."
"You're such a bitch sometimes."
"Trevor, how do you spell bitch backwards?" she replied.
He opened his mouth and then shut it, frowning thoughtfully. "H..."
She nodded. "That's what I thought." She tossed the sheet on the couch. "I'll go get you a pillow."
He sighed and leaned back, covering his face and closing his eyes.
The next day was Saturday, so Jenna let Trevor sleep it off while she went to work. She got off work at one o'clock and her friend Stephanie asked her to go to lunch with her.
When Jenna got done relaying the events of the night before Steph rolled her eyes and said, "He came over drunk again?"
Jenna nodded. "Yes, and I'm getting so tired of it. He has to stop doing this."
"He needs to grow up," Steph replied. "Football's over; live with it."
"That was the third time this week. And he's probably done it more, too, just never comes to my place." Jenna shook her head. "He said I'm a bitch, too. Is he right, am I a bitch?"
"Of course you're not. You have put up with so much from him, Jenna. More than he deserves, that's for sure. You're the most tolerating person I know. I would have dumped him off ages ago. I don't know why you deal with it," Steph said, shaking her head and taking a drink from the straw in her glass.
"I'm trying to be patient and supportive," Jenna said.
"Yes, I understand that, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. For me the line would have been drawn about two months after I started dating him, but hey, to each his own, right?"
"I know," Jenna said thoughtfully, staring next to Steph's shoulder at the wall. "You know what?"
"What?" Steph asked.
"I saw that pink lipstick all over him again."
"Oh no," Steph said, her brow wrinkling in sympathy.
Jenna nodded. "It was on his neck and shirt..."
"You need to draw the line, Jenna. Now. You have to stop being a doormat The man is using you, how can you not see that?"
"I don't know what to do," Jenna said, shaking her head.
"That's odd, because I do. Dump the loser, Jenna."
"I can't dump him when he has a hangover," she said, making up an excuse like she always did.
"Sure you can. Dump him and make sure you do it loud and right in his ear," Steph said with a nod.
"That would hurt, wouldn't it?"
"Oh yes, and it would serve him right."
Jenna sighed. "I guess I better get back home and kick Trevor out."
"Kick him all the way to the curb, sweetie."
Jenna half smiled. "I'll call you later and you can tell me how your date with Ken goes."
"Okay."
Jenna grabbed her purse and put some money on the table, then she put on her coat and walked out into the bitter cold.
Jenna unlocked the door and went in, pulling her coat off and dropping her purse on the counter in the kitchen before entering the living room. There on the couch was Trevor, sleeping, oblivious to the world and looking like he had never moved. He looked so peaceful in moments like that, she would almost forget that they didn't have a normal relationship. Almost.
"Hey, get up," she said, shoving him gently.
He didn't even stir.
"Trevor, get up," she prodded.
He groaned, but he didn't wake up.
She sighed and straightened up. "Do not make me blast the radio."
He shifted a little.
"Get up," she said loudly.
He frowned but ignored her. Her lips tightened and she said, "This is your last warning."
He still didn't get up.
She sighed and walked over to her radio, pushing a button and skipping tracks. Then she turned the volume control over so it would be really loud and she pushed play. Green Day's When I Come Around loudly filled the room and Trevor's eyes opened and his hand went to his head. "Ouch," he said, grimacing.
"Yes, ouch. Do you want some coffee?"
"No, I want... aspirin and sleep," he muttered. "Can you turn that... off?"
"Well, I've nursed you enough, go home and get it." She turned her stereo down and turned back to face him. "You may want to shower and change your shirt, too. There's vomit and lipstick all over you and quite frankly, you stink."
"It is not lipstick," he lied tiredly. "I don't remember coming here."
"Well, I kidnapped you," she said dryly.
"What?" he said with a frown.
She rolled her eyes. "Never mind. Go home, Trev."
He slowly got to his feet, making it look like quite a painful process.
"Well," he said, running his hand through his hair, "thanks for last night."
"You're welcome."
"Maybe we can... do something later," he said slowly.
She nodded blandly, but they both knew she had no intention of carrying that out.
"God, my head hurts," he said, shaking his head slightly.
"Yeah, well, I doubt God's going to fix your hangover when He has bigger issues like poverty and prayers to think about, so why are you telling Him about it?"
"Seriously, your sarcasm is making my head hurt."
"Good," she chirped. "Maybe after a few days of my sarcasm making your head feel like it's going to implode you'll figure out the source and stop it."
He squinted at the brightness of the light and shaded his eyes. He seemed to be having a rare serious moment. "You really take care of me, don't you?"
She smiled a humorless smile and stated, "I'm an excellent nanny."
He sighed a little bit and lowered his eyes. "See ya," he mumbled, walking out the door.
She crossed her arms across her chest and stared at the door for a moment. Finally she took a deep breath and shook her head to clear it, then she went into the kitchen to get her purse.
"I think Stephanie's right," Marie said later on the phone. "You have to draw the line. You're letting him walk all over you. You've been doing it for way too long, Jenna."
Jenna sighed. "I know, but-"
"No, no but," Marie interrupted. "Just his butt being kicked to the curb, but other than that, no. And who is this skank who keeps getting the lipstick on him?"
"I don't know, but quite frankly I don't want to talk about her," Jenna said, twisting the phone cord around her finger.
"Shame on him," Marie said.
Jenna bit her lip. "Well..." She shook her head.
"What?" Marie asked.
Jenna hesitated. "I think I'm going to go tonight."
"What? Go where?"
"To the bar. I want to see if he shows up again and if he does I want to see what she's like. I'm morbidly curious. I know he usually comes home wearing pink lipstick on Saturday nights. It's always that same shade of pink."
"No. Jenna, you don't want to get in a cat fight, not over that jerk."
"I won't, I just want to see her."
"Knowing that she's sleeping with your boyfriend, you can calmly look at her and not want to hurt her?" Marie asked skeptically.
"Hey, at least someone's doing it," Jenna said with a shrug.
"Your boyfriend," Marie repeated.
"Only out of habit. It isn't a big deal. Look, he's the one that ruined our relationship, not her. If I wanted to hit someone it would probably be him, and as of yet I have not been violent to him, so I think I'm good."
"I don't know about this," Marie said.
"You'd do it," Jenna said simply.
"Well, yeah, probably, but that's very different."
"Yeah. Well, I have to get ready. I'm going."
"Fine. But no slapping unless it's him, in which case bring him here as well, because I want to get a few in."
Jenna smiled. "Got it. Love you, bye."
"Love you, bye."
Jenna shook her head and hung up the phone.
Jen hugged herself tight as she took a seat at the bar. "Cold," she mumbled.
The guy next to her glanced over at her and smiled. "Hi."
"Hi," she returned.
He glanced her up and down but not in a sleaszy way. She noticed and smiled sardonically. Nice, she thought.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"Um, actually I don't drink," she replied. "Thanks anyway though."
"They have Pepsi, too," he informed her.
"Oh, right. I forgot."
He smiled, showing off those perfect teeth again. "Don't come here often?"
"Not ever," she replied.
"What brings you here?" he asked, turning slightly toward her.
"She's here with me," some pretty brunette girl with greenish blue eyes said, putting a hand on her hip. "Girls' night out, no guys allowed; go away."
"Sorry," he said, putting his hands up in defense. "Don't bite my head off." He rolled his eyes and got up and moved. Jenna just stared at the brunette.
"I know, I seem like a complete toad right now, right? But I'm not. He's in here every night and he leaves with a different girl every night, all brunettes. He was lining you up for tonight and the only time you would ever see him again would be if you saw him flirting with another girl. You don't really seem like the one night stand type, and I know I haven't seen you in here before, and sadly I usually know the regulars, so I just thought I'd warn you."
"Oh. Well, thank you. I'm definitely not the one night stand type."
She smiled and nodded. "Didn't think so. But your type tends to fall for the tortured soul persona he puts out there. I'm a really good judge of character, by the way. He's the seducer, no girl is a match for him except Melanie Harper, and she isn't in here tonight. They dated in junior high or something and she's completely immune to him." The brunette giggled. "Sorry, you have no idea what I'm talking about."
Jenna smiled.
"I'm Jessica, by the way," the girl said.
"Jenna," she offered with a smile.
"So, Jenna, you don't drink, why are you here? To meet a nice guy?" she asked teasingly.
"No way. Guys are not my mission. I have one and he's more than enough trouble."
Jessica chuckled. "I have one of those. He didn't come tonight though."
"Well, my boyfriend has been spending every night here, and unless he wears lipstick and kisses himself he's definitely cheating on me."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Jessica said sympathetically. "I hate scummy cheaters."
Jenna smiled. "My friends keep telling me to dump him. I probably should, but..." Jenna trailed off with a shrug.
"Well, I've never met him, but I would not put up with the cheating."
"He was my first boyfriend, I don't even remember life before him."
Jessica raised her eyebrows. "So, what, you'll marry him?"
"No..."
"Mr. Right could pass you by, hon. It's what happened to me."
"I don't know how to deal with this situation..."
Jessica smiled softly. "I know. It's a really bad situation."
Jenna ended up telling Jessica a little more about herself and then Jessica was telling Jenna about her life, and her recent break up with a hideous boyfriend. But she found a new one, so it was no big deal. Jenna completely forgot she was supposed to be looking for Trevor and the other girl, but she knew logically that if Trevor wasn't right next to her she wouldn't know it was the woman anyway.
A couple guys offered to buy them drinks. One guy offfered to buy them both drinks, and they decided to take him up on his offer.
"So, what's your name?" asked the already tipsy Jessica as she waved her hand in the air for no reason at all.
"Todd. What's yours?"
"Jessica."
He loked at Jenna.
"Oh, Jenna," she replied.
He smiled. "Friends or sisters?"
"Girls with guy problems," Jessica announced. "Guys suck." She frowned. "Oh, no offense. You don't suck. We like you." Then she smiled. "Boy, this is fun. I need to bring girlfriends more often." She frowned again. "I need to get some girlfriends."
"You need to bring a taxi driver," Jenna said with a smile.
"That too," Jessica agreed. "I didn't drive though. That would be bad," she said dramatically.
"Okay," Jenna said, standing up. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"Where are we going?" Jessica asked.
"I'll take you home." She glanced at the guy. "Thank you very much for the drinks."
He smiled and nodded. "No problem. Maybe I'll see you around."
"I love you," Jessica called after the guy as Jenna dragged her away.
"Thanks for the ride," Jessica said as she stumbled on the steps. Jenna grabbed her arm to steady her. "Which one says home?"
Jenna looked at the keys. "None."
"Rats, wrong key ring." She shoved her purse at Jenna. "Find the one with the furry shoe keychain, please. My home key is on it. I'm just going to... lean here," she said, leaning on the door and closing her eyes.
Jenna shuffled through it, pulling the keyring and a snapshot accidentally fell out. Jenna bent down to pick it up and she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw it. Her eyes widened.
Jessica noticed her glance and smiled. "Oh, I forgot that was in there," she said with a yawn. "That's my boyfriend."
Jenna stared at the picture for a full minute before replying quietly, "Mine, too." She looked up, but Jessica's eyes were closed and she didn't appear to be awake. Jenna stuffed the picture back in Jessica's purse and helped her in. Then she wrote down her number and put it on the end table by the couch she put Jessica on. She pulled a blanket on Jessica and walked out, making sure she locked the door behind her.
Apparently Jenna and her new friend had more in common than they knew.
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A/N: So, this is just the beginning. I have a rough draft of the first few chapters, but it's a really rough draft, like white water rafting rough. Anyway, let me know what you think, please! I know it wasn't incredibly long, but I'll update if people like it so far. :)