Chapter 3

"Who's this?" The voice behind her made Jess practically fall out of her seat. When she turned her seat around to face the quiet intruder, she saw Katrie, looking sheepish and holding holding the picture of a man that had been very lovingly tacked on the cork board behind her. Glancing at the picture, Jess' face softened and she leaned back.

"That's Alex. I've been seeing him for about six months now," she said. "You guys would have met him today, but he had to fly to D.C. for a week or so. Maybe he'll get back before you leave, though."

"Hopefully," replied Katrie. "I'd love to meet him. I mean, a guy that you can stand for six days, let alone six months is definetly a rarity. Wait till the others hear about this." She threw her head back and giggled in delight. "We're gonna have some fun with you, missy." She tacked the picture back up again and in an instant had exited the room just as quietly as she had entered it. Jess let out a long sigh, dreading the evening ahead, then turned back to the computer screen. Since Katrie had frightened her, it had updated to show two new messages.

"Hello? Jess? Ya still there?"

"You know, it's not nice to ditch your boyfriend when we're in the middle of an online conversation. Better watch out, or I may just not come home in time to meet your friends."

Now a new message popped up, just as Jess was beginning to enter her reply to Alex's threat. It said "Come on! I didn't mean it, hon, I swear! TALK TO ME!" Quickly, she typed up a few words and entered them to the chat room. You know, I almost forgot how much fun it is to watch you sweat :)

Yeah, very funny, but I'll send you the bill for the extra deoordorant you're costing me, thank you very much, he replied a moment later. Where were you?

Katrie came in for a minute. She saw your picture on my tack board, and I had to explain.

Really? What did you tell her, that I was your ruggedly handsome computer repair man that you have a crush on? Or- dare I say it- the truth?

The truth, of course. I hate to say it, babe, but you really are the most perfect boyfriend I've ever had. I can't help but brag a bit. Forgive me?

I don't know, I feel kind of used........ah, what the hell, I'll forgive you, Jess. After all, I do love you.

I love you too. I miss you, though; I don't like it when you're not around every day.

Really?

really

Well, then, maybe we should do something that will make sure that I'm there when you wake up. Jess raised an eyebrow at her screen. Up until now their conversation had been joking and carefree, but now she got the feeling Alex was steering it into a more serious subject.

What do you suggest, Alex? Right when her message popped up on the screen, Jess knew that she didn't want him to answer her. She wasn't lying when she said that she loved him, but she also didn't know if she was ready to take a step up in their relationship. If that's even what he was talking about. He could just be setting her up for one of his jokes. Maybe she should sign off now and tell him that her computer crashed before he sent his answer. The screen updated, and Jess felt her heart make its way to her throat. She was too late, and her worst fears were coming true.

Okay, well, I really don't know how to write this out, since I haven't even figured the whole thing out in my head. And I did want to do this in person, but I suppose I'm chickening out again by doing it throught a chat room. Anyway, the thing is, ever since I met you, I've felt more alive and happy than at any other time in my whole life, and I'm in love with you. Will you marry me?

She didn't know what to do. Her hands shook as she poised them over the keyboard, knowing what she wanted to say but not having any idea as to how to say it or even if she should at all. Finally, though, she ran out of time to do anything. A new message came up, and after a moment of absorbing it, she burst into tears. It said "i'm sorry." Jess was only into her first sentence of her reply before Alex's screenname disappeared from the screen and the host sent her a message telling her he had signed off.

Hot tears welled up in her jade eyes as she began punching in the codes to sign herself off as well. She managed to control her emotions until the screen went black and the message saying "it is now safe to turn off your computer" came up. Then she drew her legs up onto the chair, leaned her head over, and quietly sobbed into her knees for an eternity or so.

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