Chapter 4: Being A Good Friend

~No One's P.O.V~

By Sunday the service went by incredible quick it was almost like God himself knew how much Axel and every other single person his age was dreading the damn brunch after word most would do their best to get into work after church just to avoid it luck bastards he thought to himself. Shaking the Priests hand and going to the outside area where pop up huge tent and tables and chairs were set up as caterers came around serving everyone most people brought dishes but the rich side of the town normally paid extra to have it catered once a month as to have the community church bond grow strong, or in other words we want to pimp our kids off to further our own selfish cause. Then again now that were all grown and stable I guess there is nothing else to look forward to other then getting grandchildren. Axel told the waiter two different orders and the same drink as Jessie came and sat right in between him and Killian thanking him for placing an order. Winking to her as he was tickling Maddie on his lap.

"There's my babies." They heard an excited Dana coming up behind them smiling brightly. "Hey mom." "Hey grandma." Killian and Maddie said as Jessie and Axel both just nod and fake smile. Chloe had gone to the bathroom with the other girls and the guys had just sat down in the huge circle. They had just enough chairs for their group. "Why don't you four come sit with us over there the Jones have saved us all a spot at their table." Dana encouraged. "Four?" Axel asked her like she lost her mind. "Well yes silly four there's the four of you right?" She asked in fake playful voice. "Well that's all nice and all but we are set just fine here mom." Killian told her taking Maddie from Axel kissing her forehead. "How about you Axel, Natalie's over there she would be so disappointed if you declined." She pouted. "Why? We're not actual friends we just work together I don't eat with her there either." Axel asked looking at her like she had three heads. "Axel do you always have to be so rude?" His mother snipped at him.

"Sorry Mrs. Grave's that's my fault Axel promised to sit with me today and catch up since we've both so busy lately. Ain't that right Ax?" She said in a sweet voice rubbing his upper arm next to his wrist. Making Dana smile even bigger. "Oh that's fine Jessie dear. You are doing well aren't you?" Dana asked her tilting her head to look at her face. "Yup I'm great. I'm actually thinking of probably moving my practice closer to Axel's work since there is a great space opened. I was just wanting the boys input." Jessie said as Dana kissed the top of her head. "I think that sounds wonderful. The poor hospital though losing such a gem most of the time. You will be an even busier woman with all the new business you will gain. We are just so proud of you love." Kissing her on the head one more time. "I'll just tell them you are discussing business they will understand." Dana said walking away feeling proud of her boys having made such good, smart friends all from good families and good jobs. "I love you so much right now, you don't even know. That was weird right? Are you really going to take the space?" Axel asked smiling at the last question.

"I know I'm awesome. I love you too." Saying the last part made a blush come to her face that she couldn't fight she still had the dream haunting her and how she felt, and how perfect it was. Still wondering if those feelings are real, or if it was just caught up in the dream moment. "Yes I am thinking of being closer to you. For work. You know opening practice closer I've been doing really well so I would have enough to buy and I could always schedule surgeries a couple days of the month other than that I think the girls and I will be fine. We've been kicking ass so far right ladies?" She called out a little louder then she meant to and the girls cheered and answered with the same energy making others smile at their playfulness. After about forty minutes of laughing and fun they all managed to avoid the pushy parents except her own who left early themselves they didn't need no one telling them just how great their kids would be for Jessie.

"You need a ride home?" Axel asked her. "Yeah I came in with Elias." Nodding to her. "I gotta pee first." He told her getting up. "Me too." Adjusting her straps on her black sundress which made her look even more beautiful to him. Walking over to the restrooms together. She finished before he did as the line inside was longer. Coming out she was going to stand in the hall when she heard the voices looking around the corner. "What about that Isabella girl she was sweet."

"Mom I'm not going to go ask out Leo's crush and basically girlfriend." He sighed. "Well I don't want my baby being so alone I just worry about you." "I know ma. Jessie?" He asked looking up with a huge smile and a blush his parents did not miss, and smirked. "Oh Jessie it is so good to see you today. You looks so beautiful today." "Thank you. It's so nice to see you. How are you guys doing?" Trying to help change the subject for poor Dimitri. "We are fine. Trying to get our son to get a little more I don't know why he doesn't, he's a handsome guy don't you think Jes? His father asked. "Of course Mr. Moretti you should see how many patients drool for him in the E.R. Not a shock though when good looks run in the family." She said winking at his mother who blushed and smile brightly.

"See even your lovely friend thinks you need to get out." "Way to help a man out Jes." He whispered and tease. Well if he couldn't be happy with the first attempt to help him fine, she'll help the away team. "You know I think would just match him perfectly. Natalie Jones her and her parents are just over there with the Graves. I'm sure she would just hit it off with him perfectly." Jessie told them egging them on making their faces light up and drop at the same time. Axel trying to hide his laugh the whole time coming up to her.

"Really you think she would be a good fit?" His dad asked with his eyebrow raised challenging her words hoping she would claim him instead even they hated the girl but beggars can't be choosers. "Oh absolutely. They would get on like peanut butter and jelly I work with her down at the station hard worker that Officer Jones." Axel said coming up wrapping an arm around Jessies waist which wasn't unusual for them. Only this time her blush was becoming visible making Dimitri take notice and his skin crawl.

"I have my doubts. Besides I don't need you to set me up with anyone I can set up my own dates just fine in fact we have one this Saturday." Dimitri pointed between the two. "Oh now honey I think I might have other plans." Axel told him batting his eye lashes to him. "Dimitri?" His dad questioned. "He meant me Mr. Moretti we have a date this Saturday." "Oh well that sounds wonderful." His mother got excited for. "Angel if we want to beat traffic we better head out." Axel said taking of his leather jacket and putting it on her. "If your cold Jes I got a hoodie in the car." Dimitri offered. "Oh no the leather will help my skin while Axel takes me home. She said as Axel adjusted her hair and handed her a helmet. "Have a good day folks." Axel waved off grabbing her hand showing her to the car. "You have your work cut out for you son. Good luck to ya." His dad told shaking his head. "You better leave a good impression on that date son. He's already two steps ahead of you." His mother sighed out as they all left.

~Axel~

"Hey Axel Amber and I were going to go down to the bar this Friday you should come with us." Natalie asked excited leaning over his desk a little. "I'm already going with some friends." He said not bothering to look up at her and still making reports on the new arrest he made he was baffled by how many of this new drug was going around the town. Dex had sent back a report not finding anything that would make up for some of the effect it was having. He had called Jessie over to look over one of the people in the cells. "Well maybe we could go together. Get some drinks maybe some food little dancing. Get to know each other better. It could be fun." "I've already made plans with my friends to be there. You should enjoy you're night out with Amber." He said not looking up to her. "Well how about dinner on Saturday then? I think if you just gave me a shot you might have a good time." She purred a little.

"Alright Ax here I am to save your day." Jessie said playfully walking over to hug him as he sat in his chair as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "You have no idea how true that is and not a moment too soon. "He whispered so only she could hear. "Hey Natalie." Jessie said happily. "Hi." She responded a little rudely. "ANYWAY. Axel you didn't answer my question." "What question he asked again not even looking at her getting her frustrated. "About going out with me for dinner Saturday night? I think if you would just give me an actual shot you would have a great time." She tried one last time reaching out to touch his arm which he yanked back.

"Natalie. I'm just going to say this to you once and once only. I am not attracted to you in any way shape or form. I have no desire to go on a date with you. I don't want to dance with you, eat with you I don't even share the same pew with you at church. I don't think of you in any type of way. You are a collage and you are good at your job, but that's where this ends. So please stop hitting on me I don't like you. Not like that. I respect you as a coworker but that's it. Now please can you get pick up your dignity button your shirt back up, remember where you are and get back to work." Axel asked her all the desks and things are on an open space format so everybody can hear and see what goes on. He tried to be as quiet as possible but he was getting annoyed. She walked away tears in her eyes feeling heart broken, ashamed, and embarrassed.

"Man this is why you the town asshole." Ryder told him shaking his head. "I was honest, to the point not leading her on and shut her down in the work place. It's called being an honest adult. Sometimes truth aint nice or pretty when people don't want to hear it the first time. Damn wish Moretti would have took her off my hands for real." "Hey I batted for you." "I know you did angel that's why you the best." He said kissing her forehead. "Now come here and check this guy out. He fell and cut his side of the head. He's on the new drug strung out bad but if you tell him what you want him to do he'll do it no fighting and Hunter and I will be right next to you the whole time. HE's cuffed too by the way." "Alright then." Looking him over. "Yeah he needs few stitches but he'll be fine heart rates a little high but that's just because he's coming off it. If he was still in the middle he'd be more mellowed out. After getting the task done she was sitting on the desk as the guys working over the case asking her expert opinion on drugs to try to narrow some things down.

"I'm just having some issues with where to pinpoint where to start to look there just everywhere close to town." Axel said rubbing his light facial hair on his chin. Taking a deeper look Jessies eyes widened. "Axel these drugs are coming from the city. Their coming from town goin to the city." She took out the map and held it up on a big white board. "Here are all the arrest where you found a substantial amount of the new drugs right. Notice something. They are all trying to get to the city. The dealers aren't in the city they're here trying to push out to there. Which is genius because who would look here in the quiet boring nowhere nothing town. Where everyone is your neighbor. Also the only reason your having trouble finding what's in the drug is because they are using the rare chemicals that aren't traceable. They live behind no like metaphorical fingerprint. There are actually quite a few that will do the same effect if mixed properly with others. We learned all this in college." She mumbled to herself remembering the joke her professor made. "If you can mix chemistry well enough you can be your own drug dealer. We learned all about untraceable chemicals since so many women used them to get out of bad relationships." Jessie said as the guys all looked at her and got excited to know they finally got a break in this thing a whole new lead.

"Ok so great so what type of person are we looking for Jes?" Eli asked happily getting ready to make list. "Anybody in the medical field or science field including Pharmaceutical and botanist. Also farmers and nurseys." She said sadly sitting back down. "So basically the whole fucking town." Ryder said rubbing his hands in his face. "Honestly my guy tells me this is medical field, like a doctor who's strong background was chemistry, or the labs. Nobody else would have the right access to most of these drugs since they have to be prescribed. Unless they are getting the doctor to get it to them like black mail." "Now we're getting somewhere that-a girl this is why you the smartest." Hunter told her kissing the top of her head making Natalie and Amber roll their eyes in disgust. Amber hated Jessenia because she has had her heart set for Dimitri and could never get him to even look her way. It broke he rot see him so happy to finally get a date with the women he wants so badly who doesn't even love him the way she does the curses of living in the small town.

"I can't believe how we been on this for days and you just waltz that sexy ass in here for an hour and bam make us look retarded assholes who need to be wearing special helmets." "Yeah, maybe you guys should be embarrassed. If you excuse me I have to go gloat to your women you needed me to hold your hand on this. See you guys tomorrow at the bar. Ax you going to be drinking?" She turned and asked him. "Probably not. You want a ride home?" "Please." She said as she walked out the building with eyes throwing daggers at the back of her head.

~No One's P.O.V~

Watching Jessie leave they rolled their eyes at Amber and Natalie giving her filthy looks. "Don't worry about the wicked bitch duo they just jealous because Amber has a hard on for Dimitri and Nat has a hard on for your big ass. Guess Amber heard they got a date, which with all due respect never thought would happen and sure as hell can't see happening twice." Hunter laughed out before he looked up and added. "Then there's Natalie who jealous of how close you guys are guess she figured out who your secret hard on is." Making them all laugh. Glancing over to Ryder looking sadly at his phone. "What's with your sour puss?" Axel asked him. "Aria hasn't responded to any of my calls or texts since our date last week. I don't know if she's blowing me or what's that shit ghosting me." Looking up at him with the saddest look he ever saw on another human beignet hurt Axel to see it a little.

"We slept together that night dude what if she regrets it. What if I was so damn bad she's trying to find a way to let me down easy, I mean hell she didn't even stick around she was out before fucking first light. That was the best night of my life dude and I couldn't even." He was shaking his head. "She just fucking split no note, no text nothing. I mean it would be different if we was strangers or something but it's me man! It's her and me after all these years. I thought she was just going to over react for a while and then be cool like always but fuck nothing for a week?" Ryder asked looking sad and lost mainly hurt.

"You really put way more than just your best foot forward on that date huh?" Eli asked him in a hushed tone. "It was my shot man, my finally fucking shot. It's hard not to." "Would it help you to know I spoke to her the very next day and she already told me what you just said." Axel asked him drinking on his drink cleaning around his desk. The guys looking at him like he told them he found Santa. "What?" "She talked to you about personal things. Aria came and spoke to you the king of the assholes?" "Hey, fuck off you damn pricks I can be quiet wisdomist when I want to be. I'm not always a dick I know how to handle a woman who losing her shit." Axel replied back. "First off bro wisdomist not a word. Second what the fuck you mean?" Ryder asked getting worked up.

"Well you're right she was over reacting but not because of what you think. She just coming to certain terms within herself and if she's not responding then that's just because she needed more time. Look hit her up one last time. Ask her to be your date tomorrow night for dancing and it's ok if she says no, you won't bother her like that again. Like you get the message." Axel said with a shrug. "You want me to give her an ultimatum after you just said she may need more time?" Ryder asked him dumbfounded.

"Look dude trust me do this. It gives her notice that you want to fight for her but also lets her know that she needs to be open on communication with you as well or she can lose you. You have feelings too man. They don' t think we don't feel like crap being ignored for a week? She knows you're man of your word to bro. So if she thinks she's going to lose out on you she'll say yes or a we need to talk text. If she doesn't respond then man you got the answer you need. Like you said it's you and her after all these years a week is long enough to know what you want or don't. I think she just needs a push. A good ol sift kick in the junk." Axel told them as they started walking outside.

"Swift kick in the girl junk is that right?" Hunter chuckled. "The crap that comes out of your mouth sometimes bro." Elias added. "Why you two still here?" Axel asked as they just stood in the parking lot. "Same as you dick, our nosey ass wants to see if she answers him back." Elias told him as they all just chuckled watching him in the corner talking on the phone for a few minutes to walk back to them. "YOU my friend are still the towns reigning asshole but a smart one. Once I sent that text she called me back so fucking quick I swear I barely blinked. I told her what I felt and thought and said she either felt the same or she didn't but I didn't want to play games like this. You were right you know it's not fair. We're going out to dinner tonight to talk everything out. Thank fuck I'm not on call. Good looking out man." Ryder said hugging his best friend. The guys joked for a few more minutes and then went home.

~Jessie~

"You did what BELLA?!" "I may have agreed to a double date tonight that involves you." Bella said as the girls were leaving the office. "Why would you do that to me and why wouldn't you have told me when you made the date?" Jessie whined. "Who's the guys is it Leo?" Sienna asked her curiously. "Look it's not like I could these two their already in a relationship." Aria just blushed. "Really Si?" "What she's not wrong I mean what's the harm in going on one date. I mean your friend needs you. Besides you can think it as going to dinner with a friend and then you can always have one of the guys call and say they need you down at the station or Killian who needs you to go babysit or something." Aria added like it was no big deal.

"Please, come on please I really like Leo but he can only come if I got a date for his friend who is already reluctant to go. Please I'll do anything you want please." Bella begged. "UGH!!! FINE! What time and where do I meet you?" "Well you know Leo could give him your number and he could always pick you up I mean they did offer." "HELL NO! I will drive myself there and drive myself home. Now where and when. "The Italian place on Oak Ave. at six." "So I have an hour and a half to get half way dressed up and fake enthused?" "YUP!?" Bella said doing her happy dance. "Do you at least know who the other guy is?" Sienna asked them before they all got in their cars. "Leo didn't say." She shrugged driving away. Great just fucking great she moaned to herself.

Walking in the building looking around the hostess asked her if she was looking for someone and once she gave Leo's name she smiled up to her. "The rest of your party just sat down right this way please." Coming up to the table with one open chair next to a guy she couldn't see his face but a smiling Leo and Bella. "I'm sorry got caught at a light then the car in front of me was more into his phone then paying attention to the light." Jessie said as the guy's head snapped up with a smile. "Hey gorgeous. Man I'm really glad to see you." Dimitri said while taking a good breathe out.

"I was worried who Bells was going to bring because well it's Bells." He said making the other two laugh hard as he helped Jessie into her chair. "Hey. Cheap shot." She mumbled. "Leo made plans with me early and after I told him it was ok to bail he made a bitch fit about how I needed to get and of course my mother being in front of me It was like I got jump and beat up and they didn't even need to touch to make me feel so violated." Dimitri sighed out in a fake shiver making her laugh again.

He loved being able to make her laugh wishing he could hear it all the time. Any chance he could get or take to get his foot just in the door with her he was going to take in stride. "Well at least I doubt I would need my 'emergency phone call'." Jessie told them making them laugh. "Ah so you had one of those set up too. Mine was Travis who was going to call me in for work. Who was yours? He laughed asked after getting their meals. "Killian of course. He was going to pop up with a Godmother emergency since Axel is busy tonight." Nodding his head. "Is that the cover story or does that actually happen a lot?"

"Well it actually happens but it's never an emergency. Axel and I both take our roles a little more seriously than most people would but to be honest we are both so equally wrapped around that little girl it's crazy. So yeah there are a lot of times I take her and a lot of times Axel takes her then there's those times we take her out together just to let her go nuts and make some awesome memories with her favorite auntie and uncle. Most of the times we take her out we just randomly show up and say were taking her we don't wait around to be ask to baby sit or anything, because if we did that we'd just miss her too much." Jessie shrugged like it was supposed to be obvious although she doesn't know anyone else who would do that in this town.

"Sounds like a very special kid to surrounded by so much love." "She is adorable. Incredibly smart." "Maybe she take after her aunt." He teased playfully. "Nope honestly Killian, Axel and I have always been top of the class in fact most people don't know this but Axel actually ranked higher then Killian all those smarts just run in the blood line. My Maddie is going to go far." Jessie boosted like a proud auntie. "Yeah she is!" Bella shouted loudly as another proud auntie.

"Do you think you want a couple of kids of your own down the road. You're really great with them." Leo asked Jessie as Dimitri smiled as a silent thank you for asking so he didn't have to. "Yeah I would like to have a few I guess. I would like the chance to be a mom before I get too old but I still have some time. How about you guys?" Taking a drink looking around at the three. "I want at least two." Leo said. "Me too. I don't want to be outnumbered and I don't want one lonely with at least two years of age in between I don't want both of them in diapers at the same time I need a break in between." Bella said making them chuckle.

"I'd like to have as many as the ol' lady will give me when the time comes." "Ah the perfect amount." Bella teased. "Since this is such a group effort let's all ask a question basic routine first date questions and we all have to answer them." Leo told them. "So act like this is our first-time meeting you guys. Ok that could be fun." Bella said smiling and Jessie nodding along. "What do you like to do in your free time?" Leo started. "I like to garden, and send some time outside, or hang out with the girls and the guys doing an activity sometimes it's hiking or bowling. Playing a sport or fishing we do all kinds of things. I like to cook I'm not the best but I do alright." Bella said looking at Dimitri. "I like to venture out with my dip nut friends or I like to read, catch up on shows. Visit my parents when I think I have any self-respect left just so they can drain it out of me. Then I go to the city more often then I care to admit. They got better galleries and museums then we do. " Dimitri laughed off feeling like a nerd. "I love to read on my time off. Laying around on stormy days with something to drink my special blanket and a good book. Then I spend time with my besties, my little Maddie and Sundays with liner at my parents." "What is linner?" Leo chuckled sneaking a bite of food of Bella's plate.

"Well it's normally lunch after church that stretches so long we almost sometimes don't leave until Dinner." Bella said smiling at Jessie knowing how much they love it Jessie winking back at her. "What is your favorite meal?" Bella asked them. "Lasagna." Leo said a little too quick. "Steak. Like any kind to." Dimitri added. "Pasta. Just all of it." Bella said in a happy sigh and dreamy look into her plate. "Chinese food." Jessie said as she stared out dreamily into nothing making them smirk harder. "My turn if you were a super villain what would your super power be?" Jessie asked. "Oh yes! Good one! We are so nerdy it's unreal." Leo laughed getting excited. "I want telekinesis. Making anything I want to happen with my mind happen." Leo rushed out with a little bounce on his chair. "I want to be invisible like all the way and be able to go through things whenever I want and whatever I touch will contain the same time of energy so I could rob banks, or pet stores, or even Sees candies." Bella said making everyone laugh hard at her shaking her head.

"I want to have." Dimitri started off lost in thought. "I want to be able to read minds and control the way people feel and what they feel. As a doctor I know we can't save everyone from everything but would have liked to be able to stop them from feeling pain and feeling alone. As a villain I would be able to make my enemies feel whatever I want them to. If I can get into their mind I can make them think they were crazy. It's perfect." "I disagree although that is evil. I would want to be a shape shifter. So when I go to wreak havoc on someone I can make myself look like them or someone they really cared about. Drive them crazy with pain and hurt every time they would look in the mirror or the person they loved most in the world crippiling them mentally and emotionally in a way they could not heal again." Jessie told them. "Damn you are right that's more evil because you could never be able to unsee that crazy shit." Bella said with a nervous chuckle. "This is so awesome." Leo said smiling.

"OK my turn. What do you want to be when you grow up?" Dimitri asked. "That is so cute. I love it. I want to be a nurse but mostly at some point a good mom," Bella said looking at her cup happily. "I want to be a fireman." Leo said smiling. "Fireman with still being able to help those in the community." Dimitri said. "It's so cute you guys are already what you want to be." Jessie teased. "Yeah like we'd ever grow up." Dimitri laughed off. They stared at her waiting.

"I wanted to do something that would help people ever since I was a little kid. Now that I am a doctor I thought that's what I wanted to be. It is don't get me wrong." She stops for a moment. "Have you ever had a dream, so real, it changes the way you things and people around you?" They all just looked at her. "Like when you feel like your falling and you wake up and noticed your body jumped on the bed in that freak way it does?" Leo asked totally thought he was getting what she meant.

'Like when those girls get mad because they dreamt their men cheated on them and then dump them?" Bella asked trying to get on the same page. "Like when you have a random dream about a person or thing and when you wake up you either feel or disconnected or attached to that person or thing and feel a deeper connection to it?" Dimitri asked looking at her. "YES. THAT! I had the most active dream and now I'm thinking I want to be something a little different but honestly deep down no matter what, what I really want to be is just a good person." They all nodded and went to get up to leave. "Wait we need to pay the check." Jessie told them trying to get around Bella. "Leo and I already paid when we went to the 'bathroom' we wanted to and didn't want to argue with you about it." Dimitri told her pointing his finger to her. "It's ok to pick your battles Jes." Bella told her in a tone only she could hear. "Yeah alright fine. Thank you." "Thank you." They said goodnight. Leo got in and drove Bella home.

Dimitri opened the door to her car. "So honestly were you disappointed when I showed up?" She teased him. "I don't think I could have been any more excited. To see you come through those doors then felt like I had won the lottery. Where you disappointed?" "No, I wasn't a little shocked but I really had no expectations going in it was nice to be around friends. It was fun. Thanks for tonight." "Thanks for showing up." He pulled her in catching her off guard in a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you Saturday Jes." Closing the door for her and walking away he felt like he was on cloud nine, while she felt wrong and nothing at the same time. This night could not be any weirder going home and texting Killian helped clear her mind since the only thing Axel could say was 'I would have asked most embarrassing moment.' Sometimes I want to smack him but after that dream I freaking stuck wondering what would it be like to be wrapped up by him the way were. Kiss him the way I did. He would probably think I was a freak. Stupid dreams.