"I don't believe this. Zac please tell me they didn't call my name." Jessy gasped. "So I should start lying to you?" Zac whispered wrapping his arms around her as they were surround by well wishers. "Please." Jessy squealed turning and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You know you don't mean that." Zac replied, teasing, "This could be fun ." "What you smiling about?" Jessy squealed looking up at him. "Oh nothing." Zac teased making eyes, before adding, "You better get up there Miss University of Tulsa." "If I gotta." Jessy moaned making her way to the platform. "Here she is the new Miss University of Tulsa,. Would you like to say a few words Jessy?" the announcer asked.. "Not really but... Thank you. Thank you fellow students. I still don't believe this. Can I see the results? Just to make sure you called the right name. Maybe if it's close there shoud be a recount." Jessy replied. "Here it is dear." the announcer said handing her the card. "Oh my." Jessy gasped looking down at the one sided results, adding, "I guess there will be no recount tonight. I am truly honored. Don't understand it but I am honored to represent you and this fine University." "And represent us she will at next month's Miss Oklahoma contest to be held in Oklahoma City." the announcer shared. "Miss Oklahoma contest? That's one of those girlie girl things right?" Jessy teased. "You know it is." the audience replied. "Then HELP!" Jessy squealed, adding, "It's not funny." as the audience roared. "She's not joking." Zac hollered above the noise. "Hey you're the fiance." someone near him said. "Where? Who?" someone else asked. "Him right there. The dude with the long blonde hair." the guy answered. "Dude? That's Zac Hanson. You know drummer for Hanson." a girl squealed. "No way dude." the first guy asked. "Guilty." Zac replied. "Lucky dude." he shared. "Yeah I am lucky." Zac chuckled. "So you need help huh?" he hollered. "Most definitely. What do I have to do?" Jessy asked. "You know it's a pagent thing." someone called out. "So." Jessy moaned, adding, "Like that tells me anything." "Don't you watch Miss America?" someone hollered. "No. Not really. Maybe when I was four, five maybe six." Jessy answered shaking her head no, giving it some thought. "Oh boy she does need help." was the first cry, followed by "Help. Help her." Help her they did. Jessy became the University Project. Students grouped together helping her prepare for the pagent, holding moc interviews and poise practice drills. "Head up high Jessy." someone called out as she headed to her class. "Give me a break." Jessy moaned turning to see who was providing the critique. "You can slouch after next Friday." the girl shared. "Not." someone else screamed. "What? Not what? The pagent is next Friday right? They didn't change it and not tell me did they?" Jessy teased. "No they didn't change it. You're still headed up there next week Wednesday." a fellow student explained. "Then why can't I slouch after next week?" Jessy asked. "Because you are going to win and as Miss Oklahoma you can't slouch." she explained, quickly adding as Jessy turned pale, "Are you okay?" "Jessy are you all right. You look pale?" the other girl asked moving closer, lightly rubbing her back. "Miss Oklahoma." Jessy gasped. "Yeah Jessy. Didn't you think about winnig before this?" one of them asked. "Win? Me? I don't believe this. I hadn't thought of being Miss University of Tulsa much less..." Jessy answered, pausing before finishing, "Miss Oklahoma." "Jessy you can't be that out of it. You know you will win. Hey you'll probably be the next Miss USA." the girl shared. "Miss Oklahoma. Miss USA. Oh my." Jessy gasped, adding, "I can't" "Yes you can. You're a sure thing. You're beatiful, talented, smart. Of course you wll win." the group insisted. "No I can't. I don't want to. I want to get married." Jessy pouted. "We know. We know. You can get married after. You know he'll wait as long as it takes." the girl replied. "But I don't want him to wait. I want to get married. Now." Jessy grumbled. "We know." the group shouted. "Jessy over here." Natalie callled out. "Hey Nat." Jessy replied turning her way, adding, "What you doing here? The guys didn't get back did they?" "Yes and no. Dad is picking them up. Some sort of bad weather or something and they got grounded." Natallie answered. "I still don't understand why they had to go. All Zac said was he had to go clear something up. Said it was important." Jessy shared. "Yeah that's what Tay said. Just kept saying it was really important and had to be done now before the pagent." Natalie shared pointing out the car. "Before the pagent? Zac didn't say that. Huh?" Jessy wondered as she made her way to the car. "What's wrong?" Natalie asked looking over at Jessy. "Nothing's wrong Nat." Jessy said turning to her and smiling. "Like I believe that." Natalie teased. "Not wrong really." Jessy replied. "Want to talk? I know you think I'm a motor mouth but I'm really a good listener." Natalie insisted. "I know you are Nat. It's not you." Jessy replied, hesitating then adding, "Well it is you." "What?" Natalie squealed turning to her again. "Hey watch the road while you listen. You listen and drive not listen and look." Jessy teased. "Why is it me?" Natalie asked calmly. "Because I heard you the other night. You told Taylor it was all his fault that you could have been Miss Something or Other." Jessy shared. "Jessy I'm not jealous of you." Natalie insisted becoming quiet and finally answering, "Well maybe I am." "That's why it's you. I'll just wait until Zac gets home." Jessy whispered curling up in the seat and looking out the window. "I'm sorry to Jessy. I should be able to put my feelings aside and help you with whatever is bothering you." Natalie shared. "I don't think so. Nothing personal Nat but ever since I met you, it's always been about you. You're just one of those kinds of people. It's okay you know." Jessy replied turning back and patting her hand gently. "Everybody has to be something. I guess I'm just the self-centered one." Natalie teased turning abruptly. "Hey watch it. Where you going?" Jessy squealed as she was whipped around. "You'll see." Natalie squealed. "Don't gt us lost. You know you still don't do this Tulsa thing so good." Jessy grumbled. "I know where I am." Natalie insisted, quickly adding, "this time." "You've been hanging around me too much." Jessy said as Natalie laughed. "That's what Tay says." Natalie teased. "I heard what comes out of his mouth lately." Jessy gasped. "What? Tell me you didn't hear us?" Natalie gasped. "You got a potty mouth for a southern belle." Jessy said with a chuckle. "Oh my god you heard us." Natalie gasped. "Oh yeah. You were pissed. I mean I know those words but I try hard not to use them." Jessy shared suddently off in thught. "What?" Natalie asked the look on her face. "Well you know the last time I used those words I was so angry at your husband. He just drives me crazy at times." Jessy shared. "I know. Believe me I know." Natalie moaned before they both broke out in laughter. "You know they say opposites attrct..." Jessy started to share. "Yeah I know. What?" Natalie asked as she paused. "Well it's just you and Tay are both into yourselves. How does it work?" Jessy shared. "Huh. I don't now. I don't.... Wow you're right." Natalie mumbled. "Give me a break. You had to know he is totally into himself?" Jessy teased. "Yeah he is. I guess it's just he's not the same around me. I mean one on one, Tay is just so..." Natalie shared. "No stop. I don't want to know what Tay is like one on one." Jessy interrupted, shaking her head no over and over. "Yeah it is kind of scary." Natalie said making one more turn. "What? This is Darcy's place. I mean Adam and Darcy's." Jessy squealed finally paying attention to where they were. "Yeah. I figure if I'm so self centered to listen to what is bothering you, I'd take you to your bestest friend." Natalie replied. "I don't believe you." Jessy gasped shaking her head in disbelief. "Good she's here. Go bare your soul. I'll call you when Dad calls us." Natalie said pulling the car to a stop outside their apartment. "You're really special. Thanks." Jessy squealed racing towards the front door. "Jessy what are you doing here? Hey Natalie." Darcy squealed opening her front door. "She needs a friend. Her bestest friend." Natalie called out waving goodbye. "Thanks Nat." Darcy said waving goodbye then turning to Jessy, "What's up?" "I don't believe this crap. I don't want to." Jessy grumbled heading inside. "Cool. Then don't." Darcy shared following her inside. "Yeah like it's that easy. What I just quit. They'd love that. Natalie second place got less than one hundred votes. I just can't quit. The football team put alot of effort into getting me elected." Jessy shared. "So this is about the pagent?" Darcy asked heading to the kitchen grabbing them drinks. "What else." Jessy grumbled taking the drinking and plopping down on the counch, looking around, asking, "Where's Adam?" "He went with Mr H to get the guys." Darcy answered sitting on the other end of the couch. "That too. What is so important." Jessy grumbled. "Wow you are in a bad way. What's wrong Jessy." Darcy asked. "I mean out of the blue Zac says he has to go somewhere and the next thing I know all the guys are going. I asked if it was about the band but he said no. It doesn't makes sense. This on top of this pagent crap has me... Urrrgh.." Jessy grumbled putting down her drink before sitting upside down, her head hanging down the front of the couch. "Adam said Zac went because of you." Darcy shared turning upside down also. "Me. What do I have to do wwith his leaving town all of a suddent. I don't get it." Jessy sighed. "Yeah and you won't until you marry him." Darcy teased. "Not funny." Jessy grumbled rolling off the couch, landing on her feet and heading to the kitchen. "Sorry. I didn't mean it. Just joking. You know that. Right?" Darcy said hot on her heels. "I know you didn't mean anything by it. It's not your fault I'm a hormonal mess, I don't get any until I get married, I can't get married because I'm Miss University of Tulsa, soon to be Miss Oklahoma, Miss USA." Jessy shared grabbing a pint of ice cream from the freezer then moved to the slverware drawer for a spoon, adding, "Join me?" "Man no wonder you're in the dumps." Darcy replied grabbing a spoon then grabbing her hand, adding, "Come with me." Darcy dragged her down the hall to her bedroom then plopped down on the bed, asking, "Join me." "Mmm my favorite, ice cream in bed." Jessy moaned plopping down beside her. "Man I never thought about the Miss USA bit. Wow I guess it just keeps on huh?" Darcy mumbled through a mouth full of ice cream. "Me either. This chick at school blurts it out. I about passed out on the spot. I don't want to spend a year as Miss Oklahoma. I want to spend it as Mrs Zachary Hanson." Jessy mumbled taking another spoon full of ice cream. "Bummer. Being beautiful is the pits." Darcy shared. "Beautiful? I am not. God why would you say that?" Jessy gasped. "You are too. Jessy don't you look at yourself?" Darcy insisted. "Yeah I looked at the zit, the nose..." Jessy argued pointing at a zit then outlining her nose. "Beautiful." Darcy argued back. "I don't want to win. Everybody staring at me." Jessy grumbled, adding, "There is no way I could sing in front of a crowd anyway." Jessy argued. "Yes you can." Darcy argued. "No way." Jessy argued shoving another spoonful in her mouth. "Hey you ate it all." Darcy whined finding the pint emptied. "I told you I had issues." Jessy replied then laughed rolling on to her back, patting her full stomach. "Well you confronted them very well." Darcy teased placing the empty container and spoons on the nightstand. "I don't want to." Jessy moaned shaking her head no. "This isn't fair but..." Darcy started to share then stopped. "But what? Come on spill." Jessy said rolling to face her. "Well... I'm just telling you what I heard okay. I'm not telling you to change your mind." Darcy shared. "What do you know that I don't?" Jessy asked. "The other night you two were over... well when I took drinks to the guys.. Jessy I heard Zac telling Adam how proud he was of you. He was saying how you were going to be Miss Oklahoma. He was like so sure of it and all. Jessy I think he really wants you to win it." Darcy shared. "Really? He's been so middle of the road with me. That's nice, he says. Whatever you want, he says. He's proud of me?" Jessy gasped. "I shouldn't have told you." Darcy mumbled. "No you must always tell me. Tell me. Tell me." Jessy teased. "You are crazy." Darcy chuckled. "Saved by the phone." Jessy teased as Darcy reached for the phone, looking at the caller Id, answering, "Hey Nat." "Are they home?" Jessy squealed. "Tell her they're getting close. An hour east of town Dad said." Natalie answered. "Great I'll tell her. Thanks for letting us know." Darcy said hanging up and sharing with Jessy. "Give me that." Jessy said reaching for the phone, dialing Zac's cell phone. "Hey Darcy." Zac answered. "Hmmm should I worry?" Jessy teased. "Hey babe. I miss you." Zac shared. "I miss you too. That's sort of why I'm here. Total basket case." Jessy gasped as her eyes filled with tears. "Hey it's me." Darcy said taking the phone, finishing, "Why don't you have Dad drop off our two favorite guys on his way through town?" "Sure. She okay?" Zac asked hearing Jessy's sniffles in the background. "I take it it's that time of the month. She doesn't snap heads off like me so I'm not sure." Darcy teased. "Oh you do not." Jessy disagreed through her sniffles. "Don't say that in front of Adam." Darcy insisted. "Oh but he deserves it." Jessy said with a nasty chuckle. "Yeah he does." Darcy agreed with a chuckle before returning to the phone, "She's fine, we're fine." "Thanks for taking care of her." Zac shared. "Actually Natalie brought her to me to care of her because she couldn't." Darcy shared. "Natalie? You sure it was her?" Zac teased. "Either her or she has a double. Oh my god two Natalie's. Nahhhhh it had to have been her. There can't be two of them. Please no." Darcy replied. "Man. Sent a shiver right through me." Zac teased. "So you two coming to get us?" Darcy asked. "Of course. We're about fifteen minutes outside of town. Should be there in about twenty, twenty-five minutes." Zac answered. "Great. See you then." Darcy replied. "Hurry. I miss you." Jessy squealed as Darcy said goodbye. "He said about twenty, twenty-five minutes." Darcy shared. "We have to get ready." Jessy squealed.springing from the bed, racing to the closet. "It's just Adam and Zac." Darcy moaned. "Duh! I want him to see why he missed me when he looks at me." Jessy explined rolling her eyes. "Why of cuorse." Darcy teased rolling her eyes. "Don't you dress for Adam? I dress for Zac all the time. You know how you took all the care dressing for your first date. Dressing to blow him away." Jessy asked. "I dress period." Darcy whined. "Well I guess not dressing would be Adam's preference.." Jessy teased. "I did that once. You know the old ' meet him at the door in an apron' bit. Well thank God I'm always late because I would have died if I'd been at the door when he shows up with Zac at his side. I had only made it half way down the hall when I hear Zac's voice and made a beeline back to our room to dress." Darcy shared. "I wuld have killed him." Jessy moaned.shaking her head no in disbelief. "Needless to say, I haven't tried it since." Darcy insisted. "So where are the knock his socks of clothes?" Jessy asked opening a closet door. "Clubbing clothes on this side." Darcy answered opening the other door. "Wow this I like." Jessy said pulling out a mini dress from the closet. "You can have it. It doesn't fit me anymore." Darcy replied before searching for something to wear. "Barely fits." Jessy squealed trying it on. "Lucky Zac. It looks great with my knee high boots." Darcy teased before selecting an outfit and changing. "We look hot." Jessy declared when they'd finished "I agree. They better deserve this." Darcy shared. "They will before the evening is over. Believe me they will." Jessy chuckled. "What's going on in that blonde head of yours?" Darcy asked taking one last look. "Well.." Jessy started picking up their dirty clothes and depositing them in the hamper before headng for the empty ice cream container before finishing, "My best friend told me that she wanted to go to the mall the other day but her boyfriend said something like 'Me a Mall. No way.' to her plea." "What? No way. There is no way you can get the two of them to take us to the mall." Darcy insisted. "We'll see." Jessy replied.