Always-9

by Stefanie

Hi Angels!

Well, here's the next chapter....I hope you guys enjoy it!!! I'm trying to move things along a little, because I CAN'T WAIT for the Nurses Ball!!!!! I'm very anxious to hear your comments on it, and I hope you guys like it because I had SO much fun writing it!!! Anyway, here's chapter 9....ENJOY!!! Remember: Feedback is ALWAYS welcome!!

Stefanie

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"Always"

Chapter 9

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TWO DAYS BEFORE THE NURSES BALL

"Lois, what are we gonna do?" Brenda asked, panicking.

"Calm down Bren....take deep breaths....in....out....in...out" she said soothingly.

"How is this helping me?!"

"It'll be alright....we'll find you a dress...."

"But the Nurses Ball is in two days!!! And we've been to every dress shop in Port Charles!" she cried.

"We will find something!!! Even if we have to fly to New York City to get you a dress, we will get you something to wear!" she reassured her friend.

"Really?"

"Really...don't worry."

"But all I've done for the past week is worry...."

"Well, then we'll just have to keep you so busy that you won't have time to worry! Besides, we've got another rehearsal today."

"Good...maybe that'll take my mind off of my dress."

"I know another thing that'll take your mind off of the dress..." Lois smiled.

"What?" Brenda asked.

"Jax!!!! .....So, how are you guys doing? You've been seeing an awful lot of each other....."

"I know..." she giggled.

Jax and Brenda had seen each other every day since their lunch at the Outback. They went to dinner, the movies, the carnival, and even bowling. Lois and Ned had just sat back and watched the relationship unfold, each placing their own bet on how long it would take them to finally realize that they were in love with each other.

"So.....come on....give me the dirt!" Lois laughed.

"Well...when we went to the movies, he let me pick.....but I picked the one I knew he wanted to see anyway..."

"Awwwww"

"Oh stop" she giggled. "Anyway, we saw the new 'Zorro' movie, and it was great! Jax is SO funny! He was telling me about some of the things he and Jerry used to do when they were kids...I wonder how Lady Jane didn't kill them both!" she laughed.

"Lady Jane?"

"Jax's mom...."

"Oh..." Lois smiled.

"Yeah...and when we went to the carnival I made him get on the roller coaster, but he begged and pleaded with me because he'd never been on one before, and Lo, he was SO scared! I thought he was gonna cry! So when it starts, he grabs my hand and squeezes it during the whole ride...and by the time it was done he was laughing and saying that he wanted to go again, and I thought my hand was broken!" she laughed.

"Oh no! What'd he say?"

"He was so sorry...he looked so scared because he thought I was hurt...LO, it was so sweet! Anyway, I told him I'd be fine....and you know what he did?"

"What?"

"He kissed my hand to make it better!" Brenda yelled, jumping up and down like a lovesick teenager.

"Wow!" Lois sighed.

"I know!"

"So...."

"So.....he even mad me go bowling!"

"Bowling?"

"Yup...and let me tell you, I am one horrible bowler!" she laughed.

"How did Jax do?"

"Really well....considering he spent most of his time helping me."

"Really?...." she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh huh...."

"So....how do you feel about Jax?"

"Well....we have fun together! I can talk to him about anything...and he makes me feel all tingly whenever he looks at me..." she giggled.

"Uh huh..." Lois smiled.

"And when he kisses me...it's like nothing I've ever experienced before. It's like I wasn't really living until I met Jax. The sky is bluer, the grass is greener, the flowers smell sweeter....I don't know. Everything just seems so different! I've never felt this way before!"

"You know what I think, Bren?"

"Huh?"

"I think you're in love"

"What? Lo, I think I would know if I was in love. You did, didn't you?"

"Well...it took me a little while, but it finally hit me like a bolt of lightning."

"And I'm sure the same will happen to me. Trust me, I'll know when I'm in love, okay?"

"Okay girlfriend....but how do you think Jax feels?"

"I'm sure he feels the same way I do. We're just having fun right now."

"Whatever you say...WHOA!!!! We're late for rehearsal!"

"Oh no! Robin's probably waiting for us!" she said as she grabbed her purse.

"Let's go! We need all the practice we can get!" Lois said as they ran out the door.

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PORT CHARLES YMCA 11:00 A.M.

"I never knew singing and dancing could be so hard" Jax laughed.

"Imagine a career doing that" Ned smiled.

"Good point....well, at least we know the skit's going to be good!"

"It sure is...I can't wait until Lois sees!"

"Brenda too"

"Yeah....hey, what's going on with you two?" Ned asked, grabbing a bottle of water and tossing one to Jax.

"Well, I really like her"

"I knew that....but what else? You guys have been spending a lot of time together."

"I know" he smiled. "Did you know that Brenda is the worst bowler...she didn't even know how to hold the ball right!" he laughed.

"Wait....you actually got her to go bowling?"

"If you call what she did, bowling"

"I bet"

"And last night she came over to watch movies, and she brought 'Pretty Woman'......"

"Chick Flick" they said in unison.

"Yeah....and you know what the really sad part is? I actually liked it...." he said, shaking his head.

"Oh no....man, you've got it bad!"

"What? Got what bad?"

"You are so in love with her!"

"No I'm not! I am not in love! We just have fun together....that's all!" Jax cried.

"Okay Jax....whatever you say...." Ned smiled. "Listen, I've gotta go. I've got some business I need to take care of before Lois goes into a frenzy about the Nurses Ball. See ya later!"

"You're wrong Ned! I'm NOT in love!"

"Okay....bye Jax"

"I'm NOT!" Jax yelled as Ned walked out the door. "I'm not....."

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PORT CHARLES YMCA 4:00 P.M.

"Okay...let's try it again from the top!" Lois said.

"Lo.....we've been at this for hours!" Brenda moaned.

"Yeah...I'm so sore. Can we stop now?" Robin asked.

"I'm sorry guys...I didn't realize how long we'd been at this. I just want it to be perfect."

"It won't be if we're too sore to move" Robin said.

"Or if we lose our voices from singing too much..." Brenda replied.

"Good point. Alright....that's enough for today....Robin, do you have the costumes?"

"Yeah....I'm taking them to the dressing rooms tonight."

"Great....then I guess we're all set...."

"Can we go now?" Brenda asked.

"Yes...we can go now..." Lois laughed.

"Thank you" Brenda and Robin said in unison.

"Hello ladies" Jax smiled, walking through the door.

"Hey Jax!" Brenda smiled, running to give him a hug.

"Hello....how's rehearsal coming?"

"Good! We're all done...."

"Really? So I can't sit in and watch a little bit?"

"No way! You're going to have to wait until the Nurses Ball like everyone else!" she laughed. "Oh...before I forget, Jax this is a very good friend of mine, Robin Scorpio. Robin, this is my friend Jasper Jacks...but he doesn't let anyone call him Jasper, only Jax." she whispered to Robin with a giggle.

"Okay....hi Jax. Nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you too. I'm sure you guys are going to be wonderful."

"We hope so" Lois laughed.

"You will....don't worry. So, do you want to go for a walk, Brenda?"

"Sure! I'll see you guys later, okay?"

"Alright. Bye!" Lois and Robin answered.

"Bye!"

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Brenda and Jax walked through the park talking about the upcoming Nurses Ball.

"So...what are you and Ned doing?"

"It's a secret. You'll see...." he grinned.

"Aaaaah...a man of mystery...I like that!" she laughed.

"Do you, now?"

"Uh huh"

"I'll have to remember that" he smirked. "So, are you all set? Is everything ready for the Nurses Ball?"

"I don't have a dress yet" she frowned.

"Really? Well...I'm sure whatever you wear will make you the belle of the ball." he smiled.

"Awww...Jax, that's so sweet! You know exactly what to say to make me feel better!"

"Well...." he blushed.

"Awww...you're blushing!" she laughed.

"Hey...do you want some ice cream?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"Sure! I could definitely use some chocolate!" she laughed.

As Jax got their ice cream from the vendor, Brenda sat down on a nearby bench and watched Jax.

"What?" he asked, handing her the ice cream cone.

"Nothing...."

"Uh huh..." he smiled.

"So....just tell me one thing about what you and Ned are doing?"

"What?"

"Am I going to like it?"

"Very much!" he laughed.

"Good!" she smiled. "Mmmmm" she grinned, savoring the yummy ice cream.

"Is it good?" Jax asked, not really paying attention to the ice cream, but more towards Brenda's sensuous lips.

"Mmmm Hmmm" she smiled. "Wanna taste?" she asked, handing him the ice cream cone.

"Yeah....I think I do..." he whispered, ignoring the cone she handed him. He slowly kissed her lips, tasting the sweetness....not knowing if it was the ice cream or her.

"Mmmm" she moaned.

"I think I have a new appreciation for chocolate..." he smiled.

"Me too....what flavor did you get?"

"Strawberry"

"Yummy....can I taste?" she asked with a devilish grin.

"Be my guest"

Brenda kissed him slowly, exploring the parts of his mouth that she hadn't yet memorized from their previous dates. Each kiss was like a new experience for her.....

"Mmmm....strawberry's nice" she giggled.

"It sure is" he smiled.

RING....RING.....

"Don't answer it" Jax whispered, softly nibbling on her neck.

"Jaxxxxx....I have to. It might be important..." she moaned. "Hello?"

"Bren?! Wyndham's just got a new shipment of dresses in!!!'

"That's great...." she said, enjoying the feel of Jax's lips on her neck. "WAIT!!! What?! I'll meet you there in five minutes!" she cried gleefully.

"Wha--" Jax said, confused.

"Wyndham's just got a new shipment of dresses in! Do you know what that means?"

"What?"

"I'm finally going to get a dress!" she laughed.

"You get more excited about clothes than you do about me..." he laughed.

"Awwww...poor baby!" she smiled. "I just want to make you proud...you know....I just want to look nice if I'm going to be on your arm."

"You'll look gorgeous no matter what you wear...."

"Awww....You know I'd rather stay with you, but I have to meet Lois in ten minutes."

"I know....have fun. I hope you find what you're looking for"

"Thanks" she said, giving him a brief kiss. "I'll see you later."

"Bye" he said, pulling her back for a kiss.

"Jaxxxx...I really have to go" she smiled.

"Okay....okay....I'll call you later."

"Alright. Bye"

"Bye"

As Brenda walked away, it finally hit her. "Oh my God!" she thought as she stopped in her tracks. "I'm in love!"

As Jax sat on the bench he could only think of Brenda. All he saw was Brenda's face....all he heard was Brenda's voice, her laugh....and he finally faced what he had been dreading so long. "I'm in love" he whispered.

TBC......