The falls

chapter 37

Jessica sat at the bottom of the hole, shivering slightly in the cold mountain air. She had been separated from Neomi when they were tracking another interdimensional rip near the mountains, and now she found herself stuck, with no immediate way out. She sighed, pulling her jacket tighter around her. It wasn't the first time she'd ended up in a situation like this, but it definitely felt like one of the lonelier ones.

As she sat there, waiting for Neomi to find her or for some idea to hit her, Jessica's mind wandered back to something that had been nagging at her for a while—her relationships with Neomi and Lilien. She had no idea how to handle this whole "three-way" thing, and it felt like the more she thought about it, the more confused she got. Who was she supposed to talk to about this? Neomi was just as clueless as she was, and Lilien was new to the whole thing, too.

Jessica pulled out her phone and stared at the screen for a minute before deciding. She dialed her mom, Amelia. Maybe she would have some advice.

The phone rang for a few seconds before Amelia picked up. "Jessica? Is everything okay? Why are you calling? You're not hurt, are you?"

Jessica bit her lip, trying to gather her thoughts. "No, I'm fine. I mean, I'm stuck in a hole in the mountains, but that's not why I'm calling. I just... I need some advice."

"About... being stuck in a hole?" Amelia asked, her voice clearly confused.

"No, not that," Jessica said quickly. "I mean... about Neomi and Lilien. And... relationships." She paused, feeling her face heat up as she blurted out, "Like, when is it okay to have sex?"

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few long seconds, and Jessica felt her heart rate pick up. She had no idea how her mom would respond, and now she was regretting even asking.

Amelia finally sighed. "Jessica, I'm going to be honest with you. I'm not the right person to have this conversation with you. I lost that right a long time ago, after everything that happened between your dad and me. You need to talk to Lucy. She's the one who raised you, and she's the one who can give you the advice you need."

Jessica blinked, taken aback. "Lucy? But I thought..."

"I'm your biological mom, but Lucy's the one who's been there for you, Jessica. She's the one who's always had your best interests at heart. Call her," Amelia said firmly.

Jessica hesitated, but in the end, she nodded to herself. "Okay. I'll call her."

"Good," Amelia said softly. "And Jessica? Be careful. In all things."

Jessica didn't respond before hanging up, her thoughts racing. After a moment, she dialed Lucy's number, feeling a new wave of nervousness settle over her. Lucy had always been the calm one, the one who gave good advice, but this was different. This was... personal.

After a couple of rings, Lucy answered. "Jess? What's going on? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, Lucy," Jessica said, feeling a little more at ease just hearing her voice. "I'm just... I need to talk to you about something. And it's kind of awkward."

"Awkward? Now you've got me curious," Lucy said, her voice light with a hint of amusement. "What's on your mind?"

Jessica took a deep breath and launched into it. "It's about Neomi and Lilien. And... well, we've kind of been in this... relationship, I guess? But none of us really know what we're doing. And I was wondering... when is it okay to have sex?"

There was a pause on the other end, and Jessica braced herself for Lucy's reaction. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm but careful.

"Jessica, that's a big question," Lucy said. "And it's not one with a simple answer. First of all, you're still really young. And relationships, especially when it comes to intimacy, are something you need to be absolutely sure about before you take that step. You need to make sure everyone involved is on the same page and that no one feels pressured."

Jessica nodded, even though Lucy couldn't see her. "Yeah, I get that. I mean, we've talked about it a little, but I guess I just... I don't know. I feel really close to them, and I don't know what to do."

Lucy's tone softened. "I understand. But intimacy is about more than just feeling close. It's about trust, respect, and making sure you're all ready—emotionally and mentally. And honestly, given everything that happened between your dad and your biological mom... I just want to make sure you're making the best decisions for yourself."

Jessica frowned, not quite understanding. "What do you mean?"

Lucy sighed. "Your dad and Amelia didn't have the healthiest relationship, to say the least. I don't want you to ever feel like you need to rush into anything because of pressure, or because it seems like the next step. Relationships are about communication, about being sure that what you're doing is right for everyone involved."

Jessica thought about that for a moment. It made sense. She didn't feel rushed, exactly, but she wasn't sure what the right move was either.

"So... does that mean I shouldn't?" Jessica asked cautiously.

Lucy hesitated before answering. "I'm not saying you shouldn't, if that's something you all feel ready for. But it's important to have open conversations with Neomi and Lilien about what you all want. And also, you need to talk to their parents. This isn't something to rush into without their knowledge."

Jessica bit her lip. "Okay. I'll talk to them. But... you're not mad?"

"Of course not, sweetheart," Lucy said softly. "I just want you to be safe, and to make the best decisions for yourself. You're growing up, and this is part of that. But don't be afraid to take things slow."

Jessica felt a sense of relief wash over her. "Thanks, Lucy. I'll talk to them. And... I'll be careful."

"Good," Lucy said warmly. "And Jess? If you ever need to talk, I'm always here for you. No matter what."

Jessica smiled. "I know. Thanks, Lucy."

After hanging up, Jessica sat in the hole for a moment, deep in thought. She felt a little better about things now, a little more confident. There was still a lot to figure out, but at least she knew she wasn't alone in trying to make sense of it all.

Now, if only she could figure out how to get out of this hole.