Jess Jakes and I shared homeroom and some classes, and we just clicked. We laughed and talked about life, and boys, and school gossip as I braided her long dark hair into elaborate medieval styles, and she patiently doodled the most gorgeous dahlias. She taught me about local Fells Point bands that I just was never going to be cool enough to go see, and (I think ironically) introduced me to glam rock and electronica. To this day, I carry her kind of pen -- I just pulled it out right now -- which she claimed was the best ever - Pilot Precise V5, blue, extra fine. ("None of this 'fine' crap, it's gotta be extra fine.") We lost track after high school, until 3 years ago, not long before she passed away. I wish I had a chance to come to Baltimore to see her again. She was plagued by so many health problems, any of which alone would be enough to take down most people, but she still had the spunk to go off about the crazy bikers who almost knock her down on the street, and her wonderful boyfriend. I'm glad we reconnected before her death, and think of her often.