Chapter 1

"Here you go McDermott, one cafe latte with cream." Evan said as he placed their coffee's on the table. Conner grunted in reply. Conner had been in a foul mood all week and Evan suspected it had something to with Alanna. He had brought Conner here hoping to get Conner to open up. Like that would ever happen. Plus he knew his idea was a bust when he saw Tia, Maria and Elizabeth sitting in a booth in the back. "So how's life treatin you, man?" Evan asked in what he hoped was a casual tone.
"Like crap." Conner said.
Evan rolled his eyes. "Care to elaborate."
"Well, Tia's been ignoring me because of the whole Liz thing. And I think, well I know, that Alanna's drinking again."
"Wow, so what are you going to do? You can't like be with her."
"I know, but I care about her."
Evan glanced over at Tia's table then leaned foreword. "Do you really want to be with her. I mean, she seems nice but is she what you really want? I mean she's totally not your type."
"What is my type, since you seem to know me so well." Conner asked sarcastically.
"Hot, built and a good kisser." Evan said without missing a beat.
Conner smirked. "Wrong. I like a girl who understands me and likes what I like."
Evan looked at him confused. "Just because Elizabeth isn't an alcoholic doesn't been she's wrong for you. What do you want her to do to be right for you? Start drinking? Dressing in unflattering clothes?"
Conner rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Alanna likes alternative music. Liz likes N sync."
Evan laughed. "So do you really like Alanna then? Now that she's drinking?"
"No, it's not just that. It's just--I want someone who... who does something for me, y'know? Who gets my heart pounding, who... who makes me, uh..."
Evan smirked as Conner stared as Elizabeth walked over to the jukebox. "Who makes you spill you coffee in your lap?"
"What?" Conner said offensively.
Evan slapped him on the shoulder, "Could you want her more?"
"Who?" Conner said shooting Evan a death glare.
"Britney Spears." said Evan sarcastically.
"Look, I am totally, totally over her, OK, I just... "
"Just what?"
Conner sighed. "Don't tell anyone, but I kind of miss her."
Evan stared at him. "What the heck are you going to do?"
"No clue." Conner said glancing at Elizabeth then back at Evan.

"So I told Ken that he should just stand up to his father for once," Maria said rambling as Elizabeth stirred her coffee around. She so didn't want to be here and Conner was sitting across the room.
"Liz," Tia said, "What's the matter."
"I'm just bummed about Conner. I shouldn't have gone to that party last night. He seemed so mad at me."
"Don't be so hard on yourself." Tia said. "If someone I was still in love with was making out with a girl last night..."
"Still in love with?" she interrupted. She still cared about Conner, but love?
"Uh, yeah?" said Maria carefully.
"I'm not in love with Conner." Elizabeth said laughing.
"Oh, no good!" Tia said. Elizabeth knew she didn't believe her.
"Tia, I'm upset not because I still love him but it was really uncomfortable. I mean he's my ex-boyfriend. Not because, I'm still in love with him! I mean, hey, y'know, I like Conner as much as anybody, y'know? Clearly I have feelings for him, but feelings don't mean love! I mean, I still have loving feelings for
Conner. Yeah!" Tia and Maria looked at each other trying not to crack up. "But, I have, I have continuing feelings of love, but that doesn't mean that-that I'm still in love with him. Y'know? I-I have sexual feelings for him, but I do love him—Ohh! Oh my God! Oh my—why didn't you guys tell me?!!"
Maria stared at her, "Everybody thought you knew!"
"Everybody?" Elizabeth said her voice rising.
"Yeah, we all know." Tia said. "We talk about it all the time."
She put her head down on the table. "Oh no. Does Conner know?"
Maria smiled. "No he doesn't. He doesn't have a clue. But we honestly thought you knew. It's so obvious."
Elizabeth sighed. "I'm so pathetic!"

Melissa smiled as Will led her over to their table where Todd Wilkins and Cherie were sitting.
"Hey, Will what's up in the sports world?" Todd asked.
Melissa rolled her eyes as Todd and Will started talking about football.
"Hey, Melissa, isn't that Jessica," Cherie said smirking.
Todd glanced up, "No that's Liz."
Melissa looked over at Wakefield twin #2. She knew that she worked on the paper. Suddenly she had an idea.

Elizabeth walked into the library after school. She sat down and immediately noticed Conner at the next table. 'Oh my God, should I leave?' she thought to herself. But she decided she should just show Conner that she didn't care. She sat down and opened her folder. She scanned down the list of ads for this weeks edition of the Oracle. Immediately she saw one and glanced over at Conner. She got up and slowly walked over to him remembering the first conversation they had had here so long ago. "Hey," she said softly. Conner glanced up and stared at her.