Jenny was sitting at the kitchen counter when Dan walked into the Loft. She shortly looked up from her work and went straight back to sketching.

"Wow, looks like you're back into fashion sketching", Dan mentioned by the view in front of him. "How come? I thought you were done after that whole Agnes disaster."

Jenny laid her pen down and looked up from her sketch book. She tried to read Dan's face, but it didn't give away what he was thinking.

"Well, I was never really over with fashion, matter of fact. I just took a little break. Agnes is…well, she clearly is a chapter that I'd like to forget about. We could have made it far, if she wouldn't have acted all out in the meeting. And when I went on my own, due to the fact that it were my designs, she just snapped big time. Burning my designs. But that is past now", Jenny explained.

"Liam made me see that I have to look ahead and that's what I do now. I still love fashion and I still want to become a designer. I don't need Agnes to reach that dream. Yes, she helped a lot with the fashion show, but it were my designs. And people liked them. So I'll start new and one day my time will come again."

She gazed at Dan and waited for his reaction, which came prompt. "Liam, huh?", he only stated.

"Yes, Liam. What is wrong, Dan? You don't even know him and you're judging him already? Dad likes him, so why don't you try too. Sorry, that I didn't tell you right away when I met him, but come on…it's not like you're telling me everything straight after it happened. You also have a lot of secrets."

Dan eyed shortly over Jenny and sighed. „You're right. We all have some things we keep for us. And don't worry, I already gave it a try to like Liam. We went out earlier and talked. And yes, he seems to be a nice guy", he said in a manner tone.

Jenny's eyes widened and she looked at him in surprise. "You went out with him today?", she asked unbelievable.

"Yes, I did. It was his idea. We both have American history together and he sat next to me. We started talking, as he remembered me from pictures. I didn't even know he was here already. Whatever…he seems to be nice and mainly serious about you. Doesn't change the fact that I think you should be careful and take it slow", Dan pointed out, while playing the big brother. "Can I ask you a question, Jenny?"

"Sure. You know you can ask me anything", she retorted a bit confused where this conversation was going to and why Dan all the sudden became so serious.

Dan shifted a little, feeling quite uncomfortable but he had to ask her. "What about Nate? I thought you were into him."

Jenny's eyes widened again, but this time in shock. She had expected a question about Liam's intensions towards her or about her sexual status, although that would have been quite awkward. She had talked to Dan about such things before, but she never had a real boyfriend at that time. So it was more theory talk for the case. But now things were different – she was with Liam. She had to breath a few times before she was ready to answer him.

"What about Nate? He made his choice as you know. He is dating your best friend. Wasn't that what you wanted?"

She couldn't help but remind Dan of his reaction towards Nate when he found out they kissed. She hasn't thought much about Nate lately. Liam had her mind pretty occupied, but now being questioned about him. Was she still feeling something for him? Was Liam maybe really just some distraction for her? Keeping her mind from going crazy by analyzing everything that had happened between Nate and her?

"I was just wondering. I mean after everything you told me after the Snowflake ball, I assumed that you're really into him. It's just surprising that you see someone new already. That's all", Dan had sit down next to her and grabbed a bottle of water. "And no, I didn't want him to hurt you and date Vanessa. I just thought he wasn't the right one for you, due to the age difference. He is … more experienced, you know."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "What am I supposed to do? Cry all day? Wait around for him 'til he finally sees I'm the one for him? Or 'til I'm finally old enough that it would suit, somehow", she asked annoyed. "He made his choice, Dan. He chose Vanessa. Even though he knew what she did. Kind of funny, she bag stabbed me, lied to both of us and played us. And still she is the one forgiven, while I was the one that got judged."

She looked sad down to the floor when remembering the scene that crashed her heart into zillion pieces. "He made his choice and so did I", she said with a strength in her voice that Dan never heard before. "I have to live my life as well and that's what I intend to do. Liam is a great guy and he wants to be with me! And that's all what counts!"

With that she stood up, took her sketch book and started to walk over to her bed room.

"And what if Nate realized he made a mistake? What if he wants to be with you? Would it still be Liam you want to be with?"

Dan knew that it wasn't fair from him to ask her these questions. And clearly Nate would kill him when he gets to know about this conversation, but Dan only wanted the best for them – all of them. It wouldn't be good for any one of them, if Jenny remained with Liam when she still was in love with Nate. She had to face her feelings, if she wanted too or not. Neither did he want to see Nate miserable, nor Liam being fooled or Jenny being without the one she really loves. It clearly was a messed up situation, but now he got himself here and he wouldn't back out of it. He knew Nate's feelings for his sister and he was pretty sure that Jen felt the same way about Nate. And even though Dan recently got to know Liam a bit, he didn't wanted him to become the loser in this entire game. "So? Would you still stay with Liam?", Dan repeated his question.

Jenny had frozen in her tracks. Dan's questions caught her off guard. He was good friends with Nate. Could it be that they have talked about her? Was that why Dan had this talk with her? To find out if she could forgive Nate and start over again. Could she?

"Why are you asking all these questions, Dan? Why is it so important to you who I'm with?", she asked instead back and turned around to face him again.

Dan had stood up from his chair and took two steps over to Jenny. He now stood right in front of her. "'Cause you're my sister and I want you to be happy. Nate is a good friend and I want him to be good too. And Liam, well I barely know him, but if your heart is still with Nate, he should know. He deserves to know the truth then. Don't you think?"

Jenny glanced down at the floor again. She didn't know what to say. Her head was spinning and she couldn't catch a clear thought. "Did he say anything to you?" she asked silently. "I mean Nate, did he?" Her voice was barely a whisper and close on cracking.

Dan looked at his sister. Now there was nothing left of the strength she had a few moments back. Now she was a vulnerable, young girl which heart could break any second. "Yes, he did. He said he should have heard you out and that it was a mistake to turn his back on you. He still feels strong for you, Jenny."

Her heart ached. As much as she wanted to believe the words she just heard from Dan, her mind told her different. She couldn't go back there. She has been there before. And she got massively hurt while being there. She wasn't willing to risk it again. She wouldn't walk down that road again. Nevertheless it hurt to hear it. Tears were building up in her eyes.

"I can't go back there again, Dan", she started sniffing. "It doesn't matter if he feels strong about me or not. He hurt me to heavy and I'm not willing to let it happen again. What if I give in? And what if after a short time he realizes once more he had made a wrong choice and leaves me behind again? Did you consider that maybe it's just about the chase? Or maybe he just wants what he can't get. He had his chance to be with me, and he decided against it. I really wanted to be with him, Dan. But now…after everything that happened. I can't trust him anymore. And I can't be with someone that I don't trust."

Tears started to roll down her face silently. Dan couldn't stand seeing his sister so torn and sad. "You really don't see a chance to forgive him? I mean, if you still love him…"

"NO!", she interrupted him immediately. "It's too late, Dan. I have to get over Nate. I need to move on and I'll do it with Liam! Whether Nate likes it or not…it doesn't matter. It also hurt me when he walked off with Vanessa. And guess what, he didn't care then."

With that Jenny turned around and went straight into her room. This entire conversation got her upset but mostly confused. The past days she hasn't spent one single moment thinking about Nate and the Snowflake ball. But now...Dan said Nate still cared for her. So what, she thought. He had his chance to be with me, and he ruined it by going after Vanessa. If he can't stand seeing me with someone else, it's his problem, not mine. With that Jenny pushed Nate out of her mind and got back to sketching the dress she had in mind.

Dan understood where she was coming from. Nevertheless he had hoped that she would change her mind and give Nate a chance. All he could hope for now was that nobody would get hurt in the upcoming events. And somehow his inner voice told him that there would be some massive damage.

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Thanks for your reviews. Nice to see that I'm not the only one who thinks that Jenny & Nate should have been endgame, or that Jenny should have had at least a proper boyfriend. So weird that she never got a real one (I don't count Damien ;P ) - such a good looking and sweet girl. Crazy that no one tried to get her. Anyways... so she made her choice and stays with Liam. But what if they all meet at a party? Will Nate fight for her? Is Jenny really able to leave him behind?...

Already working on the upcoming chapters – but with xmas ahead I don't know if I can post anytime soon (travelling home tomorrow). I'll try to find some free space inbetween all the eating and gift unwrapping ;) Wish you all a blissful and happy xmas time!