Hey, sorry for the delay, computer issues. Please try to review, even if you hate it. And if you do hate it, tell why, because I'd love to improve. If you like it, give me some suggestions and tell me why you do. Thanks everyone, for reviewing! By the way, Mia fans, accept my apology for making her slightly obnoxious in this chapter; I don't really like her character.

Do not own Degrassi or the characters. Nor do I own 27 Dresses, Halo 3, or Xbox 360. And seriously, if I owned "Hey Joe" or "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hedrix(R.I.P.), don't you think I would've ODed on a drug coctail back in the 60's?

"So did you buy anything the mall with Emma?" Liberty's mom questioned.

It took her a moment to realize that this was the excuse that she had used to cover up the support group session. "No, everything is at full price this time of year," she lied.

"Right."

"We had a big lunch at the food court, can I be excused?" Liberty asked, eyeing the baked ziti with a slightly disgusted look. Despite, the fact she had just gone to group therapy, she was having trouble eating.

Her mother was suspicious, had been for a while. She couldn't imagine her daughter being anorexic, but she was definitely a little insecure about her body after the baby. "Liberty, you're not fat. You know that right? I'd say you were chubbier before the baby than you are now, actually," Her mothered attempted at reassurance.

"Um, okay...but I never said I was fat," Liberty said.

"Okay then I'll say it for you, tubby!" Danny teased. His tone was a jovial one, and he wasn't expecting the reaction that he got.

"Shut up! I know I am, but at least when I have a problem I do something about it, unlike you!" Liberty shouted, prior to bursting into tears and going into her room.

"Do you always have to make a joke at her expense every chance you get Daniel? She's a little bit insecure after the baby and you're not helping at all!" Mr. Van Zandt scolded. Mrs. Van Zandt stayed silent, she wasn't as angry at Daniel as she was concerned about Liberty. When was the last time she had seen that girl eat? If she hadn't been so wrapped up in Danny's failing grades and her own life...

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"Liberty!" her mother called outside of the locked bedroom door, "Can you open the door?"

Liberty quickly hid the big bag of Doritos she had been munching on in her nightstand drawer, and opened the door, "What is it?"

"Liberty tell me honestly, did you have a big lunch at the mall?" her mother asked.

"Yes, why would I lie about that?" she asked as if her mother was insane for asking such a question.

"Liberty, I'm worried, I don't think you've been eating. If you're concerned about your weight, we can--" Mrs. Van Zandt got cut off.

"I'm not concerned, okay?"

"Then what was that outburst you just had at the dinner table?" her mother cornered her.

"This is why I can't ever tell you anything, you make a big scene out of the tiniest things. I'm just on a diet, mother. Almost every single human being on this earth has been on one. Can you please relax?" Liberty lied.

"Liberty, I can't remember the last time I saw you eat! Starving yourself is no way to become thinner; it's not a diet, it's called anorexia." her mother exclaimed.

"I know what anorexia is, and I know I don't have it," Liberty had, her voice had taken on a calmer tone. Mrs. Van Zandt still looked unconvinced.

"Liberty, if you have any problems...we can get you help," her mother said in a sympathetic voice.

"I don't need your damn help! Stop treating me like I'm your patient because nothing's wrong!" Liberty yelled.

"Liberty Van Zandt, I will not be spoken to like that. If you don't want me to think that nothing's wrong with you, prove it. End this diet of yours because you look fine," her mother stated.

"I will."

"Come downstairs and eat." her mother challenged. Liberty went downstairs and obeyed her mother, she took out a good-sized portion of ziti and ate reluctantly.

"Are you happy now?" she asked.

"I will be if you eat like that everyday," her mother replied; her daughter cringed, but agreed. She got up from her spot at the table and excused herself to do some homework.

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From the diary given to Liberty by Leslie...

I threw up today. It's not something to be proud of, I know. It's actually kind of pathetic how weak I am. But I had no choice, my mom forced me to eat a whole plate of pasta...and I was really hungry. So I ate it all like I always do, and felt sick, and threw up. I feel like that's my only option when I eat. I either eat nothing, or I eat everything and throw it all up. I hate being controlled like this, I need a way out. My mother thinks I'm anorexic. Great job Mom, your daughter has gone from a size eight to a two in two months, and you've just begun to catch on! Great to know I mean more to you than my straight A's.

J.T., my ex-boyfriend, is great. He drove me to group today, and promised to drive me there and back until I need him too. He still cares about me, I can tell, but he has a girlfriend. We kissed today, in his car, in the parking lot of the community center. It wasn't a huge make-out session, just a small short kiss. The one I've wanted for months. But I can't do this while he has a girlfriend and get into some messy love triangle. So I just thank him for the ride I get out of the car and pretend that the kiss didn't mean anything. He seemed so let down. The wistful look on his face after I kissed him is forever burned into my memory. I feel so bad.

I don't know why he's dating Mia, though. Doesn't he realize he's hurting the both of them with this staged relationship? It doesn't matter, that's none of my business anyways. I wonder what I'm going to say to him tomorrow, if anything.

-Liberty Van Zandt

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Purple Haze all in my brain,
lately things don't seem the same,
actin' funny but I don't know why
'scuse me while I kiss the sky.

Hendrix played on the computer in J.T. room as he lay in bed trying to wrap his head around what was going on in his life. Somehow the 60's rockstar's intoxicated guitar riffs helped calm him down. (a/n: J.T. always struck as the type of guy who either liked classic rock) "So your ex-girlfriend, who you still like has an ED. You drive her to group therapy and she kissed you today. Except it turns out she only kissed you to express her gratitude. Now you're pissed at her for leading you on for about five seconds. On the other hand you have a girlfriend. She's great, pretty, on the spirit squad, and has a daughter. And she isn't as controlling as Liberty, and she's kind of stupid...so you never feel dumb when you talk to her. But still--" J.T.'s self-therapy had been cut short by the sound of his cell phone.

"Hello?" J.T. answered his phone.

"Hai-ay," Mia stretched out the word into two equally obnoxious syllables.

"Uhh...hi Mia, what's up?"

"Nothing, I just called to ask if you, like, wanted to hang out tonight. We could, like, watch 27 Dresses, I hear it's good," she offered.

There is no way I'm paying for two tickets plus the price of snacks to see some boring chick flick. "Sounds like fun...but Toby just got Halo 3 on Xbox 360, he's been waiting for it for months. He'd probably burn me at the stake if I didn't go," J.T. half-lied-- he was in a Halo mood, after all.

Instead of laughing, Mia replied by saying, "Lol! Okay you're excused...this time. By the way, what's that music in the background?" she referred to the song that was playing on the other line.

J.T. was a little surprised she didn't know one of the most famous rock songs in history, "Uh "Purple Haze"...you know, Hendrix?"

"Hendrix...I've never heard of that band," she replied.

"Actually it's one person, named Jimi Hendrix. He's amazing, I'll give you one of my CD's to borrow," "Liberty knew who Hendrix was," J.T. couldn't help but think.

"I will. TTYL, bye."

"Bye." J.T. hung up the phone and rolled his eyes at his girlfriend. As soon as he hung up the phone, it rang again. A mini-debate played in J.T.'s mind before answering the phone, he ruled in favor of answering it.

"Liberty?"

"Hi, J.T., I wanted to talk to you about today..." she started.

"Okay, talk away...hey is that Hendrix in the background?" J.T. smiled upon hearing the familiar lyrics.

"Yeah, 'Hey Joe', I had an argument with my mom, Hendrix calms me down," she explained. J.T. grinned.

"Same with me. What did you want to talk about?"

"You know how we kissed earlier today? And I kind of disregarded it?" she began.

"Yeah..."

"I didn't mean for it to seem like it didn't mean anything to me, it did. It's just that you have a girlfriend right now. And I don't know if I should be getting involved with anyone right now. So I just think that us being anything more than friends right now wouldn't be a good idea." she explained. J.T. was ecstatic to hear the feeling between him and Liberty were mutual.

"Well, that's good to hear. I guess I see where you're coming from," he said, "I, for one, don't want to relive the Craig/Manny/Ashley love triangle back in grade 9 nine," he said, making light of the situation.

Instead of using internet shorthand in a normal coversation, Liberty laughed, "Yeah, I'm not sure I'd be to good at playing the role of 'the other woman'" J.T. laughed at the thought of it.

"Well, okay then, friend, Danny just got Halo 3; he's out with his friends. Don't tell anyone, but I've been waiting six months for it to come out. If you get here in ten minutes we could probably play for a good hour without him catching us and exposing my secret videogame obsession to the world," Liberty offered.

"Ten minutes? I'll be there in five!" J.T. was halfway out the door.

Finished...with the chapter! Like I said, sorry about the delay, I was having issues with the computer. I want to use either "Crash into Me" by Dave Matthews Band or "Save Me" by Josh Verdes in the next chapter. Any prefrences? Again, I apologize for making Mia such an airhead, but I don't like her.

Review, review, review!

Mina