Disclamier: i do not own cheaper by the dozen

Hey so sorry it took so long fo an update jsut been really busy lately. Thanks to la-la-la-45, haley96 7 stormdog11 for reviewing. This is the next chapter about the party and again i'm so sorry it took so long to update hope you enjoy it .

Chapter 53.

Kate was in the kitchen cooking food for the little party they were having. Tom walked in.

"So Kate how you getting on?" Tom asked.

"Fine but some help would really be great Tom. I mean you organize this little party of yours and just expect me to cook food while you're upstairs getting ready because I need to get ready to you know," Kate complained at the lack of help she was getting for her husband or any of her kids for that matter.

"You go get ready then and I'll deal with this and the kids can blow up some balloons and set the table out and whatever else needs done," Tom said.

"Ok but you must put this in the oven in ten minutes and leave it in for twenty minutes and have everything set out on the table looking nice," Kate said.

"Yes ok," Tom said as he guiding Kate out the kitchen.

"And tell the kids not to go overboard with the balloons," Kate said.

"I will don't worry."

Jessica was in her room getting ready, Kim had gone out to help her dad. She knew this was her last chance to tell Elliot she liked him but she was still unsure and scared to do so.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Jessica said. It was Sarah.

"Hey," She said as she came and sat on Kim's bed.

"Hey," Jessica replied, "You ok? It seems like something's bothering you."

"I'm ok," Sarah replied. Something was bothering her through and that was why she had came through but she wasn't sure how to ask Jessica. She wanted to know if something was going on between her and Elliot because the truth was she still liked him. She wasn't going to take him back but still she didn't like the idea of Jessica and Elliot together.

"Don't mean to sound rude but why did you come in here?" Jessica asked as she straightened her hair.

"Was bored and couldn't be assed blowing up balloons or whatever," Sarah replied.

"Well really you shouldn't need to help blow up balloons or whatever because it was you who won it for us," Jessica replied.

"Well I only got that far because of all you," Sarah replied.

"Yeah but still you beat Elliot. He was gutted that he lost through," Jessica said.

"You and him are quite close aren't you?" Sarah asked. Jessica was dreading having this conversation with Sarah. Maybe I should tell her how I feel she thought to herself.

"Yeah we are I suppose," Jessica replied, "I know you and him were really close too and I know he really hurt you so I tried to keep our friendship on the down low because I didn't want to offend you by being friends with him."

Sarah didn't say anything.

"Sarah what's wrong?" Jessica asked noticing Sarah looked very upset.

"I don' know it's just I still like Elliot but I wish I didn't and seeing him with you makes me wish that was me not you," Sarah said.

Jessica really didn't know what to say.

"I don't want to like him and I don't want to get back with him and I know I never will but I wish I could just get over him," Sarah confessed.

"Maybe you need to find some other guy who you like and that way you'll get over Elliot," Jessica suggested. This was the last thing she needed to hear that Sarah wished it was her who was with Elliot and not Jessica.

"Yeah buts that's easier said than done. Elliot's the first guys I've really liked," Sarah said.

Could things get any worse? Jessica thought.

"I mean you and Elliot are close and today at the cup I seen Jake speaking to Elliot and I think he's probably ready to forgive him so it's like things are back like they use to be so it's harder to get over him," Sarah said.

"We'll be home tomorrow and you can forget all about him," Jessica said.

"Yeah you know what you're right I will forget all about him and move on just like he is," Sarah said, "And thanks Jess I think I was just having all sorts of emotions running through my head today it was just after he lost and I seen the look in his eyes he looked so sad and I was reminded of what we had all the good times, but I'm going to try and move on."

The food was already and sitting on the table and all the balloons were blown up and the Murtaugh's had arrived.

"Great food Kate," Jimmy said. Kate was surprised by his compliment it was unlike Jimmy to compliment anything of anyone else's especially the Baker's.

"Thank you Jimmy," Kate said.

Mike went and turned on the music.

A few of the Baker and Murtaugh kids started to dance.

Elliot was sitting on the sofa on his own. Sarah went over and sat next to him.

"I never got a chance to say well done earlier," Sarah said.

"Well well done to you to you did win," Elliot replied.

"Yeah but it was so close. You were great too so you still deserve a well done. I was probably only a milometer in front of you," Sarah said.

"Yeah it was really close," Elliot said. He felt sort of awkward sitting with Sarah it was like they had nothing to talk about now, they use to be able and sit down and talk for hours.

"Can't believe you're going home tomorrow," Elliot said, "I wish we spent more time together this year I barley seen you but that's all my own fault anyway."

"I've forgotten about that now so don't mention it," Sarah said.

"I still feel so bad though," Elliot said.

"What did I just say," Sarah laughed.

"Oh sorry," Elliot smiled.

Jessica was dancing with Kenneth and then noticed Elliot and Sarah talking. She felt kind of jealous. She knew she had no chance against Sarah to win over Elliot.

"Do you think they'll get back together," Kenneth said noticing Jessica was looking at them.

"No," Jessica replied.

"Me neither. Elliot already said to me he was moving on from Sarah," Kenneth replied.

"He did?" What else did he say is there anybody else he likes?" Jessica asked hoping that he might of and that if he had it was her he liked.

"Nope," Kenneth replied.

Sarah stood up and wondered away from Elliot. She went over and spoke to Mike and Henry.

Elliot had wondered off outside. Jessica was about to go follow him but then she seen Jake go out after him. Jessica wanted to know if Elliot liked her, she wanted to know if they had a chance.

Jake and Elliot were talking outside.

"I saw you speaking to Sarah earlier. You still like her?" Jake asked.

"Yeah of course I do but not as much as I use to. I'm moving on. I don't think she would ever get back with me and personally I would rather be close friends like we use to be rather than going out," Elliot replied.

"Yeah I hope you and her become friends again so if we come back next year it will be you, me, Mike and Sarah like it use to be," Jake said.

"Yeah hopefully," Elliot agreed.

"What about Jessica? You like her because I think you do?" Jake asked.

Elliot smiled, "No we're just friends."

"You sure because I think you do," Jake replied.

"No not really," Elliot said, "I care about her though."

"At the end of the day you can't help who you fall for," Jake joked.

"I know but I couldn't so that to Sarah," Elliot replied.

"Do what to Sarah?" Jake asked.

"Get with her sister," Elliot replied.

"So what you saying that if Jessica wasn't Sarah's sister then you would like her?" Jake asked.

"No," Elliot replied. He did really like Jessica but he didn't want to hurt Sarah.

"But Jessica likes you," Jake said. Probably shouldn't have said that Jake thought to himself.

"She told you?" Elliot was surprised.

"No not in so many words but I know she does," Jake replied. Crap really didn't mean to say that it just slipped out Jake thought.

"Well it's not like anything would happen between us because I would never hurt Sarah like that again and we live too far away," Elliot said.

"So nothing is going to happen then?" Jake asked.

"No," Elliot replied.

Jake felt in a little bit of an awkward position because he knew that Jessica liked Elliot and it was obvious to him that Elliot liked her back. He thought it would make Jessica so happy to know Elliot did in fact like her too. But on the other hand he didn't want to upset Sarah.

Elliot wasn't sure what to do now, he wanted to tell Jessica that he liked her too but he didn't want to ruin their friendship and he felt as if he had put Sarah through enough hurt already but at the same time he wanted Jessica to know.

Please review and i'll try and have to next chapter up quick.