Alanna sat up in her bed Saturday morning with a throbbing headache. She glanced out her window and was surprised to see that it was a beautiful California morning. She had figured it would be dark and stormy to match her mood. Last night after she had come home from the party she had cried her eyes out and drank like half a bottle of scotch. She knew she wasn't supposed to be drinking but she needed something to numb the pain, because what had happened last night was too awful to have to live through. After she told Conner that she loved him, he had started at her in shock and then bolted saying it was past his curfew. Did he actually expect her to believe his lame excuse? She was also upset. She thought Conner had loved her too. She knew he was a notorious player but he picked her over Miss Sunshine and Flowers Elizabeth Wakefield. That had to mean something, right? Then she sat upright. Had Conner told Liz that he loved her? Was that why he bolted? Could he not admit that he could love someone else? She grabbed her phone and pushed the speed dial where she had programmed his number in the day she had gotten back from rehab. After four rings, Megan's cheerful voice chirped that whoever was calling should leave a message. Alanna didn't bother leaving a message. If Conner thought he could just blow her off, he had another thing coming.

Elizabeth pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Her hair was getting kind of long, and she remembered once that Conner said he hair would look good long. She heard a bang on the door so she ran down the steps and threw the door open. There stood Will Simmons.
"Uh, hey Will." Elizabeth said surprised. "Do you want to come in?"
Will nodded and Elizabeth led him to the family room. "What do you want?" Liz asked kindly.
"This isn't going to be easy for me to say, Liz. But I think, I have a crush on you," Will said so softly Elizabeth thought she had misheard him. But the sad look on his face showed he meant it.
Elizabeth took his hand and looked into his eyes, "As flattered as I may be, I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way about you."
"I knew it!" he said covering his face with his hands. "I was so stupid!"
"You weren't stupid Will. You're just confused. I mean you love Melissa, right?"
Will nodded, "Yeah, of course I do. But that doesn't mean I can't be attracted to other girls."
Elizabeth smiled, "See, your attraction to me is probably purely physical. Plus I'm in love with somebody else," Elizabeth said softly.
"Conner?" Will said sympathetically. "I hope you get him, but if not, then he's a jerk because you are so special," he said with a lopsided grin.
"Me too," Elizabeth giggled. "Actually, that's why me and Melissa are hanging out. She's helping me get him back."
"I hope we can be friends, Liz," Will said genuinely.
"Me too."

Elizabeth sat at her computer about half an hour after Will had left. But she couldn't concentrate on writing her article. She was too busy thinking about this whole Conner thing. She heard a slight tap on her door and she stood up exasperated. "Jessica! I told you I was busy so just…" she opened the door to see Melissa standing there. "Oh, hey. Sorry." Liz said sheepishly.
"So," Melissa said slyly. "I heard Conner left Alanna last night. Did you two hit it off?"
Elizabeth blushed, "No, actually, I didn't even talk to him. But I wanted to talk to you. Last night, Conner and Alanna seemed happy together. If he's happy, I don't want to break them up."
Melissa stared at her confused. "I thought he was like the love of your life."
Elizabeth sighed, "Maybe he was but if he's happy with Alanna, maybe I just need to step back."
Melissa nodded. "Okay. I understand. Well, I should go."
"Listen, Melissa. Thanks for helping me. I really appreciate it. I hope we can be friends." Elizabeth said.
"Me too. Well, bye." Melissa said awkwardly walking to the door. She stepped into the hallway where Jessica was standing. "Jessica." Melissa said cooly.
"Melissa." Jessica said with a bit of a bite in her voice. Melissa rolled her eyes and she ran down the steps. Elizabeth was her friend, and she wanted Conner no matter how much she denied it. Melissa had mellowed out the past week, but maybe it was time to use her old tactics to get Liz what she wanted.

Jessica stared back at Melissa. How could Liz even talk to that witch? And would Melissa be friendly with Liz if she knew about Will's little declaration this morning? Jessica grinned. She was so lucky to have been in the bathroom during that little scene. Melissa deserved to have her boyfriend crush on her sister. Elizabeth walked into her sister's bedroom. "Hey Liz, How's it going? What was Melissa doing here?"
Elizabeth swirled around "What's that supposed to mean?" she said indignantly.
Jessica sneered. "Just what it meant. What was that witch doing in our house? How can you even talk to her after what she did to me?"
"Jessica, that was months ago. She's not like that anymore. Get over yourself."
"Get over myself?" Jessica said incredulously. "Look who's talking! Miss My-ex-boyfriend-is-in-love-with-another-girl!' Get over yourself. Conner doesn't want you! He's moved on. You don't see him crying his eyes out! Get a life! All you do is sit around crying and watching Gilmore Girls and eat ice cream. Get out of the house and move on!"
"Who are you to judge me?" Elizabeth spat out. "You don't even know what love is!"
"Uh, hello? Ever meet anyone named Jeremy?" Jessica said sarcastically. "Plus this isn't about Conner. It's about Melissa and why you're friends with her. I don't ever want to see her in this house again." Jessica said with her hands on her hips.
"You can't tell me who to be friends with." Elizabeth spat out.
"Well then you're making a mistake." Jessica said coldly.
"Maybe the mistake is that I'm friends with you," Elizabeth said harshly. With that she spun around and went out to the swing her backyard and cried.