"Hey, Melissa!" Elizabeth sang out Monday morning. "You will never, ever guess what happened yesterday!"
Melissa turned around and glared at her, her eyes cold. "Liz."
Elizabeth cringed. She didn't think she had ever heard so much hatred filled into one word. Even Conner had never sounded that icy.
Melissa just stared at her and after a few minutes she spoke. "I know about Will."
"You know what about Will?" Elizabeth asked confused.
Melissa opened her locker. "I know about his little crush on you."
Elizabeth blushed, "Well It doesn't mean anything, I mean he loves you…"
"Save it." Melissa spat. "I know I shouldn't have trusted Jessica's sister, of all people. I tried to be nice helping you get Conner back, but you had to make moon eyes at my boyfriend."
"I don't like-" Elizabeth tried to say.
"I don't care. Whether you like him or not, my boyfriend likes you. A girl I considered my friend."
"Well, good. We are friends." Elizabeth said hopefully.
Melissa slammed her locker shut, "No. I was speaking in past tense honey." And with that Melissa spun around and stormed off down the hall.

Jessica placed her tray down on the table across from Tia in the cafeteria. "Hey," she said tiredly.
"Hey, what's up with you?" Tia asked concerned.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. My sister has just become a friend with that psycho freak Melissa Fox and we're in this huge fight. But I don't really want to talk about it." Jessica said.
"That sucks," Tia said sympathetically. "But, hey! How's it going with Jeremy?"
Jessica smiled, "Fantastic. Our anniversary is next month."
"Are you two doing anything for spring break?" Tia asked mischievously.
Jessica tossed a fry at her. "No. He's going to Arizona and I'm hoping to go to Malibu. Want to come?"
"Oh, yeah. That would rock! I don't have any plans so I'm game." Tia said excitedly. Then she gasped. "Would you look at that?"
Jessica turned around. "What? Oh my God! Conner and Liz are actually talking!" she said watching them come in. "What's going on?"
Tia shrugged. "He's just my best friend. It's not like we tell each other stuff."
"There is no way they made up," Jessica said furiously. "He is such a jerk. And I can't take Elizabeth being all freakishly happy and depressed all the time."
"Uh, sweetie. Liz is a big girl. I think she can take care of herself." Tia said trying not to laugh. "Why don't you two make up already? You guys have never fought this long before."
Jessica sighed. "Tia, this time it's different. Elizabeth has changed things between us, forever."

Conner and Elizabeth walked through the cafeteria looking for a table to sit at. "Look, there's Tia," Conner said pointing.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No way. She's sitting with Jessica."
"Trouble in your twin-tastic world?" Conner said amused.
"Ha, ha." Elizabeth shot back. "She's just being a major jerk, telling me who to be friends with, who do date, yada, yada, yada!"
"Who does she want you to date?" Conner asked playfully.
"Some big football player like Jeremy. Now don't get me wrong, I love Jeremy and all that. But he's not the kind of guy I go for," she said flirtatiously.
Conner bent his head down to her neck, "Oh, yeah? What kind do you go for."
Elizabeth giggled as he began to kiss her neck. "Conner, quit it! People are trying to enjoy their lunch!"
Conner pulled her silently out into the courtyard and to a tree that was hidden behind some bushes. "The old tree?" Elizabeth asked raising her eyebrows. "Haven't been here in a while."
"Well we'll have to change that," said Conner pulling her down.
Elizabeth started to much on her apple after they had sat down. "So how did it go with Alanna last night?" she asked.
Conner sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Not good. She was really upset. I'm kind of worried about her. I know she's drinking again."
"Doesn't she have anyone else to turn to? Friends? Parents?"
"No." Conner said simply. "I was the only person in her life. And now I'm gone."
Elizabeth leaned into his chest. "We have to help her. Before she gets worse. You know that, don't you."
And Conner just nodded.

That afternoon Jeremy stood behind the counter at the House of Java. It was the boring shift and he had absolutely nothing to do. There were only so many times a guy could refill the napkin dispenser. It was times like this he wished he were working with Jessica. Now that was something constructive he could do, dream about Jessica. But the bells on the doors rung as a customer entered. Jeremy sighed and placed his hands on the cash register as he prepared to take the order. "Welcome to the House of…Melissa?" he asked surprised. That girl sure had guts coming to this place after all the stuff she put Jessica through. But Jeremy had never seen first hand her evil as Jessica called it. But as Jeremy looked at her he could see that her eyes were puffy and it had looked like she had been crying. "Corey! I'm taking five!!" he shouted and led Melissa to the patio. "Can you tell me what's wrong?" he asked.
Her eyes misted over and Jeremy gave her the bottom of his apron to wipe her eyes with. "It's Will. He has a crush on...on…Elizabeth!" she wailed.
"Elizabeth Wakefield?" he asked confused. "Then he's a jerk." He exclaimed. He was getting really disgusted with the way this guy treated girls. Melissa seemed nice and based on Elizabeth she was a pretty nice girl and had changed.
Melissa smiled weakly. "I know he is. But I cared a lot about him. I mean he have dated for almost five years. But you are right. I can't keep pretending that he is a cheater. He must not care about me." Melissa said sadly.
Jeremy took her hand. "You need to move on. Find a guy who respects you."
"Like you." Melissa said finally. "Jessica is one lucky girl." She said softly.
Jeremy smiled and leaned over and gave her a hug. "You'll be fine." He said warmly as he breathed in the scent of her shampoo. She pulled back and grinned at him. Jeremy smiled back noticing how pretty her eyes were.
Melissa stood up. "Thanks. I feel a lot better now."
Jeremy shrugged, "If you ever need anything you know where to find me." Melissa grinned and Jeremy couldn't help but take her in. The way her silky brown hair framed her soft face. The way her short skirt showed off her long slim legs.
But Jeremy quickly shook the thoughts from his head, know Jessica would murder him.