Chapter Three

A Trustworthy Friend

Jessica lay on her bed an hour later, listening to the quiet

conversation that Conner and Elizabeth were having in the next room. She'd been

silent all through dinner, but so had everyone else. It was almost as if

it strained them to talk. It was a good thing that her dad was out of

town on business, for Elizabeth's sake. Jessica could just imagine how

her dad would freak when he heard the news.

Okay, this was going to drive her insane, worrying about her sister.

Jessica had to get out of the house. She got off her bed, and grabbed her

purse off her desk. She walked down the stairs, across the foyer and

out the front door.

Jessica walked over to the Jeep, and unlocked the driver door. After

backing down the drive and onto the street, she knew that she really

needed to talk to someone. Jessica knew that Elizabeth had told her not to

tell, but if she didn't, she figured that she'd probably go crazy. So

who could she talk to and trust not to tell. Jeremy? No, he'd probably

accidentally bring up Saturday night, and that wasn't a topic that she

wanted to discuss. Tia? No, she'd tell Conner that Jessica had told her

what was going on. Andy? No, Andy had his own issues to deal with.

Melissa?

Melissa? Jessica thought again, considering it. Okay, she had to spill

to someone. Melissa it was.

Melissa-

Honey, thanks for picking Lana up after school. You're father and I are

at a dinner party at the country club and won't be back until late.

Lana can go over to a friend's house, but make sure she is home by 7:00

and is in bed by 9:30. You'll have to make dinner. We'll be back late.

Love, Mom

Melissa rolled her eyes as she read the note from her mother, which was

stuck on the counter. Like she cared, she'd already dropped her little

sister at a friend's house. She didn't want to watch the little brat.

Melissa walked into the office and got out the phone book. She flipped

to the P section of the phone book and had found the phone number for

delivery pizza when the doorbell rang.

Melissa walked across the entryway and unlocked the door. She was

surprised to see Jessica standing on the front step. "Hey Jess, come in.

What brings you here?"

Jessica stepped in, and Melissa locked the door behind her. "So, what's

up?"

Jessica bit her lip. "I just needed to talk."

Melissa nodded. "Okay. I was just about ready to order some pizza. Do

you mind if I do that first?"

Jessica shrugged. Melissa walked over to the phone. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah." She'd just picked at her dinner earlier.

"Cheese okay? That's the only type that I like."

"Sure."

Melissa nodded, and ordered a large cheese pizza. Then she sat Jessica

down at the kitchen table. "Okay, something's wrong. What is it?"

Jessica took a deep breath. Might as well get it out in the open.

"Elizabeth's pregnant."

Melissa looked at her, eyes wide, not speaking for a moment. "Whoa."

Jessica nodded. "I couldn't believe it, either. Liz has always been the

responsible twin. This was out of right field."

"That's what I thought, too."

"She and Conner are way too young to be parents. I nearly freaked. She

told me not to tell anyone, but I couldn't hold it in any longer. I

hope you don't mind me dumping on you." Jessica said, sighing.

Melissa nodded. "I won't tell anyone."

"Good, 'cause Liz would kill me if she knew that I'd told you."

************************************************************

Elizabeth Wakefield

Conner just left. He's been over since four, and it's past nine now. I

can't believe that this is happening. I'm in shock. It's almost unreal,

but at least I know that Conner will support me in whatever I decide to

do. I don't really know what I should do, even. Abortion's out. I don't

believe in it, and I think that it's morally wrong. Conner agrees with

me. I'm not sure about some of the other options, which ones I might

consider. First, I have to get past the issue of telling my dad. That

might be one of the hardest things to do. Conner said that he was going

to go ahead and talk to his mom. We're not going to tell anyone else for

the moment.

Jessica Wakefield

I told Melissa everything. I'm not sure whether or not I feel guilty

about it or not. I also know that I can trust her. No one could act that

sincere. I feel a lot better now. Poor Liz, I can't believe that this

happened to her. I guess that proves it can happen to anyone.

Melissa Fox

I can't believe that Elizabeth Wakefield is pregnant. It's almost more

than I can take. She always came across as responsible, the type that

would never get pregnant. I listened to Jess talk tonight, and I felt

bad for Elizabeth. One time can end up so wrong, even though at the time

it felt so right. Which is why I remember Trent's party. I still can't

believe that I slept with that guy. It wasn't my first time or

anything, my first was with Will after junior prom. What if something like that

could happen to me?

************************************************************

Jessica shot a look at her sister the next morning as they drove to

school. Elizabeth hadn't said a word all morning, not that Jessica could

blame her.

After Jessica steered into the SVH parking lot, she turned to her

sister. "Are you okay?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I don't know how I'm going to face everyone. Even if

they don't know, it's like I'm subconsciously imagining that they do."

Jessica nodded, slamming shut the driver's side door. She gave her

sister a quick hug. "You'll get through." Elizabeth didn't look convinced,

but her face lifted as Conner's Mustang pulled into the lot and parked

next to the Jeep.

"Hey Liz," he said, gently wrapping his arm around her waist. "Are you

doing okay this morning?"

Elizabeth nodded and leaned her head against his chest. "Yeah, I guess

so."

Jessica gave the couple a quick smile. "I'll see you guys later, okay?"

Elizabeth nodded, and Jessica dashed off to where some of the

cheerleaders were standing.

Conner gently let go of her, not moving towards the building yet. "Are

things okay at home?"

"For now. My dad will be home tonight, and the fireworks will start

then." Elizabeth responded.

Conner nodded. "I talked to my mom, and strange enough, she's not mad

at us. Disappointed, but not mad."

"Did you talk to Megan?"

"Yeah, but I don't think that she understands why we… you know. I think

that she's just really shocked at how things are turning out." Conner

said, starting to walk toward the building. Elizabeth followed, silent

until they got past the entrance. At the point where they needed to go

in different directions, she stopped.

Conner gave her a quick kiss. "I love you. I'll see you in English."

Elizabeth nodded. "I love you, too. Bye." Conner kissed her again, and

walked off. Elizabeth took a deep breath, and walked in the direction

of her locker. It was going to be a long day.

***********************************************************

Jessica shuffled through her binder before the homeroom bell rang,

trying to find her assignment for calculus. She was so engrossed in finding

it, that she didn't even realize that another person had walked up

beside her.

"Hello Jessica." Will smiled, looking into her eyes as she looked up.

"Hello Will." Jessica said cooly.

Will continued, unfazed. "So, would you like to go out on Friday

night?"

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "No way. I hate your guts, the way you treat

me and Melissa. I also have a boyfriend."

"Jess…"

"Go away Will. I don't want you in my life." Jessica walked away from

him. She had more important things to worry about then Will Simmons.

Will Simmons

After thinking about it for almost an hour, I have come to the

conclusion that I am an idiot. All the things I've done this year, how I've

bounced between Jessica and Melissa, and hurt both of them. Only an idiot

would do that and expect them to forgive him. Maybe I need to stop

trying to get Jessica to forgive me, and just try to make her realize that

Aames is a jerk. I never did like him, anyway