Conner finished the letter and thought. Alanna was right. He no longer loved her like she loved him. He'd been wondering for the past few weeks why he even got back together with Alanna in the first place. The more he thought about it the more it become clear. He had never meant to get back together with Alanna. Things were just moving way to fast between him and Elizabeth and it was scaring him. He loved her so much and he figured it would be easier to bail before things got too deep. But Conner realized that things were already deep. He grabbed his phone and punched in the familiar number he knew so well. After three rings Elizabeth's sweet voice called out, "Hello?"
"Uh, hey." Conner knew he sounded stupid but he didn't know what to say.
"Conner?" Elizabeth asked uncertainly.
"Yeah, it's me." After a pause he added, "How are you?"
"I'm okay. I'm getting ready for tonight."
"Megan is too," Conner chuckled.
"So aren't you getting ready?" Elizabeth asked in a neutral tone.
"Yeah. But it doesn't matter, I don't have a date anyway."
"You don't?" She asked surprised. "What happened to Alanna?"
"She left yesterday. She's going to a rehabilitation center up in New England."
"Wow, that's terrible. But at least she's getting the help she needs. I hope she's okay. She must be so afraid..." Elizabeth trailed off. Conner smiled. That was one of the things he loved about Elizabeth. She was always so concerned for others. "Well, at least you'll be able to see her again in the fall. I know you always talked about going to college in the east and you guys will still be able to be together."
"No we won't. I mean, yes I'm going to school in the east, but we broke up before she left."
"Oh, wow." Elizabeth replied. Conner couldn't tell if she was happy or not.
"Yeah, I'm going to college up in Boston. I got into Belmont, that performing arts school."
"Congratulations. It looks like we'll be neighbors."
"What do you mean?" Conner asked.
"I was going to go to Stanford but I got this letter last week saying I was accepted into Harvard's journalism program."
"That's incredible. I didn't even know that you tried out."
"I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think I would get in, but since I did, I'm going to Boston too," Elizabeth said happily.
"Awesome. But I really called to see if you wanted to go to prom with me."
Elizabeth didn't respond and Conner felt like an idiot. "As friends of course," he said hurriedly.
"Okay," Elizabeth said after a minute. "I don't have a date or anything. Me and and Melissa were going to go together, but I don't think she'd mind."
"Great, I'll pick you up at six." Conner hung up the phone. She said yes! And Conner knew the other pieces were falling into place.

Jessica laughed as Andy twirled her around to the music. When the song ended she was left breathless. "Wow, I'm really wiped out, I'm going to go get some punch."
"Yeah, The Marsden can really do that to you," Andy commented.
" 'The Marsden'?" Jessica looked at Andy with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, it's a kind of dancing involving a lot of twisting, jumping and spinning."
"So that's what kind of dancing that is," Jessica laughed. "Write me down for the next dance."
"I'll be waiting," Andy said with mock seductiveness.
Jessica walked away giggling. This is what she had really needed. A stress free night with Andy. Okay so maybe he wasn't the most romantic prom date, but he was funny and a fun dancer. When Jessica reached the food table she paused as she drank her punch while watching everyone dance. She saw Tia and Trent doing a weird dance involving Tia twisting around Trent. She saw Ken and Maria, lost in their own world. She saw Melissa standing by herself looking kind of lonely. And then she saw Elizabeth and Conner. Jessica was surprised to see them together. The last she knew they were in a fight and Conner had went back to Alanna. But Conner and Elizabeth, she noted, no matter how much they denied it, looked totally in love. Suddenly Jessica heard some one clear their throat behind her. Jessica turned around and saw Lila standing there. "Hey, Lila," Jessica said carefully. Even though she and Lila were no longer enemies, she still wasn't sure what they were.
"Hey, Jess. Having a good time?"
"I guess." Jessica said shrugging.
"Beats last year's prom," Lila said laughing. Jessica giggled remembering. At the time it hadn't seemed funny but now looking back at it, Jessica had to admit she had been evil last year. Come to think of it, Jessica and Elizabeth hadn't been speaking much last year at this time either. After a pause Lila said carefully, "I heard about you and Liz and I'm sorry."
"It's not really anyone's fault," Jessica responded quickly.
"No not for her. For you. I have been sick of the Princess Elizabeth act for years. You're better off without her in college."
"But she's my best friend we do everything together."
"College is for having fun. You guys would have grown apart eventually. Look at her," Lila said gesturing to Conner and Elizabeth. "She's not moping around so why should you?"
Jessica nodded. "I'm going Sweet Valley University."
"That's where I'm going too!" Lila exclaimed. "Just think how much when we'll have rushing for sororities."
"Meeting hot frat guys," Jessica chimed in.
"We're gonna rule next year," Lila promised. "Listen, I have to go, Josh is motioning for me," she said rolling here eyes and Jessica giggled. As Lila walked away Jessica felt this surge of empowerment go through her. Lila had said 'we'. As much as Jessica hated to admit it, she missed Lila. And if Lila was going to be at her side then college seemed a whole lot better.

Melissa stood off to the side. She really wished she had decided to stay home. When she had received an apologetic phone call from Elizabeth saying that she and Conner would be going to prom together and that Melissa could still come blah, blah, blah. Melissa hated standing off to the side looking pathetic. At least she looked good. She was wearing a lavender floor length dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair was straightened and fell around her shoulders. Melissa glanced aimlessly around the gym until her eyes locked on those chocolate brown eyes she loved so much. It was Jeremy standing there looking gorgeous in a tux. As much as Melissa wanted to scratch his eyes out, she felt her self being drawn towards him. "I thought you'd gone," she said softly looking deep into his eyes.
"I didn't want to miss your big night. But it's just tonight, tomorrow I'm still-"
"I know," Melissa said smiling. "I'm just glad you're here."
Jeremy held out his arms and Melissa melted into him. Sure things between them didn't end well, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that he had come here for her. Melissa closed here eyes and began to dance with him.

The next morning Melissa woke up. Suddenly everything came back to her, Jeremy at the prom, and him leaving today. It was hard to believe that in a hour he would be gone. She cursed Big Mesa for finishing school a week before Sweet Valley. Next to her Elizabeth stirred and woke up. "Morning Melissa." Melissa smiled. Elizabeth had decided to crash here after they returned from the dance. "Aren't you going to be leaving soon?" Elizabeth asked groggily.
"Why?" Melissa asked confused. "This is my house."
"Jeremy's leaving this morning, I thought she would go see him off at the airport."
"Why? He made it clear he didn't want me in his new life."
"He still cares about you Liss," Elizabeth pointed out. "He come last night. He was there for you."
"I can't Liz," Melissa said here eyes filing with tears. "I just can't. I would cry and force him to stay." She broke down in sobs. "I never even told him how I felt, how much more he meant to me then Will."
"You should go tell him," Elizabeth urged. "You need to be fair to him and tell him how you feel. If you don't you will just end up hurting him. He never held back with you and you need to return the favor. He needs it from you too. You need to end it."
Melissa stood there for a minute and threw on a sweater over her pajamas. "I'll see you later!" She called to Elizabeth and ran.

Jeremy adjusted his traveling pack. His boarding call was in five minutes. He glanced around the crowded terminal. He tried to tell himself that Melissa wasn't going to come, but he had gotten his hopes up after last night. She still cared about him. "Boarding time for Flight 568 to Phoenix. All boarders must be on the plane in three minutes." Jeremy got ready to board the plane when he heard someone call his name. He turned around and saw Melissa running towards him in her pajamas and her hair a mess. But it didn't matter, she still looked perfect to him. He ran towards her and grabbed her into a huge hug. He was confused when she gently pushed him away. "I didn't come here to...It's over Jeremy. I want you. I love you so much. But I can't have you. If I stood here and cried it would be weak and selfish. I'm letting you go, and it's killing me." Jeremy looked at her stunned. Yeah they had broke up already but they had never really ended anything. "Melissa," Jeremy called out.
Melissa turned around. "Goodbye Jeremy." Then she walked slowly out of the terminal and Jeremy stood there not moving until he realized it was time to go. And he walked slowly onto the plane and cried.