"I'm glad you're home, sweetie," Mrs. Wakefield said hugging Elizabeth.
"Me too, mom," she said smiling.
"So what are you going to do?" Mr. Wakefield asked.
"Well, I'm looking at apartments in Sweet Valley, and I just got a job
at the TV station."
"That's good," Mrs. Wakefield agreed. "You're always welcome here."
"Thanks, mom," Elizabeth said. "Well, I should go. There's a few houses
I wanted to check out. I'm supposed to meet with the realtor in about
twenty minutes."
"Liz," Mrs. Wakefield said hesitantly. "I know you and Jessica haven't
stayed close over the years, but do you think, now that you're home,
that maybe you two could work out your problems?"
"I tried," Elizabeth sighed. "I went over to talk to her but she threw
me out."
"You got to keep trying, sweetie."
"I know. Bye, mom, bye, dad!" she called out as she walked towards her
convertible.
As she drove she thought about what Lila had said about everything
being different.
Maybe there wasn't a place for her in Sweet Valley anymore.
Because if Jessica didn't want her there, then there was no point in
sticking around.
Elizabeth pulled her car in the driveway of a small yellow house.
Elizabeth thought it was attractive but probably out of her price range.
She walked up the house and opened the door. "Hello?" she called out.
A man walked into the room and Elizabeth looked up at him. He looked
familiar with the brown hair and the brown eyes. "Todd," she said
surprised.
"Elizabeth?" he said staring at her.
"It's great to see you!" Elizabeth said smiling and giving him a hug.
"What have you been up to?"
"Well, I have my own reality business, obviously, that's doing really well."
"That's great!" Elizabeth said her eyes shining.
"Whatever happened to you? The last time I saw you was at graduation.
Then I heard that you went to Boston!"
"Yeah," Elizabeth said shyly. "Me and Jessica kind of had
a...difference of opinion, so I left. But now I'm back."
"Yeah," Todd said clearing his throat. "I heard about
your...um...difference of opinion. So are you guys the dynamic duo again?"
"No," Elizabeth said not meeting Todd's eye. "She won't talk to me. Oh,
Todd! I'm so alone. I almost wish I hadn't come back!"
Todd took her hand. "You did the right thing, Liz. If Jessica's being
stubborn that's not your fault. The past is past."
"You're right I guess. I shouldn't have expected her to forgive me
though. We haven't spoken in four years and we both have our own lives. I
just wish I knew what happened with Jessica."
"Have you got a month?" Todd joked.
"That bad, huh? But I guess with Jessica, life is never simple."
"If you want, maybe we can have dinner or something and catch up."
Elizabeth stared into Todd's warm chocolate eyes. "I'd like that," she
said smiling.

"No, no, NO!" Jessica said throwing another dress onto her bed where a
huge pile was growing. She had absolutely nothing to wear to Jeremy's.
She wanted to look casual, but gorgeous. Flirty but not slutty. She dug
through her closet and in the back she spotted a burgundy dress that
was sleeveless.
"Perfect," she breathed as she pulled it out. She had bought it last
summer and put it away but forgotten about it. It would be perfect for
tonight. She pulled it on and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Even
though it wasn't a date, she still wanted to look good.
As she gathered her purse she felt slightly guilty for lying to Ryan.
He had always trusted her and she had never given him a reason not to.
But she knew he wouldn't like her seeing old boyfriends. And that was
exactly what Jeremy was. And EX-boyfriend. It didn't matter how handsome
he was. He was in the past now.

Jessica walked up the stairs to his apartment. She had fallen in love
with the old brick building at first site. She found his number and
knocked.
"Come in!" a voice called out.
Jessica opened the door and walked in. The apartment was full of
painting and old books. It had old Victorian furniture and was very classy.
Jessica weaved through the furniture and saw Jeremy bending over the
table lighting candles.
"Hey, Jess," he said, his eyes lighting up. "You look great!"
Jessica blushed and sat down. "You made dinner?"
Jeremy nodded. Jessica smiled slightly. Ryan's idea of making her
dinner was making Macaroni and Cheese.
jersey walked over to his CD player and popped a classical CD in. He
joined Jessica at the table and placed in front of her a steaming plate
of lasagna.
"This is incredible, Jeremy," she sighed.
"Only the best," Jeremy said grinning.
"You didn't have to go through so much trouble though," she protested.
"It wasn't like this is a date or anything."
"I've missed you, Jess. I think the worst thing I ever did was break up
with you."
Jessica shifted uncomfortably. "At the time, maybe it was the right
thing to do."
"Maybe," Jeremy said laughing quietly. He gazed at her intently. "But
you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
"Maybe...maybe I should go," Jessica said hastily. "I think it was a
mistake in coming." She grabbed her purse and dashed out of the
apartment. She leaned against his door, breathing heavily. What had she done? It
didn't seem so innocent anymore. But Jessica didn't want to admit it to
herself, but she wanted to see Jeremy again.