Jessica trudged slowly up her front steps. How did things get so messed
up? One minute she and Ryan were happy and in love and the next she was
having feelings towards her ex-boyfriend.
Yeah, so she used to be in love with him, but that was so long ago and
it had ended so badly.
But yet, she couldn't help feeling drawn to him. He was still the same
old Jeremy, yet there was something different about him.
Even though she had left before anything bad had happened, she still
felt guilty. She and Ryan had been dating for a long time and she
shouldn't be having feelings for another guy.
She unlocked the door. She noticed that a light was on in the kitchen.
She didn't remember leaving a light on. Then she head dished rattling.
Was someone breaking into her house? She grabbed a vase off the hall
table and slowly crept towards the kitchen. As she neared the
entranceway the figure turned around. Jessica raised the vase high above her
head ready to strike when:
"Jessica?" Ryan asked surprised.
"Ryan?" Jessica said gasping. "What are you doing here?"
"I came by to drop off your costumes that you left my house." He
glanced at the vase, "What are you doing?"
"I thought that there was someone in the house," she said nervously
setting the vase down. "You shouldn't be sneaking around like that."
"Like what?" he asked confused. "I've come over before when you were
gone and you never cared."
"I know...it's just that I'm a little jumpy tonight."
"So, how's Lila's hair? Is the situation under control? Should we be
worried?" Ryan joked.
Jessica looked at him alarmed and she replied quickly, "No, I think
we're safe. It looks better now. Lila's hair, I mean."
"You know," Ryan said opening the fridge. "I will never understand you
girls. But I'm glad you got back a little early, now we can hang out or
something."
"Actually, I'm a little tired," Jessica admitted. "I was thinking of
going up to bed."
Ryan pulled out a can of pop and started drinking. "Bed? It's only
eight-thirty."
"I've had a long week and we're going out tomorrow so..." Jessica
trailed off.
"Are you sure? I could stay over and we could-"
"It's okay," Jessica said smiling. "I'm kind of alone girl tonight, I
guess."
"Oh," Ryan said disappointed. He was hoping to see Jessica tonight. He
put his can in with the recycling and headed towards the door. "Hey,
Jess," he said thinking.
"What?"
"You said you and your sister had a fight. What was it about?"
Jessica shifted uncomfortably. "Why?"
"Just curious," he said shrugging.
"Well, there was this girl who hated me and spread rumors about me and
she and Elizabeth became friends and then the girl stole me boyfriend."
"Oh," Ryan said. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow."
He kissed her but after a few seconds she pulled away yawning. "Pick me
up at six."
"Sure," he said smiling. "Good night."
"Night," Jessica said softly. She walked up the stairs into her
bedroom. Suddenly the phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hey, Jess. Not used to girls running out on me," Jeremy chuckled.
"Hey, Aames," she said grinning. "Sorry about that."
"So, how are you?"
"I'm okay. Ryan was here when I got back. He's just always around."
"I can understand that. Any guy lucky enough to be dating you would
want to be around."
Jessica laughed. "I guess. We're going out tomorrow."
"That's nice...wait a second. I don't really care."
Jessica giggled. I did have a nice time tonight, but I don't think I
should see you again. Things got a little...you know..."
"Heavy?" Jeremy supplied.
"Yeah."
"Well, it is you know, us. We kind of have a history. We used to be in
love. What do you expect, us not to feel something for each other?"
"I guess not. Well, I should go. I was going to go to bed."
"Oh," Jeremy said knowingly. "Wish I was with you."
"Jeremy!"
"Just joking," Jeremy said. Jessica wasn't able to tell if he was or
not. "Remember Jess, If you want anything, you know where I live."
And Jeremy hung up. Jessica said the phone down. What was going on with
her? She had gotten over Jeremy years ago. She pulled her dress off and
slipped under the covers. Jeremy was just a friend.
But somehow she couldn't convince her body of that. Or her heart.

"You mean to tell me, that my sister was married!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Yup," Todd said smiling. "But it didn't last long."
"I just can't believe it. I mean, I can, it being Jessica but wow! What
else did I miss?"
"Well, I quit basketball and I also dropped out for a semester and
worked as a bartender."
Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Get out of town! You? A bartender?"
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Todd said grinning. "But I went back and
changed my major and here I am."
"Maybe I shouldn't have left," Elizabeth said sipping her wine.
"You shouldn't have," Todd agreed. "Everyone missed you."
"I did too," she said quietly.
"Oh, and Enid Rollins started going by Alexandria and joined a
sorority."
"Enid?" Elizabeth said in disbelief. "Wow, things did change."
"What about you?"
"What do you want to know?" Elizabeth said nervously.
"What happened with you?"
"Pretty basic. I made friends, worked on the newspaper."
"Cool," Todd said nodding.
Elizabeth was relieved when he didn't press her. "So did you date
anyone?"
"Well, I saw this one girl, Dana, for a while-"
Todd was interrupted when the waiter brought their meals over. The
topic was forgotten about and when Todd had paid the bill, he and Elizabeth
walked slowly back to his car.
"I had a nice time tonight, Todd."
"Me, too," Todd said squeezing her shoulders. "We can get to together
again."
"That would be great. How about Monday night?"
"That's great." Todd leaned over and gave her a long hug. "Good night,
Liz,"
"Night," she said lightly. She climbed in her car.
It was nice to have someone besides her parents to hang out with. And
as she watched Todd she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was.