"Did I tell you about his eyes?" Elizabeth said to Enid the next
afternoon at lunch.
"Yes," Enid confirmed. "Twice. There're emerald green, they
have a hint of mystery in them, and when he stares at you it's like
the world stops and the only people there are you and him."
Elizabeth blushed. "I guess I have been rambling on about him,"
she admitted.
"That's the understatement of the year," Enid said taking a bite
from her sandwich. "So, what's his name?"
"I don't know," Elizabeth said poking at her salad. "I came, I crashed,
he helped me up."
"That's it?" Enid said.
"It was enough," Elizabeth said dreamily. "When he put his finger
under my chin and stared at me…." She trailed off.
"There was sparkage?"
"Major," Elizabeth said grinning. "It's so weird, Enid. I feel like I know
him. And I swear, when he looked at me, it was like he could see my
soul."
"I wouldn't know," Enid said wryly. "So what are you going to do about
lover boy?"
"I'm going to go back to El Carro today, maybe I'll see him."
"I meant Todd," Enid said looking at her friend. "You know, your
boyfriend?"
"Oh," Elizabeth stammered and looked away from Enid. "What about
him?"
"Elizabeth," Enid said quietly. "I thought you loved Todd."
"I do," Elizabeth said looking up. "So much. But…"
"But?" Enid prodded.
"But if I love him, why do I feel so strongly about a guy I don't know
anything about?"
Enid was silent and she felt terrible because she had no idea what to
do or say.
"Do you believe in soul mates?" Elizabeth said suddenly.
"No," Enid said shaking her head. "It's stupid that there's only one person
out there for you. People can love again just as strongly as they did before."
Elizabeth gazed out the window. "Yeah, you're right."
"Elizabeth, you can't go to El Carro today," Enid said touching Elizabeth's
arm. "If you do…"
"I'll do something I'll regret and I won't be able to stop," Elizabeth finished.
"I know. But…maybe I won't regret it, Enid. Maybe Todd isn't the guy for me.
Maybe this is a good thing."
"No, you and Todd have broken up before," Enid pointed out. "And you never
were as happy with Jeffrey or any of the other guys as you were with Todd."
"Yeah," Elizabeth said softly. "Just keep reminding me about that, Enid."

"Have you guys noticed anything weird about Liz," Todd asked his friends
at lunch.
Winston glanced over to where Enid and Elizabeth were sitting. "She looks
just as tasty as ever," he informed them.
"I know," Todd said. "But have you noticed her clothes?"
"She's definitely sexier," Bruce said checking her out. "I thought the day
would never come where Elizabeth Wakefield would wear a skirt above her
knees."
Todd shot him a look. "It's not just her makeover. She's been blowing me off
too. We were supposed to meet after her Oracle meeting but she never
showed. Also, I never see her anymore."
"You have been busy with basketball," Ken pointed out. "Maybe you should
do something special for her, girls appreciate that."
"I'm free this afternoon," Todd said thoughtfully.
"Take her to a movie," Winston suggested.
"Take her to Miller's Point," Bruce countered. "The girl's feeling left out.
She needs some affection and if she can't get it from you, then she'll find
someone else to get it from."
Todd glared at him. "You're a pig, Bruce."
"Hey, girls have needs," Bruce said smirking. He stood up and left. "If
you're not careful, maybe I'll move in," he said winking.
"Don't listen to him," Ken said. "Liz isn't like that. She'd never cheat on you."
"You're right," Todd agreed.

"Go, Gladiators, Go!" Jessica yelled along with the other cheerleaders that
afternoon at practice. Usually Jessica loved cheerleading practice. As
co-captain she was the center of the action, which she loved. But Jessica
wanted to go over to next field and watch football practice. More specifically
she wanted to go watch Jason.
"Now let's do the 'Welcome Cheer'," Robin ordered the other cheerleaders.
Actually, there was one thing Jessica didn't like about cheerleading: Robin
Wilson, her co-captain. She made cheerleading so…not fun. And Jessica
thrived on fun. The cheer started and Jessica noticed that there was a guy
and a girl walking on the far end of the field. Jessica's guy senses perked up
and she could tell by the guy's walk that it was Jason. Jessica instinctively
started to put some extra bounce into her step and plastered on her perkiest
smile. But as the couple came closer Jessica saw who the girl was. "Lila!"
Jessica seethed.
"Jessica!" Robin barked. "Stay in formation!"
Jessica scowled at Robin, who ignored her. Lila may have won the first battle.
But Jessica was going to win the war. What Jessica wanted, Jessica got.

"Conner, you haven't heard a word that I have said," Tia Ramirez said
wagging a French fry in Connor's face.
"You were talking about…cheerleading?" Conner guessed.
"Wrong," Tia said slugging him on the arm. "Angel, what should I do with
him?"
"You better watch out," Andy said in mock horror. "When Tia's pissed off,
you're a dead man."
"I can attest to that," Angel said grinning.
Tia poked him in the ribs. "So Conner, what's been on the mind of yours.
You've had your head in the clouds all day."
"What?" Conner said startled. "Nothing…it's nothing."
"I know what it is," Tia said knowingly.
"Enlighten us," Evan said picking at his burger. "I wonder if this is really
soy."
"Conner's got a new girl," Tia teased. "It's been a week since he's broken
up with Katie Johnson."
"That must be some sort of record," Andy said. "You haven't had a girlfriend
in a week? Conner, you're losing your touch."
Conner threw a twinkie at him. "It's not a girl," he said lamely.
"Out with it!" Tia ordered. "Who is she?"
Conner sighed. "I don't know okay?"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Tia said.
"I ran into her, literally, in the hall after school yesterday."
"Describe," Tia said leaning across the table.
Conner scowled. "You might as well tell her," Angel said. "She'll beat it
out of you eventually."
"Well she's blond," Conner said as Tia rolled her eyes. "She's got these
gorgeous blue green eyes, kind of like the ocean…" Conner stopped as
he noticed that Andy, Tia, Evan, and Angel were trying hard not to crack
up. "What?" he barked.
"'Her eyes are like the ocean'?" Tia said snickering. "When has 'love
them and leave them' McDermott ever noticed any details such as eye
color, let alone comparing them to the ocean?"
"She's…different," Conner said. "I can't explain it."
Tia and Andy exchanged looks. "You have it bad, Conner."