"Lila,"
Jessica yelled over the phone. "How could you do that to me?"
"Like you've never done it to me?" Lila smirked.
"But you knew how much I liked him," Jessica whined.
"So? I liked him too, Jess. I just happened to get there first. And
it's not like we can both date him," she pointed out.
"I know, but I really like Jason."
"Jessica you say that about every guy you like," Lila said exasperated.
"And you usually get every guy you want. But this time it's my turn to get
the guy."
"You've had boyfriends before," Jessica said rolling her eyes. "What
makes
Jason special?"
"I can't explain it," Lila said, her voice changing. "We just have this
connection."
"Yeah I saw you connected at the hip this afternoon during cheer practice.
What kind of romantic excursion where you two engaging in by the football
field?" Jessica said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The sarcasm was lost on Lila who giggled. "We met up after football practice
and then we went into the woods for a little rendezvous."
Jessica's heart sank. "So what happened?" she said trying to hold back her
tears.
Lila plowed right on, oblivious to Jessica's hurt. "We talked a little. You
will not
believe what we have in common."
"He's spoiled rotten and has his own car?" Jessica shot back bitterly.
Lila laughed. "No, but he's been all over the world and everything. Then,"
she continued.
"You made with the smoochies?" Jessica guessed.
Lila sighed happily. "He is the best kisser, Jess. Whenever his lips were on
my
mouth I felt like I might explode!"
I
wish you had! Jessica thought bitterly. "That's great, Li."
"It
was," Lila agreed. "But he tried to put his hand up my shirt. But I told him
I
wasn't ready yet."
Jessica was
surprised. Lila was always bragging about her relationships and
how experienced she was.
"Lila
the Prude?" she teased.
Lila snorted. "As if! I just want to take it slow. I really like him. I just
want him to like
me for me. Not for what he can get."
Jessica raised her eyebrows. "Taking it slow?" she snorted. "Remember
Chris
Thompson? The guy who you were convinced was your soul mate? If I remember
correctly wasn't the second day that you met him that I saw you two in your
car
making out?"
"That was different," Lila said offhandedly. "He didn't really
mean anything to me."
"But how do you know Jason likes you for more than your looks and your
credit
card?"
"You're just jealous," Lila said hurt. "I thought you'd be happy
that I finally have
found a great guy."
"That's not it," Jessica said feeling bad. She didn't want to get in a
fight with Lila.
She just wanted Jason to like her.
"Whatever," Lila said. "I've gotta go. I'll see you in school
tomorrow."
"Okay. Bye," Jessica said and hung up. Lila may have one the battle.
But Jessica was
going to win the war. All she needed was a little help. And she knew just who to
get.
Elizabeth
typed a sentence onto her computer. She deleted it. Then she broke
out into a huge grin. Ever since Conner had asked her out exactly five hours
ago,
Elizabeth had been unable to think of anything else. And whenever she thought of
him (which was about every other second) she broke into a huge smile. She had
gone over every second of their conversation. She had written a long passage in
her diary about their every minute together.
Suddenly her eyes drifted to the framed picture of Todd on her nightstand.
Elizabeth immediately felt horrible. Todd trusted her and if he knew that she
was
going behind her back he would be so hurt and angry. Elizabeth still loved him
and a
part of her hated how she was acting. This was so out of character for her.
After all,
she was the one who gave Jessica lectures on commitment.
She
glanced down at her short red skirt and white halter-top. Maybe dressing more
like Jessica was causing her to act more like Jessica. But Elizabeth knew the
only
person at fault was herself.
"I'm a horrible, horrible person," she muttered. She was able to throw
away a happy
relationship for some guitar-playing writer who she didn't know anything
about.
Suddenly Jessica burst into the room. Liz yelped but then blushed when she
noticed
it was only Jessica.
"A little tense are we?" Jessica remarked. "Where were you after school
today?"
"I went over to El Carro to do research for an article," she said vaguely.
"How exciting," Jessica remarked sarcastically. "Did you see any
cuties?"
"I went to do research not guy hunt!" Elizabeth said quickly.
"So? There are cute guys everywhere! You might as well turn a dull assignment
into a love game."
"Well…I have Todd," Elizabeth said standing up from her desk.
"Unfortunately." Jessica said. "Speaking of Mr. Dull himself, he called
here twice.
He seemed kind of funny. Maybe he didn't know that you were doing research.
Or maybe he doesn't get that if Ewan McGregor was standing here singing to
you,
you would still be daydreaming about him."
"Right," Elizabeth agreed not looking at Jessica in the eye.
As Jessica turned around and left, Elizabeth could here her muttering,
"Sixteen years
old and practically at the alter. How sad."
Elizabeth
closed her door behind her sister. She needed to call Todd and assure him
that everything was okay. It would be easier if he thought things were great
between
them. And she really did feel bad about cheating on him.
