Conner stepped off the plane from Boston to LA. It had not been a good flight. He had sat beside a young woman with a baby, who screamed throughout the whole flight. Still half asleep, he went to the luggage pick up, and picked up his single duffle bag. He couldn't believe he was in California again. It seemed like a whole other world. He had new friends now- who all went to the Boston Conservatory. They all appreciated music as much as him, which really did mean a lot. But they weren't Andy and Tia, his best friends since practically birth. He hadn't really tried to keep in touch with them, and he was ashamed. And than there was Liz... as much as it pained him to admit, she was still on his mind. Still constantly on his mind. Nevermind that he was sort of seeing a girl named Rachel at school. It was Liz who constantly invaded his thoughts. It was Liz who helped inspire him to write music. And he didn't even have the balls to call her. It would be so simple. But there was no way she was interested in him anymore. She'd probably moved on to find a guy who treated her like a goddess. Something he could never do. Conner needed to make a decision. He could be with Liz, and make her unhappy with his moodiness and his inability to express his feeling. Or he could let her be with an Evan type guy, the one who would make her happy, and put her before everything else. When it came down to it, Liz deserved the best. And unfortunately, he just wasn't the best. His heart felt heavy, but he ignored it. At least he could see his family- Megan and his mother, and maybe he'd even see Tia, Evan, and Andy. He grabbed his duffle bag and ignored the weight of it on his shoulders. He was excited to be back home, strangely enough. He walked quickly, and hailed a cab. Suddenly he couldn't wait to be back in his own house.
Immediately after her shift, Tia raced home. "Mom, Dad?????? Hellooooo?" There was no answer. "Anyone? Anyone?" She sighed. Her family had greeted her when she had come home yesterday, but now it seemed everyone was running off into different directions. Even her family had changed. Her brothers older and more mature, her parents seemed older and more tired. The fact that her family changed really unnerved Tia. Her family was always supposed to be the same, reliable. If they had changed so much... what would her friends be like? Snapping out of her train of thought, Tia grabbed a piece of paper from the pad on the fridge(at least that would never change). Quickly she jotted down a note.
Mom, Dad, anyone who reads this.
Went to Andy's, possibly Conners. I'll be home later! Mucho amor,
Tia.
Quickly she threw on a red halter top, and a pair of black capris. She grabbed her flip-flops, and started walking to Andy's. As she reached the familliar neighbourhood, tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm so glad to be home..." she thought to herself. A wave of homesickness washed over her, even though she was already home. She noticed Evans house, and decided to stop there to see if Evan was coming home. She rang the familliar doorbell. Evan answered the door. Tia couldn't believe her eyes, it was the most perfect surprise. "Ummm.. Tee??" Evan said, sounding confused. Tia realized she hadn't said anything yet. She threw herself into Evan's arms. "Evaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Oh my god.. I've missed you so so so so so so so so so much!" she said tears pouring down her face. It must've been the 8438478397 time she'd cried/nearly cried since she was back, but she didn't care. Evan burst out laughing. "Well, you're definitely the same Tia." Tia giggled and hit him playfully on the arm. "Evannnn you KNOW you love me! Now tell me how you're been! I wanna know everything!" Evan laughed again and smiled at her fondly. Seeing him smiling at her was so.. perfect.. like curling up under a blanket by the fire on the coldest nights, or like drinking a cup of hot chocolate. "Everything? Maybe you should define everything Tee." She smiled a wide smile. "Everything means EVERYTHING. When did you get home? What's been going on? How are you? Come on Evan, don't tease me, you know I'm dying to know."
"Welll... I got home yesterday. Nothing's been going on. This morning I woke up, watched some bad television, and read National Geographic. I'm doing pretty damn good, thanks for asking."
"Evannn! You know I want more info! How's Berkeley? And Jade? And your parents?" Tia whined.
Evan laughed again. "God it's good too see you Tia. Honestly. I love Berkeley and everything, but it's not the same. You look amazing. I wanna know what's been going on with you?"
"I know exactly what you mean.. I don't think I realized how much I love Sweet Valley until I got back home. And I've missed you so much too- you look amazing!"
"Tee.. I look exactly the same."
Tia shook her head. "No.. you don't. I've known you so long.. that I can tell you've changed.. you've been through new experiences, and I can see that. And for the first time, I don't know the experiences, and I'm not laughing about them with you. It's a bit scary.." she trailed off as she began to cry again. "God I'm a mess. I'm so sorry Evan." A concerned expression flickered across Evan's face. He hugged Tia tightly. "Look, Tee.. yes everyone has gone their seperate ways. Yes we've experienced different things without one another. Yes we've all changed. But you know what? It doesn't matter. I'm still Evan, and you're still Tia. You're stuck with me as a friend, whether you like it or not. Ok?" Tia wiped the tears from her face and smiled. "Thanks Ev.. it's true. I dunno.. I'm just an emotional rollercoaster since I've got back- which would be yesterday." Evan laughed. Tia, Tia, Tia. Just smile and relax, ok? We're gonna have an awesome break." Again Tia smiled widely. "I know I Know I know!!!!!! It's gonna be so amazing Evan!"
"Now you're talking.. what do you say we go check if Marsden is home yet?"
"Sounds perfect. Let's go."
Tia and Evan linked arms and walked over to the Marsdens, with identical smiles on their faces. All the weird feelings had evaporated, and she had an amazing feeling about this.
"Jeremy, Dahlingg.. please be so kind to take my bags for me? I apologize, but my thin, weak little arms cannot do an efficient job." Jeremy looked at Jessica. "Jessica... DAHLING... take your bags yourself!" Jessica burst out laughing. "I guess I still have yet to whip you." Jeremy smiled. "Yup. And I for one am disappointed Jess, we've been going out for almost a year now, you're devastatingy gorgeous, nice, funny, and I'm not whipped? You're definitely loosing your touch, Wakefield." Jessica looked at Jeremy with mock surprise. "You're right! Oh my god, I'm RUINED! RUINEDDDDD!" she said before breaking out in a peal of giggles. Jeremy smiled at her happily. "Jess, you're so amazing." She smiled back. "So are you, Aames." He smiled and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. "God, I cannot believe we're back home Jer. I'm gonna see Lizzie! I miss that ugly girl so much!" Jessica said with a laugh. "Ugly? Umm Jess.. she is your twin.. as in identical.. but hey, believe what you want." Jessica smiled. "No, but I really cannot wait. And I hope Tia is here, and Evan, and Andy, and Maria, and Ken, and EVEN Jade!"
"You're missing a name there Jess."
"Who? Oh.. Conner. Well I really could care less if the idiot is back. He'll probably insist on being rude to everyone, hiding the fact that this is the highlight of his pathetic life."
"Jessica, that's a little mean.."
Jessica ignored him and continued."And he'll ignore the fact that he is desperately in love with Liz, and if he could just pull his head out of his butt, they could BOTH admit it." Jeremy laughed again. "So you're going from hating the guy to wanting him to be with your sister, also your best friend?"
Jessica sighed. "As much as it pains me to admit it, I know they love each other. They'll make each other happy. And if they are BOTH here, I know Liz will be here, but if the idiot is here, I will NOT rest until they are together, ok Jer?"
Jeremy laughed again. "Sorry Jess, you're just a little bit scary when you're so determined."
Jessica socked him on the arm lightly.
"Come on, let's get going so we can get home! Now really, Jer, can you take my bags?"
Immediately after her shift, Tia raced home. "Mom, Dad?????? Hellooooo?" There was no answer. "Anyone? Anyone?" She sighed. Her family had greeted her when she had come home yesterday, but now it seemed everyone was running off into different directions. Even her family had changed. Her brothers older and more mature, her parents seemed older and more tired. The fact that her family changed really unnerved Tia. Her family was always supposed to be the same, reliable. If they had changed so much... what would her friends be like? Snapping out of her train of thought, Tia grabbed a piece of paper from the pad on the fridge(at least that would never change). Quickly she jotted down a note.
Mom, Dad, anyone who reads this.
Went to Andy's, possibly Conners. I'll be home later! Mucho amor,
Tia.
Quickly she threw on a red halter top, and a pair of black capris. She grabbed her flip-flops, and started walking to Andy's. As she reached the familliar neighbourhood, tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm so glad to be home..." she thought to herself. A wave of homesickness washed over her, even though she was already home. She noticed Evans house, and decided to stop there to see if Evan was coming home. She rang the familliar doorbell. Evan answered the door. Tia couldn't believe her eyes, it was the most perfect surprise. "Ummm.. Tee??" Evan said, sounding confused. Tia realized she hadn't said anything yet. She threw herself into Evan's arms. "Evaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Oh my god.. I've missed you so so so so so so so so so much!" she said tears pouring down her face. It must've been the 8438478397 time she'd cried/nearly cried since she was back, but she didn't care. Evan burst out laughing. "Well, you're definitely the same Tia." Tia giggled and hit him playfully on the arm. "Evannnn you KNOW you love me! Now tell me how you're been! I wanna know everything!" Evan laughed again and smiled at her fondly. Seeing him smiling at her was so.. perfect.. like curling up under a blanket by the fire on the coldest nights, or like drinking a cup of hot chocolate. "Everything? Maybe you should define everything Tee." She smiled a wide smile. "Everything means EVERYTHING. When did you get home? What's been going on? How are you? Come on Evan, don't tease me, you know I'm dying to know."
"Welll... I got home yesterday. Nothing's been going on. This morning I woke up, watched some bad television, and read National Geographic. I'm doing pretty damn good, thanks for asking."
"Evannn! You know I want more info! How's Berkeley? And Jade? And your parents?" Tia whined.
Evan laughed again. "God it's good too see you Tia. Honestly. I love Berkeley and everything, but it's not the same. You look amazing. I wanna know what's been going on with you?"
"I know exactly what you mean.. I don't think I realized how much I love Sweet Valley until I got back home. And I've missed you so much too- you look amazing!"
"Tee.. I look exactly the same."
Tia shook her head. "No.. you don't. I've known you so long.. that I can tell you've changed.. you've been through new experiences, and I can see that. And for the first time, I don't know the experiences, and I'm not laughing about them with you. It's a bit scary.." she trailed off as she began to cry again. "God I'm a mess. I'm so sorry Evan." A concerned expression flickered across Evan's face. He hugged Tia tightly. "Look, Tee.. yes everyone has gone their seperate ways. Yes we've experienced different things without one another. Yes we've all changed. But you know what? It doesn't matter. I'm still Evan, and you're still Tia. You're stuck with me as a friend, whether you like it or not. Ok?" Tia wiped the tears from her face and smiled. "Thanks Ev.. it's true. I dunno.. I'm just an emotional rollercoaster since I've got back- which would be yesterday." Evan laughed. Tia, Tia, Tia. Just smile and relax, ok? We're gonna have an awesome break." Again Tia smiled widely. "I know I Know I know!!!!!! It's gonna be so amazing Evan!"
"Now you're talking.. what do you say we go check if Marsden is home yet?"
"Sounds perfect. Let's go."
Tia and Evan linked arms and walked over to the Marsdens, with identical smiles on their faces. All the weird feelings had evaporated, and she had an amazing feeling about this.
"Jeremy, Dahlingg.. please be so kind to take my bags for me? I apologize, but my thin, weak little arms cannot do an efficient job." Jeremy looked at Jessica. "Jessica... DAHLING... take your bags yourself!" Jessica burst out laughing. "I guess I still have yet to whip you." Jeremy smiled. "Yup. And I for one am disappointed Jess, we've been going out for almost a year now, you're devastatingy gorgeous, nice, funny, and I'm not whipped? You're definitely loosing your touch, Wakefield." Jessica looked at Jeremy with mock surprise. "You're right! Oh my god, I'm RUINED! RUINEDDDDD!" she said before breaking out in a peal of giggles. Jeremy smiled at her happily. "Jess, you're so amazing." She smiled back. "So are you, Aames." He smiled and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. "God, I cannot believe we're back home Jer. I'm gonna see Lizzie! I miss that ugly girl so much!" Jessica said with a laugh. "Ugly? Umm Jess.. she is your twin.. as in identical.. but hey, believe what you want." Jessica smiled. "No, but I really cannot wait. And I hope Tia is here, and Evan, and Andy, and Maria, and Ken, and EVEN Jade!"
"You're missing a name there Jess."
"Who? Oh.. Conner. Well I really could care less if the idiot is back. He'll probably insist on being rude to everyone, hiding the fact that this is the highlight of his pathetic life."
"Jessica, that's a little mean.."
Jessica ignored him and continued."And he'll ignore the fact that he is desperately in love with Liz, and if he could just pull his head out of his butt, they could BOTH admit it." Jeremy laughed again. "So you're going from hating the guy to wanting him to be with your sister, also your best friend?"
Jessica sighed. "As much as it pains me to admit it, I know they love each other. They'll make each other happy. And if they are BOTH here, I know Liz will be here, but if the idiot is here, I will NOT rest until they are together, ok Jer?"
Jeremy laughed again. "Sorry Jess, you're just a little bit scary when you're so determined."
Jessica socked him on the arm lightly.
"Come on, let's get going so we can get home! Now really, Jer, can you take my bags?"