A/N: Sorry it took so long to update! My computer broke down and I had Chapter 11 saved on it. So I decided to wait until it got fixed, because the chapter was nearly done, but we have to order some parts so it may be awhile. I hope I still have some fans left =)
Angel smiled back at Tia. "Hey, no problem Tee! If you hadn't hit me, I wouldn't be talking to you right now!" He said good-naturedly. *That smile... those eyes... that body...* Tia thought, with a blush taking over her face. *Tee.. this is Angel. Angel as in the guy who broke your heart, twice!* Tia chided herself. *This is Angel... your first love...* It was as if Tia's personality had been split into two.
"Ummm.. Tee?" Angel asked gently, putting his arm on her shoulder. As soon as he touched her, she was brought back to reality as a jolt of familliar electricity surged through her. She flashed Angel a wide grin.
"Sorry! I'm still Spacey Tee! So wow! What are you doing here?"
Angel shrugged. "Taking a break from school, spending time with my family, relaxing..." he paused. "And well, reuniting with old friends now."
Tia giggled. "Yeah that's pretty much what we're doing here!" she gestured towards her friends. Actually, she had forgotten that they were even there, for a moment it was as if it were only Angel and Tia, Tia and Angel, the only two on the beach.
Angel too, looked a bit startled. "Oh man, I got so caught up in seeing you, I forgot about everyone! Hey guys!" Tia's heart beat a bit faster. He had forgotten about everyone else too? It wasn't just her. Maybe this was all a sign.. Angel was her first love, and them finding each other under these circumstances was destiny, or fate. Maybe it was all a plan, that Tian Ramirez and Angel Desmond were *soulmates*. She smiled to herself at the thought. Everyone greeted Angel and chit-chatted, but Tia noticed Andy was watching her intently. She was grinning like a fool, she knew that. Tia felt giddy. But Andy watching her made her nervous, so she finally looked over at him. Andy gave Tia a look that meant "what's going on with you and Angel?" Tia shrugged impatiently and mouthed "NOTHING." Andy just shook his head and turned back to the conversation. Oh well. Tia could talk to Andy later. Now she had to talk to Angel. She, too turned back to the conversation. Now Jessica was shooting her looks too. Exasperated, she turned her attention to Jess. Jessica's eyes were sparkling happily. She pointed to Angel and then to Tia and winked. Tia stifled a giggle with her mouth and gave Jessica the middle finger mockingly. Maria and Angel were both getting into the pros and cons of Yale.
"Yes, but Angel! Have you seen the dormitries?" Maria yelled passionately.
Jessica burst into laughter.
"What?" Maria asked, sounding way annoyed.
"Oh, sorry. It's just you're.. SUCH a lawyer!"
When Tia heard Jessicas statement, she giggled too. "Yeah Maria, you so are! It's so cute!"
Now even Maria broke into giggles. "Yeah.. well you guys better mean it as a good thing!"
Ken smiled at Maria and kissed her briefly on the lips. "Of course they do. It's you we're talking about..."
Maria smiled shyly.
"Awwwwwwwwww!" Everyone chorused.
Seeing Maria and Ken act like that, it really made Tia want a boyfriend. For awhile, she had one of those stages where she decided she was an independent woman, and she didn't need a man. And she hadn't. Her life was full and busy and she loved every second of it. But then there were the times when she heard love songs, or when she watched movies, or when she saw real couples together. And that was when she really yearned for her own true love. It seemed so cliche and so non-Tia, but she had always been a hopeless romantic. And now she knew who she wanted. She wanted Angel.
Tia Ramirez:
Angel, Angel, Angel.
Even the name is perfect.
Tia and Angel. I never thought
it would happen again. But now I know
it's meant to be. Fate. Soulmates.
Now I just wish Evan would stop shooting
us those death glares...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open after she and Conner shared that kiss. That kiss... it was perfect. It was sweet yet passionate, gentle yet overpowering. It was a contradiction, just like Conner. She smiled slowly, feeling the effects of the kiss all the way down to her toes. She nearly shivered, but stopped herself. She looked over at Conner. He had the dopiest smile on his face, and it made her want to laugh out loud. But she wasn't sure if that would ruin the moment, so instead she just smiled at him. "Conner-" she started. Elizabeth never got to finish her sentence.
"Hey, we should get going. If we don't hurry, everyone will leave the beach." Conner said coldly.
Liz's mind was unable to comprehend what he had just said. He hadn't really been so cold, had he? She was imagining things, right?
"Well? Let's go." Conner said, opening his car door. Liz sat still for a second, confused. Finally it hit her. Conner was using her. He was pulling her into his web, with no intentions of being with her. All he wanted was a hook-up while he was in California. Liz could feel Conner watching her out of the Conner of her eye. Well she certainly wasn't gonna give him the satifisfaction of knowing how weak her knees still were from that kiss. She opened her own door in one fluid motion and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Before, she would have been happy just being Conner's friend. Now she wasn't sure she ever wanted anything to do with Conner McDermott again. No more spacey, love-sick, sappy Liz. It was time for a change. A change that didn't include Conner. Liz began to walk quickly towards the mall. Conner followed after her lazily.
"Hey, you wanna walk faster over there? You were the one who said we have to hurry in the first place. So get moving!" she snapped.
Conner shot her one of his classic stony gazes and picked up his pace. The two walked into the mall, with a large gap in between them. Both were quiet, and the tension could be cut with a knife. Still, Elizabeth forced herself to smile and act cheerful. Conner didn't deserve her anger, her sadness, and he definitely didn't deserve her happiness. As far as Elizabeth was concerned, he didn't deserve any of her energy at all.
"Elizabeth, let's stop here." Conner said, his voice conveying no emotion.
"K-mart?" She said, stopping in front of the store.
"Yeah. Why pay $80 bucks for a bathing suit I'll wear maybe twice? Sorry, but not everything can be Designer Labels." Conner rolled his eyes.
"Um did I say anything about Designer labels? I was just making sure I knew what store you were talking about, duh." Elizabeth's voice took on a catty tone, and it instantly reminded her of Lila Fowler. She smiled to herself, thinking of Jessica's snobby friend.
"Whatever." Conner said, still rolling his eyes. He stepped inside the store and immediately walked over to the Men's bathing suit section. He picked up the first bathing suit he saw, a plain black one.
"Alright, let's go. Done."
"Aren't you even going to try it on? What if it doesn't fit?" Elizabeth said logically.
Conner let out a loud sigh, but he walked over to the changing rooms without another word. Elizabeth waited outside it, tapping her foot impatiently. This had to be the mall trip from hell. A miserable ex-boyfriend, who had just broken her heart for the... fourth time? Or was it the fifth?
Without warning, Conner walked out of the change room in the bathing suit. It fit him perfectly, showing off his awesome body. One of the things Liz loved about Conner was his body. He wasn't overbuilt, and it didn't look like he worked out everyday to get it. It was so natural, and so flawless. Elizabeth kept her eyes level with his. Once again, she didn't want to give Conner the satisfaction of knowing she appreciated his body.
"So, is this okay with you, Mom?" Conner said sarcastically.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Oh yes Honey, it's just PERFECT!" her voice was dripping with fake enthusiasm and she didn't try to hid it.
"Alright, so this one's a winner. Go wait in line, I'll be there in a second." Conner telling her what to do made her feel uneasy and angry, but she obdiently listened. The more they co-operated, the faster they would get back to the friends she actually wanted to see. And since Conner wasn't big on co-operation, she'd have to do more than her share.
Elizabeth walked over to the cash register, with her eyes at the floor. Out of no where, she heard a familliar voice.
"Elizabeth Wakefield! Twice in one day. How did I get so lucky?"
Elizabeth's face broke into a wide smile. "Todd Wilkins! You seem to have a knack for strange meeting places and coincidence!" This was all too perfect.
Conner McDermott:
Idiot. I'm a moron. Dumbass. Asshole.
Dickwad. Every name in the book. But after
kissing Liz, I freaked. It was amazing... I haven't
kissed her in about 6 months. But it was also
so overpowering, and I freaked. I love Liz. I know that.
Now all I have to do is pull my head out of my ass
long enough to admit that, to her.
Elizabeth Wakefield:
This has been a strange day.
See Todd once, promise to go out for dinner.
See Conner, forget all about Todd.
Have hopes crushed by Conner, see Todd again.
Coincidence? I think not. Conner and me? Done.
Todd and me? Well.. who knows what could happen
there?
Conner McDermott:
Todd Wilkins? What the hell?
And why is Liz smiling at him like that...
Angel smiled back at Tia. "Hey, no problem Tee! If you hadn't hit me, I wouldn't be talking to you right now!" He said good-naturedly. *That smile... those eyes... that body...* Tia thought, with a blush taking over her face. *Tee.. this is Angel. Angel as in the guy who broke your heart, twice!* Tia chided herself. *This is Angel... your first love...* It was as if Tia's personality had been split into two.
"Ummm.. Tee?" Angel asked gently, putting his arm on her shoulder. As soon as he touched her, she was brought back to reality as a jolt of familliar electricity surged through her. She flashed Angel a wide grin.
"Sorry! I'm still Spacey Tee! So wow! What are you doing here?"
Angel shrugged. "Taking a break from school, spending time with my family, relaxing..." he paused. "And well, reuniting with old friends now."
Tia giggled. "Yeah that's pretty much what we're doing here!" she gestured towards her friends. Actually, she had forgotten that they were even there, for a moment it was as if it were only Angel and Tia, Tia and Angel, the only two on the beach.
Angel too, looked a bit startled. "Oh man, I got so caught up in seeing you, I forgot about everyone! Hey guys!" Tia's heart beat a bit faster. He had forgotten about everyone else too? It wasn't just her. Maybe this was all a sign.. Angel was her first love, and them finding each other under these circumstances was destiny, or fate. Maybe it was all a plan, that Tian Ramirez and Angel Desmond were *soulmates*. She smiled to herself at the thought. Everyone greeted Angel and chit-chatted, but Tia noticed Andy was watching her intently. She was grinning like a fool, she knew that. Tia felt giddy. But Andy watching her made her nervous, so she finally looked over at him. Andy gave Tia a look that meant "what's going on with you and Angel?" Tia shrugged impatiently and mouthed "NOTHING." Andy just shook his head and turned back to the conversation. Oh well. Tia could talk to Andy later. Now she had to talk to Angel. She, too turned back to the conversation. Now Jessica was shooting her looks too. Exasperated, she turned her attention to Jess. Jessica's eyes were sparkling happily. She pointed to Angel and then to Tia and winked. Tia stifled a giggle with her mouth and gave Jessica the middle finger mockingly. Maria and Angel were both getting into the pros and cons of Yale.
"Yes, but Angel! Have you seen the dormitries?" Maria yelled passionately.
Jessica burst into laughter.
"What?" Maria asked, sounding way annoyed.
"Oh, sorry. It's just you're.. SUCH a lawyer!"
When Tia heard Jessicas statement, she giggled too. "Yeah Maria, you so are! It's so cute!"
Now even Maria broke into giggles. "Yeah.. well you guys better mean it as a good thing!"
Ken smiled at Maria and kissed her briefly on the lips. "Of course they do. It's you we're talking about..."
Maria smiled shyly.
"Awwwwwwwwww!" Everyone chorused.
Seeing Maria and Ken act like that, it really made Tia want a boyfriend. For awhile, she had one of those stages where she decided she was an independent woman, and she didn't need a man. And she hadn't. Her life was full and busy and she loved every second of it. But then there were the times when she heard love songs, or when she watched movies, or when she saw real couples together. And that was when she really yearned for her own true love. It seemed so cliche and so non-Tia, but she had always been a hopeless romantic. And now she knew who she wanted. She wanted Angel.
Tia Ramirez:
Angel, Angel, Angel.
Even the name is perfect.
Tia and Angel. I never thought
it would happen again. But now I know
it's meant to be. Fate. Soulmates.
Now I just wish Evan would stop shooting
us those death glares...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open after she and Conner shared that kiss. That kiss... it was perfect. It was sweet yet passionate, gentle yet overpowering. It was a contradiction, just like Conner. She smiled slowly, feeling the effects of the kiss all the way down to her toes. She nearly shivered, but stopped herself. She looked over at Conner. He had the dopiest smile on his face, and it made her want to laugh out loud. But she wasn't sure if that would ruin the moment, so instead she just smiled at him. "Conner-" she started. Elizabeth never got to finish her sentence.
"Hey, we should get going. If we don't hurry, everyone will leave the beach." Conner said coldly.
Liz's mind was unable to comprehend what he had just said. He hadn't really been so cold, had he? She was imagining things, right?
"Well? Let's go." Conner said, opening his car door. Liz sat still for a second, confused. Finally it hit her. Conner was using her. He was pulling her into his web, with no intentions of being with her. All he wanted was a hook-up while he was in California. Liz could feel Conner watching her out of the Conner of her eye. Well she certainly wasn't gonna give him the satifisfaction of knowing how weak her knees still were from that kiss. She opened her own door in one fluid motion and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Before, she would have been happy just being Conner's friend. Now she wasn't sure she ever wanted anything to do with Conner McDermott again. No more spacey, love-sick, sappy Liz. It was time for a change. A change that didn't include Conner. Liz began to walk quickly towards the mall. Conner followed after her lazily.
"Hey, you wanna walk faster over there? You were the one who said we have to hurry in the first place. So get moving!" she snapped.
Conner shot her one of his classic stony gazes and picked up his pace. The two walked into the mall, with a large gap in between them. Both were quiet, and the tension could be cut with a knife. Still, Elizabeth forced herself to smile and act cheerful. Conner didn't deserve her anger, her sadness, and he definitely didn't deserve her happiness. As far as Elizabeth was concerned, he didn't deserve any of her energy at all.
"Elizabeth, let's stop here." Conner said, his voice conveying no emotion.
"K-mart?" She said, stopping in front of the store.
"Yeah. Why pay $80 bucks for a bathing suit I'll wear maybe twice? Sorry, but not everything can be Designer Labels." Conner rolled his eyes.
"Um did I say anything about Designer labels? I was just making sure I knew what store you were talking about, duh." Elizabeth's voice took on a catty tone, and it instantly reminded her of Lila Fowler. She smiled to herself, thinking of Jessica's snobby friend.
"Whatever." Conner said, still rolling his eyes. He stepped inside the store and immediately walked over to the Men's bathing suit section. He picked up the first bathing suit he saw, a plain black one.
"Alright, let's go. Done."
"Aren't you even going to try it on? What if it doesn't fit?" Elizabeth said logically.
Conner let out a loud sigh, but he walked over to the changing rooms without another word. Elizabeth waited outside it, tapping her foot impatiently. This had to be the mall trip from hell. A miserable ex-boyfriend, who had just broken her heart for the... fourth time? Or was it the fifth?
Without warning, Conner walked out of the change room in the bathing suit. It fit him perfectly, showing off his awesome body. One of the things Liz loved about Conner was his body. He wasn't overbuilt, and it didn't look like he worked out everyday to get it. It was so natural, and so flawless. Elizabeth kept her eyes level with his. Once again, she didn't want to give Conner the satisfaction of knowing she appreciated his body.
"So, is this okay with you, Mom?" Conner said sarcastically.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Oh yes Honey, it's just PERFECT!" her voice was dripping with fake enthusiasm and she didn't try to hid it.
"Alright, so this one's a winner. Go wait in line, I'll be there in a second." Conner telling her what to do made her feel uneasy and angry, but she obdiently listened. The more they co-operated, the faster they would get back to the friends she actually wanted to see. And since Conner wasn't big on co-operation, she'd have to do more than her share.
Elizabeth walked over to the cash register, with her eyes at the floor. Out of no where, she heard a familliar voice.
"Elizabeth Wakefield! Twice in one day. How did I get so lucky?"
Elizabeth's face broke into a wide smile. "Todd Wilkins! You seem to have a knack for strange meeting places and coincidence!" This was all too perfect.
Conner McDermott:
Idiot. I'm a moron. Dumbass. Asshole.
Dickwad. Every name in the book. But after
kissing Liz, I freaked. It was amazing... I haven't
kissed her in about 6 months. But it was also
so overpowering, and I freaked. I love Liz. I know that.
Now all I have to do is pull my head out of my ass
long enough to admit that, to her.
Elizabeth Wakefield:
This has been a strange day.
See Todd once, promise to go out for dinner.
See Conner, forget all about Todd.
Have hopes crushed by Conner, see Todd again.
Coincidence? I think not. Conner and me? Done.
Todd and me? Well.. who knows what could happen
there?
Conner McDermott:
Todd Wilkins? What the hell?
And why is Liz smiling at him like that...