Alright, people! Sorry for the delay! Back to the story!

((JTLib=3))

JT was confused. Really, really confused.

Liberty had no smile, no giggle, no nothing going on after that kiss. She actually looked really... embarrassed. Even a little... sad. That's not the way a girl usually acts after just kissing her boyfriend.

The day had gone a little too quickly, and now JT was back in his own house, in his own room. He was sifting through the papers he had about the project. They had started a rough script, and JT was proud of the work they had done so far. He pictured what the scene would look like when they were done, and he chuckled to himself. It would be a riot.

Then, he started thinking about Liberty. How good it felt to hear her laugh, and how beautiful her eyes lit up when she smiled. How she carried herself, confident, but not conceited. The way she spoke, quickly and decisively. She was everything he was: strong-willed, confident, with a good sense of honor and morals. And with her intelligence, there was an adventure hidden in every twinkle in her eye.

Sure, all of this was well and good, but there was still one factor not taken into account:

Devon.

The guy was a real creep. JT was sure of it. He knew Devon had something up is sleeve. He just had to figure out what. But the thought of anything happening to Liberty...

JT stood, grabbing the project information he had, and ran straight for the door.

They really needed to work on that project.

((JTLib=3))

"So, how you like your food, babe?" Devon asked Liberty for the third time that evening. I'd like it a heck of a lot more if your hand wasn't on my thigh. Liberty thought to herself, taking a bite of chicken and carefully avoiding Devon's eyes.

"It's good, thank you." She answered for the third time. She knew Devon wasn't really listening, but that didn't matter.

Devon continued to rub her thigh under the table, and Liberty was getting a little annoyed.

"Devon, could you please stop doing that?" she asked.

"What?" was her reply.

Liberty sighed. Taking another bite of her chicken, she turned to him and smiled. She would attempt to start a conversation with him. That's what dates were about, right? Getting to know one another?

"So... you like art?" She asked, thinking of his earlier compliment on her paintings.

"Uh, yeah. It's cool." Devon answered. They ate in silence for a while, until Liberty moved her leg out from under his hand, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Hey, why'd you move?" He asked incredulously. He looked very confused. Liberty sighed.

"Devon, I had asked you to stop and you didn't. So I moved."

"Oh. Ok. This is about that little pipsqueak friend of yours, JT, right?" Devon dropped his fork. "You know, I can't believe I ever thought I would get anything from you, even after I met him. I mean, what the fuck?"

Liberty was shocked. "...Excuse me?"

"You know, the day I met you, you looked so damn easy. It was obvious you wanted me! What the hell, now all of a sudden you're an uptight bitch with no clue. Hell, I'll bet you're hot for that little Yorke loser."

Liberty was at a loss for words. Everything Devon was saying to her hit her straight in the face. Each word like a brick. He...was using me... He was... going to use me for...

((JTLib=3))

Liberty's father had greeted JT at the door, explained that his daughter was out, and asked JT would like to wait in the family-room for her. Now, JT sat in the lavishly-furnished room with his papers and looked around in awe. The room was huge, and one chair looked like it could buy JT's whole house. The colors were cool earthy tones, and the room seemed to greet JT with a comfortable, casual elegance.

Wow... thought JT as he stared. I can't believe Liberty ACTUALLY lives here...

Looking around, he caught sight of a stack of papers. He picked it up and smiled. Liberty had typed out what they had so far, as well as detailed descriptions of the plot, the characters attitudes, the different costume ideas she had (accompanied with illustrations), and an entire list of things she thought they might need.

Ok... maybe I do believe it... JT thought with a smile.

JT turned as he heard the door slam, only to see an enraged Liberty storming up the stairs straight toward him.

"Hey, Liberty! Just came by to-"

"Shut up." Liberty cut him off. "Lets just get this stupid project over with." She finished, sitting on the couch next to him.

"Hey, what happened?" JT asked, concerned.

"I don't want to talk about it." Liberty answered. She reached over and grabbed the packet. Flipping through the pages, she stopped in the middle, staring down at them. More specifically, staring at a large doodle she had drawn for Devon and herself. She took out the paper and ripped it in half, then flung it across the room. JT was speechless.

"Bad date?" JT finally asked. Liberty looked at him, nodded, and looked away, beginning to tear. JT couldn't help it. He put his arms around her and pulled her toward him. He let her cry on his shoulder, holding her close, stroking her hair.

"Tell me what happened." JT said, as the tears began to subside.

"He... he was only going with me because I looked easy." Liberty answered as she blinked back tears. "He was going to use me for sex then drop me."

JT's anger flared hearing these words, but he made himself calm down. He knew there was something wrong with that jerk. That jackass. He would remember to tell Spinner at a later time. Right now, he had to keep Liberty calm, and make sure she's alright. If he left to kick the shit out of the dipstick now, who would comfort Liberty?

He smiled, knowing what to do. He let go of Liberty and took off his baseball cap. Liberty looked up as he let go.

"Hey, babe..." JT began, fake-wiping his nose with his sleeve, "Am I sexy or am I sexy? you can say both, babe, 'cuz you know I am."

Liberty smiled.

"I mean, c'mon babe. You know you want a piece of The Devster." JT mocked, sniffing and running a hand through his hair.

Liberty laughed. There. JT's Famous Imitations were perfect for situations like this. He smiled as she laughed.

"I mean, EVERY chick wants a piece of The Devster. Cuz, c'mon, It's like, I'm damn hot, so, they like, all want me. I mean, just check me out, dude. I'm like a walking babe magnet, ain't I, babe?"

"Thanks, JT." Liberty said in between laughter. "That really helped. I mean it."

"Hey, don't mention it. The tear-streaked look wasn't working for you." JT answered, grinning.

"Ok, ok. Let's get to work. For real." Liberty said, smiling as she flipped through the packet in her lap. She got to where they left off the day before, and smiled. "Ok. Now, what should we do about Viola's attitude? I mean-"

"Answer one question for me, please." JT cut her off.

Liberty turned to him slowly, blinked as they made eye contact, and smiled.

"Sure, JT. What do you want to know?"

JT wasn't sure what would happen if he asked, but curiosity got the better of him.

"Why is it, that whenever you kissed him, you never acted like a girlfriend would? I was around when you guys were kissing outside the library, and I was around when you guys kissed IN the library. Both times there were no giggles, or dopey grins, or dreamy sighs. You just looked... really embarrassed. Or really sad. Or something like that. Why?

Liberty closed her eyes for a second, and JT took that second and treasured it. He painted himself a mental portrait of that face. She had barely worn any makeup, just lip-gloss, but she looked naturally pure and beautiful. Her eyelashes grazing her cheeks, tinged a little bit pink with embarrassment. She sighed.

"Because... because even when he kissed me, even when it was my first kiss, I... I didn't feel anything for Devon. I felt nothing. It felt purely physical, and to be honest, I didn't like kissing him. He was really rough and he wouldn't listen, but mostly... it was just... I didn't feel a thing, and I didn't know why..."