Jade slowly trudged to her car that afternoon. Ever since Melissa had
quit the squad, Coach Laufeld had been making them work twice as hard.
As Jade neared her car she saw Evan standing there. Jade brightened and
hurried over.
"Hey, Evan. Why are you here so late?"
Evan wrapped his arms around her and her heart skipped. "I had a
ecology club meeting."
"So did'ya save the world yet?" she teased.
Evan pretended to think about it. "Naah. But there's always next week. So you
up to going out to eat?"
"Practice was killer. All I want to do is go soak in a hot bath."
Evan looked disappointed. "Maybe some other time."
Jade wrapped her arms around his neck. "Definitely some other time,"
she said smiling. "Maybe you could come over this weekend and we could
watch some silly movie and spend some quality time together," she said
raising her eyebrows.
"Jade Wu, are you trying to seduce me?" Evan asked huskily.
"Why don't you find out?" she whispered and leaned in for a kiss. Jade
was really getting into it when Evan pulled back. "Friday would be
good. Because Saturday I'm hanging out with Dave and Andy."
"Playing the third wheel?" Jade asked laughing.
"Actually Conner was supposed to come but he bailed on us."
"He's smart. Maybe you could bail too. Come up with some reason why you
couldn't come," she said tracing his mouth with her finger."
Evan smiled, "I don't have any reasons to bail."
"I could give you some."
"It's tempting, but I haven't hung with the guys in a while."
Jade rolled her eyes "Not since yesterday. Evan, all you do is hang out
with 'the guys'. Sometimes I think you spend more time with Conner and
Andy then you do with me. Your girlfriend," she said emphasizing her
point.
"I do not. We do stuff together a lot. Sometimes."
"My point exactly. You should spend more time with me."
"We will. Soon. Friday night." Evan said giving Jade a quick hug and
jogging off to his car. Jade stood there with her hands hips.

Jade Wu
What the hell is going on with Evan? That lame-o date? Breaking away
from kissing? Spending all his time with the guys? It seems like the Evan
Plummer Technique of Dating is to push me away. But I have had enough.
Evan had better decide if he wants me as a friend or a girlfriend.
Because if he doesn't make a choice soon...he'll be short a girlfriend and
a friend.

"Here comes our big college man," Elizabeth teased that Friday
afternoon as Evan sat down at the lunch table. Tia, Maria, Ken, Jeff, Andy, and
Conner all smiled up at him.
"Stop it!" Ken teased. "He's gonna get a big head."
"Not possible!" Andy shot back. "If it got any bigger, his head would
have to apply to Berkeley."
"At least he knows where he's going," Tia said smiling.
"Which is why we need to celebrate," Jeff said. "We haven't had a party
in a while."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "What do you call last week at the
Riot?"
"It was only me and you, it wasn't a party, party."
"Anyway," Evan jumped in. "I don't want to make a big deal about it.
Plus, Maria's already chosen her college and we haven't had anything for
her."
"We combine the two," Jeff suggested. "And have an even bigger party!"
"What is with you and parties," Elizabeth said laughing.
"I have a lot of pent-up energy," Jeff said raising his eyebrows
"Ooooh!" Andy and Tia said.
"I mean it though!" Evan protested.
Conner rolled his eyes, "Oh, shut up. You want a party as much as the
rest of us."
"Maybe," Evan said thoughtfully. "You don't mind Tia-"
"I don't care!" Tia said laughing. "No hard feelings. I told you
Berkeley wasn't me. Now come on and party!"
"All right," Evan said agreeing. "This party machine hasn't been let
loose for a while."
"Great!" Tia said. "How about Friday night, the Riot."
"Great," Evan said. "As long as get one dance with each of the pretty
ladies," he said wagging his eyebrows at Tia, Liz and Maria.
"Don't push your luck," said Tia smiling.
Evan smiled. His life was finally on track. He had a great girlfriend,
a great college picked out and the best friends ever. He hoped it would
never change.