"So let me get this straight," Lila said flipping through a magazine.
She was perched on Jessica's floor while Jessica was sprawled out across
the bed. "You want your parents to let a guy you have a crush on to
stay in your brother's room?"
"That's right," Jessica said idly as she painted her nails.
"And, he's like the hottest guy in the entire school though he isn't
really my type…" Lila continued.
"I don't know," Jessica said smiling. "He's so mysterious. Like there's
something you know he's not telling. But he doesn't talk much and it's
really easy to tick him off. But, that bod! Those eyes!" Jessica said
grinning mischievously.
"You really think your parents will let him stay here?" Lila asked
dubiously.
"I hope so. I just won't mention the fact that all I want to do is
throw him on my bed and kiss him like crazy."
"That's a great selling line," Lila said rolling her eyes. "Make sure
you tell your parents that!"
"I think he actually wants to come live here," Jessica said rolling
over. "But he didn't seem to thrilled about Liz being here."
"Can you blame him? Elizabeth is boring. Actually, she's so boring she
gives regular boring people a bad name. I would never want to live with
her."
"You're trying out on Wednesday, right Li?" Jessica said changing the
subject. She didn't like it when people talked bad about her twin. Even
if Liz was boring.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"I went around to all the El Carro girls that were cheerleaders,"
Jessica said. "They all seemed really nice. Maybe having an infested squad
won't be so bad after all."
"What are you going to do about El Carro's captain, Melanie Bear or
something like that." Lila gave Jessica a look. "She's in my English class
and she seemed really intense and really in control of her
surroundings."
"Melissa Fox," Jessica corrected. "I got that feeling too. But she
seems like she'd be okay if she were on your good side. She was with her
boyfriend, the El Carro football captain, Will Simmons. She has that boy
whipped. As soon as I mentioned that I had a crush on Conner she was
able to relax as soon as she knew I wasn't going to steal her boyfriend
or anything."
"Now Will is cute," Lila said giggling.
"He's okay," Jessica said nonchalantly. "If you like the type."
"Jess, he's like Mr. Joe Football. He's totally your type. Last year
you would have already have broken up with him by now."
"I kind of want something serious this year. I mean we are seniors."
"Yeah, I feel that way too. But someone older, a college sophomore is
the absolute minimum."
"You are such a snob, Li," Jessica said getting up and walking towards
the door. "I wanted to make dinner tonight, you know to butter my
parents up."
Lila grabbed her bag. "Make sure you don't poison them this time!"
"I didn't do that on purpose!" Jessica said shouting after Lila as she
ran down the stairs.

"Jessica this chicken is delicious," Mrs. Wakefield said smiling at her
daughter."
"These mashed potatoes are so creamy," Mr. Wakefield added.
"Thanks," Jessica said beaming.
"So how was your first day of school?" Mrs. Wakefield asked.
"Great! I think this is going to be the best year ever!" Jessica burst
out.
"Is this because of some boy or are you actually excited about your
classes?" Mr. Wakefield asked dryly.
"Daddy!" Jessica said rolling her eyes. "I'm just not interested in
boys this year."
"What? Are you devoting more of your time to cheerleading and
shopping?" Mrs. Wakefield said, her eyes twinkling.
"I'm interested in men. I think I'm interested in having a serious
relationship this year. I want someone to go to the movies with on the
weekends or a dance partner and a guaranteed prom date!"
Mr. Wakefield grinned, "I wonder how long this phase will last?"
They all ate in silence for a few minutes.
"Mom, would it be okay if I asked a friend from school, to stay in
Steven's room because their house was damaged in the quake?"
"Of course," Mrs. Wakefield said smiling. "That's very kind of you."
"He's from El Carro and his name is Conner McDermott," Jessica said
hurriedly.
Elizabeth who had been silent the whole meal, suddenly choked on her
milk.
"A boy, Jessica?" Mr. Wakefield said.
"Is this a boy you're interested in?" Mrs. Wakefield said.
"No," Jessica lied. "He's been staying at his friend's house in a
sleeping bag on the floor! His other friends either have guests or their own
houses are totaled."
"But we don't know anything about this Conner, do you really think his
parents would be okay with letting him stay here?" Mr. Wakefield said.
"He said they would be and he is staying by himself at his friend Andy's
house. He's a great guy and he doesn't smoke or anything like that and
he's really quiet too."
Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield glanced at each other. "Since he needs a place
to stay…" Mr. Wakefield started.
"Oh, this is great!" Jessica shrieked. "He was a little worried that he
might not be allowed to stay and he was uncomfortable at first about
Elizabeth being my sister…"
Elizabeth turned bright red and ran out of the room.
"I wonder what's wrong with Liz?" Mrs. Wakefield said, her voice full
of concern.
"Maybe she had a bad day at school," Jessica said lightly. "Could I be
excused? I need to call Conner!"
Jessica dashed up the steps to her room and ran her fingers through her
hair and grabbed her phone. "Conner?" she purred sexily. "Oh, hey Andy.
Yeah, I'll hold." Jessica paced her room. "Hey Conner! Guess what? My
parents said you could move in! You want to move in tomorrow? That's
great!" Jessica cooed. "And I would love to go out with you on Friday."

"I can't believe you're moving in with the two hottest girls in the
entire school!" Evan exclaimed.
"They're not that hot," Tia murmured irritably.
"Are you kidding?" Evan sputtered. "The best thing is they're both
available…though not for long."
"I don't think Liz is that hot," Conner said.
"You are so shallow," Andy said rolling his eyes at Conner.
"Did you get the calculus homework?" Tia asked. "I tried to do it but
it's like totally impossible. I mean, I got it in class…"
Conner leaned over to get his book out of his bag but Andy's foot
accidentally nudged it and Conner stuff spilled all over the floor. He
leaned over to gather up his stuff when he saw himself staring at the two
most gorgeous legs he had ever seen. His eyes traveled up and they
took in her slim features. She crouched down and gathered up his papers
and books and handed them over to him. "Here," she said so softly that
Conner could hardly hear her. Conner gazed into her gorgeous eyes and he
knew in his gut that if told her about his family and everything that
she would try to understand him and care about him even more. She got up
and walked away and Conner snapped back from his trance.
"See, I told you she was perfect," he said triumphantly.
Evan, Andy, and Tia were giving him strange looks.
"Conner," Tia said quietly. "That wasn't Jessica. That was Elizabeth."
Conner was silent for a moment. There was no way that that girl was
Liz. The girl had been wearing a short babydoll sundress and her blond
hair had been in waves.
But…the girl's eyes. They had been softer and kinder than Jessica's.
Conner tried to laugh it off. "Well, they look alike, I mean, they are
twins!"
Evan and Andy and Tia all looked down at their lunches and a few
minutes later they were all discussing the new computer Evan had gotten and
had forgotten about Conner's slip. All except Conner.

"You weren't kidding when you said you traveled light," Jessica said
giving Conner a huge smile.
Conner grunted and lugged his amp up the stairs.
"Wow!" Jessica squealed. "You play guitar? That's so…sexy," Jessica
breathed. "Do you like, play in front of people?"
Conner sighed. "Yeah, I'm playing at the House of Java this weekend."
Jessica's eyes lit up. "Really? I can't wait to tell everyone!"
Conner opened his mouth to protest but Jessica had already reached the
second floor.
"Oh, by the way you'll be sharing a bathroom with Liz. I took Steven's
smaller one because I have a ton of stuff and I've always wanted my own
bathroom!"
Conner growled and Jessica ducked into her bedroom. She couldn't figure
out why Conner was being so grouchy. Maybe it was the stress of moving.
She was dressed to kill and she had turned up the flirting. None of her
usual tricks were working and it was frustrating Jessica. But a slow
smile spread across her face. There was nothing she liked more than a
challenge."

Conner threw his guitar case on the bed. He surveyed the room.
Obviously Jessica's brother had taken most of his stuff with him because the
room was devoid of any personality. But there was a nice large bed and a
desk.
But Conner was beginning to think that moving here was a bad idea.
Jessica was getting too friendly. Conner liked her but he didn't want
Jessica getting the wrong idea. He didn't want her getting the idea that he
was interested in a long-term relationship because Conner was not the
kind of guy who invested time into a relationship. Even girls like
Jessica Wakefield.
Conner sank onto the bed. What had he been thinking? He couldn't date
Jessica now, especially if he was planning on dumping her. She'd kick
him out for sure and there would he be? Back on Andy's floor.
Conner ran his hands through his scruffy hair. He was all hot and
sweaty from all the lifting and carrying. He grabbed his towel from one of
the boxes and headed towards the bathroom.
That was the other thing, how was he supposed to share a bathroom with
Elizabeth Wakefield?
The geek turned hottie. Not that she wasn't hot before…just boring. He
flung open the door from the hall and entered.
There was a shriek and Conner's face got blasted by hot steam. He
squinted and his eyes focused on a fuming Elizabeth, wrapped in nothing but
a towel.