Thanks for the reviews. A lot of people have been confused about
when Conner and Liz slept together. It's at the beginning of
chapter 7; they're in bed together afterwards. In future chapters
more about their time together will be revealed.

If it weren't for Gabe's strong arms around her shoulders, helping her
into their hotel room, Elizabeth would have collapsed into hysterics.
He opened their door and led her into the dark room. He helped her lay
down onto the bed and he turned the bedside lamp on. He looked at
her with a small smile. "Can I get you anything? A blanket, food?"
Elizabeth shook her head. Gabe was too good to her. "Just stay
with me," she said quietly and scooted over. Gabe hesitated then
climbed next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. Liz buried her
face into his chest. Elizabeth needed his strength. There was no way
she could go back to Sweet Valley now. If Conner wasn't already
ignoring her, with this little surprise he would probably flee to Canada .
Everyone at school would also know that the rumors were true. But
more importantly, Elizabeth knew that she couldn't take care of a baby.
She was only seventeen and didn't have a full time job and she didn't
even have a high school diploma. There was no way she could handle
taking care of a baby even if Conner did stick around.
"You're going to be okay, you know," Gabe said softly.
"What makes you so sure?" Elizabeth said bitingly. "My whole life is
going to be different."
"You're right," he said, agreeing with her. "But you're a strong person
and you'll get through this."
"How can I?" Elizabeth said, tears forming in her eyes. "I don't have
anyone. My sister isn't speaking to me, my parents will kill me, and
my boyfriend, my ex-boyfriend would freak out."
"What about your friends?"
Elizabeth laughed harshly "My sister took care of that."
"Tell me about it," Gabe urged her. That was all Elizabeth needed and
the whole story flew out, everything about Jessica and Conner and
the rumors and the baby.
"What makes it so hard is that Conner just left me, he didn't even give
me an explanation."
"He was probably giving you space and time to sort out the mess with
your sister. He would have just gotten in the way and you guys being
together would be rubbing it in Jessica's face and would prevent
you two from making up."
"Maybe you're right," Elizabeth said sighing. "But he should have
talked to me. I needed him more than ever right then."
"But was he supposed to know about the baby? It's not like he's a
mind reader," Gabe reminded her gently.
Elizabeth was quiet. "I know, I just miss him so much."
Gabe looked at Elizabeth 's face. She was trying to hold back tears
and the pain and longing and love in her eyes was evident. Elizabeth
was nowhere near getting over this guy. And it was at that moment
that Gabe realized that his crush on her was beyond hopeless and
that putting a move on her would only cause him pain. Elizabeth
needed a friend right now that was all he could be for her.
"I want you to know how much I appreciate you," Elizabeth said
looking at him. "There's no way I could have gotten through all this
without you. I also don't want you thinking of me as some kind
of tramp. Conner was my first and it was only that one day."
"I never thought that about you," Gabe said. "You're a great girl who's
just having some problems."
They sat in silent for a while. "Gabe, I need to go back to Sweet Valley ."
"Okay, I'll drive you back tomorrow."
"No," Elizabeth said shaking her head. "I'll take the bus back. I don't
want to inconvience you. And plus, I need to do this by myself."
Gabe nodded. "I'll make sure you have a ticket."
Elizabeth gave him a small hug. "I don't know how to thank you…you've
been amazing."
Gabe hugged her back. "Why don't you go take a hot bath and try to
relax? I'll take care of your things."
Elizabeth nodded and headed off to the bathroom. Gabe pulled out
the phone book and then paused. He knew Elizabeth needed to go
home, but he was really going to miss her.

"Hey," Jessica said quietly, sitting down next to Jeremy who was sitting
on the top step of the Wakefield 's front porch.
Jeremy was silent which Jessica did not take as a good sign. She
understood why he was mad. He had told her just a few days ago that
he thought what everyone was doing to Elizabeth was sick. She had
murmured her agreement, lying to him that he was one of the reasons
that the rumors were circulating. She hadn't actually spread the rumors,
but she had let Melissa and her friends think things that weren't exactly
true. Well, they turned out to be true, but they didn't know that. Plus,
Jessica had stood silently bye while Gina, Amy, Cherie, Lila, and
Melissa had made Elizabeth and Conner's life a living hell.
Please forgive me! She silently pleaded towards Jeremy. For some
reason, his opinion of her really mattered. He was one of the first people,
besides Elizabeth , that didn't see her as the popular blond of the
cheerleading squad. Jeremy saw her as a real person, a kind and funny
and thoughtful person. Jessica liked that person.
"Listen, about what Conner said," Jessica started, but Jeremy cut her off.
"I know that you were mad at Elizabeth and I'm not saying that what she
did was right, but how could you destroy her like that? No one deserves to
be treated like that, especially your sister."
"I know," Jessica said quietly, trying to hold back tears. "I never
meant for things to get out of hand. I shouldn't have let people think
that that stuff was true. I didn't spread the rumors, but I started them
and let them continue. I know that I'm the reason that Elizabeth ran away.
She felt so alone and felt that no one could help her or be there for her."
Jeremy didn't argue. "I thought you were better than that, Jess," he said
snapping a small twig.
Jessica could feel the tears run down her face. "I am better than that,
Jeremy. I behaved horribly and I feel awful-"
"Save it, Jessica," Jeremy snapped and Jessica burst into tears. Jeremy
was silent as Jessica cried. After a while he said, "This isn't all about
Elizabeth. Before when you introduced me and made sure Conner
got the idea that I was your boyfriend and that way you but on a show
to make him jealous. I don't think you're over him Jessica."
"I am," Jessica protested and she realized that it was true. After she
found out about Conner and Elizabeth she had felt angry and betrayed,
sure. But she never tried to get Conner back. But all she cared about
now was getting Jeremy to look at her and forgive her. "I was trying to
make Conner jealous," she said carefully. "Only to show him how
happy I am without him. It's just something that girls do, but I don't
want him back. Conner was right, we don't belong together."
"I don't like being used for games," Jeremy said curtly. He stood up
and started towards his car.
Jessica grabbed his writs and also stood up. "You're not going to leave?"
Jeremy sighed and turned and looked at her. Jessica could see the
hurt and the pain in his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm going to take off."
"What about us?" Jessica said not letting go.
Jeremy looked away and then turned to face her again. "I wish I could
hate you Jess, but I can't. But I'm going to need time…and space."
"No," Jessica said panicked. Time and space usually meant a guy wanted
time to find a less harsh way to dump you.
Jeremy pulled himself away from Jessica and got into his car. As he pulled
out of the driveway Jessica hoped that that wouldn't be the last time
she saw him.

Conner dumped another creamer into his coffee and watched the white
swirl dissolve into the caramel colored coffee. Conner hated cream in
his coffee. It had been an hour since he had left the Wakefield 's and
the Jessica and Jeremy drama. Conner felt sorry for Jeremy, having to
deal with Jessica's hysterics. Thank goodness it was no longer his
responsibility. He felt so helpless. He knew he had to do something
or he would loose his mind. His mind was on overdrive with all the
stuff that had happened in the last few days. He couldn't believe that
Elizabeth was going to have their baby. He was hurt that she hadn't
felt that she could come to him. But the way he had been ignoring
her…he couldn't exactly blame her either. Usually the guy was the
one who bolted, and don't think that the thought hadn't crossed his
mind. But running was the immature thing to do. He was going to have
to deal with it and he was going to have to face Elizabeth . He was
going to have to go find her. He had to find her to tell her that he
knew that he wanted to be with her…that he loved her. Which scared
him more than anything else in the world.
Suddenly, he felt someone slouch into the seat across from him.
Conner looked up in surprise and saw a girl with a mane of red curls
and enough attitude to fill the entire state of California . He also
noted that the coffee house had filled up and that there were no
empty seats. The girl was wearing a black Led Zeppelin shirt
and Conner applauded her good taste in music.
She was actually quite pretty.
"What are you looking at?" she snapped at Conner.
"Nothing," he snapped back. "You just look a little…lonely."
The girls face softened ever so slightly. "I guess, I just had a fight with
my parents."
Conner nodded. "Yeah, parents can be such a joke sometimes."
The girl nodded enthusiastically. "I know. My parents caught me
drinking one lousy beer and they act like him an alcoholic. When
they're
the ones with the problem."
"Totally agree," Conner said.
"By the way, I'm Alanna," the girl said giving him a flirtatious grin.
"Conner."
"So, Conner what is a guy like you doing here sitting alone drinking
coffee?" Alanna said leaning foreword towards Conner.
Conner gave her a surprised look. It had been so long since a girl
had paid attention to him, other then to shoot him dirty looks and to
call him a bastard.
"Because if you want I have two tickets to see Hometown Buffet play at
the Shack."
Conner hesitated and then looked at Alanna's hopeful face. "I can't.
But thanks for asking."
"Oh," Alanna slumped back down.
"It's not what you think," Conner said quickly. Since when did he care
about other people's feelings? "I kind of...well...there's girl...and we kind
of have a thing going on."
"Right," said Alanna coolly. "I understand."
"No, she's in trouble and she's ran away...and I have no idea where to find her."
"You sound like a bad nursery rhyme," Alanna said smirking.
"If you were pregnant and didn't have any friends, where would you go?"
Alanna was looking at Conner like he had three heads "I don't know, probably
L.A."
"Dammit!" Conner said pushing back his coffee. "I have to go...it was nice talking
to you Annie."
Conner flew out of the House of Java before Alanna could even open her mouth.