Chapter 26- Falling Into Place

The music blared through the speakers in the gym and students bounced around happily, enjoying there time; making memories. Liberty pushed through a pile of people, making her way to the table Emma and Manny sat at.

"Emma, Manny," she said with a smile.

"Hey, Liberty, you look great," Emma said.

Manny nodded her head in agreement. Liberty had chosen a red, swishy dress with thicker straps that formed a V shape in the front. It went down past her knees, but not past her ankles. Her hair was tied up in a bun, strands framing her face.

"Thanks," she said. "You guys look amazing as well."

Seconds later, they were interrupted by JT and Toby who came up and threw themselves in the chairs.

"No luck with the ladies?" Emma teased.

"Don't ask," Toby relied, as JT made eye contact with the floor, and the floor only.

"Poor baby," she said, standing up and taking his arm. "Come on, I'll dance with you, then." She dragged him to the dance floor, and Liberty took Emma's seat.

"I thought Craig was your date?" Liberty said, looking over at Manny.

She sighed. "He ran off with Marco and Spinner. He said he'd be right back."

At this point, JT had stood up from his seat and mumbled, "Bathroom."

Liberty glanced at Manny. She shrugged.

"He's pathetic," Liberty commented and Manny laughed. They talked for a bit longer and Manny noticed how much more relaxed Liberty seemed here. To the average person, she looked the same, but she was much more…vibrant.

Craig came up to the pair in midst of conversation. Manny was in mid sentence when Liberty nudged her and nodded her head over to him. Her face lit up as she exclaimed, "Craig!"

She stood up to hug him and said, "I thought you had died!"

"Let me make it up to you. May I have this dance?" he asked.

"Of course," she said with a bright smile, as he took her hand.

-----

Ellie was tired of this stupid dance. She wanted to go home, anywhere. Paige and Spinner and run off to the dance floor and left her alone. Marco had come up to talk to her for a few minutes, and then was dragged off by some other friends. She sat, chugging her drink, until she felt someone's eyes rest upon her.

"Ellie."

"Aren't you supposed to be off dancing with Hazel?" she snapped softly, staring at Jimmy's shoes.

"I don't know what to do to make you happy," he stated.

She looked up at him expectantly. "Told you I was a complex person," she laughed hollowly.

"Be serious, Ellie," he said, no humor in his voice.

"I am."

"What do you want, Ellie?"

She crinkled her eyebrows. "You came over here to talk to me first," she said, confused.

"No, I mean what do you want from me? I'm sick of these games, Ellie," he told her honestly.

She stood up.

"You want to know what I want, Jimmy?" she said, pain in her eyes. "I want world peace, I want my problems to go away, hell, I want that new skirt I saw in the window of the mall when I went shopping with Paige for this stupid dress! But most of all, do you know what I want?" she exclaimed, feeling hot tears forming in her eyes.

He didn't comment about her outburst. He let her speak. "What?" he asked.

She stepped towards him. Wrapping her arms around him, she spoke. "I want you. I want you to not hate me, I want you to listen to me, I want you to forgive me, I want you," she said, her voice more calm.

"Let's get out of here," he said, holding her close as they exited the gym.

-----

"Toby and Emma have been dancing all night," JT said, handing a drink to Liberty across the table and wiggling his eyes suggestively.

"You don't think…?" she said. "No way. Emma and Toby?"

"What a couple they'd make, eh?"

She smiled. "I haven't seen you out there dancing," she commented.

He shrugged. "Dancing isn't my forte," he answered.

She raised her eyebrows. "Uh-huh."

"Ah, my feet hurt!" Emma exclaimed as she ran up towards JT and Liberty. As she spoke, the song changed, the beat soft and slow.

"You guys have been dancing forever," Liberty commented.

"Yeah," Emma said, "but I think it's time to switch it up. JT?"

He groaned and took her hand. Toby did the same with Liberty.

Emma wrapped her arms around JT's neck, as he placed his hands around her waist.

"You should ask her to dance," she said wisely.

"Who?" he asked.

"Liberty!" she said. "It's so obvious."

"What's obvious?" he demanded.

"You two have…chemistry."

He laughed. "Right."

"You poke fun at me and Toby for dancing practically the whole night when you and Liberty have been sitting in those two seats talking the whole time."

"Yeah, right."

"You're in denial!" she exclaimed. "Besides, maybe while you and Liberty were making fun of us, Toby and I were making fun of how oblivious you two are."

"She's Liberty, Emma. Are you insane?"

"No, but you are," she replied simply.

"What?"

"Liberty looks really good tonight. She's a good person, and you're insane if you're wasting your time grieving over Manny and not going after a girl who will be there for you and accept you," Emma said sincerely.

When she didn't hear a response, she added, "Okay, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you don't like her. Sorry for interfering."

"Emma," he said.

"What?"

"You're the queen of interference."

She laughed. "That may be true, but it doesn't erase the situation. So, after this song you ask her to dance."

"Not happening, Em."

"Fine," she said. She held onto JT and danced over to where Toby and Liberty were. "Switch?" she asked the pair, and Toby and Liberty broke apart, switching partners.

JT glared at Emma, who winked in response. He was then well aware of how close he was to Liberty, and how her arms felt against his shoulders.

"JT, are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, fine."

"This is…awkward," she said, looking at him.

"You read my mind."

"I'll get Emma to switch back, you can dance with her," she told him. "Since, you know, I'd be such a bore." She said it in a joking manner, not intended for the reaction he gave.

"I'm sorry about that, Liberty," he apologized.

She shrugged. "No hard feelings."

"I've been really mean to you," he admitted.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Yeah, you have. When did you realize this?"

"Over the past couple of days," he said honestly. "And Emma sort of helped me realize it tonight."

"Why?" she asked curiously. "What did Emma say?"

"That I'm insane," he replied.

She stared at him. "Meaning…?"

"Meaning I've been stupid. I've been in denial. And I don't care if anyone sees us," he said simply.

She was confused, yet blown away at the same time. "Do you mean—"

Before she knew it his lips fell onto hers and she was kissing JT Yorke.

She was kissing JT Yorke. This was the real deal. And she never wanted to let go.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'd love reviews. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to review. It really makes me happy. :) I had fun with this chapter and I'm starting the next one ASAP.