Chapter 18-

"So," said Zach, lying in bed beside Jupiter, running his hand through her hair, letting her head rest against his chest. "You haven't told me about yourself yet."

Jupiter smiled and glanced up at him. "My name is Jupiter Atwood... I have two children: Valentine and Christmas...they're twins...their father is named Arturo...Does this sound weird? I'm not scaring you, am I?"

"Why would you be scaring me?"

"Because I have children and because...I'm older than you are."

"How much older?"

Ten years, she thought to herself. "A lot older than you," Jupiter smiled and kissed him. "But that doesn't matter, does it?"

"No," said Zach. He stood and began to dress. "Listen, I've got to go...I need to get home, it's late..."

"Yeah," said Jupiter, stretching and yawning. "I've got to get back to my children, too."

They were in a hotel room–The Mermaid Inn. It was 12:55 A.M. and they had slept for a while. "Trey is with my kids and I don't know how responsible he is," she said, zipping up her pants and snapping her bra. She slid on her shirt and grabbed her pocket book. "I look a mess," she said, running her hand through her hair.

"No," said Zach. "You look beautiful."

They kissed one last time and left the room. Jupiter walked towards her car and climbed in, revving the engine and reversing out into the parking lot. She turned to leave and began to drive down the highway.

She was in love...wow...this was wonderful...

That was when the car next to her tried to cross in front of her. When doing so, it knocked her car hard, throwing her concentration off, and she swerved. Jupiter screamed as she went off the side of the road.

Ryan carried Marissa up the front stairs into Caleb's old house, which now belonged to Marissa, since she was 18 and there was no one else to leave it to besides Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn was staying with Kirstin and they would pick her up later, but for now it was there time. Ryan opened the door and began to carry her up the stairs when the phone rang. Ryan sat Marissa down on the bed and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" he said. "Uh-huh...uh-huh...Oh no..."

Ryan and Marissa sat in the waiting room, waiting for the doctor to come out of the double doors, baring news either good or bad. That was when the doors opened, but it wasn't Dr. Sanford that entered...It was Zach.

"Hey, Zach," said Ryan, standing to shake Zach's hand. "What are you doing here?"

"My girlfriend was in an accident...I'm here to see if she's going to be okay...Just got the call..."

"Oh," said Ryan. "My sister was in an accident too."

"Sorry about that," said Zach. "She'll probably be okay, though."

"Yeah," said Ryan. "Hopefully."

"Oh, look," said Marissa. "Here's Dr. Sanford now."

The doctor approached them slowly. "Well, she's going to be okay," said Dr. Sanford. "No serious injuries. If you want, you can go in and see Jupiter now."

That was when all three of them stood. "Oh," said Zach. "You know Jupiter?"

"No," said Ryan. "She's my sister."

Kirstin and Sandy were sitting on the loveseat, eating popcorn and watching The Valley when the front door to their house flung open and in stormed Haley. "Where is he?"

"Where is who?" said Sandy.

"Jimmy! Where is he?"

"I guess he's in Hawaii," said Kirstin, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth. "Oh, watch this, Haley. Justine has just declared her eternal love for Minnow and Minnow just said that he's sleeping with her aunt!"

"Wow," said Haley sarcastically. "Big deal. Well, do you know who sent me this!"

She held up a portrait drawn in pencil of herself standing in a long, white wedding dress. It said: Haley: Love of My Life...From Your Secret Admirer.

"I don't know," said Sandy. "I seriously don't know of anyone that could love someone like you, Haley. He seriously needs to get his head checked out."

"Haha, very funny Sandra."

Sandy bore his eyes into her.

"Well, if you see Jimmy–"

"I doubt it. He's in Hawaii."

"–Tell him to call me."

"Won't do."

Zach and Ryan stared at each other for a few moments. "Ryan, calm down," said Marissa calmly. "He didn't know it was your sister."

"How could you?" Ryan said angrily. "She's ten years older than you! She's got kids! How are you supposed to be able to fucking provide for a whole family? You're 18 and you live off of your parents!"

Zach angrily stormed out of the room towards the room where Jupiter was kept. Ryan ran towards him, catching his arm and jerking him back. "You will leave Jupiter alone. You hear me? From now on, you're over."

"I am in love with Jupiter. We've only been together for a few weeks but I love her. You can't stop me."

"Oh yeah?" cried Ryan, punching him in the nose. "Watch me."

Zach lay there on the floor for a few moment, blood oozing down his face. He looked up blankly as Ryan and Marissa stepped over him and walked towards Jupiter's room. "Stay away from her," Ryan said one last time, looking back at Zach, who had one time been his friend. "Or I'll kill you."

Haley sat on her friend's yacht, filing her fingernails, when her friend walked in and said, "Haley, someone's here to see you." The girl moved aside and there was Jimmy.

"Jimmy?" said Haley, partly shocked, surprised, and a little bit angry. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to come see you, Haley. Haley, I love you. Really I do. I don't know what happened between us, really...But I want you back, Haley. I love you."

Haley stood quickly. "I don't know what to say."

Jimmy pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket, popped it open revealing a diamond ring, and said, "Just say yes."