A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 5 – Homecoming

As Jason walked down the steps, he noticed how quiet the house was. Having two teenagers and a young child, it was rare when the house was this quiet and it wasn't late at night.

Sticking his head into the kitchen, he snickered as he saw his mom dressed up and fiddling with something on the stove. "Mom." Miranda turned around and looked at him, "I'm leaving. What time can I come home?" he asked sarcastically.

His mother glared at him, "You can stay out until midnight."

"Thanks. I'm taking Dad's mustang," he said as he spun the keys on his index finger. He than gave his mother his dad's lopsided grin, "Have fun," he teased.

Miranda glared at him for a moment and then smirked back. "You too," she shot back with a laugh as he started to walk away.

Driving around the corner, he pulled into the Craft's driveway. Slowly walking up to the house, he suddenly found himself nervous and not really sure why. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and rang the doorbell.

A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal the youngest Craft daughter, Rachel. Seeing whom it was, she grinned at him and then turning slightly to the side, yelling into the house, "Amanda! Your boyfriend's here!" As she laughed, she stepped aside to let Jason inside.

"He's not my boyfriend you little runt," Amanda grumbled softly as she came down the stairs. "Hey, you like nice," she said to her best friend as she looked at him. Jason was wearing a plain blue dress shirt, a pair of khakis, and a pair of brown shoes.

Jason grinned a little self-consciously, "You don't look so bad yourself." She had on a pair of black pants, a black blouse, and a pair of black sandals.

Kate walked into the hallway and grinned at the way the two seemed to forget about the outside world. Clearing her throat, she tried not to snicker as they jumped in surprise. "What do you two have planned?"

Amanda shrugged, "Prolly burgers, than the dance for a little while, and then maybe ice cream or somethin."

"Ok. Be home by midnight."

Rolling her eyes, "Yes mom."

"And no making out," Rachel yelled from the living room.

"You little," Amanda started to say but Jason pulled her out the front door. "What I wouldn't give to be the youngest again," she mumbled under her breath and Jason laughed softly. Glaring at him, she smacked him upside the head as they headed for the mustang.

Sitting in the Digital Bean, they were each eating a cheeseburger and talking. The Digital Bean hadn't changed much from when their parents were younger, only updating the look and its technology. It was still one of the top hangouts in Hill Ridge.

"You get Rebecca's birthday present yet?" Amanda asked him. Rebecca's birthday was in a week and Jason always struggled trying to buy gifts for his female best friends.

"I have no idea what to get her. What you get her?"

Taking a sip of her soda, "That dark blue miniskirt she's been babbling about for a month now. How about we go to the mall tomorrow and I'll help you find somethin." Jason groaned a little and Amanda narrowed her eyes at him. "You wanna go by yourself?" she asked sarcastically and Jason grinned a little at her.

After finishing, they headed over to the high school for the dance. When they arrived, the dance had been going on for a little while. As they walked around a little bit, Amanda spotted Rebecca dancing with someone. Giving her best friend a small wave, Rebecca gave her a sarcastic grin seeing her with Jason. Amanda just rolled her eyes.

"I'm gonna get a soda, you want anything?" Amanda asked Jason.

"Yea, a soda. Thanks. I meet you over there," he said pointing to where a group of his teammates were.

"K. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, Amanda was walking back towards him with two soda bottles when she saw another girl flirting with Jason. She was Lauren Canna, a sophomore and a cheerleader like Rebecca. During one of the cheerleading practices last year, Jason had come over to talk Rebecca and as soon as Lauren saw him, she developed a crush on him.

While she was pretty and nice, she wasn't Jason's type and he tried his best to let her down easy but the problem was she couldn't take a hint. Rebecca had nicknamed her Jason's little stalker. While Amanda laughed on the outside; inside, Lauren and her little crush bugged the hell out of her.

Her hands clenched around the bottles as she watched Lauren gently touch his forearm. Jason gave her a weak grin and then looking away, he saw Amanda. He mouthed help me to her.

Smirking a little, she walked over to them. "Here's your soda Jase," she said and then kissed his cheek.

"Thanks," Jason mumbled a little embarrassed. He just wanted her to come over and chase Lauren away; he hadn't been expecting the kiss. As Lauren walked away defeated by the little exhibition, Amanda glanced at Jason and started laughing softly at him. "What?" he asked her confused.

"You're turning red," she teased. Jason rolled his eyes as he opened the soda bottle to take a drink.

A little bit later, a slow song started playing and Amanda glanced at him. As they sat on the bleachers, she nervously started to tap her foot. Jason noticed her tapping and looked over at her.

Noticing him watching her, embarrassed her a little and the opposite wall seemed to suddenly become very interesting. Jason looked down for a moment and then back at her, "Would you, umm, like to dance?"

Normally she would've teased him cause he didn't like to dance but tonight, Amanda was off guard and wasn't sure how to answer. "Sure."

Leading her out to where the others were dancing, Jason awkwardly held her hips as she put her hands on his shoulders. As they danced, the tension slowly started to build between them.

As the song finished, they slowly let go of each other. "You still wanna get that ice cream?" Jason asked for lack of anything else.

Amanda shrugged, "Yea. I think I've had enough of the dance anyway."

Walking out of the gymnasium, they quietly made their way out to the parking lot. As they reached the mustang, Amanda started giggling to herself. Jason turned to her and looked at her confused.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," Amanda said as she started laughing a little harder. "I was just picturing how red you turned when I kissed your cheek." Slowly the laughter died down and her lips turned into a small grin. "Makes me wonder what'd happen if I actually kissed you," she teased.

Jason swallowed the lump in his throat and tired to act cool on the outside. "Oh really?" he said with a small smirk. Inside, his pulse was raising, his breathing was getting heavier, and he could almost swear his temperature was through the roof. "Why don't we find out?"

Amanda's heart jumped into a terrifying territory she knew existed but was too afraid to actually go. But like him, she tried to act cool and play it like she knew what she was doing but in actuality, she knew she was playing with fire. Taking a step closer to him, she felt drawn to him in a way she really couldn't explain. "I'm game if you are?" she said softly.

Moving so they were only a few inches apart, "Let the games begin," his voice got deeper and a little huskier. "Well if that wasn't lame, I don't what is."

Just as they started closing their eyes and their heads started moving closer, the car's horn honked and they jumped away from each other.

"Idiot!" a familiar female voice yelled from inside the car.

Amanda and Jason turned and looked inside the car. In the back seat were Maria and Eric. "They were gonna kiss and you had to freakin hit the horn!" Maria snarled as she slapped Eric upside the head.

Looking at each other for a moment, Amanda and Jason grinned at each other and shrugged. Neither was really sure what had just happened between them. Than suddenly, something occurred to Jason.

Turning quickly to face the car, he glared at the two teens inside and slamming his palms down on the hood, "What the hell are you two doing alone in the back seat?" he snarled as he gave Eric a look that could kill.