Disclaimer: Still the same

Summary: Hasn't changed

Timeline: Two weeks later.

Shout Out to My Reviewers: Please keep them coming. I love hearing from you.

Chapter Four: Can't Fight This Feeling

It had been almost two weeks—two weeks—since Jackson took me dancing. Ever since that night, I've been avoiding him, wondering why I shrank away from the feelings I had witnessed in his eyes. Why did I pull away from his kiss? I had wanted it, hadn't I? But the image of him repeatedly playing around with girls' fragile emotions and tricking them into falling for him, before he uncaringly crushed them unexpectedly plagued my mind. During high school, I had sworn I wouldn't allow him the pleasure of luring me into his clutches.

But he had!

"Leese, there's a lot about me you don't know."

However, the thought of Jackson conforming his ways sounded as appealing as playing leapfrog with unicorns. He'll never change, I argued desperately, angrily scratching out yet another sentence as I relentlessly attempted to finish an essay, which was due in a few days. For the last hour and a half I had been trying to write it, but all my attention seemed to be focused on Jackson and our rapidly changing relationship.

Uttering a curse, I gave up trying to write and leaned back against the bed panel, wearily rubbing my temples. Leopards can't and don't change their spots. I sighed exasperated. Then, why am I chasing after someone incapable of ever loving anyone?

The door creaked open.

Started out of my thoughts, I glanced up, locking gazes with Jackson as he entered my room without waiting for an invitation and closed the door behind him. Stiffening, I swallowed hard at his expression as his gaze locked with mine.

"Your mother let me in," he explained, making his way towards my bed.

"That was nice of her," I replied softly, struggling to keep my voice steady.

"Leese, we need to talk," he began without preamble, sitting on the edge of my bed, the mattress shifting under his weight.

"Jackson, I'm kind of busy here," I feebly protested, motioning to the numerous papers scattered and sprawled across my covers. I didn't want to do this right now. "Can't it wait until lat—"

"You've been avoiding me." His accusing tone interrupted me.

I winced, carefully avoiding his gaze. What could I say? That it wasn't true? I had been avoiding him and he knew it. Why deny it? But I don't know what else to do. I was scared-scared of how much he had come to mean to me over this past year. Although, I forgave him a long time ago for how he had treated me in high school, the same insecurities, which had plagued me back then, have once again reared their ugly heads, casting doubt and uncertainty over my heart.

The bed shifted; glancing up, I found Jackson kneeling in front of me. Frustrated, he sighed while running a hand through his hair when I didn't say anything.

"Leese, tell me to leave if that's what you really want, but you can't keep me hanging on like this. It's not fair."

Specks of desperation mixed in with suffering, fear, pain, and anguish reflected back from within the depths of his eyes. Wordlessly I stared at him. Could I really tell this person, who had stolen my heart, that I didn't want him in my life anymore?

"Lisa? Will you at least answer me?"

Turning my face away, I swung my legs over the edge, hopped off my bed, and moved over to stand by my window, absently wrapping my arms around my waist.

"Get lost…" I found myself whispering. Squeezing my eyes shut, I felt a tear spill over and trickled down my cheek. Although it would break my heart, I had to do this. Clearing my throat, I started again, struggling to keep my voice firm. "I want…I need you gone from my life. I-It's too much. I can't handle this anymore."

Slow and even footsteps approached me from behind; a hand reached out and lightly touched my shoulders, bringing me around to face him. Silently he stared down at me. The inner torment blazing in his gaze reinforced the pain growing within my heart.

I didn't want to do this.

I wanted to throw my arms around his neck.

I wanted to erase everything that had occurred during our lives.

I wanted to tell him I had lied.

I wanted to be with him.

But I couldn't.

"Do you really want me out of your life," he asked quietly, his throat constricting while his gaze wavered with uncertainty. "Did you really mean that?"

I found myself shaking my head without thinking as my eyes stung from the salty tears clinging to my eyelashes.

"I just don't want to get hurt."

"Leese, I would never hurt you." Slowly he brought his hands up, cupping both sides of my face. "You know that, don't you?" As I nodded, he didn't look convinced. "We're not children anymore, Lisa," he continued, caressing my cheek. "What are you so afraid of?"

Lifting my gaze, I stared up at him through my tears.

"That I'm falling in love with you." Although my voice had dropped in volume several notches, he still heard me. "But I've seen how you treat women in the past; how do I know you've really changed, if you have at all?"

He sighed. "I guess that's a risk you're going to have to take. Lisa, love is about taking risks. If you love someone, you're there for them, through the good and the bad. It's unconditional." Tenderly, he tucked a loose auburn strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm willing to take that risk with you if you are."

As my breath hitched in my throat at his words, my gaze immediately snapped up towards his. Had he just implied…did he really mean…was he in love with me too? I guess that's a risk you're going to have to take. Love is about taking risks. Unexpectedly his words flashed through my mind and I flinched at the truth behind them. However, did I really have enough courage to leave behind everything I had ever known and allow him to blindly lead me into this unknown realm?

"The choice is yours, Leese," he whispered as he stepped back, releasing my hands as his fell limply to his sides. "It's up to you to decide where we go from here." Turning around, he strolled over to my door and opened it, but before he left, he glanced over his shoulder at me one last time before disappearing around the corner.

Swallowing hard, I sank down onto the edge of my bed, burying my face in my hands. Oh, Alan, what am I going to do? I think I'm falling in love with Jackson Rippner and he with me. Although my heart urged me to follow my gut feeling, run after him, and confess my feelings, the rational part of me begged me to be realistic. Once a player always a player. How did I know for certain that sometime in the future he wouldn't tire of and drop me only to pursue another pretty face?

I should have just walked away and spared myself from becoming entangled with the likes of him, but as I stood by my window, watching him leave, I knew it was too late. I couldn't fight this feeling that was inevitably taking hold of my heart anymore. As I turned away, squeezing my eyes shut, I sighed, knowing there was no use in denying the truth any longer.

I was in love with Jackson Rippner.

Author's Note: Well, this is the second to last chapter and I very sorry to say this…no, no, I'm NOT discontinuing, but I'm stuck. I don't know how to finished this story. That's right. It's the dreaded writer's block.

If any of you have any ideas, any at all, please send them my way. It doesn't matter whether you think they'll work or not; your idea might end up triggering another idea in my mind. Any help that you can offer to help me finish this story would be very much appreciated.

My original idea was to somehow connect the first and last chapters together, but I'm at a loss as to how to do that now. PLEASE HELP ME!