Sorry it has taken me over 2 months to update, I have been really busy and had couldn't get any good ideas for this chapter so apologies if it's not very good.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last few chapters. Please review this one and let me know what you think and I will try update quicker this time :).

Chapter 40

Jessica was now more confused than ever. Although she had finally gotten what she wanted; Elliot to admit that he was in love with her, and that he was now speaking to her , she still couldn't help but feel sad. She had fallen for two boys and the they had both fallen for her the problem was she couldn't have both of them and she would break one of their hearts if not both of theirs in the end.

Morning came and Jessica felt a lot happier than she had the last few mornings. Today felt more bearable than the last few days had this was most likely because Elliot had now spoken to her and they were on their way to sorting things out. Jessica went and sat at the table to eat her breakfast with Mark, Mike, Jake and Kim. This was the first time she had sat with them since everything about Elliot and Ryan got out.

Kim gave the biggest sigh when Jessica sat down and stared at her as she sat down as made a remark commenting on her sitting with them all.

Jake looked at Mike as they exchanged a look as they both thought that this might have actually been a step forward now that Jessica was choosing to have breakfast and even sat with everyone while Kim was there. Sarah came down the stairs next and poured herself a glass of orange juice, she was about to sit down until she noticed that Jessica was there.

"Sarah," Jake whispered to her, "just sit down!" he told her. He didn't want her to miss breakfast just because Jessica was there.

Sarah listened to Jake and sat down with her siblings to eat her breakfast. Kate came down the stairs and was surprised to see the three girls all sitting at the table without having to be forced into it, "Nice to see you all sitting together," She commented.

"Well I didn't want to skip breakfast just because she was here," Sarah replied.

"I was here first so I wasn't moving," Kim added.

Kate was disappointed to hear that they were still not speaking to one and other. Lorraine and Nora was coming today to try and fix the situation but Kate had a feeling that even they wouldn't be able to.

Jessica was putting her shoes and Jacket on as she was getting ready to go to school, "Jessica!" Jake said as he came over to speak to her.

"Yeah," Jessica said as she looked at Jake.

"I thought that was really good of you to sit with us all at breakfast today," Jake said, "It must have been hard for you since Kim and Sarah were trying to make you feel unwelcome, but it's small steps like this that we need to so that we can resolve this all".

"I know that and that is why I choose to sit with you all today, but I have a feeling they just might not ever forgive me. I mean what I did was pretty unforgivable," Jessica replied.

"They might, they have to get over it eventually," Jake said trying to be positive.

Jessica left to walk to school by herself, Jake did offer to walk with her but she knew that it would upset Sarah so she told him just to walk with Sarah and Mike.

"What were you talking about to Jessica this morning?" Sarah asked as she had seen Jake speaking to Jessica.

"I was just saying that I thought it was good of her to sit with us al at breakfast even though you and Kim were there because it's little things like that, that might help us fix all this," Jake replied.

"Her sitting with me a breakfast isn't going to fix anything Jake," Sarah replied.

"You know what he means Sarah, he just means that all the small steps will lead to you guys sorting things out," Mike said as he sided with Jake.

"Who is to say we will ever sort things out," Sarah replied. Mike and Jake both hoped that that wasn't true and one day, hopefully soon that they would sort things out.

"Can't you at least speak to Kim she hasn't done anything wrong to you?" Mike asked Sarah.

"Well actually she did. She lied to my face because when I asked her if she knew of anything about Jessica and Elliot she told me no when she knew fine well that there was," Sarah replied as she still felt that Kim should have been honest with her.

Jake felt guilty too because he knew for a couple days about Jessica and Elliot and he also knew about Ryan before it all got out. He knew how annoyed Sarah would be if she knew that he knew but didn't tell her. Jake had promised Jessica he wouldn't tell anyone but he had also promised Sarah that if he knew anything he would tell her so he had to break one of their promises. He had told Jessica that she needed to tell Sarah anyway because it would be best if it came from her.

"But you knew that Jessica liked Ryan and never told Kim," Mike said as he pointed out that Sarah was being a bit hypocritical.

"Yeah I knew she liked him a little bit but it's not like Kim asked me and I lied to her face, I just never mentioned it to her," Sarah said as she tried to defend herself even thought she knew that Mike was a bit right.

Jake and Mike gave up trying to convince Sarah to move on from it and make up with Jessica and Kim because they knew that right now there was no chance of that happening.

Jessica was at her locker getting her books out when Ryan got her eye, "Are you ok?" She asked him as she seen the big lump he had on his head and that his nose was a little bit swollen.

"I've been better," Ryan laughed, "It's not that bad I think Elliot looks worse to be honest," Jessica had to agree with that his black eye and swollen lip did look worse than Ryan's bump on his head and his nose didn't look so bad now that it had stopped bleeding.

"I honestly feel so bad about yesterday. I know that it was all my fault and I really am so sorry," Jessica said to Ryan as she closed her locker.

"It wasn't really your fault. You never caused us to physically fight with each other," Ryan replied as he tried to take the blame of Jessica.

"But it wasn't for me you two would have no reason to have fought," Jessica reminded Ryan.

"But it's not like it was your fault that Elliot refused to pass the ball to me," Ryan said.

Jessica had to agree she may have caused them to not get along but surely they should have been able to come together in an important game like that.

"I should probably go I have class to get to," Jessica said as the conversation between them ended, "And again I'm sorry about yesterday I know it was because if me that you two were fighting".

"Jessica can we meet up at lunch I really think we need to talk and sort things out," Ryan asked Jessica.

"Yeah sure," Jessica replied as she agreed to meet him. Elliot walked past Jessica and Ryan in the corridor, "Elliot!" Jessica shouted as she tried to get his attention.

Elliot stopped and turned around to listen to Jessica, "I just want you two to agree that you won't argue again especially during a big game like yesterdays was," Jessica said as she tried to sort things out between Ryan and Elliot.

Neither Elliot or Ryan replied they just both looked at the floor, "I know that you aren't each others favourite person in the world right now, but for the sake of the team can you two at least get along at basketball games?" Jessica asked.

"Well I suppose," Ryan replied.

"Look you are both already in the coach's bad books so at least if you can play together and put your differences aside he might forget about yesterday's incident," Jessica said.

"Well I'm prepared to put it all behind us when we're playing," Elliot said as he looked at Ryan.

"Yeah me too," Ryan said as he held his hand out to shake Elliot's. Elliot smiled as he shook Ryan's hand.

"Well I guess I will see you in detention after school today with the coach," Elliot said since him and Ryan now had detention as part of their punishment.

Jessica was happy to actually see the two of them make up and agree to get along at games instead of fighting.

Lunch time came and Jessica was walking with Emily to the school canteen, "So Ryan asked to speak with you today?" Emily asked.

"Yeah I don't know why, but Elliot spoke to me yesterday which is good because I hadn't had a chance to speak to him properly and I thought he hated me. I think he now knows why I did what I did," Jessica replied as her and Emily arrived in the canteen. Jessica was going to eat with Emily first before she met with Ryan.

"So what exactly did Elliot say to you?" an interested Emily asked.

"Well we just kind of spoke but he told me he loved me," Jessica replied.

"He said he loved you!" A shocked Emily replied.

"Yeah but I think he still loves Sarah too," Jessica replied as sadness filled her eyes.

"Really?" Emily asked.

"I'm pretty sure he does, but he hasn't even admitted it to himself yet so he won't admit it to me," Jessica replied.

Jessica finished eating her lunch and then she headed outside to where Ryan asked to meet her.

Jessica walked over towards Ryan who was sitting on a bench outside the school.

"Hey" He said as he stood up from the bench, "We should go somewhere else because everyone is looking at us here," Ryan said he noticed loads of people staring over.

"Yeah that is probably a good idea," Jessica agreed as the two of them left the school grounds and walked down the road a bit before they stopped at a picnic table in a parka and sat down.

"You know I am glad you are talking to me because I knew that I really hurt you," Jessica said as she sat down.

"Yeah you did," Ryan replied, "But at the same time I probably deserved it. I'm usually the one who is acting like an idiot and hurting girls all the time and to be honest I didn't even realise I was doing it".

"Ryan you do not deserve this and I am really sorry. I don't even realise how I got into this situation. It's not me. I'm supposed to be Jessica the smart one, the one who stays out of trouble compared to the rest of my siblings, the one who should have know better," Jessica said.

"We all make mistakes sometimes Jessica, even you," Ryan said to Jessica, "Look I can tell that are confused and I will give you time to choose but I just want you to know that I love you Jessica," Ryan confused.

Jessica couldn't believe that she was hearing that words coming out of Ryan's mouth. Those were the words she had longed to hear from someone just about all her life and she knew she loved him back but the problem was she loved Elliot too. She had longed to hear those words and now she had heard it twice from tow different guys.

"Don't say anything," Ryan said as he didn't want her to say it back unless she really did mean it which would mean that she would choose him over Elliot.

"I love you too Ryan, and I know you don't want me to say that unless I choose you but that's the truth I do love you," Jessica replied.

"But you love him too?" Ryan could tell it was obvious.

"Yeah," Jessica replied.

"I don't want you to rush to make your decision so I'll give you time I'll be waiting for you," Ryan smiled at Jessica.

"I just don't know if I can do this. The truth is I don't deserve either or you but you both seem to want me to make a decision. I don't know if I can because the honest to god truth is I love you both," Jessica replied.

"Deep down you know that you love one if us more you just need to figure it out," Ryan knew that Jessica loved one of them more than the other but she first had to figure it out for herself.

"Thanks for being so understanding," Jessica replied

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