AN: Sorry for the long wait, but I got to take off Thursday and Friday, since I had to go to a funeral yesterday (Friday afternoon). It was really sad :-(. And I spent time with this family, who I've gotten really close to, and they just wanted me to stay longer and spend more time with them, and as much as I wanted to, I was thinking about coming back so I could write this chapter (which I was writing the whole time, so when I finally got this out, it was really fast, and I pretty much just typed it from memory).

On another note, the whole Hurricane Ike thing has me worried. And even though I know a lot of people aren't that religious, please pray for the people affected by the hurricane.

I want to dedicate this to XOXOXONickJonasluverXOXOXO for being my 400th reviewer! I absolutely loved your comment. Oh snap…That made me rofl. You're awesome (OK, all of you reading this are awesome, and the best, and I love you all so much). But I also want to dedicate this chapter to rosemarie314. I hope you and your family are OK, and that Hurricane Ike hasn't destroyed your house or neighborhood. I hope you're safe, wherever you are. I'll be praying for you.

I don't own anything, except for my ideas. But enough about me already…

Previously…

"What was that all about? Huh?" Ella had her hands on her hips, and Jason looked a little nervous.

"What do you mean?" Jason asked. Ella glared at Jason.

"Don't play dumb with me, Mr. Build-Me-A-Birdhouse, you know exactly what I'm talking about," Ella spat out angrily. Jason continued to look confused, so Ella went on. "Up there, on stage, when you guys were doing introductions, and you just spaced out when the light was on you…"

"Oh, that," Jason shifted uncomfortably. "That was nothing…"

"Oh, really?" Ella said, extremely upset. "Then why did some girl come up to me backstage after the concert and tell me to give you her number?"

"What? Who?" Jason asked excitedly, forgetting he was with Ella.

"Here, take it," Ella said, tears beginning to stream down her face. "If you want to call this girl, then it's over between us. Me or her, take your pick."

"Ella…" Jason looked at the crumpled piece of paper that Ella had thrust into his hand. The name and number on it was smudged by Ella's tears. Jason was about to tell her that there was no one else for him but her, but Ella had taken off crying. Jason crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it into the nearest trashcan.

"Nate…" Ella sobbed, a few feet away from where she'd left Jason.

"Ella, what's wrong?" Nate pulled Ella into a hug, and Ella broke down.

"He…he likes someone else…" Ella cried harder, as Nate patted her back and held her close.

"Shh, Ella, it's OK. I'm sure Jason doesn't like anyone else but you. He said so," Nate held Ella close, as she continued to sob.

"Nate?" Caitlyn spotted them hugging, and turned away.

"Caitlyn, wait, I-" Nate couldn't push Ella away, but he wanted to chase after Caitlyn and explain what happened. But Caitlyn walked over to Jason, and in view of everyone in the room, she grabbed Jason and kissed him, long and hard.

Chapter 36: Here We Go Again (Part 2)

"CAITLYN!" Nate gasped, unable to believe his girlfriend kissing none other than Jason.

"What?" Caitlyn snapped, tearing her mouth away from Jason's.

"How could you?" Nate said, backing away from Caitlyn in horror. Ella stared at Caitlyn as she tugged on Nate's sleeve.

"Me? What about you? And…her?" Caitlyn glared at Ella.

"What about…us?" Nate said. "Nothing happened. I promise…"

"Nate, come on," Ella whined, continuing to pull on Nate's sleeve.

"Hold on," Nate said, as he strode forward and grabbed Jason by the front of his shirt. "Dude, do you, or do you not, like Caitlyn?"

"Of course I like Caitlyn," Jason said, laughing. "But not like I like Ella."

"I don't believe you," Ella cried, coming over and slapping Jason. "You like that other girl. The one who built you that birdhouse."

"Ella, I don't like her. Not even a little. She's just a fan, but you…" Jason said, tipping Ella's chin up so she could look at him in the eyes. "You…I love. Not her. OK?"

"Not OK. How do I know you're not lying?" Ella said, sniffling and trying to hold back her tears. "Just seeing you looking at her the way you did…"

"Of course I looked at her. She had a birdhouse. And you know how much I love birdhouses, "Jason said, trying to convince her. Then he changed the subject. "Come on, there's a new shade of lipgloss you haven't tried on yet," Jason winked as he took Ella's hand. Ella stopped crying immediately, gasped, and squealed excitedly.

"No way! Are you serious? Come on, let's go!" Ella grabbed Jason's hand and ran to the door, dragging him behind her at full speed. "FYI, you're still not forgiven, unless I happen to like that shade…"

Nate and Caitlyn were left standing there, still not speaking to one another. Nate glanced at Caitlyn, then looked away. Caitlyn glanced at Nate when he wasn't watching, then looked away, just before Nate looked back at her.

"Caitlyn, please. Just talk to me. Why'd you go and kiss Jason?" Nate said, turning Caitlyn toward him.

"Because," Caitlyn said sadly. "You like Ella. It's so obvious…"

"I don't like Ella," Nate said firmly. "How many times do I have to tell you before you believe me?"

"I still can't believe it," Caitlyn said, her eyes cold. "You heard her. What she said just now. The way she said, "Nate, come on…" What did she mean? Did she want to go and sneak off with you so you could make out with her? Or what?"

"You know what?" Nate sighed, as he got up. "No matter how many times I tell you how I really feel, you still won't believe me. Even if I told you the same thing from now to eternity, you'd still say I'd be lying. I guess some people never change…" Nate walked off, leaving Caitlyn in tears.

"Jason, wait up!" Nate said, running to catch up with Jason and Ella.

"What's up?" Jason said, turning around and seeing Nate there.

"It's nothing," Nate said, looking sad. Then he had an idea. "Hey, Jason, I thought I saw a Gibson guitar for sale. You know, the one you were going on and on about the other day? I saw it at that place we passed."

"No way!" Jason said, incredulous. "I'm so there!" He took off, but then came back. "Ella, I'll be right back, I promise!"

"It's OK," Ella smiled, as Jason took her hand and kissed it, then ran back out.

"Listen, Ella," Nate said seriously. "I need you to convince Caitlyn that there's nothing between us. 'Cuz that's what she thinks, that we're dating."

"No way!" Ella laughed. Then she saw Nate's expression. "Oops, sorry. Yeah, totally! I'll go tell her that we're not together. And anyway, I still love Jason. But he doesn't know that yet."

"Thanks, Ella," Nate let out a huge sigh of relief, as Ella went to talk to Caitlyn.

Meanwhile…

"So…" Mark spotted Sierra sitting alone, staring off into space. "What are you thinking about?"

"A lot," Sierra said, coming back to reality. Then she realized who she was talking to. "I mean, nothing. Nothing at all."

"OK," Mark said, confused. "If you're sure you don't want to talk about it…"

"Wait, what?" Sierra said, distracted. "Sorry, Mark. It's just…"

"Just what?" Mark said, coming over and sitting down next to Sierra.

"I was just thinking…" Sierra said.

"About what?" Mark wondered.

"Back at my school. If I was there, there's this dance coming up in a few days. But since I don't go there…" Sierra trailed off.

"There'll be other dances," Mark said, trying to be helpful.

"I know, it's just…that one was going to be Girls' Choice. You know, where the girls ask the guys to the dance. Not that I'd ever be able to ask a guy to one…" Sierra said.

"You know what? That gives me a great idea!" Mark said, his eyes lighting up.

Sierra gaped at Mark, then blushed as Mark took her hand in his. "If you want to go to a dance like that, then I'd love to take you," Mark said softly, blushing a little. "I mean, if you want to go. With me, that is."

"Yes!" Sierra shrieked, then looked embarrassed. "I mean, sure, OK. I'd like that. There's just one problem though. I'm taking a break, remember?"

"Yeah, I know," Mark smiled back. "But hey, if we can't go to the dance, then we'll just have to bring the dance to us."

"Huh?" Sierra looked confused as Mark rushed off, his mind racing with endless possibilities.

Meanwhile…

"Caitlyn, do you have a minute?" Ella said cautiously, as if she were expecting Caitlyn to jump out at her at any time and scream at her for trying to steal Nate away.

"Oh, it's you," Caitlyn said, very unenthusiastically as she walked away. "What do you want? That's right, you want Nate. You can have him."

"About that," Ella said, rushing after Caitlyn. "I don't want Nate. I want Jason."

"What?" Caitlyn froze in her tracks. "But I thought…"

"Yeah, about that," Ella confessed. "Nate said that if I hung out with him all the time, then he'd be able to get you back."

"He did?" Caitlyn couldn't believe it. "Then that explains it."

"Explains what?" Ella was confused.

"Why Jason thought you and Nate were together," Caitlyn finished. "And to think…this whole time, you and Nate…" She laughed.

"I don't get it," Ella said, still confused.

Just then, Peggy found them in the hallway. "Guys, guess what!"

"What?" Ella said, seeing Peggy's excitement and getting a little excited herself.

"Mark and Sierra came up with a great idea. We're having a dance!" Peggy announced, as she and Ella started shrieking and jumping up and down excitedly.

"No way! I'm soooo there!" Caitlyn said, rushing off to tell Mitchie the good news.

AN: Next up, the dance. Will Nate and Caitlyn be able to put the past behind them and get back together? Will Ella ever forgive Jason for what happened? And what about Shane and Mitchie? Will they stay as strong as ever? And what about the others? You'll have to review to find out what happens in the next chapter. Please keep reviewing. You're doing a great job so far! The faster you review, the faster I'll post the next chapter. So what are you waiting for? Go on, review!