Disclaimer: I only own this story, Lurlene inspired me with her books!

Bonjour mes amies! J'espere que vous etes content avec l'histoire. (Hello, my friends! I hope that you are happy with the story!). Sorry this took so long, but, I must yet again beg for your forgiveness using the hackneyed excuse…SCHOOL!Well, here is the next chapter… read, read, read…and, I shouldn't have to remind you to (ahem) review!

"Is it just me, or do I have no clothes for this party?" a breathless Leah asked an exhausted Sherry.

"It's definitely you." Sherry answered as she gazed at the mountains of clothing that covered Leah's bed… and the floor.

Leah searched for an empty spot on her bed and sat down. "I have another day to figure this out. I'll find a nice outfit later. What about you? Are you going to her party?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, I am," Sherry answered, turning red and looking at the floor.

"Why did you keep quiet about it? Why didn't you tell me! Who is the guy?"

"Um… Sean." Sherry replied, looking back at Leah.

"Good for you! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Leah asked.

"To be honest, I was just tentative about telling anybody. I know that I told you about liking Dave- you know, in high school- but… Sean is different." Sherry answered while pretending to look interested in one of Leah's many skirts.

"Okay… I understand. No need to get embarrassed. If you didn't want to tell me, you should have said so. I wouldn't have pressured you… "

"It's okay. Enough about me… let's get this outfit thing over with!"

Carefully scrutinizing the results of the final procedure of their experiment, Leah and Nathan (both wearing white lab coats), completed the assignment and put away the apparatus.

"So, how's Aurora? I haven't seen her in a while," Leah asked while placing the graduated cylinder back on the shelf.

"She's okay. I haven't found much time to be with her either. She's been busy, with her work – you know, exams, etc… and the same goes for me." Nathan replied. "What about you?"

He asked.

"Same." Leah said.

"Is that all? Are you going to Caitlin's party tomorrow?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah,"

"Are you going with anyone?" Nathan asked.

Just then, Leah glanced at the door (which was slightly opened) and noticed Jordan passing by in the hallway. He smiled at her and mouthed 'I'll come to your place at eight okay?'

"Okay!" Leah said.

Turning to Nathan, she smiled and said, "There's your answer."

"Ah. Then I'm going to be seeing both of you there." Nathan said and smiled in return.

"I guess so," said Leah, yawning.

"What, tired already?" Nathan asked, incredulously.

"Well, unlike some, I had a lot of work to do. And you should know that it took quite a while. And, unlike you, Nathan Adams, I take extra care in doing my work!" Leah said loudly, using a mock- conceited tone. Several people turned to see what was going on.

"Nice job, Lewis- Hall- you got people to stare at us." Nathan said, grinning.

Blushing, Leah pulled her lab coat over her head, making her look headless; and causing Nathan to laugh.

"What are you doing?" Nathan asked, laughing.

"I'm trying to disappear!" Leah answered, her head still covered by the white apparel.

"Why?" Nathan asked, still laughing.

Pulling the lab coat down and straitening it out, Leah was about to answer when Mr. Alden tapped her on the shoulder.

"Miss Lewis- Hall," he said, wearing a serious expression, "qu'est-ce-que tu fait, precisement?"

"Pardon?"

"What are you doing, precisely?" Mr. Alden repeated.

"I finished the assignment, and… was conversing with Nathan," Leah answered, trying to fight the blush creeping up her cheeks

"This is not the appropriate decorum when present in a laboratory. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do, Mr. Alden," Leah replied, her voice getting thinner.

Mr. Alden nodded and walked away.

Leah quickly pretended to look really interested in the floor, when suddenly; she began to hear people chuckling all around her. Leah turned to look at Nathan.

Nathan looked as if he would die of laughter.

"What?" Leah hissed, her cheeks burning a bright red.

"Apparently, Mr. Alden had to use the bathroom and forgot to take off his lab coat. He tucked it into his pants!" Nathan said while trying and failing not to laugh.

The whole scene caught Mr. Alden's attention.

"And what precisely is so funny?" He asked.

Nobody answered. Mr. Alden sighed and looked back to the wad of papers he was marking.

Nathan and Leah laughed silently.

"It's going to be fine," Leah said, trying and failing to reassure a very nervous Sherry.

"But what if I run out of things to say? What if I bore him? What if…"

"No "what-if"s- you guys will find so much to talk about, that both your throats will end up dry by the end of the evening." Leah said firmly.

"I don't know…"

"Yes you do!"

"I just hope the feeling is mutual…" Sherry said in a hopeful tone.

"Hold on a second, someone's at the door,". Leah left Sherry and headed towards the door.

"Hi!" Leah said.

"Hey, I'm Danny. Is Sherry here?"

"Yeah, come on in, she'll be right out." Leah answered.

Leah studied him as he walked in. He was approximately 5'9'', had brown hair and brown eyes. Leah noticed that he was slightly buff. Probably works out, she thought

"I'll tell her you're here," Leah told Danny.

"There's no need for that," replied Sherry, walking into the room.

"Okay then," Leah said, "I'll see you both at the party,"

They didn't appear to hear her. They were so absorbed with the sight of one another, that all sound wasn't perceived.

Well, the feeling was pretty mutual for me. Ethan and I-… Wait… tonight, you're with Jordan. Ethan left you! He is out of your life. It's time to move on! Leah shook her head and looked at Sherry and Danny.

"Sherry,"

"I'll see you at the party, Leah…okay?"

"Right then… see you there!"

Danny and Sherry left the room.

Leah walked towards the mirror and glanced over her reflection.

"I can't afford to have the thought of being with Ethan take over my life,' she said to herself out loud while checking to see if she needed to add any finishing touches to her makeup.

And yet, memories of Ethan kept flooding her mind. She smiled as she remembered the time he bought her the porcelain bunny at the conclusion of the day that they spent at the mall… his velvety-soft kisses, him holding her as they bundled.

Leah found herself teary-eyed.

"Oh no! Not now!"

Suddenly, she heard someone at the door.

"Hey Leah, it's Jordan!"

Jordan continued to talk as Leah went to open the door.

"You know, if you don't open the door, I might just go with some of these lovely young ladies,"

Leah laughed quietly to herself and shook her head as she got to the door, and stood on the other side listening to what he had to say.

"They are dying to belly dance with me when we get to the party…"

Leah laughed.

"'We love the way you dance, Jordan…. are you going to get your groove on tonight, Jordan?'"

Leah opened the door and saw Jordan fluttering his eyelashes at her.

"I can't believe I agreed to go with you," Leah said, laughing.

"I've got a lot of personality… you will not be bored," Jordan said and cackled.

Leah laughed.

Leah and Jordan entered the party at full swing. There were people dancing to the music, people at the bar, smoking, conversing, people everywhere.

Caitlin approached them as they made their way through the people.

"Hey! What's doing? You guys look so cute together!"

That made Leah blush. She turned to look at Jordan, who was smiling.

"Happy birthday!" Leah exclaimed.

"Thanks… I'll see you guys around. Have fun!" Caitlin smiled at both of them and made her way to the dance floor.

Jordan turned to Leah. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"I'm not really into beer or alcohol or anything of the sort. Just a soda," Leah said and smiled

"All right then, I'll be right back."

As Jordan made his way towards the bar, Leah saw Aurora moving toward her.

"What's up?" Leah asked. "How's everything going?"

"I'm okay… how are you?"

"Fine. Enjoying the party?"

"Yeah, "Leah answered, "I just came."

"By yourself?"

"No, Jordan asked me to come with him."

Aurora looked at Lean and smiled. "That's great! So, are you guys going out?"

"No…"

"I think you both look great together."

"Thanks, but we're not dating," Leah felt her neck and cheeks grow increasingly warm.

"I think that Jordan has every intention of asking you out in the future."

"You think so?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, it looks like it. Just look at how he looks at you."

Leah turned to look at Jordan standing by the bar. He waved and smiled at her. She smiled in return.

"He really likes you."

Leah smiled and felt herself blush again.

"So…where's Nathan?"

He's around here somewhere. I think he's talking to some of his friends… Justin, Michael, Ryan… I don't know," Aurora said. "I'm going to go get a drink, do you want anything?"

"No, that's okay…Jordan went to get me something." Leah replied.

"Okay, I'll see you later!"

"See you later!" Leah said.

After finishing their soda, Jordan suggested that they dance.

"Okay, I just have to use the bathroom for a second. I'll be right back." Leah told him.

As she made her way to the restrooms, she spotted Nathan.

"Hi!" Leah called out to him.

"Hey!"

Nathan smiled and made his way toward Leah.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's nice. Everyone seems to be having a good time."

"Yeah… hey, do you want to dance?" Nathan asked.

Leah looked at him.

"Well, I'm on my way to the bathroom, but I'm reserved for the night."

"What do you mean?"

"Jordan asked me to dance with him. But you're welcome to come and join" Leah smiled.

"Never mind; did you see Aurora anywhere?"

"I spoke to her several minutes ago, and then she went o get a drink."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later."

"See ya later!" Nathan said and walked towards the bar.

Leah and Jordan made their way to the dance floor and began dancing to different types of music; hip hop, pop, even some Latino tunes.

"I under estimated your dancing skills, Jordan! " Leah said while dancing with Jordan.

"There are many secrets you have yet to learn about me; and vice versa," Jordan answered, which made Leah blush.

Just then, the music was changed to that of a slow- dancing song.

Leah looked uncertainly at Jordan, to which Jordan replied: "Don't worry, I won't step on your toes if you won't". That made Leah laugh as she placed her arms around him.

Jordan put his arm on her lower back and pulled Leah closer to him.

Leah felt a nervous fluttering in her stomach, but she pushed it out of her mind as the dance progressed. She attempted to talk to ease the anxiety that was building up inside of her, but it seemed impossible.

Leah felt Jordan gently pulled her waist closer to himself; and could help but feel even more nervous.

"A coin for your thoughts, Leah?" Jordan asked.

"What is this now, free association? Do you charge your patients for each therapy session?" Leah inquired.

"Nah, I'm an altruistic psychologist. Each session is only five cents a second. And wait, come to one session, get the other half off!"

Leah laughed.

"I'm compelled to ascertain whether or not your practice is loaded with clients."

"Maybe so… you never know," Jordan replied.

"I want to add one more thing," Jordan said. "Do you think you'd be coaxed to come if I said that beautiful, special people such as yourself get each session for free?"

Leah blushed and answered, "That is only a blandishment- you're not being sincere!"

"Oh, but I am," Jordan told her.

"And how would I know that? Where is the evidence?"

"Would you believe me if I said that it came from the bottom of my heart?" Jordan asked.

"I'd bet that you would entice anyone with that..."

"And what about this?"

Jordan kissed her swiftly, softly.

Leah blushed as he looked at her when he broke the kiss.

"I guess I would have to reconsider your offer," Leah barely managed to utter.

Jordan grinned.

The dance ended. Leah looked at her watch, which read 1:30 a.m..

"I think I'd better go," Leah said.

"I'll take you back," Jordan told her.

Leah congratulated Caitlin, waved good bye to Aurora and Nathan, who were dancing, and left with Jordan.

Out of the corner of her eye, Leah thought she saw Nathan glance at her as she turned around. But she pushed that thought to the back of her mind.

Upon arriving at her dorm room, Leah turned to Jordan and thanked him for taking her.

"I had an amazing time," Leah said.

"So did I," Jordan murmured. "Leah?"

"Yeah?"

Jordan took her hand in his and looked into Leah's eyes.

"I wanted to say this earlier, but I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't say this now… I really like you… and I can't help but think that this feeling between us is mutual… and I want to know…if you would be willing to go out with me, as my girlfriend."

Leah was overwhelmed, but ecstatic.

"Yes, I'd love to!" She said.

"I'm glad you feel the same way."

"Good night, Jordan," Leah said.

"Good night, Leah," Jordan said.

Jordan let go of her hand, but only to move his hand and place it under her chin. He leaned in and kissed her. Leah's hands made their way around Jordan's neck, as Jordan deepened their kiss. He placed both his arms around Leah's waist and pulled her closer to him.

Leah suddenly had a flashback of Ethan kissing her, right after they had a snowfight last January…

Hello again! I'm sorry to leave you on that note, but I will be posting another chapter in the very near future. School is almost over… and there will be an abundance of chapters. I just hope that the ideas will keep flowing. Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers…each and everyone is greatly appreciated. Please take note: I am open to suggestions. So if any of you have some ideas you would like to share that would make this story better, please, feel free. All thoughts will be considered.

Once again, merci beaucoup! (thank you very much!)

Until the next chapter….mymagic