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Alright! On to the next one! Enjoy!

Denial is A Dangerous Thing

(Billy's POV)

Jane...she was who I'd usually talked to in times like this but, I couldn't because this time she was the crisis.

I just don't understand anything anymore.

I had been sitting in class going over the events of the last few months in my head and I had come to a conclusion.

Jane was my best friend and I was never going to jeopardize that.

The fashion show was a minor lapse in judgement.

The thoughts that clouded my mind when in juvy were the need for human contact.

This morning was me temporary losing my mind.

Zoe was my girlfriend.

I was going to hang out with her tonight, Jane would go on her date, and all would be back to normal.

My phone vibrated and I looked at it.

Hey wanna hang out after school grab a bite

- Zoe

See, this was a sign.

This is where normal begins again.

Yeah definitely :)

-Billy

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(Jane's POV)

I looked myself in the mirror and took a deep slow agonizing breath.

Tonight was going to be amazing.

I could feel it.

I put on my bright red lipstick and then looked myself over.

I grabbed my purse and headed out my door, head up, and all thoughts of my best friend tucked safely in my closet next to my favorite pair of shoes.

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(General POV)

"So what are you in the mood for?" Billy said as he walked to the car with Zoe.

They got in.

"I don't know. Maybe Thai?" she said and he smiled in agreement.

"Thai it is," he said and then started the car.

"So...what exactly did you say to Jane when you talked?" Zoe asked deciding to take Nick's advice and just go for it.

"Uh nothing really. I told her what was going on and she felt horrible. She said she'd help in any way she could. And I understand where you're coming from and I completely respect your feelings," Billy said glancing over to his right.

"But I didn't really expect anything less. Jane's awesome. You just have to get to know each other a little better," Billy continued and Zoe felt uneasy all of a sudden.

"Yeah...we should. Is she...seeing anyone at the moment?" Zoe asked hesitantly and Billy shifted in his seat.

"She's actually out on a date right now," he said tight lipped but, trying to sound as if he didn't care.

"Oh," Zoe said perking up a bit at that new information.

"We should double date sometime," Zoe said and Billy almost laughed at how disastrous that would be.

"Yeah, I don't think that's a great idea."

"Why not? You just said we should get to know each other better."

"You should, just not on a double date."

"Why not?"

"Because it wouldn't be a good idea?"

"Why not?"

Billy didn't like this conversation.

Part of him knew they couldn't double date with Jane and Eli because of the obvious, Eli thought Jane was in her twenties, but, he knew the truth.

"Because he's...older and I doubt he'd want to hang out with us," he said trying to be honest without giving any of Jane's secrets away.

"Well it couldn't hurt to ask," Zoe said her voice getting higher in irritation.

"Why do you want this to happen so bad?"

"Why do you not want this to happen so bad?"

Zoe was asking the questions and so not getting the answers she wanted.

"When did this turn into an interrogation?"

"Why don't you just admit you have feelings for Jane?"

The car went completely silent, even their breathing stopped.

Billy pulled over the curb and stopped the car.

"So we're back to this again?" Billy said looking at Zoe.

"We never got off of this Billy!"

"What do you want me to tell you! You keep poking at this insane notion and I keep shooting it down telling you it's crazy! I don't have feelings for Jane and I don't know how to get that fact in your head!"

They were both steaming and practically yelling at each other.

Zoe gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Right, whatever you say Billy Nutter. You're clearly an expert on your own warped feelings," she said done with this conversation.

"Zoe, I am with you! I want to be with you! If I wanted to be with Jane why would I be wasting my time with this relationship at all!" Billy exclaimed out and Zoe sat back in the seat, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I'm suddenly not all that hungry," Zoe said looking out the window.

Billy looked at her with his mouth wide open, not having anything else to say.

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"Wow either I'm a really bad date or you really don't want to be here," Eli said looking across the table at Jane.

They had been at the restaurant for about an hour and Jane was in her own world.

"What?" she answered lost.

"It's just...you're great company but, it seems to me that you don't really want to be on this date," Eli said and Jane shook her head.

"Of course I do. What makes you think that?"

"Well for starters you have barely touched your food and you've been zoning out all night," Eli said leaning back in his chair.

Jane sighed, not able to lie.

"I'm sorry Eli. I just...I don't know. It's been a long day," she said looking at her plate.

"Tell me about it. Or should I say tell me about him," Eli said knowingly and Jane groaned internally at how transparent she was.

"I am the worst date ever," Jane said feeling horrible.

Eli laughed.

"No you're not. You're just human. This was just a date, no pressure. No harm done. We can just as easily make this a dinner between friends. So tell me about this guy who has obviously completely out shined me," Eli said and Jane smiled at how amazing Eli was.

Some girl was going to be very lucky to have him one day.

"His name is Billy," Jane finally got out.

"Ah Billy," Eli said leaning onto the table, elbows on the table.

"We grew up together. He's my best friend but, lately...things has just been weird," she said and Eli nodded.

"So you have yourself a little Dawson's Creek story going on here," he said smiling and she laughed.

"I'm just really confused and I don't know what to do."

"Why don't you just talk to him?"

"I can't. I can't risk ruining our friendship and not to mention he has a girlfriend."

"Hmm," Eli said as if he was searching for the right words."

"Jane you're a beautiful, strong, independent, and charismatic woman who has been shocking the hell out of me on a daily basis since I met you," he said looking her in the eyes.

She smiled in embarrassment.

"I can not imagine having you in my life for almost two decades without falling irrevocably in love with you. So I can't possibly see why any guy would be immune to such a thing either," he said and she looked up at him.

"Tell him because if he doesn't see what a catch you are he's an idiot and I'm only a phone call away," he said smiling and she smiled back widely.

"How is it you're such a good guy Eli," Jane stated and his smile grew.

"What can I say. I was born this way," he said jokingly and she laughed, needing all the laughter she could get.

After getting there check they walked outside.

Jane paused as they advanced to Eli's car.

"Eli I think I'll take a taxi. I'd like to go for a walk," she said and Eli looked unsure.

"I'll be fine. This is a decent neighborhood and I won't walk too far," she said and he agreed not quite liking the idea of her walking around at night.

"Alright but, be careful," he said.

He reached for his wallet.

"I'm fine. I got it covered," she said and he sighed.

She hugged him.

"Thank you Eli. You're going to make some girl very lucky one day."

"That's what my mom tells me," he said smiling and backing away towards his car.

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I think this is one chapter from being over! Almost there! Tell me what you think ;)