A/N: This chapter is named after the song "Chemicals Collide" by Boys Like Girls.

The next morning JT opened his eyes. He looked down to his chest, where Liberty's head still laid. The bruises on her face were starting to turn a light shade of purple. Liberty woke up a few minutes later.

"Good morning, sunshine," said JT.

"Good morning," she said as she sat up. JT sat up too.

"Does your face still hurt?" JT asked.

"A little. But I'm okay," Liberty replied. "I'll tell my dad I stayed at Emma's."

"Good idea," JT said.

"I should get going," said Liberty.

"I'll drive you home," JT replied.

"Liberty, I'm so sorry," Mr. Van Zandt apologized when Liberty got home. Liberty's mom was there too, since she had gotten home early.

"Liberty, your father and I had a long talk. We decided that you may continue to date James," said Mrs. Van Zandt.

"Thank you, mother," Liberty said, hugging her mother.

"I'm sorry baby. For what happened," said Mrs. Van Zandt.

"I'm sorry Liberty. I got mad. It won't happen again," said Mr. Van Zandt.

Liberty didn't know what to say, so she just nodded and went upstairs to her room to study for the exams they had coming up at school. Liberty still didn't forgive her father for what he did. She didn't know when she would.

"Liberty, what happened yesterday?" JT asked when he was talking to her at her locker. Liberty had covered up all her bruises with makeup, though her lip was still swollen.

"He apologized, and said he wouldn't do it again. I still don't forgive him, though," she explained.

"I wouldn't either," JT replied, hugging her.

"My mom talked to him, though. We can still be together," Liberty said smiling.

"Great!" he replied.

"So, ready for exams later this week?"Liberty said, trying to change the subject.

"No. I'm gonna fail," said JT.

"Wanna study today, then?" Liberty asked.

"Yeah. We can study at my house after school," JT replied.

"Sounds good," said Liberty.

"I almost forgot to ask you this, but Paige is having a party on the last day of school and she said I could invite anyone I wanted. Will you go with me?" JT asked.

"I've never really been to a party before..." Liberty admitted.

"Come on, it'll be fun! You won't even have to talk to anyone, you can just stay with me the whole time!" JT tried to convince her.

"Okay," she finally agreed.

The next few days of school went by slowly. Every kid in school was complaining about exams. Finally, the week ended, and so did exams. Everyone in the entire school waited anxiously for the last day of school to be over. After what seemed like forever, the bell finally rang, and school was out. Liberty quickly got out of the classroom and went to her locker. She put everything in her backpack and closed her locker, then walked to JT's locker. She sneaked up behind and JT and put her hands over his eyes.

"Guess who," she said.

"My extremely beautiful girlfriend?" JT smiled and turned around, leaning in to kiss her.

"Enough with the PDA," said Toby as he walked by.

"Oh shut up," said JT. "I'll pick you up later for Paige's party, Lib," said JT as he closed his locker and walked off with Toby.

"Okay, see you later!" she called after him.

"I don't even know how to dress for a party," Liberty told Manny, while they were getting ready together at Manny's house.

"I'll help you. I've been to a few parties before. I'll Manny you up!" Manny replied. Liberty was a bit worried at first, considering Manny's style. "Don't worry, I won't make you wear anything too revealing," Manny added, picking up Liberty's worries.

"Okay..." Liberty replied.

"Hmmm... What color do you think you look good in? I think yellow goes with your skin tone..." Manny said, trying to figure out how to help Liberty.

"I like yellow," said Liberty.

"Perfect!" Manny said pulling a yellow and white striped tank top out of her closet. "Now just let me find some blue jeans to go with this..." Manny looked through her closet for some jeans. "These should work. And you can wear your black converse if you want," said Manny.

"Thanks Manny!" said Liberty as she left to go try on the outfit Manny picked out for her in the bathroom.

Liberty looked at the outfit in the mirror. The top's straps hooked behind her neck and the top was short enough to expose just a little bit of her stomach. The jeans were a darker shade of blue, and felt skin-tight. Liberty then applied light makeup and a bit of black eyeliner. Luckily, her bruises were starting to go away so she didn't have to use much makeup to cover them up. She left her hair how it already was, down and straightened.

When Liberty got out, Manny had already changed into her outfit: a blue shirt that was short enough to expose her bellybutton, light blue skin-tight jeans, and to top it off, a stylish blue hat and brown sandals with a bit of a heel.

"That looks great on you!" Manny exclaimed.

"Your outfit is great too," replied Liberty.

"Thanks! I'm gonna go do my hair and makeup," Manny said, heading into the bathroom. JT rang Manny's doorbell right as Manny was finishing curling her hair. The two girls walked down stairs and Manny opened the door.

"You look gorgeous my little love-muffin," said JT as he put his arm around Liberty's shoulder and kissed her cheek.

"Awww!" gushed Manny. Both JT and Liberty looked at her. "Sorry," said Manny.

"You're looking pretty spiffy yourself, my gentleman," Liberty said to JT.

"Thank you!" said JT. "You two ready to go?" Liberty and Manny both nodded.

"I'm gonna go find Darcy," Manny said when they arrived.

"Hey JT!" Paige called, before walking over to JT and Liberty.

"Hey Paige," said JT.

"Hey Liberty," Paige said.

"Hi," Liberty replied shyly. JT placed his arm around his girlfriend's waist

"You two are sooo cute together," said Paige. "When did you two get together?"

"Almost 5 months ago," answered JT, while Liberty nodded.

"Hon, I can't believe you didn't tell me about this. I had to find out from Manny!" said Paige.

"I guess I've just been busy. Plus, we haven't talked in forever!" replied JT.

"True," said Paige.

"Paige, can we talk?" Hazel came up and asked Paige.

"Sure. Sorry guys, I gotta go. If you guys wanna be alone to like, talk, or whatever, you can go in the guestroom upstairs. It's the first room on the left. Thanks for coming, by the way," said Paige.

"Thanks, Paige," JT replied.

"You wanna go upstairs?" JT asked Liberty when Paige and Hazel left.

"Yeah," replied Liberty. They walked upstairs into the guestroom. Liberty sat on the bed and JT locked the door before joining her on the bed.

"So, what do you wanna do?" JT asked. Liberty answered his question by placing her arms around his neck and kissing his soft lips. "I like this idea," said JT as he locked his arms around Liberty's waist. JT started to kiss Liberty's beautiful, full lips passionately. "I love you so much, Liberty," JT said when he pulled away. JT started kissing Liberty's face all over, which made her giggle.

"I love you, too JT. I've never felt this way about anyone else," Liberty replied. Liberty laid down on the bed, pulling JT down with her. JT started kissing Liberty's neck.

"Liberty?"

"Hmm?"

"We love each other a lot, right?"

"Yes," Liberty said.

"Well, have you ever thought about, y'know, if you're ready to do it? Not right now, I mean. And if you're not, I won't pressure you into doing anything," said JT. They both sat up.

"I don't know. Are you ready?" Liberty asked.

"I think so," JT answered.

"I'll think about it tonight," Liberty replied.

"Take as much time as you need," JT told her. Liberty's cell phone then beeped, alerting her she had a new text message. She saw that it was from Manny.

Manny: Where r u 2?

Liberty texted back.

Liberty: Upstairs.

Manny: Its getting late

Liberty looked at the time, and realized that it was getting late.

Liberty: We'll meet u at the bottom of the stairs

Manny: Kk

"Remember, take as much time as you need," JT told Liberty when he dropped the girls off at Manny's house, where Liberty was staying for the night.

"I will. Thanks, JT," Liberty replied. "Goodnight. I love you," Liberty said.

"I love you too," JT replied.

"Manny? Are you still awake?" Liberty whispered.

"Yeah," Manny replied.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Anything."

"How did you know when you were ready to have sex with Craig?"

"Well, I'm not sure I was really ready when I did it. But if I could go back and re-do it, I would make sure I really loved him," Manny answered. "Why did you want to know?" Manny gasped. "Oh my God, did you and JT do it tonight?" Manny asked.

"No. I was just wondering," Liberty replied. "But thanks for the answer."