"Bye," Julie whispered, but Tim was conked out. She quietly got dressed and walked back home.

"You want some dinner sweetie?" her mom asked.

"No thanks, I already ate," she lied.

"All right. Your dad and I are going to watch some television. Get us if you need anything."

"Okay, mom. I will," she replied nodding nervously. More than anything she wanted to call Tyra, but she couldn't. Only after the fact, did she realize how inconsiderate it was to sleep with her friend's ex. She had no one else though, and she just lied in bed staring at the ceiling, tears of confusion rolling down her face.

Jason made an impromptu stop by Erin's place the next morning. "How are you feeling today?" he asked.

She smiled. "Fine," she said, "and you don't need to do this."

"We're going to have real issues if you are sick of me already," he joked.

"How could I be sick of you?" she snapped. "I don't even know you!" Jason took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. "I'm sorry."

"No," he said. "That's fair."

"I just feel like this is one of those shotgun marriages. You know, the couple only staying together because the girl got pregnant."

"Erin, I love you."

"I know Jason and that's the problem. I don't love you."

"But maybe you will some day," he replied.

"And your really willing to stick around, just to see if that happens?" Jason nodded. "And if it doesn't?"

"Then it doesn't. You can be the mother, and I can be the father, nothing more."

"You're crazy," she said.

"Just a little," he replied. She smiled. "I don't want to stress you out, so I guess I'll be going, unless you need anything?"

She laughed. "No, I'm fine. It's all right if you want to stay and a hang out a little while, though," she said, giving in to his persistently kind demeanor.

"Great."

Lyla joined Chris at the radio station the next day. "These came for you," he said. "They're not from me." He tossed them at her. She knew he was jealous but continued to read the note taped to the flowers anyway. She let a smile slip, and at that moment he knew he couldn't do this anymore. They finished the radio show for the day and Lyla suggested, in her naturally perky tone, that they find somewhere and go out to lunch. She got up and grabbed her purse, but Chris was still sitting. "Wait," he said, and she put her purse back. "I've got to talk to you." She sat down. "I care about you Lyla,"

"Oh no," she thought to herself.

"But I can't be your second choice anymore."

"You're not Chris. I love you."

"You love me because I'm a good Christian. You love me because when you're around me you feel better about yourself. You love me because you know you when I'm around you won't do anything stupid. You don't actually love me."

"That's not true, Chris," she yelled, holding back tears.

"I'm sorry," he said. Tears began to roll down her face and she got up and left. She got into her car and found herself driving to Tim's. She banged on his door until her hand hurt.

"What's wrong?" he asked and she stormed inside.

"You, Tim. You're what's wrong. You just barge into other people's lives and destroy the last bit of peace and order they have left. Because of you, Chris broke up with me."

"I'm sorry," he said.

She laughed like a crazy woman. "No, your not," she said. "I just hope you're happy." She walked out and slammed the door.

He opened it up again and walked outside. "I am," he said. He grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. Standing two feet apart, he just stared at her eyes. "And you know you are too." He moved his lips towards hers and she kissed him. He walked backwards, her lips on his, and opened the door, leading her back inside and she shut the door behind them.