Salma called me in the morning.

"Hey. Have you spoken to Jamie yet?" She asked.

"Im going to kill you, you know that?" I replied.

"Ah, so you have!"

"Yes." I laughed

"So, what's the situation?"

"Nothing, we're just going to hang out today. It's no big deal, we always used to."

"It is so a big deal! It will be different this time."

"How?"

"Because this time there will be... sexual tension."

I burst out laughing. "Oh Salma, you know exactly how to make my morning. Now I've got to go change, I've just come out the shower."

"Wear something cute!"

"Bye!" I laughed, rolling my eyes.

I turned on my iPod doc. It was on shuffle and was playing "Walking the Dog" by "Fun." I began to move my hips in time with the song as I picked out an outfit from my wardrobe. I ended up choosing a beige coloured cardigan with a white vest underneath and three-quarter jeans. I looked in the mirror and smiled. I felt good today.

Suddenly the door opened to reveal a very sleepy looking Derek. "Hey Liz, could you keep it down?" He grunted. And with that, he was gone. I looked around the room awkwardly, then remembered what Salma had said. I shook my head and laughed, as I went to turn the sound down. Sorry Derek, this is the old me, and the old me won't let you rain on my parade that easily.

Jamie had arrived after lunch and we decided to go to the park and play one-on-one soccer. "Okay, you win Lizzie, I'm beat." He said sitting on the bench. He patted the space near him. Did he just let me win? Whatever, I thought, aknowledging his gesture by going to sit near him. "I realised today how much I've missed hanging out with you, you know." He said, looking into my eyes.

I blushed. I didn't know if Salma was right about the 'sexual tension' thing, but something was there. "Me too." I replied, looking down. I had just realised I was fidgeting with my fingers and stopped.

Jamie noticed and laughed. "Cute." He commented.

Since when had Jamie found all this confidence? Whenever the hell it was, it was making me kind of nervous. But a good type of nervous, I suppose.

"Well," I said getting up, "you want to go back to my house?"

"Sure, but let's take the long way?" He smiled.

"Um, sure." I replied, blushing again.

He bought me ice cream on the way home and I talked to him about sports - to avoid turning into a mumbling fool again - which he seemed to enjoy.

When we got home he played with the baby and Marti for a bit, which was actually really sweet. "Come on, you don't have to do this." I said to him.

"No, it's fine, I love kids." He replied smiling.

"Actually Jamie, it's time for me to feed the baby. But you've been such a sweetheart playing with him." Said Mom, picking up the baby and smiling at Jamie.

"Why don't we go into the living room? Edwin and Derek are in there." Marti asked.

Jamie looked at me and smiled.

"Sure, why not?" I laughed.

"Hey, Jamie! What's up?" Edwin said, high-fiving Jamie.

"Not much, man." He said.

Derek eyed him up and down and then looked at me. Then he did this weird thing where he kind of looked at us together. "Hey, Jamie... Haven't seen you here for a while." He commented.

"Yeah..." Jamie replied awkwardly. Well, what was he supposed to say to that?

"Well, take a seat dude, we're watching the game." Derek said, suddenly changing his tone of voice.

"There's a game today?" Jamie asked, frowning at the screen.

"Nah, it's last week's. But I missed it."

"Aah cool, me too." He replied, sitting near Marti.

He looked up at me and nodded at the small space left near him. I made my way towards it. "You're just going to have to squash in a bit." He said, smiling. Derek looked up at us, then turned back to the screen. I blushed - for probably the ninth time today - and sat next to him, aknowledging the fact that he had to put his arm around me (and Marti too, I guess) for us all to fit.

"I probably better get going now." Jamie said, getting up. The game had finished a little while ago.

"Yeah, okay." I replied, getting up too.

"But, could I talk to you first?" He asked, looking around the room. Edwin and Derek looked up.

"Sure, why don't I get you some water before you leave? We can talk in the kitchen."

"Okay." He replied, following me into the kitchen.

"So," he said, after drinking his water, "I had fun with you today. Maybe we can hang out again, on a date?"

"A date?"

"Yeah, I know I've tried this before, but I think we've both matured now."

"Yeah, you're right. We can go on a date."

"Cool. My uncle just opened a restaurant in town. Free food, y'know."

I laughed. "Sounds great." I nodded.

"Good - so dinner this Saturday?"

"Yep." I smiled.

"Okay, I should probably head off now."

"Sure, I'll see you out."

It looked like Casey was home, she was randomly stood near the dining table.

"Bye." I called, as he walked out the door. I shut the door and then turned to Casey, who had followed us into the living room.

"You think next time you could not eavesdrop on my conversations?" I asked her sarcastically.

"OMG, your first date Liz!" She squealed.

Marti giggled, Edwin watched in amusement and Derek, he just kind of had a confused look on his face. He seemed to lose interest either way, and went into the kitchen.

"What are you going to wear?" Casey gasped.

"Oh, God." I muttered, making my way upstairs. "Stop following me, Casey!"