NEW CHAPTER UP! Thanks to everyone who read last chapter and thanks too to everyone who took a few minutes of their time to leave a lovely review.

I want to apologize to everyone who is into this story for making you wait so long for a new chapter. I'm going through an awful writer's block in most of my stories and I'm doing my best to fight it.

READ and REVIEW

It was the middle of November. The streets and buildings were covered with white snow. It had spent a week since the snow fell from the sky for the first time. And it had been a week since Stacy started feeling sick.

Lied on her bed, Stacy pulled a tissue from a Kleenex box. The blonde teenager hated to be stuck in bed. Once a while, she tried to take a walk around the house, but at the moment she was caught by her mother, she would have to return to inside the four bedroom walls.

The only way she had to learn what was happening outside, was her cell phone. At the moment, it was her favourite object in the all world. Candice and Torrie would send her messages or call her at the middle of the night to tell the school gossip.

Resting her head on the soft pillow, Stacy reviewed the preview week to her sickness. She had heard people could get sick after upset situations, but until now she had never believed.

Stacy asked herself if her physically illness didn't derived of a problematic encounter, and later consequences, in her favourite tea shop.

"After Randy's appearance, she arranged a meeting between them. She had proposed to him to meet in the tea shop where she would usually go with her best friends.

The two teenagers had occupied a table and their requests have been already served, but no words had been exchanged.

- So, why do you want to speak with me? - Since he showed up at her door, Stacy had been asking herself about what he wanted to speak that had to be in private. With Kyle in the house they couldn't have a private conversation.

- I want to apologize for what I did to you - Randy finally revealed. - I want to apologize for trying to force you to do something you didn't want to do. You were my girlfriend and I should have respected you.

Very surprised, Stacy drank a gulp of her vanilla tea. Randy had never been the kind of person to apologize, to admit he was wrong.

- I was an asshole with you. Maybe if I had treated you better, you would never have cheated on me with Cena.

- I never cheated on you with him or anybody else. - Stacy placed the tea-cup on top of the table and made eye contact with Randy. - I never slept with him as you think I did.

- Everyone was talking about it. They were laughing behind my back. What did you want me to do?

- We dated for seven months. You should have believed in my word and not in those people that didn't know about what they were talking. I never lied to you.

For a moment both kept in silence. Stacy was surprised with Randy's suddenly attitude change.

- I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me - Randy excused himself one more time. Stacy leaned her eyes on her half filled tea-cup. He hurt her. He broke her heart. And even after it, Stacy was willing to forgive him.

- I accept your apologize. - Stacy offered him a smile which almost faded away when saw two people entering inside the tea shop. Her eyes could always be deceiving her, but didn't John and Kelly enter together inside the building?

- I hope we can be friends again. - Stacy felt Randy's hand touching hers. She shouldn't have allowed him to touch her, but she was astonished with John and Kelly.

xxXXxxXXxx

Both John and Kelly took a seat around one of the tables. Kelly sat at John's side, making sure her leg would touch his. The blue eyes realized her action, but decided to ignore it. He only wanted it to end and go home while his father wasn't around.

- I came here once with Brie and Nikki and it is a very nice place. - The blonde girl picked up the menu and opened it.

- Kelly, can you tell me why you invited me to come here with you?

- I'm sure you know the answer. If you didn't know it, you wouldn't have come with me.

- We already talked about it. You are an amazing girl, but I'm not looking for a girlfriend. - Kelly didn't speak. She gave all her attention to the menu on her hands. Taking a deep breath, John continued the monologue. - I have to thank you for stopping telling people we are an item.

Keeping her eyes focus in everything else but John, the blonde smiled. She may have stopped announcing everyone that they were together, but she hadn't denied the rumours she had started about being in a relationship with the basketball team captain.

- What do you wish? - the waitress asked. Only Kelly made an order: she asked for a strawberry tea. When the woman left, John returned to his first question.

- Kelly, can you tell me what do you want?

- Well, you told me you didn't want a girlfriend, but you never said you didn't want a friend with benefits. - Caught off guard, John stood in silence. Why didn't he see it coming? - I know deep inside you care about me. Maybe it would be a good start for our relationship. It would give you time to understand that you want me to be your girlfriend.

- I'm late to my practice. I call you later. - John rose to his feet and for the first time he saw Randy and Stacy.

The first thought swimming into his mind was that they had backed together. How could she have returned to someone who flipped out on her because of a nonetheless rumour? Randy had gone after her and threatened her.

John kept his eyes on the strange scene until Stacy caught them. With a small nod he complimented her. Not long after, he left the tea-shop with the image of Stacy and Randy together haunting his mind.

It had been three days since her encounter with Randy. Since it, Stacy had been dealing with a fight inside her conscience.

Randy asked her out and she accepted in the moment. Did it mean she wasn't over him after everything he made her went through?

xxXXxxXXxx

Opening the car's door, Stacy left the small space. Her thoughts were occupying the all car. She leaned he back against the car's door. Stacy was waiting for her father, who was in a quickly meeting with other professors.

- What did I do? - Stacy whispered feeling desperate. Randy had been very nice, but when they started dating he was a gentleman. If she kept the track she was following, she would end you making the same mistake.

- Talking alone is the first sign of insanity. - Recognizing the voice, a smile showed up on her dark expression. When she smiled, another dilemma was brought up to the surface. Every time she was with John, those stupid butterflies inside her belly would show up. They would start tickling and make her feel nauseous in a good sense.

"Is it possible to feel nauseous in a good sense?" Stacy questioned herself.

- I didn't know you were finally dating someone. - Those words burst out from Stacy's mouth. Her cheeks started burning when she realized how nice she had been.

- I didn't know you and Orton were together again. - John replied feeling very surprised with her affirmation. He wasn't expecting her to start talking about it. - I must admit I thought my eyes were deceiving me. Randy was a jackass with you. It never crossed my mind you would get together again.

- Randy can have angry issues, but he is a nice person when you get to meet him as I do.

- I really don't understand you. Do you like to be stepped on by people? - John felt disappointed. How could she get back with someone who treated her so bad?

The next words running from her mouth should have explained to John that she wasn't with Randy again. At least, they weren't together at the moment. But she didn't reveal it. She made a question with gave her an unexpected answer:

- Why are you so angry? Why do you care if I'm Randy or not?

- I don't want to see you getting hurt - John confessed. - I care about you and I don't want to see you crying because of him.

For a moment, Stacy thought her head was making up those words, but the stupid butterflies inside her belly gave her the sign it was everything real.

The blonde knew she should use this opportunity to finally tell John that she and Randy weren't a couple. They only met because Randy wanted to apologize and even if she was going on date with him, she was going to try to keep it a friendly date.

Stacy tried to speak, but her voice got stuck in her throat. John's words were very ambiguous. Did they mean what she so deep inside wanted them to signify? What if they didn't mean it? Stacy didn't want to end up embarrassed.

- Just have lookout - these were his final words before turning around and left her behind. Angry, Stacy cursed herself. She should have spoken and told him the truth.

xxXXxxXXxx

As their first meeting a week ago, the conversations were hard to flow. Randy had taken her to dinner to a place they used to frequent when they were a couple. It wasn't rare to once in a while to see one of Randy's teammates or someone he went on school with.

- Randy, what do you want from me? - Stacy asked her ex-boyfriend. If he only wanted to apologize, there was no need to ask her out after it. - I mean, why did you ask me out?

- We were friends before our break up. I'm just trying to keep it.

- Randy, we become friends because you were after me. No offence, but you aren't the kind of guy who only wants to be friend with a girl. The only girl friend you have is your sister.

- Fine, you caught me - Randy exclaimed and looked into her eyes. He was going to reveal his intentions. - I want you to give me another opportunity. We had an amazing relationship until I acted as an asshole. - Stacy's hand was resting on the table and Randy hold it carefully. - What we had was really amazing. I want to have it back.

- I don't want to open old wounds, but your friends think I cheated on you with your worst enemy. Aren't you afraid of what they will say?

- I can take care of them - Randy assured and caressed her hand. - Please Stace, give me another chance. I promise I won't hurt you again.

- Why would I give you another shot? What you did to me was amiss. How can I be sure you won't try it again?

- Because I like you a lot, Stacy. - Randy leaned over the table, to get closer of her lips. Their lips linked in a kiss. Breaking apart, he said the words Stacy never thought hearing from his mouth. - I think I love you.

It was the first time Randy expressed his feelings towards her. Stacy froze without know what to do.

All the feelings she had for Randy were a mess. She wasn't sure if she felt the same way about him anymore. A small part inside her was still having feeling for him. Seven months having feelings for a guy couldn't be thrown out of a window that quickly. But it was a really small piece of her heart. Her heart, that was to start beating for someone new.

Stacy never gave him an answer. A fist connected with Randy's jaw. A boy with rainbow hair was standing up at their side with an angry look."

When she saw Randy's name in her cell phone screen, Stacy ignored the call. Randy hurt her again. He tried to fool her once again.

The only reason he wanted to get with her again was because he had already had what he wanted from a committed girl and now was ready to wait another a couple of months before harass her and try to force her to do it. At least, it was what she thought.

She should have listened to him. He told to be careful. If the cheated boyfriend hadn't showed up, she and Randy by now would be a couple. She would the small piece of her heart won.

- I messed up everything - Stacy mumbled under her breath very angry with her past actions. She followed the wrong path and now she didn't know how to change route.

I'm sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes. English isn't my first language and I have to confess I didn't pay a lot of attention when I re-read it. Hopefully you will be able to read it.

xoxo

Ainat