A/N: I had the first two chapters done already, that's why they're up so fast! Please review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

I'll look to like, if looking liking move:
But no more deep will I endart my eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly – Juliet, Romeo and Juliet Act I, Scene III

Bella walked from her car towards the house and grabbed the mail sitting on the front table. She found an envelope addressed to her and rolled her eyes seeing the return address and postmark and threw it out. She'd told Eddie not to write to her while he was in Seattle! But she got a letter every week.

"Hi Bella," Cassie Turner-Riley said as Bella walked into the kitchen.

"Is Daddy home?" Bella said.

"Um, yes," Cassie said. "But, that's not how,"

"Hi Mom," Bella smiled. "I need to talk to you both." She walked commandingly into the living room.

"I'm not sure what we did wrong with that one," Cassie shook her head and walked into the living room and sat down with Rick.

"So, I went to this diner tonight," Bella said. They looked at her. "And this boy asked me out. I wanted to say yes, but I know I can't, because of the rules."

"A random boy in a diner asked you out?" Rick said. "See, this is why we have the rules. That's a no."

"He's not just some random boy!" Bella said. "I know him, kind of, from school." Cassie looked at her.

"Do we know him?" Cassie asked.

"Again, kind of," Bella said. "You know his parents."

"Hm," Rick said. "Is this a mystery? Who are his parents?"

"Connie Moreau and Charlie Conway," she said quickly. Rick's eyes got big. "Daddy!"

"No," he shook his head. "No."

"But," she stammered.

"I think what your father meant to say," Cassie started.

"What I meant to say was no," Rick repeated. "You are not going out with that boy!"

"Why not?" Bella asked, stomping her foot, her voice going up in a whine. Cassie sighed. It would not help Bella's case if she argued like a toddler throwing a fit. The girl took a deep breath seeing the look on her mother's face. If she wanted to convince her father, she had to think like a lawyer. "You know, I could have just lied, and said I was going to get something to eat with friends." Rick looked at her. "Why don't you want me to go out with Gordon? There has to be a reason." He stared. "One besides you being disappointed that Eddie and I broke up instead of getting engaged or something."

"I don't have to give you a reason," he said. "I just have to say no."

"Fine," she said and turned around and stomped upstairs.

"Brilliant work counselor," Cassie nodded. Rick looked at her. "What is your reason by the way? You may not need to give one to Bella, but I'd like one."

"Cass," he said.

"I know that this can't possibly have anything to do with you still holding onto a grudge from when you were eighteen over a hockey game, right?" She said. "Because that would be the most pathetic thing I have ever heard."

"It's not about that," he shook his head. Cassie crossed her arms. "OK, it's a little about that, but it's also about the way they treated Tammy and," she looked at him. "I just don't see where this could go. Bella is smart and she has a bright future."

"You don't know this kid, Rick," she frowned. "You don't know what his future is, which is completely irrelevant to the fact that she wants to go on a date, not marry him!" He looked at her. "I don't know if you've noticed this, but your daughter has been miserable for the past few months. She is excited about something, we need to be supportive of that."

"I'm not supportive of it," he shook his head.

"Well, I'm telling her she can go out with him," Cassie said. Rick looked at her. "Ricky, it's good that she's moving on. She couldn't go out with Eddie forever, they've been growing apart for a while, and I for one am glad that she's over it, so that things can get back to normal around here.'

"Back to," he said. "What?"

"When was the last time Allie and Cole came over?" She asked. He sighed. "They're avoiding us, well, actually Eddie's avoiding Bella."

"Eddie is in Seattle," he said. She looked at him. "I'm not happy about this."

"You don't have to be," she shook her head. "Bella does." She walked upstairs and knocked on Bella's door. "Can I come in?"

"Fine," Bella said. Cassie walked in and sat down with her. "He's being ridiculous. Just because they're not from here…"

"No, this is not your father being a snob," Cassie shook her head. "This is him being an immature eighteen year old boy and Charlie Conway being an immature fifteen year old boy, and beating him in hockey."

"I don't understand," Bella said.

"Few of us do," Cassie shook her head. "Anyway, I have to say, I was surprised. I didn't really expect you to meet someone new until college."

"I didn't expect it either," Bella said. "But I did. He was nice, and gave me coffee." Cassie smiled. "It's just a date Mom."

"I know that," Cassie said. "But what you and Eddie,"

"What me and Eddie had is over now," she said. "It's hard, and it sucks, but it is, and I just want to move on." Cassie nodded.

"OK," Cassie said, "so when this boy,"

"Gordon," she said. "His name is Gordon."

"When Gordon calls you tomorrow," Cassie said, Bella smiled. "As I'm sure you told him to, you should tell him that you want to go out with him, but you know the rules, he comes here and picks you up and you're in by 11. OK?"

"Thank you!" Bella said and hugged her.

"Hey," Connie Moreau walked into her son's bedroom. Gordon looked at her. "How was work?"

"Um, good," he said. "It was good."

"Well, that's good," she said. "Connie called, she says hello."

"Sure," he nodded. "How's she doing?"

"She's good," she said. "She's thinking about doing a semester abroad in England next year." He nodded. "Are you OK? You seem distracted."

"Yeah," he said. "It was a good night. I um, ran into this girl from school."

"Oh," Connie said. "OK. Gonna give me more there, kid?" He laughed.

"I got her number," he said. "And a tentative yes when I asked her out."

"Tentative?" Connie raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah," he said. "She said she had to ask her parents, and that that wasn't just a blow off, so I'm gonna call her tomorrow."

"Anyone we know?" She asked.

"Uh yeah," Gordon said. "Bella Riley." Connie looked at him. "Mom, I'm taking her to a movie or something, not marrying her, you're not going to have to talk to Tammy Duncan."

"That is not what I was thinking," she shook her head. "I was more thinking that your father is not going to be happy."

"Why?" Gordon laughed. "The Rileys basically pay for the hockey program."

"Yeah," Connie nodded. "It's been that way for a while, and um, there were some problems involving that when we first started at Eden Hall, and it came out between Dad and Rick Riley."

"Oh," Gordon said. "Sure, um, so does that mean,"

"Oh God, I'm not going to tell you what girls to date Gordie," she laughed. "Just, you know, be careful, I don't want you to get hurt."

"OK," he smiled. "That's fair." He said. "Do you think they'd say no?"

"Rick might," Connie said. "But Cassie isn't really like that, and he listens to her." Gordon nodded. She sat down. "I think their reservations would mostly be about how we acted towards Tammy," she said softly. "I'm not proud of how things happened. I don't like being reminded of it." Gordon looked at her. "I love you," she kissed him, "I'll see you in the morning."

"See you in the morning Mom," he said softly as she walked away.

Elisa Riley woke up as her mother Julie gently shook her. She was lying on their couch.

"You fell asleep on the couch again," Julie said.

"I was trying to wait up for you and Daddy," she said.

"Mm," Julie nodded. "Well, Daddy's working an overnight shift, so you would have been up until seven in the morning." Elisa laughed. "That's the third time this week. Are you having trouble sleeping?" Elisa nodded. "Is this about Eddie?"

"Kind of," Elisa whispered. "I just don't understand what he meant in his letter." Julie nodded. "He didn't say anything about wanting to get back together, but if he didn't want to then why did he write to me?"

"Have I ever told you about the summer that your dad and I broke up?" Julie asked. Elisa looked at her.

"Just that you went out with Steve and he went out with Elena," she said. Julie nodded.

"I loved Steve, so much," Julie smiled. "But the minute I was around your father, or heard from him, it just didn't matter." Elisa looked at her. "I think that's what happened with Eddie and you. It's not that he doesn't love you, or care about you. He just couldn't let go of Bella. Which sucks for you."

"It does suck," Elisa whispered.

"Maybe you should get away," Julie said. "You could go to Italy with Grandma and Grandpa. That always helped me." Elisa shook her head. "New York? Cal and Anne and Hunter are there. You know Aunt Tammy and Uncle Steve would be happy to have you, or if you'd rather be parent free I could probably wrap my head around you staying TJ and Stephie, or you could go out to California, Mikey and Denise are dying for you to visit."

"No, I don't want to go away," Elisa said. "I'll be less pouty, I promise."

"OK," Julie said and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too," Elisa said stretching and standing up. "Good night."

"Good night," Julie said stretching.

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