"Em, I am going to stay with Chels tonight, tell everyone I said HI." Lissa explained. She nodded, "You are going house hunting with me tomorrow right?" She asked. Lissa smiled and nodded. They hugged and Em was given Chels' phone number.
"Don't forget to give Brian a kiss for me." Lissa reminded winking. (EN: She's becoming Howie. Run!) She smiled at the mention of Brian, they weren't really going out but they had something that was wonderful. Lissa was happy to leave her friends for awhile she knew she needed to just have fun and move on and that was the purpose of Chels and Mark.
Em quickly drove to the place she was calling home for the moment to find a surprisingly quiet house. She walked around it for a minute or two noticing a thickness in the air and all the doors were shut. She finally decided to announce herself so she returned to her car, re-drove into the driveway honking twice. She then shut off her car and stood up through the sun roof and began singing, "My name is Em-ily!" over and over again. She seemed to get some attention because soon after Cate, Amers, Nick, Brian, and Kat were all outside. She smiled. Brian shot a nervous glance toward Amy before heading to Em. She smiled and exited the vehicle to run into his arms. She was very happy to see him again. He felt the same but knew he had to tell her what had happened. He owed her the truth and he knew that if he was in love, whatever that word meant, he would tell her. Amy was devastated. She couldn't face Emily and Brian at the same time.
"Where is Megs?" She asked after kissing Brian. (EN: Sorry Megs, you are always second to Brian.)
"Probably in the bedroom with AJ." Cate said giggling. Nick tossed his arm around her living with his own moral dilemma. He needed to talk to Brian and soon.
"Not that we aren't glad you are back and everything, where is Lissa?" asked AJ walking out arm and arm with Megs.
"She is staying with a girl she met at the hotel, she just wants to live a little and forget about everything." Em explained.
"UGH! I was kind of hoping to talk to her, do have a number where I can reach her?" Megs asked, incredibly worried about the longevity of her friendship with Lissa.
"Yeah, sure I'll give it to you when I get in the house!" Em exclaimed just happy to be surrounded by her Kick a$$ buds again. (EN: YOU do all ROK!)
"Hey Cate, what is that I hear, is it the ice cream man?" Nick asked sending Cate running down the street looking. Everyone giggled. She came back with a smile plastered on her face.
"Ah, Hun did he run out of ice cream?" HE asked noticing her returning empty handed.
"Why no, it was just that my wonderful boyfriend needs to get his ears checked." She replied tugging on his ears until he winced. That was enough to send everyone inside.
"Hmm...alone again." Cate commented leaning in to kiss him. He quickly did the deed himself. His conscience was bugging him, to no end though and he knew he couldn't go on like this much longer. She noticed Nick's reluctance but blamed it on herself.' I knew it would come to this sooner or later, I may have to give him something to prove my love, devotion, and still keep him. I may have to give him my virginity,' she concluded. He was unaware of her thoughts but very aware of the fact her gentle hand was slowly riding up his thigh. Millions of thoughts began to flood the poor boys brains as it all lead to one thing-Cate. That's when he realized he loved her. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(INSIIDE)
"Well guys I am beat, I am going to take a nap." Announced Amy before she walked upstairs to where she would cry herself to sleep.
"EMMY! I want Lissa's number now." whined Megs who had been waiting for Em to get it for her for at least 5 minutes.
"Emmy?" Brian giggled, " I like that one!" He exclaimed teasingly towards Em, who hit him on the shoulder in retaliation.
"Here you go Megs, now don't you let all my nicknames out all at once, we will confuse the men." She commented and they giggled before Megs and AJ went to the couch getting prepared to call Lissa.
"Emmy, I think I should help you unpack." Brian announced.
"Yup, I am unable to unpack my overnight bag back into the suitcase I am living out of." She replied. He smiled happily as they strode upstairs. After unpacking he grabbed her hand, happy to have her, afraid to lose her. But he had never been in a relationship like this. It was silly, fun, but yet promised the future. It was something they needed to also talk about. He knew personally what happened when you didn't communicate. She liked him, a lot. More than most of the guys she had earlier seen but there was something in the air warning her of the danger ahead. The danger that would change the security of this new relationship and possibly destroy it.
"We need to talk." He said. 'Please say he is not dumping me' she thought. She sat on the bed, him on the floor right below her, linked through their hands. She nodded in response to his last comment.
"Something happened while you were gone, that I need to tell you. If I didn't tell you then I would know that there wasn't a possibility that I might, Um, love you. I don't want to rule that out so I need to tell you but I don't want what we have to end." He started. She nodded in anticipation of the next statement that would escape his soft lips, " I got drunk and I awoke the next morning to Amy beside me in our birthday suits." He shared. His subtle explanation said it all. She was torn with confusion. Amy and Brian had shared an intimate experience together.
"It didn't mean anything." He soothed. She looked up at him and they linked eyes. His deep light blue eyes expressed the sincerity, honesty, and she could almost swear she saw love there too. Her dark blue eyes told him of her confusion, pain, and care. All things that he knew she had to feel if she was to ever forgive him. After awhile she spoke not breaking her gaze but her voice was sad and made her normal sing-song tone seem even more better.
"I refuse to make a decision now. I don't want it to end either but I have to be alone for a little while, all right." She softly said. He nodded and kissed her hands before leaving. As he left she knew that she wished his comforting presence was near her once again. She sat down on her bed and then without a word went to get him again. He was just outside her door with watery eyes. She wrapped her arms around him and they embraced. There were no false pretenses and no words were exchanged but they soon were on her bed holding each other to ease fears, consciences, and pain. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Megs and AJ couldn't avoid calling Lissa. But when they finally had the courage to do so they were informed she was out, on a date with Mark. They looked at each in confusion and knew that maybe that meant they wouldn't have a big problem with their friendships with her. They smiled and hugged giving encouragement, faith, and strength to each other.
"Hey Megs, we are alone down here." AJ commented.
"I would be more comfortable being alone up there though." She requested. He nodded and quickly carried her there. They enjoyed their alone time. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So Lissa, why is a pretty girl like you not busy tonight." Mark asked making her blush. 'He is charming' she quickly concluded.
"Well Mark, that is because I am not as pretty as you think." She replied. He leant across the dinner table grabbed her hand and softly said, " I am not mistaken, I assure you." Lissa being completely swept away smiled. Dinner was wonderful. A three course meal on him, of coarse. He was happy to be with someone who didn't idolize him but still appreciated him. She was happy to be having fun with someone other than her normal group of friends. She was also happy to feel a vibe with some one other than AJ. The night ended wonderfully with a light kiss on the lips and promises to call, that they both knew would be fulfilled.
"So how was it?" Asked Chels excited for her new friend. Lissa gave every detail to her. Chels then gave her a message.
"Your friends Meg and AJ called oh and there was one more, Emily, I think." Chels delivered. Lissa was immediately worried but prayed that they were only checking up with her.