Chapter Eleven

JC swerved his jeep into Lincoln High School's parking lot, praying that Jana would emerge from the school building. It was a Wednesday afternoon, and school had just finished. Students rushed out of the building. His hopes lit up as she saw her walking to the parking lot. He drove over to where she was. She recognized his jeep and started jogging.

"Jana!" called JC as he followed her in his jeep. She stopped jogging and walked towards his jeep.

"Hi," she said quickly. "I didn't see you," she lied.

"Liar," JC said with a grin. "So, I haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing?"

"Just fine," Jana responded. "And how about you?"

"Good," he replied back. "Are you in a rush right now?"

"Uh, not really," she said quickly. "Why?"

"I have something to tell you," JC said seriously. He watched as Jana's face looked scared.

"Okay…what is it?" she asked him. What could it be? Jana thought as she saw the cold expression on his face.

"Well," began JC, "I saw Justin and some girl at the movies last night, and they were kissing."

"What?" The color drained from Jana's face. She nearly dropped her books. Then she frowned. Justin loved her. How could he not love her? They had been together for five months, and he cared about her. "No, I don't believe that," she told JC firmly. "You're such a liar."

"I'm not lying," JC promised. "I swear it. He and some girl were kissing."

"And why would Justin be doing that?" Jana shot back. She shook her head. "You're making this up, JC. He wouldn't do this to me. You're just trying to get me back, but it's not going to happen!"

JC's eyes widened. "Wait a minute, that's not what's going on!" he protested. Make it sound believable! JC told himself. "Jana, listen to me. He and the girl were making out. I saw them."

"I still don't believe it. I am going to ask him," Jana said as she walked away from JC. Then she stopped and looked at JC. "I truly hope you aren't lying," she warned him. "Or you will regret this so much." She walked to her own car.

JC nodded and stepped on the gas. As soon as Jana found out the truth, JC knew Jana would be heartbroken. Justin didn't deserve a girl like Jana. Sure, they had both cheated on her. But JC knew in his heart that Jana and him belonged together. Britney was a huge mistake. He didn't even think about her anymore. JC's jeep exited the school parking lot.

Michelle and Lance snuggled up together on the couch, reading through Michelle's college applications. It was a Friday night, and the two had decided to just hang out.

"I think I want to go to either Columbia, Santa Clara, or Notre Dame," Michelle said as she held the three applications out. Michelle felt that college was everything to her. She was planning on getting into a very good college and graduate as a top student. She really had her heart set on being a doctor, and nothing would stop her from achieving her goal.

"Michelle," replied Lance, kissing her cheek, "you can get into any college you want." He put his arm around her.

"But I'll miss you," Michelle lamented as the though of her and Lance being separated miles apart from her boyfriend. She put the applications down and buried her face into Lance's chest.

"You know, I'm really going to miss you," Lance said huskily, hugging her close to him. "It's not fair. There will be all these college men lined up for you, and I know we're just bound to break up."

"Don't say that!" scolded Michelle, looking at him with a pout on her face. "That isn't going to happen. We are going to stay together no matter what."

Lance gave her a half-hearted smile. "I hope so," he responded. "But anyway, let's talk about us going off to college. I want to hear all of your plans."

"Okay." Michelle rested her hand on his chest. "Well, I think I am either going to major in Psychology or Art," she said, thinking hard. "Oh, I don't know! I haven't even made up my mind yet."

"You can be anything you want to be," encouraged Lance, "and you will be successful with whatever you do, no matter what!"

"Thanks, Lance. What about you?"

"I haven't really decided yet," he said, embarrassed. "Probably an astronaunt." Lance looked at her adoringly. "I think I have a new nickname for you," he replied.

"What? You're getting rid of 'Shelle'?" she asked him, feeling a bit disappointed.

"I'm going to call you Angel," he said firmly. "It fits you perfectly, Michelle."

"It does not," Michelle insisted with a laugh. "I'm not even close to be angelic, you know that."

"Well to me you are," he replied, kissing her on the lips softly. Michelle felt herself turn into liquid at that moment. Lance was just too sweet. She couldn't handle it. After the stopped, Michelle smiled at him.

"What did I do to deserve such a sweetie?" she questioned Lance as she touched his face.

"You're just you," Lance said. "And I love every single thing about you. I love the way you laugh, smile, the way you talk, the way we're best friends…everything."

Michelle laughed. "Gosh, doesn't it feel like we're in a soap opera or something?"

Lance disagreed with a grin. "Not really," he responded, "because soap operas are fake. What we've got is the real thing." And then he kissed her again.

Jana and Justin were out on a date that night, at Daytone. They were on one of their usual Friday night dates. Jana had been waiting for the right moment to break the question the Justin. She was extremely worried about what he would say. Would he deny it? She waited patiently and decided to ask him after dinner. Jana slipped into the opposite booth of Justin.

"Ugh, I am so tired," she groaned, rubbing her temples.

Justin reached out and patted her on the head. "It's okay, darlin'," he teased in his Southern accent.

Jana cracked a smile. "So," she replied, "do we just order the regular? Or do we go for something dissimilar?"

"Woman," he pleaded with huge eyes, "stop using the big words."

"What big words?" Jana laughed. "Dissimilar?"

"Yeah!"

"It means different," she explained, sticking out her tongue. "Duh."

"Excuse me, yeah?" He chuckled also. "So, are we going to order now or what?"

"Sounds like a plan," said Jana, standing up with him. They went to order their dinner. After they picked up their trays, they headed back to their table. "I'm going to use the restroom. I'll be back in a second," said Jana, as she placed her tray on the table.

"Okay." Justin sat down in the booth, chewing on a french fry. "Now don't take to long. I don't want to eat alone," he added with a wink.

"Fine, you big baby," spat out Jana, rolling her eyes. She disappeared, off to the bathroom.

As Justin waited patiently, a pair of hands covered his eyes. Justin flinched, incognizant. "Guess who?" a familiar voice breathed into her ear. Her voice sent goosebumps all over Justin's body. No, it can't be. Don't tell me it's her, Justin begged.

"Hmm," he said aloud, "who could this be?" He grabbed the person's hands and turned around. Gina was standing there, amused and laughing.

"Hey," she replied cheerily. "Aren't you happy to see me?" she explained as she stepped closer to him.

"Gina…" Justin gulped, startled. His pulse quickened. What was she doing here? "Weren't you supposed to leave for New York last night?" he squeaked.

She frowned at him. "Yes, but that is no way to greet me," she said half-jokingly. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. "I just stopped by to eat."

"No," he pleaded, "we can't do this here!" He prayed desperately that Jana did take long in the restroom just to annoy him. Just then Jana appeared. She was looking straight at them, her mouth opened wide in shock.

"Justin?" she shouted, her eyes blazing with fire.

Gina stopped kissing him and gasped. "Uh, I'd better go," she said quietly, starting to walk off. "Bye, Justin. I'll call you when I arrive in New York."

Justin ignored Gina and focused on Jana. She just had to have seen them kissing. He cursed himself silently, wishing that it was just a dream.

Jana stood there, shaking. I am witnessing the same thing for the second time, she thought, wanting to just run away. How could Justin do this to me? He loves me! He wouldn't cheat on me. She wanted to speak, but nothing came out of her mouth.

"Jana," Justin began, not knowing what to say. "Jana…"

"You're just like him!" she finally blurted out angrily, the color of her face white. "You're no different. I thought you were different than JC, but I was wrong. I wish I never laid my eyes on you!" she shouted, sobbing.

Justin took several steps forward, reaching out for her. "No!" she raged at him. "Stay away from me!" It was like her world was crashing again. Her body shook violently, like she couldn't control it. She just wanted to disappear at that very moment. She and Justin had created a scene, and that girl who Justin had kissed ran off. Jana stood there, not knowing what to say. The boy she loved, whom she trusted, betrayed her right in front of her. She was too blind to see it coming. She knew it had to end. "I'm sorry," she apologized, tears rolling down her cheek. "I can't do this anymore. People…they just keep hurting me every time…" She rushed past Justin, not wanting to look at him.

As she exited Daytone, she broke down into sobs, not knowing where she had gone wrong.

JC was just about the leave his house when he received a phone call. He picked up the phone impatiently with a grumble. "Hello?" he said gruffly, picking up the telephone. Out came the sound of troubled sobs. He immediately softened up, wondering who was crying. "Hello? Who is this?" he asked in a confused but civil tone.

"It's Jana," the person replied brokenly, sniffling. "Hi, JC. Do you have the time to talk to me for a while?"

"Yeah, sure," JC replied, meaning it. He couldn't believe that she had actually called him. He was definitely happy though, but worried about her. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry for calling you a liar," Jana said with pain in her voice. "I just thought…well, it was hard for me to believe everything. I know the truth now..."

"I understand. It's okay," JC responded quietly. He hated Justin for doing that to Jana. Jana didn't deserve that. Heck, he didn't deserve Jana! He was the same as Justin, cheating on his girlfriend. "Jana, are you going to be okay? Do you want me to stop over at your house or anything?"

"No, I'll be fine," she assured JC.

JC heard her blow her nose in the background. He felt sympathy for this girl. Her heart had been broken, and he was partially to blame. "I know how much you're hurting right now," JC replied, not knowing what to say..

"No, you don't." Jana gave him a little laugh, which was harsh to the ears. "You don't know anything about it, JC. I should know. You did the same thing to me."

JC's heart burst with pain. He felt extremely guilty for hurting Jana, and wanted to apologize all over again. "I'm sorry," he told her for the umpteenth time. There was silence on the other line.

"It's okay, JC," Jana said. "I am over the whole thing. Justin…well, Justin broke my heart, and now I am focusing on this. What's wrong with me? Why does everyone feel like it's their obligation to hurt me? What did I ever do to them?" Jana's words went straight to JC's heart.

"You are beautiful inside and out," he replied firmly. "What me and Justin did…We were jerks to do that, and we both don't deserve you. Jana, you deserve a guy who will treat you right, and neither Justin or I could do that."

"I can't seem to find Mr. Right," Jana wailed. "Oh, JC! If only you knew how much pain I'm feeling again," she added, tearing up. "I think I need to go. I don't want you to hear me crying."

"I think you need someone to talk to right now," he told her. "Are you really sure you don't want me to stop by?"

"I am sure," Jana answered. "I need time to think about this. I'll talk to you later, JC. Good-bye."

She hung up the phone quickly, leaving JC ruefully. He hung up his phone too. He needed to ease off his pain.