My alarm clock never failed to wake me at 6:30am. Every morning. I hated that alarm clock. I had been close to throwing it across the room a few times. But I managed to control the urge. It was Wednesday. Dragging myself out of bed was the hardest part of my day. Always had been. God, I love my bed. Flinging back the covers, I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes to get the sleep out of them. Picking up my glasses, I walked out of my room and down stairs to the kitchen. Dad was already up. I could hear the shower running. I needed caffeine. Lighting the stove, I started to boil the kettle. I sat down at the table, and put my head down. Only a few minutes later, the kettle was screaming at me. Yawning, I picked it up off the heat and made myself a coffee.

"Morning Liz." Carol greeted me.

"Hi... I'm guessing you stayed over last night?" I asked.

"Yep." She said smiling.

"I don't get you two... you're always here, yet you wont move in..."

"I know.... it confuses me sometimes to.". I laughed. Since I had time, I took my time getting ready for school. Danielle was picking me up (as she did every morning now) so I didn't have to rush to get ready. As usual, I was the last to leave the house. I was quiet on the way to school. Danielle made up for that by chatting about different guys she wanted to set me up with for dates. I replied by telling her that if they wanted to go out with me then they could ask me themselves.

"Jason likes you"

"No he doesn't. He was joking"

"No he wasn't! Honest. He came up to me later and told me that he was serious."

"How can he be serious? He's got the hots for Amanda"

"So? He can like two girls at the same time. I think he's gonna ask you out soon" Danielle said. I groaned as she pulled into the students car park. "You're not gonna turn him down are you?"

"I don't know! He hasn't even asked me yet!"

"He will... believe me. He likes you". I didn't see Danielle again until Lunch time when our group of friends met up. They were Jason, Amanda, Jamie, Natalie, Tahlia and Nathan. We all sat at a table in the cafeteria. I was secretly hoping that Jason was absent that day but he wasn't. He stood up as soon as he saw Danielle and I approaching.

"Hey girls. How are we today?"

"Just dandy thankyou Jas... how are you?"

"I'm fine"

"Thats good" Danielle said, smiling as she sat down. So far, it was only Natalie, Jason, Danielle and I sitting at the table. Jason looked at me.

"How bout you Liz?"

"I'm tired"

"That's what happens when you don't have any sleep..."

"I've just got a lot of things on my mind...."

"Wanta talk about it?"

"Nah, but thanks anyway"

"Not a problem... hey... can I ask you something?" Jason asked, suddenly growing rather nervous and serious. Here it comes I thought. I nodded.

"You just did" I pointed out.

"Very funny. I'm being serious"

"Okay... ask away"

"Are you doing anything on Friday night?"

"Uhm... I don't think I am.. I'm not sure though"

"Oh okay... I was just wondering if you'd like to go to a movie or something with me?". He looked sooo nervous, not at all like the confident, and kinda arrogant Jason I was beginning to know. I couldn't turn him down.

"That sounds nice... yeah, I'd like that" I said. Jason's face broke out into a grin.

"Ahh, I knew you couldn't resist me!" He said. I laughed. Lunch time passed quite quickly for me. To quickly. Classes were boring. I met Danielle at the end of school and she drove me home. I didn't talk much. It was probably guilt. All she could talk about was Taylor this and Taylor that. It was driving me crazy. Something deep inside me wanted to scream out everything I felt for him and what had happened between us. But, of course I didn't.

"Wow... you look great!" Jason exclaimed on Friday night. I smiled. I had gone to a lot of trouble for tonight and was glad that Jason had noticed. He grinned at me and escorted me to his car.

"Thankyou... where we going tonight?"

"Well, I thought maybe to a movie and then we could head on over to where Hanson are playing tonight" He suggested. I shrugged. I couldn't go see Taylor. I melted everytime I thought of his lips on mine. No... it wasn't possible to see him tonight, especially not with Jason.

"Maybe.. the movie sounds good" I said, and left it at that. I went and saw the movie but didn't really see it. My mind was filled with thoughts of Taylor. Jason was a perfect gentleman and didn't try anything

"How you enjoying yourself so far?" Jason asked me once we were at the car.

"A lot actually... so far, tonight has been good fun" I replied. I surprised myself when I realised that I was being honest. I was enjoying myself with Jason, more than what I thought I would. Jason grinned at me.

"Great! You up for some music?" He asked. Suddenly, seeing Taylor didn't seem as bad anymore. I was starting to like Jason, and at least he was available for me. I nodded.

"Yep. Sounds good to me". We drove to the venue and on the way to the door, Jason reached over and gently took my hand in his. Our fingers were locked tightly together when we walked inside. Taylor and his brothers were up on stage and thankfully didn't see us make our way over to the table where Danielle and some other people were sitting. I walked up behind Danielle and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and her face lit up with surprise when she saw me.

"Hey there Liz!! What are you doing here?" She exclaimed, jumping up from her seat to hug me.

"Jason thought it would be a good idea to come here, to see Hanson play again." I replied hugging my friend back with one arm. Then she noticed our hands and let out a happy shriek.

"Awww this is so cool! Look at you two! You make a great couple"

"Shut up Danni, you'll give yourself hives" Jason said, sitting down at a spare seat. I sat down next to him and found myself inbetween him and Danielle. She stuck her tongue out at him. I looked over at the stage and saw Taylor's eyes on Jason and I. We made eye contact and his eyes then burned into mine. I looked away as Jason slung his arm around my shoulders. The guy's finished their set and walked off of the stage.

"Hi Liz" Zac greeted me when the boys were at our table. He sat down across from me. I grinned

"Hey... sounding good up there"

"Thanks" Zac smiled and picked up the bottle of water infront of him. I saw Danielle get up from her seat.

"Eww, you're all sweaty" She said. I looked up and saw Taylor standing next to her. He glanced at me and then grinned at Danielle.

"So? You gotta like me like this though" He said. Danielle laughed and nodded.

"Oh yeah, it's very sexy" She said, wrapping her arms around Taylor's neck. Taylor leaned his head down to give Danielle a kiss. His eyes met mine just before he closed them and started to kiss her. My cheeks started to burn as I looked away.

"Do you want something to drink?" Jason asked me. I nodded.

"Yes please" I said. Jason got up and I stood up with him.

"It's okay, I can get it..."

"Are you sure?" I asked. I noticed that Danielle and Taylor were sitting down, with Taylor now occuping Danielle's old seat. He was in between us.

"Yeah. Soda okay?" Jason asked, taking my attention away from Taylor.

"Yep... thankyou"

"It's okay." Jason smiled at me before walking over to the bar. I sighed and sat down again.

"Hi" Taylor said. I ignored him and played with the paper serviette infront of me. "Hello". Taylor tried again.

"Hi" I said, not taking my eyes off of the serviette.

"How you doin?"

"Fine"

"You sure about that?"

"Yes. I don't think it's a good idea for you to talk to me" I said.

"What? Why not?" Taylor asked, confused. I sighed and finally looked at him. There was my mistake right there.

"Because" I said. He was so cute! And he smelled incredible! He may have been sweaty but there was no body odor coming from the boy! His smell alone made me want to jump on him then and there. Taylor laughed.

"Because? What? Are you afraid I'll kiss you again?" He asked.

"Shhhh! Don't say that! What if Danni hears you?" I hissed quietly.

"Shes not there. She's gone to the bathroom. Relax Liz, I wont say anything infront of her." Taylor said. Jason came back then and took my attention away from Taylor, which I was very thankful for. The rest of the night was uneventful and Taylor and I refrained from even talking to each other for the night. When Jason dropped me off home, he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. It couldn't hurt to have a boyfriend. It would definately take my mind off of Taylor. If I was around Jason then my thoughts would be on him. Wouldn't they?

Nine
Back