

MORE THAN A PROMISE:

THE SEPARATION

By Tess Gregory

Copyright 2012 Tess Gregory

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

"Babe... there's something...I have to tell you," Seth stammered as they walked through the school parking lot. They stopped at his car and he stood there looking at her. How was he supposed to tell her? He knew it was going to upset her like nothing else would.

She stared at him wondering what could be so bad that he couldn't tell her. "Seth, what's wrong?" she questioned hesitantly.

He walked around the car and took both her hands in his, deciding telling her straight out was the only way. Looking her in the eye, he mumbled, "My family's moving to New York in a few weeks."

She just stared at him, not knowing what to say, as fear ran like ice through her veins. "You can't mean that," she whispered. She could barely get enough air in her lungs to breathe, let alone speak.

"Yes I do and there's nothing I can do about it! I can't change it!" he stormed. Looking at her he thought she was the most beautiful girl in school. She had dark brown hair, down to the center of her back, dark brown eyes with the longest eyelashes he ever saw. Her long straight nose led to the softest lips he ever kissed. She had a rocking body and stood five feet six inches tall, which he swore was all leg.

It was after the first football game of the season and the Northampton Konkrete Kids won their first game. They were alone in the parking lot. Everyone left for the traditional after game party. But neither of them could think about that now. They stood, rooted in the same spot for what seemed like hours, but really it was only a few minutes.

As the shock wore off she stated, "This really blows! Why did you have to tell me tonight? We just won the first game of the season and now I don't feel like going to the stupid party and acting like I'm having a great time." Lia started crying.

"Hey Babe, we don't have to go. I feel the say way you do."

"How can we not go? How will it look, us not showing up? You're one of the captains and I'm a cheerleader."

"I don't care how it looks!" he roared. Then calming down he quietly said, "We don't have that much time to spend together and I want to be with you, not with a bunch of obnoxious people."

Through her tears Lia glanced at him and knew he was really upset. She stared at him and thought, God he's so gorgeous with his thick, wavy light brown hair down past his shoulders. His nose was broad, but fit his face perfectly. And his jaw was like it was carved out of stone. It was his eyes; those light, piercing, blue eyes that could make any girl do whatever he wanted them to. He stood six feet one inch tall, with the broad shoulders of a football player and slim waist. She didn't want to make him mad as his temper was always close to the surface. So to avoid another blow up she said, "Ok if you don't want to go, we won't. What do you want to do?"

"Let's go to the lookout, no one will bother us there," he suggested, as he put the car in gear.

"I don't want to go to the lookout, Seth. Let's go to your house."

"No way, I want to talk to you without my parents being around. I'm not too happy with my dad right now. I can't stand to be around him. I promise we'll just talk," he said looking at her with those eyes of his.

Relenting she said "Ok." Frozen in fear of losing him she didn't know what to do or what to say, so they drove the rest of the way in utter silence.

The lookout was at the top of a long winding dirt road, that of course if you parked by the edge you could look out over the town. Most kids went up there to make out and parked in the spots that were hidden back in the brush and trees. Seth found a place to park in one of the secluded spots. He turned toward her and motioned for her to move closer. Lia slid across the seat and he kissed her, holding her close. After a few moments he pulled away, he could taste her tears as they dropped from her closed eyes. He looked down at her and a renewed anger at his father surged through him.

"Babe. Please stop crying, I can't stand it," he groaned. "I'm sorry I told you tonight, but I just found out after school and I had to tell you right away. I wish I didn't have to tell you at all. You know how hard it's been for my Dad to find a job and now that he has, he couldn't refuse it."

"I know, really I do, but I don't want you to move away. I was bad enough dealing with the thought of next year, when you go to college a year before me. And now I have to deal with you being away from me so much sooner. I can't handle this! I can't stand to be away from you!" she sobbed even harder. Her world was crumbling around her. She couldn't Live without Seth. She just couldn't do it.

He held her while she cried on his shoulder. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to do. He had to move with his family to New York. He didn't have a choice. He was so torn by the anguish Lia was going through. His eyes started tearing up. He cursed his damn luck.

"What are we gonna do, Seth?" Lia cried. "I can't be without you."

"Honestly I don't know. Maybe we should take a break until I'm out of high school. I can come back here and take classes at the community college until you're out of high school," Seth suggested lamely.

Lia just looked at him; she couldn't believe he just said that, anger surged to the top. "You want to break up with me?!" she screamed.

Groaning, he knew instantly he had said the wrong thing. "I just want to do what's easiest for you. Shhh, I didn't mean to make you cry more. I don't want you to have to wait for me. It's not fair to you."

"So we'll take a break from each other, but then, when you graduate I'm to be here for you. Is that it? Hell, Seth if you can't be with me through it all, then I don't want to be with you when you decide to come back!" she screamed.

"Sorry Babe, I'm not thinking straight. I don't want to move to New York in my senior year, I want to graduate with all my friends, and I definitely don't want to leave you. You are the only one who has stood by me through all the trouble I got into last year."

Grasping at anything she could think of she said, "Maybe you can stay at our house. I'll get Cristofer to talk my dad into it. My brother owes me big time."

"You know your dad won't let me stay there. Not after last summer with all the drinking, stealing that car, and getting caught with you in it. He never looked at me the same way he used to. He doesn't want us to be together now, there's no way he'll let me move into a house where you live."

"Then I'll go live with my grandparents. Just as long as you're here I'll do anything," Lia said.

"It's no use. I tried talking to my dad to let me stay. He told me flat out no and he's adamant that the family stay together. I've been talking to him about it since he was called back for the second interview. I even asked if he could commute back and forth. He said no, we are so far in debt that there's no money for him to do that," he confessed.

"How are you guys gonna make it in New York where everything's so expensive?"

"The apartment we'll live in is being paid for by the company. For the first six months, anyways. Then we'll take over or find a different place. I'm not really sure what's gonna happen."

"I guess this is a good deal for your parents, six months no rent, in New York no less. I know it's a great thing for your dad, but it sucks for us." Fear continued to shoot through her. "I'm so afraid I'm going to lose you. You'll find someone else up there and I'll be left behind," she sobbed.

"That won't happen."

"How do you know?"

"Because I love you Babe, the way I feel about you there's no way I could feel the same about anyone else." he admitted.

She sat there as her mouth popped open. When she could speak again she demanded, "When did this revelation hit you? You never tell me how you feel. Yeah, you talk about a future with me after high school, but you never tell me your true feelings, and you have never told me you love me."

"Last year."

"Last year?! What do you mean last year? Seth we have been going out for two years now. Granted the first year was not the greatest as you kept all your girlfriends around," she started.

"I did not. They kept following me around. I didn't encourage them," he interrupted.

"And like I said back then, you didn't discourage them either. Why couldn't you tell me last year how you felt? Why now when you're leaving me? Every time I tell you I love you, you never say it back. Why?"

"I don't know, guess I'm like my dad and don't show my feelings."

"God after all the trouble you got us into, I stood by you, by us and fought my parents and everyone else for us. For us Seth! I have had a crush on you since I was little and I know my feelings for you. I think I was in love with you since third grade."

"Since third grade? Is that why Cristofer and I could never do anything alone all the way back then?" Seth laughed.

"Don't laugh at me," Lia steamed. "You wanted to be around me just as much! And don't even try to deny it!"

"I'm not, really I'm not. You're brother always made fun of me, because of you, I never realized you felt the same way," he answered. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Why? What good would it have done? I was never going to tell you that stuff ever, and I don't know why I did now," she mumbled.

"To make me feel...even worse."

"No, not to make you feel worse., to make you see that I truly love you. I have a real bad feeling about you leaving and I don't know if we'll survive this. I want to, really I do, but I don't know if you do, or if you'll get bored with having a girlfriend too far away to see. We'll only have the computer and the phone to keep in touch," she stated.

"I have my car to come see you on the weekends."

"You'll have football games on the weekends. I'm sure your dad already talked to the school to have you on the team. So there won't be much time for you to see me," Lia stated.

"Ok so the first few months will be a little hard to see you, but we'll work something out. I can't talk about this anymore tonight," he said turning to kiss her.

As he kissed her his hands roamed all over her. She was powerless to stop it. She didn't want him to stop. When she didn't stop him, he went further; his hands went under her shirt. Still she didn't stop him. He kept pushing it further and further waiting for her to stop him like she usually did, but tonight she wasn't going to.

As they laid there in his car in a mess of entwined arms and legs Seth asked, "Why, didn't you stop me like you always do?"

"Cause I wanted my first time to be with you, and I don't know how much longer we'll be together. I have loved you forever it seems and I need good memories to help me make it through this and what better memory can I have, than making love to you."

Seth held her tight, "This is the best memory I can have, too. I love you, Lia."

"Oh Seth, I love you, too. How am I gonna live without seeing you every day," Lia cried as a new set of tears started.

Holding her tighter as she cried, he whispered, "I promise you we'll stay together, somehow, someway, we'll always be together."

They laid together for a long time. Long after it was time for Lia to be home. "Babe, we have to get you home. You're going to be in trouble getting home this late. Another reason for your dad to hate me," Seth said.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily, as she began to fall asleep in his arms.

"One o'clock in the morning," he replied.

"Oh shit, my dad IS going to kill me!" she cried jumping up to get dressed.

After getting dressed, he kissed her again, "Where's my cell phone? I just had it." he asked.

"I think it fell on the floor."

He found his phone and dialed, "Cris where are you? Are you home yet?"

"No, I'm looking for you two. Where the hell are you two?" Cris answered.

"Look, meet us outside the party. We'll be there in five minutes. You have to take Lia home. If I show up there with her she'll be in so much trouble."

"Fine, what the hell is going on? You were so moody at the game and then you took off with Lia right away," Cris demanded.

"I can't go into it right now. Lia will explain everything to you. Got to go, just meet us there, ok?"

"Yeah," Cris replied.

They got there before Cris did and got out of the car. Seth was lounging on the car holding Lia in his arms when Cris showed up. He was standing with them when their dad showed up looking for Lia.

Pulling up next to Seth's car her dad demanded "Where have you been?"

"Here at the party, Dad. We were waiting for Cris to take me home," Lia lied and looked at her brother to see if he would give her away.

He didn't. "Sorry, Dad I took Steph home and I lost track of time."

"Ok, well get home it's late," he said and drove away.

Looking at both of them, "You both owe me and I want to know what the hell is going on? Why have you been crying Lia? What the hell did you do to my sister?" he started advancing on Seth, "If you hurt her I'll kill you!"

"Calm down, Cris. I'll tell you everything after we get home. And I don't owe you anything just call it even for getting you out of trouble with Mom, when she almost caught you and Steph in your bedroom."

Seth was laughing at the bickering between the two of them. That's one of the things he'll miss the most. Lia and Cris always fought with each other ever since he knew them. But don't let anyone hurt the other they would be out for blood and that he was sure of.

Lia smiled at Seth and walked over to him giving him a good night kiss.

"I love you. See you tomorrow," Seth said giving her another kiss and holding her tight.

"What's going on?" Cris demanded again. "Seth you have never told her you love her. So what's up now? What were you two doing tonight? You didn't take her up to the lookout did you?"

When neither one answered Cris knew he did and he knew what happened up there. He turned and punched Seth in the mouth.

Running to step in between them to stop the fight Lia screamed, "Cristofer, how could you?"

"It's alright, Babe. He always told me he would kill me if I took you up there. It's no big deal. I'll see both of you tomorrow and we'll explain everything, Cris," Seth said giving Lia one last kiss before getting in his car and driving off.

Chapter 2

Lia turned to her brother and punched him in the chest with all her fury. "Don't you ever punch him in the face again or you'll deal with me. You understand!" she said through clenched teeth.

Cris grunted from the force of her punch. "Ugh! What did you do that for? Man that hurt, Lia. Now I wish Seth and I never taught you how to fight."

Lia stomped to his car, got inside, and slammed the door. She didn't talk to him all the way home even though he tried repeatedly to talk to her. "Come on, Sis, talk to me. Tell me what's going on. Why where you crying? I swear, if he did anything to hurt you, I'll kill him. I don't care if he's my best friend."

She got out of the car and ran into the house and went straight to her room. Slamming the door, she flopped on top of the bed and cried.

After about ten minutes of her crying he could take no more and knocked on her door. "Lia let me in." When she didn't answer, he turned the door knob and went in. He saw her lying on the bed. Walking over to her, he sat down on the bed and rubbed her back. "Lia you have to tell me what's going on. I know you two didn't have a fight, but it's something to do with Seth, doesn't it?"

Sniffling she nodded her head and said, "Seth and his parents are moving to New York in two weeks. His dad got a job up there and I don't know what I'm gonna do. I don't know how to live without seeing him every day." Tears fell like rivers down her cheeks. She cried so hard she couldn't catch her breath.

"So that's why he was so moody at the game tonight. This sucks. Why doesn't he just stay here?" Cris suggested.

"I told him that, but his dad wants the whole family together. And he didn't think our dad will let him in the same house with me. Oh Cris, what am I gonna do?" she cried harder.

He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her, "Shh, don't cry. I don't know what we're gonna do, but we have to think of something. This sucks, his dad's making him move in the last year of high school."

"That's the last thing I care about, but I guess that's another reason for him not to move. I'm just thinking about us right now." Despair filled her, "Oh Cris, I don't know if we'll survive this separation. I love him with all my heart, but..."

He cut her off. "Don't even for a second think that he doesn't love you. I know he does. All he ever talked about was you, for years it was always Lia this, and Lia that. Why do you think you started hanging out with us all those years ago? It wasn't because I wanted you to. It was because of Seth."

"I started hanging out with you guys because I wanted to be around him. He didn't even act like he liked me back then. And as we got older, there was always a bunch of girls hanging around him all the time, he had a million girlfriends."

"I don't know why he went out with all those girls, but you did notice, he never stayed with them long. Look, he told me when we were around eleven or twelve he was going to marry you. I laughed at him at the time, but you know I think he really meant it."

"He did not. You're just saying that so I feel better," she whispered.

"Look, when do I ever say stuff to make you feel better?"

"That's true you never spare my feelings," she laughed.

"I'm telling you the truth. But let's get some sleep before dad yells at us. We'll figure something out tomorrow."

"Okay, but I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight," she said depressed.

"Just don't cry all night since I can hear you through the walls, and I need my beauty sleep."

"That's so true. Too bad you don't have the good looks Mom and I have," she said with a ghost of a smile. She knew her brother didn't need any help in the looks department. He was one of most gorgeous guys in school. He had dark brown hair just to his shoulders, dark brown eyes; his once straight nose was a little crooked from it being broken when he was twelve when he fell out of the tree they always climbed. Of course he was second only to Seth in her eyes.

"Get some sleep," Cris said as he closed her door.

~~*~~

"Mom, since its Saturday I'm gonna hang out with Seth after he gets off work, ok?" Lia asked when she came downstairs early the next morning.

"Sure, I have to work today so I don't see a problem with that. Just get the wash started for me before you go. Fold it and put in the baskets I'll get Cristofer to take them upstairs then."

"Ugh, wash," she started to complain.

"You do as your Mother tells you and don't give her a hard time about it. You know your attitude around here better change, young lady. I, for one, will be glad when Seth and his family move out of this town, then maybe we can get you to do things around here without the attitude," Mr. Lombardi said.

"I do everything you ask me to do! I'm almost seventeen and if I want to spend time with Seth before he leaves then I will. I'll do my chores around his schedule until he leaves in two weeks!" she stormed.

"Don't you dare give me a big mouth or you're going to be grounded until he leaves! Do you hear me?" Mr. Lombardi yelled stomping to the back door, slamming it as he left.

Lia looked at her Mom through the cloud of tears. "Mom, why does he hate me so much? Why does he hate Seth so much? Is it because I picked Seth over him?"

"He doesn't hate you, dear. He thinks you are wasting your time with Seth. He thinks he won't amount to much. Your Dad wants so much more for you. Better than he did for me," Mrs. Lombardi answered.

"Dad doesn't know anything about what Seth or I want out of life. He refuses to talk to him since last summer. If he really cared, he would talk to us and find out what our plans are. What we want out of life. He only cares about Cristofer and his football scholarships!"

"That's not true! If it wasn't for your father, Seth would have wound up in jail," Mrs. Lombardi blurted.

Confusion and shock showed on her face. "What are you talking about? Seth was going to go to jail? How did Dad stop that?"

"Forget I said anything. Your Dad didn't want you to know. You both would have been in a lot of trouble and he didn't want to see either of you in trouble for a stupid mistake Seth made."

"Mom you don't know what really happened that night, but it's true I didn't know that Seth took that car without permission. He picked me up after he did it."

"Yes, of course, we know you weren't with him when he did it."

"What did Dad do?"

"He talked to Seth's neighbor and talked him out of pressing charges against you both. Seth's dad tried, but old Mr. Simons was too furious at Seth's whole family and wouldn't listen. So Dad went to talk to him and calmed him down enough to realize that it was a stupid mistake on Seth's part," Cris answered for his Mom.

"You knew all about this and you didn't tell me," Lia turned on her brother.

"Not at the time, but Seth told me later. He also told me that Dad said he was so disappointed in him and he didn't want him around you," Cris said. "But you wouldn't have it any other way and I guess Dad just let it go."

"Why was I kept in the dark about it?"

"I don't know."

"I'll go get the wash Mom and then once Seth gets off work I'll be with him," Lia said as she walked out of the room.

~~*~~

Lia was lying on her bed later that day wondering why they kept all of it a secret from her. What was the big deal? She knew at the time they were both in big trouble. Seth more than her, but why did her dad help Seth and now won't even talk to him? It was a conversation she was going to have with Seth when he got off work.

She must have drifted off to sleep waiting. She was woken up to him laying on her bed snuggling up to her. She slowly awoke, when she realized what he was doing she tried to jump off the bed, but he held on to her. "We can't be seen here in this room together. I'll be killed by my dad!"

"He's gone. It's Saturday, remember he has his dart league, he left early. Your Mom's working late and Cris is with Steph. We are all alone," he said as he kissed her neck.

Visibly relaxing she asked, "How long have you been here?"

"Around an hour, I was watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you."

"You let me sleep for an hour while you were here. Why would you do that? I don't want to miss a minute with you."

"I'm sure you didn't get much sleep last night so I figured you needed it. I know I didn't sleep much, I kept thinking about you and last night. I didn't want the first time for you to be in car. I'm sorry it happened the way it did, Babe. I wanted it to be perfect for you."

"It was perfect for me, being with you anywhere is perfect for me," she said sliding her body up to his and giving him a kiss. They were kissing for a while when Seth pulled away.

"If we don't stop it now, we are going to do more than we should in your bedroom. I don't have any self control around you, especially after last night," he moaned.

"Why do we have to stop? You said it yourself we are all alone here tonight."

"Don't push me, Babe. If we get caught here, it's my neck on the line not yours."

Lia kissed him and that was all it took.

~~*~~

Later as they were driving away from her house to go get something to eat she asked, "Seth, why was I kept in the dark about what my Dad did for you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Why didn't anyone tell me how much trouble you really were in and that my Dad got your neighbor to drop the charges?"

"I don't know. It was a crazy time. My Dad was ready to kill me, your Dad told me I wasn't allowed to see you anymore, and the cops were all over me. I just didn't want you to know it was so bad. I couldn't face you rejecting me if you knew the truth of it all."

"Babe, I would never reject you, ever. What do you mean, if I knew the truth? I thought we didn't keep secrets."

"Babe, it's not really a secret. You were there; it was stupid to drag you into it. I almost lost you! Your Dad told me I could never see you again. I resigned myself to it. I respected your Dad and what he said. You didn't. You fought for us, you fought with me to see you again, your fought your parents, friends, everyone. And I just sat there, not doing a freaking thing. If you want the truth, the only way your Dad would talk to Mr. Simons to get him to drop the charges was if I agreed to stop seeing you. I agreed to save my ass and yours. I didn't want to go to jail. I didn't want everyone to know your part in it. I told your Dad not to say anything," he stopped speaking and looked over at her. She was sitting there so quiet, not moving a muscle, too shocked to react.

He pulled over to the side of the road and turned toward her and asked, "Babe, are you ok? Look, I'm not proud of what I did, but I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't let you get in trouble."

A rage so fierce ran though her, "Your sorry!! You agreed to stop seeing me?! You didn't love me enough to fight for me?"

She reached for the door handle, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, "Don't leave like this. We have to talk it out."

"I can't be with you right now! I have to get out of here!" she screamed as she pulled free of him, opening the door and running from the car.

It seemed Seth was out of the car quicker than she was. He vaulted across the hood of the car catching her before she even got ten feet. He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, she still tried to get away, but he wouldn't release her.

As soon as she stopped fighting him he said again, "I'm sorry. I don't know what more you want me to say. I was wrong and I know that more now than I did then. I wish I would have told your Dad to shove it, but I didn't. Don't think I'm proud of what I did that night because I'm not. I regret it more and more each day, now more than ever. I have to move in two weeks, were fighting over this because I didn't tell you sooner."

"Yeah you should have told me right away! Not over a year later!"

"You wouldn't have stayed with me!"

"Why should I? You didn't want me!" she screamed.

"I did and still do. I just didn't want either of us to go to jail!" he screamed at her.

He stood there for a second, walked to the car and got in. He sat there for a few minutes waiting for her. Lia stood there not knowing what to do. Should she get in or walk home?

She heard the roar of the engine, and instantly knew what she was going to do. She turned on the spot and ran down the street. She turned left onto a one way street so Seth couldn't follow her or so she thought.

He backed up the car and went up the one way street the wrong way.

"Lia get in the car!" he yelled as he drove up next to her.

"No!!"

"This is the last time I'm asking you to please get in the car."

"No!!" she yelled again.

"Fine! You know where to find me. I'm leaving in two weeks, so if you want us to be together you better let me know before then," he said.

He sped off down the street and turned down the alley and left her there.

Chapter 3

After Seth sped off, she walked around town trying to calm down, but every time Seth called her, she got angry all over again. Deep down she knew she was over reacting. She didn't want him to go to jail, but it hurt that he quickly discarded her without a second thought.

She fought so hard to be with him. She no longer had the close relationship she once had with her Dad. Some of her friends didn't talk to her much, and she almost lost her spot on the cheerleading squad. All because of Seth, but it didn't matter to her at the time; all that mattered was that they were together. She knew that was all that mattered now, but she was just so hurt by it all.

Her phone was ringing again and she thought it was Seth again. She looked at it and saw it was Steph. "Hello?" Lia answered.

"God Lia, where are you?" Steph asked.

"Walking around town. Why?" Confusion swept through her. Why would Steph care where she was, she thought.

"Seth came into the Pizza Shack about an hour ago looking for you. He was in such a rage after your fight. Cris calmed him down, or so we thought."

"What happened, Steph?" Lia asked holding her breath.

"Lia, he's drunk out of his mind, driving around looking for you. He came back into the Pizza Shack stumbling and yelling for you. Thank God, Cris was right by the door and pushed him out before he caused too big of a scene. But a lot of people saw him drunk and you know what kind of problems that's going to cause. You need to get here. You're not afraid to be around him now, are you? He's in a really bad mood."

"That's because I'm pissed off at him, but no I'm not afraid of him. Seth never ever hurt me, no matter what his mood. I'm at the other end of town. Put him on the phone."

"They're outside, but I'll look for them. Hold on."

Steph walked outside and walked around the building looking for them, "Cris where are you guys?" She found them in the alley by Seth's car and they were struggling for the keys, Cris got them. "Lia, Cris got his keys so at least he won't be driving."

"Get him on the phone," Lia requested again through clenched teeth.

Steph handed him the phone, "Lia's on the phone, she wants to talk to you."

"Seth."

"Babe" they both said at the same time.

"Where are youuu?" he slurred into the phone. "I was... looking all over for youuu."

"Seth, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, but they won't let me look for you. Where arrre you?"

"I'm over on 10th Street. Let Steph come get me. She can use your car to pick me up."

"No, I can pick you up if your brother givesss me back my damn keys," he replied glaring at Cris.

"Seth! Stop it! Stop fighting everyone. Tell Cris to give Steph your keys, now, while I'm on the phone."

"Cris give Steph my keys so she can pick up Lia," Seth said.

"Where is she? Why don't I take my car?" Steph asked.

"Just take Seth's car," Cris said. He whispered to her, "Seth will stop fighting to get into his car drunk."

She took the phone back and once she was in the car she asked, "Lia where are you exactly?"

"I'll walk to 10th and Woodlawn Street."

"Ok be there in a minute or two."

~~*~~

Lia reached the corner of 10th and Woodlawn before Steph did and she paced back and forth waiting for her to come. "Come on, what's taking you so long!" she yelled to no one.

Steph finally got there. She got out of the car; her blonde hair that hung to her waist was flying in the wind. She was five feet, two inches tall, and with Cris over six feet tall it was comical seeing the two together, but Steph was very pretty with petite facial features, a small nose and mouth, until she opened it. Her eyes were a brilliant green that looked like emeralds. She told Lia, "You drive, I can't drive this car."

Lia got into the driver's seat and sped off. She was glad she had Seth teach her how to drive stick shift in case of an emergency. His car was a four speed black '69 Chevy Camaro with a 327 turbo fire V8 engine. His Dad and him have been restoring it for over two years and it was a powerful car if you were not used to driving it.

"I can't believe he's drunk? He hasn't touched any alcohol since last year. I don't understand why he did now," Lia said.

"Yeah well he's real drunk tonight. He's real mean and angry, not making any sense. I guess it was a good idea for me to bring his car so he stops giving Cris a hard time about driving. I'm surprised he didn't get into an accident."

"Hey, call my brother and tell him we'll be there soon. I got to stop at home quickly, five minutes."

"Why you stopping at home?"

"Supplies. He can't go home and he can't stay at my house. I'll leave a note that I'm sleeping at your house tonight," Lia explained.

"Great. And what do I say when they call?"

"They won't, but tell them I'm sleeping or in the bathroom. Then call me and I'll call them back."

Lia pulled up to the house, screeching the tires and she pulled the car to stop quickly. She ran in the house and was back in less than ten minutes. A duffle bag full of clothes for her and some of Cris's clothes for Seth, a bag of food, and out of the garage she got sleeping bags and threw it all in the trunk.

"Oh forgot pillows, be right back!" she exclaimed whipping around and running back to the house. When she got back outside her Mom pulled up.

"Hi, Sweetie, what's going on?" Mrs. Lombardi asked.

"Nothing I left you a note, I'm staying at Steph's tonight. Cris and Seth are hanging with a bunch of the guys and we got bored so were going to her house."

"Ok fine, but be careful in that car. Why do you have it by the way? Seth never lets anyone drive it," Mrs. Lombardi questioned.

"He's with Cris and they used his car and I asked to use it since I don't have one," Lia replied.

"Yeah I know, when we get money together we'll get you one."

"Forget it Mom. I'm saving up for one and I'm almost there anyway," Lia said. "Bye Mom see ya tomorrow."

"Bye, girls."

"How the heck can you lie so good to your mom?" Steph asked.

"They make me, by not letting me be with Seth. Even thought they know I'm with him they don't like it. It's not so much my Mom, but my Dad. If he would just let Seth in the house and hang around again like the old days I wouldn't have to lie to be with him."

~~*~~

Lia drove up the alley to where Cris's car was. She pulled up behind it and saw Seth lying on the hood of the car. "He looks like he's passed out."

"Probably, he's really smashed."

They got out of the car and walked up to the guys. Cris was sitting in the car. "Hey bro, how's he doing?"

"He calmed down a lot once you said you were coming. I don't know what you did to him, but it messed him up bad. You know he stopped drinking like this. I don't understand what would make him do it," Cris yelled.

"I don't know. Maybe you should know the whole story before you yell at me for getting mad at him."

"He told me what happened. So what if he did that a year ago, Lia. He's with you now. I just don't get it."

"Of course you don't, you're a male. Get away from me right now. I'm still mad at you too for last night."

"Oh yeah, for what? Punching your boyfriend in the face? The boyfriend you broke up with tonight?"

"Broke up with? What are you talking about? I didn't break up with him, I got mad at him. Who told you I broke up with him?"

"I did," Seth slurred. "You wouldn't get in the car. And I told you..."

"Yeah, you told me if I didn't get in to let you know before you leave if I wanted to be with you. That was you, not me. I'm mad at you, but I wasn't breaking up with you."

"Cris, Seth and I are going away for the night. Mom thinks I'm staying as Steph's so if you want to get me in more trouble just tell them where I'm going and who I'm with."

"Where are you going?" Steph asked.

"Better you didn't know, but Cris knows where I'm going," Lia said.

"That cabin's too cold now. You can't go there," Cristofer said.

"I have the sleeping bags and it's only September. It's not like we're living there it's only one night. I sure can't take him home like this," Lia said.

While Lia and her brother were talking Seth slid off the car and staggered over to her. He pulled her to him and whispered, "You didn't break up with me?"

In disgust she pushed him away, "Seth, get in the car, the passenger side, you're not driving."

He couldn't walk a straight line to the car, so Cris helped him get there. "You call me the minute you get there. Do you even know how to drive this car?"

"Yeah, I drove it here didn't I?"

"A few blocks doesn't mean you know how to drive it."

"I know how to drive it, I've been driving it on and off for over a year. I made him show me in case of an emergency. And I do have my license you know."

"But still..."

"Look I drove this car more than any other. I wasn't privileged enough to have Daddy buy me a car," Lia said bitterly.

"I didn't ask for that car, Lia. He came home with it, remember," Cris said as a huge wave of guilt crashed over him.

"Yeah I know, and I probably would have one too if I stop seeing Seth, but you know what I'd rather have Seth than a car."

After they left Steph asked, "What's the problem with your Dad and Seth? It has to be more than him getting caught last summer."

"Yeah it does and I guess I'm at fault for that, too. When Lia and Seth started going out they got caught in her bedroom lying on the bed and it was because I opened my big mouth when my Dad got home. I kinda knew they were fooling around up there. So when my Dad asked where Lia was I told him in her bedroom. He went right up and caught them. I had to get Seth out through my bedroom window before my Dad killed him."

"Wow, why would you do that?"

"I don't know, maybe jealous. It was always Seth and me. We were closer than brothers, but then Lia started hanging out with us, at Seth's insistence. At first it didn't bug me too much, but when they started dating it was like I was losing my brother. I swear I didn't know how much trouble they were in until my Dad found them. Lia didn't talk to me for months. Seth was mad at me because Lia was in trouble. It was a mess for a while. She just started talking to me again but, I think it was because of Seth bugging her to."

"So when Seth got caught stealing that car and had Lia in it, all his feelings toward Seth turned to hate? You and Seth were always together like you said, brothers. So he must have been at your house a lot. How can your Dad just write him off like that?"

"That's my Dad. He's cold hearted, mean, and vindictive. Lia's right about the car. He got me one and won't get her one because of Seth. I stand by her decision to be with Seth, and actually, as messed up as tonight was, it tells me how much Seth loves her, in a messed up kind of way."

"Why, because he got this drunk thinking she broke up with him?"

"Yeah. You don't understand the way he was raised. His Dad is as cold hearted as my Dad in some ways. He had a drinking problem for years, he's been clean for a while, but it took its toll on Seth. Even though they rebuilt that car together, there wasn't much he did with him. He was either working or drinking. Then he lost his job, Seth was afraid he would go back to his drinking, but thank God he didn't."

"Gee I didn't realize he had that hard of a childhood. His Dad always seemed like a nice man."

"Yeah he is. Until he gets drunk, then he's mean. Seth always said he wouldn't be a drunk like his Dad. We drank just to see what it would do, but after he took that car, we both stopped. Until tonight."

"I wonder how he's gonna do with moving to New York?"

"I don't know. If they stay together, probably ok."

"How are they going to see each other? New York is two hours away. I would be so scared if I were Lia, I would be afraid some other girl will wiggle her way in there."

"I wonder if that's Seth problem, thinking the same thing. I know he's liked her since we were little. He would always tell me he was going to marry her."

"That's cute."

"Don't you dare tell anyone what I told you, ever."

"I wouldn't, I feel so sad for them. I could never be away from you, I would miss you too much."

"I know, I feel the same way," he said cuddling her in his arms and kissing the top of her head.

Chapter 4

As Lia drove the 40 miles to the cabin, in the Pocono Mountains, Seth tried to talk to her, but couldn't keep the conversation going. He kept falling asleep, or passing out she didn't know which. She was worried he had too much to drink and might need medical help. She'd have to make that decision once they got to the cabin. If she ever found it in the dark, it was a while since she was there.

The cabin used to be Seth's grandparents before they passed away. His Mom couldn't bear to sell it because of all the childhood memories she had. Right now she was glad so she had a place to take Seth. If only she could find it. She knew she was on the right road, but she kept driving back and forth looking for the driveway to the cabin. She went back to the beginning of the road pulled into a convenience store and went in to get some sodas.

When she came back out of the store, she sat in the driver's seat again. She shook him "Seth you need to wake up."

"Where are we?" he asked groggily, looking around him.

"On the way to your family's cabin, but I can't find the turn off to it. I went up and down the road three times. You need to tell me where to turn off."

"Why... are we going... to the cabin?" he asked still slurring his speech.

Looking at him in disbelief. "You're too drunk to take home. Just help me find the driveway."

He looked around again to see where they were, he said, "Make a right out of here and go about a mile up the road. Then make a left. I'll tell you where."

Pulling out of the parking lot she made a right and drove for about a mile when Seth said, "Turn left onto Humming Bird Lane. It's about half a mile then you'll have to turn right into the drive way. Go slow so you don't miss it."

"Okay, I forgot about Humming Bird Lane."

"Turn here. You drove my car all the way here?"

"Yep," she said as she pulled to a stop next to the cabin. "It's not locked is it?"

"Yeah, but luckily I have a key to it in the glove compartment. When we came up here to winterize it last week I never gave the key back to my Mom."

As he looked for the key Lia got out and opened the trunk and started taking out all the stuff she threw in there. Seth stumbled back to see what she was doing. "When did you get all that stuff?"

"After Steph picked me up we went by my house to get it. While I was there my Mom came home, but luckily I had everything in the trunk before she got there. She thinks I'm staying at Steph's house."

"Great we get caught your parents will kill me. Not like I'm their favorite person to begin with," Seth groaned.

"We won't get caught if we leave early," Lia said. "You needed somewhere to sleep it off. Let's get this stuff inside. Cris was right it's cold up here."

"Don't worry Babe I'll keep you warm," he said as he hugged her from behind and nuzzled her neck.

"Yeah and I wonder where that would lead," she said giggling. "Come on let's get inside."

Seth couldn't unlock the door. Lia took the key from him. Opening the door she led them in, everything was covered with sheets so the furniture wouldn't get dusty sitting for the winter.

"We turned the water off for the winter, but I can turn it back on give me a minute," Seth slurred, and stood there swaying for a minute and plopped down on the couch.

"Just tell me where it is and what I have to do. I don't think you're in any shape to do it."

"I can do it Lia," he said annoyed. "I might have had too much to drink, but I'm capable of turning the water back on."

"Ok," Lia replied turning to go into the bedroom, she put the sleeping bags on top of the sheets, side by side on the queen bed and then went back outside to get the pillows and the rest of the stuff out of the trunk. It took two trips and when she went back in the bedroom Seth was zipping the sleeping bags together to make one big one.

"What are you doing?"

"It's cold Lia we'll be warmer being in one sleeping bag," Seth replied.

"It's not that cold Seth, but whatever."

"You still mad at me?" he questioned.

"It's not that I was mad at you, I was hurt and still am. I never broke up with you. I don't know where that came from. You have to understand where I'm coming from on this. I didn't understand at the time why you didn't want to be with me. Why you stop coming over, you stopped calling me, and you avoided me. I was so scared I'd never be with you again. And I wasn't the one to cause it. I didn't deserve you ignoring me. Yeah ok I knew you were drunk, and I probably shouldn't have got in the car with you, but I did and I knew what I was doing. It wasn't fair that everyone took it all out on you. But it hurt when I found out you chose to stay away from me."

"But..."

"Let me finish, I know you didn't want to go to jail, or more correctly juvie, and I didn't want that either, but you let my Dad push you away. I felt like you were looking for a way out and jumped at the chance."

"No!!" he yelled. "I didn't feel like I was good enough for you. All my parents did was scream at me that I drug you down with me and how could I do that to you. Then your Dad started in on me, then the cops, everyone. I really believed you would be better off without me. They had me believing that, and I was so stressed out about it all when he said he would talk to Mr. Simons I guess I went with it to keep you safe from me. I don't know what I was doing at the time. Your brother and I were drinking so much back then; you know that, and I was probably going though withdrawal or something. I stopped drinking right then and there."

"I would go through bouts of shaking, anger, and depression. When the depression hit was when I would listen to what everyone was telling me, that I was not good enough for you. It was at one of those times your Dad came to me. Telling me he would talk to Mr. Simon's and get us out of trouble, but I had to stay away from you. I agreed for the main reason to get you out of trouble."

"I guess I never thought of you going through withdrawal. I wasn't around you for a month after it so I didn't see you go through it, but damn it, Seth I would have been there for you! I yelled, screamed, threw tantrums; I didn't speak to my parents during that time. I knew my Dad did something, but didn't know what. Cris wouldn't help me, either."

"He knew what was going on, we talked, he didn't agree with me. He knew you would help me even if it was just to be there. He's the reason I finally went to meet you that first time. I was so scared of what you were going to say to me. I thought you were going to yell at me, scream at me or something close to it. You didn't, you sat there crying, and it ripped me apart inside. I swear I never wanted to hurt you! Not then and not now. I know I should have come clean about it all sooner, but I wanted to wipe the slate clean. I wanted to forget about it completely. It was the worst time of my life."

"I love you, Seth. Nothing is ever gonna change that," she said walking over to him and sitting on his lap.

He wrapped his arms around her, kissed her. "I love you, too. Since the first day I met you, I think."

"Seth you moved into town when I was like four years old."

"I know. And I would always ask my Mom to go play with you and your brother. Then when we got to be eight or nine was when I started bugging your brother to have you tag along. I don't think I ever thought about a time without you. You were always with me."

"Oh Seth, how are we gonna survive being apart?" she said all choked up and started crying again.

Groaning loudly he said, "Babe, don't cry, it really drives me crazy. I'm helpless to change it; I'm not eighteen yet so I can't tell them I'm staying here. I'll make you a promise right here and now, we will be together always, and we'll see each other often. We have to look at it, as it is only a few months apart."

"And I promise also, we'll be together forever. Somehow I'll get to see you."

"Let's get some sleep, Babe. I'm dead on my feet here," Seth said pushing her off his lap. When he stood up he swayed and stumbled toward the bedroom.

"More like you're still drunk," Lia scolded. "I don't ever want to hear about you drinking again. You can't get into anymore trouble or we'll never see each other."

"Babe I'll always find a way to see you."

"Not if you're dead. You were so stupid drinking and driving tonight."

"I had to find you!"

"That might be so, but you didn't have to drink."

"I thought you were breaking up with me, so I went to a party and started drinking to get rid of the pain. It didn't work the pain just got worse."

"That's what happens when you drink. Make me another promise."

"Anything."

"No more alcohol."

"Fine."

"Maybe you need to go back to those meetings."

"We'll see. I didn't have a problem for over a year."

"But there's so much stress in your life now. I just worry about you."

"Come on lay down with me. Stop worrying nothing will happen, unless we're caught tonight."

Wide eyed she turned to him, "Oh my God, Seth, where are you supposed to be tonight? What did you tell your Mom?"

"About the party as Zak's house and I was staying there."

"Oh ok," she said relaxing. "I just remembered that we would have to make up a story for you. Thank God we don't, I really hate lying."

They both got in the sleeping bags and snuggled close, "This feels so good holding you in my arms," Seth said before he passed out and Lia fell asleep soon after.

~~*~~

The next morning Lia woke up to Seth kissing her neck and rubbing her back and shoulders. "Mmm, that feels so good, Babe," she moaned.

"You feel so good to me. Sorry I passed out last night. I'll make it up to you, today," he said kissing her. "I want you so bad, it hurts."

"Do you have any condoms? I didn't bring any," she questioned.

"Let me look," he said picking up his wallet. In the one compartment he found one. He had a big grin on his face as he pulled it out. He pulled her close, kissed her as his hands roamed all over her. He kissed down her neck, down her shoulder, she was left breathless.

The explosion of desire that ripped through her left her feeling shaky, she stated pulling him to her. She never felt anything like this. It was like she would see fireworks. Her love for Seth grew deeper.

They collapsed on the bed together, neither moved a muscle for a few minutes. Seth held her tightly to him and kissed the top of her head as Lia kissed his neck, "God, Babe," he whispered.

She snuggled as close to him as she could. "I love you."

"Let's stay here all day," he suggested.

"I wish we could, but I have to get back home before my parents start looking for me."

"Call them and tell them we're coming up here for the day to walk the trails before I have to leave. That I'll come pick you up," he said.

"Yeah ok, but what if they want me home right away?"

"Then think of something that will stall them for about fifteen, twenty minutes."

"Fifteen minutes, it takes longer than that to get home!" she said.

"Not with me driving," Seth stated.

"Just what we'd need a speeding ticket on the way home," Lia sighed. "What time is it anyway?"

Looking at his watch, "Seven," he said.

"Seven? Ugh I want to go back to sleep. I'm so exhausted."

"All you ever want to do is sleep. Every since I met you," Seth laughed. "Go back to sleep for a while. I'll wake you then you can call your Mom."

"No, I'll call now and leave a message. It's Sunday they're still sleeping," Lia said.

"Ok, it's up to you, but don't get in anymore trouble because of me."

"I don't care. In two weeks I won't get to see you anymore so if I'm grounded it won't be a big deal after you leave," she said getting her cell phone. She called the home phone and got the answering machine, "Mom, Seth and I are going to his grandparent's cabin to hike the trails, we'll be back later tonight. Love ya. Oh call me if you need me." She left a similar message on her mom's cell phone.

She snuggled down next to Seth putting her head on his chest and wrapping her legs around him she hugged him tight. Laying there for a few moments in the comfort of his arms, feeling safe and protected she fell asleep.

Both slept for about an hour when Seth woke up with a start. He thought he heard a car pull onto the property. He sat up in bed and listened. Yep, definitely a car. He jumped out of bed pulling on his jeans and socks at the same time. Rushing to the bedroom door he was struggling to get his t-shirt back on.

"What's wrong?" Lia asked groggily.

"Someone's here," He replied. "Get dressed while I see who it is and close the bedroom door. Be in the living room and act like we just got here."

"Why?"

"Just do it, ok," he grunted as he opened the outside door and stepped out.

Quickly she shot out of bed and put on her jeans. She looked at the bed and ripped the sleeping bags off and stuffed them under the bed. She slipped her shirt over her head at the same time slipping her feet into her shoes.

She shut the bedroom door as she heard yelling coming from outside. It was Seth's Dad.

Chapter 5

"Thank God, it's not my Dad," Lia whispered to herself. Looking for a brush in her purse and ripped it through her hair before she went outside.

She heard his Dad yelling, "We had no idea where you were! You were gone all night! Thanks to Cris I knew where you were. Your Mother is worried sick!"

"Yeah, but you're not," Seth retaliated. "I told her I was staying at Zak's house."

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here!"

"You're only here because of Mom, not that you really care," Seth stated.

Lia was watching out the window for a few seconds before she opened the door, walking out she said, "Hi Mr. Rosetti."

"Seth are you crazy having Lia up here with no supervision. Her father will have a fit," Mr. Rosetti exploded.

"I called my Mom and left a message a little while ago to let her know we were coming up here this morning," she said meekly knowing it wouldn't make much of a difference to Seth's dad.

"But you didn't talk to her. Big difference there, Lia. I like you really I do and your good for Seth, but I don't want him in anymore trouble with your Dad. If he knew you were here in a secluded area with no one else around, God I hate to think what he'd do," Mr. Rosetti said one step down from yelling.

"Dad look we're gonna spend the day here, hiking the trails, you know Lia loves doing that. Then I'm gonna take her out for dinner then we'll be home. Just give us that since you're making me move. By the way Dad, we're going to spend the next two weeks together as much as we can. Mom knew where I was last night, and you could have called my cell phone," Seth tried to reason.

"We did, but it's off," Mr. Rosetti stated.

"No it's not," Seth said reaching for it off his belt. Pulling it out he looked at it, "Shit I forgot to charge it, it's dead."

"Yeah real good way for us to get a hold of you," Mr. Rosetti stated sarcastically.

"Dad, just go home. You know we're here and I'm fine so you can report back to Mom, I'm alive and well."

"Make sure you turn the water back off," he said walking toward Seth he then whispered. "Make sure you use protection I don't want any grandkids running around."

"Yeah sure Dad," he replied.

"Bye Lia, stay out of trouble on the trials. And Seth before you go hiking make sure that phone is charged, yours too Lia."

"Ok, Mr. Rosetti, bye." Lia mumbled.

After Seth's Dad left Lia said, "We better go home, Seth. I don't want trouble with you and your Dad too."

"Naw, he's just mad that my Mom made him come up here. He's not really upset that we're here. Just that I didn't call last night, putting my Mom in one of her freak out episodes. You know how she gets."

"How do you know he's not upset? He sure seemed it to me."

"If he was he would have went through the cabin and found the sleeping bags on the bed and knew we spent the night here. He doesn't want to know."

"What did he whisper to you?"

"Make sure we use protection he doesn't want any grandkids running around," he repeated what his Dad said.

"Oh."

Seth came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck and ear, "Let's go back to bed, Babe."

Turning in his arms she kissed him with as much passion as she could. They stumbled into the cabin wrapped around each other. They stopped by the couch and he laid her on it with him coming down with her.

After about an hour later, "Seth, get dressed I want to go hike the trails."

"Now, I'm exhausted. Why don't we stay here all day, just like we are?"

"No, I want to go hiking, then we can come back and take care of your horny self," she said and she slid her body up his.

"If you keep that up we're going nowhere," Seth groaned.

"I'm getting dressed and going outside, meet me there when you're ready," Lia said getting up off him.

As she shrugged into her jeans he laid there watching her, "You are so beautiful," he said pulling her to him as she was only half dressed.

"So are you," she mumbled as he kissed her.

Pushing herself up and away from him, "We should go hiking," she said reluctantly pulling her shirt on.

She started towards the door when he pulled her back, "You're sure you want to go?"

"I think we better, Seth."

"Ok give me a sec to get dressed."

She walked out the door and sat on the porch steps looking out over the yard. She started wondering how she was going to be able to live without seeing him every day. She was getting herself depressed. Seth stepped out the door and looked at Lia, he sensed something was wrong. He sat down next to her, "What's wrong?"

She didn't speak she couldn't. Too afraid that the tears would start flowing and she didn't want to make him feel worse.

"Babe, tell me what's wrong."

"I can't," she choked.

"I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"You can't do anything about it anyway. Come on the trails are waiting."

He got up reluctantly pulled her up and saw the tears in her eyes ready to spill over. "Ugh, Babe don't cry, we'll work it out somehow. I can come see you on the weekends. I know it's not what we're used to, but it's better than nothing."

"Why is he making you go?"

"I'm not eighteen yet, so he won't leave me here. He thinks I'll get into too much trouble, besides there's nowhere for me to live here. Let's take these last two weeks and spend as much time as we can together. I promise you we'll stay together forever."

Depression descended on her like a dark gray fog, "You'll meet someone else at your new school, and you'll forget about me," she whined.

"I'll never forget about you, just like you'll never forget about me. Come on the trails await us," he said, trying to get her out of the mood she was in.

They took off down the trail walking hand in hand. Lia didn't see much around her for at least fifteen minutes. She wallowed in her sorrow and pain. Once Seth started pointing out all the plants and trees she slowly got out of her funk.

"Look I don't think you have this for your plant collection," Seth said.

She looked down at the plant Seth was referring to and then back up to his face. "That's because it's poison ivy," Lia retorted with a snicker.

Smiling with a mischievous grin he said, "Yeah, I know just checking to see if you came back to me, and not still in your own world of misery."

"You make it seem like I shouldn't be miserable, because the guy I love is leaving me."

"I'm not saying that. I just want the last two weeks to be happy and not miserable," he declared.

Trying to smile, she said, "You're right, sorry." Changing the subject she said, "I need to bring back more ferns for the back yard."

"Lia, I didn't bring a shovel with us," Seth laughed and groaned at the same time.

"I know that. I have plastic bags and we can just pull out some of the baby ones and I'll grow them inside till they get bigger."

"Ok they grow over there a little way," he said pulling her in the direction of the fern patch he remembered growing not too far from where they were.

"It rained not too long ago so it shouldn't be too hard for us to pull a few out. Remember to keep some of the dirt around them."

"Babe, I know, you have me do this every time where here," Seth groaned.

Two hours later they were back at the cabin with overflowing bags of ferns. Looking at them he laughed, "I thought you said a few, thirty some plants don't equal up to a few."

"Yeah got carried away here," she laughed. "I'm gonna take a shower I have mud all over me."

"Can I take it with you?" he teased.

"No."

"Not fair, I had to look at you all day and now you won't let me take a shower with you," he kept teasing her.

She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. She turned on the hot water right away to warm up. The cold and dampness settled in her and she didn't think she would even get warm. Stepping into the shower, it felt like heaven. As she stood with the water running down her she gave in, and her tears ran with the water.

The agony she felt hit her so hard and fast she sunk to her knees on the shower floor. "Seth how am I going to live without you?" she cried.

He heard the water finally shut off and yelled through the door, "I have your clothes out here. Babe how are you gonna get them?"

She didn't think of that before she ran into the bathroom. "Give them to me Seth."

"Nope, you'll just have to come out in your towel to get them."

She put her dirty clothes on to go out and get them. If she went out in her towel they would never get ready to go out to eat and she was starving.

When she came out in her dirty clothes he was disappointed, "I was hoping the towel look would be in fashion here." He took one look at her and knew she had been crying. Feeling the same agony she did he wrapped his arms around her and holding her tight. "Were you crying the whole time you were in there?"

"No," she lied, holding on to him as tightly as he was holding her. "Go take your shower, Seth," she said. Just then her cell phone rang. Sighing, she picked it up; seeing it was her Mom.

Dreading the call she told him, "It's my Mom; go take your shower, Babe."

"No I want to hear what she says," hoping she wasn't in trouble over him again.

"Be quiet then," she whispered and answered the phone. "Hi Mom, what's up?" she answered with a false cheer in her voice.

"When are you coming home? Your Dad's having a fit here knowing you're up there with Seth alone."

Exasperatedly she said, "Mom we went hiking, I got a bunch of ferns to grow in doors over the winter. We're going out to eat in a little bit, then we'll be home. Ok?"

"Yes, but not too late."

"Ok Mom," she said listlessly as she hung up the phone.

"What did she want?" Seth asked concern in his voice.

"When I'm coming home, Dad's having a fit. I told her after we eat."

"I'll go get a shower then we can leave," Seth said.

"Ok"

While Seth was in the shower she went to change into her clean clothes, but she didn't make it there, she took another shower.

~~*~~

They finally left to go to the restaurant two hours later. In the car on the way there, they were both silent, until she broke it, "Seth we have to use protection every time. It really wasn't smart of either of us to not use something."

"I know, you're right," he said pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant. "We're here and I'm starving."

"So am I, but I mean it, Seth. We have to be careful from now on."

"You're right," he replied grabbing her hand as they walked to the front door. Part of him wanted her to get pregnant then his parents couldn't separate them, but he knew at their age it was a stupid idea.

They walked into the Hi-Way Restaurant it was like any other road side restaurant. A counter ran the length of it with stools in front. On the other side of the room were booths and in the other room was the dining room with tables. That's where Seth and Lia sat at the table in the back to have some privacy. Every time they come up here they eat at the Hi-Way it has the best food.

The waitress came to take their order, Seth got the NY strip steak, and Lia got broiled haddock, both ordered salads and baked potatoes. Once the waitress left he took her hand in his and rested it on the table. Absently he rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand.

"What's going on in that mind of yours?" she asked.

"Our future," he mumbled.

"What about it?" she asked shakily.

"Trying to figure out how we can see each other more often than just the weekends. The trip will take an hour and half each way, that's just too long to make after school, but I can probably do it on days off, and holidays. If you get a car you can make the trip up to New York. Maybe you should tell your Dad you broke up with me so he'll buy you a car."

"Yeah that'll work, telling him I broke up with you so he gets me a car and then using it to go see you. Sometimes you don't use your head," she laughed. "Besides I'll never break up with you."

"I was just joking," he said as the waitress brought their food.

Lia took a bite of her food, "Hmm, this is so good."

"How can you eat that? I can't stand fish."

"Just because you don't like doesn't mean I can't eat it. I love fish, besides it won't clog my arteries like your steak."

"My arteries are fine and steak is so much better tasting," he teased her.

They finished their meal and started home, "I don't want to go home, Seth. I want to stay with you."

"I know, Babe, it won't be that long that I'm away. We'll spend the rest of our lives together."

"What do you mean?" she asked snapping her head in his direction.

"When we're ready, Babe I want to marry you."

"You really mean that this time don't you."

"Yeah I do, I always did," he said smiling at her.

She sat back in the seat of the car and the rest of the way home she daydreamed about their wedding.

Chapter 6

They pulled up outside her house. Seth parked on the street; he didn't dare pull into the driveway. Every time he did Lia's Dad came out screaming at him to leave. He put the car in park and pulled Lia close and whispered in her ear, "I had the best day ever."

"Same here. I'll remember it always, especially when were apart. It'll keep me going till I see you again," she replied.

Seeing her Dad at the window, "You better go in we're being glared at," Seth grumbled. He was sick and tired of her Dad's attitude toward him. He could never tell Lia how he felt, but it was a big problem for him.

Snuggling closer to him, "I don't care. We're not doing anything wrong, we're just talking."

"Hmmm, Babe I can't keep this to just talking you feel so good to me. Maybe you should go in and take a shower. Or maybe I should go home and take a cold shower and come back," he said.

"I don't think I'm gonna be able to go anywhere the rest of the day since I was gone with you for most of it."

"It's only 6:30 and we're not going anywhere, we'll just hang out here."

"Seth you never want to hang out here because of my Dad. Why now?"

"You want us to spend as much time together the next two weeks, and if that means I have to come here I will." He wasn't real thrilled with hanging out here; he was doing it to make her happy. He hoped she realizes what lengths he would go to, to make her happy.

As he was thinking it she said, "I don't want you to be miserable sitting here."

"I won't be, don't worry about it. Let's get these plants out of my car. I'm gonna have to clean it out. You got dirt all over it."

"I'm not the one who dumped the bags putting them into the car, and I'm not the one who drove like a maniac making them fall over."

"I don't drive like a manic."

"Yeah you do bro," Cris said walking up behind them.

Seth turned to Cris and clasped his hand and pulled him toward him giving him a hug and said, "You're to stick up for me, not agree with her."

"I call it like I see it," Cris said grinning.

"Yeah well Cris you don't drive much better," Lia teased back. She was always on the defensive when it came to Seth, no matter who it is.

"Then don't ask me to take you anywhere once Seth's gone if I drive so bad," Cris teased back. He regretted saying it once it left his mouth. Especially when he saw his sister's face

Seth winced and so did Lia, "Just shut up and take these in the house," Lia retorted.

~~*~~

"See, they really did go to the cabin to walk the trails," Mrs. Lombardi said glaring at her husband. "You always blow everything out of proportion.

"Yeah I guess you're right," Mr. Lombardi said grumpily as he kept watching them thru the window.

"Leave them be. They're not doing anything."

"I don't trust him with her. He already got her in enough trouble already. And if I ever find out he's drinking again she'll never see him. I'll make sure of that!" he bellowed.

"Stop it; you're just making your blood pressure go up. There's no way you'll ever break those two up. The more you try to make her the more she'll stay with him. Deep down you know he's not a bad kid really. I don't think he's bad for her. He made a mistake and so did she, you've made plenty in your own time," she stated.

"It's not the same," he retorted.

"Yeah it's not, because it's your daughter now. Right? Just give them a break, he's leaving soon and it'll be hard enough on her without you harassing her all the time. And you know you should give her a car like you did Cristofer. It's not right giving him one and not her, just because she won't stop seeing Seth."

"I'd try anything and I really thought it would work," he mumbled.

"Well it didn't so you better think again. And get away from that stupid window."

~~*~~

"My Dad's away from the window. Cris, would you please put the sleeping bags back in the garage before Dad comes back? All I need is for him to notice they're missing."

"Yeah, Yeah. I'm getting there," Cris muttered.

"Well if I do it and get caught I'll be grounded. You don't want that to happen do you?" Lia muttered.

"No, I'm not putting up with you being miserable. You always take it out on me," he replied.

Seth walked up and put his arm around her shoulder, "Don't be too hard on him once I'm gone."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"When you're mad or miserable you take everything out on him. He takes it because he feels guilty how your Dad treats the two of you differently. Just cut him some slack that's all I'm asking."

Turning to him she looked into his eyes. She just stared at him for a moment, "You're serious aren't you? I never wanted him to feel guilty. I want my Dad to feel that, but not Cris"

"He knows that, that's why he takes it without complaining," Seth said softly kissing the top of her head.

"Wow. Now I feel terrible I didn't know I did that to him," she said miserably.

"Yeah you do," Cris said walking up behind her.

"No I didn't!" she yelled going after her brother, but Seth held her back.

"Babe, stop it. I need to go home and let my Mom know I'm home, but I don't want to leave knowing you two are fighting."

"You can go I won't kill him today," she replied laughing.

"Good, give me a kiss I'm leaving. I'll be back in an hour or so," he said.

"I don't want you to go," she said hanging onto him.

"I have to and I don't think your parents will let you go with me."

"Let's go in and ask," Lia suggested.

"Ugh, ok if you want," Seth replied.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him up the driveway toward the back door. He reluctantly went with her. Opening the door she yelled, "Mom where are you?"

"In the dining room, dear," she replied looking up from a pile of papers scattered all over the table.

They walked through the kitchen to the dining room. "Hi Mom what ya doing?"

"Writing out the bills. What's up? Hi Seth, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Lombardi," he replied.

"Nothing we had a great time in the Poconos. I brought back some more ferns. They're baby ones so I have to bring them in to grow through the winter. Do we have any potting soil?"

"More ferns?" her mom asked sighing. "Where are you putting them?"

"In the back yard, where the ferns didn't grow last year."

"The potting soil is in the garage along with the pots."

"Ok I'll get them, but can I go to Seth's first?"

"You've been gone all night and most of today. Don't you think it's time you stayed home?"

"We'll be back soon. Seth just wants to take a shower and check in with his parents. Please Mom."

"Ok don't be too long you have school tomorrow."

"We're going to hang out here tonight. We should only be gone about an hour," Seth said.

"That's fine. You going to take care of those plants when you get back?" her Mom asked.

"Yeah we'll do it in the garage so we don't make a mess in the house," Lia said. "Bye Mom see ya in a little bit."

"Okay."

When they were in Seth's car Lia said, "See we asked and I could go with you."

"Yeah I didn't think they'd let you go."

~~*~~

They got out of the car at Seth's house and his Dad was working on his car in the driveway. "Hi Lia. Seth." Mr. Rossini greeted them.

"Hi Mr. Rossini how's the car?" Lia asked concern in her voice.

"Good, good, just getting it all ready for the trip. Making sure all the hoses and belts are good," he replied.

"Great," Seth murmured.

"What was that Seth?" Mr. Rossini asked

"Nothing. Where's Mom?"

"In the house," he replied.

"Come on Lia I want to grab some thing before we go back to your house," Seth said.

"You're going to Lia's house?"

"Yeah Dad, she can't be gone long and we want to hang out."

"Not a real good idea for you to be there too long."

"Don't worry Mr. Rossini my Mom's home she'll keep my Dad away from us," Lia said gloomily.

"Dad knock it off! Don't make her feel any worse!" Seth snarled.

"I'm not trying to make her feel worse just stating a fact. You know her Dad doesn't like you," Mr. Rossini said.

"Dad we all know that, but it doesn't change a thing between us," Seth reiterated again. "Let's go in Lia."

~~*~~

As they walked in Lia was in a solemn mood and Seth picked up on it right away. "Hey Babe don't think about what my Dad said. It's nothing that any of us haven't known for a while."

"I know, but I'm tired of fighting everyone," she muttered.

"What does that mean?" Seth questioned.

"It means that I tired of fighting for us to be together all the time. I love you and I will fight for us forever if I have to, but I'm tired of it. We have so little time and all we'll do is fight, my Dad and your Dad so we can be together."

"I thought you wanted to break up for a second," Seth said.

"Alright, Seth what's up with you? You keep thinking we're breaking up. Is that what you want deep down? Do you want to be free and clear of any attachments when you start your new school?" Lia demanded.

"When my Dad told me we were moving the first thing that went through my mind was that you would break it off, not wanting a boyfriend living so far away. And when I told him I wasn't moving, I wasn't going to lose you. He told me I was moving because I wasn't old enough and he didn't want me in anymore trouble. Then he said if she loves you she'll be there for you after you graduate. Is that true? Are you gonna wait for me? I need to know."

She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him, "Seth, of course, I'll wait for you. That's not my fear. I'm terrified you won't want to come back to me. You'll find another girl or girls to replace me. Last night I dreamt that you found someone else, but didn't have the guts to tell me and you never did. I found out on my own. It was the most frightening of nightmares I ever had. I woke up in a cold sweat just thinking about it. It's not me you have to worry about. I have to worry about the girls at your new school."

He walked up to her and stood inches from her looking directly into her eyes, "No, you won't. We have been through hell and back and I won't give you up for anyone," he said.

"I hope not, but I'm still worried."

"Don't be I'll always be there for you. I'll always love you," he said bending down to kiss her.

Chapter 7

When they went back to school on Monday it was all over that Seth was moving in two weeks. When Lia walked into homeroom everyone stopped talking and looked at her. At first she stood there a second and wondered what she did. Being in a homeroom full of cheerleaders you never know what faux pas you could have done to make them talk about you behind your back.

"What's going on? What did I do now?" Lia asked.

"Not you, your boyfriend, he's our best player and now he's moving away. What's that going to do to the football team?" Courtney Schale, the cheerleading captain said. She was the typical cheerleader with blonde hair, perky little nose, and slender figure with ample breasts. "Looks like our winning season, is out the door."

"First off he's is not the only one on the team that's good. Most of them on it are good. Second he has no choice in the matter. Third, why is it any of your business?" Lia retorted.

"Why are you getting down on Lia, she's one of us and we are suppose to stick together," said Tina Paulson, a pretty brunette with curly hair, stunning green eyes, "You need to back off Courtney."

"I don't have to back off. Ever since she got on the squad, the squad has gone downhill," Courtney replied. "Now her boyfriend is leaving us high and dry for the rest of the season."

"You need to knock it off. And if you don't like the squad anymore you know where the door is," Tina, who was one of Lia's true friends on the squad, replied.

"She needs to go not me! I'm the captain!" Courtney shouted.

"I'm not going anywhere. It's not my fault that he's leaving, but if you want to blame me fine. I'm really sick of you, Courtney and all the trouble you cause. The only reason you don't like me is because I have Seth and you don't. Well too bad! We will never break up! So deal with it," Lia stated with more confidence than she actually felt.

"You little bitch," Courtney started toward Lia, but was blocked by most of the squad.

"I'm beginning to think voting you in as captain, of our squad, was a mistake," Tasha Richardson said. Tasha was also a good friend of Lia's. She was the most beautiful girl on the squad. She was tall and skinny, with olive colored skin, light brown eyes that could look right through you. But it wasn't only her appearance that made her so beautiful it was her personality. She always stuck up for the underdog, and went to bat for anyone who needed it. And she was not about to let Lia be blamed for something that was not her fault.

"You need to back off," another girl said with a lot more of the squad agreeing.

"You wait, Lia, I'll get you for this," Courtney said through clenched teeth.

"I don't think so, Courtney. You won't get her for anything," Seth said standing at the doorway of the homeroom.

"Oh and what are you gonna do Seth? You won't be here to protect her," Courtney snickered.

"No, but I will be," Cris roared as he stepped into the room. "Let me hear one thing, Courtney and you won't know what hit you. Leave my sister alone."

"Don't worry she won't do anything, we'll make sure of that!" Tasha stated. "I fact I think we need to rethink who our captain is. Don't we girls?" Tasha asked.

"Yeah we do," Tina replied.

"No don't do that. Just forget it," Lia said. "I'm not worried about what Courtney thinks anyway."

"Well you should be," Courtney replied.

"I would have let it go at Lia's request, but you had to open your mouth Courtney. I don't want you as my captain any longer and we'll see what we can do about it." Tasha replied.

The bell rang and Mrs. Smytheson, their homeroom teacher and advisor for the cheerleaders came walking in. "Boys don't you need to be in homeroom?" she asked.

"Yeah going there now, Mrs. Smytheson," Cris replied. "Lia you let me know what goes on."

"Ok just go now. Seth I'll see you at lunch," she said gloomily.

~~*~~

Lia and Seth were sitting at their normal table in the cafeteria when he asked, "What was that all about this morning? Why was Courtney ready to bit your head off?"

"She's mad you're leaving. She said that thanks to you our football team won't win another game since you're moving."

"And what does that have to do with you? The team this year is good with or without me. My being gone isn't going to change that."

"I know and I told her that. But then I said something that really pissed her off," she smiled remembering the shocked and angry look on Courtney's face

A few minutes went by and Lia didn't say anything more. "Lia are you going to tell me what you said to her?" he asked.

Smiling Lia said, "I told her that she was mad because I had you and we are never breaking up."

Seth laughed. "Good one. I don't know why I ever took her out at all."

"To make me mad."

"We weren't even going out then," Seth replied.

"Oh I know that, but I wanted you back then and you knew it," Lia said moving closer to him.

"Babe if you come any closer we'll be in a lot of trouble here," Seth said looking into her eyes with so much hunger.

"Get a room," Cris said across the table. Both Seth and Lia looked at him. "Oh forget I said that to my younger sister."

They all laughed.

~~*~

The rest of the week went by without a comment from Courtney, except for the glares she kept throwing her way. That was up till Thursday when they were in homeroom and Mrs. Smytheson announced, "Seems like we have a problem on this squad. Almost half of the girls came to me and asked if we can have a re-vote for the captain of the squad. Now I told them that they voted in the captain and that stays until the end of the year, but since they all told me they were going to quit unless they were able to re-vote I had to take them seriously. Now I don't know what exactly transpired here this week. I talked to each one of them individually and I don't like what I heard. I also spoke with your captain. She knows what I'm going to say."

"Mrs. Smytheson can I say something?" Lia asked.

"Yes."

"I didn't ask for this and I don't want this to happen. I agree we voted her in and it should stay that way. What happens between us, we have to work out. I don't want to be the cause of this," Lia said.

"Lia you're not the cause of this, she is," Tasha said.

"Ok now girls we're not getting into this discussion now. I'm sorry Lia, but the re-vote has to take place and if you still want Courtney as your captain then she will be. Now remember the only requirement is she has to be a senior. Write down the name of the person you want to be your captain and put it in the box on my desk by the end of homeroom."

Everyone put their votes in the box right away except Lia. She didn't know what to do, should she put in who she really wants, or put in Courtney? She was thinking not to put one in, but then everyone would see that she didn't put one in. She decided, folded up her paper, and as the bell rang she put it in the box and then walked out of the room.

"Who did you vote for?" Tina asked as they walked down the hall.

"It's to be a secret remember?" Lia replied evasively.

"Oh come on. Tell me I won't tell anyone," Tina said.

"Oh ok I didn't put anyone. The paper I put in was blank. I didn't feel right outing anyone. I feel like it's all my fault. I don't think I should have voted," Lia replied.

"It's not your fault and you know it," Tina replied.

"Yeah, I know, but I didn't have to spout what I did to anger her further. I know Courtney, and I should have just ignored her. Instead I stooped to her level and inflamed the situation more. Don't get me wrong it felt good at the time, but now look where we are," gloomily she replied.

"Well if she wouldn't have pushed it so hard. Like this is your fault, Seth's moving away. And you were right there are other guys on the team just as good as Seth. I think you hit it right on the nail. She thought she would get Seth away from you and she would go out with him. But now she won't have that chance with him moving away."

"Seth and I talked about it and he would never go out with her. He regretted taking her to the movies a few years back." Lia said.

"Well I guess we'll see tomorrow who the captain is going to be," Tina said.

"Hey who did you vote for?" Lia asked.

"Tasha."

"Good choice," Lia said.

~~*~~

The next morning in homeroom everyone was there including Courtney. She was quiet and didn't speak to anyone. She sat there glaring at everyone.

Mrs. Smytheson was sitting at her desk and when the bell rang she stood and announced, "The re-vote was interesting and the person who won did it by two votes. And the captain is Tasha."

"Yeah!!!!!!!!!" the girls yelled.

"Now girls quite down. Since Tasha was the assistant captain we have to replace her and the new assistant captain is Lia."

"But I thought you had to be a senior!" Courtney demanded.

"No not for the assistant captain," Mrs. Smytheson said. "I am the one to appoint a new assistant captain as our original one is going to be captain now."

"Ugh," Courtney said in a huff and sat gloomily in her seat with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Congratulations girls. Now since that is settled I want you all to report tonight a half hour earlier at 5:30 since it's an away game. We'll go over everything once we get to the game. Tasha and Lia I need to talk to you before the bell rings."

~~*~~

At lunch Seth and Lia were sitting at their table when Courtney walked up. "You think you won this, but you didn't. I will get you in the end."

"Try it Courtney. I don't really care what you say or do," Lia replied.

"Oh you think just because you made assistant captain that your all that? Well you're not," Courtney replied.

Before Lia could replied Seth cut her off, "You made assistant captain and you didn't tell me. That's great!" Then he stood up and yelled down the table to everyone, "Hey guys Lia made assistant cheerleading captain."

Everyone at the table was cheering and congratulation her. Seth looked at Courtney and gave her a sarcastic smirked, "Told you not to mess with her," Seth said to Courtney.

Courtney shrieked, stomped her foot at the same time, turned and flew out of the cafeteria.

"You really didn't have to tick her off anymore," Lia said.

"Don't care about her. Why didn't you tell me right away that you are the assistant captain?"

"Didn't have time. I was gonna tell you when she came up."

"You don't seem too happy with it," he said. He could read between the lines with her and knew something was wrong.

"Seth, I didn't vote yesterday. I put in a blank piece of paper. I didn't want the squad voting again. I just wanted it to stay the way it was. Now once you're gone I'll have to put up with her."

"Well it's still something to celebrate about." he said giving her a hug.

One of the football players said, "Hey let's celebrate at the party tonight after the game. We'll celebrate you and Tasha getting captain."

"Sounds good to me," Lia said.

Nothing else happened the rest of the day at school. She went home and told her Mom, "Hey Mom I made assistant captain," she said gloomily, thinking about all the trouble Courtney can cause.

"Really that's wonderful, but I thought you guys already picked the captains this summer?"

"We did, but Courtney had said some things in homeroom that really ticked of the other girls and they wanted a re-vote. So Mrs. Smytheson let them."

"I'm surprised she let them. You know if someone says something they don't like they need to suck it up and work through it. They can't go through life expecting everything their own way all the time."

"Yeah we know Mom and the only reason she let us was because over half the squad was going to quit. So she couldn't ignore it and had to investigate what happened."

"What happened? Courtney was after you again wasn't she?"

"Yep, but don't worry I handled it. It wasn't my idea about the re-vote either. In fact I put in a blank piece of paper."

"You ok about all this? You know it'll anger her even more," Mrs. Lombardi questioned gently.

"I'll handle whatever comes my way with her, I guess," she replied.

Chapter 8

Seth picked Lia up and drove to the school for the game. They walked up to the school. There was some kind of commotion going on. "Is it a fight Seth?" Lia asked.

"Don't know. Come let's go check it out," he said pulling her along faster.

"Slow down your pulling my arm out of the socket," she complained. "Do we really have to?"

"Yeah we have to. Tasha's up there," he replied.

"Wonder what's going on?" Confusion settled on her.

They got to the outside door of the locker-rooms. "What's going on Tasha?" Lia asked.

"I got here about ten minutes ago and found our lockers trashed, just yours and mine. When I told Mrs. Smytheson, she called the principal and they are looking for whoever did it. My guess is Courtney."

"It makes no sense. Why would she go to that extreme? What was done to the lockers? Will they let me go in and see?" fear ripped through her. A lot of her personal stuff was in that locker.

"I don't know if you want to. Everything in there was sprayed with paint and stuff was written."

"Like what?" Seth said.

"Stuff like, you'll get yours and you better watch out," Tasha said.

"The same thing she said to you at lunch," Seth said turning to Lia, anger seething from him.

At that time Mrs. Smytheson saw Lia. She came walking up, "I'll see if they will let you in Lia. See if anything was taken other than your uniform."

"My uniform wasn't in there it's in my bag here," Lia said pulling it out of her bag.

"Wish I would have taken mine because mine's ruined," Tasha said.

"I guess in this one instance procrastination was a good thing. I didn't wash it till last night." Lia said.

"Who was it Mrs. Smytheson?" Tasha asked.

"Girls I don't want to spread rumors till we have all the facts," she replied as the principal motion to her. "Come on girls let's go in, Lia check to see if anything's missing and Tasha double check everything. The police where there checking everything out and taking pictures."

"Can I go in with her, Mrs. Smytheson?" Seth asked.

"Yes, no one else is in there," she replied. "I'll let Principal Norris know you're going in with her."

As the cheerleading coach went over to the principal the two girls and Seth walked through the door. When they got to the row of cheerleaders lockers Lia saw for the first time what was done.

She stood there for a second or two not moving. "Oh Seth" she cried turning toward him putting her head in his shoulder so she didn't have to see it. Seth held her as the anger filled his whole body. He started shaking with the rage. Lia felt it, she had to pull herself together or she knew Seth would do something they would all regret. "Seth calm down please. Your anger right now won't help. Tasha come on let get this cleaned up as best we can. Don't want everyone else seeing this."

The three of them walked over to the lockers and stood for a second written in black spray paint were the words 'I'll get you for this' 'You're a ho' and 'bitch' and everything in the locker was sprayed red. Nothing was written on Tasha's locker but everything was sprayed red too, like it was an afterthought. Lia said as much, "You know it looks like there was more time taken with my locker than yours Tasha."

"Yeah you're probably right," Tasha replied.

"Oh shit, what the hell happened here?" Cris demanded as his anger reached the boiling quickly.

"How did you know?" Lia asked.

"I was just leaving when Mom got the call."

"They called Mom great is Dad here too?"

"On his way," Cris replied.

"Great. Help me get this cleaned up quick. It's bad, but if he doesn't see it this bad he won't be as angry."

"Babe it's not your fault," Seth said.

"I know that, but when he finds out it all started because you're leaving and Courtney was mad about that. It'll be one more reason to hate you for it."

"Seriously, Sis how can he blame that on Seth," Cris said. "Be reasonable here."

"I am," she replied gloomily.

"She is Cris. It's just the way it's going to be. Come let's help her."

A police officer came in a few moments later and asked, "Do you know who would do this?

"No not really," Lia replied.

"No one at all?" he asked. "You didn't have a fight with anyone lately?"

"Why don't you just tell her who you think it is," Seth shot back. "She doesn't think anyone would do this. Even if she did have a fight with someone. It's not in her to do this so she thinks no one would do it to her."

"Seth you better stay out of this," the policeman warned.

"I'm in this, she's my girlfriend and I will stand by her any time and there's nothing you can do. You will not make her to feel like she's to blame here. There was some tension on the squad caused by one girl."

"That led to that girl losing her spot as captain as I'm told and your girlfriend took her spot," the police stated.

"No she didn't, I did," Tasha said. "Lia took my spot as assistant."

"For your information Lia didn't even vote. She put in a blank piece of paper," Seth replied.

"You didn't," Tasha said.

"I didn't feel I should vote. I didn't feel like I had that right, since Courtney and I were the one to have the disagreement. If you remember I said I didn't want her not to be captain and I didn't want the re-vote."

"I remember. I guess you did the right thing by not voting if that's the way you felt," Tasha said.

"Tasha it's not that I didn't want you for captain I did and do. Hell I voted for you the first time," Lia said.

"You did!"

"Yeah still don't know how Courtney won the first time everyone I talked to said they voted for you," Lia said.

"Ok girls were getting away from the subject at hand here. Who do you think did this?" the policeman interrupted.

"Courtney" Tasha and Lia answered in unison.

"Is there anything missing?" he asked.

"Yeah come to think of it all my pictures of Seth by himself. The one with me in them are here and sprayed heavily with paint. Looks like everything else is here."

"What about your uniform I see Tasha's is ruined, but your uniform isn't even in your locker."

Lia pulled it out of her bag, "It's because mine wasn't in here, it was at home with me."

"Ok well we'll question Courtney and see if she has an alibi. Just be careful for now until we get this solved," the officer stated.

"Cris can you get the trash can so I can throw all this away?" Lia asked.

He pulled the trash can over to the two lockers and the girls went through to see if anything could be saved. Nothing from Lia's locker could be, everything was picked up and spayed on. Tasha could salvage some of her stuff. He then took the can outside for it to be dumped in the dumpster.

As he walked back to the locker room he saw his Dad and walked over to him. "Dad don't go ballistic over this. It's not her fault and it's not Seth's either. I heard Courtney threaten her."

"I know I heard everything Seth said in there. I was walking through when the officer was in there. He really does love your sister doesn't he?"

"Yeah Dad since we were little kids. Does this mean you'll give them a break now?" Crisr asked hopefully.

"We'll see. How much are they going to be together? What right does he have to make her wait for him?"

"He's not asking she's demanding. She won't give him up no matter what happens and if you don't change your mind about them, you're going to lose her."

"Upm" was his dad's only answer.

Tasha and Lia came out of the locker room and waited for the rest of the squad to get there. They had to address what happened and then they had a game to cheer.

Cris and Seth had to go get ready for the game. They left and went to the football locker room.

When Courtney walked up to the squad it was quite a surprise. One of the girls asked "What are you doing here?"

"Came to get my stuff out of my locker. It seems I'm being blamed for what happened to your lockers and I'm kicked off the squad."

"Who kicked you off?" another answered.

"Principal Norris, he said he didn't want someone like me representing the school any longer. Nice job Lia," Courtney retorted angrily.

"That's enough Courtney get your stuff and get out. You were told to get it out next week not right now," Mrs. Smytheson said.

"Yes Madam," Courtney replied sarcastically.

"Everyone on the bus, we're running behind now," Mrs. Smytheson said. She pulled Tasha aside, "I'm staying here till Courtney is finished and then I'll meet you there. Do you think you and Lia can get them through warm ups and ready by the time I get there?"

"Yeah it'll be no problem," Tasha replied.

~~*~~

After the game, which they won, everyone was at Paul's house, a football player, sitting around the fire discussing what happened to Tasha and Lia. They had to rehash the story over and over as new people came to the party. After about an hour of re-telling the story Lia refused anymore and asked, "I thought this party was to celebrate Tasha becoming captain?"

"Your right. Hey congrats Tasha may your rein be better than the last one," A guy at the fire proclaimed.

"Yeah, hope you do a better job than the last one," a girl replied.

And a whole bunch of congratulations went around wishing her the best and hoping and praying she's better than the last one.

Seth and Lia moved away from the fire putting a blanket on the ground back by the tree line to get some privacy. They were kissing when they heard someone remark at how Seth only has one more week there and how sad it will be for all of them once he leaves. No one knew they were within hearing of them.

Someone suggested a going away party for him all day Saturday. It was short notice but they were getting their plans in order for it.

Seth felt Lia stiffen; he knew she heard it too. "I'm sorry Babe, you want to go home?" he asked.

"No I have a little time yet and I want to spend it here with you." she said cuddling closer to him.

"Let's go over to the fire," Seth suggested.

"Don't want to be here with me in a secluded spot?" Lia asked teasing.

"Not right now," he moaned.

Laughing she got up and went over to the fire. "What's this I hear about a going away party tomorrow for Seth?"

"Yeah I just asked my Mom and she said it's fine to have it here," Paul said.

"Good, if everyone here can bring some food it won't cost one person a fortune. Let's make a list," Tina offered.

They past a list around and everyone put stuff on it. It was time for Lia to go home, "I have to leave everyone, but I'll be back here tomorrow at around eleven if that's good. Seth has to work till twelve so he'll be here after that. Can someone call the kids that weren't here so they know? I'll post it on my facebook when I get home."

"Sounds good to me," Tina said. "Yeah we'll text everyone since it's so late. See you tomorrow Lia."

Chapter 9

On the way home Seth asked, "Why do they have to have a party for me? It's just going to end up being depressing."

"Only if you make it," Lia replied. "They just want you to know how much you mean to them. It'll be a blast. Come off it how many times did we go to a party with all of them and not have a great time?"

"Yeah, but there was always suds there and I know there won't be tomorrow. Not with all the parents there. Before you say anything, no I don't need it. After this last time I don't want to drink like that again."

"Yeah you were pretty bad this last time. Just be glad no one found out," Lia said.

"Oh my Dad said something to me. He knew and I guess he's real disappointed that I chose that over talking it out with you," Seth said.

"You talked to him about it?" disbelief coursed through her.

"Yeah, that night after I left your house. I was cleaning up after replanting those stupid ferns of yours. He came outside and questioned me about that night. He said that's one of the reasons he wants me to move with them."

A renewed anger at his dad surged through her emotions, "He can't control you now. How will he when you're in New York?"

"It's not a matter of him controlling me; it's more the fact that you'll hide me, or try to get me out of trouble and in the process get yourself in trouble was his explanation."

"Oh bullshit, he wants to break us up almost as bad as my Dad," Lia retorted. "Maybe, even more."

"Yeah I think so, but not for the same reasons. He hates the way your Dad treats me, and he's just waiting for the other shoe to drop so your Dad can get me in trouble. He said the effects of someone constantly being berated can make you drink more. He's afraid that will happen to me."

"I don't think my Dad would go that far. If that was the case he would have tried it sooner. If he does it's the end of us, me and him, I wouldn't ever speak to him again and he knows it. Besides you promised me that you wouldn't drink anymore and you have never broke you promise to me," she stated.

"Even still, my Dad waits for it every night, he waits for the phone call that I'm at the police station or waits for the call from the hospital. You have to understand he's a recovering alcoholic and he knows the repercussions of drinking and what people will do to you. I'm not sticking up for him, but he made some sense that night. I have to watch everything I do around you," Seth said.

"Oh bull shit, no you don't! You better be the same way around me as you always have been. I don't care what anyone thinks. We are staying together and we'll work this all out!" Lia screamed.

"We'll work it out somehow. I want that as much as you. I don't want you to be sad or crying at this party tomorrow. I don't even want to go," Seth sighed.

"I won't, look it'll be fun for us to get together with our friends and have one last blowout party. Then we'll take care of the future later. Okay?"

"Yeah I guess," he said as he pulled up outside her house. "I'll call you later."

"Alright, I have to go online and put the posting on my facebook," she said starting to get out of his car.

"Hey come here," he said tugging on her hair. She sat back in the car and turned to him giving him a kiss. He pulled her close, as close as he could in the front seat of his car. "I love you."

"I love you too Seth," she sighed. Thinking of only having eight more days to tell that to his face when he dropped her off, but she was not going to let that spoil this party for him.

He held her close drinking in the smell of her. God how he was going to miss this most, dropping her off at night and getting to hold her close. No matter what, he always knew where she was just by the smell of her perfume. She had been using the same one all these years; it was the one he got her for her birthday years before they started dating.

"Bye, Babe, I have a lot to do for tomorrow, and I need my beauty sleep," she teased.

"Yeah like hell you do, you're so beautiful," he said twisting her hair between his fingers.

"Aww, flattery will get you everywhere. Now I have to go."

"Do you need my car tomorrow? You can take me to work and then I'll find a way to the party." Seth asked.

"Oh no you don't. Your coming to that party, Seth, it's for you."

"Then you'll just have to pick me up to make sure I get there."

"Yeah I could use your car tomorrow to get around. What time will you pick me up?"

"Auto Parts opens at seven," he teased.

"Ugh!"

"I have to be there at eight," he said.

"Ok wake me up at six," she replied.

"Six? I'm not waking up at six, more like seven," he replied.

"I don't get this beautiful with only an hour of prep time," she replied.

"Don't bullshit me. I know you, remember, you sleep till the last second. I'll call you when I get up at seven," he said.

"Okay," she agreed laughing. "I love you, Babe."

"Love ya too. Go get some sleep."

"Sleep? I have too much to do to sleep."

"Get some sleep because if you don't we'll all pay for it," he groaned.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, bye babe," she gave him one last kiss that lasted longer than their conversation.

"If you don't get into that house now, your Dad will have a real fit when I jump your bones right here in the car, in front of your house."

Giggling Lia got out of the car and stuck her head back in and said, "I'd love to see that."

"What my funeral?"

"Ha ha," she said running toward the house.

~~*~~

"What have you been up to tonight, Lia," Mrs. Lombardi asked when she came into the house.

"Same old, same old, went to the after game party and we all decided tomorrow we're giving Seth a going away party. It's from two till whenever at Paul's house. His Mom said it was ok. Do you think you and Dad can come? I know Dad doesn't like him much, but it would mean a lot to me."

"Oh Honey, I have to work tomorrow, but maybe after work I can come. I don't know about your Dad, but I'll ask him. Do you need anything for me to make, at the last minute as usual? I don't know how I raised two kids who come to me at the last minute all the time to make stuff," Mrs. Lombardi teased.

"Oh love ya Mom. If you can make your bar-b-que, everyone loves it. I'll pick up the hamburger and stuff in the morning. Can you could make it before work?"

"How are you going to pick up the stuff tomorrow morning?"

"I have to take Seth to work. I'm using his car and then I'll pick him up after work."

"You can drive his car? I thought it was a stick shift?" Mrs. Lombardi questioned.

"It is and he showed me last year. You saw me driving it the other night,"

"Yeah the night you stayed at Steph's supposedly," Mrs. Lombardi said looking at Lia for her reaction and when Lia's face showed the shock. She knew she was right. "Look I was young once too, but don't do anything stupid ok. And the only reason I'm being lenient is because he's moving. But I want no more of it, no more sneaking around behind my back and no more lying."

"Yes Mom. You didn't tell Dad did you?" Lia asked as a cold hand grabbed her stomach, twisting it into knots of fear.

"No, but next time I will," Mrs. Lombardi replied.

With that being said, Lia went up to her room, scared out of her mind. She thought she was in the clear, but evidently she wasn't. Now she really had to watch what they did for the next few days until he left. She walked over to her computer and turned it on. While she was waiting for it to warm up she phoned Seth from her cell phone.

"Hey Babe, I just left you what's up?" Seth asked.

"My Mom knows about last weekend!" she shrieked.

Instant fear for Lia snaked through his heart, "What?!" he yelled.

"Yeah she made some comment about being young once too and how she knew I didn't stay at Steph's house."

"Great does she know I was drunk?" he asked dreading her answer.

"No I don't think she knows that part."

"Does your Dad know?" Fear paralyzing him.

"No she said she won't tell him this time, but next time she will," Lia said.

"God, Lia I'm sorry. See I mess up your life all the time," he groaned.

"No you don't and I don't regret that night. Do you?"

"That night yeah, but not the next day, I'd never regret that," he replied.

Sighing a sigh of relief she said, "Just checking. We'll have to be careful the rest of the week I don't want to get in trouble right before you go."

"Yeah you're right. Should I still pick you up in the morning?"

"Yeah, don't worry she won't say anything to you," she replied as she got on facebook and started posting about the party tomorrow. "Oh my Mom's making her bar-b-que for the party tomorrow. I have to pick up the stuff after I drop you off."

"You don't have to tell me where you're going. You're the only one I totally trust with it."

"Really, wow that's a surprise, you trusting me with your baby." she said mockingly.

"Why would it be a surprise? You know by now I trust you."

"Yeah I know, but not with the precious car," she retorted sarcastically.

"Knock it off. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed," he replied.

"Ooh, need any help?"

"Funny, real funny, Lia when you're there and I'm here. Don't torture me like that," he groaned with the want of her.

"Love ya, see you in the morning," she said laughing.

"Guess I have to take a cold one now since you got me thinking of last weekend," he replied.

"Sorry, Babe," she said and hung up. For a few minutes she wondered how she was going to face living so far apart from him. She started to cry, but when she heard her brother clod hopping up the steps she tried to stop and wiped the tears from her face as Cris barged into her room.

"Hey don't you knock anymore?" she yelled.

"Um sorry. What's wrong with you? You and Seth have another fight?" Cris asked.

"No, we went to the after game party and actually had a good time," she said through the sniffles.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Just thinking how I'm going to live through the next couple of months without him. Oh by the way, we're having a party for him tomorrow at Paul's house. He doesn't really want us to have it, but he has no choice. He told me I'm not allowed to cry tomorrow so I figured I get it out tonight." she replied sadly.

"This freakin' blows," Cris said as he plopped down on the bed next to her. "You're losing your boyfriend and I'm losing my best friend, even though lately we haven't be able to spend much time together other than school and practices, he's still my best friend."

An idea popped into her head, lightening up her eyes with excitement, "Hey on Friday night, why don't the four of us go out to eat and a movie or something?"

"The four of us? I thought you want to spend it with him alone."

"Yeah I do, but you're his best friend, too. I think it would be good for all of us to hang out like we used to. Maybe I can talk Mom into let us stay home Friday and we can hang out all day," Lia suggested.

"You don't mind Steph being there? She didn't hang out with us when we were little," he asked.

"Well she won't be able to hang out with us during the day so that'll be our time, just the three of us and if Seth has to pack, we can help him with that," she suggested.

"Sounds good to me, and I'll be the one to ask Mom and Dad if we can stay home Friday," Cris suggested, knowing he would probably be the one to get his parents' approval before Lai could.

"Ok, now you're gonna help me with the party stuff?"

"Ugh Lia that's your domain not mine."

"You're helping me. Everyone is bringing food and drinks, non-alcoholic of course, but do you think if we decorated it would be lame?"

"What do you mean decorate? With what?" an appalled expression crossed his face fleetingly.

"Just some balloons and stuff, nothing fancy. I don't have a lot of money to spare on it. I do want to get one or two of those posters so everyone can sign them. Or should I get something smaller, like a book or something?"

"I don't know. What about a football or two?" he suggested.

"Yeah that's good, you can get all the football players to sign one and I'll get the cheerleaders to sign the other one. See you think of good things to do. I'll just get a few balloons and tablecloths. We'll need ice," she said thinking out loud. "I can pick that up when I get the stuff for Mom to make her bar b que. Want to get up with me in the morning to take Seth to work?"

"What time?"

"Seven, he has to be there at eight," she said.

"No way that's too early. Why are you taking him to work?"

"So I can use his car to get some stuff. He offered and I'm taking him up on it. You know he doesn't let anyone drive his car," she said smugly knowing Cris never drove it.

"Yeah and I don't understand why he's letting you?" he grumbled.

"Because he trusts me," she said.

"He's a fool," Cris laughed.

"Shut up, Cris, you're just jealous" she said punching him in the chest. "Be gone from my room so I can finish on facebook who's doing what and I need some sleep."

Chapter 10

A constant ringing woke her up, groggily Lia reached over to pick up her phone. Looking at her alarm clock she saw it was 6:45am. Picking up her phone she said grumpily, "Hello."

"Good morning, Babe you wanted me to wake you up," Seth said.

"Mmm," Lia replied.

"Don't go back to sleep on me. If you don't want the car it's fine with me, I'll just go to work and leave you sleep," he replied.

"No, I'm awake," she sat up quickly. "What time are you coming over?"

"In about half an hour," he said.

"Ok I'll be ready," she mumbled. She stumbled out of bed and down the hallway to the bathroom. She took a quick shower to wake up and went downstairs to wait for Seth.

Her Dad walked into the kitchen where she was eating breakfast. "What are you doing up so early on a Saturday morning?" Mr. Lombardi asked.

"Waiting for Seth, I'm driving him to work then going to get the stuff for his going away party at Paul's."

"Driving his car, do you think that's a good idea? It's a pretty powerful car you think you can handle it?" he asked.

"Yeah Dad I can handle it. Seth has been letting me drive his car since I got my license I can drive it almost as well as he can."

"Well if you're sure. I was thinking that maybe next month we can go looking at cars for you," he suggested.

"That's alright Dad, I'll save up the money for a car. No big deal. If you want to do me a favor, come to Seth's party today with Mom and be nice to him. I love him Dad and we'll work this out. He's the one I'm going to marry so get use to it. He's not his Dad!"

"How do you know? When we were kids in this town his Dad was just like him, fast cars, fast girls, and the drinking all the time. I don't want you to live the life they have. I want better for you. Damn it!" he stormed.

"Dad if you would just look at him. He's a captain of the football team, he's held a job at the same place for two years now, he's going to college. Yeah he made a mistake. He drank too much and got in trouble. Has he been in trouble since? NO! Give him a break, Dad! Stop putting a riff between us. You liked him when he was a kid, before he started going out with me. He did nothing that God awful for you to act like this toward him," she screamed pushing her food away since she suddenly lost her appetite.

"I can't. He got you drunk that night. God only knows what he would have done if the two of you didn't get pulled over."

"Is that what you think?! That he got me drunk? Did you ever bother to question where the alcohol came from, Dad?"

"No, I assume he got it," Mr. Lombardi admitted.

"Well Dad you know what they say about assuming. You make an ass out of..."

"Lia, stop it," Seth said walking into the kitchen.

"No Seth he needs to know the truth," Lia said a little too calmly, which usually meant with her a big explosion at the end.

"Lia, don't," Cris said behind Seth.

"Let her finish!" Mr. Lombardi roared.

"Dad it wasn't Seth who got me drunk. He didn't have the alcohol. I got it! I took it from here. I was the one who took the alcohol every time we drank! I took it from here every time!" Lia screamed.

Seth walked over to her and held her close as she cried. "You shouldn't have told him." he whispered.

Mr. Lombardi just looked at her with disbelief, "How could you! Why would you?!"

"We all wanted to experiment, Dad. All kids do, but we learned our lesson. Didn't we? Seth almost went to jail along with me for taking that car. While I wasn't with him when he took it, I knew it wasn't his when I got in it."

"If you weren't with him when he took it how did he get drunk?" Mr. Lombardi challenged.

"We were together first drinking in the woods. She went home to get something and so did I. I didn't plan to take the car; it was a last second decision. It was just dumb," Seth said.

"I'm so disappointed in you Lia. I don't really know what to say to you anymore," Mr. Lombardi said walking out of the kitchen deflated.

Lia turned in Seth's arms and put her head on his shoulder and cried. Seth looked over at Cris who just stood there. No one said anything for a few minutes until Lia pulled herself together. "Well at least now he knows the truth about that night," Lia said.

"You shouldn't have done it. I was ok with him blame me for the whole thing." Seth said.

"No, Lia was right to tell him the truth. Now it's all out in the open. He knows we're all at fault here. He's just mad because he didn't want to think his kid would be the bad one in all this. We all drank that night. We're all to blame for what happened. Me for not stopping my little sis from drinking in the first place and for not stopping her from taking the shit from the house," Cris said.

"Look, its over. I'll take any repercussions there is for it, but I can't take him blaming you for this anymore Seth. I have to take responsibility for my part in it. I should have done in the first place," Lia said. "Oh God it's almost eight. You have to get to work it's your last weekend there."

"Don't worry about work, Lia. You're more important. Are you okay?" Seth said.

"Yeah I'll be fine. Come on I have a lot of stuff to do today for the party," Lia said walking out the back door before Seth.

"You better do right by her once you leave, Seth. She loves you more than herself," Cris said.

"Yeah I know. I'm not doing anything to screw it up. I don't even know if I'm doing football there, I'd rather come back here and be with her on the weekends," Seth admitted.

"Don't be stupid boy, you need that scholarship if you're gonna make it to college," Mr. Lombardi yelled from the dining room.

Seth and Cris just looked at each other, "Yes sir," Seth answered and went out the backdoor after Lia.

~~*~~

Lia was doing the last of her shopping when her phone rang she looked at who it was before picking it up. Her phone had rung nonstop all morning and she didn't want to talk to anyone right now. She saw it was Seth and answered, "Hi Babe."

"Are you alright?" Seth asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, shopping therapy works all the time," she laughed.

"You're still shopping?" he asked.

"Yeah, but I helped my Mom make the bar b que before I went back out. What are you doing?"

"I'm on break and wanted to make sure you're alright," he said.

"You're car's fine, Seth," she teased.

"I don't care about the car. I'm worried about you," he replied.

"I'll be fine. I'm still picking you up at twelve?" she asked.

"Yeah, they said I could go early, but I'm staying. I need this last check to pay the last of my fine and them I'm done with it," Seth said.

"Ok, I'll pick you up then. I'm glad you're getting that paid off."

"So what kind of stuff are you buying?" he asked.

"Just some tablecloths and stuff like that. Everyone keeps calling me to tell me what they're bringing so my list went down a lot, which is good because with the football season here I can't babysit as much as I should. I'm gonna have to get a real job though," she said thoughtfully. "It'll keep me busy when you're not here, too. It was nice making that steady income from watching the Kissler's kids this summer."

"That'll be good for you. It'll help for you to keep saving for your car," he said.

"Oh I forgot to tell you. My Dad said something about going next month to look for a car, but I turned him down. I told him I'll save up myself, besides now with what he knows he probably won't do it anyway," she said.

"When did he say that?" Seth asked.

"Right before I told him everything this morning," Lia replied.

"Not a good move, Lia. If he would have gotten you the car you could have saved for something else," he reminded her.

"Oh well if he couldn't get me one when I first started to drive I don't want one now from him."

"Stop being stubborn. Take the damn car from him," he said.

"We'll see, I think that offer is off the table now anyway."

"I got to go, see ya after work."

"Okay, bye," she said hanging up.

~~*~~

She finished her shopping and drove over to Paul's house. She was bringing out all the bags of stuff she bought. Cris was there already putting all the tables out with Paul. They walked over to her to help her bring all the stuff from the car.

"Well I see it's still in one piece," Cris teased.

Rolling her eyes, she said, "Oh shut up, Cris. Just take these bags over so I can start setting the stuff up. Take the balloons and tie them somewhere till I figure out where I'm putting them."

Once they got the balloons out of the car she set about getting everything in order. She put the tablecloths on the tables and then tied the balloons to the tables, the mail box and everywhere else she could. People kept bring food over. The stuff that needed to be kept cold was set in trays of ice, and the food that had to be kept hot were in crockpots and in sterno trays. The drinks where kept in tubs filled with ice, and put in different spots around the yard so no one had to walk far to get a soda or water. Once she was done it was time for her to go get Seth.

"Cris I'm going to get Seth, we'll be back by two," Lia yelled to him.

"Ok we'll keep trying to figure out where to go with all this food," he yelled back laughing.

"Good luck," she yelled. This is going to be the best party ever and she was so glad it was for Seth.

~~*~~

She pulled into the parking lot of Auto Parts and was ready to get out when Seth jumped in the passenger seat. "You drive to my house."

"Why?"

"So I can see how you beat my car," he joked.

"I don't beat your car."

"Yeah, I know. So how's the party stuff going?" he asked.

"Great, I think you're going to be surprised. There's a lot more stuff there then I thought. It seems that the whole town is gonna be there," she said and then laughed when she saw his face.

"Yeah right."

"No I'm serious. You'll see. Let's get you home to shower and change," she said.

"You gonna take one with me?" he inquired.

"No, I have to get back and if we start that we'll be late," she responded.

They pulled into the driveway of his house and his Mom was loading it up with stuff for the party. "Mom what are you doing?"

"Taking these tables and chairs over to Paul's, Cris called and asked if we had any. You go get ready we'll see you there," Mrs. Rosetti said.

Dread shot through him, "Ugh, yeah right. We'll be there sometime," Seth grumbled.

"Seth Ryan Rosetti, you will go take a shower and be there by two o'clock," Mrs. Rosetti ordered.

"Yes, Mom," Seth replied grumpily.

"I'll have him there on time, Mrs. Rosetti," Lia said laughing.

Glaring at Lia, "You think this is funny, don't you?" Seth asked.

"Yeah I do," Lia laughed louder.

"I'm glad you think so," he grumbled. "I'm going to take a shower be down soon."

Shaking her head in disbelief, "He can be so ungrateful sometimes. I didn't raise him to be like that," Mrs. Rosetti complained.

"I don't think it's that. I think he doesn't want to be the reason for the party. He doesn't realize how big this party is going to be. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole town shows up," Lia said.

"Really?"

"Wait till you get there. Some of us have been talking about doing this since last week, but I never thought it would be as big as it is. He's going to be surprised," Lia said.

"Good it makes me proud that the whole town is going to be there for him. Especially after everything that has happened in the past," Mrs. Rosetti said.

"Mrs. Rosetti, your husband has changed his life around for the better and people respect that. What Seth has done was over a year ago, all they see now is a great football player that will be missed," Lia said.

"I hope your right," Mrs. Rosetti said.

Chapter 11

Banging on the bathroom door Lia yelled, "Seth come on. You've been in there forever! We have to get to the party!"

He ignored her. He didn't want to go. He was afraid he'd breakdown, and he didn't want to do that in front of everyone.

"Seth hurry up!"Lia called again.

Knowing she won't let him alone he shut off the water, "I'm coming." he yelled through the door.

Ten minutes later he came down the steps. Looking at Lia he didn't realize she changed while he took a shower. She was wearing jeans and top that criss-crossed at the chest and flowed down with the sides longer than the front and back "You look beautiful," he said.

"Seth," she said walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, but I'm just wearing old jeans and a shirt."

"A new one I never saw it on you before."

"Yeah I bought it today I liked the coral color and the way it flows. How come you always notice stuff other guys don't?"

"I notice everything about you. And I wasn't talking about your clothes, I was talking about you. You are so beautiful," he said.

"Thank you again, and if your done stalling we have to go," Lia replied.

"I'm not stalling.'

"Yeah you are. Let's go, I'm driving," she said.

"Why? Don't trust me to take you there?"

"No you'll think of something to make us even later."

~~*~~

Lia pulled up to Paul's house. "God how many people did you invite?" Seth asked.

"None, we just posted it on Facebook last night. Everyone helped with the food and decorations. We went with the school colors because it was easiest," she said.

"Yeah I see that. Did you get enough balloons there?" Seth teased. There were black and orange balloons everywhere.

"When I left there weren't that many here. People must have brought more. Mr. Kissler gave me some extra, but not that many. Come on let's get over there it's already 2:15. I'm surprised we're this early."

"Well no one saw us yet we can leave," Seth encouraged.

"Get out of the car, Seth. You'll have a great time," Lia said. She knew something was bugging him, but he wouldn't talk to her.

They reached the first group of kids there, most were the football players and they pulled him away from her the minute they got there. They started throwing the football around and before she knew it they had a game going on in the empty field next to Paul's house.

She was glad for the game since it took a lot of pressure off Seth. She could tell by the way he was standing over there he was more relaxed. When she walked over to him he smiled at her, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "Who's winning?"

"My team, of course, who else would be?"

"My mistake, I'm glad you're having a great time," she laughed.

"Cheer me on?" Seth asked.

"Sure, the others are coming," Lia said.

"Others?" he asked in confusion.

"The cheerleaders."

"Who are they gonna cheer for since the team is on both sides?"

"Both sides then. It's only for fun."

After the game, which took the majority of the day, Lia and Seth walked over to get something to eat. On the way there he was stopped by a lot of people telling him how sorry they were to hear he was moving away and how much they'll miss him.

They finally reached the tables with all the food on them, "Do you think there's enough here?" Seth asked. "Too bad I'm not hungry now."

"Seth what's up? Why are you having such a hard time? You didn't want to come, and now as people are telling you how sorry they are, you don't want to eat."

"Lia, I didn't want any of this. I'm gonna lose it and I don't want to do that. Not in front of everyone," Seth whispered. "It's hard enough letting you down, but the whole town."

"Seth you're not letting me down, nor the whole town. You're moving away because your Dad has a great opportunity to work for a good company, it just happens to be in a different state. No one can help that, especially you. Now let's get something to eat now, before the band starts."

"What band? Please tell me not the marching band."

Laughing Lia said, "No Zak's band."

"They're gonna play here? Cool they're great, how did you get them to play." Seth said.

"Yeah they are, I didn't. They contacted me last night and I said sure if it was ok with Paul's parents. I guess they said yes since they'll be playing in about two hours at seven."

"How much is that gonna cost?"

"Nothing we didn't ask them they asked us. Heck it's free advertising for them."

"Yeah I guess," he said as they filled their plates full of food. "Let's sit over by the fire pit so when they light it we'll already have our seats."

"Good thinking. Uh oh," Lia said. "My Mom and Dad are over there."

"Really, I'm surprised your Dad would show up here. Where are they?"

"Sitting with your parents on the other side of the fire pit," Lia said.

Looking over at them he saw they were having a pretty good time. "Surprising, they're actually having a good time over there it seems."

"Should we sit with them?"

"Nope I want you to myself for a few minutes. If we can get that much time without someone coming over to us," Seth said. "Here's a good place, it's by the fire, but a little secluded." He picked chairs that were by a bunch of bushes so they would only be seen coming from one way.

"This is good, I think the band is setting up right over here anyway," Lia said pointing to her right, down at the end of the yard.

"Babe, I can't believe you got this together so fast, all these people, the decorations, a band, all this food, everything just for me," Seth said quietly.

"As much as I'd like to take credit for it all I can't. It was everyone, all the cheerleaders, the football players; everyone brought food and a lot of it. We can probably party all night and tomorrow too. It'll suck when we have to clean it all up tonight."

"Cris, did a lot today for this party, too" Lia said.

"I figured that much. You rope anyone into helping you and Cris is the first to help you, no matter what. Remember that when I'm gone, let him help you get through it all," Seth said gently.

"I will. Are you done eating? I think we should go over to the parents and make an appearance," Lia suggested.

"Do we have to?"

"Yep."

~~*~~

They walked hand in hand over to their parents. Seth moving at a slower pace than she was so it looked like she was pulling him. "Seth, stop walking so slow. We don't have to spend the whole night with them just a few moments."

"Hi Mom did you get off work early?" Lia asked.

"Yes, just a little, my boss said I could leave early to come here," Mrs. Lombardi said.

"That was nice of him. Great turn out for this party don't you think?" Lia asked.

"Sure is, we just got here about ten minutes before the game ended over there. Looks like it was a lot fun," Mrs. Lombardi said.

"Yeah we had a blast cheering for both sides."

"I saw Courtney was here. She's not giving you any problems?"

"No I didn't even know she was here. Did you Seth?"

"No, didn't see her and don't want to either. Hi Mrs. Lombardi," Seth said and turning toward Lia's Dad. "Hi Mr. Lombardi."

"Seth." Mr. Lombardi returned the greeting. "You and Cris were looking good out there the little I saw."

"Thanks it was just for fun. A little strange with us being on different teams though," Seth said.

"Mom, Dad did you have anything to eat yet? There's plenty of food, but I think all the bar b que is gone," Lia asked.

"Yes dear we ate. Why don't the two of you go ahead and have fun," Mrs. Lombardi encouraged.

"We will I just wanted to say hi to you guys," Lia said. "I don't know what time I'll be home tonight. I have to help clean up after everyone leaves and if Cris doesn't sneak out on me he's helping to."

"Ok, if it's real late be careful driving home."

"We will."

~~*~~

"See it wasn't that bad. My Dad even talked to you. It wasn't a lot, but he talked to you," Lia said. "Maybe he'll come around, yet."

"I don't think a miracle will happen, Babe," Seth said.

~~*~~

The next two hours they didn't have a moment to themselves as everyone kept coming up to Seth to wish him good luck and tell him that they'll miss him. At times it looked like Seth wasn't going to be able to control his emotions, depended who came up or what someone said. Every time that happened Lia either changed the subject or moved him on to give him time to compose himself.

At one of those time when she pulled him away from a customer of Seth's, old Mr. Grayson, who was always in Auto Parts. He was a grouchy old man most of the time, but Seth always helped him in the store so he wasn't grouchy toward Seth.

"I'm going to miss you, young man. Now who's going to help me fix my car when it breaks down for the hundredth time? You're the only one there who wants to help me. When they see me coming they run," Mr. Grayson said.

"They don't run, Mr. Grayson," Seth said laughing.

"They do so. You're the only one who helps me and I'm forever grateful to you. Here's a little something for all your time you spend with a grouchy old man like me," Mr. Grayson said handing Seth an envelope.

Seth looked at him in amazement. He didn't know what to do or say to the old man. "Thank you, Mr. Grayson. Y-you didn't have to give me anything," he finally stammered.

"I wanted to do that for you. You take that and put it away for whatever you need in the future," Mr. Grayson said

Lia knew Seth wasn't going to be able to keep it together much longer and she interjected, "That's real nice of you Mr. Grayson, maybe later this week before Seth leaves we'll stop by your house so he can say goodbye."

"Yeah we will. You do know I'll be back here next year for college," Seth said. "So it won't be like I'm going forever."

"I know that boy. You've told me you're waiting for this young lady to get out of high school and you both will be going away to college together. If you need anything you just let me know," Mr. Grayson said patting Seth's arm.

"I will and thanks again," Seth forced out as Mr. Grayson walked away.

"Come on, Babe, let's go in the house a minute," she pushed him into the house and to Paul's room. "Are you ok?"

Seth opened the envelope and in it was a stack of bills. He just stood there looking at it. He couldn't say anything he just looked at Lia with wide eyes.

"Babe, are you alright?" Lia said stepping toward him. She looked at the envelope he pulled wide apart. "Wow, that's a lot of money in there. How much is it?"

"I don't know," he said not moving.

"Well count it," Lia said. "Seth sit down you look like you might fall down."

"Lia I never thought he would do anything like this. I can't accept this," Seth said plopping down on the bed.

"Just count it, it might look like more that it is," Lia encouraged him.

Pulling the money out of the envelope they were all fifty dollar bills. He counted it and said, "A thousand. Why would he give me a thousand dollars? I have to give it back to him," Seth said moving toward the door. Lia stopped him.

"Think about this, Seth. The old man has one kid who doesn't speak to him, so, it was just him and his wife and she died, so it made him feel good to be able to give you something. Wait a few days before you try to give it back. You can talk to him when we go over to say goodbye. I think you'll end up hurting his feelings by trying to give it back," Lia said.

"But," Seth started.

"But nothing, put that money in your pocket, tell no one about it for now, and decide later what to do with it. Just don't hurt his feeling tonight, okay?" Lia said.

He nodded his in agreement.

"Hey I hear the band tuning up. I want to be there when they start," Lia said jumping up.

"Wait one second," Seth reached out for her hand he pulled her toward him. Crushing her mouth with his, he gave her the most mind blowing kiss ever. "I love you."

"I love you too,"

Chapter 12

They walked out of the house as Zak's band started playing. They joined everyone, wandering over to where the band was playing. The girls started dancing while the guys stood and watched. Lia stood with Seth afraid to leave his side. "Go dance, Babe. I know you want too."

"No I don't want to right now," she replied.

"Yes you do, you don't have to babysit me, I'm fine," he said.

"I'll dance when I want to. Actually I want you to dance with me," she joked.

"I ain't dancing," he replied.

"Yes you are," she said trying to pull him out to dance.

"No I'm not, you know I don't like dancing," he replied standing ridged so she couldn't budge him.

Laughing and knowing full well she could never get him to dance. She conceded to a slow dance. "I know, I'm only joking, but you'll dance a slow one with me later right?"

"Yeah a slow one. Now go dance with your friends," he said pushing her to the dance floor.

~~*~~

About half an hour later the band stopped playing and Mr. Jenkins, the football coach, walked up to the mike and said, "Seth, when you first tried out for the team in your sophomore year I didn't think you would really stick it out. You didn't seem to me the type to play really good ball. You didn't have the discipline for the game, but as the years went on I saw your determination, your willingness to take charge and that's why I made you one of the captains this year. You have been such an asset it's really going to hurt us once you leave. We want to wish you good luck at your new school and I for one am glad you won't be playing against us."

Everyone laughed except for Seth. He just stood there not knowing what to do or say. Everyone was staring at him and he was very uncomfortable with it.

Mr. Jenkins continued his speech as the whole football team gathered behind him, "Seth can you come up here, the whole team has something they want to give you so you'll always remember us."

Seth looked around him, then walked up to the team, reluctantly.

"Here's last night's game football, it was signed by all the football players and the coaches," Cris said and turned toward Seth handing him the football. Seth took it and just stared at it. He didn't comprehend any of the names even though he was reading them.

Seth cleared his throat and said, "Thanks guys I really don't know what to say. This means so much, how could I ever forget you guys?"

Tasha walked up to the mike and said, "Seth the cheerleaders wanted to give you something too. We have worked on this since the first day we heard you were moving." Handing him a scrapbook she continued, "We all got together and everyone brought pictures of you and we put them in this book. It's our version of the yearbook except it spans many more years. We'll miss you and wish you luck." She hugged him as did the rest of the cheerleaders up there. "The cheerleaders signed a football, also and there are posters all around for everyone to sign and let Seth know how much he'll be missed."

Lia walked up to him and was the last cheerleader to hug him, "The best for last," she whispered.

When the band started playing again it was a slow one, at Lia's instance. She spoke with Zak before she went up there to make sure it was a slow dance. "Come on Seth you owe me a dance," she said.

Pulling him to the area they were using as a dance floor, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he put his arms around her waist. They were dancing so close and ignoring everyone else they missed the evil looks they were getting from Courtney. No one talked to her except her best friend, Rita.

When the song ended Lia asked, "Are you ok now?"

"Yeah I'm fine, but I still don't get why they're acting like it's the last time they'll ever see me. I'll be back next year for school at the community college."

"Do you really think that? Honestly Seth if you get a scholarship to a college you can't pass that up. Everyone here thinks that's what's gonna happen and they won't see you."

"Babe I'm not leaving you. I'm going to college here and that's final," Seth said.

"We'll talk about that later. I have to go to the bathroom, walk with me," she said.

Turning they walked to the house, "I'll wait out here for you, Babe."

"Okay."

When she came back out Seth wasn't there. She looked both ways for him, but couldn't find him. Rita walked up to her and said, "You're not going to find him any time soon, if Courtney has her way."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Lia demanded.

"Wouldn't you like to know? I'm not about to tell you. I was just to tell you what I did," Rita said laughing and walked away.

Lia was mad, not at Seth because she knew how he felt about her, but at Courtney. She walked around the house and when she got to the end of the house further away from the crowd she saw them. Courtney had her arms around Seth's neck and was kissing his neck. Seth was trying to get her off of him.

"Isn't this cute," Lia said walking up to them. "I think you better get your hands off my boyfriend before I take you off him."

Courtney laughed, "I don't think he wants to, Dear Lia. He seems to be enjoying himself."

"You are delusional, Courtney. I want nothing to do with you," Seth replied trying to push Courtney away from him. "I told you the same thing get your hands off me!"

"I think you better leave this party right now Courtney, because I swear if you don't get your hands off him I will knock you out," Lia said through clenched teeth.

Courtney just laughed, but stopped the minute Seth pushed her way and Lia walked up and punched her right in the mouth as hard as she could. Her mouth started bleeding right away and she started screaming. "I told you, you scank I would punch you in the mouth. If you want to take this further I'll be happy to knock you out completely."

"You wait! I'll get you for this, Lia. I'll bring charges against you," Courtney screamed.

"No you won't," Mr. Grayson said. "I've been watching you since you walked up to Seth and he wanted nothing to do with you. This young lady here gave you plenty of warning and I will testify that I saw the whole thing and she did nothing wrong, except to tell you to get away. Now if you want to keep it up I'll stand back and let her finish. I agree with Lia it's time you go home."

"You can't do that!!!!!!!!!" Courtney screamed.

"You watch me," Mr. Grayson said.

Courtney stomped off in a huff. Mr. Grayson turned to Lia and said, "I don't know where you get that right hook, but it's a damn good one."

Lia laughed, "Hanging out with Seth and my brother all the time when I was little. If I didn't learn quick, I was the one getting hit."

"Well they did a good job," Mr. Grayson chuckled. "Now remember if she tries to get you in trouble you let them know I saw the whole thing."

"Thanks, Mr. Grayson," Lia said as he walked away.

"Lia?" Seth queried.

"I'm not mad at you. I'm just pissed at her. If it wasn't for her friend letting me know what was going on, it might be a different story on how I feel about you right now. It sure looked like you were enjoying yourself from this angle."

"I wasn't, and what do you mean her friend let you know?"

"Well I think it was to make me mad and believe that you wanted Courtney, but they don't know what we have. I think they thought I would get mad and walk away from you."

"Yeah you walk away from a fight, that'll be the day. They don't know you," Seth said kissing her long and hard.

"Babe, stop we have to go back," Lia said.

"Why?"

"Because this party is for you."

"Oh yeah, that's right."

They walked back to the party like nothing happened. They told no one, and for the rest of the night they danced, hung out with their friends and each other. The party was finally over around two in the morning. They cleaned up the whole mess and were headed back to Lia's house around five. When they pulled up out front her Dad was leaving for work. He looked over at them and came strolling down the drive.

"Great, just great," Seth sighed.

"Little late in getting home Lia, aren't you?" Mr. Lombardi asked.

"Dad we had to help clean up and everyone left around two. It took forever, people are pigs. Hey we have a whole trunk full of food thought. We took some to Seth's earlier; we left some with Paul's family, and just divided the rest with whoever stayed to clean up. Right now I'm really tired so can you save the lecture for later?"

"I'm not lecturing just stating a fact. Both of you go in and get some breakfast your Mom was going to make you some. Where's Cris?"

"I guess with Steph. He help us clean up and then took her home," Lia said getting out of the car.

"Alright, well go in and eat," Mr. Lombardi said. "I have to get to work."

"Bye Dad," Lia said. "Can you open the trunk Seth, so we can get all this food out?"

"Yeah," he said stunned. "I can't believe he didn't yell at us. Wonder why?"

"When I told him it was me who got the booze that night. How can he stay mad at you when it wasn't you who brought it?"

"Yeah I guess."

"This is going to take us a few trips with all this food," she sighed. "I'm so tired."

"Just go in Babe, I'll bring it all in," he said.

"I'll take some of it into the house," she replied. Walking into the house she yelled, "Mom we're home and brought tons of food."

"I have breakfast ready for you. It's warming in the oven. I made bacon and french toast. If you want eggs I can make them for you," Mrs. Lombardi said.

"No, Mrs. Lombardi that's fine," Seth said coming in the back door. "Where do you want this food?"

"Put it on the counter," turning to Seth Mrs. Lombardi looked to see what he had. He carried in a bunch of plastic grocery bags filled with food, plus the bags Lia brought in covered the counter top. "Wow that's a lot of food."

"There's more in my car. There was a lot left over," Seth said.

"More? Did anyone eat last night?" she asked.

"Yeah, Mom they ate a lot, but there was just so much more," Lia said.

Seth went back out and came in with three more bags and her crockpot, "That's it."

"That's enough. You guys eat and I'll put this all away I guess I'll have to freeze some of this. There's just too much it'll go to waste."

While stuffing her mouth full of french toast she turned to Seth. "So Seth you got a lot of cards tonight. Did you go thru them yet?" Lia asked.

"No they're in my car, after we eat I'll get them and we can open them."

"Hey did you leave me any?" Cris said walking in the door. "I'm hungry and beat. I just want to eat and go to sleep."

"What took you so long getting home?" Mrs. Lombardi asked.

"I took Steph home and had to explain why we were so late. She called her mom and told her we were cleaning up and I guess they didn't think it would take that long. It was such a mess I couldn't believe it," Cris said. "Remind me never to have a party that big."

"Okay we'll remember that for your graduation. It'll only be family," Lia said.

"Now wait a minute I said I would never have a party that big. I wasn't talking about you guys throwing one for me," Cris said quickly.

"Hey Bro, that don't matter they threw this one for me and I had to help clean up," Seth reminded him.

"Yeah that's because you didn't make a quick exit right before the end," Cris explained. "You have to know when to leave right before the last of the guests leave, then you don't have to clean up."

"Cristofer! I better never hear of you doing that! That's the rudest thing you can do! I didn't raise my children to behave that way!"

"I know Mom, I was just joking," Cris said sheepishly.

"No you weren't," Lia said. "Since we're done eating why don't you go get your cards and stuff we'll open them in the living room."

"I'll go get them," Seth sighed.

"Don't act all excited there, Seth," Mrs. Lombardi said.

"I didn't want anyone to get me stuff, I didn't want the party. It was a nice thought, but not my kind of thing," Seth said walking out the door.

"He had a real hard time of it Mom, he didn't expect any of it and emotionally it was too much for him. After the gift Mr. Grayson gave him I thought he was going to break down."

"So that's why you stuck to him like glue," Cris said. "I noticed, but I just thought you didn't want to miss a second with him."

"No I was because he was afraid of losing it," Lia said. "And if you repeat any of this to him, I'll kill you, Cristofer."

"I'm not saying a word," Cris said.

"About what?" Seth questioned.

"Nothing just Cris being his usual pain in the ass self," Lia responded. "Let's go in the living room I want to get comfortable while you open everything."

Seth walked in behind Lia holding a stack of cards and a few gift bags. "Wow that's a lot of cards," Cris said. "Think they all have money in them?"

"Don't know, but I guess we'll find out," Seth said sitting down next to where Lia plopped down on the couch. He handed her half the stack of cards, "Here open them and I'll open these.

Chapter 13

Lia opened her stack of cards and put the money in one pile and his gift cards in another. He looked at the piles and asked, "How much is there?"

"About three hundred fifty dollars in cash and I didn't count the gift cards. Open the other cards," she said.

He started opening them; he got through about five of them all containing money. He stopped and asked, "Why would they give all this to me?"

"I guess they all like you," she replied smiling. She knew in her heart now that the people of this town respected him, because these cards are not only from kids, but from adults, too.

"I'm not gonna be gone more than a few months," he said as confused as ever. "I'll be back right after graduation." He was silence for a moment then continued, "God how I wish I was graduating here. This really blows. I won't even be here for my eighteenth birthday next month."

With a twinge of panic she asked, "You'll come back for your birthday right so I can spend it with you?"

He could see the panic in her face, and the anxiety in her voice. With a sigh he said "Yeah I make sure I'm back the weekend after, since my birthday is a Tuesday this year."

"October eleventh is a Tuesday? Really? That stinks I won't be able to spend your actual birthday it with you," Lia sighed.

"I know but we'll spend the weekend together." He wished he never mentioned anything about his birthday. Seeing how it made her anxiety level shoot sky high.

"How? You'll have a game and so will I," she screeched. "God Seth how the hell are we going to do this? I don't see how we can be together!"

"We'll figure it out." he said. Trying to comfort her he moved over to her; put his arms around her, holding her tight. To change the subject he counted all the money including what Mr. Grayson gave him. "Wow, seventeen hundred dollars," he said.

"That's great. It'll help you with college," Lia murmured, devoid of any emotion.

"Yeah it will, but it will be put to better use getting me back and forth to see you." Knowing he had to get her out of her mood he quickly thought of something, "I want to take you out Thursday night just you and me."

"Really, where are you taking me?" she said excitedly.

"It's a surprise." He knew she loved surprises. He also hoped she would concentrate on the surprise for a few days instead of his leaving.

"You don't know where, do you?" Lia teased.

"Yes I do," he replied as an idea started swirling around in his head.

"Then where?"

"Not telling you."

"Fine don't tell, but Babe, I have to go to sleep I'm dead tired. Come up here on the couch with me and hold me before you leave." She said as she struggled to get up off the floor to sit on the couch.

Seth got off the floor where he was sitting and sat next to her. He pulled her over to him and she stretched out on the couch. She was asleep in minutes. Seth hated to move her, but he didn't want to get in trouble either. He sat watching TV and the next thing he knew it was late afternoon he was stiff from sleeping on the couch with Lia. When he tried to move he couldn't Lia had him pinned to the cushions.

"Babe you need to get up. I don't know what time it is, but your Dad will be home soon. Lia!" Seth said.

She didn't respond. Seth tried to get out from under her, but only half heartedly. Stretching out along side of her he liked when she wrapped herself around him. He thought, "I'll just lay here for another minute or two." He fell back asleep.

About two hours later Lia slowly got awake it was almost six o'clock and her Dad would be home soon. She took a few moments to lay there and feel the safety of being in Seth's arms. She shifted closer to him, if that was at all possible, and when she did he woke up. Looking her in the eyes he smiled and kissed her. "I can't wait till we can do this every night, but in a bed not a couch," he whispered. "Geez, I'm really stiff."

"Yeah so am I, but I don't care this was the best day of sleep I got in a long time," she chuckled.

"Me too, but your Dad will be home if he isn't already. We got to move," he said as her Mom came in the living room.

"Oh I was just coming in to see if you two were awake suppers on the table."

"What are we having?" Lia asked her Mom.

"Leftovers from yesterday."

"Is Dad home yet?" she inquired afraid of the answer, but needing to know if she had to be on the defensive.

"No, he's working a little late tonight," Mrs. Lombardi answered. "Seth I put all your cards in the one bag with your money and gift cards. I called your Mom to let her know you were too tired to drive back home and were sleeping the day here."

"Thanks, Mrs. Lombardi, I didn't mean to fall asleep here," Seth apologized.

"It's fine Seth. Better here than behind the wheel of your car."

Lia got up off the couch and hugged her Mom, "Thanks Mom for not freaking out on us."

"Why would I do that? You two were so beat and I kept checking on you, just in case," Mrs. Lombardi said.

After eating Seth said, "I have to go home, Babe. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll pick you up for school."

"Do you really have to go? Can't you stay a little longer?" Lia whined.

"Yeah if you want my Dad showing up here telling me how much I'm not helping them pack everything. Really don't want to go through that scene here." he said walking out the door.

"Oh ok, I'll just go take a real hot bath and soak for a while I'm so sore from that couch."

"You're sore, for the most part I slept sitting up with you on top of me and after I woke up earlier I had the hardest time shifting your weight off me so I could lie down. So don't talk to me about being sore," he grumbled.

"Sorry I didn't know," she giggled.

"It's not funny. I think I'm gonna be permanently deformed. My back will never straighten out again."

"You are so over dramatic. Maybe you should go be on the drama team instead of the football team," Lia teased.

"Yeah right. I have to go, I love you, Babe. See ya tomorrow," he said and kissed her.

~~*~~

The week flew by and before Lia knew it, Thursday came. Seth was taking her out tonight, but she really wasn't in the mood for it. She was getting more and more depressed as the week went on. She tried so hard not to show it in front of Seth, but that was getting harder and harder to do.

She got dressed to go out with him in the new black dress she brought a few weeks ago, but never wore. It was a little on the low cut side, not too low, or her Dad would have a fit. It went to mid thigh and she looked like she was all leg with the black high heels she was wearing.

Cris walked out of his room at the same time she did. He just stopped and stared at her.

"What? Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Uh no. You really think you two are gonna make it to the restaurant with you looking like that?"

"Shut up! If they over hear you I won't be able to go. I want him to remember what he's leaving behind," Lia said in a loud whisper.

"He won't ever forget you, Lia. Especially after he sees you in that dress," Cris said. "Maybe Steph and I should go with you. Where are you going?" Cris suggested.

"No you won't, and I don't know. He won't tell me. All he said was to dress up it was somewhere nice."

Seth was in the kitchen when Lia walked in and his mouth drop open and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. "Babe you are gorgeous," he said once his speech returned.

"Thanks, you look gorgeous yourself," she replied. Seth was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and black tie."

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"It's a surprise." Turning back to Cris, "Don't wait up for us Cris we'll be back late," Seth said. "Don't worry your parents know where we'll be."

Seth walked over to Lia, gave her a kiss and ushered her to the door. Walking to his car he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. "You know maybe we'll skip dinner and just get a motel room. You look so hot tonight; I don't think I'll be able to keep my hands off of you." He kissed the back of her neck as she got into his car.

"We're going out to eat, Seth. I want to know where."

"A little Italian restaurant right outside of Philly they have excellent food and the waiting list to get a reservation is miles long."

"Then how did you get a reservation at this late date?"

"That's a secret," he said jokingly.

But Lia didn't take it as a joke. "You told me no secrets between us."

"Don't be so serious Lia. Remember my Uncle Stefan?"

"Yeah. How can anyone forget him? He's such a comedian, cracking those jokes all the time. Isn't he the one that your Dad always was worried about not doing anything with his life?"

"Yep, well he opened this restaurant a few years back and it is a real fancy place. No one in the family thought it would do as good as it is. He's making a fortune and when I wanted to take you some place nice I knew this was the perfect place."

"Good for him. See your Dad didn't have to worry about him after all," Lia said.

"Yeah if it weren't for him I don't think we would have been able to keep the house as long as we did. He really helped us out, but Dad hated his younger brother helping like that."

"How much younger is he?"

"Nine or ten years. He's the youngest and my Dad's the oldest. He's the biggest reason my Dad got sober, Uncle Stefan really layed into him, took him away to the rehab and told him not to come back until he was ready to be a husband and a father. I remember that fight between the two of them like it was yesterday."

"You never told me that."

"It was embarrassing for me. I didn't want anyone to know. I was only like nine years old. I didn't even tell Cris about that fight. Just that my Dad went to rehab. The same thing I told you," he said.

"I can understand you being embarrassed, but always remember neither Cris nor I thought any different about you, then or now. You're my brother's best friend and mine too. I'm glad your uncle loved your Dad enough to do it. It was a crazy time in your life back then not knowing when he was going to be drunk and he always took it out on you and your Mom. That happen right after your Mom went to the hospital that time didn't it?" she asked gently.

"Yeah, when she fell down the steps. They were fighting that night."

"Did he push her down them?"

"No I was there the whole time, he was yelling and screaming and she was trying to get away from him and trip down the steps. So yeah in a way it's my Dad's fault, but he didn't hit her or push her. Uncle Stefan came to the house the next day and flipped out on him. They started fighting. Stefan beat the crap out of him and screamed at him, he better go into rehab. Stefan took him and we didn't see him for awhile. I guess Mom went for the counseling sessions with Stefan, but I refused to go."

"Yeah I remember that. Why didn't you want to go?"

"I couldn't forgive him. Even though I know he didn't push her, I blamed him for it and I didn't want to forgive him at the time. As I got older I know he really didn't mean for that to happen, and since then he has tried to make it up to her through the years. She forgave him, but she'll never forget all he did. We both were scared when he lost his job thinking it would be a repeat of before. I think we held our breath every time he came home, but to his credit he didn't get that bad. He went to his meetings more. It must have been a struggle for him. I respect him for it."

"So why are you giving him such a hard time now. Why won't you talk to him?"

"I do talk to him when I'm home. I don't want to move. I don't want to leave you. I could care less about everything and everyone else, but you, Lia. The only way for me to get through it is I just keep telling myself it's only for a few months. Because once I'm done with school I'm coming back to you."

"Oh Seth, I love you and I'll be here waiting for you." she said as Seth grabbed her hand and kissed it. He wanted to kiss her, but that was impossible while he was driving.

They drove in silence the rest of the way each in their own thoughts. When they reached the restaurant he pulled into the parking lot which was beginning to fill with cars for the night. The outside looked like a café from Italy. There was a green awning running the front of the building with potted plants hanging down. Green ivy crawled up the front of the stone building. Painted on the huge front window was the name of the place, Rossetti's Italian Restaurant. It was a very classy place, one where you wouldn't walk in with jeans on. Lia was glad she wore the dress she did, at home she thought it was a little over the top, but here she'd fit right in.

Seth walked around the car and opened the door for her. When she stepped out into his arms he held her close and kissed her with so much passion she couldn't think. He took her breath away. "I've been thinking of doing that all the way here. You are so beautiful."

"I think we better go in people are staring at us."

"No Babe, they're staring at you," he said and grabbed her hand as he walked to the front door.

He walked right by a line of people waiting for their tables and up to the reception area. When he gave his name to the hostess she immediately picked up the phone to call to the back. "Your nephew is here." She looked at Seth, "Your uncle will be right out," she said. As soon as she spoke those words his uncle came out the back and gave him a big hug.

"Seth it's good to see you. How's the family?" But before he could answer his uncle turned toward Lia. "My god, Lia you are looking exquisite tonight. My nephew is one lucky man." He said giving her a kiss on each cheek.

"Thank you, Uncle Stefan," she replied.

"You are most welcome, my dear."

He walked them to a secluded table in the furthest area of the restaurant. "This is my personal table here and I want you to enjoy. This is on the house as your money is not good here."

"No," Seth started.

"No buts. I am the law here and you will not pay for anything in my place," Stefan insisted. "Now sit and enjoy. Would you like some wine?"

"No just sodas," Seth replied.

"Very good, I will have them brought over to you and no need to order I have everything planned for you," he said and lit the candles on the table. The warm glow of the candles was the perfect thing to calm her down. She was starting to feel like she didn't belong here.

She looked around the place it was very upscale. Every table was secluded for intimate dining either by high walls with many potted plants on top, or by tall bushes or walls of ivy. "Thank you for bringing me here, Seth it's amazing. I've never been to a restaurant like this before. I'm glad I got to experience this with you. I'll remember it always," she sighed.

"Stefan really went all out on this place it is amazing. I'll never forget tonight either especially the way you look," he whispered, taking her hand across the table and holding it in his.

Chapter 14

While they were sitting there holding hands and discussing the restaurant, the waitress brought out salads to them. Placing one in front of Lia she exclaimed, "This is a whole meal in itself."

Smiling the waitress walked away, "You always have a big appetite and Uncle Stefan knows that."

"Ha ha, real funny," Lia said taking a bite of the salad.

Before they were done with their salads the main course came. Stefan brought it out himself. "I remembered you loved my chicken parmesan the last time I was over at Seth's so I made it just for you Lia."

"Oh I love it. Thank you Stefan," Lia exclaimed. "How did you know that the minute I walked in here that's was I was craving?"

"We chefs are psychic. They teach us to be in cooking school," Stefan teased.

Seth and Lia both laughed.

"You both enjoy and if you need anything else just let the waitress know," Stefan said walking back into the kitchen.

Lia took a bite, "This is so good, but I don't think I can eat all of it. I don't want to offend him. It's just too much."

"You won't offend him Lia, stop worrying. Eat what you can and take the rest home," Seth said.

They ate in silence for a few moments when Lia looked at Seth he wasn't eating he was staring at her, "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing is wrong, it seems so right being here with you. You look so incredibly beautiful tonight it blows my mind. I can't seem to think straight right now. All I can think about is last weekend up at the cabin and how you felt next to me. I want to have that again right now," he admitted.

"Oh." Was all she could say, she was choked up with emotion. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked at him.

He moved his chair over to hers "What's the matter? Why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry I didn't want to do this tonight. I didn't want to cry. I'm going to miss you so bad I don't know what to do. I'm trying not to make you feel guilty or anything, but I don't think I can stop them now that they started," she said through the tears and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Last weekend was the best of my life and I'll never forget it."

"Lia I made a promise to you that weekend and I'll make it again, some way, somehow we'll stay together and see each other as often as we can."

"I know you'll try, but winter will be here and that's going to stop us from seeing each other, then the holidays will be here and we won't be together."

"I'm seeing you through the holidays I don't care what my parents say, as for the winter we'll see how bad it is."

"I know it's just a waiting game with it all. I'm going to the bathroom to fix my makeup be right back," she said getting up from the table.

"Seth is everything alright? Why was Lia crying? I was coming over here to talk to you guys when I notice she was crying and I didn't want to intrude," Stefan asked.

"She's upset that I'm moving and I brought up last weekend which was special to us and it started her crying. I'm so mad right now I could kill my Dad for making me move with them. Don't get me wrong, Uncle Stefan, I'm glad my Dad got a good job and everything, but I don't want to move. I don't want to leave her, nor graduate with a bunch of strangers," Seth stormed.

"I understand that and I tried talking to your dad about you moving, knowing how close you and Lia are, but he was not budging on leaving you behind. I tried for you, kid real hard."

"I didn't know you did that. Thanks Stefan, we have been going round and round with it too and he won't let me stay."

"Well to change the subject a little. Did Lizzy help you pick out what you needed?"

"Yeah it's beautiful. I just hope Lia likes it as much as I do," Seth replied.

"Didn't you give it to her yet?"

"No I messed everything up by bring up last weekend. I didn't know she was going to be so upset by it all. I didn't even get anywhere near what I wanted to ask her. I guess I'll just wait till later sometime."

"When? You're moving Saturday! You need to do it before you leave or you're going to regret it," Stefan said. "Here comes your beautiful lady now and I think you should do it here and now."

"We'll see, I don't want to upset her anymore."

"How could that upset her? It would make her feel wonderful," Stefan said.

"What would make who feel wonderful?" Lia asked hearing the last of their conversation.

"I leave that up to Seth, my dear. How was the food?"

"It was wonderful, but unfortunately I couldn't eat it all," Lia confessed.

"Well you must take it home with you," Stefan announced, picking up their plates.

"I would love that," Lia replied.

"I'll leave you two now to bring out desert, but I'll give you a moment before I do," Stefan said looking at his nephew pointedly.

"Seth what's going on? It seems like your uncle knows something I don't," she inquired.

Seth didn't answer her, he had to conquer his demons in his head quickly and decide if he was going to ask her what he must.

"Seth?"

"Lia, you know I have liked you forever, even told your brother many times over that you're the girl for me. You have stuck by me through all the bad times and there were many, but there were some good ones too." Seth said taking a deep breath. He got down on one knee next to her chair and took a small box out of his jacket pocket. He looked up into her eyes and asked, "Lia will you marry me?"

When he went down on one knee she started crying all over again, but this time it was tears of joy. "Yes," she whispered though the tears. He opened the box and in was a solitaire diamond with two braids intertwined wrapping around the ring. He took it out and put it on her finger. She wrapped her arms him and kissed him feverishly. She pulled away and looked at her engagement ring; it was the most beautiful ring she ever saw.

"Seth you didn't take that money you got from your party to pay for this did you?" she asked.

"No I've been saving up for a long time. Right after we got back together last year I knew I wanted to ask you, but I was going to wait till after graduation to ask you. This seemed like a more fitting time to do it. I love you Lia and I want you to be sure of it."

"I love you too Seth," Lia said. Suddenly a frown appeared on her face and she looked at him. "Our parents are going to freak out on us."

"I know. We just have to reassure them that were not getting married before you graduate. We can make this all work. I promise," he said and kissed her again.

They broke the kiss when his uncle cleared his throat behind them holding a small cake that looked like a wedding cake. "I see congratulation is in order here. You two will make a most beautiful bride and groom," he said.

"Thank you, Uncle Stefan," Lia said grinning from ear to ear.

"Now let me see that ring of yours," Stefan said. "Nice solitaire, nice clarity. You did a fine job of picking out a good ring for your bride, Seth."

"Thanks," Seth said.

"Well I'll leave you two alone now," Stefan said,

"No I want to celebrate and since you'll probably be the only one happy for us, stay and have some cake with us," Lia said. He grinned as he pulled a chair over to the table. "So you knew he was going to ask me tonight?"

"No I didn't," Stefan lied.

"Don't lie to me," Lia said. "How would you know to have the cake ready to congratulate us?"

"Lucky guess?" he said.

"It's alright, you can tell her I called and told you my plan for tonight. I can't get anything by her," Seth chuckled.

"I knew he told you. So how mad do you think our parents are going to be?" Lia asked.

"I can't answer for your parents, Lia. As for Seth's they expect it. Only, later not now. They might think you are a little too young right now, but if they're smart they'll accept it as it was inevitable with the circumstances. No matter what anyone says, be happy with yourselves. It's all your ever gonna have in the long run anyway. I know you will be happy with each other and that's all I can ask."

"Thank you for your blessing, Uncle, it means a lot to the both of us," Seth said.

They sat a talked about family and various thing for a half an hour when Seth said, "Uncle we need to be going it's a long ride home and I want to spend some time with Lia. Make sure you come to see us soon."

"I will nephew. Lia I want to give you my number in case you need me for anything. I'll always be there for you," Stefan said.

"Thank you, but I don't want to be a pain for you," Lia said.

"How could my nephew's fiancé be a pain to me," he said standing up taking Lia's hand in his she rose with him. Giving her a hug, he whispered, "Day or night you need me I'll be there even if it's just to talk."

She looked down at the card he gave her. It was his business card for the restaurant, but on the back he put his home number and his cell number. She tucked it into her purse for safe keeping. "Thank you for a wonderful meal. Your place is magnificent."

"Coming from family your complement means so much to me, Lia," Stefan said kissing her lightly on each cheek.

"Thank you Uncle Stefan for everything tonight and I do mean everything," Seth said knowing his uncle would understand what he meant.

"Anything for you my nephew," Stefan said. "Have a safe trip home."

"We will," Seth answered as they walked out the door to the car.

Seth helped her into the car and as he went around to the other side she stared at her engagement ring. It was so stunning. She never expected to get one tonight from him.

He opened his door as saw her looking at her ring, "Do you really like it?"

"I love it! I never expected it tonight; in fact I didn't expect it for a few years. Now we have to tell our parents and that scares me," Lia said.

"Let's not think about that now. We'll deal with it a little later. I just want to get home to spend some time with you."

"Where are we going?"

"To my house."

~~*~~

They arrived at Seth's house. It looked dark inside. "Seth where's your mom and dad?"

"They're in New York. They left with a moving van full of stuff, so don't be upset when you walk in there, a lot of the stuff is gone. We'll go up to tomorrow with some stuff that Cris and I will pack up and meet them there."

They walked into the house and it was like the life went out of it. Most of the stuff in the living room and dining room were gone. Seth wouldn't let her dwell in there; he pulled her up the steps to his room, which didn't look any different than before.

He pulled her to him and kissed her. Holding her close he started kissing down her neck to her shoulder, pulling the strap down as he went. "I've been thinking of doing this all night. You smell so good."

"Seth slow down a minute."

"I'm sorry Lia this has been on my mind since I saw you walk into your kitchen hours ago."

"I know that. I read it right across your face. Give me a minute to absorb everything from tonight from us getting engaged to seeing your home half empty I can't comprehend it all."

"Sorry Babe, I wasn't thinking about it all and how it would affect you. Sit on the bed and I'll put something on TV and we can just sit back and watch it."

He put some movie on a typical guy flick with cars racing everywhere and someone chasing someone else. She really didn't pay too much attention to it. She just rested back against him and kept looking at her ring.

He noticed she kept looking at the ring he asked, "Do you really like it?"

"I love it, it comes from you so no matter what, I would love it," she said turning toward him and kissed him.

The kiss deepened and soon they were breathless. His hands were rubbing down her back. He slipped one of the straps down her arm. He kissed down her neck. She gasped and started to get that feeling way down deep, the feeling only Seth could give her She lost control, grasping for breathe she screamed, "Seth!"

They laid on his bed in each other arms for a while afterwards. Both too exhausted to speak. Seth was playing with her hair when she said, "God how I'm gonna miss you. I don't know if I can make it through tomorrow."

"You will Babe, remember I feel the same way you do. I better get you home," he said reluctantly.

"It's only ten o'clock," Lia said.

"Yeah I know, but we'll have to deal with your parents once we tell them we're engaged. I'm sure it'll take awhile for the screaming to stop," he said half jokingly.

"Don't joke; it'll probably be like that and worse."

"Do you regret saying yes to me?"

"No way. I love you and want to be your wife."

Chapter 15

They were in the kitchen at Lia's house sitting at the table eating some of the cake they brought home from his uncle's restaurant when Cris walked in. "Hey guys, how was your night? Where'd he take you Lia?"

"To a fabulous restaurant outside of Philly, it was Rossetti's Italian Restaurant. His Uncle Stefan owns it, the food was excellent and so was the atmosphere," Lia said.

"Nice one, Seth. So? What else did you two do?" Cris probed.

"He knew didn't he?" Lia accused Seth.

"Well I had to ask someone in your family first. And as I couldn't ask your Dad I asked Cris," Seth reasoned.

"You did not ask my brother if you could marry me!" Lia stormed.

"No he didn't ask me he told me. Then asked if I minded," Cris said. "What was I gonna say? I knew years ago you would end up married eventually. At least I broke some of the tension for you to tell the folks."

"What?" Lia and Seth said together. A shudder of fear raced through both of them. They stared at Cris in disbelief.

"I told them I thought Seth was gonna ask you tonight. I didn't say he was," Cris replied.

"What did they say?" Seth asked cautiously.

"Well they weren't too happy, but they said they knew it was going to happen. Believe it or not Dad didn't have a coronary like I thought he would. He actually was kinda of quiet."

"Great now I have to wait for the blow up," Lia replied quietly.

"No I don't think so. It wasn't the quiet before the storm type of quiet, just kinda of resigned to the fact. Well I guess we get to find out now since they're home," Cris announced.

Seth took Lia's hand in his and kissed it reassuring her silently. He was smiling at her when her parents walked in the house. They both turned and looked at her parents. Her mom asked, "How was dinner? Where did you go?"

"To Seth's uncle's restaurant outside of Philly it was real nice and great food. Mom you should have seen it, the place was amazing and the food great. There's some leftovers in the frig," Lia said.

"Oh like we need more of those after all we got from the party," Mrs. Lombardi laughed.

"These are way better," Lia said.

Seth cleared his throat and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Lombardi I wanted to tell you that I asked Lia to marry me tonight. And before you get all mad at us we won't be doing anything until after Lia graduates next year."

"Well it's not like we didn't expect it, but so soon. You are both so young," Mrs. Lombardi questioned.

"Mom we've been best friends for so many years, and have been dating the last two years. It's not like we don't know each other. Like Seth said we're not going to do anything until after I graduate. We're both still going to college no matter what. Whether were married or not," Lia explained. Turning to her dad, "Dad please don't give us a hard time about it. Please don't spoil it for me. I'm so happy."

"I'm not pleased about this. Not now with him moving. Anything can happen when your two hours away," Mr. Lombardi said looking directly at Seth.

"I won't be doing anything, Mr. Lombardi, but going to school, playing football and working to save as much money as I can. I don't have a problem working hard for what I want, and working up in New York with a higher pay rate I should be able to save a lot more," Seth said.

"Everything costs more up there too," Mr. Lombardi grumbled.

"What do I need? Some gas to come see Lia, and finish working on my car, which is almost done. I'll even buy the parts down here so it won't cost as much. I'll still be working at Auto Parts up in New York so I'll still be able to use my discount down here."

"You think you have it all figured out, don't you?" Mr. Lombardi sneered.

"No I don't, but I'm trying. I love Lia and there's nothing I would do to hurt her," Seth declared.

"Dear let them be. It's awhile before they plan on getting married. It's not like they are eloping any time soon," Mrs. Lombardi said. Then turned to the two of them and asked, "Right?"

"Right, Mom I want the whole wedding with Dad walking me down the aisle, the bridesmaids and everything," Lia confirmed.

"Well let me see the ring then," Mrs. Lombardi asked.

Lia stuck out her hand and let them all see it. "Isn't it beautiful Mom?"

"Yes it is," Mrs. Lombardi answered. "Very stunning, you have very good taste in jewelry Seth."

"Thank you, but it kinda just hit me when I was looking at the store. I thought Lia would love it," Seth said.

"I most definitely do," she answered.

"I should be going. Cris we have to be up early to pack up the other moving van and get up to New York. Thanks for letting both of them help us tomorrow, they should be back a little after supper if we get a good move on in the morning," Seth said.

"Why don't you just stay here tonight in my room," Cris said. "Since no one's home at your place, you don't have to stay there alone."

"Its fine, I don't mind being there alone. In fact I really want to stay there tonight, the last night, before I go. You know we have lived there almost my whole life, it's going to be strange living anywhere else," Seth said.

"You moved here when you were five. I remember meeting your mother at the supermarket. She was lost. She was trying to find the playground and pulled up outside the market when I was walking out. You were such a cute kid, sitting in the back screaming you wanted the playground. I took pity on her and told her to follow me. I think the three of you have been friends ever since," Mrs. Lombardi reminisced.

"And he still screams when he don't get his way," Lia laughed.

"Ha ha funny," Seth replied. "I really have to go. I'll call you later Lia."

Lia walked him out to the car. "You really want to be alone tonight?"

"Yeah need to get some things straight in my head, figure things out."

"Like what?" Lia asked.

"Well one thing is how we're gonna pack up all that's left, but really how I'm gonna do all I have to do. My parents can't pay for my college, that's why I want to do two years at community college. But that's gonna cost me more here since I'm moving out of state. It's just a lot I have to figure out."

"Well try for the football scholarship," Lia said.

"I won't be able to come back here, Lia if I do that."

"There are universities around here you could get a scholarship to," Lia reminded him. "Just do your best and try for it. We'll work everything out later."

"I don't even think I want to play football in New York. It won't be the same," Seth said.

"It's your last year, Babe finish it out. Or at least try it. Who knows you might like it," she said.

"I'll see," he said. "Go back inside and get some sleep you have to be up early. I love you," he said.

"I love you too. I love my ring, you made me so happy tonight," she gushed hugging him and giving him a kiss. "I'm so glad my parents didn't freak out like I thought."

"Yeah me too. Now we have to tell my parents tomorrow."

~~*~~

"Lia are you done packing up Seth's room yet?" Cris yelled up the stairs.

"Almost, stop yelling at me. It's not my fault nothing was packed up here." When she walked into Seth room this morning nothing in it was packed. She packed the whole morning, while the guys loaded the rest of the truck. It made her angry that they were yelling at her to hurry up, one person can only do so much.

"It's almost eleven and we have the majority of the truck packed and we need to get Seth's things on it."

"You can start taking what I have packed, it'll give me more room to move in here," she said. "Take the drawers out of the dresser and then put them back in on the truck."

An hour later they were ready to leave, the truck was packed to the top. All three of them were sitting in the cab of the truck. Seth took Lia's hand in his and gave it a squeeze; he started the truck, pulled out of the driveway a somber look in his eye.

Cris reach over Lia and turned on the radio, oblivious to the somber atmosphere in the truck. In a way it was a good thing, it pulled them out the gloomy mood they were both in.

The trip was uneventful and sped by too quick for Lia. They reached New York and found the apartment building he was moving into. He had to park the moving truck in the parking deck, which was no easy feat considering how tight the parking deck was. She was glad Seth was driving and not her.

His Dad met them in the parking deck and directed Seth into a parking space saved just for people moving in and out.

"How was the trip here?" Mr. Rossetti asked.

"Fine. The only thing left at the house is just small stuff that we can get tomorrow when we go back," Seth replied.

"Good, everything in here then. How did you manage it?" Mr. Rossetti said.

"Be careful when you open the back," Lia teased.

"Oh kinda like his closet," Mrs. Rossetti said coming up behind them.

"Yeah and I had to pack that closet," Lia laughed.

"Oh you poor girl. Before we start unpacking let me show you the apartment," Mrs. Rossetti suggested.

"That would be great," Lia said trying to keep her left hand hidden.

"I have to talk to you," Seth said. "But not down here. Let's go show Lia and Cris the apartment."

"What wrong Seth?" Mrs. Rossetti said.

"Nothing's wrong in fact everything's great," Seth said.

They rode the elevator up to the twenty first floor. The doors opened to a small lobby richly furnished with two long tables and two plush chairs in the color of spun gold. The enormous windows over looked the city, or as far as you could see with all the buildings around.

"I bet that's a wonderful view at night," Lia said.

"Oh yes it is. I was mesmerized by it last night," Mrs. Rossetti said. Walking down the hallway to the right was their apartment 2120.

"Right now it's a mess, but I have so many ideas for it," Mrs. Rossetti said before she opened the door.

Lia stood in the doorway and saw the apartment. You walk into a small foyer; the living room was down a small hallway. It was big and roomy, bigger than the one they had in the house. It was painted a medium brown with a light tan rug that sunk a little when you walked on it.

"This room is so big, I'm shocked. Every time I see pictures or movies the apartments are always so small," Lia said.

"I know there's a nice size kitchen over here that leads off to the dining room. Come see," Mrs. Rossetti said.

The kitchen had all new appliances in sparkling white, the stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator. The cabinets where a light wood and had glass panes in each one. There was a rack to hold the plates and above hanging from the ceiling was a rack to hold the pots and pans.

"This is real nice. Mrs. Rossetti, you'll be able to have nice parties in here," Lia said.

"Yeah I'm sure we'll have a few of those, from what I hear," Mrs. Rossetti said.

"Mom, can we go back into the living room? I need to talk to you and Dad," Seth said.

Seth waited for Lia to walk past him and he stopped her giving her a quick kiss and whispered, "It's going to be ok."

The two of them walked into the living room and both his parents looked at them. "Mom, Dad, Lia and I have become engaged as of last night. Before you start yelling, we're not getting married until after Lia graduates."

"High school or college?" Mrs. Rossetti asked.

"Probably high school, not real sure yet, we haven't set a date," Seth said.

"Are you mad, boy? No offense Lia. You both are too young to be engaged!" Mr. Rossetti exploded.

"We are not!" Seth yelled back. "You know its funny how Lia's parents took it so much better. Admittedly they aren't thrilled by it, but they accept it, knowing we mean what we say when we aren't getting married till after graduation."

"Yeah I'm sure Lia's Dad took it real well," Mr. Rossetti said.

"He didn't say too much, but he didn't yell at us," Lia said. "What difference does it make if we are engaged now or in a year? It makes me feel better knowing Seth is up here and I'm in PA. Knowing that Seth loves me enough to be engaged to me and not leaving me there to wonder if I'll ever get to see him again! I'm sorry if you don't like it, but this is what we want."

"Don't get upset, dear," Mrs. Rossetti said calmly. "We were just shocked. Not that you got engaged, but now. I really do understand the timing of it all. Seth loves you and would do anything to make you feel safe and secure."

"That's a bad thing?" Lia demanded.

"No it's not. We just think it's a little too much, too fast," Mrs. Rossetti said.

"Look Mom, Dad were engaged and nothing will change that. We love each other and that's that. You don't have to like it. It's funny how Uncle Stefan was so happy for us, but my own parents aren't," Seth said. "Come on, Cris let's go unpack and then we'll go back to PA. You can come and finish the packing back home, Dad, I'm done with it and you," Seth said storming out the door.

Lia stood at the window tears streaming down her face. Mrs. Rossetti walked up behind her and put her hand on her shoulder, "Sorry, Lia I guess we didn't handle that too well. Can I see the ring he got you?"

Putting her left hand in the hand of Mrs. Rossetti's she looked at the ring. "My, what a beautiful ring, my son sure does have good taste. It's lovely, Lia and I'm so sorry if we ruined it for you."

"No you didn't. I love your son and nothing will take that away from me," Lia stated.

Chapter 16

Seth and Cris went down the elevator and Seth stormed out the door, slamming it against the wall. "I can't believe him! Yelling at us like that! Making Lia feel like shit!" Seth yelled.

"I think it was the shock. They weren't expecting it; yeah they could have handled it better, but getting pissed at them isn't gonna help," Cris said.

"Look I don't want anything to do with them," Seth said throwing the keys at the truck, hitting the back of it with a loud bang. Anger coursed through his body with no way for it to release.

"Give it time, Seth. Don't be like that. They'll come around and like you said yourself you two won't get married till after graduation," Cris said.

"Give it time?! I swear he wants us to break up more than your Dad. I don't get it, really I don't."

"I don't think that, it maybe he thinks you two are too serious too early. You know your Dad hasn't had a great life, and I know he did it to himself, but I think part of him might be afraid you'll do the same thing he did. Getting drunk like we did scared him more and you getting drunk the other night didn't help matters either," Cris said.

"I guess you could be right."

"Don't let it ruin what you and Lia have. You two know how you feel about each other. Even though you're engaged now it's still going to be an adjustment for you both. Don't hurt her anymore; you know you left her upstairs with your parents by herself. Do you think their giving her a hard time?"

"No, my Mom's probably gushing about the ring, you know how Mom is. She actually gave me the idea to get engaged without her even knowing it."

"How?"

"A friend of hers got engaged and the way my Mom talked it up as a great romantic gesture got me to thinking about Lia and me. I knew, you knew, everyone knew we would be engaged soon anyway so I just did it a little faster than originally planned."

""I'll say. You planned it for Lia's graduation, which is a year and a half away," Chris said.

"Yeah I know, but this seemed like a better time to do it. What now you're gonna give me a hard time about it?" Seth inquired.

"No I'm not just stating a fact. Hey I'm glad you did, it gives her a sense of protection. She won't worry as much about losing you to someone else," Cris said.

"That won't happen," Seth said.

"Hey anything can happen in life, bro." Cris said.

"I know, but that won't," Seth replied.

"Time will tell. Let's start getting this stuff up there so we can get back home. I'm sure Lia will want to show everyone her ring. By the way that must have cost you a fortune," Cris inquired.

"Not really, Uncle Stefan and his connections helped a lot. His one friend owns a jewelry store so I got it at a discount."

"Even at a discount it must have cost a lot," Cris said.

"Yeah it did, but she's worth it to me."

"You're not going to tell me how much you paid are you?"

"Nope. There's an elevator around the corner there to take up the big stuff. Let's get going."

"Nice way to change the subject," Cris laughed.

~~*~~

They got back to Pennsylvania around six o'clock that night. All three were tired, but they got home showered and changed. Since there was no game tonight, as this week's the game was on Saturday, they were going to hang out at the Pizza Shack.

Sitting in the booth waiting for Cris to get there with Steph, Seth asked, "Lia what's wrong?"

"Didn't we do the right thing, getting engaged? It's seems like we're getting a lot of flack about it."

Seth just sat there looking at her, "You regret getting engaged?"

"No! I love it, but I think everyone thinks it's too soon."

"I don't care what everyone else thinks, it's our life, Lia. We need to do what's right for us."

At that time Steph and Cris slid into the seat across from them. "I want to see your ring, Lia," Steph said. Putting out her left hand and showing her the ring, "Wow that's beautiful. I'm so happy for you guys. It's prefect with Seth moving and everything, now you know Seth and you will be together forever."

"Yeah it does," Lia said grinning. She really needed someone to be happy for her.

Tina and Tasha walked up to their table. "Hey what's new?" Tasha asked.

"Nothing much," Seth said.

"Yeah ok," Steph said. "Look at the ring Seth got Lia."

"What?" Tina exclaimed. "Let me see it."

Lia showed them the ring, "Wow you two are engaged that's awesome," Tasha said. "Not surprised in the least. That ring is gorgeous, Seth."

"Thanks," Seth said. "Cris let's go order food and leave the girls here."

They walked up to the counter to order the food and when Seth looked back at the table there were more girls their talking to Lia. "Good thing we left."

"Why?" Cris asked. He looked back at the table and saw it was surrounded by a lot more girls. "Uh yeah I guess it was."

"I'm glad some people are happy for us. Lia really needed that."

"So did your parents give her a hard time?"

"No I asked. She said my Mom loved the ring and my Dad just ignored us both, which is good I guess."

"Well I talked to my Dad and you're sleeping at our house tonight. You're not helping your Dad tomorrow?" Cris asked.

"Nope, I meant it went I said I was done with him. You know I never told you this, but my Dad wanted to use all the money I saved when he lost his job, I told him no. It was for college and he told me I wouldn't go to college and that I would never amount to anything. So I was to give him all my money so we could live. He was drinking again right after he lost his job."

"Why didn't you tell me? Did you tell Lia?"

"No I didn't tell anyone because I was too embarrassed."

"Why be embarrassed? I thought your uncle helped you guys out." Cris replied.

"Yeah he did once I went to him complaining about my Dad taking my money. He helped us out. My Mom threatened to leave him; she even looked at a few apartments. Then my Dad went back to his meetings to get help again. Then I pulled that little stunt with the drinking and driving it just pulled us further apart. I have no respect for him anymore. Don't get me wrong I'm glad he got this job and it's a really good paying one, but I don't want to live with them anymore. I wish I could stay here for many reasons not just Lia."

"I know this really blows you leaving and all, but we'll all be here when you get back, just keep in touch with us," Cris said.

"Yeah I will, but it won't be the same," Seth said taking their food back to the table.

"Hey ladies you think we could sit down now?" Seth inquired of the group of girls hovering around the booth.

Giggling they moved so Cris and Seth could sit down, but they weren't leaving. "So much for a quiet time here at Pizza Shack." Seth whispered.

"When is it ever quiet here?" Lia giggled.

"You feeling better?" Seth asked.

"Yeah I needed someone to be happy for us, genuinely happy for us, not just the lip service of my parents and the yelling of yours. It just made me think we were wrong in doing this now."

"And you don't think that now?"

"You know I never really thought that, but a little doubt entered my mind this afternoon. I'm all over it now. In a way I wish we could get married now, I know it's not a realistic thing as we're both under eighteen, but I do wish it. Seth I'm gonna miss you in a few hours we have to say goodnight and then good bye," Lia stammered as tears formed in her eyes.

"I'm staying at your house tonight so there won't be a goodnight, we can stay up all night if you want," he suggested.

"Yeah I do," she replied. While they were talking the rest of the girls started to move away from the table. When Mr. Grayson walked up to the table.

"Seth, Lia how have you two been?" he asked.

"As good as can be expected under the circumstances," Lia replied. "We were going to stop by your house tomorrow. Are you going to be home?"

"Yes I'll be home all day. I thought you forgot about coming to see me before you left, Seth," he replied.

"No, I didn't forget just had a lot to do this week and Lia said to go by tomorrow before I leave," Seth replied.

"Very good, I'll see you tomorrow," he said starting to walk away.

"Mr. Grayson, are you meeting someone here?" Lia asked.

"No, no just ordering to take home," he replied.

"Why don't you get your food and eat with us?" Lia invited.

"I can't impose on you like that," Mr. Grayson answered.

"Why not? You're not imposing on us," Cris said.

"If you really don't mind."

"No we don't. In fact we just got our food and Seth and Cris ordered enough for an army so if you like pizza with everything on it you're welcome to share the two large pies we have here," Steph said.

"That's real nice of you kids. I don't know the last time I ate out with friends. Since Mrs. Grayson past away I don't go out much," he said.

"Well now you have some friends to eat out with. Cris get him a chair and pull it up to the booth," Lia said.

Mr. Grayson sat down with them and was eating when he noticed the ring on Lia's hand. "Good thing you did there, Seth," he said pointing to the ring.

"What?" Seth asked not realizing what Mr. Grayson was talking about.

"Getting engaged to Lia. Smart thing boy, she really loves you, keep her happy. Never know when it'll end. Even though I had many wonderful years with my wife, when she was gone it was like our whole life when by in a blink of an eye. We were childhood sweethearts too. Fell in love in my senior year and never stopped loving her since. Oh the ups and downs of it all, but it was all worth it in the end. I couldn't find anyone I could argue with as fiercely as I did with her, and the next minute be so in love with her and the fight forgotten. And oh the making up it was always better after a good fight," Mr. Grayson reminisced laughing.

They all laughed with him. It was so good to hear that an adult was rooting for them. Thinking what they are doing is a good thing. "Mr. Grayson thank you so much for not being like our parents and thinking what we did was so wrong. It makes me feel so much better," Lia said.

"Honey, you have to do what makes you happy, no one else can do that for you. When do you plan on getting married?"

"Not before I graduate high school," Lia answered.

"Then I think this is the right thing for you two to do. You are both being reasonable with the time frame of it all. I have to go now, I'll see you tomorrow before you leave Seth," he said.

"Yep be there in the afternoon around one, if that's ok?" Seth asked.

"That will be fine and make sure you bring your beautiful fiancé," Mr. Grayson said.

"I will," Seth said.

~~*~~

They went back to the Lombardi's house to watch the movies they rented on the way back. Lia let the guys pick the movies as she didn't want any sappy love stories she would have picked. She was going to have a hard enough time keeping herself from not crying all night anyway and if she watched her normal chick flicks she would be crying that much harder.

She went up stairs to get in her pajamas when she ran into her Dad in the hallway. "I don't want him sleeping in your room, do you hear me?" he said gruffly.

"Dad I wouldn't do that. Besides Cris, Seth and I are hanging out in the living room all night watching movies and having the last night together, just the three of us like old times," she said through tears.

"Ok just wanted to make myself clear. Don't worry, Lia, the next few months will fly by, and you'll be back with him everyday like before," Mr. Lombardi said.

Giving him a hug Lia said, "You really think so? You don't mind us being engaged? Lia asked.

"I wish you would have waited until after graduation, but like your Mom said it was going to happen so we might as well give you our blessing instead of our disapproval. I want what's best for you Lia, what makes you happy in life and I guess I'll just have to put up with it being Seth," he retorted.

"What did Seth ever do to you, or me that you don't like him?" Lia asked.

"He didn't do anything other than get you arrested for grand theft auto."

"Dad!"

"Well it's the truth. It's not so much him as you, Lia. You have always acted like you can't live without him. Ever since you were a little kid, if he moved one way you went with him, he moved a fraction of an inch the other way you moved with him. At the time everyone thought it was cute, but as you got older it's the same way. Then when you two broke up for that month, you fought everyone in your way back to him. You would badger Cris so bad to get Seth to see you I just didn't think it was healthy for you. I wanted to see you go out with other guys, date other guys, get away from Seth for your own good, but that wasn't happening. I just wasn't going to sit back and let you continue on with this, but your Mom told me to stay out of it. I think my anger grew and I just took it out on him. Then when I found out you were the one to supply the alcohol that night, I realized I can't change how you feel and I could no longer take it out on Seth. I hope someday he can forgive me for the way I treated him," Mr. Lombardi said.

"If you give us your honest blessing I can forgive you anything," Seth said coming up the steps. "Sorry I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I came up to go to the bathroom and didn't want to interrupt you."

"I give you my blessing as long as the wedding is after Lia graduates."

"It will be," Seth said smiling.

Chapter 17

Lia walked back downstairs like a zombie would. She walked over to the couch and flopped down on it, transfixed not saying a word.

Looking at her in confusion Cris asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I think she's in shock. Your Dad gave us his blessing," Seth said grinning from ear to ear. Feeling a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

"Wow! Really? What happened?" Cris asked.

"He told me he didn't like the way I was with Seth. He said it wasn't normal the way we are so in tune with each other. He wanted me to go out with other guys. He didn't think it was healthy for me to only be with Seth, but he realizes there's nothing he can do about it. So instead of taking it out on me, he took it out on Seth. Really it was messed up what he was saying, but in a weird way I get it. He just said as long as we wait till after graduation he gives us a blessing."

"Way cool for you, now's the time to ask for that car," Cris said.

"Naw it's alright, I'll get one on my own. With Seth gone I'm just going to go to school and work. So I should be able to get more money saved. By Christmas I should be able to get one."

"Hopefully, I don't want to cart your butt around here forever," Cris said.

"Ha ha, real funny, like I said the only places I'm going is to school and work."

Seth winced, "Babe, you can't stay in the house all the time. You need to go out with your friends," Seth said.

"Seth I'm not going out without you. Seeing all the couples together will be no fun for me. Don't worry, I'm not gonna become a hermit. I'll do what I have to for school, including cheerleading, but I'm gonna work a lot more than I did. We have a lot to save for and I'm not leaving that all up to you. I have a car, college, the wedding. If at all possible, Seth, I want us to pay for most it. I don't want either of our parents paying for it. Do you think your uncle will cater it for us at a discount?"

"He'll probably do it for nothing, he's always loved you, Lia just like a niece," Seth said.

"You know when I was younger he used to scare me. He was always trying to get me to talk to him, but he was so overwhelming I was afraid of him. I don't feel that way now, but did back then," Lia confessed.

"Yeah I remember you would never be around him unless Seth or I were around you," Cris said.

"Sorry I never knew he made you feel that way. Why didn't you ever say anything?" Seth questioned.

"Why would I tell you anything, we were little kids," Lia said.

"It would have been nice to know that's all. I would have never taken you to his restaurant knowing this," Seth said.

"No that's not it, Seth, I'm not afraid of him now. When I was younger I was. My family isn't like yours, when yours gets together their loud, robust, and full of life and I was a shy kid back then. Your uncle kept trying to get me to talk to him all the time. He overwhelmed me at times, geez I was like eight years old. Don't make me feel bad now. I love your uncle. He's done so much for us through the years," Lia said.

Putting his arm around her he said, "I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I'm the one to feel bad because I never realized how you felt."

"Ok let's put the movies in and change the conversation," Cris interjected. "What one do you want first?"

"Don't care you guys picked them," Lia said cuddling up to Seth.

"Put the one on top in," Seth said sitting back on the couch and pulling Lia with him. They wanted to savor this last night together, knowing it will be awhile till they can do this again, especially for the whole night.

They watched two movies back to back when Seth looked at Lia and saw she was asleep on his shoulder. He stared at her for a few minutes drinking in the sight of her. He looked at Cris and said, "Take care of her for me. Make sure she doesn't lose herself. I'm so afraid she won't be able to handle this. If she can't you have to tell me right away. If I have to I'll move back here, I don't care what my Dad says. The only reason I'm moving is because of my Mom. I don't want to make it harder on her, but if I have to pick it'll be Lia," Seth said.

"I think Lia will be fine, but I'll let you know if she's not handling it well. You know the first few weeks are gonna be hell for her. So don't get too upset with her when she cries on the phone. She's been trying real hard not to around you, but she cries herself to sleep ever since you told her you had to move," Cris said a little accusatory.

"I'm not that much of a jerk, Cris. I never told her not to cry, but it kills me inside to see it, I'll admit that. I'm the reason she cries and that makes it even worse for me," Seth said. "I don't think I'm gonna play football up there, I'm gonna do the same thing she's doing, going to school and then work a whole lot, to save money. She wants me to try for a scholarship to a four year college, but that would mean a year longer without her. I don't know what to do."

"She's right, play, try for the scholarship, then see where it goes. Maybe one of the colleges around here will want you and you guys won't be that far away. Some of the state colleges have good football programs and their not that far away from here, there's East Stroudsburg, Kutztown," Cris said.

"I don't even know if I'm good enough for a scholarship," Seth replied.

"You won't know till you try. Just play Seth; it'll take your mind off of her for a while too. She's not stopping cheerleading so why should you stop football? Just try it. If you don't like the team or coaches then quit," Cris said.

Thinking about it for a moment, "I guess I'll try it," he said vaguely. "Oh tomorrow, I'm not leaving until after the game, I want to see you guys play one last time. Too bad I can't play, but I'm all ready dis-enrolled. At least I get to finally watch her tomorrow, never get to do that while playing," Seth said getting choked up. "I'm gonna lay her down here so she can sleep better. I'll go sit on the chair so your Dad doesn't have a fit."

"You know the minute you move away from her she's gonna wake up, just lay down with her. What the hell are you two gonna do in the middle of the living room. Besides I'm awake here, I should get some sleep, but not really tired," Cris said. "Look Seth if it gets to be too much for you to be up there, you let us know too. We'll figure something out, some place for you to stay. This just really sucks my best friend and sister are both going to be basket cases tomorrow right along with me."

"Yeah I'll remember that, but no one's going to let me live with them for months, and I can't stay here. It'll all work out in the end somehow," Seth said laying down with Lia and holding her tight. "Damn how am I going to do this, Cris? I don't want to leave her! I'm afraid for my Mom to be up there with my Dad, don't know if he'll start drinking again. If something happened to her I'll feel like shit, but I don't want anything to happen to Lia either."

"Now I have to work and save more money than I thought because Lia wants to pay for the wedding herself."

"Yeah I know the pressures on, Bro, but I don't think Lia meant for you guys to pay for it all on your own, I think she just wants to help pay for it. You know it hasn't been easy for any of us the past couple of years with your Dad being out of work, and my Dad losing his overtime for so long, he's just started back doing that, and it's not as much as it used to be only a few hours a week instead of every night and weekends. He might not have lost his job, but it's like he lost a good paying part time job. She doesn't want to be a burden on them. Don't worry about the wedding yet, when you both have time to sit down and talk about it, find out what she wants to pay for, maybe it might be the flowers and dj or something," Cris said.

"Yeah I'll talk to her later about it once everything gets settled."

"And Bro, if she wants to pay for too much tell her straight out you can't. Keep her on a budget, in fact figure one out before you talk to her about it, then you can tell her look you got so much towards it. You just got engaged, bask in it for awhile, then get stressed out how you're gonna pay for it later."

"Yeah you're right with everything going on it's just too much to think about something that far away."

"Look, get some sleep. You have to drive up to New York tomorrow night and you don't need to be tired,' Cris said.

Seth laid back and held Lia tight. He couldn't sleep, his mind kept racing round and round with everything they had to face in the coming months. He honestly couldn't figure out how they were gonna do all they had to.

Not having the support of his parents bugged him more than he would let anyone know. He was tired of all the fighting, but he was losing all respect for his Dad and it had nothing to with his drinking problem. If he wouldn't accept their engagement, he'd lose his only son.

~~*~~

"Mom we're going over to Mr. Grayson's before the game. We'll probably go right from there to the school," Lia yelled up the stairs.

"Ok make sure you take everything you need. We'll see you at the game," Mrs. Lombardi yelled back.

"Ready to go, Lia? It's almost one and I don't want him to think we forgot," Seth asked.

"Yep, I'm ready." she said running back in for her purse.

"Sorry, forgot my purse," she said getting in the car.

They were quiet on the ride over, neither of them knowing what to say to each other. Lia tried, "I'm glad you'll finally get to watch me cheer tonight, but it must be hard not being able to play, I'm sorry about that."

"I'm there for you tonight. I want to see you cheer," Seth said as he grasped her hand and held on to it, a little too tight. She didn't say anything to him though she knew what he was going through. This is one of the worse days of her life, but she vowed to herself she was not crying in front of him.

They got out of the car at Mr. Grayson's, Seth opening the door for her. As they walked up the sidewalk they saw him looking out the window. When they reached the front door he opened it before they even knocked.

"Seth, Lia, please come in, so good of you to come. Have a seat," he said when they walked into the living room. "Tonight's a big game for you isn't it?"

"I can't play. I was disenrolled as of Friday so I can be enrolled up in New York for Monday," Seth said.

"Oh, sorry to hear that, I thought they'd let you play tonight."

"I think the coach would, but that would put them in trouble with the league. Now if the game would have been schedule for last night I could have. It's really no big deal; I get to watch Lia cheer. Something I couldn't do while playing, so that's the upside to it."

"Will you be able to play up in New York?" Mr. Grayson asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to try it out, but if I don't like it I'll quit," Seth said.

"No you won't. You need to get a scholarship Seth. I know it might take you away from me for a year longer, but you have to think about college."

"Lia, I don't even know if I'm good enough for a scholarship. I have to like the team and the coaches, if not, no matter how good I am won't make a difference."

"That's true, Seth," Mr. Grayson said. "But sometimes in life you have to put up with people you don't like, just finish out the year, try your best that's all people can ask of you. What are you gonna do if you get a job, but don't like someone there, quit just because someone ticks you off, or reports you for doing something wrong? No you can't. So let this be a learning experience for you. How to put up with people you don't like. Just stick it out; in the long run it'll be better for you. Either you'll get that scholarship, or you'll learn how to deal with people you despise," Mr. Grayson laughed.

"That's so true," Lia said.

"To change the subject a moment," Mr. Grayson said. "How are the folks handling the engagement?"

"Well my Dad told me the real reason why he didn't like Seth anymore. It had nothing to do with him and everything to do with me. He was upset that I was so intense about Seth, and wouldn't date anyone else when we were broken up. So he took it out on Seth, but he did apologize somewhat last night. He gave us his blessing for a wedding after I graduate. Why do you ask?" Lia explained.

"Oh I happened to run into him at the store on my way home last night and congratulated him on getting such a fine son-in-law. That life was too short, and you two are so lucky to find the love you have for each other so young," Mr. Grayson said with a mischievous look on his face.

"Thank you, Mr. Grayson for doing that for us. It took a big weight off my shoulders last night," Lia confessed.

"Too bad you couldn't do that for my Dad," Seth said.

"You won't be living around your Dad much longer Seth, so what he thinks doesn't really matter. If he loves you he'll come around. Don't back down from what you really want out of life, but keep him involved even if he pisses you off. That's one mistake I made, I pushed my son away from me, expecting him to do things the way I would have and by not being there for him. Now I only see him and his family around the holidays, since my wife died. They used to come around to see her more often, but she's not here now and he doesn't want to see his crotchety old man more than he has to."

"I'm sure that's not true," Lia said trying to lighten the mood a little.

"It is, but enough of that. What are your plans for the future?" he asked.

"Once I get out of high school I want to come back here to go to college and be here for Lia's senior year, if I can afford a place to stay. Then when she graduates we want to get married and then go away to school together somewhere." Seth said.

"Probably a state university since it will be cheaper and we'll be able to afford both of us going at the same time," Lia said. "Were both going to work a lot to be able to save our money for it all."

"Seth when you come back you can stay right here, rent free if it'll help you out, and you don't mind living with an old man," Mr. Grayson said.

"That's very kind of you and I will definitely keep that in mind," Seth said deeply touched by the offer.

They talked about the town and the people in for another hour when Lia said, "I have to go, Mr. Grayson it's been a real pleasure to visit with you, but I have to get up to the high school soon, the buses are leaving at 3:30 for the game."

"Where's the game tonight?" he asked.

"Phillipsburg, NJ and they like for us to be there early to practice," Lia said.

"You have a fun time at that game tonight. Don't worry about the immediate future, I feel it'll work itself out for you two," Mr. Grayson said.

"Thank you," Lia said.

Once they were out in the car Seth asked, "Lia can you check up on him from time to time? Just to make sure he's not lonely."

"Yeah, not a problem at all, I like the old man," Lia said.

Chapter 18

At the game Seth sat with Lia's parents, it was bitter sweet for him to be able to watch Lia cheer, but it was hard to sit on the sidelines and watch his team play. The more the night went on, the more depressed he got. He tried not to show it, and he wanted to leave in an upbeat way. He knew his final few minutes with Lia were going to be hard, but with everyone else he didn't want them to see his pain.

At halftime Lia sat with him they didn't talk much they just sat in the bleachers holding hands till she had to go back. "I'll meet you back at the high school, Lia. I don't want to be here at the end of the game," he said.

"Ok," she said gloomily.

"I'll stay till the middle of the fourth quarter, but not the end of the game," he said. "The people I really want to say good bye to will be at the school. I just don't want a bunch of people saying good bye."

"I have to get back," she said giving him a kiss.

"You're in uniform you know no pda," he teased. No pda was public display of affection and once you in any school uniform you could not display it.

"I don't care right now. If I could I would leave right now with you," she stated.

"I know, but you have to stay and I'm only leaving a few minutes before you anyway. It's selfish I know, but I can't be here," he said.

"I understand, really I do. I'm not mad or anything," she explained. "Why don't you go now? Wait for me at the high school."

"I'll wait a little," he said.

She went back to her squad to cheer the rest of the game. Seth left when her attention was preoccupied with a touchdown for them. While her back was turned toward the field he walked down the bleachers and to his car. He thought at least he won't have to see her face when he left the game.

He felt like a coward, but it's what he had to do to for his own sanity. He vowed to himself someway, somehow he'll make it up to her.

After the touchdown she turned to look in the bleachers for him, but he was gone. She felt a stab right through her heart, at the same time tears rolled down her face. For the rest of the game she was listless.

The rest of the game took only fifteen minutes, so he stayed longer than he said, but to Lia it felt like hours, as did the ride back to the school. The minute the bus pulled into the parking lot she looked for his car, it was there, but he wasn't inside. When the bus pulled up to the locker room doors he was there waiting for her.

Pushing her way to the front of the bus, she was the first one off and ran into his arms. Tears were running down her face and before anyone else came up he walked her to his car, got it and drove away.

He drove for a few minutes not knowing where to go when he ended up at the look out. He parked the car and pulled her to him, "Babe, I'm so sorry, I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you," he cried.

"I don't want you to go either. I'm sorry I busted into tears back there. I didn't want to do that, but when you left the game that's all I've been doing. The last few minutes of the game seemed like hours and the ride home was torture, then I saw your car, but you weren't there and I thought I would have to wait till I found you. I didn't think you would be there waiting for me."

"Why not? Why wouldn't I be waiting for you?" he asked.

"I don't know, I'm all mixed up and I can't think straight right now," she stated. "I thought since we are engaged now this wouldn't be so hard, but it is. I feel sick to my stomach right now, knowing I won't see you for a while."

"I feel the same way, Babe. I'll call you every night and every chance I get. I'm trying out for the football team so I don't really know what the schedule is for that, but I'll call you right after, before I have to go to work, and before I go to sleep at night."

"Seth we'll make this work somehow. I promise you I'll be here waiting for you to come back. With or without this ring I was going to be waiting here till you came back. You're my whole life, my whole world, I can't see my life without you in it. Please make sure you come back to me," she begged.

"I will come back. I made you a promise, and I intend on keeping it."

He pulled her to him and kissed her, putting her head on his shoulder he held her while she cried. He cried too. After about twenty minutes of them holding onto each other and crying he said, "I have to take you home, Babe it's getting late and I have to drive up there."

"Can't you leave in the morning?" she asked pleading in her voice.

"I could, but it's just making it harder on the both of us. I'll call you the minute I get there, hell I'll probably call you on the way there," he said turning on the car.

They arrived at her place way too fast. He pulled up out front and put the car in park, he didn't turn it off. "Aren't you coming in?" she asked.

"No I'll walk you to the door, but this is hard enough on us. I love you, Lia. Don't ever forget that," he said.

"I won't it's the only thing that will get me through all of this," she cried. "I love you, Seth and I'm going to miss you so much."

He walked around the car and opened her door. She got out and clung to him she couldn't let go, sobs tore through her shaking her violently. He walked back around to his side of the car; he turned off the car, picked her up and carried her to the door, "Lia I need your key to get in."

She reached in her purse for the keys and handed them to him. Setting her down on the porch he unlocked the door, picked her back up and walked into the living room setting her down on the couch. He sat down next to her holding her tight as she continued to cry. Suddenly she shot up and ran for the bathroom with Seth right behind her. She threw up in the toilet and sagged on the floor.

"Babe, are you alright?" he asked as he picked her up from the floor.

"Yeah, sorry I haven't felt right all day, and I guess with everything going on it made me sick," she said.

"Don't be sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry, not you," Seth groaned, feeling like a piece of crap.

"I feel so sick; let me lay down on the couch."

He picked her back up in his arms and carried her to the couch. "Do you want me to get you anything?" he asked.

"Some soda, maybe," she replied weakly.

He went into the kitchen got her the soda. She took a little sip and laid back down. "This is not how I envisioned our last night together. Just give a few minutes I should feel better."

"This is... all my fault, if I wasn't moving... you wouldn't be so upset," Seth said.

"We've been over it, it's no one's fault I just have myself all worked up and I got sick. If I lay here it'll pass in a few minutes, I'm starting to feel better all ready," she said trying to sit up.

"Lay there; don't try to sit up yet."

"I have too; I want you to sit here by me."

When she sat up he sat next to her, but he made her lay back down again against his chest, "Just relax Babe, I'll wait till your brother comes home and then I have to leave."

"Don't tell my parents I got sick, it'll just worry them, making my Dad more mad at me," Lia begged.

"Don't worry I'm not telling anyone," Seth replied. He sat there in silence worrying about her, something nagging at the back of his brain, but he just couldn't put a finger on it. After a little bit she sat up and drank more soda her stomach felt better, and she was a little hungry.

"I'm hungry, you know I don't think I ate much at all today, that's probably why I got so sick. I'm gonna make some toast, be right back," she said.

He followed her, "You got sick because you're upset that I'm leaving tonight. Babe, if I wait till tomorrow... it'll just be worse. You'll go through this all over again, and I can't take it. It's killing me," he said.

She didn't say anything, she couldn't. She just sat there eating her toast when Cris came home, "Hey Bro, I thought you were gonna wait for me at the school till I got back?"

"Yeah I was, but a change of plans. I waited here instead. I didn't want a lot of people around saying goodbye so I picked Lia up and brought her back here," Seth said.

"Hey what's up? You look real worried, Seth," Cris questioned.

"Nothing's up. Lia's upset that I'm going and I didn't want to leave her here alone. I'll hang out here for a little."

"I'm fine Seth," Lia replied. "Let's go back in the living room."

She got up and swayed a little. Seth reached out his hand to steady her. He shot Cris a look to keep quiet. He walked with her back to the couch and sat down and made Lia lay back down.

Cris followed them wanting to know what was going on, but didn't ask. Maybe Lia would tell him once they were in the living room. She was quite and didn't talk; soon she was asleep on Seth. He laid her down on the couch as he got up. He motioned for Cris to follow him.

He went out the front door with Cris close on his heels, "What the heck is going on with her? Is she sick again?"

"What do you mean again?" Seth roared.

"She was sick yesterday when we were up in New York. I just thought it was because of all the anxiety of you moving. Do you think it's something more?" Cris said.

"No I don't, I think that's exactly what it is. She started crying uncontrollably when we got here. I had to carry her up to the house. When we got inside she ran for the bathroom. She said she didn't eat much today and that's why she got sick, but I think she just has herself so worked up. Don't tell her I told you any of this, she doesn't want your Dad to know."

"I'm not saying anything. I know she didn't eat much yesterday, and she didn't today either. Not like she normally does."

"Cris do me a huge favor, watch out for her more than you normally do and let me know if it gets worse. I'll do something to change it."

"What can you do?" Cris asked.

"I don't know yet, but I'll figure something out. I'm gonna go in and say goodbye. She wants me to wait till tomorrow, but it'll just be the same as tonight."

"Why wake her up?" Cris said.

"Because she'll hate me, if I leave without saying goodbye. I can't put her through anymore."

Seth walked over to the couch and nudged Lia a little bit. She didn't wake up. He picked her up and carried her up the stairs to her room. He laid her on the bed, lying next to her, he whispered, "Lia wake up, I have to go. I don't want you mad at me if I don't say bye. Please Lia I have to get out of your room before your parents come home."

She opened her eyes and looked at him with tears in her eyes, "You're really going tonight."

"Yeah I have too. I promise I'll call the minute I get there. I want to make sure your ok," he said.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, "I love you, Babe. Don't forget about me."

"I'll never forget you. I love you, too," he said. "I have to go now, your parents should have been home already and I'll get killed being in your room."

"Okay, call me on the way up there. Keep me sane, by talking to me," Lia said.

"Depends on traffic, if it's busy I won't call till I get there," Seth said.

Getting up from the bed he stood there looking at her for a few minutes. She was laying there with her eyes closed; she didn't want to see him walk out the door. He turned and left, he walked right out the door. He didn't say goodbye to Cris, he just left.

She was ok till she heard his car start and then the tears started. She heard him pull away and drive down the street. It was when she couldn't hear his car anymore that she broke out in body shaking sobs. The tears poured out of her eyes and ran rivers down her cheeks. Within minutes her pillow that she was crying into was soaking wet.

Cris came to her room, but didn't know what to do for her. He held her for a while as she cried. "Lia you have to stop, you're gonna make yourself sick again, like yesterday. You're not doing yourself any good and your killing Seth. How are you going to talk to him tonight if you're crying like this?"

"I can't help it. I can't stop," she cried more. "Don't tell him I'm like this. I'll get I under control really I will, just give a few moments."

Taking some deep breaths she was able to get some control over her crying, she didn't stop, but got it to where it was just tears sliding down her face slowly.

Cris looked relieved that she got herself under control, "How do you feel? Do you feel sick?" he asked.

"No actually hungry didn't eat yesterday or today. I'll go down and get something then," she replied not wanting Cris to know how sick to the stomach she really felt, but if she kept this up he'll tell Seth and make him feel worse.

"Did you want me to get you something?" he asked.

"No I'll get it later. Go have fun with Steph tonight it's still early," she suggested.

"I don't want to leave you here alone," he said.

"Don't worry about me I'll just get something to eat and wait for him to call me," Lia said.

"I'll go pick up Steph and hang out here tonight."

"No I don't want you to. I'll be fine, really I will. It'll just be an adjustment, but I'll be fine," Lia told him.

Chapter 19

When Seth got to New York he planned on calling Lia right away, but his Dad jumped all over him the minute he came in the door. "How dare you not help us today! Who do you think you are?!"

"First off I told you yesterday I wouldn't help you, not after what you did to Lia. You had her so upset she was throwing up because of it! Don't think I'll be there for you ever again! Do you honestly think that a few years of sobriety, compared too many years of you being drunk, not being there for us, abusing us in so many ways, would change the way I feel about you deep down. Well it doesn't! I'm here only because I'm under eighteen, but remember this! I turn eighteen next month so I might not be here after that! There's no way you can hold me here!"

"Yeah and where do think you're going to stay. Not at their house, her father won't let you!"

"Where the hell do you think I was last night?! I don't need to stay there anyway I have other offers and one is a pretty good deal! Just stay away from me, stay away from Lia, and there won't be any problems. I find out you say anything to Lia, her parents, any of them, you will have lost a son for good!" Seth yelled.

"Seth!" Mrs. Rossetti yelled.

"Not now Mom," Seth grumbled.

"I just wanted to know how Lia was," she said softly.

"What do you think? She's a mess. She cried so hard tonight she ended up throwing up again. Cris told me she did that yesterday here."

"I'm so sorry, Seth."

"Well Mom I'm here for a month, after that who knows. Mr. Grayson said I could stay there during college, but I think he'll let me if I want to go back early. I just have to see how things turn out," he said going into his room and slamming his door not waiting for her response.

~~*~~

It was after midnight and he didn't know if he should call Lia or not. He wanted to talk to her, but didn't want to wake her if she was sleeping. He made up his mind he'd call and let it ring only a few times and if she didn't answer at least she'd see he tried. He dialed her number and it was answered with in half a ring.

"Hello, Babe," she said "I was beginning to think you weren't going to call me."

"I almost didn't with it being so late, but I figured you'd want to skin me alive if I didn't. I didn't want to wake you up.."

"You didn't."

"I figured that much when you answered within half a ring," he laughed.

"I was just getting ready to call you. What took so long?" she asked.

"I was fighting with my Dad. If things don't change I'm out of here in a month," Seth said and told her about the fight.

"You didn't have to say anything to him about me. I don't want to come between the two of you. He's your Dad, Seth."

"Yeah, just like I told you that about your Dad. I thought you of all people, would understand," he replied heatedly.

"Oh I do. I just don't want to be the cause of it. You do what you have to Seth I'll stand beside you no matter what."

"I know and I don't want to take my bad mood out on you. Maybe I should just hang up and call you tomorrow," he said deflated.

"Nope, we'll talk about something else. So when does your school start? The same time as us here?" she questioned.

"Yeah I guess. Don't know if I can drive there or not. On Monday I'll find out, since my mommy has to take me in to register. That's gonna be so embarrassing walking thru the halls with my Mom," he stated.

"Yeah it will be" she laughed. "Go in late after everyone else is in class."

"Good idea, I think that's what we'll do. My Mom won't be happy about it, but oh well."

"It'll be strange, but at least everyone won't see you," she laughed.

"So glad you're getting enjoyment out of this," he said.

"Sorry, but the thought of it, is funny, come on it'd be the same if it was done at our school and you know it," Lia said.

They talked for a long while and Lia started to fall asleep on the phone. "Babe your falling asleep I'm gonna hang up now I'll call you tomorrow," Seth said.

"Ok I love you, good night," Lia said.

"I love you too."

~~*~~

Sunday was a boring day for Lia she didn't start her new job out at the mall until Wednesday. She got a job at the Gap. They would work around her cheerleading schedule, but she planned on working as much as she could, one to keep her mind off Seth being gone and two to save as much money as she could.

Seth called her in the morning to say good morning and to let her know he was going to be busy today getting his room unpacked and then go around the city with his Mom. He said he'd call her later.

She took her shower after she talked to him and was sitting in the kitchen when Cris came down.

"How's it going?" he asked. "Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah last night and this morning, he's unpacking is room and then his Mom wants to explore New York a little and asked him to go with her. He said he'd call me later. So what are you doing today?"

"Don't know? There's nothing to do really. Probably just go hang out with Steph for a while. What are you doing?" Cris asked.

"Nothing, maybe call Tasha see what she's doing." Lia said.

She ended up not doing anything, but sitting at home waiting for him to call her. She did get a few texts from him with pictures of New York, which made her feel good, at least he was thinking of her. One picture was of a group of homeless people just sitting in the park with all their worldly possessions, another one was of the sky line from the roof of his apartment at sunset.

He didn't get to call her that night, but he did text her. His texted read, 'Sorry, Babe won't be able to call you tonight stuck at some stupid function for my Dad's work, don't know when I'll be home. Don't want to be here. Love you.'

She went to bed depressed, cried a little before falling asleep exhausted.

~~*~~

Monday morning she woke to her phone ringing, "Hello," she said groggily.

"Hi Babe, sorry I couldn't call you last night. I swear my Dad did that on purpose so I couldn't call you. My Mom backed me into a corner to go. You know how she doesn't do well with crowds. I missed talking to you last night. So what did you end up doing yesterday?"

"Nothing just stayed home, watched TV. Those pictures you sent me were great. I especially like the one from the roof, what a pretty sunset. So did you talk to your Mom about going in to your new school later?"

"Yeah she didn't go for it, but she did concede into going in early before everyone gets there. So as long as we can get in early it won't be too bad," he said. "I'll call you the minute I get out of school."

"Ok I'll talk to you then," she said getting ready to hang up.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Seth yelled. "Aren't you going to say you love me?"

"I love you Seth. Talk to you after school," she said. Dread was starting to fill in her heart, something was wrong, but she didn't know what it was.

~~*~~

After school she waited fifteen minutes for him to call and he didn't. She called him to see what happened, but no answer. She waited another half an hour and called again still no answer. Depressed she went to her room laid on the bed and fell asleep.

An hour later her phone was ringing; she picked it up and said, "Hello?"

"Lia? You alright?" Seth asked.

"Yeah just woke up form a nap. I was depressed that I couldn't talk to you and came up here and fell asleep I guess."

"I went to the football practice and it was longer that I thought, in fact I'm still at the school. I'm leaving now. It seems like they have a good coach and a good team here. I won't get to start this weekend, probably won't get to play at all, but it's alright. Maybe you and Cris can come up here on Saturday to see me? Your game's on Friday right?"

"Yeah it's Friday. I'll have to see if Cris will take me up there. I'm glad you're starting football up there."

She hesitated not sure if she should say anything. She decided to say something. "Seth I keep having this feeling of dread, like something going to happen. I don't know what it is, but it won't leave me. It's started yesterday and it keeps getting stronger," Lia stated.

"Don't worry, nothing is gonna happen, Lia. Don't ruin this for me. I didn't think I would like the school or want to play football, but I do."

"I don't want to ruin anything for you! I'm glad you want to play football there. I'm the one encouraging you to do it! I can't believe you would say that to me! If you honestly think I want to ruin it for you then maybe we shouldn't talk anymore! Bye Seth," she said and hung up.

She threw her phone across the room and burst into tears. Looking down at the ring on her finger she cried even harder. When she stopped she walked to Cris's room and knocked, "You in there?" she asked.

"Yeah come in. What's up? Were you yelling at Seth?" he asked.

She nodded her head. "He accused me of trying to ruin his good day I guess. He went to the football practice and really likes the coach and team. He had a really good first day and he wanted us to come up there on Saturday. I told him I would ask you and I was glad he started football up there, but then I told him I had this feeling of dread since yesterday that something was going to happen. I didn't know what, but something. He got mad and said I was trying to ruin it for him."

"Ruin it for him how? You were the one telling him to go out for football up there," Cris stated confused.

"I know, he assumed I was talking about us and something was going to happen between us. I never said that I just said I had a feeling, but didn't know what it meant or what was going to happen. I lost it, I know I should call him and apologize, but I don't want to right now."

"Want me to call him?" Cris offered.

"No, I wanted to know if you would drive me up there Saturday, if we make up," Lia said.

"You'll make up, he's probably trying to call you, but if that was your phone hitting the wall I heard, it might be broken," Cris said.

"Would serve him right not to be able to call me back," she fumed.

"You don't mean that and you know it," Cris said.

"Yeah you're right. I don't understand why he would say that to me."

"He's going thru a lot right now, same as you. I guess he just found something to make him feel good. He's probably feeling guilty about it in a way," Cris said.

"Why would he feel guilty about it? I don't want him to miserable up there," Lia stated.

"Did you ever tell him that?" Cris asked cautiously.

"No I didn't think I had to. Do you think I should?"

"Yeah call him back and tell him," Cris encouraged. "Don't make this little minor thing blow up to something huge."

"Thanks, Cris," she said running back to her room for her phone.

When she picked it up there were two missed calls from Seth. Before she could dial his number he called again. "Hi Seth, sorry." she blurted before he could say anything.

"I'm sorry too I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

"It's ok, I didn't mean it either. I also didn't want to ruin your excitement. I'm glad, really glad you're fitting in there so quickly. I don't want you to be miserable up there. I just don't want you to forget me."

"That won't happen. So how was school?"

"Lonely without you, but I got thru it. So when are your practices so I don't call you during that time?"

"Right after school till about 4:30 or 5:00 every day except Fridays, I can call you right after."

"Seth I think that might be problem after Wednesday I start my new job at the Gap and I work 5:00 till close. Why don't we not make a set time that way neither of us is disappointed. We'll just make sure we call before we go to bed."

"Ok I'll call you in the mornings too, before school. Let me know about Saturday. It would be real nice to see there."

"I asked Cris. He never answered me hold on, I'll ask him," she said. Walking over to her brother's room she asked, "Cris can you take me up there on Saturday?"

"Yeah what time? I'll ask Steph to go, too."

"What time do you want us there, Seth?" Lia asked into the phone.

"Can you come up early and hang out up here? Before lunch and then I'll take you out to eat."

"I have to see if I have to work, but I'll tell them I can only work in the morning if I do," Lia said.

"Okay let me know. I have a ton of homework can I call you later?" Seth asked.

"Yeah and I'll find out about going up there on Saturday."

"Lia before you hang up I really want to say I'm sorry. I know you don't want me miserable up here, but I am without you," Seth confessed.

"I know I'm miserable here too, but it's only for a little while. Do you think you can drive me back home on Saturday and spend Sunday with me?" she asked.

"I have to see, I have to start work up here too, but not sure when that will be. I'll let you know. Love you, Lia," Seth said.

"I love you too, talk to you later," Lia said

Chapter 20

For the rest of the week they tried calling each other during the day, but when Seth had time Lia was busy and vice versa. They did get to talk briefly each night, but they were so tired, that by eleven they were falling asleep on the phone usually only after talking for a few minutes.

Lia was sitting at the school's stadium looking at her phone it was 5:00. He didn't call yet. She was anxious to talk to him, hoping he'd call before she had practice. It was Friday night already and they still hadn't confirmed a time for tomorrow. She had to work in the morning and got off at 12:00 so they could leave right from the mall. She thought she would wait a few more minutes then call him.

There was a rumbling of a car around here somewhere; it sounded just likes Seth's. She got excited she was going to see him. Then reality hit her. She was imagining it. Seth was nowhere near here. Then she didn't hear it anymore, she must be dreaming. Just as she was about to call him her phone rang. Picking it up and answered it, "Hey Babe, you're finally awake," Seth teased.

"Hi! Yeah I'm awake, smarty pants. I can't help it with school, practice, and work I'm just so exhausted all the time. I'm really glad you called I was just about to call you," Lia blurted.

"Really, well I'm calling to make sure you're still coming up tomorrow," he asked.

She heard a lot of commotion in the background of his phone and she could swear she heard her brothers voice, "Where are you?" she questioned.

"Can't hear you too well, it's really noisy here," he yelled over the noise.

"You're here aren't you? I hear my brother's big mouth in the background," she said getting excited.

Seth yelled, "Cris you and your big mouth spoiled it. She knew I was here as soon as she heard you," Seth yelled.

She could hear Cris reply, "Oh sorry, Bro."

"Where are you?" she asked again. Looking around excitedly, but not seeing him anywhere.

"The more important question is... where are you?"

"In the football stadium waiting for everyone to get here for practice," she replied getting up and walking out of the stadium to wait for him. First she heard his car start; well at the very least she wasn't losing it, she did hear his car. Then she saw it come around the corner.

He pulled up next to her on the wrong side of the road and got out. The minute he got out of the car she jump on him, kissing his lips, face, neck, pulling back she said, "Oh my God! You're here! Really here!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Yep I couldn't wait till tomorrow and left right after school to get here. Made good time too," he said. "Besides my parents wanted me to go to a party and I didn't want to go." Hugging her tighter, "It was more important to me to see you."

"How did you get here in half an hour?" she asked.

"School was over at 3:00 today," he said.

~~*~~

Tasha and Tina were walking toward the stadium when they saw the reunion between them. "She's so lucky to have someone love her that much," Tina said wistfully.

"Yeah she sure is. I'm glad he came down tonight, she really needed him. Even though she's trying to put on a brave face, it's not working. I know they haven't been able to talk much this week, which was bringing her down," Tasha said. "So maybe tonight we'll have a happy cheerleader."

"Tasha!"

"I didn't mean anything bad by it, just stating a fact," Tasha said shrugging her shoulders and walked into the stadium.

~~*~~

"How long are you staying? All night or do you have to go back tonight?" Lia asked.

"Overnight, since I couldn't talk to you much this week, Cris and I set this up last night while you were at work. You're coming back with me to New York after you get off work tomorrow, and sleeping over till Sunday," Seth said. "It's all arranged with your parents, Cris and Steph are coming too."

"Awesome, this is the best thing that could have happened to me, a great ending to a lousy week. So how's your new school?" she asked.

"Ok I guess, the guys on the team are ok. I really haven't talk to many others," he said evasively.

Lia picked up on it right away, "So what girl is after you?"

He looked at her with amazement. "How the heck did you know that?" he questioned.

"I know you and you're evading my question. So who is it and what did you say to her?"

"Her name is Felicity," he said.

"So are you gonna tell me what happened or not?"

"Nothing happened, Babe, she just keeps popping up everywhere I go in school. Heath said she's a pain in the ass to all the guys on the team and mostly they just ignore her. He told me to do the same, so I am, but shit it's annoying. An added complication is her dad works with mine." he explained. "I don't want anyone but you."

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, "Lucky you said that or I might have to punch you," she teased. "So is your Dad trying to make you two be friends?"

"No don't your punches hurt, Cris and I taught you too well," he said. "He introduced us, but didn't say anything about us being friends, but with him you never know." Looking at his watch, "You have to go in."

"I don't want to, I want to stay with you all night I don't want to cheer tonight," she said.

"You have too," he said.

"I know and I will, I don't want too."

"You better get in there and practice."

"You'll stay?" she asked anxiously.

"Not going anywhere," he assured her.

They walked into the stadium together, and over to the squad. In the time they were talking the rest of the squad arrived. Seth sat on the bleachers and watched them practiced. Well he really watched Lia the whole time. He noticed she looked tired and a little skinnier, he wondered if she was still getting sick. After the game he'd ask her.

Lia looked up in the bleachers and smiled at him. She was so happy he was there. This past week was torture on her. She made it through on automatic pilot, not really registering anything that was going on around her. The only thing she concentrated on was her phone and waiting for it to ring. If she got to see him every weekend she thought she could make it through the next couple of months, but she really didn't think that was going to be possible. With their schedules so full with school, practices, games, and working the chances of them being free every weekend was going to be hard.

She was lost in thought when Tasha yelled, "Lia! Are you of this world?"

Bringing her back to the present Lia stammered, "Uh yeah I'm here."

"We want to try that lift again with Syd. We can go onto the grass right over here," Tasha said. "Remember Syd, pull up through your body and stick that scorpion. Lia maybe you should switch sides so you're the main base." Then Tasha whispered to Lia, "You're a steadier base than Emily, and god knows Syd needs all the help she can get."

"If you think that'll help," Lia said.

Emily and Lia bent down to have Syd jump into their hands as they lifted her she went straight up, but she was wobbly. They put her back down.

"Syd, Lia's a stronger base so you'll go up faster than with Emily, don't be afraid she got you," Tasha said.

"Ok let's try it again," Syd said with more confidence.

Seth watched them lift Syd again and he knew that she was coming down on Lia. He shot out of the bleachers and ran over to them just as the three of them ended up on the ground. "Hey you guys alright?" he asked.

"Yeah were fine," Emily said.

"Speak for yourself," Lia said still sitting on the ground.

"What's wrong?" Seth asked anxiously.

"My head hurts I think it got hit by Syd's knee when we hit the ground," Lia said. "It's nothing major, but wow that hurt."

"Yeah she hit you alright, right above the eye and she spilt your eyebrow, your bleeding," Seth said. Turning toward Tina he said, "Go up to the football room and get the trainer and someone go get ice."

"Oh God, Lia I'm sorry," Syd said.

"It's not your fault. We should have waited to switch sides with you when we had the mats at practice. It was just an accident no big deal," Lia said.

Seth sat behind her and put pressure on the cut with his shirt that he took off to stop the blood, "You feeling ok, Babe?" he asked as he put the ice on that someone handed him.

"Yeah I'm fine, it just stings, and that ice is cold. Can I get up?"

"No not till the trainer sees you. Here he comes now," Seth said.

"Seth what did you do now?" Jim the trainer teased him.

"Ha ha not funny. They were doing a lift, it fell and the flyer's knee hit her in the face," Seth said.

"Let me look at it," Jim said taking Seth's shirt away. "Doesn't look too bad, let me clean it then I can see it better. I think you'll only need a bandage on it."

"Don't get blood on my uniform."

"I'll try not to," Jim said wiping way most of the blood with gauze drenched in water. Seth put his shirt under her chin to catch the water. "It doesn't look too bad, I think one or two butterfly band-aids will close it, but no cheering tonight."

"I have to! We can't put up the lifts without me? It'll be lopsided," Lia complained.

"Shut up Lia," Cris said running up to them. "I just found out, what happened?"

Seth recounted what happened as Lia gasped in pain. "Oh that stings! What are you using pure alcohol?"

"No, an antiseptic," Jim laughed. "I have to put the band-aids on now; you'll feel a little pulling as I pull the cut together."

"Okay," she mumbled.

"Where's your coach?" Jim asked.

"She's coming, she was in the food stand when I got the ice," Tasha said. "Sorry Lia."

"It's no one's fault. Everyone stop apologizing it was just an accident," Lia said.

"Lia, what happened?" Mrs. Smytheson asked running up to her.

"The lift fell and Syd's knee hit me when we fell. It's ok I'll live everyone," Lia said.

"You're side lined tonight, Lia," Mrs. Smytheson said.

"But..."

"No buts" Mrs. Smytheson said.

Seth helped her up once the trainer was finished. He held on to her to make sure she didn't fall. "You didn't black out when you got hit?" Jim asked.

"No," she replied.

"Come on we're going to sit down in the bleachers," Seth said.

"I have to go to the bathroom first. I want to see how bad it is," Lia said.

They both walked over to the bathrooms and Lia went in. She looked at her eye it wasn't as bad as she thought. While she was looking at it she felt a little faint. She went into one of the stalls and sat down. The next thing she knew she jumped up and threw up in the toilet. She walked out of the bathroom and Seth saw how pale she was.

"Got sick again didn't you? Could never stand the sight of blood could you?" Seth teased.

"I was fine till I looked at it. It throbs right now," Lia said.

"Put the ice back on," he said handing it to her.

"Well at least I can sit in the stands with you," she giggled.

"I'd rather you be cheering. Do you want to go home? If you don't feel good I'll take you home."

"No I'm fine, feeling a little better," she laughed.

"Are you still getting sick since I left?"

"No not since Sunday," she replied. Not wanting to worry him, but she was sick to the stomach most of the time and she threw up a few times during the week.

"Good, come on we'll go sit down over by the cheerleaders," he said putting his arm around her and guiding over to the bleachers.

They sat there and watched the game, by halftime her eye was throbbing again. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes for a little.

Her Mom came over to her, "Are you feeling alright?"

"No my eye's throbbing again."

"Do you want some more ice for it? Or some aspirin?" Mrs. Lombardi asked.

"Yeah to both," Lia answered with pain in her voice.

"Should I take you home?" Seth asked.

"I don't know if I can," she whispered.

"If you want to go I'll tell your coach. In fact I say you're going home," Mrs. Lombardi said forcefully.

"Can you tell her Mom? It just throbs and I'm not feeling well," Lia said.

"Do you need me to take you to the hospital?" Mrs. Lombardi asked.

"No, it's not that kind of sick. I'm just in pain and I want to lie down, that's all," Lia replied.

"Ok I'll tell her. Wait here till I tell her," she said walking up to the coach. They spoke for a few moments and her coach nodded her head. Coming back to Lia, "She's alright with you going home. Seth if she gets worse call me right away."

"I will," he replied concern in his voice.

Chapter 21

They got back to Lia's house and she went upstairs to change. Seth stayed down in the living room. It was a while since she went upstairs, "Lia where are you?" Seth yelled up.

"In my room, I'm trying to figure out how to get this vest off without it rubbing right across my eye. Come up here and help me," she yelled down.

"How am I gonna get it off you?" he said walking up the steps.

"Just hold it out by my eye. Look at it; it's starting to black and blue. It'll look like you punched me," she laughed.

"Not funny."

"I was only joking around. I know you'd never do that," she said. "You have to keep it off my face while I pull it off."

Laughing he said, "This is going to be difficult, but interesting."

"Just hold the damn vest away ok," she said. Pulling the vest up she finally got it off and stood there in her shorts and bra.

"That's a nice look for you," Seth said pulling her to him and kissing her neck.

Pushing him away laughing, "Not tonight, I have a headache. Seriously I expect my Mom to leave the game early. I'm surprised she hasn't called yet."

"She probably did our phones are downstairs. Finish getting dressed and I'll meet you down stairs."

"Hey," she said walking up to him and put her hand on either side of his face and kissing him full on the lips. "It's not that I don't want to it's just not a good time."

He kissed her back and pushed her backwards toward the bed. "It's always a good time with you, Lia. I love you, Babe." He was running his hands up and down her back, "Please, Babe I've missed you so much. At night I lay awake thinking about you and having you in my arms again."

"I love you too, and I think of the same thing," she murmured as she kissed his neck. The next thing she knew they we both lying across her bed and all thoughts of her parents were erased from her mind.

Afterwards they we lying on the bed exhausted when Lia heard a car pulling up the drive. "What time is it?" she asked franticly. "Get dressed I think someone's home."

Seth got dressed at record speed and went into the bathroom. Lia was dressing when her Mom called, "Lia where are you? How are you feeling?"

"Fine Mom getting some DVD's to watch downstairs be right down." she yelled down.

Running down the steps she nearly collided with her mom, "Is the game over already?"

"Almost I left early to check on you."

"It still hurts a little, not too bad since I took that aspirin. It'll look worse tomorrow I bet. Nice way to go to New York and meet Seth's new friends," Lia said self-consciously.

"If it gets black and blue you can use make up to hide it," Mrs. Lombardi said. "Where's Seth by the way?

"Taking a shower, I was gonna, but afraid it'll hurt too bad. I'll have to take a bath later," Lia said. "I need to sit down. I never expected to be so sore. My back and shoulders hurt too."

"You probably jarred yourself a lot more than you thought. Did she fall directly on you?"

"Not really, she came down kind straight up and down, but being bases we went in to catch her and her knee hit my face and then we fell with her on top of me. I'll be fine just sore. It's not the first time someone fell on me and it won't be the last," Lia said.

"Yeah you right about that. You rest in the living room, I think I'll go in my room and read for a little if you need me."

Seth came down from his shower and saw Lia lying on the couch, "Sit up a little I want to hold you."

"I don't want to move I'm so sore."

"Sit up I'll rub your back and neck, I should have thought of you being sore from the fall."

"I told you my Mom would come home early," she hissed. "That was too close."

"Yeah you're right I should have listened to you, but I'm glad we got some time alone. I really needed you. You know the next few weeks are going to be crazy since I'm going back to work," he said.

"Yeah I don't want to think about now. I want to enjoy being with you this weekend," Lia said. "That feels so good, you keep it up much longer and I'll be asleep soon."

"Here, lay back on me and go to asleep,"

She laid back, but wasn't comfortable, "Lay down with me the couch is big enough."

He switched his position held her close both of them were asleep within minutes.

~~*~~

After Lia got off work they headed up to New York getting there at 1:45, Cris and Steph followed them in his car. When Seth parked under the apartment building, Chris had to park in the visitor spots that were a little farther down. They met at the elevators and went up to his apartment. Walking inside they saw how quickly his Mom decorated the apartment. In the week since they were there she had everything up on the walls, all the boxes empty, everything was in order.

"Mrs. Rossetti, the place looks wonderful. You did so much since we were here last," Lia said. "The way you arranged the living room to look out over the city is great. It must look awesome at night."

"Oh it does, wait till tonight you'll see, and it'll be great for the dinner party were having tonight," Mrs. Rossetti said excitedly. "I can't wait till everyone from his office sees it."

"Tonight?" Lia questioned looking at Seth. "You didn't say anything about a dinner party?"

Seth shrugged his shoulders, "I didn't say anything, because we won't be here, we'll be at my game. I don't want to be here for it so I'm not going to be. Let's get your stuff in my room and then I want to take you all out to eat."

"Seth, don't be like that," Mrs. Rossetti said. "You know this job means a lot to your Dad and he needs to make contacts. We're sorry we won't be at your game, but this was the only time we could have it. Everyone at the office kept asking when we were having our first party for everyone to see our place. I had to get everything organize here quickly. Seth is your room done?"

"I don't care if my room is done or not. No one should be in there anyway," Seth said. "Come on guys let's put your stuff in there and go out."

"Seth, why are you giving your Mom such a hard time? You never gave her a hard time it was always your Dad," Lia asked.

"I'm sick of them both; once we got up here she changed. She was fine until they went to their first party last weekend. They made me go and it was so boring, but she loved it. I can't blame her she wants a different life, but it's not for me I don't want this life. I want the one back in PA." he said giving Lia a kiss.

~~*~~

They walked a few blocks and everything they saw was amazing to them, from the sky high buildings, to the extreme dress of some of the people, and the high end boutiques. Seth took them to a pizza shop that he said had the best pizza around. When they walked in the aroma of pizza smacked them in the face making their mouth water.

"Smells great in here better than at home," Cris said. "Let's sit in the back, then we can go order Seth."

"It's fine with me, ok Lia?" Seth asked.

"Yeah fine," she agreed.

Lia and Steph sat across from each other. Steph looked at her and said, "I think something's going on with Seth and his parents. Something he doesn't want to talk about."

"Yeah I noticed that last night, but he was giving the excuse of my face to avoid me. I don't know what to do, when we're together it's great, but when he's here he's different. I know he's going through something up here, but I don't know what to do. I don't know how to get him to talk about it."

"Well I hope you do before it all blows up in his face," Steph said.

"Yeah me too, it feels like a time bomb just waiting to go off and I don't know if we'll survive it. I keep getting this feeling of dread, but can't figure anything out. I don't want to push him and then we end up fighting. It's not like we're together every day. Hell the first week we barely talked to each other on the phone our schedules are too full and too different. I'll see what I can get out of him tonight after the game. Let's just act like we do at home and it'll make him feel better."

~~*~~

"Cris I don't know what to do. My parents are trying to push me and this girl, a daughter of a coworker of my Dad's, together. More my Dad than my Mom, but she's changed so much up here I don't trust her either. I don't want anyone except Lia. I keep telling him no and we had a big blow out the other night about it. He wanted me to go to this party last night and I left school right after practice to go home to PA, to Lia. He wasn't happy with me, but I don't even like this girl. She's snobby and a poor little rich kid type. I need to find a place back home, somewhere, anywhere, I'm gonna finish out the football season and try to work as much as I can up here and then try to be back home by the holidays. Don't tell Lia she's insecure as it is," Seth said as they waited for the food to get done.

"Wow that really sucks, just try to stay away from her as much as possible. Is she gonna be at the party tonight?" Cris asked.

"Yeah probably, or my worst nightmare, she'll show up at the game tonight, just what I need her and Lia there at the same time. Lia will kill her with one punch, but then it'll hurt my Dad in the long run."

"Well then you Dad shouldn't be forcing you to be with her. He knows you're engaged to Lia. This freaking sucks, my Dad finally let's up on you and now your Dad has to be the same way with Lia," Cris stated.

"I don't think it has anything to do with Lia as it has to do with me. I don't want the life of a stock broker. I don't want all this, it's nice to visit, but I don't want to live here permanently."

"Yeah I can understand that, it's not for me either, but tread lightly, don't have it get blown out of proportion. Talk to your uncle, maybe he can help," Cris suggested.

"No I don't want to. I'll work it out on my own," Seth said.

"Well have Lia help you. And for God's sake, tell her about all this. If she finds out about it any other way she'll kill you," Cris said.

"Yeah I know," he said.

Walking back to the table Seth tried to think of a way to tell her, but nothing came to him. How do you tell your fiancé that your Dad is trying to hook you up with another girl, one who will further his career? He thought the truth would be right, but he didn't know how she would take it. He'd try when he took them to the park nearby.

Steph took the first bite and moaned, "I'm in heaven. This is so good."

"Yeah it is," Lia agreed.

The meat lovers' pizza was their favorite so the guys got both that way along with garlic knots, and fries. They were all so hungry they wolfed it all down within minutes. They were sitting there stuffed when two girls walked into the pizza shop. Seth saw them and groaned. He leaned toward Lia, and whispered, "I need to talk to you, not now, but trust me I'll explain everything later. Remember I love only you."

"Ok" she said feeling that dreaded feeling creep up her spine.

"Oh Seth, dear how are you?" the first girl said.

"Fine," he replied definitely not enthused.

"I missed you last night at the party. Your parents said you weren't feeling well and couldn't come to my parent's party. It was such a drag without you there. Even though I just met you it seems like I've known you forever. Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" she asked.

"Cris, Steph this is Felicity," he introduced looking at Cris. Cris got his meaning and groaned inward.

"Hi Cris, Hi Steph. And?" she said looking at Lia.

"This is my fiancé, Lia. Lia this is Felicity," Seth said with dread in his voice.

"Your fiancé?" Felicity screeched.

"Yeah his fiancé, got a problem with it?" Lia demanded knowing this was the girl he told her about.

"Ok time to leave," Cris said standing up. "Nice to meet you Felicity, but we really got to go. Steph, Lia, let's go." He waited till Lia walked past him with Seth right behind her with his hand on her back. Lia walked with her back so stiff, Seth knew he was in trouble.

They walked three blocks to the park in silence, the tension was strung so taunt between them Seth was afraid it would explode. He knew he had to explain, but didn't know where to begin. When Cris suggested that Steph and him will walk ahead and meet then back here in an hour, he really dreaded it.

Lia walked slowly not really knowing what was going on and why was Felicity so surprised that he has a fiancé. What the heck was going on, but she refused to speak to him. If he wasn't going to explain she wasn't going to talk to him. She figured once they got back she would ask Cris to take her home.

Seth pulled her hand into his and sat down on a park bench under a beautiful oak tree. She sat with him because she didn't think her legs could carry her much further. Her insides were churning with that damn dread.

"Lia, don't be mad at me, please," he begged. "I swear I didn't do anything wrong."

"Yeah right. Why was she so shocked I was your fiancé? I know you told me she was following you around school, but she was too friendly to be someone following you. What's going on? Is that why you didn't call me much this past week? Geez it wasn't even a week Seth."

"Now wait a minute! I didn't tell her about you because my life is none of her business. She's the daughter of one of my Dad's co workers and the two of them thought it would be great if the two of us got together, NOT me. I didn't go to that party last night because it was at her house and I wanted to be with you. I left school without my parents knowing I was leaving and called them from my car when I got close to your home. It's my Dad, not me, Lia. You got to believe me," he stated.

"I still don't get why you didn't tell her you were engaged," Lia stated.

"I didn't talk to her much at all, every time she came near me I walked away. Then her parents and my parents went out a few nights this week and she came along all the time. After the second time I didn't go with them. I made sure I stayed out till they left or stayed in my room. It's been hell being here," Seth explained.

"She's gonna make trouble for you isn't she," Lia asked.

"Yeah probably for my Dad too, but I'm not giving in. You believe me?" he asked.

"Yeah I believe you. You're lucky I know you like the back of my hand and if for a moment I thought you were lying to me I'd leave right now."

"I love only you, Lia."

"As I love only you, Seth," she said giving him a kiss.

Unknown to them they were being watched by Felicity. She was so mad; she vowed to herself she was going to get Seth no matter what it took. She might have only met him, but she wanted him and she always got what she wanted.

Chapter 22

When they regrouped Cris asked, "Everything ok?"

"Yeah everything between me and Seth is ok, but if I see that Felicity it won't be. I'm sorry Seth the more I think about it the more pissed off I get. If she starts anything with me any time I'm here she better just look out."

"What ya gonna do, Sis. Punch her in the face?" Cris asked jokingly.

"You bet I will! That and a whole lot more."

"Don't encourage her," Seth said as they walked back into his apartment.

"Encourage who, dear?" Mrs. Rossetti asked.

"Me," Lia said. "I just had the pleasure of meeting Felicity. You know we're engaged, but she's pushed in front of Seth's face all the time. It's not right and not fair to her or either of us. Seth and I are going to be married and there's nothing either of you can do to stop it. I really don't mean any disrespect to you Mr. and Mrs. Rossetti, but it's how I feel and if you want me to leave tonight I will."

"No, Lia we don't want you to leave and I do agree with you. You two are engaged and it should be respected even if it is not agreeable with everyone," Mrs. Rossetti said glaring at her husband. "You better stop it now. I told you to stop it the first time I saw you trying to put them together. You'll make us lose our son, because he'll pick Lia over us."

"You're damn straight I will. I told you Dad from the first time I don't want anything to do with her. Stop making this move a disaster for me. I hate it here to begin with and you're making worse. If it doesn't stop I'll go back and you won't stop me!" Seth thundered. "Just get it straight, Lia is my world and she always will be."

Unknown to the kids Felicity's parents were in the living room. "Keep it down all of you her parents are in the living room and can hear us I'm sure," Mr. Rossetti said.

"I don't care anymore. I'm done here," Seth said. "Come on guys I got to get ready for the game."

~~*~~

When Mr. and Mrs. Rossetti went back into the living room Felicity's mother asked, "Is there a problem with our daughter?"

"No, no," Mr. Rossetti said.

"Well actually it seems your husband and mine were trying to do a little bit of match making between our kids, but Seth is engaged to Lia. Even though my husband might not like it since he thinks they're too young, it's a fact and he needs to remember it. I didn't know anything about it, before this and I apologize," Mrs. Rossetti said.

"Think nothing of it. My husband has been trying to find a suitable man for his daughter, to get her off his hands. It seems that he can't handle the monster he created. He spoiled her rotten and now is trying to find a boy to take over where he wants to leave off. Don't get me wrong we love our daughter very much, but we see her flaws. While your son would be able to handle her, as she needs someone to stand up to her, we would never think to break up another relationship to do that. Is that right, Dear?"

"She's going to be the death of me yet. As my wife pointed out I did create a spoiled little monster, but there is a heart under all that. She's right my daughter needs the right man to handle her and your husband and I thought Seth would be the right one. I apologize for any problems we caused." Felicity's dad said.

"I have one question." Mrs. Rossetti said. "Did my husband tell you he was engaged?"

"Yes he did, but he said it was just an infatuation."

"Infatuation? You got you be kidding me. They have grown up with each other since they were five and have not be apart from each other since then, except for a month for a disagreement between adults, not them. This is not an infatuation and as soon as you get that through your head the better off you'll be," Mrs. Rossetti said to her husband. "I have to apologize to the both of you for my husband's lack of understanding his son."

"We do understand, truly we do. Let's put this all behind us now," Felicity's mom said. "And no more match making."

~~*~~

They arrived at Seth's school; he left them while he went to go with the team to get ready for the game. Lia was still mad and it was making her stomach hurt. She felt like she was going to be sick, but she sat very still in Seth's car. Cris was outside pacing back and forth which was making her sicker. She turned to Steph and asked, "Can you make him stop pacing? He's make me sick."

"Yeah I'll go out and tell him. Lia is Seth worth all that you have gone through? It seems like you too are always fighting to be together, either your Dad or his, or someone."

"Yeah he's worth it. I can't ever see myself with anyone else. I know it seems like that, but there are times when it's perfect for us. Once we get away from our parents it'll be better for us. Really you need to tell him to stop pacing," Lia moaned.

Getting out of the car Steph walked over to Cris, "Can you stop pacing? You're making Lia sick."

"Again? Damn it if Seth wasn't like a brother to me I'd kick his ass." Cris roared.

"Why? He didn't do this. It's your fathers. They did this to them. Why doesn't your father give us a hard time? We're as much in love as they are or don't we count?" Steph asked.

"It's not that at all. You have to understand it wasn't natural the way those two have been through the years. It seemed like they were a couple since they were young. Remember back to when you were seven or eight, did you even like boys?" he asked.

"No, I didn't like boys till I was about eleven or twelve," she answered.

"Well it wasn't like that with them. Even though they wouldn't admit liking each other it was the way they moved with each other. If one moved the other moved right with them. I remember our mothers commenting on it a lot."

"Our Moms were once best friends and spent a lot of time together, but with Seth's Dad's drinking Mrs. Rossetti pulled away from my Mom. Then the last straw was last year when Seth got into all that trouble with Lia. I still remember how they used to laugh that maybe they would get married one day."

"Now that it's about to happen they're all freaking out. You should have seen my Dad after he found out; he went into the garage and broke a few things. She thinks Dad accepts it all, so please don't tell her it would break her heart. He has to work it out himself."

"I wouldn't tell her something like that," Steph said. "But you need to stop pacing your making her sick."

Walking over to the car he opened the door and knelt down by his sister, "Lia are you feeling ok?"

"Just an upset stomach and your pacing was making worse. What's wrong? Why are you pacing?"

"I'm mad! I'm tired of all the crap you two have to put up with and I'm sick of seeing you sick over it all. Your color doesn't look to good. Should I take you back to Seth's place so you can lie down?"

"No I'll be fine. I'm upset, it's only been one week and his Dad is trying to fix him up with someone else. Why? What have I done that makes Seth's Dad hate me? What did Seth do for Dad to hate him? I just don't get it anymore. I'm not giving up, but I'm tired of it," she said crying.

Pulling her to him he told her, "It's going to be alright, it's all a new adjustment and once they both see that you two are sticking it out, things will get better. At least you got the Mom's on your side. And you know with Dad that's all it takes, she'll work on him. He's getting better with it, Lia," Cris said trying to comfort her.

"Yeah, but I know him as well as you do he's not totally for it either. I just wish Seth would move back home, but he can't," Lia said.

"You never know this last stunt of his Dad has him pretty pissed off. Let the football season finish out and see what happens."

"Did he say something to you?"

"Now I can't tell you that even if he did, but I know him pretty well. Why don't you put the seat back and rest Steph and I will be sitting on the hood if you need anything. When you feel better we'll go into the stadium," he said.

Seth walked out the locker room and could see his car and that they were still sitting there. What's wrong? He went to walk over to his car when the coach called for all of them to get together they were heading to the stadium for pre game practice on the field. He wondered what was up why weren't they in the bleachers. Was something wrong with Lia?

He didn't have much time to ponder it as they were on the field running through the warm ups. He lost track of the time, but when he looked into the stands he saw they were sitting there. Lia didn't look to happy. What the hell was wrong? He signaled to Cris pointing to Lia what was wrong? Cris just shook his head.

Seth didn't believe him, but there was nothing that could be done now. He'll have to wait till after the game, he knew he wasn't starting, but he hoped he would play some of the game. He wanted Lia to see him play at least.

Lia, Cris and Steph cheered Seth on when he went into the game in the second quarter. Here he played as a wide receiver and half way through the quarter he was thrown the ball and he ran thirty two yards for a touchdown. Lia screamed the loudest for him.

"You're gonna be hoarse by half time," Cris said.

"No I won't, what do you think we do all game at home. We cheer you guys on all game long," Lia laughed at him.

"Yeah I guess you're right," he said. "I take it your feeling better?"

"When my mind is off all the crap, I feel better. It doesn't upset my stomach so much," Lia said.

"Something's wrong with you, Lia. You never let anything bother you. Now you get so upset all the time till you throw up."

"Seth never left me before," Lia reasoned.

"Guess you are right there, but still you should go to the doctor. Get checked out, if it lasts much longer I'm telling Seth and he'll make you go. Don't make me do it," Cris warned.

"I won't. If it doesn't stop soon I'll go I promise," Lia said. "I bet it stops when everyone else leaves us alone."

"Maybe, who knows," Cris said.

At half time Cris and Steph went to go get food. The lines were real long and it would probably take them while to come back. Lia saw that Felicity was there. She really didn't want to have a run in with her so she hoped she would just leave her alone. Of course that didn't happen, the minute she saw Lia she headed straight for her.

"Great just great," Lia moaned to herself. She fiddled with her phone as to not draw attention to her. Felicity stops right at the bleacher Lia was sitting.

"Do you really think your good enough for Seth? Do you really truly believe he'll stick with you when he can have me?" Felicity taunted.

"Look Felicity, I'll be nice right now and tell you to get the hell away from me. If you don't listen it's your problem," Lia threatened.

"What are you gonna do? There's not too much you can do here in front of everyone. You're going home tomorrow and I'll be here with Seth. I'll make him forget you. It won't be too hard to do that. Look at you, you're nothing," Felicity taunted.

"You might think that Felicity, but since I'm Seth fiancé he doesn't think that. I know him a hell of a lot better than you do. Now I suggest you leave me alone. Now!" Lia said through clenched teeth and standing up.

Felicity grabbed a hand full of Lia's hair. Lia swung her fist and punched her square in the mouth, splitting her lip. Felicity screamed and when Lia pulled her hand back to punch her again, Felicity tried to punch Lia, but a girl behind Felicity grabbed her arm.

"You better leave her alone. She looks like she'll knock you out. Since she's Seth fiancé you have no right to talk to her like that. Don't even try to get her in trouble either there's enough of us here saw you go after her first. Go away and leaves us all alone," the girl said.

Felicity stormed away swearing to make Lia's life hell. Lia turned to the girl and said, "Thanks, I could have handled it, but thanks all the same."

"Seth said you would punch her in the face if she started trouble. By the way I'm Candace, Seth and my boyfriend play football together, he number 25."

"What's his name?" Lia asked.

"Heath. He and Seth became fast friends. Seth's pretty cool; he talks about you a lot. He really misses you," Candace said. "He told us about Felicity and asked us to watch out for her tonight. He was afraid you'd hit her. He was right, you did, even though she deserved it, she'll try to get back at you."

"Her and everyone else, what else is new? Her mistake is that she tried to hurt me so Seth won't take kindly to that," Lia laughed.

"Your right about that. He doesn't like her at all." Candace asked. Hesitantly she asked, "Do you fight a lot?"

"No not really, but since my brother is older and I hung out with him and Seth my whole life they taught me how to defend myself. Why did you ask that?"

"Because of the cut on your eye, it looks bad. Sorry I didn't mean to pry, forget I asked," Candace said.

"No it's alright, I got this last night when one of cheerleaders I was lifting fell on top of me and her knee hit my eye. It hurt like hell, thank god Seth was there," Lia said.

"So that's where he went last night we tried to find him to hang out," Candace said.

At that moment Cris came running up to Lia, "What happened we saw Felicity and saw she had a split lip, Seth saw it too when he came out of the locker room, he laughed. So what happened?"

"You must be Cris, Lia's brother; I'm Candace a friend of Seth's. Felicity pulled her hair after taunting her and she punched her good and hard. She deserved it, hope her lip swells big and fat,"

Cris laughed, "He said he warned her to stay away from you, but she didn't listen, her fault."

They all sat back down and watched the rest of the game. As they were leaving a police officer can up to Lia. "I have a few questions for you. Did you punch her girl over there?"

"Only after she pulled her hair so hard the only way for her to get free was to punch her," Candace said before Lia could answer. "If she wants to press charges then Lia will press charges against her first."

"That's the way it happened, officer," an elderly lady said from behind them. 'I was two rows behind them and this young lady asked her repeated to let her alone and leave. She didn't, she pulled her hair real hard. If it would have been me I would have punched her first just for the things she was saying."

"Fine, do you want to press charges against her?" the officer asked.

'No, but tell her to leave us alone or I will press charges," Lia said.

The officer walked over to Felicity, he told her to leave them alone evidently since she stalked off in a huff.

Chapter 23

"What happened?" Seth asked Lia when he got out of the locker room after the game.

"Nothing other than I punched Felicity in the mouth for pulling my hair," Lia said.

"She punched her really hard and split her lip," Candace said. "It was great. I wish I had it on video so I could replay it over and over again."

Laughing Seth said, "I warned you she would do that."

"Yeah you did, I got to go Heath is waiting for me. Nice to finally meet you guys," Candace said before walking away.

"I take it your feeling better," Seth asked Lia.

"Yeah I'm fine. Getting some of the aggression out helps a lot," Lia said laughing.

"Want to go get something to eat I'm starving?" Cris said.

"You're always starving," Steph said.

"I'm a growing boy, I need to eat," Cris said.

"You grow anymore and it's going to be wider not taller, you can't get any taller," Lia said giggling.

"Yeah I can."

"Cris if you get any taller you're gonna be way over seven feet tall," Steph teased.

"Hey if the guy wants to eat, let him. I'm starving, too. There's a really good deli not far from the school. Let's go there," Seth suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Cris said.

"Lia, Steph good with you guys?" Seth asked.

"Yep," Steph answered.

"I'm not that hungry so wherever you want to go is fine with me," Lia said.

"You not hungry I find that hard to believe," Seth said. "Are you feeling ok?" He was instantly worried and checked to see if she showed any signs of being sick or fatigued. Taking note that she looked skinnier and her face was more drawn in.

"Yes, I feel fine," Lia said testily. "I'm sick of everyone asking me if I feel ok."

"Sorry, Babe didn't mean to make you mad," he said holding her hand and pulling her toward the car.

"It's not that I'm mad, just sick of it. I know you care, you all do and this past week my nerves are shot that's all," Lia explained.

"Well too bad I'm not stopping. If I see you don't look good I'm asking, so get used to it," Seth said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Lia mumbled as she got into the car. Seth shut her door and ran around to the other side as Cris tried to get in the back.

"I'm the tallest one here and I have to sit in the back of a small ass Camaro. Lia you should sit in the back with Steph," Cris complained.

"No way, it's only a few blocks," Lia said.

~~*~~

When they got to the deli it was overflowing with kids from the game. They weaved their way through the crowd and saw Heath and Candace sitting in a booth. They walked over to talk to them and Heath said, "Sit down with us no one else is sitting here."

"Thanks this place is so crowded. Heath this is Lia, my best friend Cris and his girlfriend Steph. You all know Candace already," Seth said.

"Hey Lia it's great to finally meet you. He does nothing but talk about you all the time," Heath said.

"I'm offended you don't talk about me," Cris said.

"Shut up, Cris," Seth and Lia said in unison.

"Ok I see how it is," Cris replied.

"All he does is talk about home and compare everything here to it. It must really suck having to move in your senior year. I think I'd kill my parents if they did that to me," Candace said.

"Yeah that's about how I feel," Seth said. "I don't want to talk about that now. The game was awesome, we blew them away."

"Yeah we did and you were real impressive, Seth. Two touchdowns in one game everyone was real impressed. I know the coaches were, but the next team we play will be harder and they'll be gunning for you. They'll review the tapes from tonight over and over again to see how you play," Heath said.

The waitress came over to take their orders; the guys ordered enough food for an army. Lia didn't order much just a chef salad with blue cheese dressing.

"So Lia I heard you gave Felicity a bloody mouth. Good for you, she's such a bitch someone needed to knock her down a peg or two. The way she puts herself in front of Seth, it's pathetic. Like he'd want anything to do with her," Heath said.

"I didn't want to. I wanted to ignore her, but when she pulled my hair I couldn't let it go. She can say anything she wants it doesn't bug me. I know Seth and I know how he feels. Don't get me wrong some of the things she said pissed me off. It was when she pulled my hair that I had enough," Lia said.

As she talked Seth put his arm around her and pulled close to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and stayed there till their food came. When it did she swore the table was bowing from the weight of it all.

Between the talking, joking around, and the all out fun they were having Lia ended up eating the whole salad. "I'm stuffed," Lia said.

"You should be," Candace laughed. "That thing was enormous, how did you eat it all?"

"I guess I was hungry after all," Lia laughed with her.

"From what I hear it's the first thing you ate all week," Seth probed.

She looked at him and wondered for a second how he knew that then she looked at her brother, "Cris you have a big mouth," Lia yelled over to him over the roar of the crowd.

"Hey he asked I answered," Cris said not sounding a bit upset at being found out.

They sat there for a while more just goofing off when Seth noticed it was after midnight. "We should be able to go home, that darn party my parents are having should be over soon. If not we'll hang out in my room till everyone leaves," Seth said.

"Oh the wondrous house parties, I hate them. The parents wanting you to act all prim and proper when all you want to do is go in your room and crank the music up," Heath said. "It might not be over yet. Might want to go to the roof top and hang out if I were you. They never want to go up there."

"Yeah good idea," Seth agreed.

"Stake your claim on the roof. Anyone in your building stake the claim yet?" he asked.

"Don't know I went up there not for long though," Seth said.

"Look around if you see chairs and stuff stay away from it, claim a different part of it. Any kids in your building old enough to go up there?"

"Not that I saw, but you never know. We'll check it out tonight," Seth said.

~~*~~

They got back to the apartment and went in. The party was still going, so they shot off to his bedroom which is to the side of the kitchen and grabbed two blankets and a few folding chairs. They went back out the door to the elevator and hit the button for the top floor. They couldn't get to the roof from the elevator they had to climb the last set of stairs that was at the end of the hallway.

Once they got on the roof they looked around and didn't see anyone else having stuff up here. They took the best view overlooking the city. Seth and Lia put the chairs around. Sitting down Lia sighed, "This is so relaxing sitting here overlooking the city with all the lights. All the noise is down below and up here it's quite."

Seth sat on the other chair close to her. "Anytime I'm with you I feel relaxed. No matter where we are. I never knew I could think of so much stuff that could happen to you since I've moved."

"Like what?"

"You've been sick most of the week and I know most of it has to do with the move. Late at night I sit in my room and think about you. Then my imagination starts swirling around in my head and I think how it might not be just the move that it could be something else, far worse."

"Seth nothing is wrong with me. I'm just getting myself all worked up because I can't be with you. I'm sixteen, almost seventeen and I haven't been away from you in twelve years. This is such a big adjustment for me. Please don't worry, nothing is wrong and I'll swear I'll try harder not to let it get to me so bad," Lia pleaded.

They were sitting so close together she put her head on his shoulder and let the view take her away from all the problems. She shivered and he drew her closer, "You need the blanket?" he asked.

She shook her head still on his shoulder. He lifted her face to him and looking into her beautiful eyes he kissed her long and hard. If it wasn't for her brother being a few feet away he would have made love to her right here on the roof. He knew he couldn't, but that didn't stop the fantasy in his head about it.

They stayed out on the roof until 1:30. The both girls were so tired they needed help getting down the steep stairwell. Steph slumped against Cris and he held her up close to him, "Almost to the apartment, Steph. We'll go to sleep as soon as we get in there," he whispered in her ear.

Lia was tired also. She didn't want the night to end. The last few hours ended on a magical note for her. Just being able to sit around with friends and have fun, then to sit around relaxing with Seth on the roof. Tonight was definitely one of the best they had in a long time.

Seth let them into the apartment and since no one was around they headed to the living room. When they past the kitchen they noticed his Mom was still up. Cris took Steph into the living room where they laid down to sleep. Seth and Lia stopped to talk to his Mom.

"How was the game?" she asked.

"Good," Seth answered. "We won."

"Seth got two touchdowns, one in the second quarter and one in the fourth," Lia said.

"That's wonderful, Seth. Sorry we missed it. We'll be there the next game."

"Don't worry about it, Mom. No big deal. We're going to bed, were both tired," Seth said. Walking into the living room Cris and Steph took the bigger couch since Cris couldn't fit on the smaller one. They were both asleep as soon as they hit it.

"Looks like we get the smaller one," Seth laughed.

"You go in your room and sleep. I can fit on that couch," Lia said.

"No I can sleep here you take my bed," Seth said.

"Get some blankets we can sleep on the floor together. I have to use the bathroom and change," Lia said.

While she was in there he got blankets and pillows and put them on the floor. When she came out she laid down and was asleep as soon as Seth laid down with her. He watched her for the longest time. Just watching her sleep next to him gave him the inter peace as nothing else could. It wasn't something he could explain he just felt it.

His Mom checked on them before going to bed. She stood and the doorway for a little bit. He didn't let her know he was awake; he didn't want to hear anymore of her excuses for his Dad or her not coming to his game. He was almost an adult, but they have been at every game of his since little league, and it hurt a little that they weren't at this one. Soon he fell asleep with Lia snuggled up close to him.

~~*~~

When they woke up on Sunday it was already late morning almost noon, Lia was already awake and in the bathroom. He went by the bathroom, he though he heard her throwing up. He knocked on the door, "Lia are you in there?"

She didn't answer right away. "Lia?" he asked again.

"Yeah I'll be out in a minute," she said.

When she opened the door he was standing there, "Lia we need to talk alone, get dressed."

She got her clothes and went back in the bathroom when he got out. She didn't say anything to him. He went to change and met her in the hallway. He took her up to the roof knowing it was the only place they could talk privately.

"How often have you been getting sick? I want the truth," he said.

"That Saturday night you were with me, and a few days this week and then this morning," she replied.

"What about being nauseated?"

"I don't know a few times I guess. Why are you asking me this, Seth?" she asked.

"I have to know something, Lia, and please tell me the truth. Did you miss a period this month?"

"You think I'm pregnant?" she looked at him in shock. "I'm not due for it till next week."

"It would make sense all the times you've been sick or nauseated," he said.

"I have no idea if I am since I'm not even late. I think it has more to do with you leaving," she said.

"You sure it's next week? I thought it was this week," Seth said.

"You know when I'm supposed to have my period? Really?" she asked.

"Lia I know everything about you, you should know that by now," he said.

"Yeah I know that. I never thought you kept track of that, though."

"It's not that I kept track of it I just know. Do you keep track of it on a calendar or anything? It's real important, Babe. If your pregnant it make this mess were in a whole lot messier," he said.

"Not every month and that would be at home. Do you really think I am? God what would we do?" Lia said.

"We have to get a test and see if you are."

"I think it's too early. I'll wait another week and take one the following week if I don't get it," she said tears forming in her eyes. Seth saw them and pulled into his arms, "Don't worry we'll figure something out if you are."

"There's only two choices, have it or have an abortion," she said.

"Look let's not jump the gun here. When you get home we'll see if you're late if you can figure it out and if not we'll wait two weeks and take the test."

"I'm scared Seth. Our parents will kill us for sure," she cried.

"We'll have to make decisions when we find out," he said.

"You have to make me another promise, Seth, if I am I want you to finish football up here and get that scholarship. I don't want to tell the parent right away either," she said.

"Lia, if you are I'm not leaving you down in PA by yourself," he said.

"Yes you will, you're going to need that scholarship more than ever if that test is positive," she said sitting heavily on the chair.

He knelt down in front of her, putting his hands on either side of her face, "No matter what I love you, but I don't think I can stay here if you are."

"For us you need to," she pleaded.

"I'll think about it," he said.

Chapter 24

They spent the rest of the afternoon walking around New York with Cris and Steph. Seth didn't leave Lia's side all day. He watched out for her the whole day. He was worried for her; he didn't want her to be pregnant. He didn't know what to do; his insides were churning with fear. At one point he thought he wanted her pregnant so no one could keep them apart, but now that the reality of it was here a fear swept through him.

Actually it was terror, could they raise a kid? What if God forbid anything happened to Lia or the baby? He couldn't even think that. His mind kept racing round and round with all the possible things that could go wrong. He instinctively reached for her to pull her closer to him.

"Seth, stop hovering. It's no different than yesterday," she whispered.

"God, Lia yesterday you got in that fight with Felicity and the day before you got hit by that cheerleader," Seth said.

"Stop it, Seth. You're going to drive me crazy. We don't even know yet," Lia said. "I want to enjoy the day with you three, without you being neurotic."

"I'm not neurotic," he said.

"Yes you are. Let's just go back to your place and watch movies or something," she said.

"No I'll stop it or try to," he muttered.

"What are you two whispering about?" Cris said.

"Nothing that's any of your business," Lia retorted.

"Don't get snippy with me," Cris said picking her up and twirling her around in a tight circle making her dizzy. When he put her down she couldn't stand right.

"Cris, I'm gonna kill you," Seth said through clenched teeth. "Look what you did to her." Seth had to hold on to her till the dizziness went away.

"I'm fine, Seth he always does that to me and you know it. You'd think after all these years I wouldn't get dizzy any more. If you guys wouldn't mind can we head back I want to lie down and relax with Seth, before we go back?" she asked.

"Not a problem with me. My feet are killing me," Steph said.

"You want us to get a taxi back?" Cris asked.

"Mister penny pincher is getting a taxi!" Lia said.

"I didn't say I was paying," Cris joked.

"Figures," Lia retorted.

"We can walk back I'm fine," Steph said.

"No seriously if you want a taxi back we can get one," Cris said to her.

"No, its fine," Steph said jumping on his back. "You'll be my taxi."

They walked back slower than they did going. Lia took in all the sights around her. New York was definitely a lot different than at home, people where going everywhere at a fast pace. People were passing them on the sidewalk like they were standing still. Some of them made rude remarks at how slow they were walking.

"Just think it's a Sunday, you should see it during the week," Seth said.

"We'd probably get run over," Steph said laughing.

When they finally got back to the apartment Steph sat down heavily on the couch, took off her shoes and sighed a sigh of relief, "This feels so good to finally be off my feet," she said.

Cris sat down next to her pulled her foot on his lap and started rubbing her feet, "I think I just died and went to heaven. That feels so good," Steph sighed.

Seth sat on the other couch and motioned for her to sit by him. She laid down and put her head on his lap. He was rubbing her neck and shoulders putting her to sleep. "Has she been sleeping this week?"

"Yeah I guess, I don't hear her moving around at night. She's been working a lot this past week when she doesn't have practice," Cris said. "Why?"

"Just checking don't want her to lose sleep too," Seth said.

"You're not sleeping, Seth?" Steph asked. "You know this whole thing just really sucks. The two of you are so stressed out, you're not sleeping and she's sick all the time."

"What do you mean?" Seth anxiously asked.

"Big mouth," Cris said.

"Oh sorry I forgot," Steph said.

"You're keeping something from me?" Seth demanded.

"Not really, she probably told you anyway. She's been sick, but I think it's getting better," Cris said. "She didn't want me to tell you so you wouldn't worry. It's really no big deal; she's just upset about you moving."

"Yeah that's probably it," Seth said. He moved her a little so he could get up off the couch. He went to the window and stood there staring out. He was lost in his thoughts he didn't notice Cris walked over to him until he spoke, "Seth what up?"

"Nothing, but I need to find a place to live back home. She begged me to finish the football season to see if I get a scholarship, but I don't care about that. I'm moving back as soon as I can."

"I don't know what's going on, but for your future and my sister's, stay and finish the season here. You need the scholarship to go to college. It'll take a lot of the stress off you and her. She won't get a scholarship so she'll have to pay for her own college and if yours is paid for it'll be so much easier. Do yourself a favor and listen to her," Cris said.

"We'll see, but I'm definitely moving back by the holidays. I just have to find a place to stay," Seth said.

"What about Mr. Grayson?"

"He said for college not about before, but the next time I'm home I'll stop by. Don't say anything to Lia yet I don't want her hopes crushed if I can't find a place," Seth said.

"I won't. We have to wake her up though we have to be heading back soon."

Once Lia woke up she was starving so they raided the frig to see what was in there. They heated up some leftovers from the party; there was pasta with sauce, salad with italian dressing, and some really good bread, from the bakery around the corner.

Lia sat at the table nibbling on the bread and salad. "Do you want any of the pasta?" Seth asked.

"Yeah a little bit."

"I thought you were starving," Cris said.

"I am this salad tastes so good I'd rather eat it than pasta," Lia retorted. They sat there eating not talking much, just a little gossip from home, but nothing real important.

By the time they were done, it was time for them to leave. Seth went down to the garage with them. "You know how to get home right, Cris?" he asked.

"Yeah I know."

"Good, Lia call me the minute you get home," Seth said giving her a kiss.

"I will," she mumbled through the kiss. "Love you, Babe."

"Love you, too."

She waved to him from the back of the car as they pulled out. It tore the hole in his heart bigger to see her face looking so sad. He wished he was already eighteen because he would have left with her right now. He went upstairs and into his room he had a lot of thinking to do.

Lia sat in the back of the car and feeling sadder the further away they got. She fell asleep at the border of New York and PA. She woke up when Cris told her they were home. She ran in the house and up to her room to call Seth.

"We made it home," she announced when he pick up his phone.

"Already? Cris must have been flying?" Seth said.

"No more than you do," she teased. "I had a really great weekend with you, I miss you already," Lia said.

"Did you think anymore on what we talked about?"

"No, I didn't. I fell asleep on the way home," she said. "You know me and car rides, they always put me to sleep."

"Yeah I do. We always wondered if you would fall asleep when you started to drive," he said.

"Ha ha, not funny," she said. "So what did you do after we left?"

"Just sat in my room, trying to make some decisions."

"Did you come up with any?"

"Only one, I'll finish football here. I have to wait till I turn eighteen to do any of my other decisions and by then football is almost done."

"I'm glad you're finishing football, it's something you love."

"Did you check your calendar?"

"No, I didn't I called you right away." She really was afraid to check it, she thought she was due next week, but there's that little inkling of doubt that Seth might be right. She didn't want him to be right.

"Look for it, please," he begged.

"I will when I get off the phone with you."

"Lia, you're killing me right now. I need to know now," he groaned.

"Fine!" She opened her desk drawer and pulled it out. She knew right where it was, but she didn't want to look. She looked at August. She stared at in horror, Seth was right she was due this week. "Oh, God," she whispered.

"Lia? I was right wasn't I?"

"Yeah you were. Oh God, Seth what are we gonna do?"

"I'm coming down there, now! You have to take a pregnancy test," Seth said running out of his apartment.

"Seth, no you can't come here, everyone will wonder why you're here. If I am we have to keep it a secret for now," she pleaded.

"Why?" he stopped by the elevator, but didn't hit the button.

"We have a lot of decisions to make whether were having it or not, for one. I don't want anyone trying to influence us, it's our decision. Before we start freaking out we have to find out first and I don't want to take the test here. Do you have practice tomorrow?"

"Yeah all week after school, but I can come down after," he said pushing the up button to go to the roof.

"No it's too much for you to drive all that way and then to drive back. Come down this weekend and we'll see then," she said. "And Seth really think hard what you want to do about it. I'm telling you now you're finishing football up there, no matter what."

"Not if you're pregnant, I'm moving back right away."

"No don't ruin our future. You're talking like you want to have it," she said.

"Don't you, Lia?" he asked holding his breath. "I know were young, and I thought babies would come after college, but I wouldn't feel right you getting an abortion."

She sighed. But before she could say anything he cut her off. "You really don't want it?"

"No I do. I thought you wouldn't," she said. "Not now anyway."

"Take the test tomorrow and call me after I get out of practice. I don't think I can wait till this weekend."

"I want you here with me."

"I want to be. If only I would have thought sooner we should have done it up here today," he said.

"Oh yeah right, with my brother and his girlfriend there that would have gone over good. I have to work tomorrow right after school, why don't we just do it on the weekend; you can come down on Sunday?"

"The game's Friday this week and I can leave right after that."

"No Seth it's too late I don't want you getting in an accident. I need you in one piece," Lia said. "The one thing I want to do is finish out the cheerleading season. They won't let me cheer next year, but I really want to finish this year out."

"What if someone falls on you again? And this time on your stomach or back," Seth said.

"I'll be careful. The only reason I got hurt this week was my fault I wasn't concentrating, I was thinking about you being here. It was totally my fault," she reiterated.

"We'll see. First we have to find out if you are," he said.

"This weekend we will and then we can discuss what we're gonna do. I have to get some sleep I'm really tired," Lia said yawning.

"Should I call you in the morning?"

"Of course. I miss you," she said.

"Same here, talk to you tomorrow. I love you," Seth said. After hanging up he sat up on the roof in the same spot Lia and he did the night before. This was a serious problem they had; if he stayed up here she'd take the brunt of it from her parents all alone. Then again she was right they'd need the scholarship more than anything, and football was only two more months. If they did keep it a secret just till the season was over he could possibly get the scholarship, but if they did that she couldn't stop cheering without everyone asking why.

Everything kept going round and round in his head. He couldn't make any sense of what to do. When another problem entered it, what if her parents make her get rid of it. She was underage and they could force her he guessed. They really had to figure all aspects of this before they told anyone. This weekend they'd have to discuss it all. If she was pregnant, he serious thought she was, but he'd wait for the test to be done.

~~*~~

Lia sat in her bedroom thinking; how was she going to wait till the weekend to take the test she wanted to know now, but she thought it was probably too early. She was also thinking what would they do? Her parents would probably freak out, and his would blame her for it all. That she ruined his life etc. The one and only thing she was certain of Seth was going to finish this football season. After that they'd see what happens. Did they find out right away about the scholarships or did they have to wait, and did he have to be in school up in New York for him to get it?

She fell asleep wondering what was in store for them.

Chapter 25

The next day Seth called Lia in the morning, after school, and before bed. As the week progressed they spoke less and less, between the two of them having school, practices and work it was impossible for them to talk all the time. By the end of the week Lia was worried that he wouldn't be able to come this weekend.

He didn't call her Friday morning so she woke up to her alarm going off. Groggily she hit snooze and fell back to sleep. When her alarm went off again she looked at the time and she was worried. Why he didn't call me? Picking up her phone she called him; it went to his voice mail. Getting out of bed she headed into the bathroom to start getting ready for school. She felt something was wrong, but had no clue what.

She tried calling him again, still no answer. She started panicking; she just knew something was wrong. She went downstairs to get something to eat when her phone rang. She looked at it; it was Seth, answering it right away she said, "What's wrong?"

"Lia, this is Mrs. Rossetti. Seth was in an accident last night on the way home from work."

Lia sat heavily on the chair, "Oh my God is he alright?" she said in a whisper, too afraid to ask.

"Yes, thank God, they kept him overnight just for observation, because he hit his head. He just woke up and told me to call you to let you know. He's was so upset that you'd be worried when he didn't call."

"Can I talk to him?" Lia asked.

"Yes, here he is," Mrs. Rossetti said.

"Seth? Are you alright?" Lia blurted before he could say anything.

"Yeah, I'm fine I didn't want to stay here, but they made me," he said.

"They wanted to make sure you were ok. Seth what happened?"

"The other driver ran a red light as I was coming thru the intersection. They hit the passenger side between the fender and the door. I guess it could be worse, I don't know until I look at it."

"I'm glad you're alright, the car can be fixed."

"Yeah I know, but I don't have anywhere to fix it up here, it'll cost a fortune at a shop, and I have to wait till the insurance sends me a check. I won't be able to come down this weekend, but I want you to do what we planned then call me," he said.

"No I'll wait till you can come down. Maybe I can ask my Mom and Dad if you can bring it here to fix it," Lia suggested.

"No, that'll be too hard to fix it, with me being up here. I'll think of something."

"Babe, stop talking about the damn car. I want to know what happened to you."

"I hit my head on the side window and smashed it. It cut my head right by the temple so they were worried I had a concussion, but I don't. I guess having a hard head is good," he said.

"Yeah it is," she said. "Do you want me to come up there?"

"No, go to school and the game, I'll call you went they release me. Hopefully they let me play tonight."

"Do you think they will? Do you think it's wise?" Lia asked.

"I don't have a concussion, only a cut above my eye that they stitched a little, so I don't see why I can't," he said.

"Um maybe because if you get hit it'll break open and start bleeding again. Sit out tonight, Seth," she pleaded.

"We'll see, I have to talk to the coach. If the doctor releases me to play, then it'll be up to him. They should be releasing me soon. I guess, I'll go to school to talk to him. I wish the idiot wouldn't have hit me, it ruined all my plans. Now, I can't get down to see you and I can't get to work, I'll have to take the bus. This really sucks."

"Seth just be glad you weren't seriously hurt. Not having a car is an inconvenience, but not the end of the world. Was the driver drunk?"

"I don't know, I was more worried about my car than the driver of the other car. He wasn't hurt too bad, just scrapes and bruises, all my attention went to my car. Mom? Was the driver drunk?"

"No I don't think so," Mrs. Rossetti said.

"No Lia, my Mom doesn't think so. He probably was distracted," Seth said. "You better get going, school's gonna start soon and I don't want you to be late."

"Ok I'll call you later. Love ya," Lia said.

"Love you too," Seth said.

Lia sat at the table staring into space. She didn't notice Cris walking into the kitchen. He looked at her and kept walking to the refrigerator pulled out the orange juice and was pouring himself a glass when he noticed she didn't move.

"Earth to Lia, are you there Lia?" he teased. When she didn't respond he shook her a little, "What's up Lia?"

She looked at him, but didn't answer right away. She was still trying to come to grips with Seth being in an accident. Even though he was fine she was still shook up. He could've been killed. The tears pooled in her eyes threatening to spill over. "Seth was in an accident last night. He's ok I just talked to him, he has a few stitches above his eye and no concussion."

"Shit, what happened?"

"I guess the other car ran a red light and hit him on the passenger side right by the door. He doesn't know the full damage to the car yet," she said listlessly.

"Lia, he's fine you talked to him," Cris said. "It's too bad about his car though. It can probably be fixed without too much trouble as long as the frame isn't bent. Nothing a new fender and door can't fix, he can get one at the junkyard."

"Why can't anything go our way? Why does our life have to suck so bad? What the hell did we do that was so wrong?" Lia moaned. "It's been one thing after another I just don't get it; everything is trying to keep us apart."

"It just seems that way right now, but that's not the case, Lia. You two will always be together. Come on, we have to leave for school. I'll call him later to see about getting the car fixed, see what parts he needs, the junkyard out side of town has a lot of parts for his car."

"Well that's good, but how are you gonna get them to New York?"

"I'm sure Dad will let me take his truck up there with the parts, if that's what Seth wants to do. Come on we're late," Cris said.

~~*~~

School was hard for Lia to get through even though Seth texted her that he was released and at school himself. The day went so slow for her, every time she looked at the clock, it seemed to be standing still. She had the game tonight and she really didn't want to go, she was depressed with everything going on lately. At least she didn't have practice right after school; she was going to take that time to talk to Seth. She hoped he wasn't allowed to play tonight it was too soon after his accident.

Geez, it was now only 1:30 still an hour to go. Is the day ever going to end? She had to talk to Seth, but if she did it now she'd get both of them in trouble. It was just so hard to wait. She kept worrying that his head injury was worse than he let on. She walked the halls in a daze and when everyone kept asking her what was wrong she told them, "Nothing's wrong, just a bad day."

She couldn't take it anymore. So when Tina asked," Lia, what's with you today, you're not your usual self? Did something happen?"

Lia exploded, "Seth was in an accident last night, he's fine, but I'm worried about him. He went to school today and is going to ask if he can play tonight. All's I know is that he has a cut above his eye, by the temple, and they kept him overnight as a precaution. God, Tina I can't take much more! I'm going to lose it soon. If we have one more bad thing happen to us I'm screaming at the top of my lungs and the whole world will hear me!"

"Oh, Honey, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell us before this? You know we're always there for you," Tina sympathized.

"I'm tired of telling you guys all my bad luck lately. I don't think I'm much fun right now and dumping my shit on you is not any fun for you either."

"We're your friends, Lia and of course we'll be here for you no matter what. So how was your weekend with Seth?"

"Just great if you think yelling at his parents for trying to force him to see another girl, and then me punching that girl in the face, a great weekend, then it was. I do have to say, though punching her in the face relieved some of the tension in me," Lia said laughing.

"Wow, you really are having a bad time of it. Look let's get together this weekend and have a sleep over like we always used to, just me, you, and Tasha," Tina said.

"I'll let you know, it definitely sounds like fun, but have to see what's going on with Seth. He was to come down, but with his car he didn't know at the time if he could. He has to see if the car is drivable. I'm gonna talk to him later so I'll let you know at the game. Even if he does come down, I think I might sleep over anyhow, but I'll let you know."

"Good, I have to run I'll be late for class. See ya at the game," Tina said running down the hall.

She sat in her last class staring at the clock constantly, not even remembering a single thing the teacher said. She knew the more she looked at the clock, the slower time seemed to go, but she couldn't help it. Ten more minutes, come on.

Finally the bell rang, grabbing her books and book bag she shot out the door before anyone else could. She headed straight down the hall and out the front doors to call him. She pulled her phone out of her purse and it started ringing. Looking at it she saw Seth's number.

She answered right away, "Hey, Babe, how are you?" she asked.

"Ok, a little stiff, but ok. The doctor said I can play tonight, no fractures, no concussion and the coach spoke to the doctor and I can play tonight, which is great news because a few scouts are coming to the game to check out a few players. Hopefully I'll be one of them. Who knows," he said.

"Well I guess that's great for you. I'm just worried that you'll get hurt after the accident you just had," she said listless.

"I'm not hurt; they took every possible test they could last night thanks to my Mom. Be happy for me Lia, this is the reason you wanted me to play up here," he said slowly not wanting to cause an argument.

"I am happy for you and you're right this is what I want you to do. I'm just worried because I'm not there to see how you are. Play great tonight and call me later I want to know how it went."

"You hanging up on me?"

"No I'm not, I'm just reminding you to call later. Hey what's up with your car?"

"Needs a new front quarter panel and passenger door, but I'm able to drive it. Cris texted me earlier, to see what's wrong with it. So I can come down tomorrow, we're gonna go to the junk yard to get the parts and fix it tomorrow, it'll probably take most of the day, but the night's all yours."

"Well can we reverse that and I'll have the afternoon after I get off work, because Tina asked me to have a girls night at her house and I really want to hang out with her and Tasha. You don't mind do you?"

"No Cris and I'll go get the stuff before you get off and then we'll fix it at night."

"Ok, if it's not a problem. I don't think I want to sleepover with you being down, so I'll tell her just for a few hours."

They talked for a few more minutes about their plans and before she hung up she told him, "Good luck tonight and play great. Don't forget to call me afterwards."

"I won't. On Sunday morning you have to take that test. We'll find some place for you to." he said.

"I can take that any time anywhere. Right now I'm not worried about that, I'm worried you'll get hurt tonight."

"I won't, nothing different from any other game. But the coach did tell me that if I play the way I did last weekend the scouts will definitely be looking at me too."

"That's great, did he tell you which ones where coming?"

"No he didn't, it doesn't matter which ones. If I have some then maybe others closer to home will be interested."

"That's true never thought of that. Play your best and see what happens," she said a little more encouraging than before.

~~*~~

"Tina did you still want to get together tomorrow?" Lia asked when she got to the game.

"Can we do it tonight instead? Tasha can't tomorrow she's going away," Tina replied.

"Yeah that works better, because Seth's car isn't as bad as he thought and he's coming down tomorrow so Cris and him can fix it. I was going to tell you that I could come by for a few hours, but tonight works better. I'll call my Mom to make sure," Lia said.

"Isn't she coming to the game, just ask her then, we have to practice."

Lia hesitated not wanting to show she was afraid of getting hit again, and really not wanting to be the base for Syd anymore. The girl was all over the place most of the time; she could stick it only once in a while. She needed to talk to Tasha about putting her somewhere else she wasn't a good flyer for the hard stuff. Her confidence wasn't there and until she got that she'd be all over the place.

"Tasha, can I talk to you before we practice?" Lia asked.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I was thinking over the week that Syd really shouldn't be trying the hard stunts, she can't do them. She has no confidence in herself and I seriously don't want to get hurt again. So practicing with her out here isn't a good idea. She gets distracted too easily," Lia reasoned.

"I know you're right, but we need her to go up," Tasha said.

"But not out here. We can work on getting her confidence up in the gym then she'll be able to do it out here. You know my head hurt so bad last week when she hit me and I don't want to do that again. We'll just do the easier stuff tonight with her, if that's alright."

"You're probably right, you're her base so you know what she can and cannot do. Keep her stuff easy tonight and we'll build on that. If it doesn't work out after a little, we'll have to replace her with someone else. Who? I don't know," Tasha agreed. "Let's start practice and I'll let her know. Maybe if we keep it simple for her she'll gain the confidence she needs and then we can move her to the harder stuff."

"That's what I think too. Thanks, Tasha for listening to me," Lia said.

"Why wouldn't I you're my assistant captain and I know you know your stuff?"

Chapter 26

Seth surprised Lia at work the next day when he walked into the store. He was watching her help a customer and realized just how much he missed her. She didn't see him and walked the other way. He followed her and walked up right behind her and asked, "Can I have some help here; no one in this store wants to help anyone."

She quickly turned around laughing, "What are you doing here?"

"Picking my fiancé up from work, you get off soon right?"

"Yeah in about fifteen minutes. Your cut looks pretty bad. How did the game go last night? Were the scouts there and did they say anything? Sorry I missed your call I stayed at Tina's last night and I guess I kinda fell asleep early," Lia said.

"Let's take this one at a time. My cut is fine, the game went great we won, and it was a really good team we played. The scouts were there and yes they talked to the coach about some of us and I was one of them, but we don't know what was said exactly," he answered.

"That's great, but your coach didn't tell you guys anything?"

"No, he didn't have any real details. Later in the season if they're still interested they'll come back with some other people from the schools and speak with us. I'm just glad I was included since I'm so new there," he said.

"That's great, we'll talk more about it later I have to get back to work before you get me fired," she said. "Wait in the mall for me."

Seth sat on one of the benches right outside of her work waiting. He saw some friends he knew he walked over to them; they were talking and laughing when Lia walked out of the store twenty minutes later. Walking over to the bunch of them, "Hey guys," she said to the group. "Are you ready to go home?" she asked Seth.

"Yeah I'm ready. I want to get my car fixed," Seth said. They walked through the mall hand in hand and when they went out to the parking lot and to his car, she was shocked at how bad the accident really was.

"I thought it was just small dent, but this worse than I thought." There was huge dent between the front quarter panel and the door. It didn't look like the door would be able to open. The window in the door wasn't there, and the windshield had a nasty crack going from the passenger side to the middle. It looked like a spider wed crawling across the windshield. "Is the frame cracked?"

"No thank God. The car's paint won't match the new parts we got, but I'm going to have it painted when the insurance money comes in."

"You could have been seriously hurt," Lia stated.

"But I wasn't. You know what the first thing I thought of as I sat in the car after the accident, before I even got out?"

"No, what?"

"That you could have been sitting in that seat, and you could have been hurt bad or dead. I thanked God you weren't. A cut on my head and replacing some parts on my car is nothing compared to those few seconds I sat there thinking you could have been hurt."

"You thought of me seconds after the accident happened? I would have thought you would have thought of your car," she teased to lighten the mood he was in.

"Funny, actually it was the last thing, I got out and checked on the other driver first, then freaked out about my car, smarty pants," he joked.

"Ok so how do I get in the car? I assume the door doesn't open."

"You have to crawl through from the driver's side. Be careful I tried to get as much of the glass cleaned up, but there might me more"

Lia climbed over the driver's seat, and the stick shift looking for anymore broken glass. She sat on the seat and put her seat belt on. Seth got in and started the engine. "Well at least it was only cosmetic damage and nothing else," she said.

"Hopefully, Cris and I are gonna take a good look once we take the car apart. I was glad they had all the parts we know we need, and they had a windshield there too. That won't go in until we're done with the other stuff. I think everything else is fine. I got down here with no problems. My Dad did look at it and he didn't think anything serious was wrong, and the guy who towed it put it up on the lift and checked the frame before my dad brought it home."

"It's good nothing serious happened with it or you. So I guess it's going to be a whole day thing, you guys working on it?"

"Yeah you have a problem with me working on it?" he asked.

"Nope I'll sit outside with you guys and do some of my homework. I'm just glad you're here, so if you want to work on it all weekend I don't care. I like watching you rebuild you car. I did it the first time you rebuilt this one, remember."

"Yeah it used to drive my Dad nuts having you there just watching us," Seth said laughing.

"He really doesn't like me, does he?"

"It wasn't that, it was how you could be content just to sit there day after day and just watch us."

"I am content to just watch you; as long as we are together I'm content. You being away now has thrown my world in a spin and I don't know if I can get off the wild ride it's been since you left."

"I know, he just doesn't get us or our feelings for each other. Hell sometimes I don't either, but I know one thing I don't ever want to lose you," he said grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

"You know, who would have ever thought the tough, Seth Rossetti, would be like this," Lia stated.

"Only around you," he smiled.

"It better be around me only!" she exclaimed smiling.

Seth pulled into the driveway around Lia's Dad's car and stopped right in front of the garage. She looked at him with a puzzled look, "Special privileges? How do you rate parking in front of the garage?"

"I have an inside source," he teased. "Actually your Dad said to pull it up here when we brought the parts back. He said it didn't make sense to cart all the tools out and down the driveway, where my car in pieces would be in the way."

"It does make sense, surprised my Dad has any where you're concerned. Wonder how long that will last?" Lia said.

"I just want to get the car fixed and then spend whatever time is left this weekend with you. I don't care how long him being nice will last; it never made a difference to me to begin with."

"I know that. I'm just waiting for the explosion to come. He avoided me most of the time when he was mad at you and he's still the same way with me and he's talking to you. Just don't get it, I guess I never will," Lia sighed. "Well you get started on the car and I'll go change and be back out, with my homework."

Seth turned toward the garage and saw Cris pulling the big tool chest over to his car. Pulling out tools he knew they would need to take the door off. They planned to take everything off that was dented to see if they could hammer any of it out. The door was a complete loss so they put it to the side to where they would put all the pieces that were no good to take back to the junk yard.

They did take the inside of the door off to put onto the new one they got so the interior matched even if the outside didn't match, until the paint job was complete. The fender they tried to hammer out the dent and it was looking good until they got to the part that matched up to the door, the way it was hit it wouldn't match the contour of the body correctly. They tried several things to get it to mold back to the original shape, but after an hour of working on it Seth said, "Give it up, it's not going to look right. We'll just have to put the new one on."

Lia's Dad walked out of the house and over to the car, "I wouldn't try to put that old fender back on with the new door they'll keep rubbing against each other and then ruin your paint. Did you get the new ones off the same car?"

"Yeah, Dad we did. We're not going to use the old one we can't get it to fit right."

"Make sure you check everything on that side just to make sure nothing else is bent or broke. Do you need the truck anymore I have some things I got to do?"

"No not now. We checked and the only thing bent is the one hinge that bolts onto the frame, we'll probably have to heat it a little to hammer it back in place, if that don't work he'll have to get a new one, and we can get it in my car."

"Thanks, Mr. Lombardi for letting us use the truck to get the stuff. Cris we have to get the windshield out of the bed of his truck before he goes," Seth said.

"Oh yeah, give us a second to get it," Cris replied.

"Fine let me know when you're done. Where's Lia?" Mr. Lombardi asked.

"Here Dad doing my homework under the tree," she yelled from the other side of the driveway.

He walked around the car and saw her spread out on a blanket doing her homework. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Biology homework. Want to help?"

"No, I couldn't stand it when I was in school why would I torture myself again," he said.

"Dad science is fascinating I love it," she replied.

"Well good for you, maybe you can become a scientist make good money and support your parents when we're old and gray," he teased.

"Yeah, maybe I can work for one of the pharmaceutical companies and come up with some great cure for cancer, or AIDS," she said.

"Is that what you really want to do when you go to college?" he asked.

"I don't know yet I just know I want to go to school for something to do with science, not sure what field I want to study yet, still doing research on that."

"I'm sure whatever you decide you'll excel at it, you were always good in school. Well it looks like they got the windshield out of the truck I'll be back soon," he said walking to the truck.

Seth looked at Lia and smiled, "Hey can you get us something to drink, Lia," he called.

"You know where the drinks are, I'm studying," she called back.

Her Dad just smiled and shook his head, one thing for sure was, Lia wouldn't let Seth walk all over her and that he was glad for. Seth came across to everyone as a hard ass kid, but deep down he knew they were suited for each other. He just hoped they didn't ruin their lives by getting engaged too young. Even though he loves Lia's Mom with all his heart, he wondered what it would have been like if they didn't married right out of high school. He wanted both his kids to go to college and then get married.

He was glad she had a good head on her shoulders and was a strong person; God only knew she would need it with someone like Seth. He reminded him of himself when he was that age, but with the right person hopefully his rough edges could be rounded a little. And if he knew his daughter she would be the one to do it for him.

"Come on Lia. We're both dirty and Mom will kill us if we mess up the kitchen," Cris grumbles.

"No, Mom won't kill you, I will since I'm the one who cleans it all the time," Lia said. "I'm not going in I have a big test this week and I have to study."

"Fine!" Cris bellowed. "I don't want to hear it about the dirty hand prints on the refrig."

"Whatever, if you make a mess you'll clean it up," she yelled. Looking back down at her books she tried to study some more, but her attention was sidetracked. "Thanks a lot guys for getting me out of my study mode."

"Well now you can get us something to drink," Cris replied.

"Oh I'll get you a drink alright," she said storming into the house. She got the biggest cup she could find and filled it with cold water. She slammed back out the door and walked up to her brother and proceeded to dump the whole cup of water down his back. "There's your drink. You think it's a joke to interrupt mw when I study. Like I'm not doing anything! Just because you can care less about you grades doesn't mean I don't!"

"Lia! I'm gonna kill you!" Cris roared jumping up the minute the cold water hit his back.

"Oh, no, you don't," Seth said standing up. "You deserved that, Cris. You know how she gets."

"You started this; Seth by asking her to gets us a drink. Maybe I should kill you for this," Cris roared.

"I just asked her. She said no. I let it go. You had to keep it up," Seth said.

"I'll get you back, remember that," Cris promised.

"Leave it go. It's only water," Seth said annoyed.

"Yeah, freaking ice cold water. If it was summer it would be fine, but it's not and it's cool out and now I'm freezing. I'm going in to change, MAYBE I'll be back," Cris said stomping into the house.

"Sorry, didn't mean to make him stop working with you," Lia said hugging him to her. "Don't be mad, he just ticks me off sometimes."

"He'll come out and if not then you'll have to help me," Seth said.

"I don't know anything about fixing cars," she whined.

"You should have thought about that before you pissed your brother off. I need help holding up the fender so I can bolt it on," Seth said.

"Alright, but I don't want to hear any complaining if I can't hold it right," she said.

Seth stopped her before she bent to pick it up; he pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard. When he pulled away he said, "Go inside and get your brother, you're not holding this fender up."

"Yes I am so put into place and I'll hold it. If I go in there now he'll probably attack me or something."

"I never thought I'd see the day that you would be afraid. I guess there's a first for everything," Seth teased her.

"I'm not afraid! I just don't want to be all soaking wet. He'll make a mess in the kitchen and then I'll have to clean it up," she replied.

"Just go in there and take what he dishes out, it's better to get it over with or he'll stalk you forever," Seth said.

"Fine," she said picking up her books. "If he ruins my books I'll kill him. I'm going to my room to study, let me know when you're done, if you get it done today."

"Don't be like that Lia," he said to her retreating back.

She opened the door and was hit with a huge bucket of water the minute the door opened. She was soaked from head to toe and her school books were soaking wet. She let out a scream so primeval Seth went running to her.

He stood there as the water dripped off her and the books, he wasn't sure what to do so he reached out and took the books from her grasp, they were completely drenched and her note book looked ruined. The minute he took the books from her hands she jumped on Cris's back and started pounding on him as hard as she could and screaming, "Those are my school books and notes for my test this week! You ruined them! I'm gonna kill you! If I have to recopy them you better look out!"

Seth put the books down and ran for her trying to get her off Cris's back. He was pulling her when her Dad pulled into the driveway. He rushed out of the truck and yelled, "What the hell is going on here?"

Lia stopped hitting Cris and let Seth pull her off of him, he felt her trembling, and wrapped his arms around her to calm her down. Cris stood there not saying a word.

"Why are you soaking wet, Lia?" her Dad asked.

"Cris threw a whole bucket of water on me, just because I put a glass of water down his back, for annoying me. It's not me I care about, but my school books and notes for my test that he ruined," she said pointing to the stack of books.

"Stop it the two of you and go put the books in the sun to dry out," he Dad said to her. When she walked away with her books, he looked at Cris, "You just have to start her don't you."

"Dad," Cris started.

"Don't want to hear it. If those books are ruined the two of you are paying for them," he said and then turned to Seth and said, "See what you want to live the rest of your life with."

"I know, but that's why I love her. She's who she is and I don't want to change her. She deserved what she got she started it," Seth said. "I'm the one who has to put up with her bad mood later. Come on Cris, thanks for putting her in a great mood, now help me get my car fixed."

Chapter 27

Lia went upstairs to take a shower and change after she put the books in the sun to dry. She was glad the books weren't ruined only the covers got wet; it was her notes that were smudged from the water. She'll have to rewrite them. Hopefully she'll be able to read them.

After her shower she sat in her room and thought about everything that has gone on in the past month since Seth left. She couldn't believe it was almost a month that he left. She felt in ways it actually brought them closer together, if that was at all possible, but it made them grow up some. She still had to take that pregnancy test and didn't know how they would handle it if she was.

She was relaxing on her bed, when the next thing she knew it was dark in her room. She must have fallen asleep while trying to figure out what they would do. She got off the bed and walked to the bathroom, her stomach was queasy again, and she wished Seth was up here to get her something to eat. She laid back down on the bed when she came out of the bathroom, picked up her phone and called Seth.

"Babe, are you still working on your car?" she asked in a faint voice.

"Yeah were almost done. Are you ok? You don't sound too good," he said.

"My stomach is queasy. Can you bring me some crackers, bread or something?" she asked.

"Yeah I'll be up in a minute or two. Putting the last bolts on now," he said.

About fifteen minutes later he walked into her room with a plate full of food; crackers, cheese, lunchmeat, pickles, and a bag of chips under his arm. "Sorry it took so long, the last two bolts wouldn't align up right and we had to keep shifting the door to get it on right."

"It's ok, what took so long to get it back together?"

"We sanded them down first and put two coats of primer on them. Then we had to wait for them to dry. In the mean time we checked everything out underneath; nothing else was broke or bent. I came up here a while ago to see what you were doing and you were sleeping so I let you go."

"Yeah I didn't plan it, I was sitting here thinking about some stuff and the next thing I knew it was dark out. How are you working in the dark?"

"We pulled it into the garage. We have to check on the windshield to make sure it set alright. Then I'm all yours for the night. Finish eating and come down and look at it," he said.

"Ok I will, wow I'm starving," she said.

"Did you eat anything for lunch?" he asked.

"No."

"Tomorrow we'll go to the cabin and take that test. But tonight I want to go out and get something to eat and just hang out with everyone. I'll take a shower in a little and then we'll go."

"Okay are we going to the pizza shop?" she asked.

"Is that what you want to eat?"

"No let's go somewhere else to eat then hang out there. You know what, call Mr. Grayson and see if he ate yet. We'll bring him food and stay for a little then go hang out with everyone. I know he'll want to see you," Lia said.

"Ok come down then. I'm going to check on the windshield make sure there's no leaks in it."

"Be right down. I want to change," she said.

~~*~~

"You guys did a really good job with this. If it wasn't for the gray primer you'd never know it was hit. It's a good thing you want to have your own garage, Seth. You do great work," Lia said.

"Yeah, but it's not going to be only a shop for body work, it's going to be for everything, from doing oil changes, to major rebuilds, to the body work. I want to do it all in one shop, but I want my business degree first so I handle the financial end of it too. While I'm in college I want to find a garage to work at so I have that experience under me."

"Sounds like a great plan you have there," Lia said. "Do you know where you want to have it?"

"Nope have to find where you get a job with your science stuff first," he replied.

"What do mean my science stuff?" she asked.

"You're not sure what you want to do in that field, so we don't know where we're going to be living. I can have my business anywhere," he said.

"You thought of everything, didn't you?"

"No, not everything, a lot of it, yeah. If we stay here in this town fine, but if not we'll go where your job takes us and I'll start my business there."

"I love you," she said hugging him tight. "So is the windshield set, no leaks?"

"None that I can see. The real test will be when it rains. I'm going to take a shower, and then we'll pick up food and take it to Mr. Grayson, I called him and he seemed pleased that we're coming over."

"Good I feel bad I didn't get to go over there since we were there last. It's just a busy time of the year."

"He'll understand I'm sure," he said giving her a kissing and running in the house to take a shower.

Lia walked around the house to get her books and see if they dried yet. She saw that they were stacked and sitting there, but her notebook as missing. She looked around and didn't see it anywhere in the yard. "Great, just great," she mumbled.

Taking her books in the house she plopped them on the table and called into her dad in the living room, "Dad did you see my notebook anywhere? It must have blown away it's not with my other books."

"Nope didn't see it. I don't think I blew away, Lia, there's no wind out today," he replied.

"Then I wonder where it is?"

"Don't know, did you ask the guys?"

"No, Seth's taking a shower and I have no idea where Cris is,"

"Well ask them when you see them."

"I will," she mumbled as she went up to her room to put her books in there. When she walked into her room there was a notebook on her bed that wasn't there when she left. Picking it up she looked inside. It was her notes, but not in her handwriting, it was Cris's handwriting. She started to read them and realized it wasn't her notes, but Cris from when he took the class.

She walked out of her room and into Cris, "Don't you ever knock? he demanded.

Walking over she hugged him, "Thanks for your notes. You didn't throw mine away did you?"

"No there right here," he said handing them over to her. "I'm sorry I didn't think you'd have your books with you when I dumped that bucket on you. Are the books alright? Dad said if they're not we both have to pay for them."

"I guess I did start it all. It was worth it to see the look on your face when I poured that ice cold water down your back. I just didn't think you would get me back so bad. And I lost my temper so I'm sorry I jumped on your back and hit you."

"We're even. Feeling any better, Seth said you didn't feel good?"

"Yeah I didn't eat breakfast or lunch so I was a little light headed."

"I think you better go to the doctor. You've been sick a lot lately."

"Yeah I think it's just nerves, with Seth leaving and everything. Today I just didn't eat enough. You didn't tell Mom did you?"

"No I didn't, but if you don't get better I will," he threatened.

"Just don't. I don't need her hovering around me. I'm trying to get it together when he's gone. It's hard though I miss him so much," she said with tears in her voice.

"I miss you too," Seth replied from the door way.

She walked over to him put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Can you two do that somewhere else?" Cris pleaded.

"We're leaving to go to Mr. Grayson's and then we'll meet you at the Pizza Shack," Lia said.

"Fine I won't be there until after Steph gets off work at 9:30," Cris replied.

"Good we won't be there much before that either," Seth said. "I have to talk to him about some things and it might take a little while."

"What do you have to talk to him about?" Lia asked.

"Just some things Lia, you'll be right there," Seth replied pulling her out of the room. "See ya later, Cris."

~~*~~

Mr. Grayson was sitting on the swing on his front porch, swinging back and forth waiting for them to get there. When they pulled up he grinned and waved at them. He stood up when they got out of the car, "Nice you see both of you," he called.

"It's nice to see you're doing well, Mr. Grayson. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come over since Seth left; I've been so busy with cheerleading and working after school," Lia apologized.

"Don't fret about it I understand. You young folk are constantly busy and it'll stay that way till you retire. That's when it should be the relaxing time of your life, it was sweet when the Mrs. was with me, but I have to admit it gets lonely now that she's gone."

"I'm sorry you're lonely, I have to make sure I come by and visit you," Lia responded.

"Let's go inside and see what you brought for dinner, I'm hungry," he said.

Seth laughed and followed him into the house carrying take out from the seafood place down the street. The Crab House made the best beer battered fish and chips. Since Seth didn't eat fish he got the beer battered chicken. "We stopped at the Crab House for supper. We didn't know if you liked fish or chicken so we brought enough of both," Seth said.

"I haven't had food from the Crab House in ages; did you bring the chips too? They are the best around," Mr. Grayson said.

"Of course you can't go to there and not get the chips," Lia laughed. "Where are your plates I'll get them out?"

"In the middle upper right cabinet, and the silverware is in the drawer on the left side next to the sink," he replied already digging into the bag to sneak some of the chips before they sat down to eat.

Lia put the plates on the table with the silverware and sat down with them. They all dug into the food that Seth took out of the bags. They ate in silence for a few minutes savoring the food.

Mr. Grayson broke the silence, "So Seth how's it going up there in New York?"

"Not too bad it's totally different than here, but I'm getting the hang of it, I guess. I pretty much go to school, practice, and work. The football is going great, school not so much, but then school never went too good for me. Not having my study partner is hard," he said looking at Lia.

"What partner? I always did your homework for you," she teased.

"No you didn't I wrote it myself," Seth replied laughing.

"Yeah, but I gave you the answers."

"Whatever, I still passed my tests though."

Mr. Grayson watched the interaction between the two of them and smiled. They reminded him so much of him and his wife he was chuckling in remembrance.

Seth and Lia stopped and looked at him, "Oh don't stop, you two reminded me of my wife and me when we were younger. It's good to see. It takes me back too many wonderful years with her."

"I hope we have as many years as you and your wife did," Lia said.

"With a lot of determination you will. It wasn't always easy; we worked hard at what we had. Don't ever take her for granted Seth. The same for you Lia don't take him for granted either," Mr. Grayson said.

"We won't," Lia said. "Or I should say we'll try not to."

"Good, good," he replied. "Now Seth you said on the phone you wanted to talk to me about something. What's on your mind?"

"When you said I could stay here when I go to college, did you really mean that?" Seth asked.

"Of course I did."

"Well would it be possible to stay here before that?"

"That would depend on your parents. Why?"

"I'll be eighteen in a few weeks so they really have no say after that, Mr. Grayson, but the reason why I'm asking," Seth paused afraid to say more. "Is that Lia might be pregnant and I have to move back here if she is," he finished and let out a puff of air not realizing that he was holding his breath.

"What do you mean? You can't leave New York if those scouts are watching you, Seth," Lia replied.

"Now let's back up a minute here. You think she might be pregnant. Boy, go to the store and get a pregnancy test and have her take one. Then you'll know for sure."

"I have the test already. It's where she can take it. Her house has too many ears and so does mine. We're going to my grandparent's cabin tomorrow no one will be there," Seth said.

"Nonsense, go take here, when we're done eating," he grumbled.

"We don't want to be a bother," Lia whispered she was sure he was mad at them.

"No bother, girl, but you need to know," he said.

"I'll go get it Lia," Seth said as he got up to go out the car.

"Mr. Grayson, no matter what it says, please don't tell anyone. We're not sure what we're gonna do yet," Lia pleaded. "Please don't be mad at us."

"I'm not mad, just worried for you two. It's not my place to tell anyone anything," he replied.

Seth came back in with a bag containing the pregnancy test. He took Lia's hand and they both went upstairs to the bathroom. Seth waited outside, pacing back and forth, until Lia opened the door, "We have to wait three minutes, one line not pregnant two lines we are," she said.

They both stood there watching the window to see how many lines appeared. The three minutes they had to wait felt like an hour. After about a minute the first line appeared.

Chapter 28

They were waiting, waiting, waiting, then at two and a half minutes the other line appeared.

Lia just stared at the window, she felt like her whole world was tossed upside down. She looked at Seth. The shocked look on his face told her his world just flipped upside down too. She felt like throwing up and swayed a little. That took Seth out of his shock and he put his arms around her, "Babe, don't worry, we'll figure something out. That's why I'm here talking to Mr. Grayson. I'll be here for you; I'm not staying in New York, now."

"Seth we can't tell anyone! And you're staying in New York, at least until the end of football. If we decide to keep this baby we'll need that scholarship more now than ever."

"What do you mean, if we keep the baby? Are you planning to get rid of it?" Seth asked through clenched teeth.

"I don't know what we're doing. You didn't tell me what you wanted to do. I'm not a mind reader," she cried.

"Babe I didn't mean to upset you," he said hugging her to him. "We have a lot to talk about. You're the one who has to carry it and will be the one taking care of it most of the time, so it is your decision."

"What do you mean I'll be taking care of it most of the time?"

"Nothing I say is coming out right," he moaned. "What I meant is while I'm working and going to school you'll have to be the main caregiver. When I'm home I'll help as much as I can."

"We both have to go to school and work to support us. I'm not living at my parent's house. This is going to be crazy once they find out," Lia said listlessly.

"Babe, we don't have to decide everything tonight. We better go down and tell Mr. Grayson," Seth said.

"You go I need a few minutes," she said.

"Lia, you alright?"

"No Seth I'm not. This just blew all our plans for the future," she whimpered.

"We'll make new plans if we have to," he said.

"Just go down to him, I'll be down in a minute."

~~*~~

Seth walked into the dining room where Mr. Grayson was waiting. He took one look at Seth's face and he knew the outcome of the pregnancy test. "Positive, huh?" he asked.

"Yep, and I don't know if she's gonna have it," Seth said near tears.

"You want the responsibility of raising a child? You two aren't much older than children yourselves. Think real hard on that Seth. It's not something to take lightly. You have to be there for the child as well as Lia. The nine months she'll be pregnant will be hard on her. She's young and a cheerleader, her body will be changing and in her eyes not for the better. Both of you need to take time and think about what you want. If you both decide to have it you are more than welcome to stay here with me."

"Yeah I want the baby. It's part of both of us. It was conceived out of love. No matter how corny it sounds it was," Seth said disheartened.

"It's not corny," Lia said from the door way. "I want to keep it too, Seth. I'm afraid my parents will make me either get rid of it or give it away."

"They can't make you do either of those things, Lia, it's against the law," Mr. Grayson said.

"I'm not eighteen till next year, Mr. Grayson," Lia said miserably.

"This ultimately is your decision, Lia, no one else's," Mr. Grayson said.

"It's Seth's too," Lia said.

"Only if you want it to be his decision. This rests on your shoulders and no one can take that away from you, not your parents, not his parents, and not Seth. While he can fight you in court, the father usually doesn't win. Now if you decide to give it up for adoption the father can take the baby and raise it himself."

"How do you know so much?" Lia asked.

"He's a lawyer, Lia," Seth said.

"Not anymore I retired."

"You're still a lawyer. If we need you would you represent us if her parents give us a hard time," Seth asked.

"First you have to tell them and see what happens. Give them the chance to do the right thing and stand by you two. You both have a lot to discuss in the next few days. I would tell them as soon as your mind is made up. Now Seth about you moving in here, when did you want to do that?"

"After the football season is over," Lia said. "I want him to stay in New York and see if he can get a football scholarship, we'll need it now."

"That's a very good idea, Lia, but by the look on Seth's face I don't think he thinks so."

"You can't move till you turn eighteen in two weeks. Football is over three weeks later. I'll still be pregnant for eight more months after that. You won't miss much except me being sick," Lia laughed. "Please for me and the baby, stay in New York till the end of football."

"She really does have a point there, Seth, listen to her," Mr. Grayson said. "Why don't we get together next week and see what you two have decided."

"We don't have to leave yet," Lia said.

"Aren't you two going to hang out with your friends tonight?" he asked.

"Yeah later on, we have time to spend here," Lia said.

"We'll go upstairs then. Seth you can choose which room you want to stay in and you can fix it up any way you want," Mr. Grayson said.

"It doesn't matter which one and I'm not gonna change the room," Seth said.

"Come on let's go look," Lia said.

Walking up the stairs they followed Mr. Grayson. Once they got on the second floor he said, "There are three rooms you can choose from down this way." Opening the first door they walked in. "This was my son's room." The room was a nice size and was furnished with a full size bed, a dresser, and a night stand.

They walked out of that one and went into another down the hallway further. There was no furniture in this one. It was about the same size as the other except there was an alcove with three windows, and a closet was along the one wall to the right side of the room. The alcove made the room seem larger. "This is the one you should use, Seth. All your things will fit in here and you don't have to move anything out," Lia said.

"Yeah you're right I like this room. If it's ok with you, Mr. Grayson I'd like to use this one," Seth said.

"Whichever one you want, you can paint the walls, they sorely need it," he said looking at them.

"I don't want to change anything in your house," Seth said.

"Oh you would be doing me a favor if you painted. This house needs work and I can't do it anymore."

"We'll help you with it as much as we can," Lia said. "I'll stop at the store and get some paint chips and we can look at them together, Mr. Grayson. We don't want to pick out any colors you might object to."

"That's fine, Lia," he said.

"We can paint the other rooms to, the hallway, and even downstairs if you want us to," Lia offered. "I know we can have some friends come over and have a painting party. Of course it will have to be after football season, but I bet we can get a bunch of kids over here, if that's ok with you, Mr. Grayson?"

Smiling he said, "First start calling me Jerry, Mr. Grayson is too formal. Second that's a wonderful idea this house needs a fresh coat of paint and new life into it, and I think the two of you will bring both of that to it."

"Mr. Grayson, oh sorry Jerry, how much do you want in rent for the room?" Seth asked.

"Nothing, I never said there was a rent. You'll be doing all the work around here with the painting I couldn't ask you for any money."

"I'm not living here for free. I want to give you something every month," Seth said.

"We'll discuss it later, and for the first three months it's free for all the painting you'll be doing. If other repairs are needed and you can fix them we'll take that off the rent also. And as you can see this house needs a lot of work." Mr. Grayson said.

'It just needs some attention and the wood needs a good polishing, but other than that it seems to be in good condition," Lia said.

"Jerry I want a price for the rent, if I do anything other than paint around here then we'll discuss what to take off the rent. Now I can pay you weekly or monthly that's up to you," Seth demanded.

"Ok then fifty dollars."

"A week, that's fine," Seth said.

"No a month," Mr. Grayson said. "You'll need to save your money for college and the baby. I don't need your money, Seth I have plenty of my own. I had no intention of charging you anything from the beginning. It'll be payment enough to have someone to talk to and not be so lonely all the time. While you're here I want you to treat this house like your own."

"Thank you for letting me stay here, before college. It takes a lot off my mind just knowing when the time comes I'll have a place near Lia."

"You're welcome. Do you know when you're going to tell your parents about the baby?" he asked.

"I don't know, I might wait until after they can't force me to get an abortion," Lia said.

"I don't recommend that. I'd tell them soon, after the two of you have decided what you're going to do. You still have a year of high school left. What are you going to do about a babysitter while you're at school and working?"

"I don't know yet. We have to see where Seth goes to college, what his classes are going to be, and I can take a work study and go to school half days and work the other half. I have most of my credits to graduate now, so next year I won't have to take that many. I won't be cheerleading next year they won't let me on the squad, and I don't want to be on it. I want to spend time with my baby.

"So it sounds like you two made one decision already to keep it," Mr. Grayson said.

"Yeah we have," Seth said pulling Lia close to him.

"Good, good it'll be hard, but I think the two of you can pull it off. Just remember to be there of each other and it'll all work out. Don't stop your dreams push forward harder and attain them for your sake and the baby's."

"We will, that's why I want Seth to stay in New York and finish the football season," Lia said.

"Lia I won't be able to accept a scholarship to a college far away from here. You have another year of high school and I won't be away from you or the baby for a year. There are universities around here that are good and I can get my business degree at. Football will just take more time away from you."

"I have a friend who's the athletic director at one of the university around here. Let me make a few phones calls to see if we can get you a scholarship to play for them. I can't guarantee anything, but it won't hurt to ask," Mr. Grayson said.

"That would be great," Lia said. "What do you think Seth?"

"If I can get a scholarship to a nearby school that would be fantastic, I would be able to commute and be around for you. If you could call him I would really appreciate it," Seth said.

"Hate to have to go, but we're to meet Cris and Steph. I'll stop by early in the week with the paint samples and we can start picking out the colors for the walls," Lia said.

"That's fine; see you next week, and good luck. Let me know what happens."

~~*~~

They left Mr. Grayson's and where driving to the pizza shop. Lia turned and looked at Seth and said, "Please don't tell Cris. I don't want anyone to know right now."

"Are you sure you want to do this? I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to do."

"I'm so confused right now. I don't know want I want," she confessed.

Seth pulled over to the side of the street and parked the car. He turned to her, "Lia I have to know are we keeping the baby or not. I won't be going back and forth with it. It'll kill me not knowing for sure what's going on. We have to make plans and the sooner the better."

"I know I just don't want the pressure everyone will put on me right now. It's all too new; I want us to be able to have time to adjust to everything without outside forces pulling us every which way. I'm not getting rid of our baby, it's ours. I couldn't live with myself if I did that; it would ruin everything we have between us. You have to know it's going to be stressful, real stressful after we tell our parents; they both will probably want us to get rid of it. That's part of the reason I want to wait to tell them, after you move back. I'll need you, your strength and your love."

"I know it's something we'll both need. I wonder which ones will be worse." Seth said.

"Don't know, but when we decide mine should be first, so your parents don't call them before we have a chance to tell them," Lia said.

"You're right, if they find out from someone else they'll kill us both. And with you still living there it's them we have to convince we can do this," Seth said.

Chapter 29

Seth went back to New York Sunday afternoon to work. They figured out some of the things they had to do and plans were in the works for their future. The main one was waiting for Jerry to get back to them on the scholarship. If he could get that it would make everything easier for them, but if not they'll figure something else out.

Lia wanted to be able to go to her parents with their plans all mapped out. It'll take time for them to get everything organized, time they so drastically needed. She wasn't sure what their reaction would be. She just hoped they didn't freak out.

Seth called her all the time now, before school, texted her during school, and few time after school he either called or texted her. She told him she was still finishing out this football season, which he was not happy about, but if he made too big of a stink about it, her parents would know something was wrong. He tried to get her to tell them sooner, but she refused.

It was Thursday morning the week after they found out when he called her in the morning and she had to run to the bathroom to throw up while on the phone with him. "Lia, is the morning sickness getting worse?"

"No not really, in fact this is the first time I had it since we found out. I think I just got out of bed to quick."

"Lia is that you in the bathroom?" her Mom asked.

"Yeah Mom, I'll be right out," Lia called. "I have to go my Mom's at the bathroom door."

"Ok call me on the way to school," Seth said.

Walking out of the bathroom her Mom asked, "Do you feel alright, I thought I heard you throwing up?"

"I'm fine Mom; I was just talking to Seth."

"In the bathroom?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You take your phone with you when you go to the bathroom?"

"Yeah Mom, I have to get ready for school," Lia said closing her bedroom door.

She punched Seth number into her phone; he picked up on the first ring, "What did your Mom say?"

"She asked if I was throwing up and I ignored her. She was more freaked that I took the phone in the bathroom with me than anything." Changing the subject she said, "I stopped at Jerry's house yesterday and took the paint samples. He picked out a few colors for the hallway and downstairs. What color do you want your bedroom?"

"I don't know you pick it," he said. "I'm more worried about you than the color of my room."

"I'm fine like I said I haven't been sick since the before the weekend. I found on line how to stop the morning sickness with keeping crackers and a protein by the bed and I'm doing that every morning and it seems to help. I better go in case she's listening to me and I have to get ready for school."

~~*~~

She was eating breakfast when her Mom walked in and said, "Lia you didn't answer me where you throwing up this morning?"

"No, I told you I was talking to Seth and we were goofing around," Lia lied.

"Mom, can I tell you something that you won't repeat until Seth tells his parents?"

"That depends."

"Mom I need your word you won't tell his Mom. I know you have spoken to her since they moved."

"Ok fine."

"Seth's going to move back here after the football season. He's going to stay with Mr. Grayson. Mr. Grayson's checking into getting him a scholarship to a university around here."

"Seth must have said something to his Mom, because she mentioned that she didn't think he was going to stay in New York."

"Is she real upset about it?"

"She is and she isn't, Seth and his Dad are at it all the time and she's tired of all the fighting or the silent treatment they give each other. She loves him, but realizes his life is down here, you're down here. I just wish you two would take it a little slower; you two are pushing for your lives together to start. Once you get there there's no going back and you'll wish you were back in high school."

"Mom we're not rushing through anything. Admitted we want to be together all the time, but in our defense we have been together all the time our whole lives. It's not natural for us to be apart. We're dealing with it pretty good I think."

"I think you're wearing yourself too thin with everything you two are trying to do, school, practices, games, working, and see each other on the weekends. You need to scale back on something. And if it's not seeing Seth a weekend or two won't kill you."

"I'm not giving up seeing Seth. You can't and you won't stop me from seeing him ever! Any time I can be with him I will be!" Lia screamed storming out the door. She didn't wait for Cris to take her to school, she started walking there, but she was so mad; she didn't walk toward the school she went to the bus station. She purchased a ticket to New York. She sat at the bus station for forty-five minutes till it was time to board the bus.

She sat on the bus and wondered how long it would take for her to walk to Seth's apartment. She would wait for him on the roof till he got out of school. While she was on the bus her brother called her. She didn't pick up since he would be the one to realize she wasn't at school. She really didn't want to talk to him right now anyhow.

Twenty minutes later her phone rang again she didn't look at it. She figured it was her brother again. Dozing on the bus she didn't hear her phone ring again. She woke up and looked at her phone and saw that Seth called her twice. She dialed his number, but it went to his voice mail. He's probably in class now.

As soon as she hung up her phone was ringing she answered it, but before she could says anything Seth yelled, "Lia where the hell are you? Cris said you stormed out of the house and didn't go to school. What happened?"

"I'm on a bus to New York. My Mom started saying we needed to be apart for a while and that we're running ourselves ragged with all we're doing and that something has to give and she said we have to stop seeing each other every weekend. She pissed me off and I jumped on a bus to see you. I was going to wait up on the roof of your apartment till you got home."

"Lia why the hell would you do that? You're gonna be in so much trouble and their gonna probably blame me. I'll meet you at the bus station which one are you going to?"

"The Port Authority."

"What time?"

"I think in about fifteen minutes," she replied.

"Ok don't go anywhere I'll be there to pick you up. If I'm not there right away stay by the ticket counter."

"I'm on a Greyhound bus, is the ticket counter right there?"

"I'm not sure, I was never there, but don't wander around ok. I'm on my way, but traffic is bad in the city so it might take me longer."

"Ok I'll see you went the bus pulls in."

Lia noticed a man watching her and she felt uncomfortable and was glad he heard that Seth was going to meet her at the bus station. He kept looking back at her; he was sitting in the row in front of her, but on the other side.

The bus actually took twenty five minutes to get to the station and she hoped that he was there to meet her. This guy was giving her the creeps. She was beginning to think this was not one her brainier ideas.

Her phone rang picking it up it was Seth, "Babe I'm here at the station, where are you?"

"We're just pulling in now I guess it took longer than I thought. Can you meet me right at the bus?"

"Yeah let me find out where it's pulling in at." Seth said walking up to the Greyhound counter and asked, "The bus that's pulling in now where is it? I have to meet someone on it?"

"The one from Pennsylvania or New Jersey?" the person behind the counter asked.

"Pennsylvania," Seth replied.

"It's pulling up in bay 27, which is right out this door and to the left," she said.

"Ok Babe I'm walking down to it now," he said into the phone.

As soon as the bus parked and opened the door Lia shot out of her seat and out of the bus. Seth was waiting for her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on tight.

"Let's get out of the here," she said.

Once in his car he drove out of the city to a secluded back road. Pulling over he said, "Lia you can't do this every time your parents say we can't be together. I was going crazy not knowing where you where. When I go that call from Cris saying you and your mom got into it this morning and you weren't at school I was freaking out. I left school and kept calling you, but you didn't answer."

"The first time it rang it was Cris so I thought all the others were him. I'm sorry I worried you, but I won't stop seeing you whenever I can. They are not gonna break us up, they are not gonna make us see less of each other."

"Babe you have to stop worrying about that, in fact I told my Mom I was moving back after football. So she knows and didn't say too much, I think she's probably relieved, I can't stand my old man and we either fight or don't talk to each other."

"Yeah I know I guess our mom's are talking to each other, because she told me the same thing and that your mom thought you were going to move back. They still think we're too young for our relationship. How are they going to react when we tell them I'm pregnant? I started to think of that and the next thing I knew I was at the bus station getting a ticket to New York. This was really dumb of me. God I'm in so much trouble. Did Cris tell my Mom?"

"Yeah I think he did because we didn't hear from you. Did you call Cris and tell him you knew where I was?"

"Yeah I called him; he was with your Mom so she knows."

"Their all gonna be mad at me."

"Yeah they are. Their probably coming up here to get you, and your Dad will probably will be with. Lia we have to tell them, it might be easier to tell them all together. My Dad's at work so my Mom can tell him."

"No I don't want to say anything yet, give us more time to figure things out," she panicked.

"Ok, but not much longer," he said. He hugged her and asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah a little," she replied.

"We'll find a place to stop and eat then we have to get back," he said and started the car. He turned the car around and headed back to the city. They stop at a diner and sat in a booth side by side. After waitress took their order she put her head on his shoulder and he put his hand on her stomach caressing it. "You're not feeling sick are you?"

"Nope, just hungry, but since when is that anything new?" she laughed. "Did Jerry get back to you about that scholarship yet?"

"No the last I heard he was waiting for the athletic director to call him back. I check out the school and it has a good athletic department and a good business department."'

"Which college is it? The only one I know around is ESU. Is that the one?"

"Yeah, and the drive is less than an hour from the house so I can definitely commute there."

"Once the baby is born where are we staying? Me at my house and you at Jerry's still?"

"I think so; your parents won't let you marry me until after graduation. I don't want to get married hurriedly any way I want you to have a regular wedding, you deserve that," he said.

"I don't care about the ceremony I just want to be married to you," Lia said.

"You will later, besides Uncle Stefan will be highly upset if he can't cater it," Seth said the last part jokingly.

The waitress brought their pancakes and eggs to them, both had a side of bacon and home fries to go with it. They were both finishing up when Seth's phone rang. "Hello?" he said. "Yeah I'm with her now. We're heading back to the city now. I can bring her home; you don't have to come pick her up." Seth listened for a moment and a frown appeared on his face. "Ok I'll let her know, thanks Cris."

"You parents are furious. They're on the way to my apartment to get you and from what Cris said they are putting their foot down and won't let you see me anymore, until after you graduate."

Lia looked at him and turned white as a ghost and tears formed in her eyes. "They can't do that. I'm seventeen years old! There's no way I'm waiting around for two years to see you. Let's runaway, get married then they can't do anything to stop us."

"No, but we are telling them today that your pregnant and that there's no way they're keeping us apart. This whole thing is going to blow up into a big mess, you know that."

"I'm sorry Seth, I ruined everything," she said crying on his shoulder.

Absently he rubbed her stomach trying to think what to do. A lot of things kept racing through his head, but one thing for sure he was not running away with her. "Lia we need to go back a face whatever they do, but they are not going to stop us from being together."

Chapter 30

They rode the elevator up to his apartment, both were nervous; they didn't know what was in store for them when they walked through the door. Seth held her hand tight, rubbing his thumb over her hand in repetitious motion. He couldn't stand still; he fidgeted the whole time they stood in the elevator.

They looked at each other on the ride up. Seth noticed how pale she looked, "You alright? You look a little pale."

"I'm scared. I don't know what to do if they say I can't see you. I really don't want to tell them yet. I want all our plans in place before we tell them. Please don't let them tear us apart," she pleaded.

"I won't let them do that. Let's go in," he said as they reached his door.

"I don't want to," she said as tears started down her face.

He pulled her to him and hugged her, "We have to. Don't worry they will not separate us."

Opening the door they walked in, both sets of parents were in the living room. He stopped and kissed her before they met their parents. "It's going to be ok," he whispered.

She nodded and they continued into the living room. The minute they stepped in her Mom started yelling, "How could you do that to me? When I got that call from the school that you weren't there and Cris had no idea where you were I freaked out! You young lady are grounded and you won't see Seth until after you graduate! You hear me!"

Lia didn't say anything and first she just shrunk back into Seth. His arms automatically wrapped around her and he pulled her back as he stepped forward. Mr. Lombardi noticed the gesture and put his hand on his wife's arm, "That's a little harsh. There's no way to keep them from each other, as you stated to me when they got engaged. I don't like what you did today Lia and we were worried sick that something happened to you, and I don't want it to happen again. You'll be punished for a while, but not till you graduate."

"I mean it, and don't down play what she did!" Mrs. Lombardi said. "What do you have to say for yourself? Why did you runaway?"

"First off I didn't runaway! You told me you were going to stop us from seeing each other and no way in hell I'm breaking up with Seth!" Lia screamed as her temper took over. "We'll see each other when we can and neither of you are going to stop us. I'm sick and tired of the four of you trying to separate us! First it was you Dad treating him like shit, then they move here and you Mr. Rossetti try to set him up with someone else, then there's you two mothers who I actually thought were on our side talking and saying how we spend too much time together. You know it's real funny how when we were small it was real cute how we liked each other, but now that we love each other and want to be married you're trying to break us up! We love each other and we WILL be married and we will keep this baby!" Lia screamed.

She realized what she said and looked at Seth in horror and ran out of the apartment as Stephan was walking in, "I see I came at the right time," Stephan said.

Seth didn't wait to explain anything to anyone as he ran out the apartment after her. She was getting into the elevator as he rounded the corner and jumped in the elevator as it was closing. She hit the button to go up to the top floor and sagged against the wall crying hysterically. Seth pulled her up and held on to her, he walked her out of the elevator and up the steps to the roof.

He led her over to the chairs; sitting on one and pulling her on his lap he let her cry till she could no more. When she was done she asked, "Why did you let me get mad like that? Why didn't you stop me? You know how I get when I'm mad I blurt everything out that's bugging me."

When Seth didn't say anything she looked at him and grimaced, "You let me go so I would tell them."

"I was hoping you would in your anger. It's not the way I would have wanted to tell them, but they needed to know. Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not I almost told my Mom this morning, until she started harping on me that we spend too much time together and we need a break. She said we were doing too much between practices, school, games, and work. That the weekends we should just relax and not see each other. The running back and forth between here and home is too much. I couldn't tell her then, I was so mad I walked out and came here to you."

"Babe I'm sorry this all blew up in our faces, it's not what I wanted at all. I wanted to be able to sit down with them and tell them calmly, but you didn't want them to know for months. I want to shout it to the world and I couldn't. I'm not ashamed of it Lia."

"I'm not either. I just wanted to finish the football season, so you can get that scholarship and would have my last few games as a cheerleader, but that's all done for me. I'm fine with it, I guess, but you are not stopping football," Lia said.

"By the looks on our parents face before I ran after you, I'm dead meat."

"What's your uncle doing here?"

"I called him to tell him what's going on and that if he could he should get up here as soon as he could, because if my Dad was here we'd go at it, if he said the wrong thing to me. By the way Stefan says congratulations."

"He's happy for us?"

"I don't know if he's happy that it happened now at our ages, but he knows the love we have and knows we can't exist without each other. We needed someone on our side up here and since Mr. Grayson isn't family and too old to come up here right away I thought of Uncle Stefan. As you see he dropped everything and came up here."

"When did you call him?"

"When I was looking for you and then when you went to the bathroom at the diner to tell him I found you and what was going on. We have to go back down there, Lia."

"I don't want to maybe in a few days," she said.

"Where are you going to go for a few days? We have to face this now," he said.

"I know I just don't want to."

"I'll be there and no one will hurt you. If we have to I'll ask Mr. Grayson if we both can move there."

"I don't think my parents will allow that. They'll cause all kinds of trouble for Jerry."

"You forget he's a lawyer and he'll help us, I know he will. Come on we have to go back down and listen to their yelling and screaming, then we'll make our own decisions. We'll tell them what our plans are for right now."

Seth set her on her feet and stood up. He held on to her as she swayed, "Don't faint on me now."

"I won't, but I'm exhausted. I want to lie down and rest."

"You will once we get this over with."

When they went back into the apartment no one heard them come in as everyone was yelling at each other, blame each other for this. Stefan saw them come in and walked over to them. "Lia are you alright you don't look to good?"

"I'm fine."

"No she's not and I don't know how much more she can take, uncle. We have to face this, but it can't drag on long," Seth whispered.

"Let's get you comfortable, Lia and then we'll discuss this rationally," Stefan said loudly and looked at their parents with a pointed look. They quieted down as Lia sat on the sofa with Seth attached to her. He held on to her and tucked her under him so no one could get near her.

"How could you let this happen?" her mom asked.

"Yeah mom I set out for this to happen. Just what I need is to be pregnant with my fiancé living in New York and me in PA. No one set out for this to happen it just did."

"So is that why you got engaged to her?" his Dad asked.

"No, Dad we just found out last weekend," Seth said.

"And when were you going to tell us?" her Mom asked.

"She didn't want to tell you till after the football season was over. So I could stay here and see if I can get a scholarship," Seth stared to explain.

"You days of college are over," Mr. Lombardi said. "You'll have to get a job to support her and the baby."

"Dad," Lia started but was cut off.

"Who said she's having it," Mrs. Rossetti said.

Both of her parents said at once, "Of course she's having it."

"I think you all need to calm down and listen to the two of them," Stephan said. "Let's hear what they have to say. It's their lives so they get to make the decisions."

"Thanks Uncle Stephan, I know you are all upset with what Lia did today, but you have to realize the stress she's be under the past month. What you did to us Dad was bullshit, everyone who knows us, knows we can't be away from each other. We have grown up all our lives revolving around each other, as you all said a million times, while we were growing up. You cannot expect us to be apart now. So I'm telling you all right now, after football season I'm moving back home! I'll live with Mr. Grayson and this was decided between me and Lia before we found out she was pregnant. We will not be apart anymore!" Seth said.

"Seth is going to try to get a scholarship for football, in fact, Jerry, Mr. Grayson, has a contact at ESU in the athletic department to see if he can get one there. He can commute for practices, games, and classes. He's going to study for a degree in business so he can start his own garage once he's finished. While he's going to school, he's going to get a job at a garage so he has that experience under his belt and try to get regular customers so that when he open's the garage he'll already have people who know his work. It's going to be hard and stressful on him so all the help we can get will be great," Lia continued.

"As for me I will finish high school and then go to college also. I'll keep my job that I have now and will work as much as I can until the baby comes, and then go back after. I have to quit cheerleading as they won't allow me to continue so that will leave me more time to work. Don't worry my school work will not suffer. The baby will probably be due in the summer, end of June beginning of July so I won't miss any school for that," she concluded.

"Well you two do have a plan I give you that," Mr. Rossetti said. "The one thing you left out was when are you getting married?"

"Not until Lia graduates high school. I want her to have the wedding she always wanted. We won't have a hurried justice of the peace wedding," Seth replied.

"You want the baby born out of wedlock," her mom said.

"Mom it's no big deal anymore. Seth and I will be together forever so a few months won't matter," Lia said.

"You don't know the stress involved in having a child. The stress college entails and while the scholarship for Seth sounds good how's he going to do the practices and games and work," his dad asked.

"I do it now with going to school for eight hours, in college it won't be in classes that long and I'll schedule my classes around everything else. That's if I get a scholarship great, if not I won't have football to worry about. Then it leaves me more time to work, but like Lia said we'll need help, and we're asking you for that help. If you don't want to give it then fine we'll work something else out."

"No one said you wouldn't get help, we just want you to know the huge responsibility a baby is," her mom said.

"We know and we have talked about all of it. For now we are going to bank a lot of our money, except for the things we need to get for the baby. I'll finish football, since Lia wants me too, but I won't be doing any other sport this year I'm going to find a job at a garage so I can start using what I learned in tech and get the experience for my own garage," Seth said.

"We'll help as much as we can, Lia, but it's mostly yours and Seth's responsibility to raise this child," her mom said.

"I know that Mom, we will do most of it, the only problem we might face is some babysitting at night when we have to work," she said tiredly.

"What about when you go back to school next year?" her mom said.

"We'll worry about that when the time comes. Let's see what Seth's schedule is for classes. I can't stress over that right now," Lia said.

"When we go home we'll make an appointment for the doctor. I have to call the insurance to see if they will pay for this pregnancy. If not who's going to pay for it?" her mom asked.

"We'll have to if it's not covered," Seth said. "We're not leaving you guys with any of the financial responsibility."

"If they don't cover it you can probably get medical assistance to help," Stefan said. "If not then I'll pay for it. You guys will have enough to worry about without that hanging over your heads."

"No I don't want you to pay for it, Uncle Stefan," Seth said.

"Do you know what it costs to have a kid these days?" his uncle said.

"Not the exact figure, but it's my responsibility," Seth said.

"Look, find out if the insurance will cover Lia's pregnancy, if not try for medical assistance, if that doesn't work we'll discuss a repayment of the money I loan you. No arguing about it, understood?"

"We'll discuss this more later. Lia needs to lay down the stress of today is too much," Seth said. Helping her up from the couch he led her into his bedroom. From his door he said, "Uncle Stephan, before you go let me know."

"I will," Stephan said.

Lia went to the bed and collapsed on it, "God that was stressful, at least we had a plan for them. They don't seem too mad, upset yeah, but not angry. The thing that worries me is your parents were real quite through it all."

"I think that's because Stephan told them to knock it off, or it would have been a disaster. I'm glad your parents didn't blame me for it alone. That helped my Dad keep his cool too. He's always talking how your Dad treated me for the last two years. He hated it, but at least now he sees it's not like it used to be."

"I hated it too Seth," Lia said sleepily.

"Come on take a nap, and when you get up we'll go out to eat or something," he said.

"I don't want to go anywhere, can we just eat here?"

"Yeah we'll see how you feel once you get up," he said lying down next to her and pulled her next to him so she could relax. He made sure he was on the side of bed by the door so no one disturbed her.

Chapter 31

Seth watched Lia sleep; he put his hand on her stomach, hoping everything would be alright. He knew he should go out and let her sleep, but he didn't want to leave her. He laid there on the bed and thought about everything that has happened to them through the years. He couldn't remember a time they weren't together, even when he tried to break it off with her last year, they were still connected and he thought about her the whole time.

Her being pregnant was going to change their lives drastically, but he was determined to make it work out for them. He was surprised her parents didn't flip out, but he knew his were going to the minute everyone left. He wanted to do what was right for the both of them, but if his parents gave him too much flack he was going to move back home sooner.

Since moving to New York his relationship with his Dad and deteriorated to the point he couldn't stand him anymore and the fact that he tried to break them up really pissed him off. The more he thought about it the madder he got. He had to change his train of thought or he'd go out there and lay into his Dad about everything. He only had a few more weeks up here, and he would stick it out, for Lia's and the baby's sake. He figured he wouldn't be here much anyway, between school and working so he wouldn't have to see his Dad much.

He looked back down at Lia and knew she was in a deep sleep. He slid off the bed as to not wake her and went out into the kitchen. He heard that his uncle was still here as well as Lia's parents, he didn't want to face any of them now, but he knew he better. They would have a different attitude toward him than Lia, and he might as well face up to it now while she was still sleeping.

He got something to drink and went into the living room; everyone stopped talking when he came in. "Don't stop talking on my account; since you're talking about me anyway you might as well as it to my face."

"How could you get her pregnant?" his mom asked.

"Uh, it's called sex, Mom," Seth said sarcastically.

"Don't be a wise ass. You perfectly well what your mother meant," his dad said his anger just under the boiling point.

"Look we didn't set out to do this. When I told her we were moving she was really freaked out." Seth started to explain.

"So you're going to blame her," Mr. Lombardi said.

"No let me finish. When I told her I had to move she was hysterical, crying, hyperventilating and everything, I was trying to calm her down. The next thing I knew we were making love, it was the first time. We didn't plan it, we didn't set out for it to happen it just did," Seth said. "So if you really want to place blame if you have to, it was your fault, Dad, if you didn't force me to move here it probably wouldn't have happened. We both were not thinking straight and were devastated by being torn apart, but I'm not blaming anyone. It was our responsibility, both of ours and we blew it. I get that, now we have to deal with the whole mess, and we will the best way we can," he said turning towards Lia's parents. "I will do everything thing I can for her, I won't leave it all on her, even though it might seem like that at times. I'll have to work a hell of a lot to get everything we'll need, finish high school and get into college."

"We know that you'll do your best for her, but will it be enough?" Mr. Lombardi asked. "I know you love my daughter; I see it every time you two are together. I'm just worried that with all the stress it'll destroy both of you. It's hard raising a child when your adults, let alone you two being kids yourself. Your wild Seth, you do want you want when you want and don't think of the consequences."

"I won't let her down; I'll be there for her every step of the way. I'm not saying we have any idea how hard it's really going to be, because we don't. That's why Lia said we would need help. We both know it's going to be extremely hard on us, but she can't be under any more stress. I won't have anyone putting any more stress on her. She's been throwing up since right before I left almost every day, and I don't think it was morning sickness in the beginning, it probably is now, but not back then."

"So she was throwing up this morning in the bathroom. That's why she avoided my question this morning when I asked her, and why she got so upset when I told her both of you need a break and not to see each other every weekend. I didn't mean for you to stop seeing each other, but I wanted her to stop putting pressure on the both of you to figure out ways to see each other. You both have very hectic schedules and I know my daughter and how she is with you. She's obsessed with you and she can get out of hand with it. She took what I said the wrong way, and I freaked when I didn't know where she was. I have to apologize to her when she wakes up," Mrs. Lombardi said.

"You knew where she was going, deep down. That's why you had Cris call me," Seth said.

"I didn't have Cris call you. He called you right away when he didn't see her at school. Cris didn't call me at all, the school called to see if I forgot to call her off. I called Cris to see where she was and he told me he didn't know and that you didn't know since he called you already. That's when I panicked; she stormed out of the house and walked to school. I thought that she might have been in an accident or something. I didn't think right away that she would come here. Now knowing what the both of you were dealing with it was logical that she came here."

"Mom I'm sorry I worried you, I wasn't thinking. I just needed Seth," Lia said walking into the room munching on crackers.

"I'm sorry too, I was so scared and when I knew you were alright I wanted to punish you for putting me through all that," her mom said.

"So I can still see Seth?" Lia asked laughing.

"Yeah like anyone of us will stop you two," her mom said.

Seth looked at his Dad and said, "Say what's on your mind, you've been too quiet and I know you'll blow up later so you might as well do it now."

"Is that what you really think? That I'm going to blow up. What can I say? That I'm disappointed in you... in both of you... because I am. We probably all are. I wanted a different life for you, one where you went to college then got married and had kids, not have a kid and then go to college, then get married. I'm mad and seriously disappointed," he said and then walked out of the apartment.

"And you Mom, do you feel the same way?" he asked.

"I'm upset yes, and I wanted the same thing you father did, but I'm always going to be there for you, Lia and the baby. Give your Dad a little time to deal with this. He wanted a different life for us and he was hoping it would be up here."

"Mom this is for you and him not me, my life is back home. I know all this is hard for you, but I'll be eighteen in a week and I have to be where Lia is," he said. "Uncle Stephan can you go look for my Dad, I don't think he should be alone?"

"Yeah I was thinking the same thing," Stephan said.

~~*~~

Stephan walked out of the apartment and didn't have to look too far to find his brother he was standing in the lobby looking out the windows. "Rico, there you are. What's wrong with you? Your son and his fiancé are going to need your help and you walk out on them."

"I'm not in the mood for your crap Stephan."

"I don't care if you're in the mood or not, you have to deal with this, with them, now. If you put this off it'll just fester."

"Shut up! I feel it's partly my fault. I went up to the cabin a few weeks before we left to see if Seth was there because he didn't come home that night. He was there with Lia. He said something about them just getting there, but I didn't think so. I didn't push it! I should have made them come home! Because we were fighting so bad about the move I didn't want to fight with him anymore. I warned him about protection and told him I didn't want any babies running around and I left. I just left," he said.

"Ah big brother, you might have stopped them that day, but Seth told her a week before that so I don't think that was the first time. You can't change what happened, but you can change the way you deal with it," Stephan said.

"I'm not going to sit there and act all happy for them. I can't, their ruining their lives," Rico stated.

"You might think that, but they are so in love and that conquers a lot. Look at yourself, if it wasn't for the love your wife had for you, you wouldn't be where you are today."

"I know that and I don't want that life for Seth. I want him to be better than I was. I want him to succeed and do better. Not start out the same way his mother and I did."

"Look Seth is a different person than you. His love for Lia is so much deeper than any of us have encountered, don't be the one to stand in the way. Be there for him, for Lia, and especially for the baby, your grandchild."

Rico didn't say anything to that he just stood staring out the window. So bad he wanted a drink, to get him though this mess, just one drink. What would one drink hurt? He turned abruptly and walked away from his brother and went down the elevator.

~~*~~

"Did you find him?" Seth asked when Stephan walked back into the apartment.

"Yeah he'll come around," his uncle replied.

"You think so, "Lia questioned.

"Yeah he's upset, he wanted a different life for you two, than what he had," Stephan said.

"He's afraid I'll turn into a drunk like him, isn't he?" Seth asked.

"He didn't say that, but I'm sure it's in the back of his head. He's real upset right now and I tried to get him to come back in, but he left."

"And you let him?" Seth demanded.

"I can't follow him everywhere. He has to make his own decisions, Seth. I hope he went to a meeting, but I don't know. I have to get going, I need to be at the restaurant. Call me if you need me and let me know about the insurance."

"Thanks for coming, Uncle Stephan, I know you're the only reason he didn't scream at us," Seth said.

"I think he's in shock right now, that might come later," Stephan joked. "But I really didn't do anything."

"Just you being here was enough for me. Don't let Mom know where he went," Seth said.

"I don't know where he went, honestly. Maybe he went back to work, call him there in a little to check," Stephan suggested.

"Yeah I will," Seth said.

~~*~~

"We need to get back home, Lia. You ready to go? I have to be back in time for work," her mom asked.

"I don't want to leave yet," she said.

"Lia, you are still going to be punished for what you did today. So your punishment is your leaving now, and you have to stay in the house tomorrow and the weekend, except for work," her mom said.

"Lia, go home and don't cause any more trouble. I have to work tonight anyway. I'll be down after the game tomorrow night, I don't work until Sunday."

"Wonder if they're let me see you," Lia said sarcastically.

"Babe don't push it. I love you. Now go home and be a model prisoner," he said laughing.

"You think this is funny don't you," she accused.

"Not really but if it makes you get some rest, I'm all for it. This had been too stressful on you," he said.

"I'm not that fragile, Seth, I'm the same person I was before," Lia said.

"Yeah, but now you're pregnant and that does make you fragile in my eyes, so just go home and rest. I'll see you after the game."

"Fine!" she said. "Since I'm a pregnant prisoner do I get more than bread and water?" she asked her parents.

"Don't push it Lia," her Dad said.

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," she replied. "I love you, Seth see you tomorrow."

~~*~~

On the way home she asked, "Can I cheer one more game, before you tell the world I'm pregnant?"

"Lia it's not a good idea. What if you get hurt?" her Mom asked.

"I did Mom remember and I'm still standing, and I'm still pregnant," Lia said.

"She's right, let her cheer one more game," her Dad said.

"I don't know."

"Look I'm not made of glass, I'm pregnant and I can do anything I did before physically and you know that. I'm not asking for the rest of the season, just one more game," she pleaded. "Please."

"Alright, but that's it. On Monday we have to talk to the school and let them know. If I have time when we get home I'll make an appointment for you at the doctors. You can call the insurance, Lia to see if it is covered under your Dad's policy."

"Ok I'll call them and thanks, Mom."

Chapter 32

Friday night before the game Cris asked, "Does Seth know your cheering? Do you think it's a smart thing to do? What if you get hurt?" He knew cheerleading was a demanding sport, and cheerleaders get hurt more than most athletes.

"Yes, Seth knows, he's not happy, but like I told him I did get hurt and I was fine. I'll be real careful, and since it rained today we usually don't do any lifts with our shoes being wet."

"You'll have Seth worried and he needs to be on his game tonight and so do I." Cris said.

"Seth knows there won't be any lifting tonight, we already talked about it. In school and with what happened to me, our coach told us no lifts tonight. I just want one more time cheering, and then I'll be kicked off the squad. It might be selfish of me, but I want to do this," Lia said.

"Yeah it is, just be careful, alright," Cris said worriedly.

"I'll just be standing on the side lines like everyone else," Lia said.

After the game Seth called her from the locker room, "Lia how was the game?"

"Fine, don't worry I didn't get hurt. I know that's why you're calling me so quick. I told you we weren't doing any stunting tonight. I'm really gonna miss this," she said.

"I'm sorry, Babe. If I could change it I would," Seth confessed. He felt guilty that he could still play football when she had to quit cheering. She loved cheering as much as he loved football.

"I know so would I, but we can't and we have to live with it."

"Yeah we do. Did you get your doctor appointment yet?" he asked.

"Not till next Wednesday at 5:00. They wanted me there soon since I'm so young," Lia said.

"I'll see if I can miss practice to be there," Seth said. "I'll talk to my coach and see if he'll let me."

"Please be there. I'm afraid to go. I'm afraid that they'll try to make us give it up or something," Lia admitted.

"They can't do that, and if they do then we'll go to another doctor," Seth said.

~~*~~

A week later, Lia's first doctor appointment was Wednesday after school and Seth wanted to be there with her, but he had football practice. He told her he would ask his coach if he could miss it since there were only two more games left.

Monday morning before school Seth went in early. He walked into the locker room to the coach's office, knocked on the door. He waited for him to answer, but there was none. He turned the knob, but it was locked. He sat on the bench outside the office waiting for his coach to come in.

"Seth, what's up?" he said when he saw him sitting there. "You need to talk to me?"

"Yeah, coach, can we talk in your office?" Seth asked.

Unlocking the door he ushered Seth inside and close the door, "What did you need to talk to me about?"

Seth sat in the chair for a minute before answering, "I need to miss practice on Wednesday."

"Why?"

"I have to go to the doctor with Lia, and even though the appointment is not till 5:00, it'll take me an hour and half to get there. She's pregnant and this is her first appointment and I want to be there for her. I know she's scared to go."

"She's pregnant? When did you find this out?"

"Almost two weeks ago."

"And this is the first time you mentioned it to me. Shouldn't she have been at the doctor sooner than this?"

"I didn't say anything because it didn't interfere with football until now. Her Mom called the doctor as soon as we found out and this is the appointment they gave her," Seth said.

"How are you dealing with it? I know it didn't affect your game if anything you're playing is better and better," his coach said. "What are your plans?"

"After football is over, I'm moving back home to be with her. I can't leave her to deal with it all by herself. I would have moved back right away, but she told me no, that I should finish the football season, try to get a scholarship. I don't want any scholarship I'm just trying to get one to ESU which is close to home. If I finish the season good here I'll get it."

"How do you know that?"

"A friend of mine knows the athletic director there and has talked to him about it. It could be a full scholarship or a partial one, but I'll take either. I just need to be close to home so I can commute back and forth to help her and be with my kid. So it would really help if you could let me miss practice so I could go with her."

"You know at this time of the year, if you miss practice you can't play," the coach said.

"Yeah I know, but I didn't want to not just show up. I wanted to tell you why I wasn't going to be here. If I can't play on Saturday then fine, but I really have to be there for her," Seth said standing up and walking out the door.

Heath happened to pass by the coach's door as Seth walked out. Seeing the look on his face he knew the coach wouldn't let him miss practice, "Hey Seth, he wouldn't let you miss the practice would he?"

"Yeah I can miss the practice he understands why, but I can't play on Saturday if I'm not there for the practice. Being with Lia at the doctor's is more important than playing, even if it means I'll miss getting any scholarship. I just won't tell her, because if I do she'll tell me to stay here at practice."

"That sucks; he could make an exception for you. It's not like your girlfriend is in the city and you could just run there after practice. She's lives an hour and half away," Heath said.

"I understand, really I do. He can't make an exception for me, then everyone else would want one. She tried to get an appointment at a later time, but there was none. She's going to call again to see if there was a cancellation later in the day. So hopefully she can get one," Seth said.

"This really stinks, you're one of the better players on the team, and if you have to sit out Saturday it'll hurt us," Heath said.

"I know and I want to be there for the team, but she has to come first, the baby has to come first," Seth said.

"I'll see what I can do, with the coach. I'll talk to him," Heath said.

"No don't I don't want him to be upset with me or to do anything special just for me. He has a team to think of, not just me. I told him I'm moving back after football is over so it's not like I'm gonna be here much longer so why would he do anything special for me. I had a great time playing with you guys, but my life is back home."

"I get it really I do, I would do anything for Candace, too. It just sucks," Heath said.

"I guess he thinks it's fair, that's the rules and I have to live with it. Let's just hope she can get a later appointment," Seth replied.

Heath said. "Let me talk to the other captains and the team and see if they can think of something so you're not missing the game on Saturday."

"I don't want to cause any trouble with anyone. If she can't change it I'll sit out," Seth said.

~~*~~

He spoke to Lia that night and told her he will be there on Wednesday to go with her to her appointment. "You didn't get to see if they could change it did you?"

"Yeah I called today and I explained that you might not be able to make it at that time. The only thing they had was one at 5:45 so I took it, but I don't know if you can make that and do practice."

"I talked to the coach and he told me it's ok to go," Seth said.

"If you don't go to practice you have to sit out the game won't you?" Lia asked.

He thought of lying to her, but if she found out, she'd be real mad. So he told her the truth, "Yeah, but your more important. Besides I want to be there. I want to know everything the doctor tells you," Seth said.

"To be honest I want you there, too. I'm scared, I don't know what to expect," Lia said.

"I know I'm nervous too. It might work if I can be at most of the practice, maybe he'll let me play on Saturday. I'll leave it a little early and I can make it by 6:00."

"Maybe they'll be running late and won't take me till 6:00," Lia said.

"I have to go, Babe, my breaks over and I have to get back to work," he said.

"Ok, talk to you later," she said.

He called Heath, "Hey she got the appointment changed till 5:45 Wednesday. I'll have to leave practice early; like fifteen minutes do you think that would be a problem?"

"No I don't think so. You'll be at most of it. I'll just cut it short, if everything goes ok. We'll do special teams at the end so you won't have to be there. We'll work it all out," Heath said.

"Thanks I appreciate it, got to go back to work. Talk to you tomorrow."

~~*~~

She sat Tuesday in Principal Kruger's office with her Mom to explain to them that she was pregnant. Her coach was a little mad that she cheered on Friday, "What if something had happen to you?"

"It did actually; I was pregnant when Syd fell on me. We just didn't know it at that time," Lia said.

"We have no other room for you in any other homeroom, Lia. You're going to have to stay in the one you're in, but you're no longer a cheerleader," Principal Kruger said.

"I know that, I figured that much," Lia said.

"Can you handle that Lia?" her mom asked.

"Yeah I'll have to. I'm not quitting school just because I can't be on the squad anymore. In fact I'd feel worse being taken out. At least I'll be with my friends," she said.

"Maybe we can find something for you to do. Even thought you won't be on the squad we can keep you involved with other aspects," her coach said.

"I'd like that." she said.

Wednesday came and Lia was nervous from the minute she woke up. Her friends were pretty supportive of her and tried to keep her from not thinking of her appointment. She was still in the cheerleading homeroom as they had no other place to put her. Some of them were upset with her and didn't speak to her, but her true friends stuck by her. She spoke with some of them Sunday before they went to the school to tell her coach and the principal.

~~*~~

She was getting ready to go to her appointment, when Tina showed up, "Hey girl you ready to go?"

"Go where?" Lia asked.

"To your appointment. I know your Mom couldn't go with you and Seth will be late, so I figured you needed someone to go with you," Tina said.

"Thanks I appreciate that. I'm so nervous and sitting in that waiting room will be nerve racking for me. If I had someone there with me will help a lot," Lia said hugging her.

Her Dad walked in as they were getting ready to walk out, "Hey Dad your home early," Lia said.

"Yeah I'll take you to your appointment," he said. "Your Mom was worried about you going alone. So I said I would take you and stay till Seth got there."

"This is great, thanks Dad, now I have two people going with me. Tina came over for the same reason. Thanks both of you," Lia said. "I just hope Seth can get here. I told him not to rush. I don't want him to have another accident."

"Come on Lia, you're gonna be late," her dad said. "He'll be just fine. I have something to show you when the appointment is over. Tina you can come along afterwards if you'd like."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, and a long overdue one," her dad said.

"Ok," she said looking a Tina with a confused look. Tina just shrugged her shoulders and got in the back of the car.

Lia didn't talk on the way to the appointment, she was terrified. Her nervousness turned to terror when they got into the car. Even though she knew she was pregnant, going to the doctor would confirm it and make it so much more real. She sat in the car staring straight ahead.

They pulled into the parking lot and Lia thought she was going to throw up. She couldn't get out of the car she was paralyzed with fear. Tina got out the back and opened her door, "Come on Lia, it's going to be fine."

"I can't."

"Yes you can," Seth said behind Tina.

"Seth you're here?" Lia cried jumping out of the car and into his arms.

"Yeah, thanks to Heath he got the coach to do special teams last so I could leave. I just got here a few minutes ago. Come on, Babe, I'll be right there with you," he said.

"I'll just leave you here then," her dad said.

"No, Mr. Lombardi, you can come in with us. She's going to need all of us," Seth said.

"I wish her mother could be here," her dad grumbled.

"Its fine Dad go home we'll meet you there," Lia said.

"No I'll go with, but I'm staying in the waiting room," he said.

Laughing Lia, took Seth's hand in one and her Dad's in the other. They all walked into the office and Lia and Seth went to the window to let them know she was there."

"Have a seat, all your paperwork is filled out. The only thing we need is your insurance card," the receptionist said.

"Dad? Do you have the insurance card?" Lia turned to him.

"Yeah, let me get it out of my wallet," he said, once he got it out he handed it to Lia.

When she handed it over to the receptionist Seth noticed she was shaking. When they walked away he whispered, "It's going to be fine. Don't be so nervous."

"I can't help it. I don't think I would have gotten out of the car if you weren't here," Lia confessed.

"Yeah you would have. Tina would have pulled you out if she had too," he teased.

Sitting next to Tina, Lia was pale as a ghost, "Lia it'll be fine. Your dad and I will be right out here and Seth will be with you."

"I know, I just wish it would be over already," she moaned.

Seth and Tina started talking about other things to get her mind off her fear, but Lia really wasn't listening. Her mind was on what the doctor was going to tell her. That she was a stupid teenager getting pregnant, when there is so much birth control out there. Or that she should give the baby up for adoption, or worse get an abortion. This kept going around in her head over and over again and was freaking her out.

Seth held her hand the whole time they sat there, and he noticed that she didn't stop shaking the whole time. "Babe you have to calm down. It's only a doctor appointment."

"I can't, I just want to go home," she said frantically.

"You can't, you have to see a doctor," he said.

The nurse came to the doorway and call, "Lia Lombardi."

Chapter 33

She sat in the chair in fear. Seth had to pull her out of it and propelled her forward toward the door. She turned to look and her Dad and the fear in her eyes was undeniable. Her Dad couldn't do anything for her and it cut deep in his heart.

"Wow, is she scared or what?" Tina said.

"Yeah I don't know why, but she's frightened. It's only a doctor appointment one she'll have to do every month. Sure hope she gets over it or we'll be fighting her to come every month," her dad said.

The nurse led her to a tiny room where she took her blood pressure and weighed her. Seth stayed right outside the door looking in.

"Your blood pressure is a little on the high side. Are you nervous?" she asked.

Lia nodded her head.

"There's nothing to worry about. Who is this?" she asked before revealing anything.

"Seth, he's my fiancé and the father," Lia said.

"So I can talk in front of him?' she asked.

"Of course, you can say anything he's entitled to know. We put him down on the list of people who could know what's going on," Lia said.

"Good. Nice to see you want to be involved Seth. So many young girls come through and the baby's father's don't come or leave them altogether. Come on we'll start the appointment with you both talking to the doctor. Then we'll do the exam." she said leading them down the hallway to the doctor's office. She opened the door, "Take seat Dr. Claire will be right with you."

"Dr Clair? Is that the first name or the last," Seth asked.

"I don't know," Lia said looking around the room. The medical licensing on all the doctors were there, but before she could find one with a Dr Claire the door opened.

"Hi Lia, Seth," Dr Claire said. She was female doctor. She was a short stocky woman. with short brown hair with gray streaking through it, she was in her fifties Lia guessed. "I want to introduce myself, I'm Dr Claire Zamboni, but everyone calls me Dr. Claire. I like to talk to my patients first to explain all the options, and to see what you want to do. First off I want to let you know you are not the first teenager to get pregnant, and not the first one in this office. We will treat you like an adult and everything is up to you, not your parents and not his parents." she said looking at Seth. "I assume you're the father?"

"Yes he's my fiancé and the father," Lia said.

"Well I'm real glad to see you're here with Lia. Now what are your plans?"

"To have it," Seth said quickly.

"Good, that's takes care of about half my speech. Now I will tell you what to expect as the pregnancy goes on. Are you getting morning sickness?"

"Yes, I'm trying to keep crackers by the bed and eating some before I get up. It helps, but sometimes I still get sick."

"Ok that's good that you're trying that. If at any time you have it too bad or it won't stop let me know we can prescribe something for it, but I don't like to do that unless it's too bad. I want to give you both some books which describe the next few months for you. They'll explain all the body changes and hormone change you will go through." Looking at Seth she explained, "Lia's body will be going through a lot of changes, Seth, but she'll be going through a lot of emotional changes too. Some women have such mood swings it's like their two different people, one minute she could be happy and the next crying her eyes out. It's normal you just have to remember to be there for her and be supportive," the doctor explained.

"I will be once I move back next month," Seth said holding Lia's hand.

"Move back?" the doctor asked.

"I moved to New York with my parents a few months back and after football season I'll be moving back here," Seth said.

The doctor frowned, "After football season? Why wait if you're moving back? She's going to need you to be there for her."

"He's waiting till after football at my insistences, he's up for a football scholarship and we really need him to get that so he can get into a college, to relieve some of the financial pressure off of us."

"I see. Do you think you can do college and raise a baby at the same time?" the doctor asked gently. "Lia do you have family that will support you in addition to Seth?"

"Yeah I do and I have friends who will be there for the both of us," Lia said.

"Just to let you know your friends will probably start staying away once the baby is born and you can't hang out with them anymore. It's a classic thing that happens to most young mothers," Dr Claire said. "I want you both to know what happens and it will be on the two of you to raise this child."

"We know Dr Claire and I will be there for her and the baby through it all. I'll be hard for us, but we'll do it. There are plenty of people around who will be there for us," Seth said.

"That's great, I'm happy for you both and good luck on that scholarship," Dr. Claire said sincerely. "Now I need to confirm some of the medical history. I see here no history of heart disease, stroke or diabetes in either family. That's good. Now you state here you last period was September 2, which means your due date is June 9th. Good timing you'll be out of school for the summer and can spend it with the baby. We will be doing a pregnancy test and an internal exam in a few minutes to make sure everything is going according to schedule. Do you want Seth in there for the internal exam?"

Turning toward Seth, Lia asked, "Do you want to be there?"

"Yes," he said.

"We won't be checking for a heartbeat, but it's too early to hear it, but by next month we might be able to," the doctor said. "Now let's go get you in an exam room."

The nurse took them the room and gave Lia gown and a plastic container, "Put this on in the bathroom right there. Also we need urine to take the pregnancy test. Then when you're done just lay on the table and the doctor will be right in," she said and left the room.

"I'm so glad she didn't push us to get rid of the baby," Lia said.

"Is that what you were so scared of?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, I told you, I had no idea what to expect since I'm so young. I thought they would try to convince me to give it up or something," she said.

"They can't do that, Lia. It's up to us not them," he said.

"Deep down I know that, but I still thought they would try to change our minds," she said.

There was a knock on the door, and the doctor walked in. "All ready for me? Now have you ever had an internal exam before, Lia?"

"No," she replied.

"Ok you're going to feel some pressure, but no pain," Dr Claire explained.

Seth was seated back my Lia's head and he held her hand the whole time. He kept reassuring her by squeezing her hand. He put his head by her ear and whispered, "You're doing great Lia. I love you."

She seemed to relax a little after he said that to her, and the doctor noticed, "I don't know what you said to her, but keep it up, it's relaxing her and I need her to be relaxed I'm almost done."

After the exam was over she said, "Lia, go get dressed and I'll talk to you some more."

"Is she always this nervous?" Dr. Claire asked Seth quietly.

"No usually she's the rock that keeps us together. She was afraid you'd try to talk her out of having the baby, to have an abortion or give it up."

"I could never do that. It's up to her, well both of you actually. There's something about the two of you, you don't seem like you have the typical teenage love. That's good because you will have you hands full once the baby comes. I'll talk more to you two as the pregnancy goes on, to make sure you're on track with everything," she said.

Lia walked out of the bathroom and Dr. Claire said, "Have a seat Lia. I want you to know everything looked and felt normal. I'll be seeing you once a month to check for the baby's heart beat, weight check, and monitor how everything is going. We won't do another exam until the end to see how the baby's progressing. Now do you want to do a natural child birth or do you want pain medication?"

"I don't know," Lia said.

"In the booklets I gave you describe both methods. Read over them and let me know, we can get you in a Lamaze class if you want a natural birth. Any questions for me then?"

"No, not now," Lia said shaking her head.

"If at any time you have one give the office a call and we'll answer them for you. As you check out, have them make you an appointment right away for next month. Make sure you get plenty of rest. See you next month," Dr. Claire said walking out of the room.

Seth took his hand and put it on her stomach, "Wow there really is a little boy in there," he said.

"A little boy how do you know it'd not a little girl," she teased.

"I don't care what sex it is, it's ours and it growing in there. It's amazing," he said. "Come on let's get your next appointment."

They walked into the waiting room, where Tina and her Dad were waiting. Tina saw them first and jumped up, "What happened? Is everything ok? Oh Lia you look so much better not so pale. We were worried about you out here."

"Slow down Tina, everything is fine and my due date is June 9th. The doctor said everything is fine. She gave us a million books to read on what will happen and what things to expect," Lia said.

"I'm glad everything is ok. And Tina's right you do look so much better. I never saw fear in your eyes like I did when you went in there. You feel comfortable with this doctor because if not we can go somewhere else," her Dad said.

"No she's great, she explained a lot to us, and she didn't judge us or make us do anything we didn't want to do," Lia said.

"Ok, well if you would follow me I want to show you something," her Dad said.

~~*~~

They got in Seth's car and followed her Dad. "What does he want to show you Lia?" Seth asked.

"I don't know he only said something to me tonight before my appointment," Lia said.

Her Dad pulled into the used car lot at the end of town. He parked by the office and got out. Seth pulled up next to him and Lia jumped out before Seth had it in park. "Lia!" Seth yelled. "Don't jump out the car before I have it stopped!"

"Sorry, I'm excited. Dad are you getting me a car?" she asked.

"Yes, we can't drive you back and forth to work all the time. I've been looking for one of over a month now and I think I finally found a good one. It's a 2005 Ford Focus, it has low mileage, and is four door so it'll be easier for you to get the baby out. The engine runs good, and so is the transmission, I test drove it yesterday. I want to see what you thought of it."

"What color is it?" Lia asked.

Seth laughed, "You Dad's getting you a car and all you ask about is the color?"

"Yeah, I don't know anything about the other stuff, he'll check all that out and so will you," Lia said. Running up to her Dad she hugged him and said, "Thanks Dad I really appreciate it."

"There's one condition, Lia," her Dad said. "No driving to New York with it. I don't want you driving up there."

"Dad!"

"No he's right I don't want you driving there either," Seth said. "It's too crazy up there."

"I won't drive it to New York. Can I see it?" Lia said.

"It's right over here. Color is black, by the way," he said leading her to the car.

When she saw it she fell in love with it right away. "It prefect, Dad, love it." she said walking around it and looked inside through the windows. "Do you have to get the keys I want to see the inside?"

"I'll get them, be right back," her Dad said.

"Do you think we can test drive it again?" she asked Seth.

"We'll see. I want to hear the engine first," Seth said.

Her Dad came back with the salesman. He opened the door and she looked at the interior, it was flawless, it looked almost brand new. "Can I start it?" Lia asked.

"Yeah, here's the keys," the salesman said.

Lia sat in the driver's seat and turn the car on. Seth reached in and popped the hood, then went around to the front and opened the hood. He was listening and looking at everything. "Sounds good to me," he told Lia when he finally walked back to her.

"Can we take it for a test drive?" she asked.

"Yes, let me just tell them I'll be right back," the salesman said.

He came back and Seth got in the back seat, while the salesman got in the front with Lia. She backed the car up and then drove through the parking lot and out on to the street. The car handled good, the engine sounded fine, and it shifted smoothly. Lia drove around for about ten minutes and then headed back to the dealership.

They got out and her Dad asked her, "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, it's a great car," she said.

"Ok then we'll take it. We'll be back tomorrow to pick it up," her Dad told the salesman.

"Dad were gonna take Tina home and then we'll be right home," Lia said.

Once in the car Tina said, "You're so lucky girl to be getting a car from your Dad. It's about time too; didn't he get your brother one right away?"

"Yeah, it's a long story, I'm just glad he's getting me one. I'll have to pay the insurance, but at least I don't have to use my saving for it," Lia said. "Seth if you can give me the phone number of your insurance agent I'll call after school. Then when we pick it up I can drive it right away."

"Yeah I'll give it to you at the house."

"Tina thanks a bunch for going with me tonight; it meant the world to me. If you want next time you can come and hear the heartbeat," Lia said.

"Really? Seth you won't mind me going along?" Tina asked.

"No, as long as Lia's happy I don't mind. She's going to need all the friends she has, to help her get through it, so I'm not going to stop you from coming," Seth said.

"Why would we stop being her friend?" Tina asked. "Just because she's pregnant? No way."

"Some of the girls aren't talking to me now. Their mad that I got pregnant and got kicked off the squad," Lia said.

"Then they weren't your friends to begin with," Tina said. "I know Tasha and I will both be there for you. She would have come too, but she had to work."

They reached her house and when she got out of the back of Seth's car Lia gave her a hug, "Thanks for going with me. I'll talk to you tomorrow in school."

Chapter 34

They walked into the house and sat in the living room when Seth put his arm around her and said, "That doctor seems real cool."

"Yeah she didn't judge us. I felt real comfortable there. You have no idea how scared I was walking in there, it made all the difference you being there," she said hugging him tight.

"I saw how scared you were, you wouldn't even get out of the car, Lia," he said. "I was going to be there for you no matter what, whether I had to leave the whole practice or not."

"You can't miss practice this late in the season, not with the scouts looking at you. Did you hear anything more about the one Jerry was talking to?"

"No just that they would take a look at me and see if they wanted me. I guess they don't have many scholarships for there and they only give them to the most deserving," Seth said.

"What does most deserving mean?" she asked.

"I don't know, maybe the best player, or something. Who knows?" Seth replied.

"Well I guess we'll find out soon enough. I hope you get it, but if not we'll figure out something," Lia said getting up quickly.

"Where are you going?"

"Bathroom," she mumbled running to the bathroom.

Seth ran after her, and went in with her; he held her hair back for her. When she was done he asked, "Are you alright?"

"This is embarrassing having you in here while I throw up," Lia groaned.

"Why?" he asked. "You're sick because you're pregnant; Babe and I want to be there through all of it. You're the one going through it all not me. I don't know what to do to make it easier for you."

"You can't, but you being here is what matters," Lia said. "I need to lie down for a little. Can you get me some soda?"

"Yeah, want anything else?"

"No just bring it to my room."

When Seth brought the soda to her she was sleeping. He sat on the chair in her room just watching her. He heard someone come in the house. He knew he should leave her room, but he didn't want to in case she woke up.

"Lia?" her Dad called. "Where are you?" He opened her door and saw her sleeping and Seth in the chair. "I don't want the two of you in this room when no one's home."

"She got sick and needed to lie down and I didn't want to leave her alone. I swear I've been sitting here in this chair the whole time. What difference does it make now anyway?"

"Don't be smart with me. I don't condone what you did and I won't condone you doing anything under my roof," Mr. Rossetti said.

"I wasn't trying to be smart and nothing will happen here anyway. Besides you blame me if you want, but it's not all my fault," Seth said heatedly.

"Look, Seth I promised myself I wasn't going to place blame with either of you and I don't mean to now. I just want you to know I don't want you in her room with no one home."

"I know that, but I couldn't leave her alone sick."

"Its morning sickness nothing to worry about, her Mom had it with both of them really bad for the first three months."

"Why do they call it morning sickness if it happens all day long?" Seth questioned.

"I don't know, I guess it's because most women only get it in the morning. And of course her Mom got it all day, so she'll probably follow in her footsteps." he said and then changed the subject. "So what's going on with your scholarship?"

"I don't know, yet. Thanks to Heath I can play this weekend. So when the scouts come I'll be playing," Seth said.

"What are you talking about?"

"When I told the coach I wouldn't be at practice today, he told me I couldn't play this weekend. It's the rules, if you miss practice you don't play. I would have missed a practice to go to her appointment. There was no way I was missing that so, Lia got the appointment moved back a little and Heath, our captain, convince the coach to do the special teams at the end of practice today so I could leave early."

"You can't miss practice and the chance of getting a scholarship."

"She means the world to me and so does this baby. There was no way I was missing her first appointment. You saw how she was, she was so scared, she needed me there and I was being there for her no matter what. I don't think you honestly believe I love her as much as I do."

"I think you both are too young to realize what you got yourselves into. But loving each other, yeah I know how much you love each other, and to be honest it's not normal. You two act like you've been together forever and because of it you do things that you should be doing when you're older. I wasn't thrilled when you got engaged, she's too young. She hasn't been with anyone except you; she hasn't dated anyone, but you. It makes me worried, I'm afraid as she gets older she'll regret her life and you."

"Is that what you do Dad? Do you regret your life with Mom? I know you both got married right out of high school, but I thought you had a great marriage," Lia asked from the bed.

"I thought you were sleeping." her Dad said. "No I don't regret it now, but to be honest both your Mom and I have regretted it at times through our lives. There was a time when we didn't think we would stay together. I don't want either of you to go through that. I wish you both would have slowed down a little, but no not you two, you end up pregnant."

"Dad, were different than you and Mom our love is so much stronger. He's the other half of me. When you tried to separate us and I wasn't with him for that month I thought a part of me wasn't there. I wasn't whole. Do you understand that?"

"No I honestly don't understand it," he replied.

"Remember back to your days of high school and what you felt for Mom back then, then multiply it by ten and that's what Seth and I feel for each other. I can't explain it Dad, it's just the way it is. Please don't give us anymore grief, we have a lot on our plate right now and were both trying to do the best we can. We didn't plan this, we didn't want this, but it happened and yes we have to live with it the rest of our lives and we both are willing to do that. I don't want to fight with you anyone. The decisions are ours to make and no one else's; I just want to know if we need help, you and Mom will be willing to help."

"Of course we'll help you, but I ask one thing and one thing only and that's when you are living under my roof, you two will not be in this bedroom alone."

"That can change real quick Dad," Lia threatened.

"Lia, stop it. Its fine we'll abide by that rule. I wasn't in here for any other reason than I was worried about her when she got sick. I'll stay out from now on if no one is home, Mr. Lombardi, you have my word on it," Seth said. "I don't want any more problems, Lia."

"Fine," her Dad said and walked out of the room.

"Babe, don't piss him off. He's taking all of this really great and I don't want you living here under any kind of stress either by his doing or your own. Please give me one less thing to worry about," Seth groaned.

"I'm sorry, I'm tired, I'm sick, and I'm cranky," Lia said. "I'll apologize to him later. I know, he's taking it a lot better than I thought he would."

"I don't know about you sometimes, that mouth of yours is sure going to get you into some hot water if you don't learn to control it," Seth said.

"Yeah you should talk, mister calm cool and collected. Who's the one yelling at your Dad all the time," she said.

"That's different."

"Yeah? How?"

"I don't want to talk about that now. I have to get going, it's late. Stand up and give me a kiss and a hug," Seth said.

"I don't want you to go," Lia whined.

"Stop whining, you'll see me this weekend. You're coming up for the game on Saturday right?"

"I think so, if Cris will drive me," she replied giving him a hug and a kiss.

She held on to him for a long time and the kiss was not ending any time soon. She felt her body responding to his and crushed herself against him. Seth broke off the kiss and Lia was breathless.

"Don't do that, Babe. It's torture for me to have to drive all the way home and think of you back here in bed by yourself," he said resting his forehead against hers.

"Good think of me all the time," Lia said.

"I do already and I don't need the added frustration on the way home," he groaned. "Come on downstairs or I won't be keeping my word to your Dad if we stay up here much longer."

They walked out to his car together and he sat on the hood of his car and pulled her in between his legs, "Take care of yourself while I'm gone, rest a lot and take your vitamins the doctor gave you today. I'll be back soon, only a few more weeks. We have to get over to Jerry's house and paint, maybe this weekend we can."

"We'll call a bunch of your buddies to come over and we can have a painting party and get it all done in a few days," Lia said.

"You're not helping," Seth said.

"Yes I am, I'm not an invalent I can do anything I did before. I won't go on any ladders and I'll just paint the bottom of the wall if it makes you feel better," Lia said.

"We'll see. If not this weekend then the next, because I should be able to come back the week after that," Seth said.

"What about playoffs?"

"We have to win both these games before we know. It's really close between all the teams and if we lose both we probably won't go. If we win both then we'll go. Then it'll be longer till I can move back," he said.

"Let's just shoot for you coming back early then everything is painted and we'll be ready for you to move in. If it takes longer then we can move your stuff in slowly. I really wish we had a definite date, but we'll play it by ear, I guess," she said.

"Don't be upset, Lia. I'll be here before you know it. I have to work tomorrow night so I won't call you until after and then, I hope you can come to the game on Saturday, if not I'll be down after, it's an afternoon game remember."

"Yeah I remember."

"I have to go. I love you, Babe," Seth said kissing her.

"Bye, Seth I'll see you this weekend, love you too," Lia said.

Lia went back up to her room and sat on the bed. Every time he left she felt the burn of missing him. The ache that she always felt when they were apart was there again. It didn't matter if they were a few streets away or miles away, that ache will always be there when their apart. She had yet to control that empty feeling she had.

Sitting there on the bed she started to feel nauseated again. Rubbing her stomach she got off the bed and stood in front of her full length mirror, she pulled up her shirt to look at her stomach. She moved back and forth looking at herself from different angles. She didn't notice any change there yet, but knew it would only be a matter of time before her body would change so drastically she was afraid Seth wouldn't want to look at her.

How was she to handle that? She couldn't bare to be away from him, but if he rejected her while she was fat she'd lose it. A part of her knew he wouldn't, but another part of her thought he would. She hoped and prayed she didn't get too big, she was going to watch what she ate and was going to drink a lot of water, then maybe she won't look to grotesques.

She went over to her desk and pick up one of the books the doctor gave her and threw it on the bed and got her pajamas on and got in a relaxed position. Picking the book up she started to read about the changes that will take place in her body in the next nine months.

She didn't read too far before she fell asleep reading. The book slipped from her hands and fell to the floor. She didn't even wake to hear her phone ringing when Seth called her when he got home.

~~*~~

Seth wondered why she didn't answer his call, but he didn't want to call back in case she was sleeping. He thought of everything the doctor told them. It was so much information that he didn't think he'd remember it all. He knew he needed to read the books they gave him, but he didn't have time to read them now he had homework to finish. He took that out and started it, he couldn't concentrate much, and everything the doctor said was swirling around his head. Looking at Lia, he couldn't wait till she started showing. He wanted to be able to see that this was all real. Even thought the doctor confirmed it with their own test, he didn't think he would take it as being real until she was showing.

This is not the way he wanted it to be, he wanted to get through school and then get married, but leave it up to him and Lia to do it backwards. He didn't know how everything was going to work out, but he would do everything in his power to provide for her and the baby. No one thinks he'll do it, but he will. He made a vow to himself no matter what Lia and the baby come first. He'd go to the game on Saturday and play the best he could for them. The scholarship is the best thing he could get right now, and if he didn't get this homework done soon he'll be up all night. He wouldn't get the scholarship with bad grades. He put everything out of his mind and concentrated on getting his calculus finished.

Chapter 35

Seth was moving into Jerry's this weekend and Lia couldn't wait. It was a long four weeks since they were together. Seth's team the Hawks won their two games and went to the play offs, but didn't make it to the championships they lost the last game.

So while Seth was up in New York playing Lia was at home getting Jerry's house painted. They had two painting parties that lasted both weekends. They got the whole house painted, hallways, kitchen, dining room, and living room, everything except Seth's room. He wanted to do that himself Friday before he moved in.

One more day till he brought everything down here and it couldn't get here any faster. Lia was so excited, it was a bummer not being with him, but she knew it was too much for either of them to keep running back and forth all the time. He had to keep his grades up to get the scholarship, work and football it was just too much.

Lia was headed over to Jerry's house to make sure everything was cleaned up and put away from last night when a few of them went over to finish the painting. She was so tired last night that Jerry made her go home and get some sleep. She walked up on the porch and knocked, but no one came. She thought she saw his car there when she pulled up. She walked around the house to see if it was in the driveway.

The car was there. She went back and knocked again this time louder, still no answer. She started to get a little worried. She didn't know what to do leave and come back later or go in without knocking. She decided to walk to the backyard; she opened the gate, glanced around and saw him sitting there with another man.

He saw her at the same time and motioned for her to come in, "Hi there Lia. I want you to meet my son, Chad. Chad this is Lia, Seth's fiancé and the one doing all the painting in the house."

"Hi Chad, nice to meet you," Lia said.

"Hi Lia, so your fiancé is the one free loading off my Dad and I guess that means you will be too?" Chad said sarcastically.

She looked at Jerry and saw he was very uncomfortable. She looked back at Chad and said, "No one is free loading off your Dad. He offered and Seth is renting a room from him. We are not free loaders and I take offense to that insinuation. Maybe if you were here more often for your Dad and help him, you wouldn't feel so threatened by a bunch of teenagers fixing the place up. I'm sorry Jerry, I just came here to clean up the mess that we left last night, but I have to leave right now, because I don't want to offend you and say anymore."

Turning to go she stopped and glanced back and said to Chad, "Your father is a great man and you are the one missing out on it. It's you problem not mine or Seth's so in the future don't dump your crap on us. We're here to help him as he's helping us." And she walked out of the yard.

"I told you not to mess with her," Jerry said laughing. "She reminds me so much of your mother at that age. She's right you know; don't take it out on them. The anger you have is towards me. I know your childhood wasn't what you wanted, I worked a lot and wasn't there for you when you need me, but I have apologized over and over again for it. I want to be there for you now, it might be a little too late, but it's better late than never."

"Yeah she's a lot like Mom was, but Dad they're here just to get your money," Chad tried explaining again. "Hell, Dad his father was the town drunk for so many years."

"That's enough!" Jerry yelled. "He didn't not ask me! I asked him! Seth is nothing like his father. I'm not going into it again with you. Look what they did to the house in a matter of weeks; they're bringing life back into it and a fresh coat of paint too."

"Fine, Dad don't say I didn't warn you," Chad got up to leave.

"Why do we have fight all the time? Why can't you ever come here for a visit?"

Chad didn't reply he just walked out of the yard. A few moments later her heard him start his car and drive away. Lia came out of the house, "Jerry, are you ok? I'm real sorry I yelled at your son, but he was way off. We don't want anything from you, and you know Seth fought with you to pay rent."

"Don't worry yourself sick over my son. I know you want nothing from me other than a place for Seth to stay."

"Don't say it like that, we are so grateful to you, and we like being with you. I hope you consider us friends and I know Seth and I consider you one of ours."

"Of course I do. Now let's not ponder on this sad subject any longer. The house looks great Lia you and your friends did a wonderful job on it. When's Seth coming to paint his room? I think it was a stupid idea of his to wait for his room to be last."

"He wanted to do it himself since he couldn't be here for any of the other rooms. He'll be here tomorrow some time I don't know exactly when. Not sure if it'll be after school or if he's taking the day off," she said plopping down on the chair with an exhausted sigh.

"You look totally exhausted, why don't you go home and rest, I already cleaned up from last night," he said.

"I saw that and you shouldn't have I told you I would be here today to do that. I don't really want to go home no one is there and the house is too lonely by myself. So if you don't mind I'll just hang out here for a while."

"No I don't mind. Why don't I make some supper and we can sit and watch TV for a bit."

"Sounds great to me," Lia said.

"Come on I'll whip up some spaghetti and a salad," he said.

"We both will, then we'll watch some TV, before I go home," Lia suggested.

They worked together fixing supper. It was ready in no time. Lia set the table while the noodles were cooking so when everything was done they sat down to eat. They talked about her school and how the kids were reacting towards her.

"Do they treat you any different than before?" Jerry asked.

"Some do, some don't. Some of them treat me like I'm contagious or something and won't even look at me. I could understand that happening when I'm as big as a house, but I'm showing yet. My true friends don't treat me all that much differently, but their afraid that I can't do anything anymore. It's frustrating, but I'll survive."

"Kids can be so cruel, but your true friends will be there for you, and by the amount of kids here it seems like you still have a lot of them," Jerry said.

"Yeah I'm just afraid once the baby comes they'll start drifting away. I'm just lonely all the time lately. I don't want them to treat me differently, I don't want them to tell me I can't do this and I can't do that. It's really frustrating," Lia sighed.

"Well you won't be lonely anymore," Seth came in and hugged her from behind.

"Seth! I didn't think you were coming until tomorrow sometime," Lia squealed.

"I had to get out, I couldn't take it up there anymore. Of course, it was my fault that the team didn't make it to the championships," he said.

"What are you talking about?" Jerry asked.

"My wonderful father told me that maybe if my mind was on the game and not on Lia we would have won," Seth replied.

"I was at that game and it was one of your better games," Jerry said. "Yeah your team lost, but you played excellent."

"I know it's just his way of getting at me for moving back here," he said as Lia placed a plate in front of him. "Thanks, Babe, I'm starved, did you leave anything for me?"

"Ha ha, real funny. There's plenty of food left," Lia said.

"Yeah since she barely ate anything," Jerry said.

"Why's that?" he asked.

"I don't know wasn't hungry," she said.

"Yeah, since when are you not hungry? Ever since I've known you, you have eaten as much as Cris and I did."

"Leave it be, Seth. I ate in fact I'm still eating," she said.

"Looks like rabbit food to me," Seth said.

"I'm hungry for salad, ok," Lia said.

Jerry just looked at him, but he couldn't get the meaning he was trying to convey to him. He knew it had something to do with her eating habit since he's been away but wasn't sure.

"Lia is there something going on I need to know about?" Seth asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm not sure that's why I'm asking. Are you afraid of gaining weight during pregnancy?" Seth asked and Jerry nodded his head ever so slightly.

"Of course I am, according to the books I read I'm not to gain more than 25 pounds 30 tops," Lia said.

"I read those books too and they didn't say for you to starve yourself. Eat normal Lia. You packed the food in before like a trucker and your skinny as a rail. So now you're eating for two you have to keep up the same amount as before at least," Seth said.

"Thanks now you're comparing me to a trucker," Lia sighed.

"I am not, but that's the way you always ate and you know it. Your weight is not the issue here, it never was. The issue is you have to eat to keep your strength up and to stay healthy. It doesn't matter what you're eating as long as you do," Seth said.

"I am eating. I can't eat like before, I get sick. So when I called the doctor's office they told me to eat smaller meals just more of them," Lia said.

"You called the doctor! What's wrong?" Seth asked concerned.

"Nothing is wrong I had a question they answered it."

"You didn't tell me you called."

"I just did and I didn't tell you because I knew you would act like this and I didn't want to screw up your concentration for the games, but it seems like I'm getting blamed for it anyway," she said.

"I don't blame you for it," he replied.

"I know. It's hard adjusting to all of this. I'm so glad you're here now. Someone I can lean on when I get nervous, and as big as a house."

"Babe I'll always be here for you. Don't ever forget it," he said.

"Even if I grow to be as big as a house?"

"Yeah, especially then, then I know the baby is growing big and strong. He'll be the next football player in the family."

"Who said it was a boy?" she questioned.

Seth looked at her and grinned. "Ok if it's a girl she'll be the best base a cheerleading pyramid ever had."

"Yeah real funny," she said.

To change the subject Seth said, "The house looks great. You got a lot done in the past two weeks. You're amazing."

"I had a lot of help from our friends we had such a blast. I think Cris is going to make sure you repay him when he gets his first house. He said you're painting the whole thing," Lia laughed.

Seth smiled, "He wishes. Once were done here I'll go up and start on my room. I have so much pent up energy, it killed me knowing you were down here getting everything ready and I was stuck up there."

"We both had to do what we had to do, Seth. So don't feel bad about not being here. For me it was a lot of fun having everyone here and now you're here it makes it all better. You go up and start and I'll do the dishes then I'll be up."

"You don't have to do the dishes, "Jerry said. "I have a dish washer and I can just load it up and let it do its job."

"It's ok, we don't want to make more work for you," Lia said.

"Lia it's not a big deal to load a dish washer. You go up with Seth and I'll take care of it down here."

"Ok I'll go up for a few minutes then we're watching TV. I'm a little tired tonight so I want to relax like we said," she replied.

"Fine, go be with your young man and I'll do up the dishes," Jerry said.

~~*~~

Seth would have an easier time of painting since nothing was in his room. The walls were in good shape so he didn't have to spackle any holes or cracks. The midnight blue paint that he picked for his room was in there along with the paint brushes, rollers, and the paint pan.

When Seth walked into the room and started painting right away. Lia walked into the room and he turned towards her. He walked over and gave her a hug and she clung to him needing his strength more than she realized.

"You are amazing, Babe," he whispered. "You got all the rooms painted and the only one I'm doing is mine."

Walking away from him to the look out the window she replied, "I wish I could take the credit for it all, but it was Cris. He got a bunch of the guys to come and paint."

Seth walked up behind her and hugged her. He ran his hands down her stomach and rubbed it. "Are you showing already?" he asked. He turned her, lifted her shirt and he saw a small bump where her flat stomach once was.

"My pants are getting a little tight, but I'm not showing where anyone else can see only I can and now you."

He held her tight while continuing to feel the little bump. "Wow that's our baby in there. I always thought we'd have kids, not this soon of course, but it's so incredible to actually feel it growing inside of you. I want us to be the best parents any kid would be proud to call us their mom and dad. I don't want him or her to grow up like I did, not knowing when the next explosion would be, or to worry about if there's enough money for food, clothes, or anything he would want. This is so mind blowing for me to be able to watch our baby grow inside you."

"I know every day I look in the mirror to see if I can see any changes, but to me it just looks the same," Lia said.

"It definitely is not the same. Maybe it's because I don't see you every day that it's different for me," Seth said. "Now go back downstairs and relax, watch some TV, I'll only be a little bit I want to tape off the room then I'll be down. It won't take me long."

Lia went down stairs to watch TV and before she knew it she was out cold, sleeping. When Seth finally did come down and saw her on the couch sleeping he picked her up and walked out to his car. He drove her half way home when she woke up.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"I'm taking you home so you can have a good night's sleep."

"I don't want to sleep I wanted to spend time with you and to thank you for keeping your promise to me."

"I told you I would be back and now we have all the time in the world. I'm back home to stay," he said.

THE END

About the Author

As a young child I was always reading. When kids were running around in the summer I would sit under a tree reading; after hours in the public library. My love for books never wavered; I lay in bed every night reading the next best seller. Some of my favorite authors are; JK Rowlings, Jude Deveraux, Stephenie Meyers, and Charlaine Harris just to name a few.

I live in Northampton, PA with my husband of ten years, and my daughter, the youngest of three daughters. The oldest daughter has two adorable daughters of her own. The middle child graduated college as a marine biologist.

I have spent many years traveling between, cheerleading practices, gymnastics classes, and marching band rehearsals and performances. I have been actively involved in all their activities through the years, giving me a great sense of young adults and the joys and troubles they go through.

CONNECT WITH ME:

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Look for the continuing story of Lia and Seth coming in fall of 2012! Here's the first chapter in MORE THAN A PROMISE: THE WEDDING

MORE THAN A PROMISE: THE WEDDING

Chapter 1

When Lia woke up this morning she was so happy and a huge weight was lifted off of her shoulders. Seth was home! Lying in her bed she reflected on the past few months. His moving to New York with his parents was the hardest thing either of them had to deal with. Thank God that was in their past, now the hardest thing they will face, is being parents.

They both had to work a lot. She was still working at the mall and Seth was working at Auto Parts store and a garage on weekends. They both tried to take the same night off a week so they could spend time together. It worked some weeks, but others it didn't. This week they were both scheduled off for Thursday night for her doctor appointment.

At the appointment everything was fine the baby's heart beat was strong and her weight gain was minimal. The doctor said she was doing fine. Seth went to every appointment and at this last one he asked about her working, "Is it okay for her to work as much as she is? With her going to school and working almost every night is it too much?"

"Not as long as she's feeling fine and not extremely tired. She can work up till the end of her pregnancy," the Dr. Claire said.

"See I told you," Lia said sticking her tongue out at him.

"But you do need your rest also, so make sure it's a healthy balance between rest and work," the doctor continued.

After the appointment Seth drove her to the mall. They wouldn't get the one night off together this week, since they called her into work. They stopped at the deli to get sandwiches before she had to be at work. Lia sat down at a table after ordering a ham and cheese hoagie with a salad.

When Seth brought the food over she grabbed the salad and started eating. "I'm starving," she said with her mouth full of food.

Seth laughed, "I see your appetite is back."

"Yeah since the morning sickness stopped. It's weird when the fourth month came it all stopped."

"I'm glad it stopped, I was worried you'd be sick the whole time like your Mom was," Seth said.

"How do you know that?" she asked stopping the fork full of salad in mid-air.

"Your Dad told me when we first found out you were pregnant. He said she was sick the whole time with both you and Cris. I was afraid you would be the same way."

"Oh you didn't want to have to deal with me being sick all the time?" she joked.

"No, that's not it at all. You're going through enough and it's frustrating to see you so sick and there's nothing I can do to help you," he said seriously.

"Babe I was only joking. I know you felt helpless, but your being here helps so much. I just wish we could be together more than we are. I only have to work till nine so we can spend some time together tonight when I get off."

"You should have said no that you couldn't work."

"I couldn't refuse we need the money and with Christmas only a few weeks away I can get the extra hours now. Besides once the baby comes I can't work for a few weeks."

"I don't want you to go back to work once the baby comes," he said. "I want you to be able to be with the baby as much as possible."

"I can't do that Seth. We both have to work to afford all this. I'm not putting all the pressure on you to support us. That's just way too much on you. I won't work as much as I am now, but I will keep working. Diapers alone cost a fortune."

"I know, but we'll see how things go once he's here," Seth said.

"There you go again saying he. What are you going to do if it's a girl?" she asked laughing.

"I'll get my shot gun out and make sure no one gets near her until she's thirty," he said laughing.

"Yeah right," Lia laughed. After finishing her food she stood up and asked, "Are you walking me to the store I have to be there soon?"

"Yeah, then I'll be back to pick you up at nine," he said.

They walked hand in hand through the mall and he gave her a kiss before she went in. When he turned he saw some of his friends on the other side of the mall and walked over. Tina and some of the cheerleaders were over there too and when Seth walked toward them they came over to him.

Tina asked, "How things going Seth? How was the doctor's appointment today?"

"Great we heard the baby's heartbeat and he's doing fine, so is Lia. I just dropped her off at work," he said.

"I missed hearing the heartbeat. Damn I wished I could have gone again, but I just got off work myself," Tina said.

"Tina you been with her at every appointment so far. Which she really appreciates and we both know you can't be at everyone."

"I know, but I want to be there for her. By the way we are thinking of having a baby shower for her, do you know if she picked out any baby theme yet?"

"Not that I know of, but I'll ask her."

"No don't, just tell her to go register at Wal-Mart or Baby's R Us. Oh I'll tell her tomorrow at school. I have to go, got to study for that chemistry test tomorrow," Tina said running out of the mall.

"See ya later," Seth murmured.

Seth hung out the rest of Lia's shift at the mall with his friends. It was good to hang out with them. He didn't see much of them since he worked all the time. They didn't do much but walk around the mall looking at girls. Even though Seth wasn't looking at the girls like his friends, it was funny to see some of them work so hard to impress a girl. Seth was leaning over the railing looking down at the bottom floor when someone stood next to him. He looked up and saw Courtney standing there, "What do you want?" he asked rudely.

"I just wanted to know, how you feel about Lia trapping you? She got pregnant on purpose so you wouldn't dump her and come to me," she said.

"Shut up Courtney? Lia didn't trap me! I love the fact that she's pregnant. I wouldn't come to you even if Lia and I didn't stay together. I don't want anything to do with you! I should have never taken you to the movies that one time. I'm warning you now! You better stay away from me and stay away from Lia!" Seth roared. "If I hear anything about you being near her, look out, Courtney, because I'll be coming for you."

"Yeah what are you going to do?" Courtney challenged.

"He might not be able to do anything, but I sure as hell can," Steph said from behind and standing next to Cris. "You so much as go near Lia I'll kick your ass so hard you won't know what hit you. That's not a threat, dear Courtney, that's a promise."

Courtney turned and looked at Steph and saw the look in her eye knowing that Steph said what she meant, "Well I was just showing my sympathy for him," Courtney started.

"Shut up and get out of here," Cris roared louder than Seth. "I don't care if you're a girl or not, leave Seth and Lia alone or I'll punch you in the face myself."

She turned and walked away in a huff. "Thanks guys I can't stand to look at her. She's such a bitch. Steph, do you know if she gives Lia any problems at school?" Seth asked.

"No not that I heard. I know she's spreading rumors, but she always did that, but I don't think she's confronted Lia face to face. Didn't Lia ever say anything?" Steph asked.

"No I don't think she would either. You know Lia, she'd handle it herself, but I don't want her to. Keep an ear out and let me know if you hear anything," Seth said. Looking at his watch, "I have to go pick her up at work it's almost nine."

"You are taking her home then?" Cris asked.

"No going back to my place for a little and then taking her home. Why?"

"Just wondered," Cris said. "She's always so tired."

"I know, I asked her doctor about her still working and she said she could up till the end of the pregnancy. I suggested that after the baby she shouldn't go back, but she's hearing nothing of it. She said she didn't want all the burden on me."

"Sounds like her. She's right though, you can't do it all. Let her work now and save up as much as you guys can. They're having a baby shower from the kids at school for her so maybe you'll get a lot of what you need," Steph said.

"We need everything and the kids won't be able to afford the big stuff so we'll have to get that. In fact Tina just said something to me about getting her to register for the shower. I think she has off on Sunday I'll take her then. I got to go she's off in about five minutes," Seth said. "If you're not doing anything stop over."

"Naw she needs rest. We'll hang out another time," Cris said.

~~*~~

On the way home they stopped to get some food for the house. When she went to get a soda Seth took it out of her hand, putting it back he held up a bottle of milk or orange juice. Laughing she pointed to the milk, and got some cookies to go with it.

"Ok you win this one. You can have the cookies since you got the milk. You know you have to drink more of it," he said.

"I know, but I don't think of it."

"That's why you got me to remind you," he said hugging her from around her back. "Come on let's get home so you can rest. Don't even bother to argue you need to relax."

"I'm not, I'm so tired today. Are we going to your place or my parents?"

"Mine for a little. I wanted to ask you is Courtney or anyone at school giving you a hard time?" he asked

"No I don't see Courtney, but some of the girls in my homeroom won't talk to me anymore. It's no big deal anyway."

"I'm sorry, Babe, I didn't know you were having such a hard time at school. Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's not that bad and my real friends are still talking to me so that's all that matters," she replied. "Besides I have you back and that mean more to me than any kids not speaking to me."

When they got to his place they walked into the house and Jerry was nowhere around. They went up to Seth's room and he turned on the TV as Lia laid on the bed. She looked at Seth and he came over to the bed and lowered himself down next to her kissing her. He pulled her to him and the kiss deepened, he started rubbing her lower back.

"Mmm, that feels so good."

"You feel good, Babe," he said as his hands started roaming all over her. Quickly he had her moaning his name. He pulled her shirt up and looked at her body, the changes were more noticeable now, she was showing more and her breasts were larger. "Babe, you are so beautiful."

She laughed, "Stop torturing me, Seth."

He quickly undressed her and himself they came together quickly. She laid on her side afterwards with him holding her close to him, her back to his chest, and he asked, "Are you ok? You're so quiet."

"I'm fine just so tired tonight," she said as she pulled his arm around her and she fell asleep within minutes.

He pulled her to face him and put her head on his shoulder. He held her close watching her sleep. He was rubbing her stomach absently thinking about their future. Money was going to be tight. Even with people giving them stuff at the baby shower, he didn't know how they were going to do it all. The pressure he was feeling was weighing heavily on him, to provide for the baby, his college, for them. He didn't think his parents were going to help too much; since he hasn't spoke to either one of them in weeks. Deep down it hurt that his Mom didn't call him, but he would never let anyone know that. He was more than a little surprise that she didn't. He told her when he left that it wasn't because of her only his Dad. He swore to himself right now that he would be a better parent to his kid than his parents are to him.

He picked up his cell phone and dialed Lia's house, "Hello, Mrs. Lombardi? It's Seth, Lia's fine, but she's sleeping and I was wondering if you wanted me to wake her up to bring her home, or can I just let her sleep? She was really exhausted after work tonight and fell asleep almost as soon as we got here."

"Seth you should have brought her here if she was that tired," Mrs. Lombardi said.

"We were just going to watch a movie and then I was bringing her home, but she fell asleep before I could even put it in. I'll wake her up and bring her home," Seth said annoyed.

"Let her sleep, but don't make a habit of this," she said.

"I don't mean any disrespect, but what's the big deal anymore? She's pregnant already and going to marry me," he asked.

"Don't be smart with me Seth. She's underage and she still has to follow our rules," she reprimanded.

"I wasn't trying to be smart. I was just stating the truth and wondering why it's a big deal. You know that I love her and she loves me and we want to be together all the time."

"I know that and when you're older you can have that, but not now. Not when she's only sixteen."

"She'll be seventeen soon and I want us married before the baby comes. I know I told you we would wait, but it doesn't feel right to me to have this baby without us being married," he said.

"Seth I know you feel that way and probably have from the beginning, but you have to wait till she graduates," she said.

"Why? What's the difference? It's not like she won't graduate, I'll make sure of that. She'll go to college too and when she suppose to. Not years from now."

"Did you even speak to her about it?"

"No, not yet. I wanted to talk to you first to see if you will even let us."

"You put me in a bad position here. Come over tomorrow after work and we'll discuss it. I'm telling you now I'm not thrilled with it and I don't know how her father will feel about it. What about your parents?"

"What about them? I haven't heard from either one of them since I moved back. If you let us then I'll tell them, but not before."

"Oh Seth I'm so sorry I didn't realize you haven't spoken to them. Come over tomorrow and we'll discuss it. I'll speak to her Dad, but I'm not saying we will give you permission."

"Thanks Mrs. Lombardi, I really appreciate you thinking about it."

Lia woke up after he turned off the phone and asked, "Who where you talking to?"

"You're Mom. I originally I called to see if I had to wake you up to take you home and she was mad that I didn't take you right home since you were so tired. Then I asked her if we could get married before the baby comes and she kinda freaked on me for a minute, but then said we can go over there tomorrow after work to discuss it."

"Really we can get married before the baby comes?!" she said excitedly.

"Well it's up to you and your parents. Do you want to get married before he comes?"

"Yes if you stop saying he," she teased. "I think once I have my ultra sound next month I'm asking to know the sex of the baby. Where would we live here or at my parents?"

"If it's alright with Jerry, here would be better. I don't want to live where everything we do is going to be watched. But first we have to get them to sign the papers for you to get married."

"Don't tell them I woke up tonight. I want to stay the night with you just in case they don't let us."

"I'm not letting you go tonight. If they let us, I want to get married next month. Is that ok with you?"

"Next month, that's too soon. With the holidays and everything it will be too hard to pay for everything. How about in February?" she said snuggling closer to him. A rush of excitement rushed through her and the very possibility of marrying Seth before the baby was born.

"February is ok, but not a month later," Seth said holding her close to him. He didn't sleep that night with the possibility of them getting married. Soon his mind was racing with every possible thing that could go wrong.
