Elizabeth's day just kept getting worse. First, the stupid bitch-leaders lock her in a closet, Stefanie gets in a fight defending her and now she gets a text from her boss at the library, Kayla saying they don't need her to come into today.
Stefanie got Saturday detention for hitting Ashley but Mrs. Compton had told Principal King about Ashley's rude remarks and bad attitude and Ashley received in-school suspension until Friday.
Mrs. Compton also agreed to be a witness if Ashley's parents tried to sue Principal King for taking disciplinary action against Ashley.
After making sure Stefanie was okay, Amber and Elizabeth went to Mr. O'Brian's history class. When they got there they found out that class had been dismissed because the new history books hadn't came in yet so Amber and Elizabeth decided to go to the football field and talk.
"So I think Jesse has a crush on you.", Amber said as she lay on the turf .
Elizabeth shook her head. "We're friends. I feel so bad that there's been so much drama for him and everyone since I started school here."
"Hun, it isn't your fault that Erika and Ashley are jealous bitches. Besides, you should feel lucky. Jesse's gorgeous and it's obvious he adores you. Why don't you go for it?
Elizabeth was silent for a few minutes and then said, if I tell you something do you promise to keep it just between us?
"Of course.", Amber replied.
So Elizabeth took a deep breath and took Amber about Eric. She told her everything. When she got to the part where Eric called her a cripple she Elizabeth started to chock up but quickly forced the tears back. "After that night I swore never to let my heart be broken again."
"Do you still love him?", Amber asked.
"No. ", Elizabeth didn't even hesitate, "but I don't ever want to have a heartache like that ever again. Last I heard, Eric and Mia had married and were excepting a baby."
Elizabeth looked down and Amber asked, "What's wrong Elizabeth?"
When Elizabeth looked up she had tears misting in her eyes but she smiled weakly, "I don't love Eric anymore. At least not the man he became in the end. I'll always have a special place in my heart for the few good memories we did have because he was my first love. I don't know...I guess I feel cheated still. I'd always wanted to have husband and babies and instead of me getting them, he gave my dreams to her. Does that make sense?"
Amber got up and wrapped an arm around Elizabeth's shoulder, "Yeah, it does. Eric is an idiot. Elizabeth you're great and one day you'll find a guy that will true love you for you and not care about the wheelchair or anything. If a guy really loves you he'll take you as you are and not try to change or pressure you to have sex until you are ready. He'll treat you as if you're the most important thing in his life. That guys out there somewhere, and all you got to do is find him and be brave enough to let him get close to you".
Elizabeth smiled," Someone's been reading to many romance novels", Elizabeth teased.
Amber laughed. "Hey, prince charming could be right under your nose, ya never know.
So Amber, you got a last name or did you drop your last name like Reba did?", Elizabeth asked jokingly.
"Jacobs.", Amber replied.
Elizabeth's phone rang. Amber raised an eyebrow when she heard "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin start playing. "What? It's a good song.", Elizabeth said as she answered the phone.
"Hey Jesse. ", she answered and laughed as Amber mouthed "Prince Charming"
"Hey Bethie girl, sounds like you're having fun. Where are you? Class is over."
"I'm out on the football field with Amber."
"Thank God! When I couldn't find you I thought Ashley and Erika had you again."
"Sorry Jesse, I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay Bethie. Stay there. I'll see you in a minute.
***
"Awe Jesse, you're so sweet!" Amber said as she watched Jesse lift Elizabeth gently from her wheelchair and into his truck. Elizabeth blushed and Jesse winked at Amber as he went to load Elizabeth's chair into the truck bed.
Amber followed behind him. She had a plan.
"Do you like Elizabeth as more then a friend?", she asked Jesse.
Jesse blushed and that was all the Amber needed, "Be patient with her then. Oh, and when you get in the truck "accidentally" pocket dial her phone". She smiled sneakily and got in the back seat of the truck.
"Sullivan's Grocery, right?", Jesse asked as he climbed in the driver's seat a few minutes later. Since Amber didn't have a car and Sullivan's was on the way to Skyler's daycare they were giving her a ride to work.
Amber nodded and Jesse reached in his pocket to get his keys and quickly hit the"Redial" button on his phone before Elizabeth could notice. Seconds later "Take My Breath Away" began playing.
"What the..? Jesse, you're calling me.", Elizabeth said with out even taking her phone out much less checking to see who it was. Her cheeks were turning bright red.
"Stupid phone.", Jesse said as he hit the "End" button on his phone, " it's always pocket dialing." He looked at Amber from the rear view mirror, she had an "I told you so." look on her face. Jesse winked back at her.
"Do you mind if we make another stop before we pick Skyler up?", Jesse asked after they'd dropped Amber of at work. He was still smiling over the little "pocket dialing" trick they'd pulled on Elizabeth. She'd changed her ringtone since the closet incident. Jesse wondered if the song meant that she liked him too. His Bethie had a secret behind those brown eyes of hers but he would have patience and maybe she would tell him in time.
"No. Thats fine Jesse.", she replied, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, the library doesn't need me today, so I can come with you and Sky to practice. If you don't mind."
Jesse pulled his trucked into the parking lot of Blue Ribbon Sporting Goods. "I don't mind at all Bethie." He went into the store and came out minutes later with a huge bag. He smiled climbed in the truck and started the engine, "Now to go get my little buddy."
****
"And then Ethan said I was too little to play football but you should've seen his face when he saw Jesse."
Skyler had been a little annoyed about a "girl crashing guy's day" but he got over it quickly and had been talking non-stop as usual.
"You're still growing Skyler, I was small when I was your age too.", Jesse assured him.
"Jesse I really like your truck.", "Sissy, do you think Daddy will buy me a truck just this when I grow up?", Skyler asked excitedly.
Jesse and Elizabeth both laughed and Elizabeth said, "Maybe Sky, but you have to behave and take your naps every day until then."
"Okay Sissy, I can do that.", Sky replied.
Jesse pulled into the the stadium parking lot and after helping Beth into her chair, he unbuckled Skyler from his carseat. Thankfully, Mrs. Morgan had let it at the daycare for them.
"Hey Skyler, I got you something.", Jesse said. He grabbed the bag he'd gotten earlier and pulled out a child size Warrior's jersey that had S. Morgan on the back, a child's blue football helmet and a tiny pair of cleats.
"Woah! Thanks Jesse!", Sky exclaimed grinning widely.
"You're welcome little man.", Jesse said as he help Sky put on the cleats. Jesse had guessed on the size but they turned out to fit Sky perfectly.
"Sissy look! I'm just like Jesse now!"
"I see bud. Way cool.", Elizabeth said and then turned to Jesse, " Jesse, thanks for thinking of Sky but this is too much. It must of been expensive."
Jesse just smiled and said, "Hush Bethie." before Elizabeth could protest more, Jesse placed Sky on his shoulders and walked toward the field so Elizabeth followed.
***
"Oh my, who's that handsome looking football player I see?", Stefanie asked with a whistle.
"Gee, Thanks Stef.", Jesse joked as he put Skyler down.
"I was talking to the kid Jesse.", Stefanie rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, Yeah Yeah.", Jesse said and then went to the locker rooms to suit up with Ryan and the team.
Elizabeth introduced Stefanie to her brother and the first thing Sky said was, "Wow! You're pretty Steffy!" and the second thing was, "What happened to your hand?"
"She um...accidentally hit something." Elizabeth answered for Stefanie.
"Oh.", Sky said, "I'm gonna be a football player and have a cool truck just like Jesse when I get older ya know."
Stefanie smiled as Sky sat on the bench next to her. "Is that right?", she asked Sky as she played along with his story.
"Yep and when I get it I can take ya from a ride.", Sky said.
Stefanie laughed. "Well, Ryan may have something to say about that buddy. "
"Who's Ryan?", Sky asked.
"My boyfriend." Stefanie pointed to Ryan who was on the field.
Sky looked in the direction Stefanie was pointing then said, "He don't look so tough. I could beat him up."
Stefanie turned to Elizabeth and said, "Your little brother is adorable!"
***
Jesse and Ryan walked of the field two hours later. They were both sweaty, dirty and Jesse was sore from all the uncalled for tackles he'd taken. The team was pissed over Ashley and Erika getting busted and of course, they were blaming him. Travis even made perverted comments about Elizabeth. Jesse would've knocked the jerk's teeth down his throat, but he knew Skyler was watching.
"Jesse, that was awesome!" Skyler said running to him.
Jesse picked Sky up and tapped his knuckles against his then turned to Elizabeth, "Hey Bethie girl." He flashed her a smile.
"Hey Jesse, practice looked brutal."
"Um..yeah. So what have you girls been up to?", Jesse asked.
Stefanie smiled and said, "Well, I have a new boyfriend it seems."
Ryan laughed. "You can have her Skyler. She always burns my grilled cheese anyways.", He faked being disgusted.
Sky instantly said, "Nah, if she burns grilled cheese you can keep her."
They all laughed.
***
Elizabeth felt butterflies in her stomach as she waited for Jesse to unload her chair. She was about to meet Jesse's family and was very nervous. Sky, on the other hand, was raring to meet Ava and Bella. He still had his jersey and cleats on but Elizabeth finally convinced him to take the helmet off.
"Relax honey, it's just my parents and sisters they won't bite.", Jesse said as he helped her in her chair and then got Sky out.
At that moment, two little girls came running out the front door. They had on matching sun dresses, one pink and one yellow. Their dark blonde hair was pulled up in ponytails.
"Jesse! What took you so long?!"
"We been waiting forever."
Jesse laughed and kissed both girl's on the cheek and motioned to Skyler, "Ava Marie, Isabella Rose, this is Skyler."
The twin in pink, Ava, said, " Hi. Jesse said you were coming to play with us cause you're the new neighbor."
Sky nodded and then the twin in yellow, Isabella said, Do you like chicken casserole? That's what Mom made for dinner."
Jesse interrupted the chatter of the three kids and introduced the girls to Elizabeth.
"Girls this is my friend, Elizabeth.", Jesse said grinning.
Elizabeth smiled and said, "It's nice to meet you girls."
The girls were quiet at first and then Ava spoke up, "Why are you in a wheelchair?"
"Ava Marie!", Jesse was embarrassed.
"It's okay Jesse.", Elizabeth said and then turned to the girls and began to explain. "I came out of my Momma's tummy too early and was very tiny. My Daddy could hold me in one hand and I had to wear dolly clothes. I was so tiny that when I tried to walk I couldn't so my Momma and Daddy got me my first wheelchair when I was your age."
"Well, I still think you're cool even if you can't walk.", Bella said, "and you're pretty too. Just like Jesse said."
"Yeah, me too.", Ava agreed.
Both girls took one of Sky's hands and they ran toward the house laughing. "You won them over.", Jesse said watching the kids.
Yeah, Elizabeth thought, but what would his parents think of her?