Oh, I know, Evil Cliffie!! Seriously, I've fallen in love with this story as much as you have. I'm so into writing it, I've thought about this chapter like every five seconds since I wrote the last one. So, here we go!

(())

JT... Great, just what I need right now...

Liberty was fairly sure the boy standing behind her at this time was here to talk. And taking to JT right then would probably not be the best idea. But, despite all the nasty things they've thrown back and forth between each other, she never could turn JT away. She didn't know why.

She sighed and looked away. "Hey JT." Oh, please, please PLEASE make him go away!!

"You ran out of there pretty quick. You ok?"he asked, sitting next to her slowly, as if he thought she would run away again.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just nervous with the attention, that's all." She said, her voice a little shaky. She prayed he wouldn't notice.

"You don't sound fine." JT moved closer to look her straight in the eye. "I think you and the Tobester are having problems in paradise..." he said, searching her eyes.

Liberty had trouble even thinking about that last sentence. She wasn't sure she would be able to stop herself from crying. She watched him search her eyes and felt him move closer. She was sure he knew. Just certain. She wanted more than anything to believe otherwise, but she was sure this wouldn't be happening at all unless he was joking, or being stupid. And Liberty didn't know if she could take that right now.

Though, actually, if it was a joke, it would be a relief...

If he was joking, that would prove she needed to move on. She could get rid of this stupid confusing love-triangle and be with Toby. Sweet Toby, who she was now in like with, and who she knew would never break her heart.

"Yeah, I see it... what's wrong, you can tell me..." He asked, in a soft, smooth voice that made Liberty melt inside.

"I... I like Toby..." She answered, knowing if she told him anymore, everything would crumble.

"So? You guys are going out. What's the problem?" JT asked.

But Liberty wasn't listening. She was looking at Toby who had just come out the school doors and seemed to be looking for her. She looked from Toby, to JT, to Toby, to JT.

There it was. Perfectly displayed.

There was JT, sitting next to her, close to her heart forever, but forever in search of something else. She knew jealousy wasn't something real. She'd figured that out as soon as she heard his voice. Why she thought it was, she couldn't tell you. But what she knew now was that jealousy is not something to play with. This is where it gets you.

And there was Toby. On the school steps, a fairly short distance away, but still further than JT. Just looking for her because he liked her. That's what Liberty wanted. But there was one hurtle to cross:

Kendra.

Of course he still liked Kendra.

Because that just made everything perfect.

But there they were. Her choices. The ever-popular, ever desirable JT. The sweet, goofy/intellectual Toby. There they were. More than just standing there, but practically screaming at her to choose. She wanted to just run away.

So she did.

She got up and ran. She didn't pay attention to JT or Toby. She just ran.

She ran for what seemed like hours. She wanted to forget they existed. It felt as if she were flying, and falling, and crashing all at once. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. Something was holding her back. It was hard to fathom, she didn't really understand what was happening. She was in a spin-cycle, going a thousand miles per hour with no end in sight.

Finally, she reached her front doorstep, and collapsed in a heap. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She wanted more than anything to pretend she wasn't in love. Toby.... JT.... they were both great. She liked them both. But it felt like now, it was more than that. She loved JT... AND Toby.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as it finally hit home. What was she going to do? Cut all ties? With who? She couldn't do it. She needed them both. She loved JT, it had to be love. What else makes your stomach flop and your heart flutter?

A crush? Her mind answered.

She wiped her eyes. Perhaps... perhaps she'd had it wrong the whole time. She was in love with Toby and had a crush on JT? She didn't know. All she knew was she had feelings for both of them. And it felt like it was about to kill her. She felt like She wanted to hide. She wanted to go somewhere far away and just stay there.

She was too confused.

Liberty Van Zandt does not get confused.

But she was.

"Liberty?" a voice behind her called. She turned to see Toby coming up the block.

She smiled.

She may be in love with both of them, but only one cared enough to follow.