Inside was classical music playing overhead, with no line waiting. The two of them walked in their formal wear to people who looked a little bit more casual than them. Her mind was spinning, she didn't know where to turn. JC stood there waiting for the waiter to come and show them their seats, peering around the room at the many people. Forgetting that he didn't bring any type of disguise, he hoped that this dinner wasn't going to turn into some horrendous break out.

Finding their seats, they were in a small secluded area in the back of the restaurant with a few other couples. Pulling out her seat for Vesteva, she never smiled yet during the whole evening. Being graced his JC's presence, she felt so awful because of the way that she has acted around him. She has hung up on him, ignored him and pushed him away from her since the first day that they met. He must have known that she wasn't feeling completely comfortable because he tried to impress her, making her enjoy herself.

Placing her napkin in on her lap, she stared down at her plate until the menu was pointed in her view. " Thank you," she whispered, barely releasing the words.

They ordered their meals, and instead of sitting in silence and having this the most boring night in their life, JC broke the ice. " So how has your volunteering been going?" He asked before he sipped his ice water.

From gazing at her lap, Vesteva shook. Her body got the shivers at the thought of another lie coming into place today. She couldn't even look at him, rather his eyes. Picking up a fork or something to fumble with to distract him from her long period of muteness, not knowing what to reply. She knew that she should tell him the truth, that she is actually going there for help, but it sounded as if she was insane. He would want to end the whole 'date' right now because he would hate her like everyone else does. Knowing that someone else would have those feelings for her would make her want to disappear, hide from everyone because she can't take it anymore. Out of her thoughts, she heard the repeating of her name once again, like the last time he heard him talk to her.

Glancing up to connect views with one another, their eyes finally met for the first time. Looking deeply into them, she saw not just a guy out for a little fun, but someone sincere. The crystal blue gaze that took over concentration.

Sending the vibration right back, JC knew that he never should have fought about the age. He sees a beautiful but scared girl, sitting in front of him who he knows is trying to let him into her heart. The way that he pushed it earlier was the wrong approach on a person like Vesteva. He wanted to get to know her, but he wasn't sure on how he could break through her wall. Her brown eyes just stared back at him, but he enjoyed every minute of it. It was then that he saw her smile for the first time.

Justin shut the door, creating an awkward silence in the small house. Abby slowly walked around the corner and walked into the next room. Justin stayed in the foyer though, not sure of what to do next. When Abby turned around and realized Justin hadn't followed her she walked back out into the foyer.

"You can come in you know. I'm not going to bite." Abby laughed. Justin seemed to relax slightly and his feet finally moved.

"I'm not so sure about that." he joked. Abby glared at him, but it turned into a smile. When the two reached Abby's sitting room, she decided she had to say something.

"Look Justin. I know we're not on the best of terms and up until Tuesday I was absolutely positive that I hated you. Look I know that sounds bad, but here me out. I guess what I'm trying to say is Thanks for paying for the cars." Abby babbled. She was sure she sounded like an idiot, but it was better than not saying it at all.

"It wasn't really a big deal and I just thought I had to do something to make up for everything. I had no clue that I would be sitting in your house discussing this with you though." As he spoke he seemed to relax more and more. After another 5 minutes of an awkwardness, Abby finally suggested that they watch the movie. Justin nodded glancing at the table to see the VCR.

"Do you...uh...need help setting that up?" Justin asked as Abby grabbed it and hoisted it up. Abby just shook her head.

"I've done this so many times, I think I could do it with my eyes closed." Abby grunted squeezing behind the small TV to plug in the cords. "There all finished." she responded dusting off her pants.

Justin tossed her the movie and she put it in. After fast forwarding through the previews, Abby looked back to see Justin sitting on one end of the little couch. There was no other furniture that had a view of the TV, so Abby slowly walked to the couch and sat as far from Justin as she could, without being uncomfortable. Curling her legs under her, she laid her head on the arm rest and watched the beginning scene of a bachelor party.

The movie went on and Abby saw Justin's expression change when Sandra Bullock came in the movie. Apparently she was one of his favorite actresses. A scene where the characters Ben and Sarah were sitting at lunch, one of Abby's favorite quotes came up. Of course she knew almost the entire movie, having watched it with Ves so many times, but she couldn't help herself from saying it along with the movie.

"A scintillating tale, of erotic mummification." Abby and Justin's voices chorused among Sandra's voice. Abby snapped her head over to Justin, not believing what she just heard.

"How did you know that?" she questioned.

"What? You think just because I'm a singer I don't see movies? That's my favorite quote!" Justin explained over the volume of the movie. Abby just blinked a couple of times, not believing what she was hearing. They both sat the rest of the movie in silence. Finally after the closing scene Abby got up and turned off the movie, making sure she rewound it.

"Is it just me or does JC remind you of Ben Affleck?" Abby wondered looking over at Justin. He just shook his head.

"Eh... No way. They look completely different!" he challenged, getting up off the couch and went to face Abby. They argued over the subject for a while longer, until Justin and her were face to face. Abby had jumped on the table in the process so she could be eye to eye with Justin's tall frame. They had their foreheads together yelling out their own point of views.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"I say yes and I'm not going to let up until you say I'm right." Abby protested. Justin admired the new confidence Abby was showing him. Before he could stop himself, he did something he'd been thinking about all night. It seemed like the perfect time and they were certainly in the right position. Slowly pulling his head off of hers, he softly brushed his lips against hers. Abby was caught off guard. She definitely wasn't expecting that to come out of the argument. Without knowing what she was doing, she returned the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck. Nothing was registering in her head because she was too caught up in the feeling he was sending throughout her body. Finally the event clicked in her head and she pulled away faster than it takes to say *NSYNC.

"What was that for?" Abby snapped, jumping off the table and backing away.

"I...don't...know..." Justin stumbled over his words. They just stood there in silence until Abby couldn't take it anymore. She took off and ran towards her room, slamming the door behind her. Justin growled under his breath and fell onto the couch.

After the light conversation that traveled through the meal, the time reached around seven o'clock, when the dance began. In the limousine, the two sat across from each other, Vesteva with her legs crossed to the side and JC lounging. Eyeing next to him was the corsage still in the box, never been placed on her wrist yet. He stared across at her, such an innocent look on her face while the eyes traveled all over, never staying in the same place. He fix his slouching and sat up, straightening his pants legs out.

Hearing the rustling noise of him taking off he lid of the box, Vesteva's attention was put fully on his hands. She watched in detail as he took the white flower out and held it out for her. Placing her left hand out timidly, her hands shook nervously as he slipped it on. She brought it close to her body, gracing her hand over it with a gentle touch. Not believing that this was actually happening, she felt like wrapping her arms around him and never letting go. Then, she knew that she was protected and that no one could harm her with their words or actions.

" You know, you didn't have to do this," Vesteva shot out, still awing at the corsage on her wrist.

" I want to... you have no idea how long I have been waiting." he repeated, hunched over now closer to her. He glanced up into her eyes but she was only able to smile and perceive back down at her wrist.

As soon as the words came from his mouth the limousine stopped right outside the doors of the school gym.

"What is it going to take?" Justin whispered, gesturing up to the ceiling. While Justin sat in silence, he began to hear quiet music being played in Abigail's room. He glanced over to the small kitchen and saw a green book sitting on the table. Putting his hands on the couch and pushing himself up, he tip toed to the kitchen. When he saw that it was Abby's senior year book, he became interested and curiously flipped through the pages. He flipped right to a page that was slightly crinkled. It looked like it had gotten wet. After reading what was on the page, he realized that tears had done this. As Justin read more and more, he began to get more and more angry. Everything Abby had done with her life had been her fault. She had a scholarship, was an honors student, and looked like she had a bunch of friends from the autographs scribbled all over the pages.

Justin heard foot steps behind him and quickly whipped around. Abby was standing there with rage written all over her face.

"What are you doing?" she yelled grabbing the yearbook from Justin's grasp.

"You could have gone to college but you choose to stay home?" Justin asked, his question slipping out before he could stop it.

"You're walking on a fine line there Justin. Stop." Abby barked and slammed the yearbook down on the table. Both of them stood there, planning their next move. Finally, Justin couldn't take it anymore. He was sick of Abby's attitude towards things.

"You know what Abby?"

"Wha-a-t?" Abby remarked sarcastically.

"I'm sick of being blamed for your mistakes. You had a chance to go to college. Probably one of the best colleges in the nation for all I know. You turned it down. You threw your entire life away. Have you even thought about what you're going to do with your life? You're parents aren't always going to be there, and there's not going to be people like me, who stupidly bail you out of your troubles. I thought you were doing everything you could to make money. But I was wrong. And you can't blame me for getting fired from your job either. I'm sure it wasn't just because you yelled at me. It had to go back awhile." Justin paused for a moment and took a look at Abby. Silent tears were streaming down her face, but he didn't care. He still had more to say to her.

"You left that yearbook out so someone could see it. If you didn't want anyone to know than you shouldn't have left out. On the kitchen table of all places!" Justin glanced down at the table and saw the ash try sitting there. It instantly created more rage.

"And what's with the smoking? You're an honors student, you have to know the dangers that it causes. Even a kid in 1st grade knows it's horrible for you. I can't believe I wasted my time chasing after a girl who can't accept what she has. I was attracted to you. I didn't care about the money or anything. All I cared about was getting you to forgive me, but now I know that's not going to happen. I'm not the one that needs forgiveness. I didn't screw up my life. You need to forgive yourself." Justin stormed out of the room and walked to the front door. Before he was out he heard the door to Abby's room slam and sobs escaped her body. Justin slammed the front door and sat on the porch. There was no way he was waiting for JC to come home. He snatched his cell phone out of his pocket and called Lance to pick him up. Justin needed to get out of there.