Brightness lit up his eyes. He hugged her back. "That is so awesome!" He felt a rush of happiness come through him. "So, uh what about Levi?"

Jen sighed, but her smile didn't waver. "Levi.. it's over between us."

Peter gave her a sympathetic look. "IT's because we almost kissed, isn't it?"

Jen punched him lightly in the shoulder. "No, it's because I like you better! Besides, you don't have to feel sorry you almost kissed me!"

Peter felt relief go through his heart. "Thanks." HE looked down, then looked back at her. "WHen you were dating I felt I wasn't good enough for you. When I was in the hospital and told you to stay with Levi..i did not mean any of it! I just felt that you wouldn't want to be aqound a person like me, who used to be a bully and who overdosed on pills." He blinked, "But I've always wanted it to be us. Everytime I saw you in Levi's arms I felt you should be in my arms but thought I wasn't worth it. Instead, I acted like a jerk"

"Uh... sorry," muttered Johny, sitting back down. "No, I'm the one who has to apologize."

(A/N: I feel TERRIBLE for posting something so short, Lady A, Kate, and Ryan! I'm so sorry! First time in weeks. I feel awful. Guilty. But this seems to be a posting contest... )

Justin was shocked to hear his brother apologizing to him. Still, it's the same thing that happened to them. He grew silent and looked at Johnny. "What do you mean?"

Jen hugged Peter again, this time harder. "I'm so sorry, Peter. I hadn't meant to make you feel so terrible."

Peter hugged her closer. "I know you didn't. It's okay. We have each other now." All the insecurities of the past few months fled him, at the thought of being loved unconditionally buy the one person he loved deeply. OF course he loved God with everything in him and more than anyone else. Second, he loved Jen and she has held his heart in her hand for months.

"Right." Chrissa was silent, deep in thought, for a moment. Then she had an idea, though probably not a very good one. "What about your brother Johnny? Think he might know any lawyers?" she suggested. "Or you could ask Brad about it."

Miley thought for a minute. "Well, Johnny did almost join the Military. Maybe he can help."

Pam sauntered up to Miley and Chrissa. "Oh look what happened to that stupid brother of yours." SHe waved a copy of the newspaper in MIley's face. "I bet Ryan would not want to date you now!"

"Uh... shouldn't have yelled at you," said Johny, pushing his chair back away from the table. "It's okay--" he cut in as Justin started to speak again. "Just drop it. Sorry."

As he sat there, he suddenly realized that now might not be the best time to announce he was going into the war. Gotta do it sometime, he decided.

"Hey," Johny began.

----------

"Hey girl!" chirped Ally as Stacey came in. "What's UP?" She paused. "No, really, you back to normal now?"

Ally swung her backpack around and slipped on her shoes. "So..." she leaned close to Stacey. "Do you think Jen/Levi has a chance anymore?"

Stacey laughed at her friend. "You admit I was normal once?" She couldn't reacall a time she'd ever been "normal", no matter how she tried convinced herself she was. flung her backpack over her shszoulder, as they headed towards the school. "From what I heard, he broke up with her. I think she's better off with Peter anyway. Peter's way cuter."
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JUstin could tell he needed to brace himself for what came next. Whatever it was, Johnny's face told him it was bad. "Yeah?"

"Perfect Levi broke up with her?" squeaked Ally. "I'd think Jen would be the one to do something like that," she continued. "But, whatever."

--=-=-=-=-=-=-=--

"I'm going into the war," said Johny slowly, as if Justin might not get it right away. "Not the army--" he stuck in.

Justin glanced at Johnny, feeling dull and emotionless. "The Marines?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stacey sighed. "Well, you know Levi. He's such a goody-goody. Can't stand to be around someone less perfect than himself. ANd he made Peter feel horrible about himsefl, so good riddance. Besides, another guy for us to flirt with." She nudged Ally playfully.