Later that day:

AJ walked slowly towards Nick's house, where he was going to hang out with Nick and Brian for a few hours in hopes of cheering up. On the way there, he passed Jessica.

She was sitting on the porch, her head buried in her shaking hands. He couldn't tell if she was crying or just had a really bad headache- but she was definately upset about something. He tried to walk quietly past her, in hopes of her not noticing him.

"AJ?" a soft voice said. He turned around. The girl he loved, the one who just broke his heart, was staring up at him, her radiant blue eyes wide and tear-filled. "She's sorry, she really is," the girl whispered. "She didn't want to hurt you."

AJ just nodded. He was about to walk away.

"I'm seriuos AJ, we love you with all our hearts- all of us, in our own way. She especially loves and cares about you." she continued.

AJ changed his mind and sat down slowly next to the troubled girl. "Then why did she do it? Doesn't she know how much this hurt me?" he asked softly.

"Yes she does AJ, and that's what makes it even worse for her. She did this to help you. You have to realize that." she softly answered.

"I realize that, but HOW will it help me? I will never stop loving her! Oh, and if you don't mind me asking, what's your name again? I seem to have forgotten it."

The girl giggled, "That's cuz I haven't told you it yet. My name's Jill. I'm 12." She paused as AJ nodded. "You might not think that it's much of a help now that she broke up with you, but trust me- it will. This way, instead of worrying yourself sick while you're recording, you can forget all about her and move on with your life."

"Forget about her?? Jill, I love her! Don't you understand??"

"Yes AJ, I do. It's you that doesn't. She doesn't want to be a burden on you- she wants you to live like a normal 16-year-old." Jill said sadly.

AJ stared at her. "Jill, sweetheart. With or without Jessie, I could never be normal. Normal 16-year-olds aren't in bands that get signed. Normal 16-year-olds don't spontaniously travel to Europe to record songs for their CDs. Normal 16-year-olds' friends are the same age, not at least two years younger or older. Normal 16-year-olds don't know what love is and aren't in love. This is what you don't understand."

"I understand perfectly," she whispered painfully. "Maybe it's Jess that doesn't understand." AJ bit his lip as he nodded sadly. "Would you like to talk to her about it?" As she asked that question, he made eye contact with her, telling her all she needed to know without using a single word.

~Next Chapter~