“I’m just going to call my mom so she knows where I’m at. Don’t need her panicking.”

            They all sat down to dinner Cory and Scottie each at an end of the table, Jen and Peyton on either side.

            “Who cooked this? It looks delicious!” Peyton said taking a whiff of the food.

            “That’d be me, the master chef of the house.” Cory proudly stated.

            They ate a delicious dinner of carrots, onions, garlic and asparagus done on the BBQ next to a pork roast and for dessert apple dumplings. Everyone ate till they were stuffed laughing and joking around. Everyone helped with clean-up and dishes dancing and singing around.

            Jen was trying her best to not be down and depressed. It was hard. She knew she didn’t have to be happy 24/7 but she’d catch herself feeling sorry or upset and let the feeling settle for 10seconds after which she’d join in on the laughter making sure she smiled and tried to forget everything and just let herself feel good for awhile. 

            Scottie and Cory were happy that even for just the time being Jen seemed to be a little more like herself. They could tell she was faking it at times but at least she was trying and no longer mopping around the house feeling sorry for herself and bad about breaking up with Lauren.

            Peyton was glad she was finally able to get to Jen. She’d been trying everyday to talk to her to no avail but finally she was able to get everything to click with Jen. She was happy that they were dating. It wasn’t anything serious but at least they were both trying.

            After cleaning Cory, Jen and Peyton went out front and shot hoops until Scottie came out reminding them that it was getting dark and that it was a school night. Peyton thanked the guys for dinner. Jen walked Peyton to the end of the street parting with a hug and a kiss a date for Thursday the night before they left for Nationals.

            At school the next day everyone noticed the turn around in Jen’s attitude and appearance. It wasn’t like having the old Jen around but somewhere close. In the locker room at 6 Jen was joking around with her team just as they used to and on the court she was still at her best but was in a much better cracking jokes constantly, the team cracking up unable to finish the plays.

            Coach Rum blew his whistle. “Well it’s great to see that everyone’s in a better mood but ladies we need to do better then this Nationals is at the end of the week incase you forgot. We need to get our heads in the game and focus. I don’t care if you guys win although I’d like to see us take home the trophy I want to see everyone playing their very best, and focused. Which means leave the jokes in the locker room. Now lets go back out there and practice. The girls put there hands in the center before breaking the huddle.

            “Focus on 3.” Jen the captain said. “1, 2, 3”

            “FOCUS!” Was yelled by the girls as they ran back to the play they had been practicing.

            In her classes Jen was raising her hand, answering and participating something she hadn’t done in awhile. She knew if she wanted to be better and out of her slump she had to do something different and maybe being a better student just may be that something and she was dating next year’s Prime Minister of the school.

            Jen was determined to get out of a slump and be a better person no matter how hard it was. If she had to fake her way half the time then she’d put on a smile and think of it as an exercise in acting.

A/N: I didn't get many comments on the last one but I'm not doing it for the comments. I need to write and I need to share it. For those reading and enjoying keep commenting and I'll try to post as often as I can.