Chapter 11

"-HELP, SOMEBODY! She yelled at the top of her lungs."

Henry hit her again and she closed her eyes again, as she heard him gasp for his breath. He told her to shut up, not make him look like the bad guy, since they both wanted it. He rolled back on top of her, but, for some reason, she didn't feel his weight. She opened her eyes, and she saw Henry literally fly from on top of her to up on his feet. Henry flew back on the ground, in a fetal position.

"-Elizabeth, are you OK? She heard. She could not really see with the hits she received, but she knew who he was.
-Lucky! Please help me up!"

She felt two hands gently take her by the arms, and she was back on her feet, zipping her jeans. Her eyes were better and she could see Lucky's face only millimeters from hers. He was looking to see it everything was all right.

"-Elizabeth, say something please!
-Thank you"

Was all she could say, and he took her in his arms. Henry tried to get up, and Lucky put his foot on him.

"-I wouldn't move if I was you, unless you want me to hit you again. Elizabeth, can you run to the store and call the police, I don't want him to get away.
-Why? Even if we get away, you know hiim, we can track him down.
-What makes you think I know him? I neever saw him before!"

That's when Elizabeth knew what was bothering her. Emily told him the names of the guys from the basketball team, and Henry Sinclair was not one of them. Without saying anything else she ran as fast as she could. When she came back to Lucky, Henry was still on the floor, holding the side of his face.

"-He tried to get up. Said Lucky. Now, he told me his real name. Jimmy Michaelis. He comes from Marshall High, PC high's biggest rival. This was part of a bet he made with his buds. To get into the school dance and get the hottest girl in school out on a date. I guess, since you were the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, he got carried away.
-Is that supposed to make me feel betteer? Elizabeth asked
-Not really. But at least you know whoo he is now"

As soon as they were done with the police, a black detective named Taggert and another one named Garcia, Lucky took Elizabeth to the launch. While they were waiting for the launch, they sat on the bench, and Lucky put his arm around Elizabeth, getting her head to rest on his shoulder. Elizabeth couldn't stop trembling, thinking about what could've happened. Lucky tightened his grip around her shoulder and took her chin with his index, getting her to look at him.

"-I won't let anything happen to you Elizabeth. I promise.
-It almost did Lucky. Next time you miight not be there. God, maybe I am a tramp. He said the whole school knew we were lovers.
-First of all, you are NOT a tramp. I don't ever want to hear you say that again. You or anyone. Second of all, it is not anyone's business what we do or don't do. My father, your father, your brother, the school, that doesn't concern them.
-It does Lucky. My father forbid me too ever see you again. He told me last night after Charles told him I kissed you. That's why I was so bitchy this morning.
-My father told me the same thing this morning, just before you came in. He threatened to have me locked in my room if I disobeyed him. But the problem is, I don't think I can stay away from you Elizabeth. And I don't want to.
-I know the feeling Lucky. I'm sorry.
-About what?
-All the problems I gave you. All the stuff I said. I guess I didn't want you to know how much I liked you. How much I still like you. She said, before she blushed
-Well, you know, he said smiling, beforre pulling her closer to him, that's nothing to be sorry for. Because if it is, I really, really outta be ashamed of myself."

Elizabeth laughed at his comment, and put her head back on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, none of them were talking, just enjoying the moment. They both knew it would be over as soon as they would see the launch leave Windermere. As it did, Elizabeth took herself away from Lucky.

"-What are we going to do? Asked Elizabeth
-I don't know, Lucky sighed. I think tthey will both make good on their threats.
-Oh God, why can't they leave us alone??
-They would. If they didn't know. Lissten, he said, turning her way, his knee on the bench, we don't have to tell them about us.
-Us?
-Well, you and me. I mean, if you wantt for it to be an "us". Look, no pressure, but I just assumed...
-Lucky, take your breath! I was just mmaking sure! You would want "us" to be a secret?
-Well, for the time being. So Stefan aand my dad don't have a heart attack and one of them kill one of us!
-Here's my ride. I'll call you as soonn as I get home
-Well, leave me time to get home Elizabbeth! Lucky laughed. Call me in thirty minutes
-Ok, I will"

Elizabeth leaned down to kiss him, but she remembered Charles only feet away from them and quickly got up. Lucky smiled at her and waved. She waived back and got on the boat. It didn't matter if Charles saw them together just now, she would tell Stefan about Lucky's heroic action in the park. And it was only natural for Lucky to make sure she got home safe. On the boat, she put her hand on her mouth, where she would still feel Lucky's lips if they actually had time to kiss. She looked at her watched, counting the minutes when she would talk to him again. Now that they had everything out in the open, well, between them anyway, she felt as if the world had been lifted off of her shoulders. She would have to look scared to her father and brother. Elizabeth couldn't let them see how much the attended rape had a good and positive affect on her life.

Laura was waiting for Lucky in the living room. She heard from his father about his romantic feelings for Nikolas' sister, and she wanted to talk to him about it. He was listening to her lecture, always looking at the stairs and his watch. Finally, she left him off the hook, saying she didn't mind about him and Elizabeth, but that Luke would never go for it. Lucky said "I know mom" before running up the stairs two by two.

As soon as he got in his room, the phone rang and he jumped on it. He was out of breath and still had his coat on. He smiled when he heard Elizabeth as out of breath on the other side of the line, as she told him Stefan gave her a lecture about how it was getting involved with strangers, and the only things she did was look at her watch.

"-So, he said laughing, what are you doing tomorrow?
-Nothing yet. It's Sunday, no school, no parents. I mean, my dad will be at the hospital, as always, and I have no idea what Nikolas is doing
-Speaking of him, I'm sorry about his llips.
-What about them?
-Well, they accidentally got in the wayy of my fist.
-LUCKY!!!! Said Elizabeth, laughing. TThey did not! He said he walked into a door
-Well, if he is in denial about his litttle brother punching him, who am I to call him a liar!
-Ok, Ok, enough with my brother alreadyy! She said, laughing again. Why you asked about tomorrow? Have any plans?
-Well, I thought maybe we could test ouur theory
-What theory?
-See if we can see each other without oour parents finding out. Have any ideas?
-Not really. I don't want to go to thee movies, that's for sure.
-Maybe you could sneak in here and we ccould watch a movie. My dad will be at his club and my mother is usually out with Lulu. I have a TV in my room, and they don't come up here. But if you'd rather not be alone with me after what happened tonight....
-Lucky, I'm not afraid of you. Never wwas. If you think we can't get busted....
-Hey, I've learned the best way to fooll everyone is doing what you are not supposed to right under their noses."

They talked until the hours of the morning, getting to know each other. They were amazed at how much they had in common, how much they were alike. Nikolas came in her room and asked her who she was talking to, and Elizabeth said she was talking to Sarah. Nikolas made a comment about how he was happy she wasn't mooning over Lucky anymore, getting Lucky to laugh at the other way, saying "If he only knew", getting Elizabeth to giggle. Nikolas looked at her like she was nuts, and asked her to say goodnight to Sarah for him. When Elizabeth said "Goodnight Sarah, from Nikolas" in the phone, lucky laughed and asked Elizabeth if she would kiss Sarah like she kissed him. Elizabeth just bursted with laughter, and Nikolas said she was nuts, and got out.

"-You're gonna get me in troubles! She said, when she was able to talk again
-Well, it's not my fault you kiss your sister the way you kiss your boyfriend!
-What boyfriend? As I recall, I never kissed you since we started going out
-We are going out? Well thanks for tellling me!
-LUCKY!
-Shut up, you're gonna call Nikolas agaain!"

Elizabeth laughed out loud again and she was hearing Lucky doing it too at the other end of the line. When finally they decided to hang up, Elizabeth smiled.

"-Good night, don't let the bed bugs bite
-Dreams of Gold"