Chapter 7

"-Elizabeth? You OK? Asked Lucky, concerned"

No she was not OK. What was happening? Her head was spinning so fast she thought she couldn't breathe. Did she hear well? Nicholas? Was that another one of a coincidence? That was simply too much.

"-Yeah, I'm OK, sorry, Hi Nikolas, nice to meet you

-Nice to meet you Elizabeth, it was about time I might add.

-I love your house

-Wanna see it? Come on, you too Lucky"

This was exactly what Elizabeth wanted, to see the house. Looking in every room she searched for a computer but didn't see anything remotely close to it. She sighed, but she didn't know if it was of relief or grief. Did she really want Lucky to be Cowboy? She was confused but now, seeing how Nikolas didn't have a computer, it took her mind off of it. Another creepy coincidence. Cowboy was probably chatting with Moon and the others right now. Besides, he was online when she got that call from Lucky this afternoon, and he seemed surprised when she said she had plans.

Slowly people started to arrive, and Elizabeth didn't have time to think about that anymore. Girls were buzzing around Lucky like bees to a flower, but he was always with her, talking, laughing, making her feel like a part of the gang. For the first time in her life, she saw what it meant to have a good time with friends.

Lucky danced with her most of the night, making her laugh and forget about her problems, like if she was dating her own cyber-husband without even knowing it. Nikolas was a good host, always making sure she had enough to drink, or she had her share of pizza. He was really sweet and she could see Lucky didn't like it much when Nikolas spent too long talking to her without him around. She thought it was cute. Liz knew he really liked her, just by the way he was looking at her, hovering over her. A lot of girls asked him to dance, but his only dance partner was his date.

When he took her home, once again, they talked in the car, getting to know each other. He didn't talk about music or computers, but he talked about his father, mother and sister and how he loved them so dearly. He talked about his life on the run and she talked about how she missed her parents, although they always preferred Sarah.

"-See? That's something I don't understand, Lucky said, looking at her. Don't get me wrong, I really like your sister, she's sweet and all that, but she's no you. I mean, you're fun, you're pretty, easy to talk to, intelligent and a lot of other stuff I'd like to find out on my own. How could they not see what a terrific person you are? Not to mention one hell of a good dancer.

-Thanks Lucky, but I can't compete with Sarah, never have and never will

-Hey, that's not Elizabeth talking, that's tiredness. I'll walk you up."

He opened his door and ran on the other side of his old Thunderbird. He opened her door and gave her his hand, to help her out. Still holding it in his, he took her all the way up to the porch, before smiling at her shyly.

"-Listen Elizabeth, I will understand if you say no, it may be too soon, but my parents are having a little dinner tomorrow, for my aunt Bobbie's engagement to Jerry Jacks. I'd like you to come.

-You'd like me to meet your family? As a friend right?

-As my date. I know it will be three days in a row, and I won't be insulted if you say no

-If you think that's what you want, I'd love to. Will Nikolas be there? Elizabeth just wanted to see a friendly face besides Lucky's

-Yeah he is, Lucky answered between his teeth. Why?

-Oh just asking, I'll feel like a stranger, I wanted to know if I would know anybody besides you.

-My lovely brother will be there. Lucky said, looking away. Liz put her hand on his face and forced him to look at her

-Hey, don't do that.

-Do what?

-Get defensive when Nikolas is concerned. I know that game, I invented it for Sarah and I. I'll be with you tomorrow, not Nikolas

-Sorry. I just lost so much to him already, I wouldn't want to lose you too. I'll come and pick you up at 4, is that OK?

-I'll be anxiously waiting

-Great! I'll see you tomorrow then."

Lucky kissed her cheek and ran to his car. Elizabeth saw him sit at the wheel and she turned around, putting her key in the lock, when she heard his car door close again. She turned around and saw Lucky running towards her. He put both his hands on her face and gently pulled it towards his in a tender kiss. His lips only brushed hers, and he ran back to his car, whispering goodnight before he left. Elizabeth leaned against the door and closed her eyes, before entering the house and running upstairs.

She brushed her teeth and got ready for bed, but she had to check her email. Maybe Cowboy wrote to her. She wished he did, and she was feeling guilty about not thinking about him most of the night. She wanted to write to him and tell him about her date and the fact that he kissed her, but was so disappointed when she saw she had no new messages, she just closed the computer and went to bed.

The next morning she went down, smiling at the world. Lucky visited her dreams all night, and even Sarah couldn't get to her with her normal bickering. She helped Gram with the cleaning, took a shower and finished her book. Around 3 she finally remembered to check her email, and she had a new message, by Cowboy no less.

Elizabeth,

Sorry, I won't be around today. I have some family stuff that I can't bail out of, and honestly, I don't really want to. We can meet on the chat tomorrow (Monday) at normal time if you want. I'll miss you until then,

Lorenzo.

PS, if you are a good girl, I might just tell you my first name really soon.

Elizabeth laughed at his last comment and tried her best to imagine what kind of name could get him to be afraid of teasing. Moon was the queen, and maybe he was afraid of her reaction. Elizabeth decided to wait until she came back from Lucky's before answering him, to tell she would be around the next day after school. The doorbell rang and she ran downstairs, and came face to face with Lucky. He was wearing a pair of black pants, a white shirt and a tie. Elizabeth was proud of herself to have chosen a black, opened back dress. At first she thought it might be too much, but she remembered it was an engagement party, which probably meant formal.

"-Elizabeth you are just beautiful

-Thank you, you are not so bad yourself

-I like to think so, Lucky laughed. Shall we?

-Bye Gram!"

She didn't wait for the answer and closed the door behind her. She was looking for Lucky's car but all she could see was a jaguar. Lucky led her to it and held the door. Driving to his house he told her it was his brother's, on a loan to him to get her. Elizabeth was uneasy at meeting Laura, who was looking at her from head to toe. Nikolas gave her a hug, and Lucky punched him, telling him to stay away from his girl, getting Laura and Elizabeth to laugh. Luke wasn't home yet, he had taken Lulu to her weekly piano lessons. They were sitting down on the couch, when Laura asked Lucky to go up to his room and get his chair. They were short on one.

"-Good idea mom, Elizabeth, wanna come up and see my manly domain?

-Sure, I'd love to see where you live in. You saw mine after all"

They went upstairs hand in hand, teasing each other. Lucky opened the door and led her in, closing it behind him. Elizabeth looked around and fell in love with it. The walls were blue and gray, with posters of baseball stars. Something caught her eyes in the corner of the room. A guitar on a stand.

"-You play? She asked

-Yeah I do, Lucky said, when he saw what she was looking at

-Wanna play a quickie for me?

-Nope. I don't play for an audience. Better luck next time"

Elizabeth pouted and he laughed. When he took the chair from his desk Elizabeth noticed a black box and she got close, seeing it was a laptop. Her heart stopped. The guitar, the laptop? She looked around and saw a little trophy on his chest of drawers and she got close to see what it said. Lucky came from behind her and took her in his arms, looking at it from over her shoulder.

"-My grandmother got that when I was born. I've been told I was quite a cutie. He said, kissing her bare shoulder

-Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Junior. She read

-Yeah, I know, it's long. And don't you dare call me Junior

-Lorenzo

-Yeah? That's my middle name. I use it sometimes, on the Internet and such.

-LUCKY? YOU UP THERE? They heard

-That's my dad. YEAH I'M UP HERE

-Hey are you going to bring that chair down? Luke asked, opening the door with a bang. Oh sorry Cowboy, your mother didn't tell me you had company"