Chapter 10

Elizabeth was alone in her room. Lucky left a little while ago and she still didn't move from where he took her in his arms. Where did that come from? What did Sarah said to him? Somehow, Liz didn't believe he thought about that in California. He probably wanted to get back together with Sarah, and was putting it on her amnesia so she wouldn't be too hurt. But it was too late for that. She was hurt, and deeply.

The doorbell rang and Elizabeth rushed to answer the door before Sarah, but she couldn't. It was Emily and Nikolas, all dressed up.

"-Hey Sarah, hey Liz, said Emily

-Guys, what are you doing here? Asked Elizabeth

-Well, we're here to pick you up!

-Pick me up?

-Tonight's the charity diner. I bought the tickets before the accident. So are you ready?

-I can't go! I'm working. Somebody should've reminded me!

-Oh! Well, can't you get somebody to cover for you?

-I'm sorry. I already am covering for somebody! Are you going to lose the ticket Nikolas?

-Yeah but that is not a problem, don't worry about it. Want us to drop you off on our way to Lucky's?

-Sure!

-Go get ready Liz, I'll keep them company, said Sarah"

Elizabeth came downstairs 10 minutes later, and they left soon after that. Sarah was upstairs when she came back, and Audrey was keeping the teenagers company. Nikolas asked Elizabeth if she wanted them to join her at Kelly's after diner and she said she would love it. Any excuse was a good one to see Lucky, even though she didn't need any to see him.

Kelly's was filled that night, and Elizabeth didn't have one minute to think about what she was probably missing. It was nearly 10 when she realized that they trio should be passing through the door any minute, and she was kind of nervous. It was stupid to be nervous, but she felt like it would be the first time she saw Lucky since they "broke up". Tammy was kidding her, because her mind was elsewhere. With time, Elizabeth learned to appreciate her boss. She was funny and fair, two things Elizabeth loved in a person.

Every time the door opened Liz would look at it, and then be disappointed when it wasn't them. Finally, she saw Nikolas come in, followed by Lucky, IN CLUTCHES?

"-Lucky, my God what happened to you? Elizabeth said, rushing to him, but stopped in the middle of her movement when she saw Emily and SARAH coming in the restaurant."

Lucky sat down on a chair, and Sarah put his leg on a chair. He had a cast on it. Tammy told Liz that her shift was over and that she could go and sit with them if she wanted, but Elizabeth didn't feel like it. Her worst fear was coming true. Lucky actually went out with Sarah the same night he told her he wanted to forget about her. Well, served him right, he was now in a cast for the next three weeks, at least.

Elizabeth was washing some glasses, when Emily came by the counter.

"-Hey Liz, weren't you supposed to be free by now? She asked

-Yeah I was but Tammy asked me to clean those glasses. Did you guys have fun?

-Yeah it was OK, except grandfather spent his whole evening complaining about how I was wasting my youth being with a guy in a wheelchair, that I couldn't dance and act like a normal teenager. Please, since when am I normal?

-I guess Nikolas didn't lose his ticket after all.

-No he didn't. Your sister heard us and she told Nikolas she could go since you were busy, and he didn't have the heart to say no.

-Well I'm glad. What happened to Lucky?

-That was the funniest thing. He left to go to the bathroom, and, when he came back, Sarah had dropped her plate on the floor and he stepped on some mashed potatoes or gravy or something. And he fell slap on his butt. He was laughing too, until he realized his ankle had a funny angle, so we took him to the hospital and he learned that he broke it.

-Well, at least he knows now not to walk on mashed potatoes

-Liz are you OK? You don't seem like yourself

-I'm Ok Em, just tired. I think I will skip the gathering and go home."

Elizabeth took off her apron and threw it behind the counter. The hard part would be to pass in front of Lucky and Sarah and act like everything was normal. She took her purse and rushed by the gang.

"-Hey Elizabeth, said Lucky, taking her arm as she passed by.

-Oh Hi guys. Sorry about your leg. I'm going home, I'm tired. She answered in flash

-Well, sit down a minute at least, said Sarah

-I said I was tired. Good night"

As she was going through the door, she heard her sister said "what the hell is problem" She had to take every ounce of self-control she had in her not to hit her in the face. To clam her down, Elizabeth sat in a chair in the terrace and closed her eyes, to prevent the tears from falling. She heard the door behind her and felt a hand on her shoulder.

"-Elizabeth you OK? She heard

-Lucky! You are not supposed to be up!

-I had to make sure you were all right. Are you?

-I'll be fine. I'm just really tired. You should go inside before you hurt your foot.

-I'll call you tomorrow?

-If you want to"

Elizabeth got up, said good night and went on her way. She wasn't too thrilled about getting home alone at this time of night but what choice did she have? Either walking home alone or sitting with Sarah and Lucky at a table. Realizing her two choices, she continued walking, hoping, praying, to get home safe.

Elizabeth had a sigh of relief when, finally, her key was in the front door. Audrey wasn't home so Elizabeth got up to her room and waited. She didn't want to do it, but she had to. Liz wanted to know what kind of a good-night kiss Lucky would give Sarah. Finally, after what she thought was the longest time of her life, Nikolas' car parked in front, and Sarah got out. The girl got down and gave a quick kiss on the cheek to the guy Elizabeth would recognize everywhere. It was only on the cheek? Come on Sarah, give me something to work on here, thought Elizabeth, but Nikolas went on his way before Sarah could get down again. That exact second, Elizabeth knew she would get Lucky back before Sarah could get a shot at another date. She needed a plan though, and, after a couple of minutes she got it.

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Lucky was standing on his clutches, his eyes under a blindfold. Elizabeth asked him to trust her, she had something fun planned for them. He heard a door open and smiled. He would recognize that sound anywhere. They were at Luke's. But why? No music was playing, no one was talking, only silence was filling the room.

"-Ok, now you can take it off! Elizabeth said."

He took it off and saw that the place was empty. The table in front of them had a single flower in a glass. Lucky sat down and asked why they were there, and where was everyone.

"-I asked your father for a favor, to let me have the place for tonight. I made diner, well, not made, but still. This is ok with you right? She asked, trying to remember what he told her when he related their date here"

Lucky caught her drift, even though he didn't know where the hell she was going with this.

"-There is no place in the entire world I'd rather be. He answered, while he saw Elizabeth searching for her part. He had the feeling they were practicing a play

-Damn good answer, she said with a smile"

She went in the kitchen, while Lucky was smiling, even though his mind was racing two thousand miles a second. What was this whole mascarade about? Why re-creating the night he asked her to be his girl? What was she trying to prove?

Elizabeth came back with two plates, but Lucky already knew what was inside. And he was right. Ribs --extra spicy— and cheese fries. They ate, and Lucky couldn't take his eyes off of her, and his heart was screaming to take her in his arms and kiss her. She certainly wasn't helping him to forget her!

After diner, they talked for a while, but Lucky could see she was waiting for the perfect moment to say what was on her mind. And he was dying to know what it was too.

"-Elizabeth, as much as I love this, you are driving me crazy here. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that you remember what I told you about that night, but I'd like to know what this is all about. Lucky said, his hands on his iced tea glass, to prevent them from shaking.

"-You see, something's been rolling around in my head, and I can't ignore it anymore. It's impossible for me to imagine wanting to be with anyone else. And I was kind of hoping maybe you'd consider letting me be your girl -- officially."