Chapter 9

The week before Sarah's arrival went too fast, Elizabeth was stuck with Ms. Perfect too soon for her. Sarah wasn't even home for an hour that the two sisters got into a fight. Sarah was saying home much their parents were missing Lizzie, and Elizabeth told Sarah flat out that it was a lie. Not that they didn't say it, but that they didn't mean it. Sarah was saying that it wasn't true, and the two girls raised voices. Audrey had to shout for them to calm down, and Elizabeth went upstairs, mad.

Elizabeth was sitting on her bed, after the fight, thinking about Lucky. Everything would be better if he was here, since he was the only one who truly cared about her. He had called her a couple of days ago and something was different in his voice, but Elizabeth couldn't make out what. He was talking to her the same way he would talk to Emily, distant, and that made her nervous. She couldn't wait for him to get back, to tell him how much she had missed him. Maybe, just maybe, they could pick up where they left off before her accident.

Elizabeth put her favorite song on her radio, her favorite other than the one she called "Elizabeth", the one she had been listening to every since Lucky left for California. It wasn't her style of music, but, the words were touching her.

"I've heard the words

By real love"

A soft knock on her door took her out of dreamland, and she told the person to come in, disappointed to see it was only Sarah. Elizabeth got out of the way so her sister could come in, and rewound the song again. Sarah listened to it, sitting her Liz's bed, with a funny look on her face.

"-WOW, Kurt and Taylor, never thought they were your style. Sarah said

-Shut up Sarah, what do you want anyway?

-I want to know why you are playing that song again and again ever since I got back.

-That's none of your business thank you!

-Oh like it stopped you before! Elizabeth looked at Sarah funny. Does this have anything to do with Lucky?

-What about him?

-I don't know, Gram told me that you broke it off with him, since you don't remember loving him. Are these words meant for him?

-NO! So stop bugging me about it! Lucky's my friend, and that is it now get out!"

Sarah got out and Liz leaned against the door. Could her sister be right? That the words were, indeed, something about her and Lucky? But it would mean she was in love with him and she wasn't. Wasn't she?

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Another week passed by. Sarah and Elizabeth were always fighting and Audrey was discouraged. It was worst than the first time, because Sarah was bitter too. The oldest sister came back to see that her friends had moved on, and that she wasn't a part of the "clan" anymore. Nikolas was going out with Emily, and Elizabeth was "with" Lucky. There was no place for Sarah, and that made her mad. Elizabeth would go out with Nikolas and Emily, leaving Sarah home alone, and the fights would start again as soon as Liz got home. Audrey felt as if the roles were changed. When Elizabeth came to town two years ago, she was jealous of her sister, and wanted desperately to belong, always staying alone because she had no friends. And now it was Sarah's turn. In a way, Audrey was glad that, finally, Elizabeth had something Sarah hadn't. Friends. Sarah finally knew what it was like for Elizabeth all these years. But it was still like walking through a mine field, never knowing what would set another battle off.

Elizabeth was sitting in her room, thinking. She had the feeling it was all she did since Sarah got back from Europe. It was either being alone in her room or fighting in the kitchen for one thing or another. She missed the little time she spent alone with her grandmother. Before Sarah came back, Liz felt like she finally belonged somewhere, and now, she wasn't sure anymore.

"-Elizabeth honey, Lucky's downstairs to see you, said Audrey through the door, shall I send him up?

-WAIT GRAM! I'm not presentable!

-OK dear, I'll tell him to wait, you'll be right down. Sarah will keep him company while you fix yourself up"

Elizabeth combed her hair really fast. She didn't have time to "fix herself up", Sarah the vulture had Lucky in her hunting site. Liz threw her new pair of shorts on, with a new top she bought, and ran downstairs. Lucky was sitting on the couch, laughing at something Sarah just told him, and Elizabeth's heart broke, although she didn't really know why. All they were doing was talking. When Lucky saw Elizabeth he got up, and took her in his arms, leaving Sarah in the middle of a phrase.

"-Hi, I'm so glad you are back! Elizabeth said, holding him tight.

-It's so glad to be back. Wow, let me look at you, you look.... amazing!

-Thanks! When did you get back? Elizabeth asked, sitting down, still holding his hand.

-Yesterday. I went home, unpacked, took a shower and hit the bed. I was exhausted. What did you do while I was gone? I understand you saw quite much of my brother? Asked Lucky, a hint of jealousy in his voice

-Well, yeah we hung out a lot, sometimes alone, sometimes with Emily.

-What kind of job did you do Lucky? Asked Sarah

-Oh Sonny needed papers delivered, answered Lucky, without leaving Elizabeth's face of his sight. California was quite cool though, he said, finally looking at Sarah, smiling

-I always wanted to go to California! Said Elizabeth!

-Really? Well, next time I'll bring you with me then! Lucky said, laughing"

Elizabeth smiled at him, and he winked at her. It was so good to have him back. She never thought you could miss someone as much as she missed him, and she had only known him for a couple of days before he left. Talk about hitting it off right away!

"-Hey Elizabeth, you think I could talk to you for a second? Privately? Asked Lucky

-Sure, let's go to my room"

Sarah looked at them go up. Lucky kept the door open until Liz got in. Lucky was looking uneasy, agitated. He jumped a little when she put her hand on his shoulder, and looked at her, with tears in his eyes.

"-I don't know where to start. While I was gone, I had a lot of time to think. About us. Well you and me.

-What about us?

-Well, I love you, you know that. And that's kind of the point. When you love someone, you take care of that person, the best way for them. That's what I'll do for you. I decided to let you go. I know we are not "together", but I know you are doing the best you can for us to go back to where we was, and I don't want that.

-Lucky...

-No, No, let me finish OK? So, I think that you are the best friend I've ever had and I don't want to lose you. It is not about our friendship, it is about my love for you. The love I will willingly lose. I missed you like crazy while I was in California, but it was for the best. Elizabeth you don't have to play that game anymore. We are friends, at least I hope we are, but I don't want us to be more OK? So you don't have to rush your brain about us.

-Where is that coming from?

-My heart. My father once told me that if you really love someone you have to let them go. So just forget I ever had romantic feelings for you OK? From now on, it's friends, only friends.

-If that's what you want, if you think it's best."

Lucky took her in his arms, so she wouldn't see the tears coming down his face.