Chapter 9

“Liz, we’re out of milk.”

Elisabeth just stared at the piece of toast which was hanging limp from her hand, deep in thought, completely in her own world. She couldn’t concentrate on anything, too much was going on in her mind, making her feel weird. Food wasn’t really a factor right now.

Neither was listening.

“Liz?”

Was Steve in love with Becky? Like what he’d put on that note with the flowers- “Love you!”- what was that supposed to mean? A casual friendly “love you!” or a, “I’m in love with you!” kind? The latter made her want to run to the bathroom and be violently sick. Just thinking about Steve having strong feelings for Becky… it was horrible.

“Liz- WAKE UP!” Becky called and Elisabeth jumped, dropping the toast onto her plate. She looked up at Becky, startled.

Becky laughed. “What’s with you this morning? Dream about Paul or something?”

Elisabeth blushed. “No,” she mumbled. But she was tired. She hadn’t slept very well last night at all. When she’d seen those flowers, it had just knocked all the breath out of her, pushed all these new thoughts into her head. For the first time, she was really thinking about Becky and Steve’s relationship- and the impact it had on her.

“Well, I just used the last of the milk, and now we’re out. So we need more- can you pick some up after work?”

If Steve was in love with Becky… what did that mean she was? Was he in love with her, too? She shivered in excitement for a moment, but soon lost it when reality set in. How can you love two people at once? And she didn’t think Steve was in love with her; as much as she wanted him to be.

“Liz!!! Listen!” Becky demanded.

“Huh?”

“Milk?” Becky held up the empty bottle. “Can you get some?!”

“Oh… um… yeah,” she replied distractedly. Could Steve love her?

“I’ve gotta go, I’m gonna be late,” Becky said, picking up her keys. “See ya later, hunny.”

“See you…” Elisabeth mouthed quietly, as Becky left the kitchen in her usual rush.

Soon Elisabeth was just sat in the empty kitchen, uneaten toast staring back up at her as she looked at it lifelessly. Should she talk to Steve? About what he wanted from her? What he felt for her? Was it too soon? Was it too early yet to ask things like that? What the hell did she feel, anyway? Arraghhh- this was so confusing!

She slumped her head into her hand on the table and sighed. God, she’s been so happy last night when he said he’d come over today, and said that she was looking fantastic, etc, but then just seeing those flowers that weren’t for her… it had really hurt. She hated thinking of him being with anyone else- and then for it to be Becky…

She looked up at the clock. She was going to be late. Becky had already left- that was a sure sign she was running behind!

She abandoned the toast, and rushed to collect her bag and coat. Within a flash she was outside, running from the house to get to her car. She loved escaping from that house anyway- every time she was in there she felt guilty!

She jumped in the car and drove off to work. Driving along, she had to push it out of her mind about this afternoon. She wasn’t completely sure if Steve was gonna come over or not yet- he’d said he would if he could- but all the thoughts of what could happen then… arraghhhh- she was turning into a really hurtful and deceiving friend.

But part of her didn’t care. She loved being with Steve so much, that who cared if he was Becky’s boyfriend? She’d just have to try and ignore it as best she could. It was too hard to be away from him. That’s why she found herself hoping he would come this afternoon.

Work that morning dragged on, each minute seeming like an eternity; nervous energy building up inside her too, at the thought of him coming over. Just them two- for a whole three hours.

“You look distracted,” Zoe said to her, from what seemed far away.

What are we gonna do in three hours? What does he wanna do?

“Really, really distracted!”

He tries to go further every time he’s with me. I wonder how long I can keep it off for, until he…

“ELISABETH!!”

She jumped slightly, and looked at Zoe blankly.

“Get on with your work! Mrs Vaughan’ll be around in a second, and you’ve hardly done anything this morning!”

Elisabeth blushed in embarrassment at the scolding in Zoe’s voice. She lowered her head, and went searching around on her desk for the work. Would actually help if she had it out in front of her!

“You… ok?” Zoe asked, this time more concerned.

Elisabeth nodded, avoiding her eyes in case Zoe could read the “I’ve just been getting off with my best friend’s boyfriend” look in her own.

“I’m just tired,” she said.

“Oh- kaaaaay. Well- make sure you get some early nights in!” She laughed.

Elisabeth just buried herself in her work.

An hour later, she was out of there, off in her car, going back home.

Oh my God! What if he was there- waiting for her already?!!

What if he’d let himself in?!!

Elisabeth you idiot- calm down! She scolded herself. Don’t be stupid.

She let herself in the house and by the locked door, she knew it was empty. She put her stuff down, but then was greeted by a note on the side.

Liz!!

We’re out of milk, remember?

Can you pick some up before I get back?

Ta sweetie!

Becky

Ohhhh… great. She’d forgotten about that. Now she needed to go to the shop. Still; she could wait for Steve a little while longer…

Seens as he wasn’t here yet, she ran upstairs and changed out of her work clothes. God, she felt really sneaky.

When she was dressed in blue top and black jeans (she didn’t feel safe wearing a skirt around Steve!), she went downstairs again, and decided to kill a bit of time by making a quick lunch. She put some microwave chips in the microwave, and messed around making a hot chocolate until… well- if Steve came.

She didn’t know whether she was expecting him to, as awful as that sounded.

But she made the hot chocolate, drank the hot chocolate, ate the chips… and then even had a chocolate bar- but he didn’t come.

He probably won’t now, she thought sadly. I’d got excited for nothing!

She looked at the clock. She’d been back nearly an hour- it was 3 o’clock.

Becky would be back in 2 hours! That meant if Steve came, they wouldn’t have as much time as she’d like.

She liked when they didn’t have to rush around everywhere.

She liked when they took their time a bit- and did other things, other than just kiss all the time. That was great, sure, she loved it, she really did. He made her feel so special. But she’d like to know how his day had been… and she’d like for him to ask her about her day as well.

It just seemed that he’d meet up with her, there’d be a few “hi’s”, “how are you’s” and then he’d grab her, pull her really close and start kissing her.

And that’s all they’d do- sometimes for hours. Of course, Steve would want to go further; he always wanted to. He’d always touch her somewhere she felt uncomfortable, or make her touch him somewhere scary, too.

And Elisabeth didn’t feel ready for that kind of rushed intimacy yet. She’d only known Steve since Saturday; and now it was Wednesday.

4 days since he’d kissed her in the kitchen!

How her life had changed since then. Even though it wasn’t a very honest one, she was now in a relationship with someone. And she’d never thought that could ever be. Never thought a guy like Steve could ever like a girl like her!

There were still niggles in the back of her mind though. About Becky finding out about what they were doing. About finding out what a cheat and a liar her best friend was… and then what would happen?

Elisabeth shuddered. As bad as it felt, she couldn’t give Steve up. She couldn’t end this… this affair, if you like.

It was too addictive.

Becky was right. Once you got a taster for it…!

She’d just have to keep sneaking behind Becky’s back to be with Steve. And hey maybe- Becky would soon get bored of Steve anyway… dump him… find a new guy. Then Elisabeth could be with Steve all the time!

She paused her thoughts and pondered on that excitedly for a minute.

He could take her out!

They wouldn’t have to keep sneaking round the house, he could take her out on dates! Bowling, to the cinema, ice skating, to the funfair, for a meal… shopping! Oooooh, it would be so exciting and wonderful.

Elisabeth forced her mind to think that one day that would happen. She’d love to be with Steve like that!

But, returning to the present, she realised he probably wasn’t coming this afternoon. He’d probably got hung up at work, and was too busy to make it. Never mind. She’s see him another time!

Grinning away to herself, she decided to go pick that milk up from the shop.

Becky wasn’t seeing Steve tonight, was she? No- she wasn’t.

Even more reason to be happy!

Mmm… Steve’s arms wrapped around her…

She virtually skipped out of the kitchen and into the hallway. No point in leaving Becky a message- she’d only be gone half an hour. And you never know… she may come back and find Steve waiting for her there on the sofa… and then she could curl up with him on there, and mmm…

She shook her head, telling herself to stop being silly and acting like a love-struck teenager.

Although, it was kind of like she was a teenager, because she’d never been a love-struck teenager! She’d never kissed a guy until now. All the things you did when you were about 14/15, she was doing now, nearly 10 years later, so she couldn’t help but skip in happiness!

She went over to the hanger and puller her jacket on, and went to collect the keys, when she heard a sudden knock at the door.

Arraghhhhh! She almost squealed.

He was here! HE WAS HERE!!

Just as she’d given up on him…

Almost with a little run, she rushed to the front door, and pulled it open excitedly.

But as soon as she did, and saw who was behind it, her grin quickly disappeared from her face.

And her heart began to beat very fast.

It wasn’t Steve.

“Hi Elisabeth,” said Paul.