Written in 55 minutes.

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Monday, October 15, 2000

Kelly’s: Kitchen

Tammy fisted a hand at her hip and sighed. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth bit her lip, folded her arms. “I’m sorry, Tammy, but this opportunity is—”

“You know I already lost the college kids — which was the only reason I could cut your hours so you could go work at that record company, and maybe you think dating Luke’s son means you can—”

Elizabeth made a face. “Excuse me? You’re acting like it’s a felony for me to quit a job. A job, by the way, that I’ve been doing longer than you.” When Tammy scowled, Elizabeth arched her brows. “Maybe you think knowing Luke means you can treat the rest of us like crap, but I can and will quit whenever I want. The two weeks is a courtesy to you. Chloe says I can start tomorrow.”

“You know what? I’d hate to hold you back.” Tammy lifted her hands in mock surrender. “I’ll cover your shifts myself. You can be done now. At least now your customers will actually get what they ask for.”

Irritation and impatience was bubbling, and for the first time in years, Elizabeth said what was on the tip of her tongue. “Well, if anyone knows about servicing a client, Tammy, I guess that would be you.” Without waiting to see how the jab hit, she headed for the stairs.

Kelly’s: Courtyard

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—” Emily practically crashed into Jason, the momentum of sprinting from the parking lot still carrying her. “I woke up late, and then I hit all the lights—”

Jason steadied his sister with his hands on hers shoulders. “You’re fine, Emily. I just got here.”

“Oh. Good. Good.” She let out an exasperated huff, then dragged a hand through her hair. “I have the worst schedule this semester. I thought giving myself off on Mondays was a good idea, but ugh. I just feel like I’m rushing everywhere, and then Dara Jensen calls and she wants me to come in and go over my statement?”

“Dara? What does the ADA want with you? Didn’t you already do that?” Jason demanded.

Emily wrinkled her nose. “Twice, but mostly to Taggert. Dara says Zander Smith’s lawyer is trying to get the motion dismissed or something. I don’t know. Why?”

Because Zander Smith could do a lot of damage to Sorel, but it wasn’t something Jason was going to discuss with his little sister. “It’s nothing. Let’s just—”

“Oh. Lucky—” Emily waved at something over Jason’s shoulder and he turned to see the other man striding towards them, his hands shoved in his pockets. He glared at Jason as he came closer, the bruise on his face beginning to fade but still visible.

“Can’t talk,” Lucky said, throwing the words to Emily as he passed them, more like a grunt than an articulated response.

Emily pressed her lips together, stared after him, then looked back at Jason. “What was that about?” she demanded. “Aren’t you guys friends?”

“No. And it’s a long story,” he added when Emily opened her mouth.

Kelly’s: Elizabeth’s Room

She closed the top of her suitcase, clicking it shut, then set it on the floor. She looked back at the dresser in question, pursing her lips. Was there enough space in the tote bag she’d brought for the jumble of cosmetics, jewelry, and hygiene products? She really didn’t want to come back.

Elizabeth started to pack her essentials first — a tube of lipstick that had been discontinued, eye makeup she wore almost every day, then her favorite pieces of jewelry — anything she’d spent more than ten bucks to buy.

Just as she was finishing her task, the door behind her swung open. “What the hell are you doing?”

Elizabeth went still, her fingers wrapped around a tube of facial moisturizer, then slowly turned around to find Lucky standing at the threshold, his face flushed, his jaw clenched. “I’m packing,” she said simply. “I’m going to stay at my grandmother’s.”

“Without even talking to me?”

Yes. That had been the dream. A little more distance, a little more time to think about what to do. Elizabeth folded her arms, so tightly that she was nearly hugging herself. “I don’t think we’re ready to have a conversation. Or I’m not.” She paused. “And I don’t have to run my living situation by you.”

Lucky grimaced, dragged a hand through his hair. “Tammy told me you quit and called her a whore. What the hell has gotten into you?”

“Well, one of those things happened. I gave two weeks notice, Tammy protested, then basically fired me. And when she decided to criticize the way I did my job, I suggested maybe her history made her a better for a customer service.” She arched a brow. “I never said the word whore.”

“You just implied it,” Lucky retorted with a roll of his eyes. “I expected better from you. Tammy’s been good to my family—”

“I don’t think your mother would agree that your father’s friendship with a prostitute would fit that description, but Tammy’s the one that threw a tantrum about my two week notice.”

“I thought we agreed that you weren’t going to take this job. That it wasn’t good for us—”

“No, you said it wasn’t good for you. It turns out it’s great for me.” Elizabeth looped the straps of her tote over her shoulder. “I told you, Lucky, we’re not having this conversation right now. I’m—” Angry, frustrated. Disappointed in herself. In him. “I’m not doing it.”

She lifted her suitcase and took a few steps towards him — but he wasn’t moving from the threshold. “Lucky, please get out of the way—”

“You were begging me for months to get back together, and now that we are, you’re just running because we had an argument—”

“An argument? I’m sorry, Lucky, you said I was a better person after I got raped. That’s hardly an argument.” She took a deep breath. “I told you, I don’t want to do this right now. I think we both need some space.”

“You’ve had nothing but space for eighteen months,” Lucky bit out. “Now you want more? What happened? I refuse to believe that something stupid I said yesterday means we have to throw everything away—”

Frustrated at the angry tears stinging her eyes, Elizabeth shook her head. “I didn’t say that. I’m not saying that. I’m telling that I need some space, okay?”

“You quit your job, Elizabeth. And Tammy told me you’re taking Chloe’s offer. The one that takes you out of town for months—the one we agreed wasn’t a good idea right now—”

“I tried to explain this to you, Lucky. I tried to make you understand why this matters—”

“Because you read some fashion magazines a million years ago? That means you’d make a good assistant now? You’re barely organized enough to get to work on time, and you live above the diner.” Lucky’s tone gentled. “Look, I—I didn’t handle yesterday well, and maybe I was wrong to dismiss this job thing so quick. I just thought—I thought we’d both agreed we’d spent enough time apart. That we deserved this time together.” He came towards her, his expression kinder, the tone soothing.

Like she was a child.

“I am asking you to move,” Elizabeth said, and he stopped a few feet from her. “I told you — I’m upset, and I’m not trying to do this with you right now.

What was there to know…brat…shallow…obsessed with me…

She exhaled slowly, then met his eyes. “You told me that the person I was before the night Tom Baker raped me wasn’t worth knowing. Which means the only reason I’m worthy of your love now is because of what he did.”

“That’s—” He swallowed hard, put up a hand. “I understand that’s how you took it—”

“It’s what you said. You didn’t want to know me then. And you only came around after the rape because you felt guilty for breaking the date in the first place. I was a project for you,” Elizabeth retorted. “And you liked the idea of saving me, that I practically worshiped you.” She shook her head. “You don’t like me. You don’t care about what’s important to me.”

“That is not true—”

“Get out of my way—” Elizabeth came forward, used her suitcase to knock him back a step, off balance enough so she could get past him. She couldn’t do this for another minute. Not for a single second more.

Kelly’s: Dining Room

Emily’s eyes tracked Tammy as the harried blonde moved through the room, scrutinizing her. “Tammy doesn’t usually work the floor.”

Jason glanced up from the menu, frowned slightly. “Elizabeth usually works the breakfast shift, doesn’t she?” When Emily lifted her brows, he shrugged. “She said something about it last week.”

“I haven’t been able to get a hold of her since I saw her the other day. I’m so annoyed by that,” Emily said with a roll of her eyes. She skimmed the menu, though it hadn’t changed in years. Suddenly, she wasn’t in the mood for the French Toast. “Here I am, all ready to be supportive and girl power, and now I can’t get her on the phone. I feel stood up. And irrationally angry.”

“Well, at least you know it’s irrational.” Jason frowned, straightening. “Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“It sounded like—” Jason didn’t finish, but stood up and started to move towards the stairwell. Then Emily could hear it, too. Voices. Angry.

“Get out of my way, I’m tired of saying it—”

“Just let me have five minutes. Damn it, you owe me that—”

Emily had just caught up with Jason at the bottom of the stairs when Lucky and Elizabeth appeared at the top of the stairs, Elizabeth wearing a tote over one shoulder and a suitcase in the other hand.

“I don’t owe anyone anything, not after what you said to me. Do you think I’m stupid?”

“You’re acting like a child, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Don’t you mean, I’m acting like a brat? I guess I’m just the same girl I always was.” She started down the stairs, but then Lucky reached for her—grabbing the handle of her tote, which jerked Elizabeth back—causing her to slip, her feet to go out from under her—

And then she was tumbling down the stairs.

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