"I've had to fight like hell. And fighting like hell has made me who I am."
Hadlie
"Where the hell is she?" a young brunette muttered under her breath. She surveyed the other caffeine deprived New Yorkers at Gregory's Coffee Shop, attempting to assuage her boredom by studying a fellow college student who appeared to be on the verge of a mental breakdown thanks to whatever was on his computer. It looked like he was trying to write three papers at once. Whoever said college was the time of your life was badly misinformed.
She sighed. Jane was at least thirty minutes late, which was expected but highly annoying. In hindsight, maybe she should have brought her computer to work on the rest of her dissertation. There was only another week and a half until it was due, and she still needed to prep for her meeting with the board to defend it.
Glancing at her phone, she debated on whether or not to call Jane…God only knew that woman got caught up in her work.
"Lizzie!"
Her slate blue eyes snapped to attention and spotted a tiny brunette in an oversized red flannel shirt hurtling in her direction. Standing up, she barely had time to prepare herself for her cousin's hug.
"Oh thank the Lord you are finally here. I thought you had for-" The last of her greeting ended in an oomph asJane gave her a bone cracking hug. She gasped for air and Jane let go.
"As an award winning scientist you should know air is a requirement for survival," Lizzie quipped sarcastically.
"It has been too long since I last saw you! You deserve a massive hug."
"How was the rest of your time in New Mexico?"
"Well it was London actually."
"Oh. I've been here the whole time…working on my doctorate. Lots of fun let me tell you."
Jane and Lizzie had always been close, despite their five year age difference. Or, at least, they had been close until Jane discovered the Einstein-Rosen Bridge. Now everything Jane did was on a need to know basis since everyone in the scientific community wanted her research. Lizzie and the rest of their family didn't know who she was working for now. All she knew was Jane was in New York City with her assistant Darcy, who Lizzie had become fast friends with during her first and only trip to New Mexico, and wanted to visit.
Jane sighed in exasperation, "I know, I know. Work has been crazy, but let me get a look at you. You've certainly grown up in the time I've been gone."
Looking down at her Columbia sweatshirt, black leggings, and non-descript blue Keds, Lizzie begged to differ. Oh God, she was going to have to dress like a real adult in a few short months. Well that panic attack could wait until she got back to her apartment in Upper Manhattan.
"Not really. I'm pretty close to being done though. Finally."
"I know! I'm so proud of you for finishing the program. Even if it's not a hard science." It was an ongoing joke from Jane and Lizzie's uncle that she would be the black sheep of the family for pursuing psychology despite the fact her mother was not a science major either.
Rolling her eyes, Lizzie caustically replied, "Thank you very much, but at least my undergraduate was in biochemical engineering."
Pushing aside the teasing for later, Jane said, "Of course. How are things going for you? It has been so long since we have talked."
Instead of remarking on the obvious she said, "It's been busy since I'm so close to being done with thesis. My research at the VA in Brooklyn has been a huge help in addition to the research I've been able to conduct at some companies here in New York City."
Lizzie managed not to make a pointed remark about how the lack of communication with her cousin was not her fault. She had tried to convince herself she wasn't bitter over the loss of a valued relationship, but knew there was no disguising the truth. Jane was too busy now.
Maybe she should be used to abandonment; God knew it happened too often. At least Darcy kept in touch. It enabled her to keep track of how Jane was doing even if she couldn't get specifics. When Jane was in London the previous year, Lizzie was about to buy a plane ticket thanks to Darcy's weekly reports of her cousin's inexplicable deep depression. But then Jane's depression had magically disappeared and Lizzie went back to feeling unneeded.
Jane's forehead scrunched in curiosity, "What exactly is your thesis about then?"
Gearing up for a long-winded hour of question and answer, she pushed her glasses up her nose. "The short story is I'm discussing how symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can manifest in the workplace due to the-"
But then Lizzie noticed the man in nondescript clothing who sat down a few feet from them. He finished his beverage a few minutes previous, yet he continued to loiter even though the place was packed. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She knew no one would have any reason to follow a lowly psychologist. But, Jane? They would definitely follow her if Darcy's tales of attempted science thievery were true.
Her abrupt halt in storytelling prompted Jane to wave a hand in front of her face asking, "Lizzie? Liz? Has your dissertation explanation fried your brain?"
"No, but there's a man sitting near us who hasn't stopped watching you. Don't look at him! He's blonde, well over 6 feet tall, and blue eyed, wearing nerdy looking glasses. Not that I'm one to judge."
Instead of looking alarmed, Jane appeared to be… fondly exasperated. What the hell? She was about to voice her concerns about her cousin's apparent absence of self-preservation when Jane interrupted.
Jane explained in a rush, "He's my boyfriend."
The shock must've shown on her face because Jane's heated up in response to her gobsmacked gaze.
"He's a little overprotective after a few incidents involving my research."
"Clearly," Lizzie muttered under her breath. She took the time to study him seeing as he was the first boyfriend who could keep up with Jane's beautiful mind. Despite his bulk, he didn't appear to be a conceited self-centered type of person. He seemed kind and completely besotted with Jane, which was good. Yet, he had a stately air about him as if he were a person of importance accustomed to people watching his every move. Her intuition didn't sense any red flags about him, and she was almost always right.
"What's his name?"
"Donald."
"Didn't you have another boyfriend named Donald? Donald the Dick?"
"Lizzie!"
"What? You know I'm right."
"Just because you're right doesn't mean you should say it."
Seeing the slightly hurt look on Jane's face about her critique of boyfriends she knew it was time to back off.
She mustered up all of the sincerity she possessed to say, "I'm sorry. However, you know I'm right about the guys you date. I call 'em like I see 'em. It's always up to you to take my sage advice."
Rolling her eyes, Jane retorted, "Yeah I know. You are the All-Powerful the Most Wise on Earth."
"And don't you forget it. Did you tell your dad yet?"
Silence was her answer, and she knew Jane couldn't involve her family in her research but damnit this was her life! Didn't they deserve to know about the good and bad things happening even if she couldn't disclose the nature of her work?
"Of course you didn't," Lizzie scowled. "Why would you tell them? You don't even tell me anything anymore."
She missed the times where Jane would call just to talk. She missed her cousin. She couldn't forget the person sitting in front of her was a near stranger.
Feeling bone weary she got to the point, "Why'd you ask me to meet you here, Jane?"
With her question the wall between them resurrected.
Jane appeared hesitant now and related her news, "I'm moving here to New York City to work at Stark Industries. I'm going to be living in the Tower due to security reasons and I wanted to ask-"
"Great. Congratulations. Is that what you wanted to hear? Because I am happy for you, yet you cut me out of your life. Heck, you cut out just about everyone," Lizzie stated blandly while turning her gaze to the now finished cup of coffee in her hands. Her mouth apparently wasn't done speaking though, "I can't pretend to understand why you called me here. I never hear from you, and I have to find out about your health through your assistant rather than from yourself."
The silence after her statement seemed as if it lasted for millennia, and Lizzie couldn't bring herself to look at Jane. She felt like the worst person in the world, but knew her honest nature would never allow her to act in any other way.
Lizzy hastily made her exit after the seemingly permanent silence, "Look I'm sorry, but I need to go and finish up my notes for my dissertation."
Getting up from her chair she grabbed her purse and made a speedy retreat to the door. But then she looked back, spotted "Donald", and her familial affection for Jane swelled.
She walked over to him.
As if she were remarking on the weather she told him, "If you break her heart, I have a Smith and Wesson pistol with your name on a bullet."
It was the appropriate Texan way to greet a family member's significant other after all, she thought as she pushed open the door and left.
It was too early to be up and participating in society, Lizzie thought darkly. 5 AM was an hour no sane human should relish, but she needed to finish the conclusion of her dissertation. Yesterday had gone as horribly, as expected, so she tried to bury herself in work. Jane would probably never speak to her again. Or, at least for a while. Lizzie figured she'd let the dust settle before she made the attempt to reconcile.
After a few hours, the sound of her phone ringing jarred her concentration from the computer. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was only 8:30 AM and had to wonder who the hell would call at this time.
The caller was unknown so she answered with as much grace as possible, "Hello, this is Elizabeth Foster speaking."
"Hello Ms. Foster, this is Mr. Faux with Human Resources at Stark Industries. I was calling to discuss the position you applied for two months prior," a cool voice stated.
She had forgotten about that application, and could barely recall the details of the position. Oh hell, she could just wing it.
"Oh yes. How are you this morning?"
"I'm good, thank you. We reviewed your qualifications, and wanted you to come in sometime this week to interview."
Crap, where the hell was her planner?! She frantically canvassed her apartment for said planner while telling the man on the phone, "That would be great! What day this week?"
"Would it be possible for you to come into our main office on Thursday? We have times available from 1 to 4 that day."
She saw her planner poking out from under her bed and cheered silently. Flipping through it, she hastily replied, "1:30 would be fine."
"Splendid, I will send you an email confirmation detailing the time and location. You will be interviewing with me. Stark Industries has an extensive security screening process at the door so please allow time for that."
"I will be sure to do that. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, and we look forward to meeting with you on Thursday."
As soon as he had hung up the phone, Lizzie began her happy dance across the room to celebrate.
"I HAVE AN INTERVIEW! GOODBYE UNEMPLOYMENT!"
She wanted to shout it to the world, announce it to everyone she knew. Who could she call? She thought of Jane, but pushed the thought out of her mind. Her cousin probably wouldn't pick up anyway. Knowing her luck, "Donald" would answer the phone instead.