A/N: I've never written a fanfiction before, never mind the fact that I don't read fanfictions. A couple of days ago, when I sat down to write, this came out. It's really horrible, because I'm only good when it comes to original work, I found out, but nonetheless, I decided to post this. (for some reason) This is one of the only stories I've ever written with different perspectives, and for that, I'm proud, but otherwise, this desperately needs to be re-written. Oh, and chapter two will explain more of Elizabeth's obsession. So have fun reading, or don't….bash me, flame me, praise me, it's all the same.
The thing about Elizabeth, she felt as if she was nothing special. That she was stuck in a world that far exceeded her own abilities. As if the gods overlooked her when handing out talents, gifts, purpose. Perhaps she felt this way, because she was one out of ninety-seven children, which made her easy to miss in a crowd.
She was the daughter of Sally and Ned O'Malley, who just so happened to be the mayor of Whoville. In her mind, she felt that she was nothing to write home about. She wasn't exceptionally pretty, or ugly, which even that would have been better, for she would have had an individual quality which would of made her unique. She didn't have some amazing ability. Hell, she wasn't even a boy, which would of gotten her some recognition from her parents, considering she lived in a house where only one of the ninety-seven children was a boy. No, she was what one called a, "plain Jane," which was ironic, considering her sister Jane was a beautiful, smart, athletic, and all around nice person. No, it was Lizzie who got cast aside, but she never felt as if it was her place to complain. She was, in fact, the second oldest, and knew she would soon move out, and be able to make a name for herself. Plus, many of her sisters most likely felt that same melancholy, so she set and example of sticking it out. The problem is that her goal in mind, had never even crossed in her parents thoughts as a possibility. That the person they felt should fill this purpose was already idolized in their minds. Lizzie wanted to be the next mayor of Whoville.
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It was dinner time on this Sunday night in the O'Malley household. The children sat by age along the rotating table, but the order the O'Malley couple saw their children, was always completely random. Tonight, the O'Malley's decided to start somewhere in the middle and go backwards, which meant JoJo would be seen before Lizzie. She loved her brother to death, and even though he's usually silent, he would always come to her to talk, but she couldn't help but be jealous of JoJo for having their parents favor, an automatic in on the mayor position. Even though it's been three years since the Horton incident, Ned still hasn't given up on the idea of JoJo succeeding him. She grinned, putting her faith in her brother's strong will. He didn't want to be mayor, and once Ned realized that, Lizzie would approach him. She never brought this up with him, for she felt Ned would cause this dream aside, as a silly phase, but this was what she truly wanted. Lizzie actually found Ned intimidating, and it was quite hard for her to talk to her father about real issues. During those twelve seconds at meals, and those other rare occasions when she got her parents alone, she would never tell Ned about herself, she would inquire him about work, and listen intently, drinking in every word. Lizzie's parents never questioned her motives, for they found it as quite a relief, not having to dote on their children, and listen to their incessant chit-chat. They got to wind down, and converse about their lives. The O'Malley's never vocalized their feelings, for they never realized it themselves, or how little they actually knew their second eldest.
Lizzie's grin widened when she realized her parents would soon have to forgo the idea of JoJo being mayor, for he was eighteen, and a senior in high school. (Lizzie was also a senior, but only seventeen. Lizzie's and JoJo's grade had the least amount of O'Malley children it in, with only those two. Most grades had an average of ten children.) Lizzie shook herself from her thoughts, when she realized JOJO was currently at her parent's attention, and she was next.
"Dad, can you please bring the rotation to a halt, I have an announcement to make," JoJo declared in a small voice.
Lizzie rolled her eyes, 'Jeez, why are you being so pretentious?' she thought to herself.
JoJo stood on his seat to elevate him above the others, which didn't particularly work, considering his short stature. He cleared his throat, glanced nervously around the room with ninety-eight pairs of eyes staring back at him. Clearing his throat once more, and taking a deep breath, he began.
"As you all know, Dad has been hoping that I would succeed him as mayor, despite my arrogance, and hard-headedness, shooting down all his futile attempts. As you guys also know, it's been three years since the Horton incident, and I've grown up a lot since then." Jojo began to wring his long, furry fingers. Not used to talking this much, and especially to this many people. Once he realized what he was doing, he ran his fingers through his hair, which still fell over his eyes, and dropped his hands at his side, trying to act nonchalant. It still didn't escape Lizzie's notice, who tried to hold back a snort of how antsy he was being, just in the presence of family.
"The other day, while I was in the observatory, I realized how much some of my invention could help the citizens of Whoville, so that's why I decided after college, to succeed Dad, and become the next mayor of Whoville."
Lizzie's world split at that moment. She was so overwhelmed, she didn't even notice when some Who-Hash plopped down into her lap from all her sisters shuffling to go congratulate him. There was so much commotion going on, the O'Malley family didn't even notice when a horrified gasp emitted from Lizzie's lips, or when she screeched back her chair against the hard, rotating platform's surface, and stormed out of the dining hall.
She ran out of the house, tears staining her yellow fur. She was so hurt at what just happened, she didn't notice the last dregs of snow before spring melted them, biting at her feet. Lizzie fell to the ground with a heart-wrenching sob, thankful no one was around to hear.
"How could JoJo do this to me? He doesn't know these people. These are my people. The only fucking thing I can do is care for the people, relate to them, and fucking JoJo had to go and take that all away! Well fuck him!" Lizze took a deep breath and screamed out on the top of her lungs could bear, shaking her inner core, "FUCK HIM!"
Lizzie collapse on the ground, so angry, confused, depressed, she just didn't know what to think, her mind in turmoil, so she just lay there.
If Lizzie was thinking rationally, she wouldn't have blamed JoJo. She never told anyone about her initiative and dream to become mayor, and if he would of known, he never would of taken the position, he was just doing what he felt was right..
What Lizzie also didn't know was how great of a gift it was to be able to relate to the people as she does. That most people stay secluded, scared of the world around, and their accusing eyes.
Lizzie had no idea how long she had lay there, when she heard a figure's soft padding footsteps approach. The figure kneeled behind Lizzie, so she couldn't catch sight of the figure's face, but Lizzie caught a whiff of a familiar scent, of Who-wild flowers, the same scent her mother always wore.
"We were half-way through the celebratory cake for JoJo, when we realized her weren't at the table," Sally spoke softly, resting her hand on her cold daughter's back. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
Lizzie shrank away from her Mom's warm touch, letting a shudder escape. Sally did not realize that she was not helping, mentioning JoJo, and from having a blind eye towards Lizzie's desires. It pained Sally to see her daughter suffering. She should have been an expert at cheering up her oldest daughter, for she had ninety-six, but had no idea how to fix a wounded spirit, which made her feel like a failure.
Lizzie continued to lay there. Not moving, not saying anything at all. Tears filled Sally's eyes, having to see her daughter in that almost comatose state, yet having nothing to offer, broke her heart.
"Please sweetheart, please come inside and have some cake," Sally was unable to keep the waver out of her voice, as tears streamed down her face. "Please?"
Lizzie slowly lifted her hollow eyes to stare into her mother's face, fur wet with tears. Lizzie dropped her gaze, and heaved herself to her feet with much force, and trudged to the door. Lizzie immediately went to bed, disregarding the calls swarming around her, from her entrance. The entire time, Sally's eyes follow her daughter, feeling at a loss, unable to be happy during this joyous time. For the rest of the night, Sally's mind was churning with thoughts of her eldest daughter, remaining in a melancholic state, one much identical to the one Lizzie was wrapped up in, suffocating her.
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As the O'Malley couple got ready for bed, Sally remained in a daze, even through Ned's speech of how proud he was of JoJo.
"Hey Ned," Sally interrupted. "How much do we actually know Lizzie?" Ned shot her a confused look, but when he saw the worried look upon her face, he knelt down next to her, and intertwined his fingers with hers. Flashing Sally a smile, Ned showed she had his full attention.
"It's just that…you should of seen her lying on the ground, just looking so…so lost," Sally's voice grew quieter, and tears sprung into her eyes from remembrance. The image of her daughter just laying there was so strong, so powerful, so harmful. Using her free hand, Sally furiously rubbed at her eyes, willing her tears to disappear.
Ned gently squeezed her hand, and began speaking in a soft slow voice, trying to comfort his distressed wife. "I know you're worried, but Lizzie will probably have a spring back to her step by tomorrow. You know how happy and lively she is. Plus, it's hard to be sad now anyway. She's probably so proud of JoJo, you know how all the girls just completely adore him."
"But has she really always been happy? I feel like I don't even know her. Every time we talk, it's always about me, not her. She never shown me any real emotion, I feel." The tears were flowing down her face full force now. "Ned, I don't even know my own daughter."
She yanked her hand from his grasp, resting her head in her palms, letter the tears flow freely, feeling like a horrible mother. The thought pounded into her skull with every tear drop falling past her eyes.
Ned planted a soothing kiss on her forehead, and wrapped his long, spindly, furry arms around her, and whispered in her ear, "You are just using yourself as a scapegoat, but if you really feel as if you don't know Lizzie, start now. You two can have some mother daughter bonding time, as the kids and I plan for her birthday. God, I can't believe another one of our kids is almost eighteen." He pulled back from their embrace to check if Sally was alright, flashing her a huge smile. Sally returned that smile and lunged into his arms, squeezing him hard, never wanting to let go, knowing she had the best husband in the world.
Later that night, as they were laying in bed next to each other, Ned randomly exclaimed, "I'm so glad all my aspirations towards JoJo being the next mayor didn't go to waste." Sally let out a giggle, nuzzling his neck. As the couple fell asleep, they didn't realize that Ned's persistence didn't go to waste, it was just directed at the wrong Who.