Meet Me When the Cars Collide

Chapter One: Good Morning?

Lizzy Bennet woke up to the sound of her alarm at 8 AM on a Saturday. Except her alarm more closely resembled the Entertainer by Scott Joplin, and it didn't come from her alarm clock, but her Blackberry. Sunlight was streaming out from her window and it illuminated her room. She sighed, happily, smiling to herself about the beauty of the new day, dressed, and escaped her bedroom into the roomy kitchen of her apartment.

Daniel was already up and about, but then, as a fifteen-year-old boy, he had tons of energy. He also did crash onto his bed at 10 last night after his visit to his dad. Visiting his parents always made him want to go home and sleep away all the pain they gave him, but we'll get to the rest of the family as we meet them in our story. Daniel was pretty content this morning because he survived his Bad Friday and had another week until he had to see his mother, when it would turn into an Evil Friday (because while Dad is horrible, Mom is just that much worse). He decided to think about his convoluted and twisted family another time and enjoy breakfast with his actual guardian, who just happened to be his sister, Lizzy.

Daniel got out his favorite Honey Nut Cheerios and shoveled it into two bowls. He got the milk and pineapple juice from the fridge, two glasses from one of the cabinets, and two spoons from the silverware drawer. Lizzy skipped into the room and plopped herself down into one of the stools situated about the kitchen's island.

"Morning," greeted Daniel.

"Good morning, loverly brother of mine! It's such a beautiful day!" Lizzy replied.

"It's strange how your behavior in the morning can be influenced by the weather, but, I think I like it."

"Just wait 'till it rains! Who will like it then?" Lizzy teased. Daniel smiled in response and the two siblings sat in contented silence, munching their cereal.

Lizzy got up from her stool and went into their living room area to locate her sketch book and drawing pencils.

"Danny, I'm off to the park for a walk, mmkay?" She grabbed her Degas ballerina tote bag from the Met museum, threw in her pencils, Blackberry, and wallet, and opened the apartment door.

"Lemme know if anything climactic happens while I'm gone, call me if you need me, and don't eat anything poisonous!"

"Ha, ha, very funny, but we both know it was only an allergic reaction and it was the first time I ate a kiwi, so how was I to know my face would blow up?!"

"Excuses, excuses. Just don't leave the phone unattended, I expect a call from Jane about the…"

"Goodbye!" Daniel called, and shut the door on his sister. She was the best sort of parent (well, guardian in actuality), really, but she always had everything on her mind. He was certain she needed a distraction, but what?

~*~*~*~

Lizzy loved walks on the weekends. It was the best time to actually come up with new ideas, and she knew that all her best ideas came when she went on her walks. It was a win-win situation with little room for failure. Lizzy was an up-and-coming-practically-famous fashion designer, looking forward to the release of her fall collection. She called her fashion line The Era. Its namesake derived from her first name, Elizabeth, and from her Grandfather Gardiner's love for Queen Elizabeth and the Elizabethan Era. He told her that the good queen was her namesake and that he chose it. When Elizabeth was born, her parents were in lust and completely enthralled with each other, so they acquiesced with Grandfather's decision to name her Elizabeth. Sadly, they were not in anything close to lust, or love for that matter, anymore. Not that she cared, really. Her parents hated her for reasons she didn't get. Grandfather, on the other hand, understood her.

Lizzy shook her head and sighed. She wasn't unhappy with her life, but the loss of Grandfather two years ago was still a heavy weight upon her. She finally concluded her short avenue-crossing journey and reached Central Park. Lizzy stood still, and took in her green and gorgeous surroundings, and soaked up the sun.

She was about to sit upon a large rock and assume the position of a diligent designer when she heard a thundering, earth-shattering crash come from behind her. Lizzy turned slowly, afraid to see what her ears had heard. She gasped, cautiously walked toward the scene, and dialed 9-1-1.

~*~*~*~

She was sprawled, spread-eagled, on the asphalt. She was unconscious and bleeding from her left arm. The bones were obviously fractured, and if the girl were awake, she would be screaming in pain. Lizzy's eyes traced her willowy figure and rested upon the girl's face. She had a straight, almost noble nose, rounded cheeks, and a rosebud mouth. She was bleeding above her brow, and the rust of the dried blood stained her dark golden waves. The pale girl looked bruised, weak, and helpless, ethereal and innocent. The girl made all who looked at her want to hug her and take her home – she was absolutely precious.

The ambulance arrived shortly after the police did. The scene was completely horrible. The driver of the black Lexus that the girl was thrown out of was dead. He had been a handsome man, but he was dressed in clothes that would label him as a tool. The couple in the blue Toyota was killed in the collision as well. Their bodies were identified by officers and they were quickly wrapped up and taken away from the scene.

It was evident after the search of the destroyed Lexus that that car was at fault for the accident. There were two bottles of cheap vodka in the passenger seat. One of the shattered bottles was completely dry and the other made contact with the windshield and rained alcohol over the front of the car. The police officers quickly extracted all items and the body from the car because they were uncertain if a spontaneous fire would be ignited.

The trunk was sealed like a tomb and it was called to attention by the police that the car would be needed to be suspect to further inspection.

The location of the girl on the street was mysterious as well. She was a few feet from and behind the car's destination, and it seemed as if she escaped the car before the crash. Her whole presence added an incredibly strange variable to the situation. To add to the whole catastrophe, she had no identification whatsoever and no one could verify who she was. The police were already discussing her welfare and were contemplating putting her into foster care.

Lizzy was miffed. She couldn't believe the gall of the policemen! The poor girl was unconscious and injured, and they were already speaking of sending her away. The thought of sending the girl off to strangers who may not even be suitable care takers pissed her off. She blurted out:

"I'll take care of her! Seriously, I have a good place for her to go in the interim of locating her parents. I have a large apartment at Trump Plaza on Lexington and Third Avenue; I have a guest room that's unoccupied. I'll go with her to the hospital; it's no trouble at all. I'll even take her when she's better to the station for further questioning."

Lizzy was astounded by her sudden Good Samaritan-ness. But she was nonetheless proud of herself for volunteering her services. The girl just looked so adorable; she had to take her in for the meantime. She had room, money to spare, and heaven knows she wanted a sister she actually would love and care for. It was actually selfish in her point-of-view, really. Because instead of the little witch called Lydia, she got someone so much better instead.

Lizzy looked back at her already hectic morning and thought to herself, "I asked Daniel to alert me if something climactic occurred, but it never occurred that something climactic would happen to me!"

She climbed into the ambulance off to the University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell with her new charge, texted Daniel that she'd call him later, and hoped that the girl would wake up soon.

A/N: Let me know if you like it, if it's worth continuing, please!