Disclaim any and all recognizable traits, features, characters, and settings recognizable in any way shape or form. This story and others in my collection are merely a way of showcasing my love for the genre, show, and all that may or may not lay in between those verified lines. Reviews are always appreciated and greatly welcomed in all forms as long as they prove to provide actual assistance in furthering the story's potential in every way possible. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and, hopefully, review.
Believe in Me
The sweet smell of hot chocolate floats through the air, surrounding her in its sweet aroma, successfully awakening her from the most beautiful of dreams in the most delicious of ways. Not just any hot chocolate, though. Belgian hot chocolate. Her favorite. Quickly hopping out of bed, shoving her baby skin smooth feet into her favorite pair of bunny slippers, Elizabeth Webber rushes downstairs to the dining area, intent on being the first one to get a fresh cup.
Most mornings, in spite of the five alarm clocks she sets out every night, she always seems to be the last to the breakfast table, leaving her with the last scraps of whatever was supposed to be breakfast. Today, however, her father has chosen to try a new tactic to get her out of bed. A rather ingenious tactic, if you ask her. Usually her father reserves his Belgian hot chocolate for special occasions.
"Really, father?" Elizabeth holds up the offending brochures that have been 'conveniently' placed by her favorite mug filled with hot cocoa. "They're coming with my breakfast now?"
"Don't look at me." her father holds his hands up in defense. "Those are your mother's idea. I know better than to try to change your mind once you're set in your decision."
"I haven't even begun my studies." Elizabeth states as she plops down onto a stool by the counter. "Not to mention I'm the third child. Why doesn't she focus on her beloved Steven and Sarah first?"
"Your brother and sister have both begun their residencies at the hospital." he reminds her as he sets a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her. "Now eat up before you're late for your first day."
"If these start to show up in the bathroom, I swear I'll scream."
"You come from a long line of medical professionals." he voices for what feels like the millionth time that week alone. "Can you really blame your mother for wanting you to carry on the tradition?"
"I'm an artistic spirit, father. I belong among the beauty of the world." Elizabeth remains steadfast on her choice of career path. "Not among the bloody."
"You have to give your mother some kind of credit." he pushes forward. "She's opened her view to include you following in your Grandmother Audrey's footsteps."
"How big of her." she chuckles, tossing the brochures into the trash bin. "Tell her I appreciate the suggestions, but I'm not going to change my mind."
"On to a more debatable topic..." her father quickly jumps off the topic of her future, knowing that there really wasn't any point once she has made up her mind on the matter. "Will you be needing a ride? From what your brother has told me, your car finally gave out on you the other day."
"It did." she sighs, having a shed a few tears on the matter when she was left stranded in the rain for a good half hour. "As for the ride, I'm all set. Jason's on his way as we speak."
"That's another thing..."
"Do you really want to have this conversation again?" Elizabeth cuts off her father before he could finish his sentence. "I barely have enough time to go upstairs and get ready."
"Right, right." her father shakes his head, knowing that her friendship with that boy is just one of the many things his daughter has set up her mind about and refuses to hear any form of reason in regard to. "Go on before you're late."
Tossing her plate into the dishwasher along with her favorite mug, Elizabeth quickly kisses her father's cheek before rushing up the stairs to her bedroom. More than anything, she wishes her father could at least attempt to get to know Jason on any kind of level, but he just refuses to. Something about the Quartermaines, though her parents would never truly tell her the story, just rubs him the wrong way. Jason being a Quartermaine, albeit it reluctantly, doesn't help matters any.
"Father try to give you the Jason lecture again?" her brother comments as she makes it to the top of the stairs. "How far did you let him get this time?"
"Didn't even let him start." she says simply, pushing open her door. "Shouldn't you be heading to the hospital or something?"
"And miss dad's face when you leave in Jason's mustang? No way." Steven shakes his head. "That's the one thing that makes my morning, every morning."
"Oh, grow up." Elizabeth scoffs. "You're going to be a doctor."
"You first!"
"You first!" she mocks him.
Playfully showing each other tongue in a teasing manner, the two return to the comforts of their bedrooms to get ready for the day ahead. Thankfully for all of them, their mother has decided to sleep in today, giving them all a morning free of the lecture based solely on the proper etiquette when among polite society. Not that they could get the lecture out of their minds if they wanted to. Years of drilling has embedded it, word for word, into the deepest parts of their minds.
Rushing through a shower before shoving herself into the first set of clothing she could get her hands on, Elizabeth snatches up her backpack filled with art supplies before heading downstairs to the front door, knowing that Jason would be knocking any minute. Not that her father or any of her family would believe her, she and Jason are only friends, best of friends, and they both prefer it that way.
From the moment they met, she and Jason had found this unprecedented balance with each other that neither had experienced before. A sense of comfort, if you will. The more they grew to know each other, the more they understood where they belonged in each other's lives. Never once even considering crossing the line from friendship to something more. Of course, that didn't stop both their families from assuming otherwise.
The Quartermaine family believe her to be the key to Jason's acceptance of his place in the family business. Obviously they don't know her all that well since she won't even take her 'rightful' place in her family's so called business choice. Where his family sees the best in her and Jason's connection, her family sees the worst. Her father is still convinced that Jason had pushed her into straying from the medical field and into the arts.
Not that she would ever admit it to her father, Jason had been the one to convince her that she should pursue her own dreams rather than blindly following the path set before her by her parents. A favor she had generously returned when he was struggling with the decision in regard to his career choice. Though the Quartermaines are blissfully unaware of it, she had encouraged him to pursue a career in architecture, knowing it to be his true passion in life.
"Daddy." Elizabeth scolds her father when he tries to make it past her to the door. "I'm well past the age of you greeting people at the door for me. I'll see you tonight."
"So be it." her father relents, accepting the hug and kiss she offers before returning to the living room, taking up his usual position by the window as she awaits her ride.
Within moments, like clockwork, knowing the time was drawing near, her brother makes his way down the steps, eager to watch as their father merely stands by while his precious baby girl gets into the vehicle that has been deemed the 'demon car' while doing his best to not voice any form of opinion on the matter. Of course he never succeeds and almost always blows his top the moment Elizabeth's safely a few streets away.
"Your father's staring at me again." Jason comments as she steps out of the house and onto the front porch. "You'd think he'd get over it by now."
"You obviously don't know my father." she shakes her head before turning and waving at her father. "Your grandfather would sooner give up his fortune before my father ever stops being the way he is."
"Right." Jason raises his hand in a slight wave at her father before walking back to his car with her by his side. "So...you doing okay?"
"If by doing okay you mean am I a total nervous wreck, then, yeah...I'm doing okay."
"You have nothing to be nervous about." he assures her. "I've seen a good amount of your paintings. You're a natural."
"Hopefully my professors will think so, too." she sighs before taking a deep breath and putting a smile in place of her frown. "Anyway, off the topic of me, how did it go last night?"
"Surprisingly enough, it actually worked."
"Yeah?" she voices in complete shock, having believed it wouldn't work any more than he did. "That's surprising."
"You're telling me." he agrees, stopping the car at a red light. "But it seems like your argument really did the trick. At least with Grandfather, anyway."
"That's a pretty big step, though." she reminds him. "I mean, with both Lila and Edward's stamp of approval, its only a matter of time before they all accept it."
"You obviously don't know my parents." he counters, using her same reasoning. "I don't stand a snowball's chance in hell at getting their approval."
Allowing a comfortable silence to fall over them, Elizabeth and Jason listen to the soft melodies coming from his stereo as they head to the university for her first class. It had taken a lot of hard to work to get her into the last seat in the program, but they had pulled it off at the last possible second and now she just has prove her worth.
The dean had been impressed with her persuasive skills as well as her artistic skill, deeming her to be a breath of fresh air for the program that he had personally installed in hopes of finding the top of the top artists of every generation. A part of her still believes that both their families name had come into play at some point during the process, but she has no proof of it and probably never will find any. However she got the opportunity, she intends to make the best of it.
"Wish me luck?" she voices as he stops in front of the building that houses the entire art program.
"You don't need luck." he counters easily, leaning across to place a soft kiss on her temple before pushing open the door for her. "You'll do great. I know it."
"If you believe it...so do I." she voices after a long moment, taking in a deep breath before stepping out of the mustang, accepting her backpack when he hands it to her. "You'll be right here when I'm done?"
"Right here."
Shutting the door behind her, she slowly walks up the steps, bringing her closer to the start of her future with every step she takes. For a brief moment, when doubt begins to seep into her mind, she glances back at the man sitting in his highly expensive Mustang, a look of apt conviction on his face. Lifting her hand in a slight wave, she turns and continues her venture into the building, a new sense of courage surging through her as she does. She can do this. She knows it. He knows it. And, soon enough, everyone else will know it, too.