A/N: I don't particularly like this chapter. It's more of the exposition for the side plot, of Jack's crush on Lizzie. But don't worry, he's not in here for nothing, he does actually move the plot forward. (yea!) in a later chapter (aw damn, I still have to write more) I'm considering taking this chapter down and replacing it, but all in due time. Oh, I also promise chapters will start getting longer once I'm not as lazy with my writing, and stop doing it just in class. So yea, if one day you pop in, and this chapter is three times as long, don't be alarmed. I really REALLY REALLY want to re-write all of this….so…yea
Lizzie fled from the house, gasping, her chest heaving up and own, but not form exertion. What the hell was she going to do with the rest of her life? She can just sit at the sidelines, pining over what she can no longer have. Her chest clenched in anguish, her breath fell short. Lizzie felt as if she was going to die. 'Is this what is feels like?' She wondered, freaking out, losing control. 'To know your life means nothing. That everything you have worked for has gone to waste, to know you mean NOTHING?' Glancing up at the auburn sky, the sun had barely risen above the horizon. Letting out a sigh, Lizzie set out to make the long trek to school.
Watching her daughter from the window, worry written clearly upon her face, Sally suddenly wished she was telepathic; to be able to see what was going on in Lizzie's mind. JoJo came up behind her, and rested a comforting hand on her elbow, not being able to reach her shoulder. Sally turned to look at her only son wit a serious demeanor. "Did you get anything out of her?"
"Lizzie gives away more than he suspects. I'm connected to the root of the problem," JoJo hesitated, lifting his hand to his chest, rubbing the spot right below where she grabbed him. "I will find out what's going on, I can promise you that." JoJo's eyes took on a strange gleam, a gleam of determination. "Mom, can you talk with Lizzie? I feel you could get closer to her, plus, I think she needs it."
As JoJo walked away, Sally remained rooted in thought. Tonight, she was going to take Lizzie out for mother daughter time. Nothing was going to stand in her way from getting her to know her own daughter.
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A tall, lean Who sat on the stoop outside of the school, looking out for a certain someone. Truth be told, he was pretty gangly, and usually had a goofy grin resting on his face, but despite his goofy, child like appearance, he was actually quite mature.
Drumming his fury fingers upon his leg impatiently, he was beginning to grow anxious, wondering where that Who was. He rose to his feet when he saw a figure approaching in the distance. Her yellow fur appeared to glow in the new morning's light. The way she walked, as if she graced the ground with every step. As she grew nearer, the Who thought about her sparkling laugh, as if tiny bells rang out, tinkling in a large field. He thought about her touch, the way his arm tingled after her long fingers brushed against him. As if each one of those tiny tingles, was an explosion. He had to bight back a chuckle every time one of her quirks exposed themselves; biting her lip when she was concentrating. When she was concerned about someone, her eyebrows would always knit together, and her left hand would tap at her side. He could watch her all day long, if he were an artist, his fingers would itch every time she came in his sight, aching to paint, to drink in every curve of her body, every feature one her face. In laments terms, he was mesmerized by her.
Lizzie climbed over the last hill, and started making the last stretch towards school. Jack, the gangly Who, breath caught in his throat. He could tell, even at this distance, that something was terribly wrong.
A depressed aura filled the air surrounding her. It seemed as if an entire rainstorm was brewing above her head. It took all of Jack's will to hold his struggling bones back, each one fighting to carry his body over to her, and fold her into his arms. They had been best friends since they were Who-tots, but he wasn't going to ruin their whole friendship, by some of his own conflicting emotions.
Lizzie stopped right in front of Jack, her head remaining towards the ground. It would look, to anyone who passed by, that she was intently examining their feet, but Jack could tell the difference.
"Hey," Jack said softly, testing the waters.
"Hi," She replied so quietly in return, it took Jack a second to realize he'd heard anything at all. Jack hesitated for a moment, to see if she'd say anything. The result was them standing in silence, Lizzie staring at their feet, and Jack staring at Lizzie.
"I hope I won't regret this,' Jack thought to himself. Taking a deep breath, and using every ounce of courage he owned, he placed his first two fingers underneath her chin, and lifter her head to face him.
"I like it better when I can see your face," Jack spoke soothingly, flashing her a smile.
Lizzie's lip quivered, so overcome. Ever since the night before, she had been so overcome by emotions, his kind gesture just overwhelmed her; she broke.
Lunging herself into him, she started sobbing into his chest, soaking his fur. Jack stood stock still, frozen in shock. It took him a moment to get his bearings, but then he continued to exempt some of that bravery, amazed he could do this without turning into jello. Snaking his long arms around her waist, resting them right above the Who's signature round abdomen, he held her tight. And continued to hold her, as a friend.
"Hey, let's get out of here, and then you can tell me what's wrong," Jack murmured into her hair. With a tear stained face, she looked up at him in shock.
"What about school-" she started.
"To hell with school," he interrupted. "You're the mayor's daughter, how much trouble could you get in? Besides, you can probably just get me some pardon thingy-mae-bober or something." Letting out a sigh, Lizzie nodded her head, suddenly feeling quite weary from crying. Releasing Jack, Lizzie let him lead them away from the building, and in Lizzie's mind, she knew she couldn't get a better friend.
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Sitting by a river bank, the same bank they always played along as kids, Lizzie began to lament.
"Well, yesterday JoJo announced he decided to become mayor, and-"
"Oh god Lizzie," Jack cut in, pain flashed across his face, hurting for his friend. "I'm so sorry, really, you have no idea how sorry I am."
Lizzie blinked in confusion. "But I never told you yet-"
"That you've always wanted to be the next mayor?" Jack stopped Lizzie once again, as she gaped at him in shock. "What," Jack asked, raising an eyebrow knowingly. "You think you could hide it from your best friend?" Lizzie just continued to stare at him, like he had grown a second head. She hadn't even realized that anyone had noticed.
"Oh, come on Lizzie, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you've always wanted to be mayor. I mean look at you Lizzie, you scream, 'I am gonna be the next mayor, and you can't do nothin' about it, got it?'" Jack joked, trying to make her smile. Lizzie just gave him a pointed look.
"Look Lizzie, you just need to figure things out. What I think you should do is talk to your father," Jack raised a hand to stop Lizzie from saying anything, knowing her to well. "I know you have trouble with that, but here's a chance to change that. Lizzie, you can't just sit by, really. You are perfect for mayor. Your dad is just blinded by the fact that JoJo agreed to succeed. I really think you need to talk to him, AND JoJo." Lizzie continued to not say anything, seeming to have taken on JoJo's silent demeanor.
Letting out a sigh of defeat, Jack rose to his feet, and extended his hand to help her up. "Now come on," Jack nudged her playfully, as the started walking down the path back to the road. "Let's go get you a Who-slushie." He might not of been able to completely rid her of her troubles, but he was willing to try to make her life a whole lot happier, and always, as a friend.
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At his office, Ned paced the room back and forth, pondering over the now very popular subject of Lizzie. What could be troubling his oldest daughter? Ned stopped pacing in remembrance of a time where the biggest problem she ever had was that her diaper needed changing. Elizabeth Hope O'Malley, born six pounds and four ounces. Ned remembered the first time he held her. She looked up at him with her big, beautiful eyes, and gave him a smile. Offering her one of his furry fingers, Lizzie grabbed onto it tightly, and let out a gurgle of glee. That little girl had stolen his heart, from the moment he saw her.
Ned let out a sigh, and flopped down at his desk. Flipping though his wallet until his found the picture he kept of Lizzie; his mind was swarmed with memories of all his children, growing older and older. Staring forlornly at her picture, Ned saturated himself with the fact that Lizzie was grown. She was almost an adult, for crying out loud, almost eighteen. JoJo was already considered a legal adult, and now his baby girl had grown her wings, and would soon be flying away from the nest.
"That's it!" Ned hollered ecstatically. 'Lizzie must be depressed because she's growing up!' With that thought, Ned hopped up from his seat, and started dancing around his office merrily. Flinging himself back into his chair, he starting spinning around the room in jubilation, completely disregarding the lamp he knocked over.
Ned made an oath to himself, to make this Lizzie's best birthday ever. To show her that even though she's all grown up, she'll always have a place to call home. And to Ned, she'll always be his baby girl.
