So I deleted Twice.. only because I had no more inspiration for it and it was terribly short. And other reasons. I hope these chapters aren't terribly short either. This story takes place in 2019, as 1994 + 25 = 2019. And I know the little article thingy was short.
"James. James." Liz started frantically jabbing James with her finger. Cat had taken them to the library, and she was currently involved in a deep discussion about unicorns with a five year old. Liz was on a computer, trying to sift through old articles to see if her mother's name was in any of them. James was flipping through an old Sports Illustrated magazine. Of course.
"What?" He looked up, putting the magazine back onto the table. "Look at this article!" she whispered. He turned his attention to the computer. It was a very old article, however, as it was dated 2008. They exchanged a quick glance at each other when they read the date. 2008 was the year they had both been born in.
Jade West's New Daughter
Up-and-coming actress Jade West reportedly gave birth yesterday to a baby girl weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces. The girl was named Elizabeth Marie West. It is unknown what will happen to little Elizabeth, seeing as Jade is only 14. It is also unknown who is the father of the baby, but it is reported to be an old flame, Beck Oliver. Jade was unable to comment. What will Elizabeth's future be like?
"They're talking about you, Liz," James said, noting that Elizabeth's already pale face had paled even more. "You okay?" She bit down on her lip. "My theory's true, James," she whispered. "It doesn't even say that it's a California news website. It's Florida. It's true, James. All of it."
"Then we have to prove it's true, Liz. We have to prove that Cat, no matter how funny she is, should just be a friend of Beck's. We have to prove that Jade and Beck should be together." She nodded at his words. "We will. Go ask the librarian if you can print something. I'll stay here and make sure your mom doesn't start screaming at that kid." Cat was still involved in the discussion with the five year old. She looked a little angry now. Liz watched James converse with the librarian for about half a minute until she finally agreed. They printed the article out and Liz carefully tucked it into her jeans pocket. James went over to his mom and finally pulled her out of the discussion. The five year old fiercely stuck her tongue out at Cat, then ran off. Liz watched as James grabbed her from lunging after the kid.
She smiled to herself, thinking about what her life would've been like with two parents and a brother rather than one parent and no siblings. If the future had stayed the way it was supposed to be, then her parents would've been Beck Oliver and Jade West, but Jade probably would've been Jade Oliver. Jade would've been older now. James might've been her brother. But no, the future usually never stayed the way it was supposed to be.
James walked back over to Liz and motioned for her to come with them as Cat raced for the front doors. Liz laughed slightly as her antics, she wondered what Cat was like as a child. They entered a hushed discussion over their plans as they followed Cat out the front doors.
"What are you going to do, Liz?" She bit down on her lip after James asked this.
"I'm going to show Beck the article. We need a good explanation. We need to know what happened so we can fix it."
"Well, then we'll have to involve your mom as well."
"Why my mom?" James looked at her in disbelief. She blushed slightly.
"Your mom ran away. Beck wouldn't know what happened after she ran away, because he didn't come with her. Only she would know what happened. You might know some of it, but you wouldn't know what happened between her leaving and you being born."
"But.."
James stopped in his tracks, grabbed Liz's shoulders, and roughly shook her. "But what?" He looked at her with a fierce look in his eyes. "There is no but, Liz. This is big, okay? We need to fix this. This is our chance, Liz. Are you in this or not?"
"I.."
"Are you?"
"I am." She said, her voice finally showing some confidence. "I am," she repeated. He let go of her shoulders and nodded.
"Good." They continued to follow Cat, who had gotten distracted by the ducks in a nearby pond. She was laughing at them and trying to talk to them. They exchanged a quick glance of confusion when they saw her, but shrugged it off.
Liz had snuck back into Beck's office. He was on the phone once more, rapidly discussing something she probably didn't care about.
"No, no, that's the wrong order. I didn't ask for that many. No.." he was muttering into the phone. She gritted her teeth in anger, the article still tucked into her pocket.
"Beck," she said firmly. He spun in his chair to face her. A mixture of annoyance and surprise appeared on his face when he saw her. "Hang up." He put his hand over the phone.
"I really can't. Go do something else." He tried to wave her off, but the anger began to boil in her blood once more.
"I said," she growled, "Hang up." This was more important than whatever he had mistakenly ordered. That could wait; this couldn't. He sighed.
"Fine," he pressed a button on his phone and set it down on the desk. "What now?" She quickly pulled the article out of her pocket and put it into the palm of his hand.
"Read it." she demanded. She watched his eyes scan over it for a few seconds. His eyes stopped darting rapidly and instead he blinked a few times. She assumed it was out of shock.
"Wh.. I.." He was practically speechless. He glanced from her back to the tiny piece of paper over and over again. She put her hands on her hips, expecting at least one word to come out of his mouth.
"You really do look like Jade," he breathed. "So.. I had.. I had a daughter.. And no one told me?"
"Apparently so."
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. So it has." he muttered. "I just don't know what to say. I mean, you get a bunch of fucking financial problems and then you find out you have a kid with a girl who ran away from you." She assumed he didn't notice that he had sworn in front of her, but she was used to it. She had woken up to the sound of her mother's cursing almost daily as a child. "And then whoever you replaced that girl with gets heartbroken, and tries to take your other kid."
"I don't think that will happen."
"If that doesn't happen, what's going to happen?" He demanded. "First financial problems, then divorce problems, then child custody problems. I'm only 25! I can't deal with this!"
"And I'm only eleven, but I'd help you if I could."
"Sure you would." he muttered sarcastically. "After all, I am the father you never had." He laughed bitterly, and Liz was just a little bit worried. She was pretty sure this was a side of Beck that not even Jade had seen before. "I'm the irresponsible father. Why would you help me?"
"Because you are my father, and I'm your daughter, and we have to be here for each other." She knew a great deal of knowledge considering her age. It all came from her mother. "And I bet my mother's in a worse state than you are. You need to be there for her. You need to be there for your real love, Beck. Do you really love Cat?"
"I do.. But.. She's so.."
"She's so what? Weird? Unusual? Something you're not used to? I assume you and Jade would've stayed together if she hadn't ran away. So you need to think about this yourself, and decide what to do." She laughed, it was a bitter laugh not unlike the one he had laughed earlier. "Because I've helped all I could. It's your turn now. Do something." With that, she turned on her heel and left the room. He bit his lip and faced his desk again.
Glancing at the phone on his desk, he picked it up and began to dial the number he was shocked to know he still remembered. He placed the phone up to his ear and waited.
SUSPENSE. :D
