¡Hola!

Thanks to all the great reviews!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, spring break is over now so I can't update as frequently as I did before.

I really truly am sorry it took so long!

I got a question in one of the reviews asking whether or not Liz will meet her parents. The answer is: I CAN'T AND WON'T TELL YOU!!

Oh and to Headlight39: don't worry, he's over a foot taller than me too!

That's it!

H.R.E!


Chapter Four—Back to Lizzy's POV

I looked at the girl standing in front of me, with her arms folded across her chest. She had an amused look on her face when she saw Lucas and me together. She had an eyebrow raised. I blushed and gave her a sheepish smile. She laughed at that.

"I'm Claire," she said, walking up to me. "You must be Lizzy."

"Hey, someone finally got the name right," I teased. She looked confused.

"I'm not a big fan of Elizabeth," I explained. "I prefer Liz or Lizzy. You're the first person that's actually said it the way I like."

"Oh," she said smiling. "I didn't even really think about it. I just like nicknames I guess." I laughed. We stared at each other for awhile, taking in each other's presence.

"Gosh, you're pretty!" we exclaimed at the same time. We had a giggle fit and Lucas rolled his eyes at that.

Claire was pretty, though. She was gorgeous! She had a pretty face with well defined features. Her eyes weren't quite black; they were like the color of pure coffee. Her lashes were so long that they brushed the top of her cheekbones when she blinked, just like mine. Her hair was longer than mine though; mine fell to the middle of my waist in curls, while she had long, straight black hair that fell past her butt like a satin sheet. She was taller than me, of course, but not too tall.

"You're hair is amazing!" I said, admiring its silkiness.

"Yours too!" We smiled at each other again and Lucas sighed impatiently. Claire looked at him. "You don't mind if I steal Lizzy for a while, do you Luke? We need some girl bonding time." Lucas hesitated for a while, but finally nodded.

"Come find us when the hot dogs are ready," she told him, and he sulked off into the house, most likely to find the rest of the so called "pack".

"Let's go for a walk," Claire suggested, linking our arms. We walked to the front yard and into a trail in the woods. After a while of walking in silence we started up a conversation.

"So how old are you, anyway?" Claire asked me.

"I've recently turned sixteen. And you?"

"Eighteen." She said. "And a half," she added after a pause.

"Well, the age difference isn't too bad." I commented. She nodded her head in agreement and we sat down on a nearby log.

We sat there, exchanging interests, and getting to know each other better. I found out that she and Quil have been dating for almost three years, and that she spends the summer with Emily and Sam a lot. She is close to Lucas, who is actually her cousin, and Caleb too, though the age difference makes it a bit harder.

I told her a bit about life in Florida, and some of my interests too, like playing the piano. I told her about on really good friend I had back at home, Ismene. I didn't get into the boy drama.

"You're make-up is smeared," she noticed, looking at me curiously. "Were you crying earlier?"

I looked down at the leaves on the trail. "Maybe," I said slowly. Claire studied my face again. I looked at her, confused.

"What's your story, Lizzy?" She asked looking into my eyes. "I know there is one. I can tell by your eyes, which by the way, are a very pretty shade of green. They're the same color of this stone we looked at in science a few years ago. I can't remember what it's called."

"Peridot?" I guess. Her eyes lit up.

"That's the one! But anyway, back to the point." She looked at me sincerely. I sighed.

"You know, I barely know you, yet you're the first person that can actually see through me." Claire smiled.

"No pretty, rich girl is just a pretty, rich girl!" She teased. I laughed at that.

"It's true," I said, sighing again. I tried to think of where to start. "Well, you know my mom is gone and my dad isn't exactly around."

"Yeah."

"And that for some odd reason, my grandfather—not Charlie, Carlisle—decided to leave my mother and my grandma Renée tons of money and the checks never stopped coming."

"Something like that."

"Well I guess that explains the rich part. Oh and Phil eventually made Major League, so I guess that contributed to the money."

"Phil?"

"My grandma's husband. My mom's stepfather. Phil."

"Oh, right."

"And I'm guessing that my looks came from my parents…"

"Okay, okay! I know all that! I want to know you! I want to know who Lizzy is. Not the stereotypical pretty rich girl Elizabeth everyone typecasts you as." She held my gaze again. The way she looked at me with those eyes! I felt like we were sisters already. I decided it would be safe to open up to her.

"Everyone thinks my life is perfect. That I have everything…looks, money, guys, designer clothes…but really I feel like I have nothing. No one. I have people to hang out with at school, but they don't understand me. I've had boyfriends, but all they ever want is either sex, or the title 'Elizabeth Masen's boyfriend'. I feel like nobody can understand what I feel.

"I grew up without my mother, and I have absolutely no idea where my father is. If I make that argument, then people are always like: 'Well at least you still have your grandparents', but it's not the same. They're not Bella and Edward. Mom and Dad. And plus, Phil was never around because of baseball, and now we don't even really talk. My grandma's always been sweet and all, she got so easily drawn into the whole living as a rich person thing that I have a feeling she's different that who she used to be. She's never around anymore though…she's an agent now, after I did a few shows…"

"Wait, after you did a few shows?" Claire asked confused.

"Grandma tried to get me into acting," I explained. "When I was like, six or something. I didn't do much, just a few episodes on various shows, but I hated it so I stopped. She was my agent though, so after that, she started representing other people." I stopped and sighed.

"I just feel so empty and alone half the time. Like a part of me is missing. Sometime's I'm not even sure if I'm…normal." I wasn't sure, but it looked like Claire had tensed a bit.

"What do you mean?" She asked cautiously.

"Like, I don't know little stuff I guess." I started explaining. "Like… my grandma swears that when I get hungry, my eyes change color. She says when I'm hungry, they darken and turn more into an emerald color, but when I'm full they're back to peridot with gold flecks in them. And sometimes, when I'm upset, I go running, and I can run for what seems like forever and not really feel tired. And all the doctors say that I'm a little colder than the norm and that my heart beats slower. I don't get along well with dogs either." I thought I saw her trying to hold back a laugh. I continued anyway.

"I just have this feeling inside of me that if I find my family, everything will make sense, and everything will fall right into place. I just don't really know how to start. I don't know, Claire. You're the first person I've been able to really connect with. This is a first for me. But I like you, a lot. So thanks for letting me spill." She gave me a warm smile.

"I'll always be here for you this summer. We're going to become great friends."

"We already are!" I laughed, and we hugged until my stomach grumbled. She heard it. She pulled away and looked into my eyes.

"Whoa, your grandma's right! Your eyes are darker! Weird!" I laughed but then stopped when I heard footsteps.

Lucas came walking up the trail and stopped when he saw us. I smiled at him. Claire noticed and gave me the we'll talk about that later look. I'd forgotten that Lucas made me smile.

"Um, hot dogs are ready," he said.

"Ha! Just in time!" Claire said, linking our arms again. "Let's go before Lizzy's stomach makes that awful noise again!"

"Hey!" I said, playfully slapping her arm with my free hand. I felt a whooshing and then I realized I was be cradled in Lucas' arms. Claire laughed and jumped on his back.

"Geez, you're strong!" I commented as he started jogging back to his house. He just shrugged, and ran effortlessly.


"I'm really glad I came here today," I said as I finished my hot dog. Claire, Lucas, Quil, and I were all sitting in the backyard. "You guys are great."
"Yeah, we are," Quil said cockily, finishing what must've been his seventh hot dog so far. I laughed.

"Well geez, don't be so modest!" I said sarcastically. Quil was funny though.

"So listen, Lizzy," Claire said taking my hand. "We're all going to go to the pool tomorrow. You have to come! Please say yes!" she pouted, looking like a sad puppy. She looked so cute! Quil put his cheek against against hers and imitated her face. Lucas did the same thing.

"Eww, get off of me, Luke!" Quil said pushing him off. Lucas laughed. I loved the sound.

"I'd love to! But…"

"What?" Lucas asked, his face falling in disappointment.

"No, it's not that I can't go, I just would need a ride. My baby's back in Florida." I said sadly.

"You're baby?" Quil asked, looking at me like I had three heads or something.

"My car." I said sighing.

"Is it a sweet ride?" he asked, curious.

"Yes, indeed it is!" I said smiling. I loved my car. It was amazing.

"Well, what kind is it?" he obviously wanted more details.

"It's a silver Audi convertible and that's all I know. I don't speak car. I just know it's amazing and it's mine!"

"Anyway…" Claire said, annoyed with Quil's car obsession. "Yes, of course we can give you a ride."

I smiled at her. "Thanks, Claire!"

"Lizzy?" I heard Grandpa Charlie call from the house.

"Yeah?"

"We've gotta go honey. I've got to be at the station in an hour."

"Noooooo," Claire whined. "I don't want you to leave!" I looked at her puppy face and sighed.

"Grandpa do I have to go?"

I heard him talk softly to someone. After a few seconds of waiting, he called back.

"Yeah, you can stay. Just have Claire or someone take you home later."

"Thank you!"

"No problem, honey. You enjoy yourself. That's what summer's for." After a minute or so, we heard his car start and then hear it driving away. Lucas turned to me.

"You know, I've always liked your Grandpa."

We all laughed at that and then threw our plates out. I had a day of fun with my new friends to enjoy, and I felt like one of the happiest girls alive.


Cheesy ending, I know, and I'm sorry.

This chapter was kind of short….and I apologize for that too!

Another apology—for taking so long to update! I really am sorry for that! But with school and homework and all kinds of other crap it's really hard. But I definitely will try very hard to.

Hope this chapter didn't suck too badly…I know it was kind of boring.

Well I'll hopefully be updating soon! Until then, see ya!

Review! You know I love it when you do!

Feel free to ask questions!

Peace, I'm out!