Chapter Seven:

The Dinner, the Date, and the Dance

"I thought you said we were going to the beach!?"

"We're meeting Brady Leigh and Joel for dinner first."

Liz smiled and said, "It's so cute how they finally got together!"

Will laughed and grabbed Liz's hand as the two of them walked inside the little Italian bistro. Joel and Brady Leigh already sat beside each other at a four-person table. Will and Liz slid into the booth across from them.

Immediately, the waitress appeared with menus for them and asked their drink orders. Will, Brady, and Joel ordered sweet tea, but Liz ordered strawberry lemonade, just to be different. The waitress flounced off to retrieve their drinks.

Elizabeth glanced around the restaurant, the romantic ambience making her aware of Will's every move. How could she feel this way about two guys?

Deep in her thoughts, Liz didn't register the conversation flowing around her. She caught bits of words like "food", "marching" and "drum major". But she grew keenly aware when they said "Jesse".

Following Will's gaze, she spotted Jesse across the room, all else fading as it had that day in the airport. This time, however, Jesse seemed not to see Will. He walked purposefully across the restaurant and grabbed Elizabeth's hand. He pulled her up to standing and motioned for her to follow him outside. Will made a move as if to come after them, but Liz waved her hand to stop him.

Once outside, Liz whispered, "What do you want, Jesse?"

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, saying, "Why? Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Why did you tell them that I'm cheating on Jen with you?"

"What? Who says I started that rumor?"

"Jen! I believe my girlfriend."

Liz could feel tears gathering behind her eyes. He had witnessed Jennifer's brutality towards Liz and had even saved her from it. Despite his knowledge of Jen's hatred towards Elizabeth, Jesse still believed the cold-hearted flautist.

As her tears spilled over, Liz cried, "You know I wouldn't do something like that! You're my best friend, or at least you were!"

Jesse looked angry enough to hit someone as his hand rose threateningly, but as he hesitated, someone grabbed him from behind. It was Will.

Elizabeth watched in horror as Jesse whirled around and launched a punch at Will's face, the former blocking it expertly. As the attacks mounted, flying between the two, Liz's voice caught in her throat, disabling her from yelling at them. She didn't know whose side she was on.

As Will caught Jesse in a nasty headlock and prepared to finish the fight, Liz screamed, "No! Don't!"

Will glanced up at Elizabeth's terror-stricken face and released Jesse. He knew enough was enough with Liz.

"C'mon, Liz. Let's get out of here."

Reluctantly, she followed Will to his car, glancing back at Jesse's angry glare.

Instead of taking Liz home, Will took her to his family's condo, the two curling up on the couch.

Elizabeth fell asleep in Will's arms, just like she used to.