Chapter 10

Liz startled Beth when she came in crying the day before, and Beth needed to know what happened, but (Though she wasn't hysterical like the first time) she wouldn't tell anybody.

"Liz what did George do?" Beth asked trying desperately to find out.

"George didn't do anything, Beth." Liz said sniffling sadly, "I broke up with him…"

"WHAT!?" Beth said with a wide eyed expression, "Why'd you do that?"

"Did you know Pattie Boyd's pregnant?" Liz asked avoiding Beth's gaze.

"No, did George-?"

"NO," Liz said looking down at her ring less hand, "well he said he didn't…"

Beth put an arm around Liz as the doorbell rang.

"I got it love!" Geo called from the kitchen as he went to the door quickly, "Hello Cynthia, c'mon in/"

Cyn came in and went to the living room with Beth and Liz, "Elizabeth Parker," she said seriously, "Why'd you break it all off with George?"

"Cyn," Liz said, "It's not that big of a deal! He knows why I did it and that's all that matters."

"No Liz," Cyn said sitting down next to her, "You devastated him! Mo was scared to leave him by himself last night."

"So I guess she told you everything?" Liz asked quietly.

"Well not everything," Cyn said, "Just that he cried when you left."

That part was the part that killed Liz; George never cried over anything, or at least he didn't in front of her. She took a deep breath and told Cyn and Beth everything that happened, and when she got finished, she felt like she told everybody 'what happened' 75% of her time.

"So George knocked her up?" Cyn asked in confusion.

"NO!" Liz said, "He didn't-!"

"Then why'd you dump him?" Cyn was more confused.

Liz groaned and gave up trying to explain it all again, "Oh it doesn't matter to you!" she snapped.

Cyn looked sheepish as she stood up, "Ok, well I'm sorry, Liz," she said quietly, "I better get going, now."

"No Cyn," Liz said, "I'm sorry for snapping at you; don't go…"

Cyn smiled, "I know love, but I left Julian with John. I better go so I can't clean up what ever mess they made."

Liz chuckled and said goodbye to her before Geo said it was time for dinner. Liz went to bed instead.

Liz realized she wasn't too tired and put on a record before pulling out a book to read. She was a quarter of the way through "Alice in Wonderland" when Geo knocked on her door.

"Hey kido," he said, "I heard you broke up with George."

"Yeah," Liz closed her book slowly, "You aren't gonna asked me why are you?"

Geo shook his head, "No, I understand why." He said, "It's hard going out with the rich and famous."

Liz giggled, "Harder than I expected at least." She said becoming quiet again.

"But Liz," Geo became very serious, as he say down on her bed with her, "He is your best friend. You could at least talk to him."

"I never said I wasn't talking to him," Liz muttered as she picked at her pajama shorts, "I'm more worried about him talking to me."

Geo put his hand on her shoulder, "Liz, he loves you, he's told you so over and over again; he's not just gonna stop talking to you."

"I know, but," Liz looked in her lap, "I hurt him pretty badly."

Suddenly there was a clatter on her window, "Apparently not…" Geo said standing up and laving the room as Liz opened the curtains. She giggled at seeing George with Sprout looking like he'd been crying quite a bit.

She opened the window; "George, what're you doing?" she asked.

"Um, I-I brought you Sprout." He lifted up the puppy, "She is yours anyway."

"Right," Liz said biting her lip, "But how're you gonna climb through the window with her?"

George made a sour face, "I didn't think about that…" he said. Liz laughed at him, "You wanna come through the front door?"

George sighed and nodded, "But it wont be as fun." She shut the window and ran downstairs to the front door.

When she opened the door, George took her arms and pulled her out into the cold and shut the door behind her.

"George, it's freezing out here!" she rubbed her hands over her bare arms and George suddenly realized she was in her pajamas.

"Sorry, love," he said handing her Sprout, "Um, whatcha been up to?"

"Not a whole lot, I was reading a few minutes ago, thanks for bringing Sprout. She could've stayed with you though." Liz said hugging the shivering puppy close to her chest.

"I got her for you," he said watching her longingly; "I also brought her something else." He dug around his pocket and pulled the engagement ring out of his pocket.

"George I-,"

"No, Liz," George said, "I want you to have it. I won't anything with it but lose it."

Liz took the ring with a sigh, "Ok, George." She put the ring on her finger since she didn't have any pockets to put it in. he looked hurt by it briefly, and she bit her lip with a shiver. Liz turned and let Sprout and turned back to George, "I better go back inside."

George nodded, "Ok," she turned to go, "Liz, um could I- uh," she stepped closer to him that she intended when she turned back around and he took her hand. She stiffened slightly when he stepped forward and hugged her. Immediately warmed in his embrace; she sighed into his shoulder and closed her eyes to jeep the sudden tears she felt well up in her eyes back.

He pulled back and looked at her, scared to make any sort of move on her. She was the one to make the move however. Liz put her forehead against his and they were nose to nose as a tear streaked down her cheek. He wiped it away gently as she pulled him close and kissed him like she never had before.

She pulled back and blushed, "I'm sorry George, I shouldn't have done that," she said looking at the ground sheepishly.

For a second George was hopeful, then completely put out, "That's alright love," he said kissing her cheek, "You're still my best friend ya know?" she smiled and shivered violently before stepping into the warm house.

She shut the door and leaned against the door. She sank down to the floor in front of a jumpy Sprout, realizing what she'd just lost with breaking up with George. The tears started to roll down her cheeks as Sprout nudged her hand with a worried whimper.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm so sorry George." Sprout licked her hand and wrist as Beth noticed her on the floor.

"George brought Sprout for you?" she asked sitting down next to Liz on the floor. Liz sniffed and nodded stiffly.

"Yeah," she put her head back against the door, "He did. Gosh what did I do, Beth!?"

"I, Liz you'll be alright," Beth put her arm around Liz's shoulders and she rubbed her arm comfortingly.

"I broke up with him, Beth!" Liz said loudly, "We haven't even been broken up for two days! I already miss him!"

"I know, Liz," Beth said, "But if you miss him so much, why don't you go after him?"

"Because, it's too hard!" Liz said remembering Pattie.

Beth sighed, "Quick lesson in life Liz," she said standing up, "Love isn't ever going to be easy." She turned around and left Liz at the door with Sprout.

Liz rolled her eyes and picked up Sprout and held her up so they were nose to nose, "Why cant love be easy, Sprout?"

Sprout licked her nose and started to squirm in her hands. Liz let her down and she ran off to where ever it was she was itching to go.

;is went back upstairs and cuddled into her warm bed, dreaming about George and their kiss on the front step.