Chapter 20: When Two Worlds Collide

A/N: Yea! My 20th chapter and this really made my day. There is a word which Evelyn says which is insulting for Italians. I apologize and I promise that this is the only chapter with it.

Evelyn's skinny body stood in front of Elizabeth and Daniel. Her long blonde flowing hair was reflecting the sun, her beaming eyes were staring down and her white pale skin glistened. "Daniel Pierce, I thought that was you. How'd you been?" She completely ignored Elizabeth.

"Uh... pretty good," He stammered. He slowly got up as well as Elizabeth. They were both soaked and wet, but neither of them cared. "Evelyn, I would like for you to meet, my girlfriend Elizabeth Quressimo." Facing Elizabeth, he said "Elizabeth, this is Evelyn Johnson, my ex-girlfriend." He said the last line in triumphant.

Evelyn gave a little glare, and then it subsided into a gentle smile. "Oh, I've heard about you around the town. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. You are the topic everywhere. In fact, my husband," she emphasized that word to Daniel. She took out her hand waiting for Elizabeth to shake.

"Oh," she was kind of startled and yet flattered at the same time. "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Johnson."

"Actually, it's now Mrs. Martin," She replied coldly and addressing it to Daniel.

"Sorry," Elizabeth replied quietly.

Daniel cut in. "So, what are you doing here, Evelyn?"

"Well, I'm rich now," She bragged completely ignoring the question at first. "But, I decided that since it was a beautiful warm day for this month, I decided to come to the beach and enjoy myself. Then, I saw you two acting like children in the water." She then looked at Elizabeth with the last comment.

Elizabeth started thinking an excuse in defense, "I wanted to feel the country water on my whole body. To have something to remember by once I go home." Daniel smiled at her.

Evelyn raised her eyebrows. "And you couldn't feel it with your feet... Elizabeth?"

"I did, but decided to go the whole way and drag Danny into it." She clamped her mouth when she said Danny. She should have never said that.

"Danny, huh?" Evelyn looked Daniel's way. "And do you have a nickname for the guinea over here?"

Now, Elizabeth was smart. She knew that Evelyn wanted her to crack and run crying like a little child because of a racial slur. Evelyn obviously didn't know that she grew up with that slur and so much more. Evelyn wasn't going to make her break. Instead, she looked down at the sand with no response.

"EVELYN!!" Daniel shouted. Half of the beach heard that. "How dare you call my girl that. I will not stand for people to insult her like that. If you insult her, you insult me! You get the picture? She doesn't deserve this. So pack you money, and get out of our faces. I, frankly don't want to see you again! Get my drift?"

Evelyn gave Elizabeth a glare, but finally answered, "Yes, Danny," she said mocking Elizabeth then faced Daniel. "I get your drift. But just make sure you know what you're getting into. Good day to the both of you!" She turned around and stormed back to her seat.

"You ok, Elizabeth?" Daniel whispered in her ear.

"I'll be fine. Thank you. No one has ever defended me before. I'm just so use to it, that I don't look to defend myself. You must remember that I grew up with this, it's not the first time I've been insulted." She looked up and gave a little smile.

"I don't care, Elizabeth. I'm not going to have anyone insult you or look down on you. Whether you like it or not, I'll defend you, I promise!" He took her shoulder and they started walking out of the water.

"You know who she reminds me of?" Elizabeth said after a moment.

"Who?"

"Your mother." Elizabeth laughed and noticed Daniel coming after her. She started running, but he finally tackled her down, pinned her wrist and had her face him. He kissed her wet lips.

"Which got me to this question," Elizabeth stated after the lip lock. "Why did your father marry her in the first place?"

"Well," Daniel started still keeping her pinned. "My mother was a poor girl kinda like you. They met in a store that her parents owned. He came in every day and they would talk. They went on a few dates and there ya go! My father is one of the wealthiest in this town. His family is very wealthy. My mother was never like she is today. But she married money, and that filled her head. It's a common cause, you know. Does that answer your question?" Daniel flashed a wide smile.

"That and so much more!" Elizabeth shot back.

Daniel kissed her once again and they rolled around in the sand for a long time.

Night rolled in slowly. It seemed to go fast for Elizabeth and Daniel. Sadden that that day was done, they finally sat up and watched the sky fall into darkness. The sun faded into the distance, giving the sky a colorful look with its pinks and purples filling the sky.

They watched it romantically until it grew dark. They were both dried off now but were cold and cuddled each other for warmth. Tonight was a full moon, and it reflected the waves of the water. They kept rolling in.

"Oh, Danny, this is beautiful! I've never seen the moon this bright before! You don't get that advantage by living in the city. You are very fortunate to see the moon like this all the time!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Yes. But seeing it with a beautiful woman is priceless." Daniel commented. Elizabeth looked at him and smiled. His eyes were now black with what she could see. He glistened in the moonlight. Daniel thought the same thing of Elizabeth.

"So, do you want to go back to my parents?" Daniel asked.

"Do I have much of a choice?" Elizabeth asked in return.

"No, you don't. You are my hostage, and I say, let's go. We'll come back another day."

"Take me warren!" Elizabeth said in between giggles. Daniel grabbed her waist and started walking to the Pierce residence.

--

Inside the house, they were surprisingly not waited on by Mrs. Rosa Pierce. They sneaked in and went upstairs to change into something more comfortable. When Daniel was done, he went into Elizabeth's room for a kiss goodnight.

"Will you be ok in here, or will you need some company?" Daniel asked slyly with a grin.

"You must remember that I'm a Catholic and am not doing it yet if that's what you're implying. Not until I'm married. But your are certainly welcome to keep me company WITH your clothes on. Ok?"

"I promise that my drawers will stay on throughout the night. They will not leave my legs, I promise..." He continued on.

"Ok, Ok! Come on in you big goof!" Elizabeth pulled him into the room and went to bed. "Aren't you afraid that your mother will find out?"

"Is my mother me?"

"No"

"Then, don't worry about it. It's not like we're doing it. I'm keeping you company in this lonely old house just like last night with a crabby couple hanging over you and a handsome young man protecting you..."

Laughing, Elizabeth finally replied, "Shut-up handsome man and get on your side and start protecting me!"

He jumped into bed with Elizabeth behind. "Goodnight, Danny."

"Goodnight, Eliza."

He shut off the light, and went into an instant sleep.