Elizabeth sat at the small table in the coffee shop waiting for Conner.
She looked down at her outfit, white capri's and a green tank top. She
had changed her clothes about ten times because she had wanted to look
perfect.
She hoped Conner would show up. She hadn't seemed to thrilled to see
her yesterday and then he had kicked her out so he could be with that
Monique bimbo.
Suddenly the door chimed and Conner walked in. He scanned the empty
cafe and noted that it was empty.
"Hey Conner," Elizabeth said smiling up at him.
"Uh, hey," he mumbled.
"I'm glad you came," she said looking at him.
"I almost didn't," he said.
"I'm just going to come out and say it Conner. I want to know what
happened."
Conner sighed. "I don't know where to begin."
They were interrupted by a waitress who set two steaming cups of coffee
in front of them.
"Sorry," Elizabeth apologized. "I ordered for you. Mocha's are still
you're favorite, right?"
Conner nodded.
"Start with junior year, the night you left," Elizabeth prodded.
"Okay," Conner said finally. "That night when my cell phone went off,
that's when it all started. The person who called was my grandmother.
Megan was in the back yard listening to her headphones. When she came
inside she found my mother in a heap on the floor. She called 911, but
my mom was already gone. She had had a severe heart attack and it had all
happened too fast for Megan to have done anything."
"I'm so sorry," Elizabeth said tears forming in her eyes. "I had no
idea."
"But it got worse," Conner went on. "Megan felt so horrible and she
blamed herself. And right after the funeral Megan just kind of shut
down.
There is nothing physically wrong with her. She just exists in her own
little world and she's been like that ever since. She doesn't respond
to me or even shows any sign that she knows who I am."
"Can she get better?" Elizabeth asked.
"The doctors don't know. Once, she came out of it, for like, a second.
She looked at me right in the eyes and said 'Conner'. But then she
disappeared again."
"Can she talk?" Elizabeth asked.
"She mumbled about stuff, but everything she knows is what kind of
world she's built up for herself in her mind. She can walk and feed
herself
and stuff."
Elizabeth was quiet for a few minutes. "Wow, Conner, I had no idea."
"How could you?" Conner said bitterly. "I felt horrible about not
calling or anything but when I got back I had mom gone and Megan all
messed
up. By the times got under control it was too late."
"I would have understood," Elizabeth said quietly.
"I know, but I guess I figured that it would be easier for you if you
didn't see from me or hear from me."
Elizabeth grabbed his hand and held it.
"After I got Megan at the center, I couldn't leave her so I took
classes at the community college and got a degree in business
management. I
also sang songs and released a CD to bring some money in."
"I heard that you're successful." Elizabeth said softly.
"Yeah, I'm doing pretty well."
"So what about Monique," Elizabeth said. "How does she fit in?"
"She's a nurse at the center and she used to be in charge of Megan. She
worked with us and we got to be really close. She's really great,"
Conner said uncomfortably. "What about you? How did you do?"
"Well," Elizabeth began. "Right after you left some guys tried to rape
me, but some guy stopped them."
"I know," Conner said quietly.
"It was you?" Elizabeth exclaimed. "Thanks."
"I could never leave you like that," Conner murmured.
Elizabeth gazed into his eyes. "I was pretty upset after you left. I
came back here hoping to fix things with Jessica but I think I made
things worse. I'm thinking of returning to Boston."
"You should stay," Conner said gazing at her. "I missed you Liz. When I
left you that night, I felt like I was leaving a part of me behind. It
was a long time before I was able to be happy again."
"With the walking slut bomb?" Elizabeth said harshly.
Conner glared at her. "Come on, Liz. You don't even know her."
"I don't want to know Monique!" Elizabeth shrieked. "Don't you get it?"
"Get what?" Conner growled. "You're the one acting like their five
years old!"
Elizabeth blushed and looked away from Conner.
Conner softened. "What's really going on Liz."
"I said that when you left that I was really upset. It took a long time
before I was able to be happy again. I never got over you," Elizabeth
said gently. "Conner, I'm still in love with you."
Conner stared at her in shock. "What?"
"You heard what I said!" Elizabeth said her face flaming.
"You still…that was over two years ago, Liz!"
"I know!" Elizabeth shot back. "But I can't help how I feel."
Conner opened his mouth then shut it. "I can't do this right now." He
stood up and walked out of the café.
Elizabeth sat there and began to quietly cry.

Jessica carefully applied another coat of lipstick. It was opening
night and she was due on stage in five minutes.
Most of the other actors dreaded opening night. Jessica loved it. She
loved telling the story for the first time and the excitement that all
their hard work had paid off.
"Hey, baby," she turned around at the voice. Jeremy was standing in the
doorway.
"You aren't supposed to be here!" Jessica hissed. "I'm on stage in
five-"
Jeremy silenced her with a long deep kiss.
"Hmmmmm," she purred.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and Jeremy placed his arm on her
thigh.
"I have to go," she moaned but Jeremy just kissed her more
passionately.
She pulled away and gazed at him longingly. She raced over to her mark
breathing heavily and flushed.

After the play Jessica and Lana were undressing and gossiping about the
play.
"Wasn't Matt Morgan, terrific tonight?" Lana sighed.
Jessica giggled, "Yeah, you should totally ask him out."
"I don't know," Lana said thoughtfully. "I'm not as bold as you are
Jessica."
"Yes you are," Jessica insisted as she pulled her silk robe on.
Suddenly the girls were interrupted as Jeremy walked into the dressing
room.
Lana gazed questionably at Jessica.
Jessica blushed and mouthed 'later' to her friend.
"You were awesome tonight," Jeremy said grinning down at her.
"Thanks," she said nervously. He took her hand and pulled her close. He
started to loosen her robe and Lana's eyes were now as big as saucers.
Jessica grabbed his hand and led him to the small bathroom near the
back of the room. "You shouldn't have come," she said breathing heavily.
"I mean-" but Jeremy silenced her with a kiss.
The kiss got deeper when suddenly Lana said loudly, "She's right here
in the bathroom."
"I'll wait," the person replied.
Jessica froze. Ryan was in her dressing room!