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Bonjour mes amies!
Once again, I thank all of you for your heartwarming reviews! Gracias! It really means a lot to me.
Well, I have nothing else to say now… so, I'll just go on my way… *slowly backs up*
Forward and out!
Oh, by the way, I made a mistake (*gasp*), in the last chapter. Beth and Lizzie are fifteen, not fourteen. Oops.
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= = = = = = March, 2001 = = = = = = =
= = = * * = = = Lizzie = = = * * = = = =
"Popcorn?" asked Lizzie as Gordo sat down next to her on the couch.
"Check."
"Blankets and pillows?"
"Check."
"Caffeine-crammed soda drinks?"
Gordo grinned. "Check."
"Best friend?"
Unanimously, they said, "Check!"
Shaking his head in amusement, Gordo shifted the popcorn bowl to his lap and began to munch. They had been doing this routine for as long as they could remember. It was an idea that had transpired to Lizzie more than ten years earlier, after seeing Gordo always worrying about losing something. He had made lists over and over again, trying to calm his nerves. But now, it was more of a movie-time tradition - nothing more than a habit.
Lizzie snatched the popcorn from his hands. "Tsk, tsk." She wagged her finger menacingly at him. "Not until the movie starts!"
Sinking lower into the couch, Gordo crossed his arms across his chest.
"Fine," he said, glowering. Lizzie's ######### laughter resounded throughout his body, and he couldn't help but smile reluctantly.
"Here," said Lizzie, "Lift up your head."
Gordo did as he was told, and she slipped a pillow underneath.
"Thanks." He smiled, and with his fingernail, picked out the telltale kernel husks from his teeth.
= = = = = = March, 2001 = = = = = = =
= = = * * = = = Beth = = = * * = = = =
"My life," Beth hissed to herself, dropping gracelessly to the floor, "Is crap."
She crossed her arms, and ran her hands along her cold, shivering shoulders. Beth tugged at her hair. It was an old habit of hers, dating back years. Her mother told her to stop ("By my age, you'll be bald, Beth,"), but she couldn't quit. It was a nervous habit, a close cousin of the cracking of knuckles, or the sucking of a thumb. It was almost calming to Beth, despite the horrible pain.
But it drove her mother crazy.
Beth buried her head in her hands, refusing to cry, but feeling the burning sensation in her throat prying at her emotions.
"Dinner!" A yell from downstairs. Beth took a shuddering inhalation of breath, and walked down the stairs to the kitchen.
Her mother barely even glanced her way. "Dinner is on the table, sweetheart."
Reluctantly, Beth pulled out a chair and sat down. She reached across the table and grabbed a carrot stick. Jo strode to the table set for two, her eyes straying ever so slightly on the dinner (or lack of it) that Beth dumped on her plate.
"So, how are you?" Jo asked carefully, trying to make conversation. Her trembling hand rested on the ladle of the chicken noodle soup. Beth just crunched on her carrot stick, apparently deep in thought.
"Does it really matter?" she drawled, resuming her normal curt manner, "I mean, you don't seem to care anyway."
Jo flinched. "Beth, I care."
"Oh, really?" Beth retorted, heat rising to her cheeks, "You don't know anything about my life!"
"What do you mean?" Jo was a strange calm.
Angry tears ran down Beth's face, and she grabbed a piece of broccoli to hide the uncharacteristic hush. "Never mind."
More silence.
"Beth…" Jo started nervously, "Listen to me…"
"You have no idea…" Beth prodded the broccoli portion with her fork, "What… I go through. So don't try and tell me what to think or do or feel."
"The school counselor -,"
"To hell with the school counselor! She doesn't believe me… You don't believe me…"
"They caught you and your friends with marijuana, Beth!"
Beth just glared, and Jo took a deep breath. "Elizabeth, honey, please… I'm trying not to make this a big deal… You made a mistake…"
"You really think…" Beth puffed up defensively, "That I made a mistake like that?!"
Jo cleaned her fogged-up spectacles with a handkerchief from her pocket. "Beth, I don't want to make an inaccurate accusation… It's just, you've been… distant."
"Ho, ho! Now I'm distant?" Beth completely lost control. "I don't talk to you, Mother, because I'm fine without you! My friends can make me happy!" Beth bit on her tongue, taking a shuddering inhalation, as if she were sealing her fate. "I can count on my friends."
Jo was silent, unsure of what to say or do.
"Listen," Beth went on, slowly calming herself, "I don't need motherly guidance. I don't need advice." Her eyes averted from her mother's face. "I don't need help."
Tears brimmed in Jo's eyes.
Nonchalantly, Beth's eyes found Jo's. "I'm really sorry I'm not perfect." She blinked, her black lashes illuminated against her pale skin. "I'm sorry that your only child turned out to be a failure."
Jo's heart reached out to her daughter, but she was already gone. In the distance, a door was slammed.
Only then did she lean forward over the table and sob.
= = = = = = March, 2001 = = = = = = =
= = = * * = = = Lizzie = = = * * = = = =
"Okay, now here we go!" Lizzie announced cheerfully. She clicked on the television. "Voila!"
Gordo laughed. "You're so full of yourself, Liz," he told her, smiling. She rolled her eyes.
"I've heard it's a proven fact that men have egos the size of Texas!" She stuck out her tongue and giggled. Gordo watched her, grinning. His eyes wandered over her pretty features, noticing the little dimple in her right cheek when she smiled, or the way her eyes twinkled merrily when she was amused. She had no makeup on, and to Gordo, it just elucidated her natural, innermost beauty.
She leaned closer to Gordo, so that he could see inside her hazel orbs, feel the hot, misty breath on his face and neck. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart race quickened. "Gordo," she whispered softly, "As interesting as my face is, I think you might want to watch the movie." She grinned, backed herself up, and sat hunched on the couch, eyes glued to the screen.
Crestfallen and embarrassed, Gordo blushed and followed her gaze to the television screen.
Lizzie was completely tuned in to the movie, as always, seemingly transfixed with the characters and their uniqueness. The Titanic was one of those movies that could make her smile, bring pools of tears to her eyes, and then cause her to lock herself in the bathroom for ten minutes straight, sobbing unremittingly about Jack's unfortunate and infamous death. Even now, watching it for the fifth time, she couldn't help but sigh at the beautiful romance kindling between Jack and Rose. In her perspective, it was perfect in every way.
Subconsciously, Lizzie relaxed her head on Gordo's shoulder. Her hair flowed down the nape of his neck.
Gordo tried to act nonchalant. 'Oh yeah, my best friend's head is resting on my shoulder. No biggie.' But no matter how hard he tried, his hands wouldn't stop shaking, beads of sweat wouldn't stop falling from his brow, and his heartbeat wouldn't decrease to a normal human pace. Her angelic face gazed dazedly up at him, partially smiling, partially asleep. In her eyes, Gordo could see his love-struck face gazing obediently back at her. He reached out a hand and cupped her chin in his palm, and Lizzie sighed contentedly, snuggling closer to him. Her eyes closed.
Gordo could see her luscious lips, coated with an extra layer of lip-balm, shining just a foot away. And then, face still cradled tenderly in his hand, she was inches away… centimeters…
'Oh my God. What am I doing?' was his thoughts, lips centimeters away from contact. Lizzie's eyes fluttered open, and she stared wide-eyed at her best friend. Clearly words failed her.
In a trance, she turned her head, just as Jack and Rose shared their first kiss, hands intertwined, smiles barely visible, distorted by the salty sea spray.
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Gawsh! I'm so sorry this took so ding dang long! Phooey on me, I know.
Oh yeah, btw, I would really hate to see any reviews telling me how to illustrate Beth's "depression". Okay? Personally, I have a couple of friends who are going through this horrible phase in their life, and I would appreciate not seeing any reviews that contradict my story's "true facts". Thank you!
All I can say is: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, and I'm sorry for not updating for a long while. Again. *sigh* I'm so busy it's not even funny.
Please review, and I don't know what else to say… *sigh* My brain has run out of things to converse with. *grins*
Love to all!
~Tic-Tac
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