Note of Prowess: To all who are still tuning in to this fic and all my other fics, I would first like to say that I deeply, truly, sorrowfully apologize for not continuing. As always, my first and foremost reason is priorities. I just had so much to do that I had to sacrifice this. I had a lot of entrance exams to prepare for, plus the tons of projects I had to do. I am sorry if any of you got tired, mad, impatient or anything but it can't be helped. Second, I would like to perpetually, gratefully, pleasingly thank those who waited, and those who liked this fic (and all the rest to be finished). It means a lot that there are people out there who are interested in the stories I make and it saddens my heart to disappoint all of you. You probably thought I was dead, huh? But I'm not and I decided to have a comeback cause I missed writing so much. These days I have not so much to do so I got to rest and then thought of checking back on fanfiction. I haven't entered the site for the past few months (that's how hard it got) and I'm quite surprised at the changes. I was checking on my account when I noticed the list of people waiting for my updates and I felt guilty. I was also checking all the reviews and I saw how everyone was anxious to get things done and I'm so sorry I really couldn't pull it together sooner, but seeing all those things happening, the nine people who entered my account in their list of updates-in-waiting just made me think of writing again. It wasn't writer's block or anything, taking time off actually formed new ideas in my head. I got to think more and reinvent my style perhaps, or change some possible scenes here and there. The main problem is that I didn't have the time, and when I did I just couldn't do anything but rest. I guess all I needed was a few clicks back to my account. So here I am, delivering my sincerest thanks and apologies. I hope you still tune in and wait till my stories finish.
First things first, I have to delete fics. I reread my stories again and I just saw how corny some were and how childish I wrote so I'm going to delete them first. Before I was so determined in making a lot of stories, but now they really don't matter anymore. I'd rather have a few well written complete stories rather than a ton of uncompleted ones. It was also a reason why I updated slow, cause I had to choose which story was going to be updated next. I don't know what fics I'm going to delete first but I was thinking those with just a single chapter are going first. Probably erasing three or four would be enough, we'll see, but you can recommend stories of mine that are really cliché or predictable or uninteresting and I'll see if I'd delete it for quicker decision making.
Second, I'm sorry but I'm not open to the idea of me beta-reading anymore. To those who requested, I'm kind of waiting for the right timing, and right now isn't that time. Heck, I can't even update my stories, what more worry about others, no offense meant. It's just that that's the way it goes. To those who emailed, it's just a small number, but nonetheless I'm really sorry. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of other talented writers out there, maybe even better than I am who would be more than willing to beta read for you.
Third, like I said, there might be some changes in my style so if there are any major discrepancies in the stories, or if the writing's not good, just inform me. I hope that my transition, if there would be any, would be for the better. I think that my time of really did something good for me. I got to think more and I got to know more about us as human beings which I think will really pay off in angsty stories which I really love. I hope there really aren't any major differences such as me not writing like I used to or the characters being out of character or anything like that. If I would change, I hope its for the better and I hope you guys get to see that through the next couple of chapterts.
Fourth, I don't guarantee that I would be updating more frequently now. I don't want to make a promise I can't keep so I'm saying that I think in my life that isn't going to happen soon. I really marvel at those who get to update weekly. I'm just a teenager who is still looking for the right time budgeting technique for her and unluckily I haven't found it yet. However, I hope you continue to bear with me. And do remind me to update, it's what gets me going. Although don't scold me, that really ticks me off and makes me get out of my writing zone. Just remind me, you know without too much side comments.
I honestly don't regret not updating for a while cause I got to think about how I want to do things in my life. I also realized how writing was a skill I can hone to be better, and I hope you get to witness that here and in my other fics. Aside from that, I was able to know more about myself and I got to finish things that I had to finish. It's fun to write, and my absence from it just made me realize how I miss it. So I want to finish what I've started and I hope you support me all the way. With all that said, I give you the ninth chapter to my very first fic. I hope it compensates for my long absence. Other updates will come soon.
Things Better left Undone
By prowess
"You!?!?!" Lizette screamed on the phone. A huge mixture of emotions brewed inside of her as she tried not to let go of Francis' wonderfully cool phone and shatter it to wires and batteries. She also bit her tongue to prevent from screaming all the distasteful words that, when used as much as she wanted to at the moment, can shut her from heaven.
"I can't believe you would do this… you… good for nothing, unworthy, careless…….thief!!!" Lizette clutched Francis' phone tighter as she finally got hold of the person who took her old phone. Francis, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised. Apparently, he thought to himself, she knew who the person on the other line was, and apparently he added, they were not in good terms.
"Wait… calm down. I can explain…" Stephen tried to reassure. Deep inside, he was praying to the gods that this acquaintance won't disappear into thin air. He should not have answered the phone, he emphasized. Bad idea.
"No YOU wait!" Lizette screeched like a resurrected banshee. "You come around trying to befriend me and get to know me then you would go stealing my phone! What's with you anyway? Going through all this trouble to get my phone! I mean, that definitely won't catch your eye. It's plain black, no colored casing, it's an old model, you can just text and call, there aren't any games, no funky ringtones, what, what about it did you want pickpocket?" Lizette started taking fast paces, and Francis was trying to catch up. "I'm going there at Piper's!!!"
Woah!" Stephen shuddered, as he grabbed his stuff and hurried to the door, wanting to get out. "I don't think that's a good idea." He replied calmly, smirking as he blended with the crowd, a brilliant idea formulating in his head. It was almost lunchtime and he was starving. Boy, am I a genius or what?!? he thought to himself. "But, you know, if you want to go to Piper's go ahead." I'm not there, he mentally added amusingly in a sing song manner.
Lizette froze. "Why did your voice change?" Her eyes slimmed to slits as she tried to decipher the difference in the other end of the line.
"My voice did not change!" He said defensively.
"Yes it did! Well anyway, I'm going to get you and I'm getting my phone back." She started walking again, just as Francis caught up with her.
"Oh really?" Stephen relied coolly, raising his eyebrow. "Well, everybody is entitled to try…" he remarked slyly, his ears receiving a shrill scream at an annoyed little waitress.
"Why you stupid bastard …"Lizette was starting, her fists were tightening and a fraction of force more she could've actually blew the phone into powdery bits.
"Wait….Liz? Heh. Can I call you that?" Stephen started again, amusing himself. He let out a snort as he heard Lizette freaking out on the other end of the line. "Yeah well, the battery wasn't charged so this old phone's going to shut anytim—" He placed the phone in his coat and walked the street to go home and amuse himself some more.
"Aaaah! I can't believe this!" Lizette gave the phone back to Francis, who was dumbfounded. "I am so sorry you heard that. I think I used up all your credits. I'm just going to pay you eventually." Her hand was tensely placed on her forehead.
"Oh don't worry about that," he replied. He paused when Lizette stood in front of him and told him to wait outside the café. "I really don't want you to witness my dark side." She took a deep breath and swung the doors of the new coffee shop open.
"Alright, where's the bastard?" she shouted amongst the customers. Gasps and whispers escaped from their lips and evaporated in the room. She didn't care a single bit and was ready to break all hell loose when a voice on the end of the counter answered her.
"He's not here." Stephen's co-worker mumbled.
"Now don't you even think of hiding him from me…John." She answered coldly as she looked at his nametag. This "Stephen" has irritated her life from the first few minutes of contact and she cannot tolerate it anymore.
"Come on lady, he isn't here okay," another co-worker called from behind the bar. "He left cause his shift was over, he was talking to someone on the phone." This made Lizette scream, her face turning to an angry purple. This guy chose the wrong words to say. "Lady, could you please step outside and let us attend to our work."
With a quick turn Lizette stormed out and bumped into Francis. "So, how was it?" he asked, rather sheepishly. He can't think of anything else to say.
"He wasn't there, the witty little twit." She replied her eyebrows knot together. She was mumbling a lot of things Francis wasn't able to catch and he really didn't want to know what those were; he was sure about who they were for though. A kick of a stone nearby urged him to think of something to ease her angry mind.
"Come on, stop thinking about it. Why don't we eat? Ease your mind of this a bit. Besides it's already lunchtime."
"Well, I've been uptight lately." She replied, obviously still annoyed, but a lot calmer than before. The mental storms seemed to have subsided. "Alright. I could use a glass of cold lemonade or two."
Francis grinned . "Great."
Sitting in a restaurant nearby, due to Lizette's request, Francis laid down slices of bagels and cream cheese. Lizette really didn't want to eat and she wanted something light. Besides, she wanted something she can eat and run with especially if some guy with jet black hair came passing by. That way, she can stuff the food in her mouth as she strangled the ungrateful creature till he stays motionless. Lizette's grip on the bagel got a little too tight as she created a simple demonstration of what she would do to the mongrel.
"Hey, uh, I think you have a little too rough grip on that bagel." Francis started as he waved a hand in front of Lizette's tense face.
"Wha- oh… Oooh," she said emphasizingly, getting the idea. Sorry I guess I got a little too carried away." She smiled, much to Francis relief.
"I would say that is an understatement." Francis joked, and together they laughed. Her melodious laughter rang on his ears and for a fraction of a second, he thought his heart skipped a beat and then started thumping louder. He just stood staring at her for a couple of seconds until he realized he was saying something.
"…you know, it's just those things that make me really mad. Ugh…I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm sorry." She finished, taking a sip from her requested lemonade.
"Oh, that's okay. I'm all ears. For you… always." He mumbled, trying to create sensible strings of words, his humiliation he covered with one of his prettiest smiles. Lizette tried hard not to salivate and took a big bite of her bagel.
It seemed like just a few minutes when bite by bite, all the bagels were finally left to crumbs, the cream cheese was neatly spooned to the sides, and all that's left in their glasses were melting ice. Francis and Lizette were sharing story after story; Lizette ironically doing more of the talking, despite her lack of memory. Francis was more of the listener and Lizette noticed he kept most of his life untold. Maybe he's just one of those people that really had a haunting, dark, traumatic past. I really shouldn't force it out on him, she mused.
"Well, he didn't come back," Lizette observed staring at the Piper's Café entrance.
"You don't have to strangle him, you know. I think he's seen enough of your dark side. I know I have." He added meaning for it to be a joke.
"Well, you didn't deserve to see my dark side if that's what you want to call it," she replied. "I don't think I have any reason to show it to you."
"You mean that?"
"With all the good that's left of me."
They exchanged the sweetest smiles before Lizette looked down, to hide her flushed face and told Francis they better get going.
"Why? It's still early. Don't tell me you're going to lock yourself up." Francis assumed.
"Well, it's just that it's a bad day today and I want to rest." Lizette sighed.
"We can do something together. I hope I can bring something good out of your miserable affair." He reassured.
"Oh don't worry…You kind of… already have." She was twisting her ankle as she said it, eyes downcast fingers fumbling each other.
"Let me do more." Francis lent out his hand for hers to take. He smiled reassuringly as he nodded towards her. Who could ever resist? Lizette stretched her hand and gingerly placed it on top of his as he led her towards the busy streets of London. A lot of people were roaming around town and a bit of sight seeing was what they needed. Lizette knew even before that she was going to have fun.
A/N: Ending it right here. This actually the blurriest part in this story. I kind of have the idea, I just don't know the specifics so it's hard to write what's on my mind. I still don't know how to make Harry or Stephen rather to be a little bit more pleasing to Hermione. But I guess I'll find the answer along the way. Anyway, like I said, I hope this makes up for the long period I was gone. It's just now that I realized this and all my other stories are already in the making for almost two years. Pathetic I know. I'm slower than, I don't know, a snail, a turtle and some other slow animal combined. I'm probably a microbe trying to cross a ruler or something, I don't know. But I'm hoping things get easier for me. So I hope I have your support and assurance that you'll stick to the end. Till the next chapter which I hope will be out very ,VERY soon.
By the way I would like to thank the past reviewers which I left unanswered. I'll just individually include comments on the next chapter.
Wandering around the streets of London didn't sound bad to Lizette. She happily glided through the pathways, hands, or arms rather enclosed in his. From a passerby's point of view, you would actually think the two were lovers, an engaged couple maybe, by the way his slender arms curve at her waist and how she held his arm lovingly as if it were the most delicate thing on earth. They were like newlyweds, he whispering sweet nothings at her ear as they walked and she letting faint giggles bounce through her mouth wonderfully. Who knew they were just acquaintances? Lizette sighed and closed her eyes, assured that nothing will go wrong from this point on. She was like in fairy land, where everything was flowery and there is a faint light music playing through her ears. It felt like they were walking in slow motion, each step lighter than the former; and she felt like they were floating.
Then a flash of jet-black flashed by her.
