Betina's Beauty Salon smelled like an odd mix of hairspray, shampoo, and
blow dryers. Lizzie crinkled her nose as the aroma's filled her nose. She
glanced in the mirror directly in front of her and her eyes fixed on the
tin foil sitting on her head. She groaned. Being a brunette was alright for
awhile, but Lizzie had quickly grown tired of her dull, shine less hair.
Now she was paying 80$ for something that nature had given to her for free.
She grimaced as the blonde dye began to burn her scalp and a tingling
sensation flooded her scalp. She heard a chuckle from the seat next to her.
Melina giggled heartily, staring at Lizzie's new silver hair decoration before sputtering an joking insult her way. Lizzie laughed and tossed a tissue at her. There was a box of tissues sitting stationary between Lizzie's legs. Never in her entire life had she ever dyed or highlighted her hair. The fumes and burning made her eyes water and nose run. Miranda, who sat in the chair next to Melina, was an expert when it came to hair coloring. She sat, legs crossed, nonchalantly reading a magazine. Lizzie smiled before tossing a tissue at her as well. Miranda's face broke into a wide grin before settling back to her cosmopolitan.
Lizzie groaned and checked her watch. 10:36...gosh how long was this going to take? The three girls had opted for a girl's day out to get ready for Kate's wedding, and to celebrate Lizzie's last day in the hospital. Already they had gone out for breakfast, taken a trip to the mall, and gotten manicures and pedicures. Lizzie hoped that this whole ordeal would be over shortly. She had to meet Kate at 12 for lunch and her dress fitting. It was quite a busy schedule, but she didn't mind, Lizzie was elated to be getting out of that plain white room. She leaned back in the padded chair as the memories from the past couple of weeks flooded back to her.
Her walking had improved incredibly and she was now able to walk just as well as she could before. She was still working with Burke, who was helping her to build up her stamina. Lizzie could only walk for a half an hour or so without needing a break. Burke's friendship to Lizzie had truly been a blessing. Burke's gym was her haven. She could go there to forget about everything else...to just have fun. They spent most of their time talking in the hot tub, which was supposed to be used for muscle stimulation. On more than one occasion Lizzie had laughed so hard she reached tears. Most of these tears were the result of Burke's constant teasing of Ethan. Ah, Ethan. Lizzie thought. Sure enough he was still assuming that he was Lizzie's boyfriend, and she was too embarrassed to tell him otherwise.
"So what're you going to do about him?" Burke had asked on one occasion.
"I don't know...nothing." Lizzie said leaning down into a stream of erupting bubbles.
"Yeah, well pretty soon he's going to wonder why you never kiss him." Lizzie paused to ponder this thought, however she wasn't allotted much time. Two seconds later Burke had swooped down into her field of vision, puckering his lips and screaming "IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KISS ME LIZZIE!!!!!!"
Lizzie smiled as the memory settled around her.
Miranda's cell phone sang loudly, the melody filling the tiny shop. Her cheeks gained a pinkish tint as she retrieved it from her pocket and answered it promptly. Probably Gordo, Lizzie decided. Lizzie seldom saw Miranda and Gordo together. After one month of hardly speaking at all, Lizzie and Gordo's friendship had been rewarded a full recovery. Gordo visited her almost everyday, quite frequently later at night.
A squatty middle-aged Italian woman with nails like claws retrieved Lizzie from her seat and escorted her to the porcelain sink. Lizzie felt nothing but relaxation as the warm water cascaded over her head.
Jo hummed merrily as she scooped up a pair of shorts from under the hospital bed. Her baby was coming home today. She smiled and tossed the shorts into the suitcase. She felt a hand grab her waist from behind and she turned and planted a kiss on her husband. He smiled and softly laid a kiss on her hairline.
"I'm so happy Kelin!" she said throwing her arms up into the air. "Lizzie's coming home today and everything is going to be okay!" she cheered.
"I know sweetheart" Kelin said somewhat half-heartedly
Jo approached him and wrapped him in a hug "What's wrong Kel?"
Kelin let out a deep say and then began "Josie...I love you, really I do...but I don't know about this.
Jo's face fell as her the corners of her smile drooped
"I mean having a twenty one year old girl in our house after living alone for so long...and I mean lets face it, the girl hates me –"
"Lizzie." Jo interrupted "she's not "the girl" her name is Lizzie" Jo was appearing angrier by the second.
Sam whistled and swung his key ring around his index finger as he neared the hospital room door. He had decided to come help Jo clean out their daughter's room. He paused as muffled shouts reached his ear. He stopped whistling and strained to listen.
"LIZZIE IS MY DAUGHTER KELIN!"
Sam winced. He hadn't heard Jo this angry since Lizzie's escapades in Rome.
"ITS MY HOUSE JO!"
Sam felt heat rising in his face. He grimaced and flung open the door.
"Everything okay Jo" He asked softly before turning and growling "I thought I heard some shouting" in Kelin's direction.
Jo was obviously holding back tears. "Yeah, we were just talking it out and we sniff decided that it might be better if Lizzie stay with you." Jo's voice broke and trailed off near the end of the sentence.
Sam caught a slight smile play upon Kelin's lip. "That bastard." He thought. "He may have gotten his way this time, but the next time he yells at Jo like that he'll need to find a way to the hospital."
"Jo, why don't we take Lizzie's stuff back to the house." It was not an offer. It wasn't a suggestion. Jo nodded and picked up a small back while Sam bent to grab the heavier suitcase.
Kelin opened his mouth to say something but Sam closed it with a menacing glare. Sam held the door open for Jo and the exited the room.
"shit" Kelin said softly as he kicked at the floor.
Lizzie was walking briskly down the streets of downtown Hill ridge. She was five minutes late for her lunch with Kate. As she neared the outdoor café she saw a hand waving at her from a table for two. A beautiful ring shone in the sunlight on her ring finger. Lizzie smiled in spite of herself and waved her hand in return.
She zigzagged her way through many tables and waiters before finally sitting down heavily on a green canvas chair across the table from Kate. Before Lizzie could even mutter a word Kate gasped.
"OHMYGOD!" she said all in one word. "Your hair looks amazing!" She smiled as she leaned across the table, grabbing a strand to examine it.
Lizzie blushed. Her hair looked good and she knew it. It was back to its golden blonde. Also, she had gotten it cut into shoulder-skimming layers that framed her face.
"Thanks Kate" Lizzie remarked before examining the menu.
The two talked gregariously as they waited patiently for their food. They talked like they were in second grade. Lizzie couldn't believe it, but she was having an amazing time. She felt like she could tell Kate anything.
"So, is the engagement off yet?" Kate inquired.
"What are you talking about?" Lizzie asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"Gordo and Miranda's...did he leave her for you yet?"
Lizzie who had just taken a hearty sip of sprite choked.
"Why would he do that?" Lizzie said uncertainly, voice quavering.
"Oh, come on. You guys are meant to be. And I know he and Miranda aren't going to work out. I mean, she's holding onto something that isn't hers."
Lizzie shook her head. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Oh, don't play naïve!" Kate said poking Lizzie with a finger "Do you mean to tell me that you have no feelings for David Gordon?"
Lizzie stared at the ground. You do. Her head told her. You do, you know you do, you always have, quite denying it...just tell her!"
"I do" Lizzie said quietly
Kate smiled as the waiter placed her meal in front of her. Once the waiter had retreated Kate leaned over the table and took Lizzie's hand.
"tell me everything." She said
Lizzie did.
Melina giggled heartily, staring at Lizzie's new silver hair decoration before sputtering an joking insult her way. Lizzie laughed and tossed a tissue at her. There was a box of tissues sitting stationary between Lizzie's legs. Never in her entire life had she ever dyed or highlighted her hair. The fumes and burning made her eyes water and nose run. Miranda, who sat in the chair next to Melina, was an expert when it came to hair coloring. She sat, legs crossed, nonchalantly reading a magazine. Lizzie smiled before tossing a tissue at her as well. Miranda's face broke into a wide grin before settling back to her cosmopolitan.
Lizzie groaned and checked her watch. 10:36...gosh how long was this going to take? The three girls had opted for a girl's day out to get ready for Kate's wedding, and to celebrate Lizzie's last day in the hospital. Already they had gone out for breakfast, taken a trip to the mall, and gotten manicures and pedicures. Lizzie hoped that this whole ordeal would be over shortly. She had to meet Kate at 12 for lunch and her dress fitting. It was quite a busy schedule, but she didn't mind, Lizzie was elated to be getting out of that plain white room. She leaned back in the padded chair as the memories from the past couple of weeks flooded back to her.
Her walking had improved incredibly and she was now able to walk just as well as she could before. She was still working with Burke, who was helping her to build up her stamina. Lizzie could only walk for a half an hour or so without needing a break. Burke's friendship to Lizzie had truly been a blessing. Burke's gym was her haven. She could go there to forget about everything else...to just have fun. They spent most of their time talking in the hot tub, which was supposed to be used for muscle stimulation. On more than one occasion Lizzie had laughed so hard she reached tears. Most of these tears were the result of Burke's constant teasing of Ethan. Ah, Ethan. Lizzie thought. Sure enough he was still assuming that he was Lizzie's boyfriend, and she was too embarrassed to tell him otherwise.
"So what're you going to do about him?" Burke had asked on one occasion.
"I don't know...nothing." Lizzie said leaning down into a stream of erupting bubbles.
"Yeah, well pretty soon he's going to wonder why you never kiss him." Lizzie paused to ponder this thought, however she wasn't allotted much time. Two seconds later Burke had swooped down into her field of vision, puckering his lips and screaming "IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KISS ME LIZZIE!!!!!!"
Lizzie smiled as the memory settled around her.
Miranda's cell phone sang loudly, the melody filling the tiny shop. Her cheeks gained a pinkish tint as she retrieved it from her pocket and answered it promptly. Probably Gordo, Lizzie decided. Lizzie seldom saw Miranda and Gordo together. After one month of hardly speaking at all, Lizzie and Gordo's friendship had been rewarded a full recovery. Gordo visited her almost everyday, quite frequently later at night.
A squatty middle-aged Italian woman with nails like claws retrieved Lizzie from her seat and escorted her to the porcelain sink. Lizzie felt nothing but relaxation as the warm water cascaded over her head.
Jo hummed merrily as she scooped up a pair of shorts from under the hospital bed. Her baby was coming home today. She smiled and tossed the shorts into the suitcase. She felt a hand grab her waist from behind and she turned and planted a kiss on her husband. He smiled and softly laid a kiss on her hairline.
"I'm so happy Kelin!" she said throwing her arms up into the air. "Lizzie's coming home today and everything is going to be okay!" she cheered.
"I know sweetheart" Kelin said somewhat half-heartedly
Jo approached him and wrapped him in a hug "What's wrong Kel?"
Kelin let out a deep say and then began "Josie...I love you, really I do...but I don't know about this.
Jo's face fell as her the corners of her smile drooped
"I mean having a twenty one year old girl in our house after living alone for so long...and I mean lets face it, the girl hates me –"
"Lizzie." Jo interrupted "she's not "the girl" her name is Lizzie" Jo was appearing angrier by the second.
Sam whistled and swung his key ring around his index finger as he neared the hospital room door. He had decided to come help Jo clean out their daughter's room. He paused as muffled shouts reached his ear. He stopped whistling and strained to listen.
"LIZZIE IS MY DAUGHTER KELIN!"
Sam winced. He hadn't heard Jo this angry since Lizzie's escapades in Rome.
"ITS MY HOUSE JO!"
Sam felt heat rising in his face. He grimaced and flung open the door.
"Everything okay Jo" He asked softly before turning and growling "I thought I heard some shouting" in Kelin's direction.
Jo was obviously holding back tears. "Yeah, we were just talking it out and we sniff decided that it might be better if Lizzie stay with you." Jo's voice broke and trailed off near the end of the sentence.
Sam caught a slight smile play upon Kelin's lip. "That bastard." He thought. "He may have gotten his way this time, but the next time he yells at Jo like that he'll need to find a way to the hospital."
"Jo, why don't we take Lizzie's stuff back to the house." It was not an offer. It wasn't a suggestion. Jo nodded and picked up a small back while Sam bent to grab the heavier suitcase.
Kelin opened his mouth to say something but Sam closed it with a menacing glare. Sam held the door open for Jo and the exited the room.
"shit" Kelin said softly as he kicked at the floor.
Lizzie was walking briskly down the streets of downtown Hill ridge. She was five minutes late for her lunch with Kate. As she neared the outdoor café she saw a hand waving at her from a table for two. A beautiful ring shone in the sunlight on her ring finger. Lizzie smiled in spite of herself and waved her hand in return.
She zigzagged her way through many tables and waiters before finally sitting down heavily on a green canvas chair across the table from Kate. Before Lizzie could even mutter a word Kate gasped.
"OHMYGOD!" she said all in one word. "Your hair looks amazing!" She smiled as she leaned across the table, grabbing a strand to examine it.
Lizzie blushed. Her hair looked good and she knew it. It was back to its golden blonde. Also, she had gotten it cut into shoulder-skimming layers that framed her face.
"Thanks Kate" Lizzie remarked before examining the menu.
The two talked gregariously as they waited patiently for their food. They talked like they were in second grade. Lizzie couldn't believe it, but she was having an amazing time. She felt like she could tell Kate anything.
"So, is the engagement off yet?" Kate inquired.
"What are you talking about?" Lizzie asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"Gordo and Miranda's...did he leave her for you yet?"
Lizzie who had just taken a hearty sip of sprite choked.
"Why would he do that?" Lizzie said uncertainly, voice quavering.
"Oh, come on. You guys are meant to be. And I know he and Miranda aren't going to work out. I mean, she's holding onto something that isn't hers."
Lizzie shook her head. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Oh, don't play naïve!" Kate said poking Lizzie with a finger "Do you mean to tell me that you have no feelings for David Gordon?"
Lizzie stared at the ground. You do. Her head told her. You do, you know you do, you always have, quite denying it...just tell her!"
"I do" Lizzie said quietly
Kate smiled as the waiter placed her meal in front of her. Once the waiter had retreated Kate leaned over the table and took Lizzie's hand.
"tell me everything." She said
Lizzie did.