w00t I finally update...Notes of the day:
1. Sorry it took so long. I was slightly busy and kinda lazy...
2. This chapter was written in the car as I am on vacation! w00t!
3. Please review
Elizabeth sat on her porch. She wasn't waiting –it was too early for that. Will would not be by until seven and it was only a few minutes past six. She had left practice early, a luxury her talent granted her, and had gotten home almost an hour earlier than normal. In her spare hour, Elizabeth had indulged herself in a warm bath. At the end of the week, that was the least her nerves deserved. She yawned. If at night she was this tired, she would never have any trouble sleeping. Elizabeth leaned against the siding on her house. Even though she wasn't comfortable she preferred the outside to the emptiness of her home. Her eyelids fell- Will and Jack would make their presence known when they arrived.
Jack poked the sleeping girl with the stick he had broken off a nearby tree. She pulled away but didn't open her eyes. Jack's poking turned into jabbing. Will sat on the bench, content to watch. With her eyes still closed, Elizabeth swatted at the stick. He kept it moving, just out of her grasp. He smirked- annoying Elizabeth was one of his favorite pastimes.
"Cut it out, Jack. That was my eye." Elizabeth rubbed her eyes.
"It was him." Jack hid the stick behind his back and pointed at Will who was minding his own business on the bench. Will shrugged.
"What can I say? I'm just so talented I can reach triple my arm's length."
Elizabeth stood, stepping on Jack's foot in the process. He hopped back on one foot, faking injury. His boots were so solid Elizabeth could hit him with a hammer and he'd only feel a slight tap.
"You ready Liz," Will asked. He had his hand on her shoulder to help her gain her balance in case she was still woozy from sleep.
"Uhhh…ready…" She raised an eyebrow. She was wearing a loose t-shirt and a pair of mesh shorts and her hair was wavy from air-drying. "Give me a second to change…"
"Yeah sure whatever, if we had all the seconds you took to change, we'd have like enough time to like swim the world's oceans." Jack was fidgeting with his stick.
"Good, then you try that and get back to me when you're done." Elizabeth slipped through her door.
"Damn Will, I don't know why we bother? When she comes out I should chuck some dirt at her. See how she likes that…"
Will laughed. "You know some people do shower and change more than once a week…" Jack thrust the stick at Will. He ducked out of the way.
"If you ask me you're just wasting water…"
"Well, there is a whole ocean out there." Will grabbed the stick from Jack's grasp and snapped it half. "I wouldn't get her dirty unless you want to wait another few seconds." He chucked the pieces pf stick across the lawn.
Elizabeth stepped out, locking the front door behind her. She had changed into a pair of plaid shorts and a white shirt- her hair hung in a loose braid. Will smiled.
"You look nice, Liz" He touched the tip of her nose.
"I don't notice a difference. She's still the same distressing damsel…"
"Did you have a nice practice?" Will asked, choosing to not respond to Jack. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"No one's heart is there on Fridays. I only ran a few miles…If anyone asks I'll use the paper as an excuse…"
"But you're done right?"
"Since the beginning of the week. I don't need anymore stressors."
"Oh my god, god forbid Liz doesn't finish all her work before it is even assigned. I can't imagine. Get a life, luv." Jack chimed in. He yanked his car door open. It was an old black Jeep, which was decorated lavishly with rust.
"One day you're going to pull the door right off that thing." Will teased- his eyes sparkled in the light reflecting on the mirrors.
"Why is he driving?"
"My mom had to use our car," Will said, "Don't worry the car came this way."
"The rust is love." Jack patted the hood. "Will, open the door for Miss Swann so she doesn't have to get her pretty hands dirty." Elizabeth reluctantly entered after Will. She'd have volunteered to drive, but then this eye sore would be stuck in her driveway.
The engine took a few tries before it started. Jack kicked slapped the dashboard to turn the radio on. It blared some heavy metal station. Much to Elizabeth's surprise Jack actually drove slower than James. His car must not be able to go as fast.
"Sure you don't want to head to the beach instead?" Jack asked. Will looked to Elizabeth. She shifted in her seat.
"Guess not." Will replied. The beach was a favorite hang-out spot for Will and Jack, but Elizabeth tended to avoid it as she did imperfection. Jack starred longingly at the open water. Elizabeth fixed her eyes out the other window and Will watched Jack to ensure he didn't crash while distracted. They pulled into the miniature golf course a few minutes later- the only sound came from the radio, which Will had turned down when commercials came on. This place was another of Jack's favorites because the building was shaped as a pirate ship. Statues of pirates- complete with eye patches, hook hands, peg legs and parrots on their shoulder- stood in front. Jack took his pirate hat from the seat next to him and plopped it on his head.
"Maybe I'll stay here…" She said, giving Jack a weird look.
"God, you're worse than that stick in the mud over there." Jack flung open the door. Will smiled. After the pair had been kicked out of almost every local place, he was used to Jack's antics. Elizabeth sighed. She wished she had a hat to hide her face so no one knew she was hanging with these freaks.
"Two for golf please." Will said to the clerk.
"Will, you don't have to pay for me."
"Don't worry about it, Liz. I asked you here."
"Then by that standard Jack should pay for you cuz I'm sure it wasn't your idea to come here."
Jack staggered up. "I ain't paying for anyone, maties. The trick is you never return the club and ball from last time." Jack withdrew a ball from pocket and a club from a drainage hole. Elizabeth looked at the clerk, but she was too bust painting her nails to notice anything.
"Jack…"
"Pirate," Jack said.
The goal of the first hole was to hit the ball straight into a sea monsters mouth. Will easily got a hole in one. Jack purposely slammed the ball so as to make yet another dent in the monster's teeth. Elizabeth was uncomfortable golfing while they both watched. She too had to get it in on the first try. She hit the ball; it ricocheted off the side and flew into the wood chips.
"Holes that way, luv." Jack put in club in the hole. Elizabeth looked away.
"Don't worry, Liz. First time I came I missed the ball entirely. I only got good cuz Jack drags me here like every week."
"Actually I recall you being a natural." Will glared at Jack.
"It is fun, Lizzie. Everything doesn't have to be a competition." Jack hung his club over his shoulder and went on to the next hole. Will handed Elizabeth her ball.
"Just ignore most of what it says. It is much easier to be friends that way…"
"Do not patronize me, Will." She stomped off, dragging her club. Will frowned. Why couldn't they just have a friendly conversation that didn't end with his head getting bitten off once in a while?
"It is extra points if you nail it in the eye." Jack said as he lined up his shot. He swung and sent the ball flying into the lantern the angry sailor was waving.
"There goes your ball…how sad." Elizabeth said.
"Funny."
"Your face is funny." Jack fished for a spare ball in the water. Will kicked Jack's back sending him toppling into the water. Even Elizabeth laughed as Jack emerged dripping wet. He shrugged.
"I live to be in water. Now had that had been Lizzie who went for a dip, you would be kissing your pretty face goodbye."
"That water is swimming with bacteria."
"Jack is no stranger to bacteria…plus he was in dire need of a bath."
Jack sniffed the air around him. "Something reeks."
"Weren't we playing golf?" Elizabeth asked turning her back to Jack. Will gasped as Jack ran off. He hopped the fence and climbed aboard the replica pirate ship. He went as high in it as the poor construction would allow and looked out over the rest of the course with his hand on his hip. Will saluted him.
"I don't know you guys…" Elizabeth walked away but Will grabbed her hand.
"Liz, if you're having that miserable a time, I'll take you home. I just thought it would be fun you to get out…"
"Will, I'm not having a bad time. I just wish you'd act normal."
"Normal is boring, luv. The day you understand that is the day you start living." Jack swung down and landed an inch from Elizabeth.
"Not really…"
"I'm insulted. I'm less entertaining than those preppie, rich, arrogant bastards."
Elizabeth whacked him with her club. "Those bastards are my friends which is more than I can say about you." He deflected her attack.
"If you hate us so much, why did you come? The only thing you're doing s hurting Will. Just tell him he isn't good enough for you." Jack was lucky Elizabeth's eyes didn't incinerate him. Will stood a few feet from his arguing friends- his eyes were dark. He should have known better than to bring Elizabeth and Jack together. They were polar opposites, but they were still his two best friends.
"I'll do what I want. I don't care what anyone thinks and if you do that is probably why you hate yourself." Jack growled.
"They only haven't expelled you because they pity you."
"Oh I wish they would. I don't want you rules. I'm a pirate."
"A pirate huh. That is an insult to history. You couldn't even find north if you were looking at a compass."
"Only an idiot would need to know where North is. I follow my heart. I'll continue this argument when you can honestly say you do the same. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a game to play." He snatched Elizabeth's ball as he sauntered past her. She watched him leave, enraged.
"You can use my ball. Golf isn't too amusing for me anymore." Will offered, but she pushed him away.
"I'm no good. I'd rather not make a fool out of myself trying."
"Your decisions to do something should not be solely based on your on your skill. There are lot of things I suck at but love doing and some things I'm good with I wouldn't be caught dead doing."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Come on, I heard something crash. We may need to make a quick get away."
Will and Elizabeth ran after Jack. He was waving to them from inside the lighthouse. "Will, remember that one time…"
"No Jack I don't…wait was that the time you hid in there and stole all the balls that came in or that other time when you made creepy noises and scared the crap out of all the little kids?"
"Actually, I was thinking about the time we-"
"Get out kid! Haven't we banned you before?"
"I'm the gift that keeps on giving." Jack dashed out of the lighthouse and off the course. Elizabeth and Will made haste as well so the guard wouldn't get the idea they were with him.
"Jack, Jack!"
"Will!" Jack pounced on Will who lost his balance and the two landed in a heap. They laughed so hard tears welled up in their eyes. Elizabeth looked through her phone. She had received a half dozen text messages in the time since she left school. Three were from James asking if she needed help and the rest from friends she didn't really feel like talking to.
"Everything okay?" Will asked his face once again serious. Elizabeth nodded.
"Just telling James I'm fine. I don't want him freaking when I don't answer and then going to my house and finding me not home…"
"Who cares what he does? He only wants you cuz you make him look better." Jack retrieved his hat and placed it back on his head. Elizabeth didn't dignify his word with a response, which made Will very thankful. He didn't want his friend to get into another fight.
"Shall we grab something to eat?" Will asked before Jack could say anything else.
"Yeah sure. This place has good pizza." Jack led them inside to the restaurant.
"You okay with that Liz?"
Elizabeth shook his head. "I'm not hungry."
"Why? You can't use the running excuse on a Friday night…"
"I don't have to explain myself to you, Will." Will sighed. He needed to learn to stop asking.
"I order us a large pizza with everything on it, okay?" Jack was sitting at the only table not occupied by screaming children.
"Well, you're not giving me much of a choice are you?"
"Good."
Elizabeth sat on the edge of the chair and pulled her water bottle out of her bag.
"Do you take that everywhere?"
"It's better than soda."
"Says you maybe."
Will covered his ears. He couldn't decide if the random screams or the sound of their endless arguments was worse. He took a sip of his pop. In this case he would have to agree with Jack; water just wasn't the same.
The pizza was on the burnt side and covered in an inch of grease. Will found it disgusting, but judging from the look on Jack's face this was exactly how he liked it. Jack stuffed his face only stopping to give Will an odd look as he dabbed the grease from the top.
"Will you wasting the best part."
"You are going to give yourself a heart attack or get fat if you keep eating like this…" Elizabeth said, looking away from Jack.
"Oh so that is it. You're afraid if you eat anything you'll lose that gorgeous body of yours." Elizabeth didn't answer. Jack pinched Elizabeth's arm. 'You're too skinny. I'm surprised you haven't withered away yet."
Will eyed Elizabeth- worry evident in his gaze. He always amused she was so skinny because she was always running, but the more he thought the more he realized he barely ever saw her eat.
"That is none of your business. It is not my fault if I'd want not inhale some processed crap, covered in a whole bottle of oil."
"Then it's not my fault if you get sick from malnutrition."
"Jack stop, Liz knows she has to eat. I know you're worried but-"
"Oh I'm not worried. Let her kill herself."
Elizabeth slammed her fist into the table, spilling Jack's soda on the pizza. "I've had enough of him. I'll be outside."
"Jack, what is wrong with you?"
"Tough love, Will. Someone has to tell her the truth and you're too afraid to lose her to be the one."
Will put his head on the table. Jack may be clueless and harsh, but his heart was in the right place.
"Cheer up, mate. There are more fish in the sea. Let's head to the beach to find some…"
"Not now, Jack. I got a lot on my mind…"
Jack finished the pizza despite it having soda as a topping. Will watched Elizabeth through the window. It was dark outside now and the place was getting ready to close.
"We should get going. I didn't tell my mom I'd be out late."
"It's not late. If it was dawn then you might have so explaining to do but-"
"My mom would call the police if I was out past midnight with calling."
"Really, nothing hits the spot like rum and night swimming."
Will grinned. He had to agree there was nothing else like the beach at midnight.
"Let's take her home before she comes in here squealing like a baby about one ting or another."
"Yeah."
"What took you two so long?" Elizabeth asked, snapping her cell phone closed.
"We were talking about you."
"I'm sure you were."
The trio piled back into Jack's Jeep. Elizabeth didn't look at either of the others. Jack turned the radio off- he was getting a headache. His music would have to wait until he got some rum in him to play.
"You want to go home too, Will?"
"I have to." Jack nodded. He drove back to Elizabeth's home, which was in one of the nicer neighborhoods in the area. He pulled into her driveway. Elizabeth froze- there were lights on in her house. She mentally retraced her departure; she was sure she hadn't left any on. That could only mean one thing…
"I'll walk you to your door, Liz." She nodded.
"Night, Liz." Jack tipped his hat. Elizabeth waved.
"So uh…do you think…?"
"Yeah, this is going to be fun…"
"Liz, don't worry. He is still your father."
"I know. It just kinda gets awkward…"
"I'd imagine so."
"Don't worry about me Will. I have an early so I'll be heading to bed soon anyway."
"Alrighty then. Take care, Elizabeth." Will smiled and waited until she was safely inside before returning to the car.
Elizabeth kept her head down as she entered the living room. Perhaps she could sneak past.
"Miss Swan, where have you been? It is quite late. You could have at least left a note."
She hung her head. She wanted to ask him the same question but restrained. She didn't want to start a fight in the brief time he was actually home. "I was with my friends."
"Who and where?"
"Will and Jack. We went miniature golfing." Her father seemed content with her and dropped the subject. "Don't you have practice tomorrow?"
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll be there bright and early- like I always am."
"Good. Have you eaten? I made some dinner earlier. It's cool but you could reheat it."
"No thanks, I ate already. I got some homework to finish that I don't want to have to worry about over the weekend."
"You know I don't like you going out until all your work is done…Elizabeth."
"I know, I know." She knew what he wanted from her. Elizabeth went upstairs and changed into her pajamas. She wasn't really tired, but she hoped if she lay around long enough sleep would eventually come. She put her music on softly and lay on her bed. She stared into her pillow. Her room seemed hot. She rolled over a few times then flung her blanket off. There was no more point in trying to sleep that night than there was any other. She flipped the switch to power the television. At least she didn't have to think about her insomnia. She watched the movie channel until all that was on were infomercials. The clock read nearly four. She climbed off her bed and went to get a glass of water. In the kitchen, Elizabeth peered through the curtains. It was nice early morning- perfect for running.
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