It's been basically an eternity since I updated. But as I warned things got busy...and interesting. To say the least. I will have more time to write now- swim is over tomorrow- and I'll hopefully update much quicker. Anyway thanks for reading...and reviewing

The sheets clung to Elizabeth's clammy skin as she tossed and turned. She was lying in her bed. That much she knew- everything else flickered in and out, as if her room were a radio with a broken tuner. Her entire body was sore and she was delirious with pain. The room was a blur of fuzzy blocks and blinding colors when she had enough strength to hold her eyes open. Otherwise, all Elizabeth saw was the orange-tinted darkness of her closed eyelids. A few times, she reluctantly raised her head to cough. Elizabeth feared that her lungs were giving out along with her back. Still she could not sleep. Each time she was sure she was about to drift off, the pain would sting her some place new and her eyes would fling would. If Elizabeth stayed conscious, at least she would know she wasn't dead. It wasn't as if she was practically enjoying anything about her life at the moment, but it was natural fear that kept her clinging to her senses. Though Elizabeth had no grasp of it, time must have passed outside her suffering. After what seemed like only a mere second when she looked back- every second felt like an eternity at the time- after she smashed her alarm clock off the dresser, Elizabeth heard her phone ring. Boredom had set in from a day of lying around so she leaned over the side of her bed and grabbed her purse. As she moved she winced in pain, but at this point, she was pretty much used to it. In the second after she said hello and before the person on the other line responded, she regretted her swift response to the phone call. What if it was Lindsay? Or Eric? Or worse yet James?

"Elizabeth. Hi. I'm outside your house. Please come to the door. We really need to talk."

Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. It was Will; she was safe for now. Subconsciously she must have known it was him. She told herself that was the only reason she answered. Without giving it much more thought Elizabeth heaved herself off her bed and hobbled her way to the door. She had one foot out her door when she stopped herself. She had been completely wrong. Forget about James or Lindsay. Will was the last person she wanted to talk to. Now that she was awake and fully- as much as the lingering dizziness allowed- aware she could hear Will tapping in the window.

"Elizabeth, are you alright?" Will's voice seemed louder now. Elizabeth fumbled to put the phone back up to her ear. She had completely forgotten he was still on the line. Will was here and he wasn't going to leave without at least talking to her. Elizabeth knew it would be pointless to ignore him. If he really wanted to, she knew he'd find away to check on her.

"Will, I'm here."

"Liz! Hey, how are you?"

"I was sleeping…" Elizabeth stared at her front window. The person he was speaking with was standing there so it was only polite.

"Are you sick? I was really surprised that you were absent today. That like never happens-"

"No…I'm fine. I mean…I just didn't feel like getting up. I'm still really tired so I kinda want to go back-"

"Liz?" Elizabeth ran her hand through her hair. Damn his persistence.

"Yeah?"

"You know you could at least try to hide that you don't want to talk with me."

"What! Will, what the hell?"

"I'm not accepting "I'm fine" this time. I want an explanation and I'm not leaving until you come down and talk to me."

"And that would be your choice."

"And a good choice it is."

"Says you."

"Says me, indeed." Will voice was stable throughout their exchange. Elizabeth knew she was whining. If Will heard it, he made no sign of letting it bother him.

"Will, trust me I'm good. I'll talk to you at school tomorrow. I want to go back and lie down. I really don't feel too great…"

"No, no you won't. You'll avoid me like-"

"Don't tell me what I'd do. You don't even know me. Go away."

Will sighed. "Please Elizabeth, I'm seriously worried about you. Everyone is…"

Elizabeth laughed. "Yeah right. Who is this everyone? You and your imaginary friend?"

"Damn straight. You are quite the popular one you know. People at school are talking. I couldn't go anywhere today without someone asking me what was going on. Mind you I just walked past most of them with my head held straight up."

"Good for you, Will."

"Rumors spread like wildfire."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"I wasn't really listening to many, but apparently your darling boyfriend had some choice bits of information on you."

"James loves me. He wouldn't say talk crap about me…nice try though, but come again."

"Elizabeth? You can't really believe that now, can you?"

"Believe what? I trust my boyfriend over you if that's what you're asking."

"I don't doubt that you do. But sooner or later, you are going to have to face this truth. You can't lock yourself up in your room feigning illness forever."

"Feigning? That's all you think of me? Just stop talking Will. I don't want to hear your voice anymore."

"That would be your choice, but I have every intention of talking regardless of what you do."

"Why? You must have something better to do than bang on my window. Don't you have any other friends?"

"Other friends? Will chuckled.

"What?!"

"You just called me your friend. High praise if I do say so myself."

"You are such a dork."

"Oh Liz…please hear me…Liz…"

"I'm still listening Will. Though I should have I haven't hung up yet…"

"I'm glad, Liz. Can you please come to the door? I'd be a lot happier if I could see that you are alright."

Elizabeth went silent. She didn't go to school because she didn't want to deal with people. Will's heart was in the right place. She'd give him that, but she meant it when she said she didn't want to deal with anyone. Elizabeth slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. She wasn't in a good enough mood to even appease Will.

"You got quiet again."

"…I'm sleeping."

"Are you home alone?"

Elizabeth nodded gratefully. The last thing she needed was for her father to see her like this.

"Liz?"

"What…yeah…No one else is here…"

"If you're sick, you shouldn't be alone…"

"I'm not sick…just tired…"

"Whatever you want to call it, I'm sure you're not in the state to be taking care of yourself…"

"So what's your point?"

"I don't know. I really don't anymore…you just-"

"Just what? Finish your thoughts will you? I'm tired of you like saying something then coping out. It's like you're trying to trick me into…"

"Trick you? Yeah, coping out I can see, but trick you. You are the one misunderstanding…"

"How so? What am I misunderstanding? James? Is that what you wanted to say? I wouldn't go there if I were you."

"But I think it is my business. If for no other reason then-"

"Don't say it Will."

"I'm not stopping mid-sentence. You're interrupting me…"

"For a good reason too."

"You know. I'm not going to argue with you anymore."

"Great Will. I'll talk to you later."

"Elizabeth, don't you hang up on me…"

"You make it sound rude. I said bye. What else do you want? Have a nice afternoon. Good evening. Pleasant dreams…"

"You know what I want."

"Yeah, yeah so you've said. Why don't you go work on our Chemistry project instead of bugging the crap out of me?"

"Because the word 'our" suggests a group effort. I'd be more than willing to work with you if you let me in."

"Once again nice try, but I'm not falling for it. You're forgetting I'm smarter than you. I'm doing you a huge favor by allowing you to share my brilliance…"

"Well I can rest easier knowing your ego wasn't affected by your illness."

Elizabeth grunted. Their conversation had once again hit a standstill. Silence hung where small talk should be. She reviewed her thoughts for anyway to move forward. Her thoughts never left her mind; she simply had nothing to say to Will.

"Fall asleep again?"

"I'm almost there, but there is just the little issue of you-"

"Elizabeth, I promise if you hear me out this one time I won't bother you ever again. I'll sit and leave you be to follow whatever course you chose."

"…" Elizabeth's shoulder was getting sore from holding the phone to her ear.

"So if you're so tired that you can't even talk to me than you should definitely not run today."

"I haven't run today." Elizabeth answered truthfully. She hadn't even thought about track since that previous afternoon. But now that Will mentioned it, she was curious as to what Lindsay told the team. The girls had to hear about the fight and her inability to run at the morning practice. Not to mention what the coach must think of her by now. She missed two practices- more than she had missed her entire time on the team- and after she preached about their meet next week. Some captain she was…

"Good."

"No Will, I'm totally letting all my friends and teammates down. It's not good in the least. How can you even say that? In less than a week I have to run against someone and I honestly don't know if I really am better than her."

"You don't have to do anything. At a certain point, your own wellbeing needs to come first. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should torture yourself running all the time. Especially if you're hurt…"

"I am not hurt."

"Really Liz? You always claim to be tired. Why now would you suddenly decide to skip school and track-?"

"Oh so now I'm not allowed to take off even one day of school?"

"You aren't. You don't allow yourself that. And that's why I am now worried."

"You're tripping over your own words. First you say I should take it easy then you scream at me for staying home and resting."

"And how would you know that. You're not listening."

"I haven't gotten much of a choice."

"You know, maybe you are right. I must be wrong because all I've succeed at is fighting with you. I was wrong to come and see how you were. I was wrong to care that you were hurt. And I'm wrong to keep hanging around you. But in this case I'm not really bothered by my stupidity."

"I never asked you to do anything for me."

"I'm sorry, Liz. I'm sorry for wanting to help you- for wanting to your friend. These days I wonder if it's even safe to call you that. Friendship is a two-way road and lately I've just been hurt-"

"I haven't done anything to you. You are just too damn sensitive."

"Yeah I know. It's a nice flaw if you can get it."

"I think I want to call Lindsay. They're probably partying without me there."

"The way you make it seem, the team is a bunch of wild animals and you are the only one who can tame them. What about the coach? Do you even talk to her?"

"Coach Marie is too nice. She doesn't take the sport seriously or push anyone at all. Her official attitude is like "Having a bad day- take it easy. Don't worry about winning just make sure you have a blast out there." Her main motto is "do you best" Half of those idiots don't give a damn about their best. And their best isn't half good enough even when they do try."

"Arrogant much?"

"I don't lie or kid or anything wasteful like that."

"Yeah I noticed about the joking part, but lying…You're lying as we speak."

"No, I'm not. I said I am fine. I'm not sick or hurt or anything. So stop asking- stop beating around the bush."

"If you can't convince yourself of that then you might as well give up on anyone else."

"Oh no, you're the only block head I know. Everyone else understands that I can take care of myself."

"They won't let you run, if you can't even stand up. You might think you can hide an injury but you can't. Your best bet is to talk about what ever is going on in life with some. You've made it more than clear you don't trust me anywhere near enough for that though."

Elizabeth bit her lip to repress the urge to chuck the phone at the opposing wall. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Well, who I think I am and who you think I am are two very different things so I really don't feel like wasting my time explaining it in full to you. Let's leave it at what I've been saying: I'm a friend. And you should heed friendly advice before it's too late."

"Thoroughly noted. Is that all?"

"No, as a matter of fact it is not. But I'm not discussing that with you over the phone. If you care enough to listen you'll have to open the door."

"Demanding aren't you? I don't see why either considering I'm the one-"

"Liz, I don't want to talk to you like this…please this is really bothering me."

"What is? I don't get what you're so upset about."

"Don't play dumb with me. Jack told me your neck hurt so much you couldn't move and your boyfriend's reaction confirmed any suspicion I had."

"Will! Don't bring this up! How dare you?"

"How dare I? Jack was suspended. The whole school thinks I'm a chicken- not that bothers but I just hate anyone having any misconceptions. You act like you are the victim." Will gasp into the phone. "I'm sorry Liz. So sorry…"

"Then stay the hell away from me, Will. I am a horrible, terrible person who deserves to be alone and to be punished and…"

"No! Elizabeth stop saying that please. Neither one of us minds. We- I- just want you to know you can get away from him-"

"James is a good guy. He made a mistake. He loves me. Okay…"

"Yeah right. Then why isn't he here now? He isn't in any sports, is he?"

"I'm sure he is busy. He'll call or come to check up on me. It would be best if you weren't here. Just in case."

"I concur. For his sake."

"Whatever Will."

"It's not whatever. You need to take a step back and examine your life. I know the stress you're putting on yourself is destroying you. I'd say that's why you can't sleep."

"Oh this again. I slept today. There happy?"

"No…you know…I guess…I don't even know anymore. You're not going to stop. Not until you crash so hard you can't up…"

"And that'll make you happy?"

"Oh Elizabeth…"

Elizabeth stretched her arm behind her back. Sitting against the hard wall could not be good for her back. She should get more ice. But he was there. Maybe she should just tell him what he wants to hear so she could get some peace…

"Will, I can't talk on the phone anymore."

"I'm not leaving-"

"I'll let you in. Rant at me all you want." Elizabeth snapped her phone shut without even a curt goodbye. She grabbed the doorknob and pulled herself off the ground. Half her body was sleeping. She felt her way down the stairs to the door on her numb feet.

"Nice to see you too, Liz." Will held his hand up to wave as Elizabeth let him inside.

"Uh huh." Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and watched Will as he stood there.

"You look a little pale."

"I've been inside all day?" She wasn't exactly dark, but Elizabeth usually had a tan from all the hours she spent outdoors. Since she hadn't looked at herself today and couldn't confirm or deny his statement, she shrugged it off. Will brushed his hand against Elizabeth's arm.

"I'm glad to see you're not doing too badly…" He smiled. His eyes were staring off in the distance. Elizabeth too found it hard to make eye contact. In the silence, each breath was a heavy object slamming into a wood floor in a hall.

"So…" She let him in so he could speak, but he wasn't saying anything. Will was just wasting her time.

"Can I sit down?" Will asked nervously. Elizabeth pointed to the sofa. "You going to stay standing?" She nodded; she had found a comfortable position and moving might through this off. "I'm worried about you."

"I know…You shouldn't be though...there is no need. I'll make it…"

"You're just saying that."

"So. I mean- I know I'll be fine. This time of year is rough for everyone. I just have a lot of my mind with track and school and James-"

"James eating at your mind?"

"No, not really. I try not to dwell…things will be okay with him. I'm sure he has his reasons…but he loves me so…"

"He could be just saying that…"

"No, Will stop! I trust him. If you want this chat to end real soon, keep that up."

"Sorry, sorry. I forgot."

"Humph."

Once again, neither could find the words to continue the conversation. Elizabeth leaned towards the wall, regretting her decision to stand. Sitting wouldn't be much better though; she wanted to lie down. The floor seemed to tilt as if she had just stepped aboard a canoe. Her hand grabbed the wall for support. She just hoped Will wasn't watching too closely…

"Have you eaten today?"

"Food?" Elizabeth focused on Will's voice- forcing her mind to break way from some of the wooziness.

"That's generally what you eat."

"Shut up."

Will tilted his head. "You haven't, have you?"

"I just told you I was sleeping…"

"Yeah I heard. You should eat…"

"I know that. I'm not retarded Will."

"But you won't. I know you."

"No, you think you have me all figured out, but you don't. How can you know what I'll do unless you freakin' spy on me."

"I'm a good guesser. Helps me a lot in class." Will rubbed at the back of his neck."

"Well I'm not a chemical equation or a function. People aren't predictable like that crap."

"I tend to disagree."

"I tend to think I'm smarter so…"

"Funny…somehow I foresaw you saying that."

"Lucky guess…"

"You were going to eat remember." Will saved the conversation from slipping back into the depths of awkward silence.

"Was I?"

"I think you should." Will rose and headed towards the kitchen. Elizabeth followed at his heels. Food was the last thing on her mind. It was farther from something she wanted right now then it was when she was sick. But just like opening the door, Will was going to stay until she ate. She could rest when he left. A few bites- the least possible amount that would shut him up- wouldn't kill her. And even if it made her ill, she had already not feeling well as an excuse.

"Yeah maybe." Elizabeth eyed her cabinets. It had been so long since she cooked, she wasn't sure what she had.

"Sit down. I'll whip ya up something." Will grinned as he went off to search for anything edible. Elizabeth obeyed. It was a kind offer. Will set a pot of water on the stove to boil. There was a container of pasta on the counter; it would be quick and easy. Elizabeth rested her head on the table. She couldn't stop yawning.

"You're tired?"

"We've been down this road."

"I think that's good. You need rest. Much more than you get. I wouldn't even think it possible to live on the little rest and food you consume let alone run track."

"You get used to it. Running hurts. I've come to accept that. So I get by…It'll all be worthwhile in the end. Soon."

"Not if you ruin your body before your big meets."

"Which is why I'm taking it easy…I'm more worried about the rest of the team than me…"

"There are a couple of runners in my PE class. They seem fast- faster than me at least."

"We'll win."

"Glad to hear it."

"So…speaking of competition didn't you have a tournament last week?"

Will's eyes widened. "Hey I'll give you credit for remembering…It was an experience to say the least. Jack and I need more work. Lots more for that matter. The little ones did super though. All that extra attention really paid off…but yeah I'm glad we have more time. We all gotta get our act together."

"Is that so?"

Will laughed. "It's a great team." He dropped some pasta in the pot. "You like sauce?"

"Uhh no…it's fine plain." It would cause less devastation in her stomach that way and anyways he didn't remember if she even liked sauce…

"You sure? Hmm to each her own." Will's attention returned to the stove and Elizabeth put her head back down hoping to catch a nap while she waited. Without her aid, Will found the dishes and finished cooking her meal.

"Any good?" He asked. She looked down at the steaming plate. Will's eyes were on her so she stabbed the fork through a noodle. It wasn't the end of the world. She blow on the fork- she didn't feel like burning her mouth at this particular moment. Elizabeth cautiously tasted the pasta. Surprisingly enough, it didn't taste like a toxic chemical. Whatever the effect, she decided she was hungry. Will sat across from her and tried his best not to watch as the food disappeared.

When she was finished, Elizabeth quickly stood up. Will had used dished to cook and she'd feel better when they were clean. He came up behind her and took the plate from her.

"What kind of a friend would I be if I left a mess?"

"It's my house."

"I came in pretty much uninvited. It's the least I can do, you know."

"Suit yourself…" Elizabeth dropped the plate and stepped back. Will returned the kitchen to the state it had been when he arrived. Rather than feel useless, she went back into the living room and flipped on the television. Television was amongst her least favorite pastimes, but it was mindless.

"It's getting late, Elizabeth. I should let you go." Will walked in wiping his hands on his shorts. She looked up.

"Huh? Oh is it?"

"Yeah, just stay right there and rest."

"Yeah…"

Will pulled the throw that hung on the armrest over Elizabeth. "I'll see you tomorrow." It was more of a question than a statement.

"Of course…"

"Okay bye than. Feel better Liz." Elizabeth nodded as he left. She wondered if it was really late or if Will just left because he felt he fulfilled his obligation. The television got annoying fast so it was soon blank again. The ceiling was more interesting.

Long after the sun stopped peeking through the blinds, the phone tore Elizabeth from her respite. No matter who it was, she wouldn't answer this time, but she fished for it on the table anyway. The small screen read "Lindsay." Elizabeth frowned and threw the phone down. For once, she was able to sleep; she wouldn't do anything to harm that.

Heh. I like it. Doth thou? Review matey!!!